Worship from the heart? Ways of understanding worship and liturgy

by Jan Berry.

We are pleased to continue our partnership with Spectrum, a community of Christians of all denominations which encourages groups and individuals to explore the Christian faith in depth. This year the study papers are on the theme of ‘Heartfelt Worship’ by Rev’d Jan Berry (author and former principal of Luther King House, Manchester) and Tim Baker (Local Preacher, All We Can’s Churches and Volunteer’s Manager and contributor to the Twelve Baskets Worship Resources Group). This is the first of six coming through the year…

Worship from the heart? Ways of understanding worship and liturgy

by Jan Berry

Worship can be subjective – relating to our feelings and emotions, or worship can be objective – the duty and service we offer to God, regardless of feelings. The literal meaning of ‘liturgy’ is ‘the work of the people’: as such it needs to be accessible, inclusive, contextual and embodied.

Accessible liturgy

It is important that in worship we use words and images that can be understood and resonate with contemporary worshippers. Worship needs to avoid theological jargon, but also to challenge us to see God, or our faith, in a new way. Liturgy needs to be accessible — something within our grasp — but it can also be aspirational, calling us to reach beyond where we are to where we would like to be. 

Inclusive liturgy

We need both female and male language and imagery for God and humanity. Gender-neutral language may be helpful, but can render the female invisible, and make God impersonal.  It is important to use a range of imagery, encompassing male, female, gay and straight, non-binary and queer. We need to be aware of other forms of inclusivity — avoiding language which equates race and colour, or disability, with sin, for example. Inclusivity takes seriously the doctrine of ‘imago Dei’ — we are all made in the image of God. People of colour, people with disabilities, gay, trans, male, female, non-binary, all need to be able to see themselves in the image of God.

Contextual Worship

All worship arises from a context — this is not always obvious, but we need to be aware of, amongst other factors, the age and health of our congregations, the possible range of emotional states, and acknowledging the shadow side of human experience. Sometimes contextual worship will be spontaneous, but more often we are relying on existing resources. There is a need for care in appropriating words and resources from other cultures. If our worship is to be heartfelt then it needs to be authentic, and true to our own context. 

Embodied worship

The final thing that I want to say about our heartfelt worship is that it needs to be embodied. Our worship needs to be holistic, because we are created beings, made in God’s own image. Christian faith has at its core the doctrine of incarnation the Word made flesh, and our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Thus a Trinitarian theology and worship leads us to an affirmation of human bodily existence as good and holy.

Embodied worship uses all of our senses, makes use of symbols or symbolic action; symbol and symbolic action are not only expressive, but performative — they help to create the mood or understanding, which they symbolise.

Heartfelt worship needs to be authentic and offered with integrity, accessible and relating to our contexts, and resonating with all the God-given richness of our embodied selves.  Then we will be truly worshipping in spirit and in truth, with mind and body, from the depths of our hearts.

For Discussion:

• Which has been the most God-centred experience of worship for you?
• What are the merits of both liturgical and free worship.
• Does the Methodist Plan system help to enhance worship?