I think I will be writing an article called "New Puritanism: the destructive simplification of the liturgy to the point of absurdity" or something like that.
A quotation that will appear reads:
"We [Christians] risk becoming so uninteresting in the eyes of ourselves and this world that we come to think of ourselves, and to be regarded by this world, as just one more outfit in the standard repertoire of hardly interesting abnormalities; merely another luncheon club for those with ecclesiastical tastes. None shiver when we enter a room. Indeed, few notice.To point out that one cause contributing to this trend is a reduction of the liturgy similar to reciting the libretto of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro with guitar accompaniment does not usually succeed. To suggest that one way to begin reversing the trend is not to simplify Christian worship further but to enrich and expand it is not often heard with patience. But if liturgy both anchors and frames in normality a life of Christian orthodoxia, then restoring liturgy to its appropriate scale is more a requirement than a counsel. The liturgy must be rich and varied because the assembly of faith itself is rich and varied in its nature and operation, that is, catholic in the fullest and most basic sense.
Kavanagh, Aidan. Liturgical Theology.
Labels: liturgy
In the C of E we now have "Common Worship" which is far more complex, in terms of liturgical options, than the BCP ever was, but uses simpler and more modern language. I think it may be more accessible to some, but I'm not convinced providing so much variety was a good idea. Meanwhile, BCP Evensong is still different in Christchurch Wanstead (weekly, usually attended by fewer than 12 people, all sing the canticles and psalm from the Parish Psalter, full choir and other settings only on the last Sunday of the month), St Mary's Addington (a monthly choral Evensong), anywhere the London Gallery Quire sings Evensong (metrical psalmody, sometimes metrical canticles too, said responses, I get to play serpent!) or St Paul's Cathedral (lovely but the echo is a serious liability). Of course there is also always the option of a said BCP Evening Prayer, which is different again, though given the choice I will go for music 99% of the time.
...I'm not sure we need more variety in the words. I'm all for accessibility of language -- sooner or later the BCP will not be "vernacular" and I highly value vernacular worship -- but I think that simplifying the language while making the available options too complicated may be a mistake.
(PS blog is still Pentecost red)
The page you're reading is part of Sinden.org
©MMXVII Sinden.org: a site for fun and prophet
Post a Comment