What Liturgy is and What it Isn't

• Liturgy, in its most basic form, is just another way of saying that the congregation gets to participate in the service. The service may include sections where the congregation only participates by singing. Other services may have a time when the congregation reads together a prayer or a portion of scripture. Liturgy is not simply a preacher or other clergy member getting behind the pulpit and delivering a sermon. Liturgy is not a "one-sided" teaching session for the congregation to hear only.
  
  

Denominational Rules or Free Form

• Older denominations, including Lutheran and Episcopalians, call their worship services "Eucharist" while others just call it "Liturgy." Some denominations subscribe to handed-down manuscripts that dictate in what order each section of the worship service happens. In those cases, those types of services rarely change order or structure. Other congregations, including those who do not subscribe to any denomination, may structure their service around a general format or may "go with the flow" depending on the situation. If the place of worship does not follow any subscribed denomination, the leaders may decide to format worship services based on traditional denominational structure or may find other structures surrounding themes.
  
  

Books of Prayer

• The Book of Common Prayer is one book that dictates how liturgical services are to be carried out in the denominations that subscribe to its use. It contains a section that members can use privately in their own prayer and devotional time as well as entire liturgical services laid out for different types of themes based on a religious calendar. These include services for marriages, funerals and other important events the congregation may encounter. It contains the Book of Psalms that the congregation will read together during services. Private prayers for different situations are outlined for church leadership to use based on the circumstances, while still being able to allow the congregation to participate. Other denominations may follow liturgy worship schedules or styles as outlined in The Celtic Book of Prayer or The Lutheran Book of Prayer, which are similar in some ways to The Common Book of Prayer.
  
  

Online Resources

• Internet searching leads to resources for liturgical worship services surrounding themes, typed-up prayers for the congregation to read aloud, and planning forms that church leadership can use to plan out their future liturgical worship services. For example, "Opening prayer, worship songs, reading of scripture, sermon," could be one format. Another format could be "Reading of scripture, prayer, worship songs, congregation participation in reading more scripture or group prayer, sermon," could be another format. Sometimes these resources are found under the name of "Liturgy services," "Liturgical services," "Liturgical worship," "Eucharist services" or "Eucharist prayers." Each will be slightly different in format, but all can be used as a springboard to format and create unique liturgical worship services when applicable.