What is worship?
Sunday is traditionally when Episcopalians gather for worship. The principal weekly worship service is the Holy Eucharist, also known as: the Lord’s Supper, Holy Communion, or Mass. In most Episcopal churches, worship is accompanied by the singing of hymns, and in some churches, much of the service is sung. At St. George’s, the rector wants to occasionally “sing” parts of the service, but is afraid. He’s working on the courage.
Worship styles
Despite being known for such austere worship that Episcopalians were at one time referred to as “The frozen chosen,” Episcopalians worship in many different styles, ranging from very formal rites with chanting, traditional (read ancient) music, fancy clothes (called vestments) and incense, to informal services with contemporary music. Yet all worship in the Episcopal Church is based in The Book of Common Prayer, which gives worship a familiar feel, no matter where you go.
Sometimes these worship styles in the Episcopal Church are referred to as “High,” Broad or “Low.” High liturgy includes lots of what Episcopalians refer to as “smells and bells” – incense, chanting, sung prayers, etc. High liturgy tends to be very formal – there’s not much room for the touchy-feely or friendly nonsense like personal sharing. Hence, the frozen thing.
The opposite end of the spectrum would be “Low Church.” Low church is a worship style that is less formal. Taken to the extreme some churches have euphemistically been referred to as “snake-belly low.” Low churches tend to be far less adorned architecturally, some not even incorporating stained glass in order to communicate the fact that we don’t worship buildings but rather Jesus! The fact is, most of these designations were born from historical disagreements about the right or wrong way to “do liturgy” and “Low church” was originally a derogatory term used by high churchmen to criticize less formal or “less worthy” worship styles.
What to expect at St. George's?
Most of the time where a priest goes to seminary determines the worship style she or he has been taught and subsequently determines the style that they “bring to the table.” Our rector is a graduate from Virginia Theological seminary. Liturgically speaking, if not described as snake-belly low, VTS would be considered (at that time Jim attended) to have taught a liturgical style that resembled a snake with short legs (hence our rector’s fright about “singing” parts of the liturgy).
It’s fair to say that the liturgy at St. George’s his not too high and not too low. One might say that St. George’s would pass a liturgical Goldilocks test. It should be added, however, that the worship style at St. George’s is anything but passive. We invite you to come and see!