Description
We are used to thinkinfg of worship as praise, prayer, and teaching. However, the liturgies of the Church -- whether in Catholic, Refored, or Orthodox traditions -- actually are the primary vehicle for the pastoral care of the community. Conviction, repentance, amendment of life and the healing of the wounded spirit, the formation of heart and mind, and the application of godly wisdom to the dilemmas of human life -- ideally all take place within any single liturgy. How can the pastor, as minister of Word and Sacrament, best serve the Holy Spirit in this divine work? How do we commonly get in the way? What are the stregths and weaknesses of our particular traditions in supporting this understanding of worship? This course will study the history of public worship, and the variations that have resulted in our most common worship forms. We will use the Book of Common Prayer (1979) as a norm, and the PTS chapel as our laboratory. We will also draw from the liturgical traditions of