Words Fall In

Words Fall In

“As we are, our hearts are closed, and we cannot 

place the holy words in our hearts. So we place 

them on top of our hearts. And there they stay 

until, one day, the heart breaks, and the words 

fall in.” - Parker Palmer

Source: A Hidden Wholeness

Add your thoughts at inward/outward

This quote struck me today as I have been reading and reflecting lately about liturgical forms and practices in Christian worship. My own personal experience has been growing up in an evangelical tradition (Australian Baptist) where the liturgical forms have been very informal. The word ”liturgy” was never even mentioned. In some ways, it was something to be proud of that we had no ‘formalities’… we had made a tradition about having no ‘traditions’! 

I know now that there is no such thing as a community having no traditions. They are an intuitive part of human community, inescapable in the context of gathered people. The traditions may be more noticeable in some settings that in others, but they are certainly always present when one looks hard enough. 

One of the beautiful things about liturgical worship is that it is always there to guide us into God’s presence – into an encounter with Jesus. I admit that my understanding of liturgy is still very small, but I am beginning to understand that the repetition of certain parts of Christian liturgy can help one memorise important Scriptures and Scriptural truths that can be a comfort in times of pain and suffering. 

Let me quote from a book that I am reading for my Masters course in Worship Studies (Through the Institute of Contemporary and Emerging Worship Studies in New Brunswick, Canada). It is called “Five Perspectives On Christian Worship”, edited by J. Matthew Pinson. The Chapter I am referring to is called “Liturgical Worship” and was written by Timothy C. J. Quill:

“The liturgy is important because it has repetition. It has been said that the Liturgy is boring. It is like water flowing over a waterfall and boring into a rock. Eventually the water has its way with the seemingly impenetrable rock. Repetition ingrains the Word of God deep into our minds and hearts. Thus, the word of God is there in times of crisis, persecution, sudden tragedy, and old age to comfort us with what is familiar and secure. Times of tragedy and trial do not require novelty. Reciting the Lord’s Prayer or the Apostles’ and  Nicene Creeds in the Liturgy sometimes seems tiresome. yet when the pastor gathers with the troubled, sick and dying, their confident recitation of liturgical prayers brings comfort and often tears.” (p 37)

 Having personally had a number of Christian family members and friends go through some traumatic times of physical, spiritual and emotional ill-health in recent times, I came to realise how our contemporary versions of church and worship had not served to prepare any of us very well to endure well through suffering and pain. I have asked myself that if all our singing of contemporary pop worship tunes (which is an over-saturated market that I, like many others, have contributed to) and ‘faithful’ service in (or to) the church over many years has simply fallen away in the face of hardship, then has our worship been all that fruitful? I’d like to think that there is good fruit to come from contemporary worship, but I am certain that we cannot ignore over 2000 years of worship history. 

 Each generation has sought to refine worship practices by removing / pruning the dead branches that no longer bear fruit, yet retaining the core themes and practices that have helped give solidarity purpose and hope to believers throughout history. I believe that there is still  a lot of value to be found in many of these practices that have been ‘lost’ to much of the evangelical / pentecostal Christian world due to an over-emphasis on pop-culture and an obsession with all things shiny and new. Sometimes it’s the old things that are able to stand the test of time that turn out to be the most valuable. 

 I believe that good liturgical practices, chosen with discernment and wisdom, can be blended into contemporary worship settings. They can teach us today how to worship God more authentically, participate in His work more sustainably and help us to humbly remain faithful – trusting in God despite of pain and suffering. I believe that while many people in church are getting tired of trying keep the ‘worship show’ running in church every week, many churchgoers are starting to grow weary of playing audience. I believe that re-claiming some of the ancient and old Christian practices that have retained life and relevance throughout history should be seriously considered as an essential part of contemporary gathered worship. 

 I’ll finish this little post with another thought from the same book, also written by Timothy C. J. Quill:

“Ceremony is not cherished simply because it is old. It is not dead repristination; it is a living, life-giving activity in which people receive divine gifts and respond with the heart, soul and body with reverence, humility, thanksgiving, and joy. In the scramble for new, contemporary worship styles, it is important to keep in mind that nothing is more relevant than that which is relevant for every generation.” (p 32)

 God bless, 

 Ryan Day 

 21st September 2009

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