Liturgy
Worship at Christ Church Anglican is traditional. We use the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. The Book of Common Prayer and an Anglican Hymnal are found in each pew. A choir and organist add to the beauty of our liturgy.
The word Anglican is derived from the old Latin Anglicanus meaning English. The word Anglican in our name indicates that we are in communion with the Church of England.
The word “liturgy” comes from the Greek λειτουργια (leitourgia) – public work or duty, work of the people. Liturgy is the spiritual work of all God’s people. Liturgy is structured common prayer. It can be shared, common worship precisely because it is structured. Anglican liturgy is ancient and beautiful, uniting Christ Church Anglican worshipers with Anglicans throughout the world. Other denominations also have a primary focus on liturgy: Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Presbyterian and Methodist.
Generally, we stand to sing, to affirm our faith when saying the Nicene Creed; for the reading of the Gospel and at other times as designated in the Book of Common Prayer. Psalms are sung or said sitting. We sit during readings from the Old Testament or New Testament, the sermon, and the choir anthems. We stand or kneel for prayer to show our gratefulness to God for accepting us as children or as an act of humility before God.