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2025-01-21: My Role in Liturgy (OCCM)

Every Sunday, we come to the liturgy, we attend, we take communion, we go home. Same prayers, same time, same routine, say "Lord have mercy" 100 times, metanoia here, bow down here, sign of the cross here, etc. And it's easy for that to get boring. We might think of the Liturgy as being unchanging or static. Show of hands, who here has gotten bored in liturgy?

I had the idea for this topic because I was standing in liturgy the other day and I was standing with the young children in the deacons' section. And Abouna was praying the Thanksgiving Prayer, and I looked down to the kids and saw that many of them were just looking out at nothing. Some of them are looking at their friends. Some of them are fidgeting. And I thought to myself, as Abouna is saying "Let us give thanks to God the Pantocrator" - how many of us are actually giving thanks? And I looked over to the section with HS and College and saw the same blank expressions, some people on their phones, some people yawning, some people on their watches.

We don't understand the purpose of liturgy. Is the purpose of liturgy just to take communion? If that's the case, why does it have to be so long? Why does it need so many words? Are the words needed to transform the bread and wine into Body and Blood of Christ? Is the Liturgy some magical incantation that can change bread and wine into Body and Blood? Why do I have to be there for that? Why don't we have the priest say the words, make it into Body and Blood, and then we come for the Distribution part? People when they are sick receive Communion without attending the Liturgy - Abouna just brings it to them. Why do we need to attend liturgy to receive Communion?

On top of that, if we're gonna be there for so long, why not make it more exciting? Why don't we borrow from the Protestant Churches with their guitars and drum sets and worship teams? Why don't we sing the songs that we like instead of those old Coptic Hymns that don't "match the times"? Maybe I hear those other songs and I can feel them moving my spirit, sometimes even bringing me to tears. Wouldn't those songs be more effective?

Today we will discuss and explore these questions.

What is Liturgy?

Some characteristics of Liturgy:

  • Liturgy is the work of the people
  • Liturgy is given by God through the Church
  • Liturgy is Holy ("Separate")
Liturgy is the Work of the People

The word "Liturgy" comes from the Greek λειτουργία meaning "work or service for the people." 

Not a show, not meant to entertain

Liturgy is Given by God

Liturgy is how God wants to be worshipped.

Liturgy is Holy
  1. Liturgy is Holy ("Separate")
    1. Liturgy is not fast-paced as our world is
    2. Liturgy involves silence/meditation
    3. Liturgy is old-school
      1. What role does technology play in the liturgy?
      2. The world likes new-school...

What is my Role in Liturgy?

Participation of the Body
    1. To bring my body into subjection
    2. Fasting
    3. Metanoia
    4. Sign of the Cross
    5. Five Senses
Participation of the Mind
      1. An imperfect analogy: If I know nothing about Soccer, and you ask me to sit down and watch a 2 hour soccer game, I'm going to get bored. But once I learn about Soccer, and I learn the game, then I will be able to follow what's happening in the game, and I am less likely to get bored.
Participation of the Spirit
    1. To pray
Liturgy after Liturgy
  1. Communal prayer affects personal prayer; personal prayer affects communal
  2. Go in peace
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