A Volley from the Canon, #32

A Volley from the Canon, Number 32


Special Liturgies

Most of us Episcopalians believe that liturgy is something we do particularly well, and liturgical worship is important to us. Doing liturgy well takes planning and attention, even when it is of the weekly, ordinary-Sunday variety. “Special” liturgies, the kind that come just occasionally, and may even be unique, require just as much work and careful focus on detail. Yet they can be among the most powerful evangelistic tools we have in our kit.

More than once, I’ve had groomsmen in wedding parties comment to me, “I’ve been in a bunch of weddings lately, but this is the most spiritual one, I’ve ever been to.” And we’ve all heard non-members say, after a burial Eucharist, “Now that is the way a funeral ought to be!” (My favorite was the pastor of a neighboring congregation of another denomination, who asked, “When I die, will you bury me?”)

“Hey, I’m not making this up, I just read it!” I protest. But the point is: our Book of Common Prayer is a priceless resource for heart-moving, life-altering, Good News evangelism, culminating in an “altar call” in which everyone willing comes forward to receive Jesus.

In this coming season, we have several wonderful opportunities to dazzle shepherds, inn-keepers, and wise persons of all varieties with inspiring, celebratory re-tellings of the Greatest Story, all in the context of Holy Eucharist. Because there are extra worship opportunities, special events, and the expectation of guests and travelers, we also have a built-in excuse to do extra advertizing and publicity. Don’t let’s blow it!

• Are your Christmas events and worship opportunities prominently displayed on your website, in your church ads, in newsletters, on signs out front, in special mailings, and on fliers to be posted and distributed? How about your phone answering message?
• Are the Christmas liturgies meticulously planned and choreographed? Are they set at times when people actually will attend rather than fixed by some out-moded tradition?
• Has the Christmas worship team been recruited, trained, and rehearsed? Are there greeters? How about a little eggnog afterward?

There is no guarantee that a tourist bus will pull up out front for our Christ-masses. But there IS a guarantee that we will entertain, perhaps unawares, not only angels, but the Incarnate Christ himself—along with some person or persons he will bring with him who desperately need to experience a magnificent celebration, whether large or small. May they always say, of all of our Christmas Eucharists, “Now that is the way Christmas ought to be!”



Volleys from the Canon will go on temporary holiday hiatus until The Feast of the Circumcision.

A blessed celebration of the Incarnation to all!