Liturgy as work

Some thoughts on liturgy—

The word liturgy, like most of our language, has its origin in Greek and Latin roots: lit from leos, meaning people or public servant, and urg, from ergon, meaning work.  When we worship and we sing the liturgy, we are literally doing the work of the people.  The form of this work in which we participate is ancient, based in the scriptures, and we join with saints past and present in doing the work of the people.  During this time of autumn, we will begin our worship with Confession, printed in the bulletin, reminding us of our call to discipleship, and we will use Setting Four of the liturgy, found in the hymnal beginning on page 147.  We sing the liturgy, we worship, and we leave to serve.  We are servants, doing the work of the church:  God’s work, our hands.