The title is somewhat facetious, but also true. The obvious liturgies are found in what are considered “high” churches, such as the Anglican church, as well as Presbyterian, Lutheran, and so forth. Of course, the Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox churches also use liturgies. While these are obvious, it is not so obvious, nor usually formal, in the “low” churches- but they usually have some form of liturgy. Almost every church follows some set structure. On my old blog, I linked to a satirical “Charismatic liturgy,” that, while humorous, also had a grain of truth (I used to attend a pentecostal church).

For example, a generic Baptist liturgy may be as follows: Prayer, a set of worship songs (if you’re true baptists, the third verse of a hymn is instrumental while the congregation stands around looking awkwardly straight ahead), Prayer, Offering, Prayer for the sermon, Sermon, A Worship set, and possibly another prayer before heading off to a fried chicken dinner (I kid, again, sort of).

The church I attend, Sojourn Community Church, has it’s own acknowledged liturgy that goes as follows:
Call to Worship
Songs and Congregational Scripture Readings related to Adoration
Songs and Congregational Scripture Readings related to Confession
Songs and Congregational Scripture Readings related to Thanksgiving
and forgiveness
Giving of Peace
Preaching of the Word
Response through Communion and Songs
Benediction

Sprinkled throughout are also songs of Lament, Petition, etc. The focus of Sojourn’s liturgy is to drive the congregation to the cross- essentially, it is to preach the Gospel to ourselves, reminding ourselves as individuals and a community that it is God who both initiates and deserves worship, our need for grace and repentence, and the assurance that God is both just and righteous to forgive our sins through his Son. Pay attention to your service order this week- does your church have an informal or formal liturgy?