Anglican / Episcopal Churches

The objective style and biblical structure of worship in the Anglican and Episcopal Book of Common Prayerallowed its historic forms to endure well into the period when the church became involved in social concerns and ministries. However, revision of the Prayer Book in the latter part of the twentieth century has given renewed liturgical expression to the church's sense of community and social ministry. The church's life turns in two directions. First, the community of faith exists for the worship of God. Worship is an activity which in its true form is always directed to the glory of God. Worship is subverted if it is used primarily for other ends-such as instruction, inspiration, or the social good-even though these ends may be valuable. At the same time, the church exists for missions in the world. It is in the world for the sake of the world. It is a community, which does not live for itself, but for those outside it. Worship and Mission It is possible to state the claims of t…