Six Major Emphases Of The Liturgical Movement

The impact of the liturgical movement is felt not only among liturgical churches, but among nonliturgical churches as well. The emphases presented below characterize worship reform not only in Catholic, Episcopal, and Lutheran circles, but also the renewal of worship among Presbyterians, Methodists, United Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ, and other denominations of the mainline Protestant churches. A Return to the Scripture. A return to the Scripture has provided us with more readings and a revised lectionary. There is now a more holistic sense to the liturgical readings. The word is addressed to the whole person and not simply to the intellect. The biblical understanding of memorial now predominates in the theology of the liturgy. Liturgy is not primarily a looking to a past event. Liturgy lives out of the future; it is an anticipation of what life is to be like when we live in union with God and through Christ. Recovery of the Experience of the Early Church. This return to …