During the season of Epiphany, which starts with worship of the wise men and ends with the worship of disciples, we will look more closely at the Church’s “liturgical living.”

The birth of Jesus inspired worship on earth and worship in heaven, with angels, shepherds, and wise men united in praise of the newborn King.

With His death and resurrection, that worship began to spread across the earth, and by 100 A,D, the Church had developed a pattern of worship that expressed and nourished its faith.

This pattern of worship, called the liturgy, is used to this day. “Liturgy” is a Greek word meaning “public service.” At its heart is God’s service: God’s Word, God’s Baptism and Supper, God’s listening and loving. From that divine service, the Church’s service flows: our receiving and believing, our singing, praying, and loving.  In his book Dying to Live Harold Sendbeil describes it this way:

 The Holy Trinity is Himself the very heart of the faith:  the Father who first created the church has redeemed her by the blood of His Son
and then sanctified her by His Spirit to be His holy dwelling All we are and all we have received comes from the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit. And all we do flows from who we are and what we have received. And so the entire Christian life- public worship, private prayer, and daily vocation- flows back in the Spirit through the Son to the Father, one God, now and forever. We live each day and to all eternity in the very presence of God. This is liturgical living; it’s the only way to live.

View these materials for tips for liturgical living at home, in daily work, and with families and children.
Week 1: God’s Gift of Time Part 1
Week 2: Living Holy Baptism Every Day and God’s Gift of Time Part II
Week 3: The Spirit of Liturgy and Scripture References for the Liturgy
Week 4: The Invocation and Making the Sign of the Cross 4
Week 5: The “House” of God
Week 6: Confession and Absolution