X
Live    Worship    Grow    Heal    Give

Liturgy: The Work of the People

As you may know, the word, liturgy, comes from the Greek words, laos meaning “people” and ergos meaning “work.” Thus, liturgy is often described as the work of the people. Too often, the church has been content to see worship as the sum total of its work. We go to church. We are members of a church. Even our ubiquitous community signs, “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You” betray an inward orientation: come to us.

However, when I travel our diocese and visit you, I see a different church emerging. I see a church focused beyond four walls. I see the work of the people manifesting in clusters of personalities doing simple, yet life-giving things. I see individuals stepping out in ways that are both holy and vulnerable.

All of this is the work of the church. All of this is the of body of Christ breathing new life into God’s creation. The work of the church is liturgy. It is prayers and worship in our sanctuaries. And it is your daily acts as a part of the body: a kind word spoken at the right moment, a simple “how are you,” to a cashier, a gracious moment in rush-hour traffic—all these things can have a positive impact that ripples throughout another person’s life. And what are our lives but a series of moments?

In this season, we celebrate the work of the church as we find ways to be the body of Christ in this changing time and place. Acts of mission are like seeds. When you spread them and nurture them, they grow. Let us gather to pray. Let us go forth to serve. Let us be the church!

image_print

by
Category: #Bishop's Blog, #Communications

Respond to this:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Stories

Sabbatical Plans: Family, Faith, and the Future of EDSD
June 17, 2025

It’s hard to believe that I’ve been your bishop for almost exactly six years now. I arrived here in San Diego to begin my new work on May 5, 2019, […]

Faith to Go Invites God Sightings in Ordinary Time
June 10, 2025

The first thing I do every morning is throw on a pair of old sweats, lace up my sneakers, and go on a two-mile, early morning walk with my dogs […]

A Letter from the Episcopal Bishops in the State of California

Beloved in Christ, Like all Californians, we are watching with great concern the events unfolding around immigration protests in Los Angeles. We are deeply concerned about the ICE raids and […]

View All News
Receive the latest news.

© Episcopal Diocese of San Diego 2022. All Rights Reserved.