Different types of worship

Act of praise, honour or devotion to God

Liturgical worship — a church service which follows a set structure

• Set Bible readings

• Singing hymns

• Set prayers

• Vestments

• Receiving Holy Communion

• Priest leads the congregation

+ Tradition and familiar

+ Teach Christian history and faith

+ Expertise of the priest

- Too rigid

- Too formal

- Intimidating to new

Eucharist for Catholics, Orthodox and Anglican churches

Non-liturgical — a church service without a set/ formal structure

• Speaking in tongues

• laying of hands

• Personal testimonies

• Unscripted prayers

+ More engaging

+ Flexible, can be planned and ordered to suit a certain theme

+ Appealing to younger people

+ More enjoyable

- Lacks tradition

- May be too spontaneous, making it hard to understanding what is happening

Methodist, Baptist, United reformed

Informal — adoration of God outside of a church setting

• Held in a large auditorium, private homes

• Modern worship music

• Spontaneous singing

+ Reflects omniscience (God is present anywhere, a church setting is perhaps unnecessary)

+ Appeals to the younger generation

+ People can actively take part by sharing readings and prayers without formal training

+ Service may have an emotional impact with a feeling of personal revelation to God

- Lacks tradition

- worship should be traditional

Community or house churches, Quaker worship, charismatic worship of the Pentecostal church (led by the spirit)

Public worship

‘shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth’ Psalm

Private worship — a Christian worshipping God on their own

• Praying before a meal

• Private prayer

• Reading the Bible

• Praying the rosary

+ Avoid distractions

+ Personal connection with God

‘Go to your room… and pray to your Father’ Matthew

- Can’t learn from the Priest, maybe listen to other readings and prayers

- Lacks a sense of community and unity

‘Where two or three gather in my name, I am there with them’ Jesus