Liturgy

We are members of an Episcopal church that makes wonderful use of liturgy. There are some elements that are used in every service of worship, which means that we both hear and say them at least once a week. For Elisabeth, that means that she's hearing the same central truths in the same words week in and week out. Sometimes she shocks us when, lying in bed at night, she'll start reciting part of the Nicene Creed, or the prayer of confession, or the Lord's prayer.

Not only does well-planned liturgy call us back to the center of the gospel,

" . . . for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us, that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your name . . ."

but it teaches children. They learn that this is what life is all about:

"Glory to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen!"