Liturgy is from the Greek leitourgia ("the work of the people") -
and has evolved with three meanings: the public worship of the church, a
particular order of worship, or the Eucharist itself. In its most comprehensive
sense, a church's liturgy is the body of its rituals and ceremonials. According
to Dearmer, ritual refers to "what is said or sung in a church service,
prayers, lections, versicles, and responses. A book of ritual is a written or
printed work containing forms of service issues by proper authority, and known
as rites. A book of ritual may well contain in its rubrics ceremonial
directions as to what is to be done or used during the service. The collection
of alms, the wearing of special vesture, the offering of bread and wine are
ceremonies. Thus ritual and ceremonial are frequently interwoven.
... It is not 'ritual' to which the English mind raises objections, but
ceremonial, and particularly ceremonial that is fussy and meaningless." (The
Parson's Handbook, rev. ed. by Pocknee, p. 1)
However,
like other artistic expressions, pleasing and purposeful ceremonial is quite
subjective and "in the eye of the beholder." In some region of the country
Episcopalians are fortunate to be able to choose from congregations united in
liturgy by The Book of Common Prayer, but whose ceremonial customs vary from
simple to elaborate. Unfortunately there are other regions which offer one
style, thereby depriving people of the richness inherent in Anglican worship.