Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy Shapes Us

To many, the word liturgy brings to mind juggling a hymnal, Bible and a bulletin printed with formal responsive texts as you worship in a cavernous Gothic-styled church.

With great faith and affection, Benedict rescues liturgy from its stuffy associations, revealing it as a momentous occasion every Sunday, no matter the worship style.

Worship is a remarkable spiritual adventure and the liturgy itself is God's playground--a pilgrimage of individuals and faith communities joining the divine purpose. Through the liturgy's daily, weekly, seasonal and annual dimensions, we experience God's power to shape our lives. We unite with Christ in heart, mind and work to participate in God's new creation.

"Liturgy is more than personal piety," writes Benedict. "It is worship for the long haul… It simply goes on week by week and invites us to come along. It even carries us when our spiritual feet get tired and our energy level flags."

Rather than seeing the ordered patterns of worship as a repetitive thing we do, liturgy has a cumulative effect as it transforms us to God-oriented worship and living. Benedict examines the hidden rhythms of

Exercises contained in the group discussion guide will awaken your imagination to the power of the liturgical life.

Liturgy is where God is waiting. Your part is to include yourself in that community of open hands, hearts and minds.

Daniel T. Benedict Jr. is a consultant, author and retired clergy member of the California-Pacific Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church. From 1993 to 2005 he served as director of worship resourcing for the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD) of The United Methodist Church. Before coming to the GBOD, he served for 30 years as a pastor of congregations in New York and California. A writer of books and articles, Benedict is published in Liturgy, Worship Arts, Doxology, Sacramental Life and Catechumenate. His educational background includes a BA in history and religion from Syracuse University, an MDiv from American Baptist Seminary of the West, and additional studies at Claremont School of Theology. Currently Benedict is abbot of the Order of Saint Luke, a dispersed liturgical and sacramental community. He is a longtime member of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Worship and the Arts, the North American Association for the Catechumenate, the Consultation on Common Texts, and The North American Academy of Liturgy. He and his wife, Mary O, have two grown children and six grandchildren. Benedict's hobbies include walking the beaches, watching movies, woodworking, cooking, and surfing the Internet.