DS/07/06

Road shows and websites will be central to a new initiative encouraging everyone involved in planning and leading worship to make it not just good but worthy of God and transforming of people’s lives.

The Liturgical Commission is launching Transforming Worship, an initiative to help everyone responsible for worship to make the most of the resources available, now the Common Worship texts have been completed to stand alongside the Book of Common Prayer at the centre of Church of England worship.

Under the banner of Transforming Worship, members of the Commission will start the ball rolling with a series of road shows, focussing on leadership in worship this autumn, and concentrating on all-age worship next spring. A booklet for parishes and other places of worship will be published, early next year, to encourage reflection and study, with a programme of training events, with partner organisations, and a Transforming Worship website to follow.

“In the life of the Church,” says the Rt Revd Stephen Platten, Bishop of Wakefield and Chairman of the Commission, “all our concerns are intimately related, and the church’s worship is where they obviously intersect. In worship, Christians are formed and transformed by their encounter with the living God, their vocations are inspired and nourished, their mission is enabled and their giving in response to God’s generosity is nurtured.

“Transforming Worship isn’t about criticising current worship. It is about the need regularly to renew our worship and how we use all the elements at our disposal. It is about making sure our worship is not only worthy of God but also to ensure that it connects with people and transforms lives.”

St. Albans Diocese

Canon Stephen Lake, Chair of the Diocesan Liturgical Committee writes; ‘This is an opportunity to work together in the most important area of church life – worship. The Diocesan Liturgical Committee stand ready to work with parishes and clergy and the Committee would value the support of Diocesan Synod. Transforming Worship was welcomed by the General Synod in July. We can move swiftly to present this to the diocese with practical advice and personal contact. Please support this important initiative.’

Transforming Worship can be viewed at www.cofe.anglican.org/about/gensynod/agendas/gs1651a.rtf