The Art of Liturgy
When most people hear the word liturgy, they think of formality, routine, and sometimes, even boredom. It might evoke an image of sitting through long services, repeating prayers, and following rituals. It can seem like a strictly “left-brain” activity—structured, rigid, and predictable. But in truth, liturgy is anything but lifeless. At its core, liturgical prayer is deeply creative. It helps us access a richness in prayer that we might not otherwise tap into and allows us to pray for things we might never think of on our own.
In recent years, there’s been a growing hunger for liturgy, especially among those emerging from non-denominational traditions. I believe this is a response to a movement that took out liturgy from most services. While well-intentioned with the desire to emphasize that we can pray to God anytime, anywhere, this absence of liturgy also left many people feeling ungrounded, and not knowing how to pray. This is why I believe there is such a hunger now for things like prayer prompts, prayer stations and liturgy. They model and teach people how to pray in ways they might not have thought to do on their own.
Prayer is something that needs to be modeled. Jesus himself modeled prayer often for the diciples in teaching the Lord’s Prayer. When we listen to and watch others pray, and read prayers from others, it becomes the springboard to help deepen and grow our own prayer life.
Why Liturgy Sparks Creativity in Prayer
Rather than being a box that limits us, liturgy can spark our imagination and broaden our prayer life. It takes us beyond the personal concerns that might dominate our private prayers and helps us connect to the greater story of God and His people. Liturgy gives us words when our own fail us and guides us to pray for things we might not have considered—things like justice, peace, the Church, the world, and even creation. It helps us intercede for others and grow in our understanding of the global body of Christ.
There’s something deeply creative about praying ancient prayers that have been whispered for centuries. We are not inventing new words every time we pray, but participating in a timeless conversation with God. The creativity comes not from the need to create prayer from scratch but from how we inhabit these prayers and make them our own. The act of joining in communal prayer, shaped by liturgical rhythms, can be incredibly transformative.
Other Forms of Liturgy
For those who are new to liturgy or simply need help getting started with prayer, prayer stations and prompts can be invaluable tools. Prayer stations, like those we use at Creative Prayer Co., are also a type of liturgy because they offer a tangible, interactive way to guide prayer in unity with others. Each station might focus on a specific theme, scripture, or prayer, helping participants engage with God in creative ways.
Ways to Pray Using Liturgy
If you are looking for ways to deepen your prayer life, try reading through prayers in resources such as the Book of Common Prayer or Every Moment Holy. You can also check out our prayer stations and guides to help guide your time and lead you into deeper connection with the Father!
