Liturgy

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From the Greek word λειτουργία, which can be transliterated as "leitourgia," meaning "a public work," a liturgy comprises a prescribed religious ceremony, according to the traditions of a particular religion; it may refer to, or include, an elaborate formal ritual (such as the Catholic Mass), or a daily activity such as the Muslim Salats (see Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, p.582-3). The open or waiting worship of Quakers is an example of a non-liturgical service because there is no minister or structured order of events.

Methods of dress, preparation of food, application of cosmetics or other hygienic practices are all considered liturgic activities. Liturgies are natural and common in all human activities such as organized sports venues. They appear to resonate with human salutory needs.

In the Christian church, liturgical churches are those that use a well-defined liturgy dating to the second century and earlier, in which many of the words and music used follow basic patterns each time the service is conducted. Most Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches are liturgical while most others are to a far lesser extent. So-called non-liturgical churches usually do follow a common worship sequence from one service to the next, but identical elements are few.

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