If you began attending Live Oak during the past year, let me prepare you: on Sunday, the flow of the standard service, the liturgy, will be different. For us, like most congregations, the "church year" runs from September through August. September begins a year with new faith development classes and new worship themes. And every year, we change the liturgy.
Why is this? Well, partly, it's to guard against the service elements becoming untouchable. "We've always done it that way" can become a barrier to creativity and fresh ideas. It also helps guard against boredom -- yours and mine! I think it also adds to our culture of openness to change. Don't like something in the service this year? No problem, it will change next year!
Mostly, though, it allows us to focus on and teach different things each year. There is value in hearing certain elements - spoken or sung - every week. We begin absorbing them, our children can repeat them back. Every year, we get the opportunity to add to the mental "library" of resources in our memory. Every summer, I reach out to my colleagues. What is working well in their liturgies? What new turns of phrase really resonate? I collaborate with other members of the worship team, thinking through the flow of the service, the "choreography" (how will the choir get on and off the chancel?), how it will work for all ages, children through seniors.
A few spoilers - our weekly sung responses are changing, and we're bringing back Sanctuary - always a popular one! Many people missed hearing Live Oak and Unitarian Universalism described as "unambiguously, unapologetically progressive," so that's back in. Joys and Sorrows is in the community time at the beginning of the service, and both the roles of celebration and lament are mentioned. There are "bookends" to the service: an opening short song to welcome us into the Sabbath, and an ending short song to send us out in joy.
And of course, the things you love are still there - great music, a time of wonder for all ages, readings and a message. (And this Sunday, a special treat after the service!)
