Thoughts on the Liturgical Life at St. George Church
by Fr. Rodney Torbic
Adult Class - July 15/28, 2005
O God, cleanse me a sinner, for I have never done anything good in Thy sight;
but deliver me from the evil one, and let Thy will be done in me, that I may
open mine unworthy mouth without condemnation, and praise Thy holy name:
of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Amen. 1
We thank Thee, O Master who lovest mankind, Benefactor of our souls,
That Thou hast made us worthy this day of Thy heavenly and immortal
Mysteries. Make straight our path; strengthen us all in Thy fear; guard
Our life; make firm our steps; through the prayers and intercessions of
The glorious Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary, and of all Thy saints.
· The value of daily services in an Orthodox parish.
· The varying content of the services.
· The educational value of the daily services.
· The cumulative effect of the daily services upon the participants.
· The cumulative effect of the daily services upon the parish.
· The cumulative effect of the daily services upon the community.
· The commitment required of parishioners to attend on a daily basis.
· The stewardship of the parishioners using gifts from God for the benefit of the Church.
· The financial sacrifice of parishioners travelling to church on a regular basis.
· The cost to the parish in keeping the church open daily.
· The benefits to the parish in keeping the church open daily.
· The complexity of doing services everyday.
· The preparation required to do services everyday.
· The learning curve of the participants.
· The familiarity of the services to regular participants.
· The dynamics of participation when attendance varies.
· Order in the conducting of the services.
· Decorum in the conducting of the services.
· The need for proper books to do the services.
· The benefit of having individuals capable of singing properly.
· The benefit of people capable of articulating words properly.
· The benefit of having participants understand the message of the texts.
· Establishing a credible schedule of services.
· The question of when it is best to hold the services.
· Finding a balance in the amount of services and choice of services.
· Using different languages for the benefit of the attendees.
· Finding continuing value in attending the services.
· Attracting new people to attend the services.
· Determining why individuals will come to the church for lengthy periods of time
for other than attending the Divine services and transforming this willingness
into attendance at Divine services.
2The Great Book of Needs. Vol.II. St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, 1998, p. 50.
3The Divine Liturgy According to St. John Chrysostom. St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, South Canaan, Pennsylvania, 1977, p. 84.