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Beyond Smells and Bells: The Wonder and Power of Christian Liturgy
by
Mark Galli
Liturgy lures us through our senses, grounds us in a great tradition, and plants us in the midst of a diverse community, present and past.
Are you attracted to liturgy but don’t know why? Are you considering changing to liturgical tradition? Are you already immersed in liturgical worship but want to grasp its deeper significance? Beyond Smells and Bells addresses the lure a...more
Are you attracted to liturgy but don’t know why? Are you considering changing to liturgical tradition? Are you already immersed in liturgical worship but want to grasp its deeper significance? Beyond Smells and Bells addresses the lure a...more
Paperback, 142 pages
Published
April 1st 2008
by Paraclete Press
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I grew up in a Dutch/Reformed/Presbyterian/Calvinist background, where anything in the liturgy that smacks of Romanism is highly suspect (except for paedobaptism, which is obviously biblical, *wink wink nudge nudge* to my readership). This delightful little book reminds us of the values of participating in a liturgy that has its roots not in Romanism, but instead in the earliest Christian worship. One gathers from this book a sense of the 'catholic' (universal) nature of the Body of Christ - not...more
This is a excellent book explaining the value of Christian liturgy and the fact that true believers encounter the mystery of our living God through the liturgy. Mark Galli's chapters include How the Liturgy is More Relevant Than We Can Imagine, Teaches Us The Faith,Changes Us at the Very Core of Our Being and more.
I particularly liked Galli's explanation of the emphasis on the church calendar.He writes:
"The church calendar aims at nothing less than to change the way we experience time and perc...more
I particularly liked Galli's explanation of the emphasis on the church calendar.He writes:
"The church calendar aims at nothing less than to change the way we experience time and perc...more
I really loved this one. It's a bit more basic than what I usually prefer to read, but when it comes to liturgy that's exactly what I need. Having not grown up in or attended a liturgical church, I'm very much a beginner here. For anyone in the same boat as me who wants to know more about liturgy, this is highly recommended. For those more knowledgeable in this area, it might prove to be a bit too basic.
A brief and thoughtful exploration/explanation of liturgy written by someone coming out of and very familiar with American evangelical culture. It is not a defense in the sense of explaining away every objection--although many objections to liturgy are identified and acknowledged. Rather, it is a positive revelation of what liturgy is and how we, in our humanity, fail it.
I was expecting more from this one. It wasn't entirely disappointing - Galli is a good writer and knows how to turn a phrase and work a metaphor. But I felt like it was (a) not persuasive to someone who is new to exploring liturgy and (b) not all that helpful to someone who really wanted to learn more about Christian liturgy.
This book is a nice little primer on liturgical worship. Well worth the read for for those familiar and unfamiliar with liturgical worship.
For those unfamiliar, it is written in layman's terms and understandably introduces the concept. There is rich meaning to be found plumbing the depths of the most ancient of Christian worship rituals.
For those who are familiar, especially if you haven't been to catechism lately, it can breathe new life into your worship as you are reminded just why you do it...more
For those unfamiliar, it is written in layman's terms and understandably introduces the concept. There is rich meaning to be found plumbing the depths of the most ancient of Christian worship rituals.
For those who are familiar, especially if you haven't been to catechism lately, it can breathe new life into your worship as you are reminded just why you do it...more
Galli is your modern, sensitive Anglican who wrote a seemingly randomly organized book (which I note with dismay makes it harder to argue with him) chock full of challenging and pointed material.
I was amazed at how he would sometimes take assumptions I had about worship and devotions--and turn them on their head. I had objections to some of his points, but he generally anticipated them well.
Galli uses a weird medium of expression, but the content is rock solid and should definitely be required...more
I was amazed at how he would sometimes take assumptions I had about worship and devotions--and turn them on their head. I had objections to some of his points, but he generally anticipated them well.
Galli uses a weird medium of expression, but the content is rock solid and should definitely be required...more
A quick introduction to liturgical worship. Humble and approachable. This is a great appeal to worship in the rhythms and styles of liturgical churches. Even if you won't, it makes us "low church" folk do some thinking about what we do and why.
This is a great, easy to understand book for anyone curious about liturgy or wanting to understand more of what it's about...the symbolism and significance all the parts of it as well as the history in Christian worship behind it.
For what is written, I would give it four stars. Galli is a winsome and wise writer. But for what is omitted, I would have to give it two. I will be writing a full review elsewhere to explain myself more fully.
This is probably the best popular-level introduction to traditional Christian liturgy out there. I heartily recommend it to anyone looking to move from evangelicalism to a more traditional church.
Wonderful book on the wonder and power of Christian Liturgy. Explains liturgy and it's long held tradition. Helps to understand the importance of it in worship.
Although I liked the book, is was disappointed to learn the author is somewhat misleading, in that he implies that he is an Episcopalian. He names his church in the book, so I searched for it online. Upon finding it, I learned that, in fact, he is not an Episcopalian; he is in a church that has left the Episcopal Church USA, only to affiliate with an Anglican archbishop that fits his social and political views.
Very good book for those who are exploring the Anglican expression of the christian faith.
Not good, not bad, not really worth reading though. I was expecting a lot more.
Lovely book.
This short book could have been shorter and it may have packed a stronger punch. Overall it was a good introduction and would be accessible for folks on any church's worship team.
The author obviously understands the mystery, appeal, and comforting ritual of the liturgy.
Very brief and helpful book on the different aspects of the liturgy. A super helpful book if you have ever attended a high church service and felt very lost.
I especially like the appendix which includes an order of service for different faith traditions. A very simple and useful book I will definitely use as a reference.
Very brief and helpful book on the different aspects of the liturgy. A super helpful book if you have ever attended a high church service and felt very lost.
I especially like the appendix which includes an order of service for different faith traditions. A very simple and useful book I will definitely use as a reference.
My Wife and I read this one together by reading one chapter a night. This was a good introduction to the liturgy and written with a heart of devotion.
I am new on the "Canterbury Trail" and loved his simple yet deep explanation of the depth the liturgy plays in one's spiritual life. Love his discussion of how the Christian calendar can change the way we view the year. ALSO, there is a great liturgy compare/contrast chart for several denoms liturgy. Great for anyone new to the "canterbury trail".
3.5 really. kind of light, but good.
Good for a light read. Well thought and relevant illustrations. Hopefully makes the reader want to dig deeper into knowing more about what Galli introduces. (rating should be 3.5. depending on reader: new to worship literature=4; well read in worship literature=3)
This is one of the clearest, simplest, easiest to read and understand explanations of liturgical worship that I have ever read. If you want to know why I am an Anglican, read this book.
view 1 comment
Nov 05, 2009
Sarah
rated it
2 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
those interested in the liturgy who don't know a lot about it.
Shelves:
non-fiction,
religion
An ok review of the liturgy, and why it's important, for the Protestant reader. I appreciated the scattered quotes within, but it was just an "eh" book.
May 04, 2013
Jason Custer
marked it as to-read
Apr 24, 2013
Geofrey Sindani
marked it as to-read
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Mark Galli was born and raised in California, received his B.A. in history from the University of California at Santa Cruz, an M.Div. from Fuller Theological Seminary, and did some doctoral work at U.C. Davis. He served as a Presbyterian pastor for 10 years, four of those years in Mexico City and six in Sacramento, before becoming a journalist. He has spent 22 years as an editor with these magazin...more
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