Suffering in Worship Anglican Liturgy in Relation to Stories of Suffering People Liturgy, Worship and Society Series

How does the universal experience of suffering relate to the experience of worship? Questioning how Anglican liturgy welcomes people who are suffering, Suffering in Worship uniquely applies a narrative?ritual model for the analysis of both the liturgical text and worship services themselves.

In this book, van Ommen draws on interviews with participants in worship as well as clergy. Highlighting several elements in the liturgy which address suffering, including the Eucharist, songs, sermons and prayers of intercession, he shows the significance of a warm and safe liturgical community as a necessary context for suffering people to find consolation. This book also uses the concept of remembrance to plead for liturgy that attends to the suffering of both God and people. As such, it will be of interest to scholars of pastoral theology as well as clergy.

1. Introduction

Part I.

2. A Narrative Analysis of Liturgy

3. Liturgy through the Lens of Narrative-Ritual Polarities

4. Themes in Addressing Suffering Through Liturgy

5. Suffering in Worship: Empirical Perspectives

Part II.

6. Connections: Human Tears and Divine Tears

7. Remembering

8. Remembering Suffering

9. When Stories Meet: Liturgy as Transformation and Healing

10. A Communal and Liturgical Spirituality of Reconciliation

11. Conclusion

Armand Léon van Ommen is Christ’s College Teaching Fellow in Practical Theology at the University of Aberdeen, UK. He completed his Ph.D. studies in 2015 at the Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (Leuven, Belgium) where he was also involved in teaching practical theology and liturgical studies. After growing up in a Reformed church in the Netherlands, and having been part of evangelical churches during his studies, Léon became a member of the Church of England in 2011.