What is Liturgy?
Liturgy is the Church’s corporate worship, its common prayer. Worship and prayer can happen wherever people are, at any time, and whether they are alone or with others.
But Liturgy is the structured and shared worship that Christians engage in when they are together – as Jesus said: “where two or three are gathered in my name.”
At this page you can download digital versions of our authorised liturgies, which have been arranged into categories. On the right have side of this page you can find a full list of publications.
Calendar & Lectionary
The Calendar provides the details for the different events and saints days, whilst the lectionary is the readings set for each particular day of the year. We also publish a guide to the particulars of using the Calendar and Lectionary in the current year.
Daily Prayer
It is the ancient tradition of the Church that on each day the ‘offices’ of Morning and Evening Prayer are offered. All are invited to join in this tradition using these books.
The Eucharist
Within the Episcopal tradition our central rite is the Holy Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion or the Mass). This rite is intended as a framework for adaptation according to local needs.
The current edition of the Scottish Liturgy 1982 was revised in 2022.
- Scottish Liturgy 1982 with Alternative Eucharistic Prayers
- Scottish Liturgy 1982 with Propers and Revised Common Lectionary
- Litirdi Albannach 1982 (Gaelic version)
- Scottish Prayer Book 1929 Eucharistic Prayer translated and adapted for use in Scottish Liturgy 1982
Two other versions of the Holy Eucharist are authorised for us: one according to the rite of 1970 and the other from from the Scottish Prayer Book of 1929, written in the poetic English of the seventeenth century.
- Scottish Liturgy 1970
- Scottish Liturgy 1929
- An Liotuirge 1970 (Gaelic version)
Service of the Word
This liturgy is designed to ‘break open the Word’ in flexible ways. It uses texts from scripture as a basis for many of its responses to encourage adaptability in ecumenical environments.
Baptism
Baptism is, within the apostolic tradition, the means by which one affirms their decision to follow in the way of Christ.
Marriage
In marriage, a couple become one in love before God. In this rite, the Church, through its ordained ministers, bears witness to, and celebrates, this pledge to live in love together before God.
Funerals
These rites provide a framework for prayerful celebration of the life of those ‘we love but see no longer’, commending them to God’s keeping and proclaiming the hope of the fulness of the life of God’s Kingdom.
Services for Holy Week
Liturgy for use during Holy Week.
Ordination
This rite celebrates, welcomes and ordains those called to ordained ministry within the ‘One Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church’.
Pastoral Offices for Priests, Deacons, and Lay Readers
The Church has a particular responsibility to care for those who are sick, frail, in distress or near death. To support this ministry, the Liturgy Committee has prepared Pastoral Offices, suitable for use by Clergy, Deacons and Lay Readers.
Liturgies authorised for experimental use
This page contains all the liturgies and resources currently authorised for experimental use. The Liturgy Committee is currently engaged in a consultation process seeking feedback on these liturgies and resources and invite all to contribute. These resources include the new experimental rites for Lent & Holy Week and the experimental Collects.
