Ever Ancient, Ever New: The Allure of Liturgy for a New Generation

by Winfield Bevins

For many years now, the church in North America has heard figure after figure concerning the steady flow of millennials leaving the church as soon as they complete high school. In the midst of these troubling figures, there remains a glimmer of hope for these youth as they transition into young adults. Ever Ancient, Ever New tells the story of a generation of younger Christians from different backgrounds and traditions who are finding a home and a deep connection in the church by embracing a liturgical expression of the faith.

Author and pastor Winfield Bevins introduces you to a growing movement among millennial Christians who are returning to historic, creedal, and liturgical reflections of Christianity. He unpacks why and how liturgy has beckoned them deeper into their experience of Jesus, and what types of churches and communities foster this "convergence" of old and new. Filled with stories illustrating the excitement and joy many millennials have found in these ancient expressions of Christianity, this book introduces you to practices and principles that may help the church as it seeks to engage our postmodern world.

Genres: Faith, Nonfiction, Theology, Christian, Religion, Christianity, Spirituality

208 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 5, 2019

Reviews

[David J. Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid set of observations tracing the apathy younger Christians are experiencing toward the incessant pandering from the innovative church model. Tired of being entertained and desiring to be fed, a growing number of these disenfranchised believers have lost confidence in the trajectory of people-centered worship from revivalism to the seeker-sensitive approach. This book is not a jeremiad, but still offers a quiet critique of the failure of consumerist churches to retain interest from serious disciples. It serves as a robust endorsement of the power of depth found in ancient practices and confessions to offer timelessness, rootedness and biblical clarity as opposed to the shallow waters of productions, special days and multitudinous programs.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ever Ancient, Ever New is the perfect continuation of the project Robert Webber began in Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail, though Bevins’s work focuses more on “young people”* bringing liturgy into nondenominational or non-liturgical spaces, and less on adult converts to liturgical traditions.

Bevins identifies the following reasons why this group seeks liturgical practices (33-42):

- Holistic Spirituality
- A Sense of Mystery
- A Desire for Historical Rootedness
- Looking for a Countercultural Faith
- Belonging to a Catholic (Universal) Church
- Sacramental Spirituality
- Gracious Orthodoxy
- Finding an Anchor in Spiritual Practices

I relate to all of these, and were I to pick out a few I’d end up picking all of them. They’re also common themes I’ve heard in folks like me, who came from non-liturgical backgrounds and love worshiping at a church with all the smells and bells.

Chapter 5, “The Quest for Community,” was the weakest for me. It felt like a different project that should have been its own book. Bevins identified several communities like Taizé that are drawing people in this age group. But it didn’t fit for me because most of the book focuses on local church expressions of faith, and he didn’t quite examine the long-term members of those communities as much as he did visitors.

Bevins offered a helpful corrective to the narrative that younger people (born 1970s on) are the “me” generation. Instead, he correctly posits that Baby Boomers (1940s-1960s) prized the individual, creating a “me” culture that has greatly influenced church worship. Every week I was told in my evangelical youth group “every head bowed, every eye closed, don’t think about the person to your left or right” and encouraged to focus on an extremely individual spirituality. Yet, when left to my own devices as a young adult, I turned to a liturgical tradition, where I release the ephemeral “I” and join with the great, historical “we.”

One thing that was sad to me, especially in the latter half of the book, was how the local churches Bevins examined were mostly homogenous in age. The adult attendees were largely around the same age; diversity came from children of those adults. My high liturgical Anglican church isn’t like that. Our church is small, around 200 people, with an even distribution of ages. I didn’t see churches like mine represented in this book. Maybe we’re just unique that way (though I certainly hope we’re not!). I wanted Bevins to cast a broader vision for how liturgy brings more than just two generations in a family together and provides a constant for folks at all stages of life. I’ve attended liturgical churches where mine was one of the few non-gray heads. I’ve attended neo-liturgical churches where there was almost no one over 40. There’s a middle ground, one that’s truly intergenerational, and it’s a beautiful vision that is not to be missed.

Overall, I found Ever Ancient, Ever New enjoyable and thought-provoking, some good light reading. I am extremely surprised I hadn’t heard of it before a few weeks ago. I’m sure I’ll find myself recommending it to people in my congregation and those who are curious about the liturgical turn.

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“For years I had felt like a spiritual orphan, unaware of my rich family heritage. Like a fatherless child discovering a rich family genealogy for the first time, I came to understand my own spiritual genealogy through the ancient practices of the liturgy.” (18)

“[Many evangelical] Christians today have lost hold of our collective story, and that loss is one reason why liturgy resonates with so many. The recovery of liturgy offers them a way to re-enter the narrative, to re-engage with the story.” (49)

“By observing the seasons of the church, we live in contrast to the hustle and bustle around us. During these seasons of celebration, anticipation, mourning, and reflection are times of fasting and times of feasting. In ordering our lives to this cycle, we acknowledge that life is rhythmic and that we were not made to strive for the success of the world that preaches excess and individuality at all costs. In submitting to these seasons, we acknowledge God’s lordship in both the high and the low times of our lives.” (52)

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*Bevins defines “young people” as folks born in the early 1970s through the middle of the 1990s. By the time he wrote this book, the oldest in that group were pushing 50. I tend to think of “young people” as those between 18-34, since “young adults” are 13-22 for some reason, but that’s the designation Bevins chooses to use for this book.

[Alexis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have felt so seen by this book! Bevins explores current trends among young adults in the North American church, drawing on some powerful interviews and stories from diverse sources. This book explores what it means for the ancient church and its practices to meet transient, relationally-starved, and mystery-hungry people where they are.
For anyone trying to wrap their heads around why traditional liturgy has become so attractive to a younger generation, Bevins explains clearly and with compelling passion. Not to mention his endnotes make for a fantastic list for further reading.

[Taylor Lent · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ an incredible book about the importance of liturgy and ancient practices in the church. The last chapter, “bringing liturgy home” was by far the most impactful on me. I hope to implement a lot of this in my own family & will be referencing this book to do so. However, I did feel like the book was a little slow at times and could have been condescend a bit.

[Joseph O’Reilly Tynan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Low church evangelical discovers liturgy and then proceeds to hype up ancient liturgies. Plz read if u r protestant and are wondering why high church traditions love tradition, beauty and liturgy and are sick of rock bands and fog machine

[George Trudeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun anecdotal book that explains why people are drawn to liturgical traditions. Not what I was expecting but still intriguing nonetheless.

[Nate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. For a while I was attending a “neo-liturgical” church, not because that attracted me in itself it, just happened to be what they practiced. I’ve been interested in liturgy as a church planter and trying to understand the rhythms and insights of the liturgical traditions is important even if you don’t buy in.

The good is that this book thoroughly documents all the reasons why so many young people are going to really old-school liturgical churches and abandoning mega churches. It’s an interesting phenomena but I was left discouraged by the fact that it seems to be reactionary. Just like consumers wanting a shopping mall at their church, these youngsters are thirsting for something deeper and they’ve gone shopping at cathedrals. They think they’ve found “it” that indescribable something they’ve been missing in a consumer and tech obsessed age. I’m afraid this is just another trend like the neo-reformed moment.

Of course, young people being disaffected and landing in liturgical churches is not the author’s fault. The weakness of the book is it really feels less like a documentary and more like an infomercial. It is constantly trying to sell why traditional liturgical traditions and specifically Anglicanism is the solution for every problem of the postmodern world. It’s less argument driven and more jump-on-the-zeitgeist driven.

I don’t despise liturgy-emphasizing movements and I appreciate the author’s passion for the spiritual benefits of the book of common prayer, but I don't like being sold something when it comes to God. I remain open to more writings on liturgy, but I'm not sold on the idea that it solves all of life's spiritual ills.

I hope that God does extraordinary things through Anglicanism, and I definitely see the movement towards liturgy as a better development than going to a church that seems more like a concert venue. What the whole world seems to forget when it comes to movements is not the inherent benefits of the form, but WHAT IS GOD DOING THROUGH IT. That's all that matters. Period.

[Kyle McFerren · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a solid, short book on liturgical Christianity and its appeal to younger believers today, very similar to Mark Galli's "Beyond Smells and Bells," Glenn Packiam's "Discover the Mystery of Faith," and others. At times it kind of felt like a hodge-podge of random things related to liturgy, and it was a little hard to follow the flow of the book. Bevins' extensive use of interviews, many of which resonated with my own experience, made the book unique and more enjoyable though. I also really liked the chapters on mission and family discipleship, as these areas aren't often included in this type of book. This would be a good book particularly for someone who is just starting to explore liturgical Christianity or is disillusioned with contemporary evangelicalism and looking for something a little richer.

[Pete]

I got a little annoyed by the author's repeated name-dropping "I traveled to [city] to visit my good friend [name]." But he did have some good categories for the multiplicity of liturgical traditions that "young people" are drawn to.

[Matthijs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winfield Bevins groeide op in een gemeente van de Southern Baptists, kwam tot geloof in een pinkstergemeente maar trad uiteindelijk toe tot de Episcopale kerk (Amerikaanse versie van de Anglicaanse kerk). Hij ontdekte meer twintigers en dertigers die net als hij als evangelical of pentecostal Anglicaans werden. Hij ging met deze ex-pentecostal en ex-evanglical Anglicanen het gesprek aan om te horen waarom de twintigers en dertigers van deze tijd een overstap maken naar de Anglicaanse kerk met traditionele liturgie. In "Ever Ancient, Ever New" verwerkt hij hun motieven van overstap. Waar de (groot)ouders van deze twintigers en dertigers de traditionele liturgie los lieten en overstapten naar een liturgie met meer emoties, spontaniteit en impulsiviteit kozen zij juist voor een traditionele liturgie met vaste opbouw. Waarom eigenlijk? Waar hun (groot)ouders de traditionele liturgie los lieten en overstapten naar een liturgie met meer emoties, spontaniteit en impulsiviteit kozen zij juist voor een traditionele liturgie met vaste opbouw. Waarom eigenlijk? Vaak deden ze met overtuiging mee in hun evangelische of pinkstergemeente. Maar toch misten ze iets. In de Anglicaanse liturgie kwamen ze in aanraking met de schoonheid en het kunstzinnige van het christelijk geloof - in het gebouw, in de vormen, in de gebeden en liederen. Waar de gemeente waar zij uit vandaan kwamen vaak in een recent gesticht waren, kwamen ze in deze liturgie in aanraking met een kerk die eeuwenoude wortels heeft. (Oosters-orthodox voert zichzelf zelfs terug op de tijd van de apostelen). In de traditionele liturgie hadden ze een een intensere ervaring van een ontmoeting met Christus, omdat er meer ruimte is voor het mysterie en voor alle zintuigen, terwijl de liturgie, de liederen en gebeden dezelfde orthodoxie heeft die ze gewend waren. Deze twintigers groeiden op met de vanzelfsprekendheid van internet. Alles om hen heen is relatief en hun wereld onzeker. In de liturgie met een vaste opbouw en een vaste Geloofsbelijdenis vonden ze een fundament dat ze niet vonden in maatschappij of in eigen kerk. Hoewel de liturgie vaste patronen heeft en een orthodoxe kleur is het gebeuren minder dwingend dan ze in hun eigen gemeente gewend waren. Hoewel er minder nadruk lag op discipelschap merkten ze dat ze door de Anglicaanse liturgie juist meer groeiden in navolging. Ze ontdekten dat de vaste gebeden het voor hen gemakkelijker maakten om hun gebedsleven vol te houden dan wanneer ze vasthielden aan spontane gebeden.
Bevins heeft zelf de wortels in de evangelische beweging en in een pinkstergemeente. Hij ziet dat er meer zijn die deze twee stromingen combineren met een Anglicaanse liturgie. Een deel gaat over naar de Anglicaanse kerk en blijft evangelical of pinkstergelovige; een ander deel blijft in eigen gemeente en integreert elementen uit de Anglicaanse liturgie in de eigen liturgie. Bevins gelooft dat de blended worship van Anglicaans, evangelisch en pinkster de toekomst heeft. Bevins spreekt geregeld kerkplanters van wie de gestichte gemeente uitgroeit tot een Anglicaanse kerk of verbonden raakt aan een Anglicaanse kerk. Deze mix aan liturgie met een duidelijke invloed vanuit de klassieke liturgie heeft iets levendigs en is in staat om jongvolwassenen, jongeren en kinderen betrokken te laten zijn in de eredienst.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new-ish Anglican, and someone who was largely unfamiliar with other liturgical traditions like Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy, I was excited to dig into this book. My church congregation, overall, is very young, and that has been a topic of conversation I’ve heard amongst many church members as we mingle during the passing of the peace every Sunday morning… What’s drawing so many young people to our church??

I knew that there were a few factors for me personally. I loved the people that I had come to know and that was a huge selling point—a very heavy focus on the importance of a small group and the way that small groups poured into their members in this setting. There was also something incredibly comforting in the simple way the service was conducted—coming from very large non-denominational churches, I greatly appreciated the way that the services weren’t so showy and loud. I started to find myself increasingly aware of the solemnity and significance of the liturgies we prayed and the Eucharist we took every week.

In this short book, Bevins elaborates on all of that and adds more. I genuinely enjoyed reading this and have already recommended it to friends and fellow members of my Parrish who’ve read it and found enlightenment and encouragement in its words. Highly recommend 🤩

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the epilogue, Winfield Bevins says, “After reflecting on my own journey, I wanted to hear the journeys of others, and my search has both deepened my own understanding and appreciation of liturgy and ancient practices, as well as my love for the young people I’ve met. It has confirmed for me that I am not alone in seeing the ongoing relevance and blessings of liturgy for the twenty-first century.”

That is sort of my own take away: I am not alone.

For a long time, I think my husband and I felt like outliers, and in reading this, I had this realization that we’re actually part of a broader movement that we didn’t even realize was happening. I appreciated Bevins’s exploration of all the ways this movement toward liturgy is happening as well as the sense of hope he conveys in regard to the future of the church.

I also loved that I finished this and was reading the chapter that includes discussion of sacred time right as we moved into Advent.

[Michael Carpenter · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Liturgy, when rightly appropriated, is one of the best ways for us to make disciples in a postmodern context” (p. 207).

This book is phenomenal, a must-read for anyone wanting to bring deep, authentic faith to younger people. As a Methodist, I am already on-board with the author’s high valuation of liturgy, but Bevins also does a great job expanding how liturgy can be used in other Christian traditions. And he challenges the already liturgically-familiar to become intentional in how it is practiced.

Well-written, engaging, and convicting.

[Meagan | The Chapter House · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this more than I ended up doing, but am still glad I read/finished it. It read as a more anecdotal or sociological book, and I wish that some areas went deeper than they did (lectio divina; bringing the liturgy into the home; etc.). Sometimes hot-button theological topics were brought up as drive-bys, begging for but not receiving further attention, which was a little frustrating.

Still, a good starter read on the topic.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with lots of real-life examples from across the ecclesial perspective. Deserves a wide reading in churches seeking to recover deep roots in their worship and spirituality.

[Rick Stuckwisch · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had mixed feelings about this book. The writing is a bit uneven, clunky at times, and not really elegant or a joy to read. It's clear and straightforward enough, however, and not difficult to understand. The topic it addresses is certainly an interesting one, and I appreciated the author's approach. His quotes from the many people he's interviewed over the years, and the many examples he provides from actual churches, make for a strong case. The final chapters of the book, in which he delves into specific aspects and practices of a "traditional," liturgically-shaped life, are stronger than some of the earlier chapters, in which he tries to survey various alternative approaches to "traditional" liturgy. Some of his descriptions and discussions in those earlier chapters were far too simplistic, and at times misleading or erroneous. I was also somewhat bemused by the fact that he treats of Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans (at length), as well as various Protestants and Pentecostals, but seems utterly unaware of the Lutheran Church throughout the book. In any case, the book is of interest and it does offer a contribution to current conversations. For that it is worthwhile.

[James Rickenbaker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winfield Bevins, an Anglican priest and church planter, sets out in this book to give an apology (from the Latin for defense) for liturgy. The book is packed with quotations and data that support the central thesis that there is a growing interest and ardor among young people for liturgy. All of that is good and makes good sense.

With that said, I don’t think this book was quite what I was looking for. That may be because I am myself an Anglican priest who doesn’t need to be convinced of the importance of liturgy. But it also has to do with the fact that the book is so filled with anecdotes, vignettes, and general data that it reads more like a sociological study instead of a work of theology.

This book may well prove helpful to those who are interested in liturgy but come from a non-denominational or “non-liturgical” church (let’s face it though, every church has a liturgy even if they don’t like to call it that), but I’m not so sure it’ll gain traction with those already convinced of its thesis.

[Jacob Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this more than five stars if I could, for it captures the essence of my personal journey the past several years. Winfield Bevins lays out in a beautiful and accessible form why Christians in their 20s through 40s are being attracted to liturgical traditions like Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Anglicanism or are incorporating ancient practices into their non-liturgical traditions. His research is widespread and his use of stories is compelling. I found traces of my own journey from Southern Baptist to Anglican within those stories and, quite honestly, got misty-eyed on a few pages. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone personally exploring liturgical traditions or to church leaders discovering the connection the current generation is finding with the ancient practices of the church.

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great big picture introduction and overview of historic liturgical, high-church/low-church liturgical, neo-liturgical, charismatic liturgical, etc.. (insert more fancy words here…) basically a wonderful appeal to young people to worship with the tools of ancient practices and historic liturgy. It’s a call to appreciate the Holy Spirit “leading us into all truth” throughout history and today. I would recommend this to friends who want to understand the “why” and basics of following a tradition of Christianity and using ancient liturgies.

For me, 3 stars because I’m more “sold” on this already and it got a bit repetitive. (Ironically, repetition is a key to learning and a reason for liturgy…so maybe that’s a good thing?)

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm rounding up to 5 stars because 4.5 isn't an option. I found this book encouraging as I have felt that the journey I have been on towards what I now understand to be the three streams (evangelical, charismatic, and liturgical) has been a relatively lonely one. But reading this book I realized I am not alone! Not only that, men and women have been on this same journey for over 30 years! This book also helped me grow in my appreciation for the Eastern Orthodox church. I will keep this book on my shelf as a quick reference and a go to book to hand to people who, like me, have been searching for something deeper in their Christian faith.

[Demelza · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're wondering why people you know have moved to a liturgical church, this book is for you. If you're exploring the liturgical church, this book is for you. If you've already made the move to a liturgical church, this book is for you. Bevins does an excellent job at going into the reasons why young people are attracted to the liturgy as well as pulling in personal stories from the people he's met throughout his time researching the subject. Read to know more, read to know you're not alone. An excellent book!

[Brice Palm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some redundancy, sometimes too agreeable, and sometimes stays too far from the source material. But it was a fantastic read and validated much of my personal story as I have fallen in love with the liturgy and Anglicanism.

[Richard Bicknase · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give this 3.5 stars if that were an option. My rating is harder on this book than it otherwise might be because the topic is one I hold very dear.

This book had much good content in it and a few passages and examples were especially well put and included, but, as I saw a different review mention, the way it essentially ignores Lutherans sticks out as strange. Especially so since the book goes out of its way to be ecumenical in tone and anecdote. This omission combined with at least one glaring inaccuracy in a passing reference regarding the location of Burning Man somewhat undermines the authority of the book. Additionally, much of the best content contained in this book I have already encountered, often in more robust ways, in Lutheran treatments of liturgical practice and life.
Specific topics from Lutheran thought I felt while reading were glaring omissions and should have been mentioned as examples or used to further develop the arguments in the book include:
1. Luther's formula of oratio, meditatio, tentatio (prayer, meditation, trials)
This would have fit in perfectly in the discussion and examples of the practice of Christian devotional life.
2. The doctrine of vocation.
The book spent some time talking about living out the liturgy in sacramental living, and I thought the doctrine of vocation as discussed by Lutherans would have expanded and strengthened this element of the book.
3. Idea of Means of Grace.
This book spent a lot of time talking about sacraments and the work of the Holy Spirit in a charismatic sense, but these sometimes felt like separate discussions. Including a discussion of Means of Grace as the location and means through which God gives His Spirit and does His work would have been an opportunity to make certain that people realize the sacraments and the work of the Holy Spirit go together.

All this is to say I found the book to be a decent yet oddly incomplete treatment of the topic.

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winfield Bevins offers a survey of the reasons young adults are turning to liturgical worship and practices in their rediscovery of the Christian faith. While many of the reasons hit home for me, some were new and illuminating and yet others seem shallow and capricious, the newest trend in hipster-ism. Bevins doesn't offer judgment on said reasons; neither does he discuss the theological clashes at play between the various Christian traditions he mentions. There is much to be said and meditated on regarding these issues, but I appreciated his charitable, ecumenical survey of modern and historical Christian practice. Unity in core belief as ennumerated in the historic creeds allows us, as Bevin points out, to move past our often petty (but hotly contested) disputes.

One of the points made in favor of liturgical practice is the framework in which discipleship becomes a committed routine. For individuals but also for families raising children, this daily, weekly, and yearly rhythm of catechesis leads us all into ever deepening knowledge, faith, and worship. Doug and I have been inspired and encouraged as we plan to put the liturgy into practice with our kids. It feels like the helping hand of millenia of believers coming alongside us and saying, "It's not just you two who are responsible for leading these little souls. You've got us too."

[Bob Ayres · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent writer and the book flows exceptionally well. Seriously, no complaints with style or scholarship. But what dropped it to four-stars for me was the bias of stories, examples, commentary towards Anglicanism (I am one) and somewhat cursory attention to the Roman Catholic and Orthodox traditions. For example, Bevins refers to "embracing" Anglicanism and "converting" to the other traditions. I think it would be better subtitled, "The Allure of Anglicanism for a New Generation" and then this natural writer's bias would have been more appropriate. My other concern is that I felt like non-white Christianity was largely overlooked. Many young people moving towards the liturgical church, this is true, but is this the case for non-white Christians across the spectrum? I don't know but suspect it might be the case, especially in the Roman Catholic Church because of their Global footprint in the Southern Hemisphere. Just some thoughts. Buy the book. It is clearly worth the read.

[John Wayne McMann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling presentation of liturgical need and movement

I just missed Bevins in my time at Asbury but have engaged with some of his work in other ways. This book has a compelling presentation of the benefits and the needs of liturgy for individuals, families, and in corporate worship. And it explains the movement towards that direction. I believe his views are well balanced; convicting and yet not over the top or forceful or unrealistic. Coming from a fairly contemporary worship leadership style I admit some skepticism but he revealed my own inclination that something is missing. And yet we can bring together the old and the new. Only reason I did not love the book is I cannot tell if their truly is a significant movement among young people or if it is all anecdotal. Maybe, I missed it but I would have appreciated some firmer stats on these trends. Great book and very helpful.

[Alex Portillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Christian tradition is very low church and low authority. Both conservative and progressive branches in our denomination wear this as a badge of honor and pride. However, for myself, I have found it to be shallow. Conservatives want to distance themselves from what makes our faith ancient, historic, and rooted. Liberals want to be free of authority so that they can take hold of any progressive idea that popular culture values. In the end it all feels fragile, it feels like we are protecting something that can die just as easily as fashion.

This book has made me feel seen. He captures the awakening desire within committed (keyword is committed) Christians to worship God for his majesty. And who are seeing through the shallowness of skinny Jean worship bands, and self esteem sermons.

The reason I give it four instead of five stars is that the book seems a bit idealistic and at times overstates how many young adults truly are desiring liturgical worship.

[Timothy · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Asbury Profeesor on Millenials and Gen-X

I gave this book 5 stars because it lives up to its premise: The liturgy and practice of the Church is "Ever Ancient, Ever New". His interviews and conclusions about the faith of young adults resonates with my 35 years in campus ministry and 4 years as a college professor - the postmodern and post Christian young adults are very attracted to mystery and undogmatic orthodoxy. They are more interested in what unites Christians than in what divides them. Thus the weekly practice of Holy Communion or Eucharist and the recitation of the creeds of the undivided Church (Apostles, Nicene, Athanasion ) in liturgical worship is probably our best hope of bringing them to Christ and a faith community. My journey parallels his in many ways which gave this book great authenticity to me. I highly recommend it to you.

[Jeremy Nikunen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated the way Bevins shows that liturgical worship provides a framework for discipleship. In my opinion, this is the allure of the liturgy: it provides a structure for our Christian lives, allowing us to draw from history and the practices from our family in the faith through all time. We don't have to reinvent the wheel. The liturgy has a lot to teach us, and its ability to ground us to the faith that is much larger than ourselves should not be overlooked. Too often we try to make a go of it on our own, as if the faith was something new created yesterday. This kind of thinking can leave us floundering. Liturgy provides a framework, not just for learning the faith, but also for living it out in our daily lives. I don't know if I fully endorse all of the practices mentioned (some seemed a bit mystical for my taste) but overall, the main thrust of this book is good.

[Chris Whitehead · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This is the very first book that has WOWED me like this in a very long time!!!
This book is for anyone who feels a tug in their heart that tells them that perhaps their experience with the corporate church is lacking something, but can't quite put their finger on what. It really needs something from EVERY aspect to feel more complete: The 3 streams of Evanglism, Liturgy/Sacrament, and Charisma.
The book, I feel is summed up in a line from the Epilogue, which is really a quote from Brian Zhand-
"We need the whole Body of Christ to properly form the Body of Christ. This much I am sure of: Orthodox mystery, Catholic beauty, Anglican liturgy, Evangelical energy, Charismatic reality- I need it all!"
I will undoubtedly revisit this book many more times!