Introduction: Liturgy and Hope

Welcome to this issue of Liturgy, themed around liturgy and hope. We are in a time deeply in need of voices that can extend hope that is truthful, clear, and vibrant. Hope has the best chance of being rekindled when pastoral leaders employ their wisdom and skill to shape liturgies where words of hope can be spoken into places that are often vulnerable. Because the words “liturgy” and “hope” both cover a range of concerns and potentialities, my own goal in assembling a thoughtful group of people to consider liturgy and hope is to open up questions about the multifaceted nature of both. How can our worship shape us toward authentic hope versus hope grounded in a false sense of optimism? As liturgical leaders, pastors, and scholars, how do we discern the difference? Hope is often depicted as if it has a persona and agency of its own. Sometimes it is portrayed as in need of awakening or renewing. Sometimes we speak of hope as having died or as having been lost. Perhaps we assign lifelike qualities to hope because it is such a significant driving force in our lives and such a powerful motivator. As the prayer above articulates, sometimes our hope must be revived by the presence of Christ and the words and encouragement of others. Hope has to do with the meaning we ascribe to our past, present, and future, and what we place our hope in impacts what or whom we pursue, what or whom we attend to, and how we inhabit the world. Liturgical scholar Maxwell E. Johnson has some words for us about liturgy and hope.