ABSTRACT
This chapter argues that the assumption that contemporary language lacks 'transcendence' as opposed to 'immanence' is not a satisfactory basis for judging whether it is appropriately used as the language of liturgy. It explores language of liturgy serves to raise worshippers' awareness of a sense of 'otherness', or of 'The Kingdom of God'. However, such heightened awareness need not imply entry into an imaginary world that is entirely separate from the concerns of the everyday, secular world. The chapter proposes a set of criteria for worship which can serve to judge the appropriateness and effectiveness of both traditional and contemporary liturgical language. It shows that as a written text carries in embryo most of the elements of its potential performance, it is valid to use the word 'text' to mean any utterance, whether spoken or written.
