Review: Galli, Beyond smells and bells

I just finished reading Mark Galli's very approachable book, "Beyond smells and bells." With this book Galli is trying to provide a means for folks unfamiliar with the form and language of traditional liturgy a means to begin to understand it. The book is not for people of have lived with and who enjoy formal liturgy, but rather for those (new members or folks with questions perhaps) who find themselves wondering what all the liturgy is about. And in that narrow focus the book succeeds wonderfully. Galli makes reference to notions and language that Catholics, Episcopalians, Lutherans Methodists and Presbyterians use all the time. But he explains them in language that folks from non-liturgical traditions will find helpful.

For example, Galli includes a discussion of what we in liturgical churches understand happens when we gather, notions of assembly and community of faith, and the unique character that we take on as we gather to worship. Galli deals with the concept in 4-5 pages (which is the average length of all the chapters). Concurrently I am reading a book (Holy People) by Gordon Lathrop who takes 20 pages (and ultimately the entire book) to lay out the same concept. Geared for different markets, both are helpful in their niche.

I would recommend Galli's book for folks who are curious about the meaning imparted to elements of our liturgy, in language for folks not accustomed to such topics. It would be a good resource for a new member of a church that engages in such liturgical practices, but who comes from a non-liturgical tradition, say as part of a bibliography for new members. It's not really for musicians, let alone musicians in traditional-liturgical congregations. But it would be a good go-to book when such a musician is asked about the liturgy by someone who is earnestly curious about what we do and why. I would suggest that every (liturgical) church library have a copy on hand. I would give it more pluses if it were more targeted toward this blog's usual audience, but it's for a different crowd I think. It's a fine book for its target audience. ++