Some interesting thoughts here from Stanley Hauerwas on Liturgy- He speaks of the "sermon" drawing us beyond what we think we need and want. As a preacher who likes to dialogue with the congregation I find this compelling- my aim is so often to draw people out and too often I think the mini lecture/ speech/ exhortation that is the sermon leaves many folk behind, they can and do switch off...
His assertion that the whole congregation should be involved, actively involved with the service is of course returning us (as he points out) to the meaning of and reason for liturgy...
" If you compete with television then television is going to win, it's so good at what it does. The liturgy has got to be a real alternative to that..."
Food for thought...