Liturgy?

If you have never worshiped with the Liturgy of the Holy Communion, it might at first seem very foreign. But this way of worshiping God is ancient --it has its roots in the Church in the times of the Apostles, who gathered to pray the prayers (Acts 2:42), which meant the inherited jewish liturgies. This liturgy still provides the structure of the first part of our service, where we hear the Word of God read to us, and a sermon explaining its meaning.

To this was added, by our Lord's command, the celebration of Holy Communion, which developed as a formal liturgy very early on in the Church. Here is St. Justin Martyr, describing the Christian Worship Service he was a part of, written in the year A.D. 153:

"Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to ge’noito [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced."

...The same pattern we continue to this day...