James Farwell is Professor of Theology and Liturgy and Director of Anglican Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary, with years of parish and cathedral ministry in addition to his work in the academy. He is the author of This is the Night: Suffering, Salvation, and the Liturgies of Holy Week (T&T Clark 2005); The Liturgy Explained (2nd ed. Morehouse 2013); and numerous book chapters and journal articles in theology, liturgy, and comparative studies. He lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

“Like the careful liturgical planning and the bodily movement in presiding that James Farwell so eloquently recommends, this book is elegant, collected, dignified, and befitting the festal celebration of Sunday. Marked by profound theology and deep humanity, the book also has moments of sharp humor. While the liturgical resources it helps to curate are Episcopalian, clearly and thoroughly presented in their current form, the spirit here is in every sense ecumenical. Farwell’s vision of best practices in ritual can help us all.”—Gordon Lathrop, Professor of Liturgy Emeritus, United Lutheran Seminary, and Past President, Societas Liturgica

“If you like liturgy, lead liturgy, teach liturgy, are part of liturgy, want to know more about liturgy—read this book! The more choices we are given, the more we need to know about ritual, liturgy, the liturgical year, the ‘sacred geography of liturgy,’ leadership, delegation, and knowing ‘in our bones’ the ordo of parish liturgy to draw on the vast array of official resources now available to us. For those responsible for the cure of souls and often isolated from academic liturgical conversations, this book will be extremely helpful in making informed and pastoral decisions regarding the many choices available for preparing Sundays in the parish.”—Lizette Larson-Miller, Past President, International Anglican Liturgical Consultation, and Canon Precentor, Diocese of Huron

“Ritual Excellence is a must-read for all involved in planning and leading worship. ‘The primary act of pastoral care,’ as Farwell names it, involves knowing in our bones the structure and pace of the liturgy, composed of physical actions and not only words: We feel its rhythm and sequence, fixed and variable, in a community event that, like play, is an end in itself as we enact the reconciliation of God and all creation through Paschal connection between Baptism and Eucharist every Sunday.”—Juan M. C. Oliver, former Custodian of the Book of Common Prayer