What you do affects how you pray. Reverent, somewhat formal behavior helps put you into the proper frame of mind to appear before Christ Himself. The more of a difference we draw between our everyday actions and our conduct in worship, the more we remind ourselves that we are in a special and holy place that demands more of us.
On the other hand, jumping around high-fiving each other at the Peace, waving our hands in the air, holding hands and hoisting them high for all to see, and generally behaving as if we are at a party or a rock concert changes the focus from what's happening on the altar to what WE and OUR BUDDIES are doing.
The English have always done ceremonial better than anyone else, and they have an instinctive understanding of what "works" on formal occasions. The apex of that was Queen Elizabeth's coronation, but you can see it even in the House of Commons (as rowdy as that joint gets from time to time) or just an ordinary service even according to the New Prayer Book.
In the case of many (not all) Episcopalians, it's become as a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal . . . because they no longer believe. But at least their conduct in church isn't detracting from worship.
Of course the silliest Catholic service (as long as the Mass is valid) is superior to the non-worship of the loony Episcopalian contingent. But how much better to have BOTH a valid Mass AND a reverent congregation focussed on Christ instead of their silly selves.
Good post AM. If folks are generally un-edjumcated as regards the Faith, forms of the litugy should be used that teach. I still think it looks like MAHONY the LIVING PLANET attacking Earth and a buncha Marvel super heroes are defending it...
Freegards
That's certainly true. However, as you observed above, a fine liturgy does not, in the Episcopal church, directly correlate with a believing Christian congregation. And the Roman Catholic generation that grew up with your Sister Mary Attila and her fine rules of deportment abandoned their faith at the first whiff of a birth control pill. So what's up with that?