The word congregation comes from Latin roots: Con meaning together, and gregarium, meaning herd. So when people congregate, it means they herd together. Any group of people who come together to do anything can be called a congregation, but we use this word mostly to describe a group who come together to worship. One common characteristic of many religions is that they have distinct styles of worship for individuals praying alone as opposed to groups who worship together. When worshiping together, the members of the congregation reinforce a collective worship experience. Styles such as call and response, antiphonal chant and communal song all require a congregation.