The Use of the Chalice in the Holy Supper

Historically and traditionally Lutherans only used a Chalice for the blood of Christ in the Eucharist. Individual cups were never seen. We got that idea from the Reformed churches who did not use wine. Lutherans in America “borrowed” this from the Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians and Congregationalists because we intentionally (unfortunately) wanted to look more “Reformed” …

The Use of Greater & Lesser Glorias During Holy Week

The term rubric comes from the Latin rubrica, literally 'a law with its title written in red'; from the Latin ruber (red). Rubrics are instructions for the conduct of the Divine Service. Gloria Patri The Gloria Patri (Latin for "Glory to the Father"), also known as the “Lesser Doxology,” is traditionally chanted or said in …

Reverence in the Public Reading of Holy Scripture

There is a simple, yet reverent, formula for announcing the readings in the Divine Service. The formula we inherited from Lutheran Book of Worship and Lutheran Worship as found now in the Lutheran Service Book Lectionaries is unfortunate. I wish LBW, LW and LSB had not altered the formula used in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) …

The Divine Service-Service of The Word: Part 6 – Hymn of the Day, Sermon, Votum, Offering, Offertory, Prayer of the Church

The Rite The Hymn of The Day is the chief hymn of the service. This hymn follows the theme of the readings and sets the stage for the sermon. The singing of hymns has been traditionally been a strong feature of Lutheran worship. Since the Reformation, Lutherans have been noted for their interest in the …

Worship as “Work”

In June of 2020, by the grace of God, I completed my 41ST year in pastoral ministry. I have been the recipient of innumerable blessings during these years. Yet, there have also been many disappointments. Early in my ministry I invented a term for the chief of these disappointments: “churchianity.” This is my term for …

Teach Us to Pray

I’m often asked how I learned to pray. Obviously, the best teacher is the Lord Jesus Himself, and the prayer He gave to His disciples. It’s simple, filled with humility, yet it also exalts God. I cannot encourage enough the study of Luther's explanations of the Lord's Prayer in the Small Catechism. Then, I would …

Chanting – Part 2

How did chanting come to Lutherans in America? When Protestant Christianity made its way into the New World, it did not leave its anti-Catholic sentiments behind. Following the lead of their Puritanical neighbors, many of our Lutheran ancestors who came to North America utterly rejected anything that resembled a Catholic service, including chanting. (Beisel) However, …

The Divine Service, Service of The Word: Part 5 – Readings, Gradual, Alleluia and Verse, Holy Gospel, Creed

The Rite In the middle ages the Old Testament Reading was deleted from the Divine Service. It was also absent in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941). In recent years its use has become more and more prevalent. Our Christian faith is built on and springs out of Old Testament roots. We hear a Word from the …

Decorum (Irreverence in Worship)

Quite frankly, I am of the opinion that part of the issue of the irreverence in worship, the passive aggressive refusal to participate in liturgy and hymnody, and the discourteous actions toward God’s Word have to do with ignorance, laziness and apathy on the one hand, and with attire on the other. As it is …

The Office of Matins: Rite and Ceremony

Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book instructs: There are two traditions concerning the liturgist’s position in leading Matins. 1) The service may center on the altar as the constant symbol of God’s presence. The liturgist stands before the altar for responsive versicles, psalms and prayers. 2) The service may be conducted without reference to the altar …