The Divine Service, Service of the Word: Part 4 – Salutation and Collect

The Rite The Salutation is not merely a greeting, but a bestowing of the blessing of the Holy Spirit upon the people. It is not a pious wish for the Lord’s presence among us. It does not begin with “may…”. It is an indicative declaration of blessing. We exchange prayers for God’s presence among us …

Changing Liturgical Texts

I often hear liturgists attempting to update the language of liturgical texts. For example, I heard a liturgist change the Collect for Grace (Matins) from "ordered by Your governance” to “ordered by Your standards.” “Standards” completely ignores the concept of dominion, rule, and sovereignty. I heard another who said “Good, right, and beneficial” in the …

The Divine Service, Service of the Word: Part 3 – The Hymn of Praise

The Rite In Lutheran Service Book, Divine Service Setting Three, the Hymn of Praise is the Gloria In Excelsis (Latin for “Glory To God In The Highest”). Also called “The Greater Doxology,” this is an elaboration of the song of the angels over the fields of Bethlehem, which appears in St. Luke 2:14. The opening …

The Divine Service, Service of the Word: Part 2 – The Kyrie

The Rite The Kyrie (from “Kyrie, eleison” or “Lord, have mercy”) is a cry to the Lord for help and strength. In ancient times, the crowds would shout as the king entered their town. The church has taken over this prayer to greet its King Jesus Christ in the Divine Service. As the people long …

The Divine Service is “ordered” and “catholic”

In his 1964 book, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man, Marshall McLuhan wrote his famous maxim, "The medium is the message" – meaning that how something is communicated is an essential part of what is communicated. Prof. Kurt Marquart reminds us that “one of the prime requirements of evangelical liturgical form is that it cultivate …

“Contemporary” Liturgy?

For those whose eyebrows were raised upon seeing this post’s title, don’t worry … In the The Study of Liturgy (edited by Cheslyn Jones et. al., Oxford University Press, 1978) there is an interesting statement about the liturgy: It is concerned with past events, the saving work of Christ, but it is not concerned with …