Part 1: Pastor’s Pondering Lutheran Worship –
What’s It All About?
Why do we go to church? What’s it all about? Why do Lutherans do worship the way they do – and what does it mean? Is there a right way to worship? Some of us are lifelong Lutherans – we do it because we always have. Some are from a different church tradition and fell in love with this style of worship. Some come because we were invited and it is what it is - whatever it is. Some of us are new to this and we’re confused.
We need to remember at its heart church is about learning who we are, who God is, who are neighbors are. Here we learn about our relationship which each. Here we give thanks and praise to God. Here we learn about the life death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ and about the ongoing work of God’s Holy Spirit. Church is also about community we worship together and we lift up one another.
We gather together each week to worship God. To give God our thanks and praise. We come together as a congregation to celebrate the Eucharist. We come to be reminded of our baptism, to remember we are loved, to realize we have been called, sealed, and sent.
It’s easy to get diverted and ask questions like: is this hymn or praise song a good choice for our congregation; do the material choices for worship— bulletins or projection, plastic or glass cups, wafers or loaves—reflect our faith. It is easy to be sidelined by these specifics.
Most churches have an order of worship. One thing basically follows another at every service. One church’s service may have move music than another, some have sermons which last 45 minutes, some have communion every week, some once a month, some, every quarter, it depends on their tradition. One order is not right and the other wrong, they are just each different from the other.
Lutherans follow a specific order of worship, yet many of us wonder if there is a reason or a purpose for the parts of our service. The order was laid out in 150AD by the philosopher, Justin Martyr. He said the four essential components of worship are: the Gathering, hearing the Word, receiving the Meal, and the Sending.
This order is found in most mainline Christian churches. Many find comfort in this order, some have questions. Some find security in this pattern, and some are confused. God does not want us confused, nor does God want us to be robots. The time of worship is meant to be understood.
Until the mid-twentieth century, Catholic masses were conducted in Latin. Few understood. (It had to have been very difficult for a guest to follow.) Many were relieved when the mass was finally given in their own language. Some blame the downfall of the church on this change. The goal of worshiping together is to build one another up in the faith. To do so, the content of the worship should be both biblical and understandable.
“Liturgy” basically means “work of the people.” It is the order of the service. Over the next couple of months, we will look at the Lutheran worship service. It is not the liturgy, the exact order of service, the church furniture or the placement of the furniture, or the church building itself which are to be worshipped. Switching the order, the furniture, or the location of the worship service should not divert our attention from Whom we worship.
As we look at what worship is and why we conduct our service in the manner we do, we will look at scripture, history, and tradition to see why we do what we do and how it speaks to our spirit. Let these articles be a jumping off place for inner reflection and for discussion. If you have questions, would like more information please ask – and we’ll see if we can find an answer.
May your spirit be encouraged and lifted up as we gather to worship in the name of the + Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Part 2: Pastor’s Pondering Lutheran Worship –
For Beginners and Cradle Lutherans
We continue our look at how our liturgy feeds us, reminds us who we are, who God is, who are neighbors are,
and about our relationships with each.
Lutherans view (according to The Augsburg Confession) the “one holy, Christian church” as
“The assembly of all believers among whom the gospel is purely preached and the holy sacraments are administered according to the gospel.”
Here the word and sacrament are in place, the confession is stated.
Forms of worship are instituted by human being, so they may not be uniform.
The what’s, how’s, and why’s of Christian worship found among Lutherans are as old as the roots of our faith.
The Gathering
As we enter our worship space on Sunday morning, we are greeted by the musical prelude which helps to prepare our hearts and minds for worship. The four parts of our worship service are: the Gathering, hearing the Word, receiving the Meal, and the sending. The assembly is drawn together for worship with the Invocation, where the Pastor declares we gather together in the name of the Triune God. Some Sundays we are called to worship with a hymn which sets the theme of the coming worship. With this we are “Called into Worship” and we gather to experience the proclamation of the Gospel through Word and Sacrament.”
Confession of Sins
Gathering in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we are reminded of our tendency to separate ourselves from God and of God’s unending forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Together as the Body of Christ we offer words which reflect 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We confess our sins and receive Assurance of God’s Love as the Pastor declares God’s forgiveness of our sins and of God’s will to draw us into a loving relationship.
The Gathering Song
St. Augustine said that “to sing is to pray twice.” With our gathering hymn we enter whole heartedly into worship. With this first hymn we create an atmosphere of celebration and place ourselves in the proper frame of mind for worship.
The Apostolic Greeting
The Pastor then declares for us, “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” These words remind us of who God is and why we gather to worship.
Prayer of the Day
Together we pray the prayer of the day, a short prayer coordinated with the readings for the day in the church year. This prayer includes an invocation of God, an acknowledgment of some characteristic of God, a petition or request, a desired result of having the petition granted, and a conclusion where the prayer is offered through or in the name of Christ.
Kevin Strickland, ELCA executive for worship, noted the importance of paying attention to who does the gathering: not humans - but the Spirit.
“God still shows up, not just in worship but especially in worship, in the body that is Christ,” he said.
“We come, mingled and broken; we come with bruises and burdens, and we also come with joys …
and the incarnation is continuing to happen in our midst.”
May your spirit be encouraged and lifted up as we gather to worship, in the name of the + Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Part 3: Pastor’s Pondering “The Meal” –
The Sacrament of the Altar, Part 1……
We have gathered together in the name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have received God’s forgiveness. We have heard God’s Word and have sang praises to God’s name. We have professed our faith. We have prayed for God’s world. We have made peace with one another. Now, we are invited to dine at the Lord’s table.
We continue our worship by making an offering to God from the gifts God has given us. A time of reflection exists as our gifts are collected. During this time, we reflect on what we return, and why we offer it. Our sacrifice. Our grateful giving. After our gifts are collection the gifts are brought forward and offered to God for His blessing. First brought forward are the elements for the Lord’s supper, the bread and the wine. They are lifted up to the Lord and placed on the altar. Then our gifts are brought forward, lifted up and placed on the altar.
As the table is set, we proclaim a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. The invitation to the meal begins with the Preface, or introduction. We lift up our hearts and give thanks as we prepare to celebrate this meal. Then the Proper Preface is pronounced. Words of thanks for Christ’s giving of His body and blood for the love of God’s people. Next we sing the Sanctus, which is the Latin word for “Holy.” These words remind us of how the Hosanna rang out from the disciples on Palm Sunday. This shows our anticipation for Christ’s coming in the sacrament.
Then we hear the words Jesus spoke in the Upper Room when He instituted the Supper with His disciples. With these words the bread and wine are consecrated, set apart for God’s use in this meal. As a family we pray in the words our Lord taught us. We are then invited to the Table with words which remind us, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (I Corinthians 11:26)
We are invited forward to receive forgiveness, grace, love, acceptance from a loving, faithful, compassionate God. As we approach the altar, we follow the footsteps of Christ followers who have gone before us. Realizing our past is forgiven, we come to the table, both whole and flawed, to stand before God knowing our shame and brokenness have been removed. Here God creates within us clean hearts.
The Sacrament of the Altar, Part 2……
As we arrive at the altar rail, we are aware of the split in the middle. There is a practical and a spiritual reason for this. As we look at the empty space we realize – it is not empty. It is full of those who are no longer with us, yet remain with us at moments of worship. If we do not make a space for them, if we do not acknowledge their presence here, we miss an important part of our worship service. In the sacrifice of the altar we are united with Christ and fellow believers around the world and across time. Here present, past and future, gather in the presence of the Lord to receive God’s love and forgiveness.
With hands held open we receive the bread. We humble ourselves to receive the body of Christ. Putting aside our human reaction to take something, for God’s forgiveness is a gift. This forgiveness, which Christ won when He suffered in His Body on the cross and where His blood was shed to redeem us, is promised as we eat and drink at the Lord’s Table.
Luther did not teach the bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Christ, as the catholic church taught. He taught that the mystery of the presence of Christ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper is “in, with, and under” the bread and the wine. In – where the bread and wine is, there is the body and blood of Christ. With – with the bread and wine we receive the body and blood of Christ. Under – the body and blood of Christ are hidden yet present under the bread and wine, since bread and wine still continue to exist.
As we grow weak when we do not eat physical food, eating the bread and the wine gives us strength to go out and reflect the love of God and serve our neighbor.
During communion we sing words which cause us to reflect on the gift given and the life received. After we have eaten, we have an opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of those no longer present, but with whom we have dined. When the meal has finished and the table has been cleared, we receive the benediction. With these words of blessing given in the name of the Triune God, our worship comes to an end.
Sending
We gather to worship, to lament, to take what we have received and use it for the good of others. Now, as our worship ends, we are reminded we are called so we can be sent. We sing our sending hymn and are then sent out to reflect the love of God.
Blessing to you all,
Pastor Tonia
What’s It All About?
Why do we go to church? What’s it all about? Why do Lutherans do worship the way they do – and what does it mean? Is there a right way to worship? Some of us are lifelong Lutherans – we do it because we always have. Some are from a different church tradition and fell in love with this style of worship. Some come because we were invited and it is what it is - whatever it is. Some of us are new to this and we’re confused.
We need to remember at its heart church is about learning who we are, who God is, who are neighbors are. Here we learn about our relationship which each. Here we give thanks and praise to God. Here we learn about the life death and resurrection of God’s Son, Jesus Christ and about the ongoing work of God’s Holy Spirit. Church is also about community we worship together and we lift up one another.
We gather together each week to worship God. To give God our thanks and praise. We come together as a congregation to celebrate the Eucharist. We come to be reminded of our baptism, to remember we are loved, to realize we have been called, sealed, and sent.
It’s easy to get diverted and ask questions like: is this hymn or praise song a good choice for our congregation; do the material choices for worship— bulletins or projection, plastic or glass cups, wafers or loaves—reflect our faith. It is easy to be sidelined by these specifics.
Most churches have an order of worship. One thing basically follows another at every service. One church’s service may have move music than another, some have sermons which last 45 minutes, some have communion every week, some once a month, some, every quarter, it depends on their tradition. One order is not right and the other wrong, they are just each different from the other.
Lutherans follow a specific order of worship, yet many of us wonder if there is a reason or a purpose for the parts of our service. The order was laid out in 150AD by the philosopher, Justin Martyr. He said the four essential components of worship are: the Gathering, hearing the Word, receiving the Meal, and the Sending.
This order is found in most mainline Christian churches. Many find comfort in this order, some have questions. Some find security in this pattern, and some are confused. God does not want us confused, nor does God want us to be robots. The time of worship is meant to be understood.
Until the mid-twentieth century, Catholic masses were conducted in Latin. Few understood. (It had to have been very difficult for a guest to follow.) Many were relieved when the mass was finally given in their own language. Some blame the downfall of the church on this change. The goal of worshiping together is to build one another up in the faith. To do so, the content of the worship should be both biblical and understandable.
“Liturgy” basically means “work of the people.” It is the order of the service. Over the next couple of months, we will look at the Lutheran worship service. It is not the liturgy, the exact order of service, the church furniture or the placement of the furniture, or the church building itself which are to be worshipped. Switching the order, the furniture, or the location of the worship service should not divert our attention from Whom we worship.
As we look at what worship is and why we conduct our service in the manner we do, we will look at scripture, history, and tradition to see why we do what we do and how it speaks to our spirit. Let these articles be a jumping off place for inner reflection and for discussion. If you have questions, would like more information please ask – and we’ll see if we can find an answer.
May your spirit be encouraged and lifted up as we gather to worship in the name of the + Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Part 2: Pastor’s Pondering Lutheran Worship –
For Beginners and Cradle Lutherans
We continue our look at how our liturgy feeds us, reminds us who we are, who God is, who are neighbors are,
and about our relationships with each.
Lutherans view (according to The Augsburg Confession) the “one holy, Christian church” as
“The assembly of all believers among whom the gospel is purely preached and the holy sacraments are administered according to the gospel.”
Here the word and sacrament are in place, the confession is stated.
Forms of worship are instituted by human being, so they may not be uniform.
The what’s, how’s, and why’s of Christian worship found among Lutherans are as old as the roots of our faith.
The Gathering
As we enter our worship space on Sunday morning, we are greeted by the musical prelude which helps to prepare our hearts and minds for worship. The four parts of our worship service are: the Gathering, hearing the Word, receiving the Meal, and the sending. The assembly is drawn together for worship with the Invocation, where the Pastor declares we gather together in the name of the Triune God. Some Sundays we are called to worship with a hymn which sets the theme of the coming worship. With this we are “Called into Worship” and we gather to experience the proclamation of the Gospel through Word and Sacrament.”
Confession of Sins
Gathering in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, we are reminded of our tendency to separate ourselves from God and of God’s unending forgiveness, grace, and mercy. Together as the Body of Christ we offer words which reflect 1 John 1:8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We confess our sins and receive Assurance of God’s Love as the Pastor declares God’s forgiveness of our sins and of God’s will to draw us into a loving relationship.
The Gathering Song
St. Augustine said that “to sing is to pray twice.” With our gathering hymn we enter whole heartedly into worship. With this first hymn we create an atmosphere of celebration and place ourselves in the proper frame of mind for worship.
The Apostolic Greeting
The Pastor then declares for us, “The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” These words remind us of who God is and why we gather to worship.
Prayer of the Day
Together we pray the prayer of the day, a short prayer coordinated with the readings for the day in the church year. This prayer includes an invocation of God, an acknowledgment of some characteristic of God, a petition or request, a desired result of having the petition granted, and a conclusion where the prayer is offered through or in the name of Christ.
Kevin Strickland, ELCA executive for worship, noted the importance of paying attention to who does the gathering: not humans - but the Spirit.
“God still shows up, not just in worship but especially in worship, in the body that is Christ,” he said.
“We come, mingled and broken; we come with bruises and burdens, and we also come with joys …
and the incarnation is continuing to happen in our midst.”
May your spirit be encouraged and lifted up as we gather to worship, in the name of the + Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Part 3: Pastor’s Pondering “The Meal” –
The Sacrament of the Altar, Part 1……
We have gathered together in the name of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We have received God’s forgiveness. We have heard God’s Word and have sang praises to God’s name. We have professed our faith. We have prayed for God’s world. We have made peace with one another. Now, we are invited to dine at the Lord’s table.
We continue our worship by making an offering to God from the gifts God has given us. A time of reflection exists as our gifts are collected. During this time, we reflect on what we return, and why we offer it. Our sacrifice. Our grateful giving. After our gifts are collection the gifts are brought forward and offered to God for His blessing. First brought forward are the elements for the Lord’s supper, the bread and the wine. They are lifted up to the Lord and placed on the altar. Then our gifts are brought forward, lifted up and placed on the altar.
As the table is set, we proclaim a hymn of praise and thanksgiving. The invitation to the meal begins with the Preface, or introduction. We lift up our hearts and give thanks as we prepare to celebrate this meal. Then the Proper Preface is pronounced. Words of thanks for Christ’s giving of His body and blood for the love of God’s people. Next we sing the Sanctus, which is the Latin word for “Holy.” These words remind us of how the Hosanna rang out from the disciples on Palm Sunday. This shows our anticipation for Christ’s coming in the sacrament.
Then we hear the words Jesus spoke in the Upper Room when He instituted the Supper with His disciples. With these words the bread and wine are consecrated, set apart for God’s use in this meal. As a family we pray in the words our Lord taught us. We are then invited to the Table with words which remind us, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (I Corinthians 11:26)
We are invited forward to receive forgiveness, grace, love, acceptance from a loving, faithful, compassionate God. As we approach the altar, we follow the footsteps of Christ followers who have gone before us. Realizing our past is forgiven, we come to the table, both whole and flawed, to stand before God knowing our shame and brokenness have been removed. Here God creates within us clean hearts.
The Sacrament of the Altar, Part 2……
As we arrive at the altar rail, we are aware of the split in the middle. There is a practical and a spiritual reason for this. As we look at the empty space we realize – it is not empty. It is full of those who are no longer with us, yet remain with us at moments of worship. If we do not make a space for them, if we do not acknowledge their presence here, we miss an important part of our worship service. In the sacrifice of the altar we are united with Christ and fellow believers around the world and across time. Here present, past and future, gather in the presence of the Lord to receive God’s love and forgiveness.
With hands held open we receive the bread. We humble ourselves to receive the body of Christ. Putting aside our human reaction to take something, for God’s forgiveness is a gift. This forgiveness, which Christ won when He suffered in His Body on the cross and where His blood was shed to redeem us, is promised as we eat and drink at the Lord’s Table.
Luther did not teach the bread and wine became the Body and Blood of Christ, as the catholic church taught. He taught that the mystery of the presence of Christ body and blood in the Lord’s Supper is “in, with, and under” the bread and the wine. In – where the bread and wine is, there is the body and blood of Christ. With – with the bread and wine we receive the body and blood of Christ. Under – the body and blood of Christ are hidden yet present under the bread and wine, since bread and wine still continue to exist.
As we grow weak when we do not eat physical food, eating the bread and the wine gives us strength to go out and reflect the love of God and serve our neighbor.
During communion we sing words which cause us to reflect on the gift given and the life received. After we have eaten, we have an opportunity to light a candle in remembrance of those no longer present, but with whom we have dined. When the meal has finished and the table has been cleared, we receive the benediction. With these words of blessing given in the name of the Triune God, our worship comes to an end.
Sending
We gather to worship, to lament, to take what we have received and use it for the good of others. Now, as our worship ends, we are reminded we are called so we can be sent. We sing our sending hymn and are then sent out to reflect the love of God.
Blessing to you all,
Pastor Tonia