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A synod that values worship
A synod that values worship
One activity far exceeds all others in involving people directly with the life and work of a congregation. That activity is worship. Public worship is so central to our church experience that we couldn’t possibly conceive of the church without it. In worship we join together to confess our sin and to receive the precious news of God’s forgiveness in Christ. In worship we kneel beside those who share our faith and receive the body and blood of our Savior. In worship we witness and celebrate the new life that God creates in Holy Baptism. In worship, God conveys his grace to us in Word and sacrament, and we proclaim his grace with our songs of thanks and praise.
The Lutheran church has always been known for its emphasis on Christ-centered and gospel-proclaiming worship. From the time of the Reformation, the Lutheran church has also been a liturgical church. There is good reason for that. Martin Luther himself stressed the importance of holding on to the historic liturgies of the Christian church, since those liturgies provided the framework for regular proclamation—to members and visitors alike—of the timeless truths heard by Christians for centuries. Liturgical worship provides worshipers with a connection to generations of Christians who have gone before.
To be liturgical does not mean to be stale, stodgy, mindlessly repetitive, and tradition-bound. Rather, a liturgical church treasures those elements of worship that the church throughout the ages has found to be valuable and beneficial. Liturgical worship features familiar elements like the Confession of Sins, the Absolution, the Creed, the Psalms, the Scripture readings, the Prayer of the Day, as well as various responses sung by the congregation such as the Kyrie (Lord, have mercy), the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy), and the Gloria (Glory to God).
At the same time, liturgical worship can and does incorporate new and fresh contributions to our worship heritage. It’s not surprising that our own synod has regularly produced new hymnals and other resources for worship. The new worship resources have enabled us to incorporate newer hymns and musical settings into our worship. Some of my (and possibly your) favorite hymns in our current hymnal were not a part of the other hymnal.
The Lutheran church has always been known for its emphasis on Christ-centered and gospel-proclaiming worship. From the time of the Reformation, the Lutheran church has also been a liturgical church. There is good reason for that. Martin Luther himself stressed the importance of holding on to the historic liturgies of the Christian church, since those liturgies provided the framework for regular proclamation—to members and visitors alike—of the timeless truths heard by Christians for centuries. Liturgical worship provides worshipers with a connection to generations of Christians who have gone before.
To be liturgical does not mean to be stale, stodgy, mindlessly repetitive, and tradition-bound. Rather, a liturgical church treasures those elements of worship that the church throughout the ages has found to be valuable and beneficial. Liturgical worship features familiar elements like the Confession of Sins, the Absolution, the Creed, the Psalms, the Scripture readings, the Prayer of the Day, as well as various responses sung by the congregation such as the Kyrie (Lord, have mercy), the Sanctus (Holy, holy, holy), and the Gloria (Glory to God).
At the same time, liturgical worship can and does incorporate new and fresh contributions to our worship heritage. It’s not surprising that our own synod has regularly produced new hymnals and other resources for worship. The new worship resources have enabled us to incorporate newer hymns and musical settings into our worship. Some of my (and possibly your) favorite hymns in our current hymnal were not a part of the other hymnal.
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