Lutheran Worship

Lutheran Worship

“It is the voice of the Church that is heard singing together. It is not you that sings, it is the Church that is singing, and you, as a member of the Church, may share in its song. Thus all singing together... serves to widen our spiritual horizon, make us see our little company as a member of the great Christian Church on earth, and help us willingly and gladly to join our singing, be it feeble or good, to the song of the Church.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Life Together

Foundations for the Christian Assembly

From the earliest days of the Church, Christian worship has been marked by a pattern of gathering, word, meal, and sending. These basic elements – revealed in the New Testament, the writings of the early Church, the Lutheran confessions, and ecumenical documents – constitute the center of the Church’s worship.

“Beginning with Moses and all the prophets, Jesus interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures... When he was at table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.”

Luke 24:27, 30-31a

“The baptized devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Acts 2:42

“On Sunday all are gathered together in unity. The records of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read for as long as time allows. The presider exhorts and invites us into the pattern of these good things. Then we all stand and offer prayer.

When we have concluded the prayer, bread is set out together with wine. The presider then offers prayer and thanksgiving and the people sing out their assent, saying the ‘Amen.’ There is a distribution of the things over which thanks has been said and each person participates, and these things are sent to those who are not present.

Those who are prosperous give what they wish according to each one’s own choice, and the collection is deposited with the presider, who aids orphans and widows, those in want because of disease, those in prison, and foreigners who are staying here.

We hold this meeting together on Sunday since it is the first day, on which God, having transformed darkness and matter, created the world. On the same day Jesus Christ our Savior rose from the dead. On Sunday he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them these things which we present to you.”

From the Apology of Justin Martyr (c. 150 A.D.)

“It is taught among us that one holy Christian church will be and remain forever. This is the assembly of all believers among whom the Gospel is preached in its purity and the holy sacraments are administered according to the Gospel.

For it is sufficient for the true unity of the Christian church that the Gospel be preached in conformity with a pure understanding of it and that the sacraments be administered in accordance with the divine Word. It is not necessary for the true unity of the Christian church that humanly instituted ceremonies should be observed uniformly in all places.”

Augsburg Confession VII (1530)

“The Church earnestly desires that all the faithful be led to that full, conscious, and active participation in liturgical celebrations called for by the very nature of the liturgy. Such participation by the Christian people as ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people’ (1 Peter 2:9; see 2:4-5) is their right and duty by reason of their baptism.”

Constitution on the Liturgy, Second Vatican Council (1963)

“The services of Lutheran Book of Worship embody the tradition of worship which received its characteristic shape during the early centuries of the Church’s existence and was reaffirmed during the Reformation era.

Freedom and flexibility in worship is a Lutheran inheritance, and there is room for ample variety in ceremony, music, and liturgical form. Having considered their resources and their customs, congregations will find their own balance between fully using the ritual and musical possibilities of the liturgy, and a more modest practice. A full service should not allow secondary ceremonies to eclipse central elements of the liturgy, nor should a simple service omit essential or important parts.

Every service, whether elaborate or spare, sung or said, should be within the framework of the common rite of the Church, so that the integrity of the rite is always respected and maintained.”

Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)

In addition to the Service settings and Hymns that are printed in the Lutheran Book of Worship, Grace Lutheran Church uses With One Voice, as a supplement which provides additional Service settings and Hymns. Many of the With One Voice settings and hymns are contemporary.

Grace Lutheran Church also uses two worship settings that were written by Marty Haugen, a contemporary composer. Now the Feast and Celebration is a setting of the Service of Holy Communion. Holden Evening Prayer is a favorite of many for its melodic setting of the Service at the close of the day.

Grace Lutheran Church has also developed a Hymn Setting which follows the tradition of the Chorale Service of Martin Luther’s Deutsche Messe of 1523. In this setting, the Service is simplified, and only hymns, no liturgical responses, are sung.

The congregation gathers around the Table of the Lord on each Lord’s Day (Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. Holy Communion is also celebrated on major Church Holidays. The liturgical and historic lessons of the Revised Common Lectionary form the basis for our worship.

Mid-week Services are held on the Wednesdays of Advent and the Wednesdays of Lent. These services begin with a Soup Supper at 6:00 p.m. and Evening Prayer at 7:00 p.m. During these services the pastor usually will focus on appropriate themes for the season.

Everyone is invited to come and worship the Lord our God with the congregation of Grace Lutheran Church. There are no dress codes or other requirements for your attendance. Please do come and worship with us!