The first time I attended Our Saviour Lutheran Church, I have to admit it was a little bit strange to be honest. Weird really, especially since I’m from a hyper charismatic background, where people falling on the floor, shaking, hysterically laughing, and even barking like dogs is considered quite normal to many who attend such churches! Maybe it would be better to say it was different than I was accustomed to instead.
My reasoning behind this post is simply for a little overview of the Divine Service in a liturgical church such as ours, which I’m sure would have been helpful to me when I first began to attend. In fact, I have to say that over time, not only do I now find the liturgy a thing of beauty, I also find it both practical and logical. So I will now do my best to describe the Divine Service in layman’s terms, using audio recorded live from last Sunday, 22nd January, 2022. Anyone reading this who is already well versed in the liturgy, please accept my apologies for probably butchering such a thing of beauty!
To begin with, you should be aware that in liturgical churches, the Divine Service is not purely experience with your voice and ears, but equally through visual means. Liturgical colours change throughout the church year, depending on where abouts the service falls in the church calendar. You will also notice differences in look and feel at different times too. Such as there maybe a growing “sparseness” during Lent, leading up to a wonderful explosion of colour and life at Easter Sunday. I’m no expert on these things, but if you speak to someone who is, you will find that everything in the liturgy is there for a very purposeful reason.
The main other thing I would like to point out before running through the Divine Service itself, is the role of the pastor. During the service he acts as a mouthpiece of the congregation towards God, and the mouthpiece of God towards those gathered. You will notice that sometimes he may be facing the congregation and speaking quite normally, then suddenly turn around with his back to you whilst talking or chanting instead. Don’t worry, he’s not losing it! What’s happening is that when he’s facing you, he is speaking with the authority of God to those gathered. Similar to the way an ambassador speaks to people on behalf of a greater authority, not with the authority he is speaking being his own, but as one authorised to speak on behalf of another. Providing he speaks accurately the message given to him, it has no less impact than hearing from the message giver directly. For example, when the pastor preaches God’s Word, or when he proclaims the absolution, he will be facing you, and addressing you with the full authority of God Himself.
On the other hand, when the pastor is facing towards the altar, he is addressing God on behalf of the congregation. It is not that he is taking control of the whole interaction between God and His people, but rather for the sake of order and peace, he addresses God on our behalf, but as one who is just as in need of God’s mercy and grace as the rest of us. Hopefully this may shed a little light onto a practice I first found a little confusing anyway.
So onto the trying to describe the way the service progresses. This is usually referred to as the “Order of Service”, and can be followed by way of a particular book such as the Lutheran Service Book (as we use ourselves), designed for the purpose. Or quite possibly by way of a printed leaflet so you can follow along. At Our Saviour Lutheran Church, we also make use of printed leaflets, which are especially useful for times our service is broadcast online too. The service I will be referring to in this post can be followed along on the Order of Service linked here. When you look through the order of service I linked to, you will notice it is broken down into various sections of the service, usually with various sub headings. It is helpful to understand that the Divine Service has two threads running through the entire service, often referred to as the “ordinary” and the “propers”. Quite simply, the ordinary parts are those that remain the same week in and week out (e.g. Kyrie), whilst the propers are the parts that change along with the church calendar (e.g. the Bible readings).
As promised, the following is from the Divine Service held at Our Saviour Lutheran Church on Sunday 22nd January, 2022. I’ve broken down the various sections with its own audio clip so its easy to follow. If you’re in private, why not open the order of service and join in with the rest of the congregation?
Service Opening
For the sake of order, and to help those gathered to prepare themselves, a bell is rung approximately five minutes before the service begins, which signals those present to be silent and pray. Often this time will be led by the organist alone, and an attendant will light the candles on the altar. Shortly the pastor will enter, and greet the congregation warmly, also sharing any particular points we will praying for during the service. He will then invite us to open the service with the opening hymn.
Opening Hymn
God’s Own Child I Gladly Say It
Invocation
Following the opening hymn, the pastor will open the service in the Name of the Triune God.
Catechism Reading
A section of the catechism is read aloud responsively, which then leads into a short address based on the passage being read.
Confession & Absolution
This will then naturally lead the congregation into a corporate confession of sin, and absolution being pronounced by the pastor. (Please note this is not a replacement for individual confession)
Introit
This is a latin word meaning “entrance”, signifying the entrance the congregation into the celebration of the Eucharist. This is taken from the Book of Psalms, and can be sung or spoken. At Our Saviour we sing the psalms responsively, alternating between men and women.
Kyrie
This is an ancient prayer of the church from the Greek (transliteration Kyrie eleison) meaning “Lord have mercy”.
Gloria in Excelsis
From the Latin meaning “Glory to God in the Highest”, this is a hymn known as the hymn of the angels, as it is based on the words they used to announce the birth of Christ to the shepherds.
Salutation
A call and response between pastor and congregation, asking for the Lord to be with us.
Collect of the Day
A short time of silent personal prayer is followed by the collect of the day. This is designed to gather the prayers and focus of worship into one succinct prayer offered on behalf of the congregation.
Old Testament Reading
The Bible readings are taken from a Lectionary (we use the historic one year lectionary), which tie into the church calendar. Those churches using the same type of lectionary will be proclaiming the same Bible readings on the same Sunday as a rule. (No question of the pastor deciding on what he wants to preach about, then finding a Bible passage to suit!) Today’s reading was 2 Kings 5:1–15.
Psalm
Next there is a reading from the Psalms, which can be either spoken or sang. As previously, we choose to sing the Psalms responsively between men and women. Today’s Psalm was 110.
Epistle Reading
See note above on Old Testament Reading. Today’s Epistle reading was Romans 12:16–21.
Gradual
A couple of verses taken from a Psalm (spoken or sang) which leads into…
Alleluia & Verse
A hymn of praise to God, combined with a verse from God’s Word (usually a Psalm) which leads into the Gospel reading for the day.
Gospel Reading
The Gospel passage read is once again taken from the Lectionary, and is usually the basis for the sermon which will shortly follow. However this can also be taken from the previous Bible readings, or even a combination of them.
The Creed
The congregation corporately confesses the Christian faith through the historic creeds of the Church. Usually this is the Nicene Creed, but can sometimes be replaced with the Apostle’s Creed or the Athanasian Creed, depending on the church calendar.
Hymn of the Day
Immediately preceding the sermon the hymn of the day is sung. Today’s hymn is From God the Father, Virgin-Born
Sermon
Today’s sermon is from the text Matthew 8:1–13 and is preached by Pastor Tapani Simojoki.
Offertory
Immediately following the sermon, the offertory signals the preparation for the Eucharist. The congregation asks God to make them ready to receive the Body and Blood of Christ in the Sacrament.
Offering
Next an offering is taken up from the congregation (members often contribute by way of bank transfer instead), which is then brought before the altar, and thanks given to God.
Prayer of the Church
The pastor then leads the congregation in prayer for all things, including the specific requests mentioned at the opening of the service. I haven’t included the full audio here, simply the opening and closing of the prayer given.
Preface
The preface varies according to the season of the church calendar, which leads directly into the…
Sanctus
This is a hymn bringing forth praise to the thrice Holy name of God, as believers join with the angels in heaven to sing, “Holy, Holy, Holy...”
The Lord’s Prayer
The sanctus is followed immediately with the Lord’s Prayer spoken together.
Words of Institution
Next come the words spoken by Jesus to the Apostles, instituting the sacrament known as the Lord’s Supper. By doing so, the congregation is calling upon the Lord to feed us His body and blood through the elements of bread and wine, just as He promised to do.
Pax Domini
The peace of the Lord is proclaimed over the congregation by the pastor.
Agnus Dei
Then immediately prior to the distribution of the Lord’s Supper, a hymn is sung proclaiming Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
Distribution
The Lord’s Supper is distributed from the altar, usually to the accompaniment of hymns being sung by those who have already received the sacrament, or those waiting to receive.
Nunc Dimittis
This hymn follows the distribution, and is taken from the words of Simeon spoken in Luke chapter 2.
Thanksgiving
Thanks are given for the gift of the Sacrament, and its benefits.
Salutation & Benedicamus
This final salutation is given, prior to the final proclamation of God’s peace in the…
Benediction
This is the closing benediction proclaimed over the congregation by the pastor citing the Priestly Blessing spoken by Aaron in Numbers chapter 6.
Closing Hymn
Just as the service is opened with a hymn, so it is also closed. Today’s hymn was Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven. When the hymn is finished, the attendant extinguishes the candles on the altar, and the service is finished.
I am a Lutheran Pastor from the USA. I like the writer’s simple descriptions of the liturgy; it’s better than the one I give my Confirmation students! Our current liturgy (from our hymnal Evangelical Lutheran Worship, published in 2006) is almost identical in content, though with a few differences in the order followed: we do not include a portion of the catechism on a regular basis; we confess the Creed and sing the hymn of the day following the sermon, not preceding it. It was a pleasure reading your opening reflections on the liturgical colors and the meaning of the pastor’s orientation while presiding at worship.
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment Pastor Paul, it’s much appreciated. As someone who spent so long in non denominational churches, where literally anything goes, there is a real sense of safety in the liturgy that I believe is precious.