Worship in the Lutheran Church

Luther’s Reforms to Worship

Lasting Effects

• Return Communion to the basics

• Worship in common language

• Retain the historic Western Rite

• Balance liberty and license

Pietism’s effect on Worship

Lasting Impressions:• House church replaces

corporate worship

• Emotional, not objective

• Means of grace devalued

• Historical patterns replaced by emotion

• Ex corde prayers

• Hymnody discarded

• Liturgy neither understood nor used

Rationalism’s effect on Worship

Lasting Impressions

• Repetition breeds monotony

• Preaching services replace Matens and Vespers

• Infrequent communion

• Word and Sacrament separated in the service

• Communion orders simplified and shortened

Revivalism’s effect on Worship

Revival Service

• Emotional songs

• Fiery sermon

• Altar call

Major Tenets of Romanticism

• Out of the English Industrial Revolution

• Glorification of the past

• Promote individual piety and social morality

• Emotionalism is the driving force

Three Significant Events

• Formation of the Western Rite

• Luther’s Revision of the Mass

• Influence of Revivalism on Lutheran Worship

Questions left over…

• Confession and Absolution

• Unaccompanied singing

• Baptism

• Nunc Dimittis

• Crucifix v. Cross

The Common Service (1888 in America)

Introit

Kyrie

Gloria

Collect

Epistle

Alleluia

Gospel

Creed

Sermon

General Prayer

• Preface

• Sanctus and Hosanna

• Exhortation to Communicants (eventually dropped)

• Lord’s Prayer and Words of Institution (or vice versa)

• Agnus Dei

• Distribution

• Collect of Thanksgiving

• Benediction

WELS: Synodical Conference Era

WELS

• South German Missionary Societies

• Pietist influence

• Gather German Lutherans

• Rural base

• minimally liturgical

LCMS

• North German Theological Seminaries

• Confessional influence

• Establish Lutheranism in America

• Urban base

• Historic liturgical worship

WELS: Synodical Conference Era

“Be it resolved that our congregation, founded on the ground of the apostles and prophets, whereon Jesus is the cornerstone, makes confession of the Augsburg confession and Luther’s Small Catechism. However, never may or shall a preacher of the said congregation use the Rite of the Old Lutheran Church, whether in Baptism or the Lord’s Supper.”

• Charter at Grace Lutheran, Milwaukee

WELS: The Lutheran Hymnal

Significant Additions

• The Common Service

• Lutheran Hymnody

• Uniformity with the Synodical Conference

WELS: Christian Worship + Supplement

Significant Additions

• Expanded hymnody

• Sung Psalms

• Additional orders of service

Symbolism in worship

• Altars

• Pastor location

• Stand-sit-kneel

New symbolism

Processional Cross and Candles

• Symbolic of Christ

• Entry: Christ is the only reason we have for worship

• Exit: we follow our Savior into the world as we live our Christian lives

Worship in the Lutheran Church