TLC Liturgy

Introduction toThe Lutheran Liturgy - Part 2: WORD

The past month we have learned about the first part of the service: The Gathering. We now turn to the second part of the service, the Liturgy of the Word.

Is there a reason for all of the scripture readings we have? Why scripture readings and not readings from interesting contemporary writers instead? What are we trying to do in this part of the service? Is the Liturgy of the Word meant to be a period of religious instruction or edification?

Mark Searle writes, “ If so, perhaps discussion groups, DVD’s and other things would do the job better. But the conclusion of each reading gives us a clue.”
“This is the Word of the Lord,” the reader says. “Thanks be to God!” we reply.
This is the Word of Lord; not instruction about God, but the Word of God, the Word addressed to us by God himself. Matthew 4:4; Colossians 3:16

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song.
The first Bible reading is usually from one of the 39 books of the Old Testament. The exception is during the season of Easter when the first lesson is from the New Testament book of Acts.

The Psalm is a response to the first lesson and has historically been sung. Known as the Psalter, the psalms are a collection of prayers and songs composed throughout Israel’s history.

The second Bible reading is usually from one of the New Testament letters. These letters bear the witness of the early church.

The Holy Gospel is welcomed by the congregation in the singing of the acclamation: a loud, eager expression of praise. This acclamation finds its scriptural roots in John’s gospel. Many of those who had been following Jesus fell away when they found his teachings to be “too hard.” Jesus asked the remaining disciples, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life.” With Simon Peter we welcome the Lord’s life giving word. John 6:68
We acclaim the living Word, Jesus Christ, present in the gospel readings from one of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We respond to the living word by saying, “Praise to you, O Christ!”

The Bible is rich with story and image. The stories and images are meant to address us directly. The Word of God is a living thing, which invites our response in action and prayer. It raises our curiosity and makes us wonder. It calls us to a process of continual conversion.

Lutheran preaching characteristically emphasizes Law and Gospel, two counter-balancing dimension through which God meets us in the Word. The Law – by clarifying the expectations of right relationship—confronts us with our failures and sin. The Gospel – embodied in the life of Jesus – consoles us with the good news of God’s gracious acceptance of us despite our failings.

Even a poor sermon can be useful; because the Holy Spirit is active in ways we can’t always understand. Sometimes we listen intently to every word. Other times a particular idea or turn of phrase will catch our imagination and we’ll wander off into contemplation.

Part of our excitement and sense of expectation about worship has to do with an unknown element: We’re not sure how the preacher will make the Bible come alive for us. We’re not sure what exactly to anticipate, but we are sure that, through the power of the Spirit, something significant will happen.

The Hymn of the Day is one of the central musical components in the Lutheran liturgy. Its purpose is to help focus on the central theme of the particular Sunday or festival of the church year being celebrated. For Lutherans, that central theme is determined by the appointed Scripture lessons, especially the Gospel, as they unfold in the context of the church year. (The appointed lessons are called the Lectionary).

The proclamation is heard first in the Scripture lessons and Gospel, continued and applied in the sermon, sung by the congregation and confessed in the Creed. Having been addressed by God’s word and having responded in song we rise to profess our faith, using the words of either the Nicene or the Apostle’s Creed.

The creeds link us to one another and articulate, in concentrated form, what we hold in common to be our most basic beliefs. The creeds link us to history. In reciting them we join ourselves to believers in the past, some who professed these very words at great risk to their lives. The creeds also served as a highly condensed set of answers to difficult questions in the early church. The words and phrases represent the resolution of arguments hammered out in those first defining centuries. Creeds are concise ways of telling bout God’s grace throughout time.

In the prayers of the church, we extend ourselves outward and forward. The prayers move in sequence through concern for the whole church, the nations, those in need, and the congregation. They always end in hope giving thanks for those who are at rest and looking forward to the life of the world to come.

In the Kyrie we asked God’s mercy for the whole human family. Now we name names of people, places, and events of special concern. Our prayer reminds us that we are bound in Christ to sisters and brothers across the world.

We also call out the names of those most dear to us, whose struggles and victories we know intimately. We bear one another’s burdens. Our prayer keeps before us relationships that call for our action and love. I Timothy 2:1-2

Pastor Ann

pastorann@trinitylutheran-cda.org