Liturgy

Invocation – Worship begins “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” We remember that we can enter the presence of God and worship Him because He has made us His children through baptism into His holy name (Matthew 28:19).

 

Confession and Absolution – We come before our God in humility, confessing our sins before him, and joyfully receiving His proclamation of forgiveness in Christ for all of our sins (John 20:19-23).

 

Introit – The introit reveals the general theme of the day. It is usually based on one or more passages of Scripture. The selected Scripture readings will also relate to this theme.

 

Gloria Patri (“Glory be to the Father”) – We praise God, singing, “Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.”

 

Kyrie Eleison (“Lord, Have Mercy”) – We pray to the Lord to send us his aid in all of our needs (Mark 10:47).

 

Gloria in Excelsis (“Glory to God in the Highest”) – We praise our Triune God who has created us, redeemed us, and sanctified us (Luke 2:14; John 1:29).

 

Salutation – The pastor greets the congregation, “The Lord be with you.” (Ruth 2:4) The congregation responds, “And with thy spirit,” a prayer that the Holy Spirit equips the pastor to serve as the mouthpiece of Christ (2 Timothy 4:22).

 

Collect – The collect, or prayer of the day, is a brief prayer related to the theme of the day.

 

First Reading – The first Scripture reading generally comes from the Old Testament. It may record a prophecy that will be fulfilled by Christ in the Gospel reading.

 

Psalm or Gradual – Either a Psalm or a Gradual may be spoken or sung between the first two Scripture readings. The Psalms are a collection of hymns of the Old Testament people of the Lord. The Gradual is typically composed of a combination of Scripture passages.

 

Second Reading – The second Scripture reading typically comes from a New Testament epistle and applies the word of God to the life of the believer.

 

Verse of the Day – A Scripture passage related to the theme of the day is spoken or sung. In response to this verse and in anticipation of the Holy Gospel, the congregation sings, “Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.”

 

Holy Gospel – The congregation stands to hear the Holy Gospel, which records for us the work and teaching of Christ our Lord. Before and after the Gospel lesson the congregation briefly glorifies and praises the Lord in song.

 

Creed – The congregation proclaims the true Christian faith using one of the three creeds (Apostles’ Creed, Nicene Creed, or Athanasian Creed). These creeds are summaries of the chief teachings of the Christian faith. They have been spoken by Christians for centuries.

 

Sermon – The pastor delivers a message typically based on one of the three Scripture lessons appointed for the day. The sermon applies the law and the gospel to the lives of the faithful.

 

Offertory – The people pray to the Lord to renew them through their hearing of His word, echoing the words of King David (Psalm 51:10-12).

 

Prayer of the Church – Led by the pastor, the worshipers bring before the Lord various expressions of praise, thanksgiving, and requests for themselves and on behalf of others in their community, in their nation, or around the world (1 Timothy 2:1-4).

 

Preface – The Preface consists of several responsive greetings and encouragements in preparation for the Lord’s Supper (2 Timothy 4:22, Colossians 3:1, Psalm 136). The Proper Preface is a prayer that reflects the theme of the season or of the day.

 

Sanctus (“Holy, Holy, Holy”) – The people praise their Lord as they anticipate approaching the altar and receiving Him (Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9).

 

Lord’s Prayer – The pastor and/or the congregation speak or sing the prayer that Jesus taught His disciples to pray (Matthew 6:9-13).

 

The Words of Our Lord – The pastor consecrates the bread and the wine, speaking or singing the words with which Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Through the power of His word, Jesus promises to be present with His true body under the bread and with his true blood under the wine (Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25).

 

Pax Domini (“The Peace of the Lord”) – The pastor proclaims peace to the congregation. Through the body and blood of Jesus, we have true peace.

 

Agnus Dei (“Lamb of God”) – Jesus Christ is the true Lamb of God who sacrificed and shed his blood to forgive all the sins of the world (John 1:29).

 

Distribution – The communicants approach the altar to receive the true body and the true blood of their Lord and Savior for the forgiveness of their sins and for the strengthening of their faith.

 

Nunc Dimittis (Song of Simeon) – Having received the Savior of the world personally, the people praise the Lord as they prepare to depart in peace (Luke 2:29-32).

 

Thanksgiving – The pastor leads the congregation in a prayer of thanksgiving for the gifts that the Lord has granted through the Lord’s Supper (Psalm 107:1).

 

Salutation and Benedicamus – The Pastor greets the congregation, “The Lord be with you” (Ruth 2:4). The congregation responds, “And with thy spirit” (2 Timothy 4:22). The pastor and the congregation bless and thank the Lord (Psalm 103:1).

 

Benediction – The pastor pronounces the blessing of the Lord on the congregation (Numbers 6:24-26).