The Lutheran Liturgy, Pt 2

Glory be to God on high!

So continues Setting Two of the Lutheran Liturgy from the 1958 Service Book and Hymnal. This is my favorite section of the liturgy, I think, and what most often has been playing in the background of my mind these past couple of weeks. This is the Gloria in Excelsis, adapted by Regina Fryxell:

Glory be to God on high!

And on earth peace, goodwill toward men.
We praise thee, we bless thee, we worship thee,
We glorify thee, we give thanks to thee for thy great glory,
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ;
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
That takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.
For thou only art holy;
Thou only art the Lord;
Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
Art most high… in the glory of God the Father. Amen

The Lord be with you.

And with thy spirit.

This is followed by the Collect for the day and the Old Testament and Epistle readings, after which is sung the Alleluia (“Alleluia” sung 3 times). During Lent, instead of the Alleluia we would sing

Christ hath humbled himself,
and become obedient unto death,
even the death of the Cross.

Then, the Gospel lesson is read, prefaced by singing “Glory be to thee, O Lord,” and followed by “Praise be to thee, O Christ.”

At this point either the Apostles’ or Nicene Creed is recited, followed by the sermon.  After the sermon, the Pastor closes with,

The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Amen.

I think you’d be hard-pressed to find many contemporary worship sets that could match the truth contained in the Liturgy. And the good news is, there’s even more! We’ll discuss that, soon.

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One Response to The Lutheran Liturgy, Pt 2

  1. Steve Martin says:

    That is awesome.

    “I think you’d be hard-pressed to find many contemporary worship sets that could match the truth contained in the Liturgy.”

    I’d say you are exactly right.

    I’m fortunate to have an old time pastor who understands how this ought work and who orders the worship service and liturgy very much like that.

    And then gives us a good Law/Gospel sermon instead of the liberal mush that so many Lutheran pastors now offer up.

    It’s a crying shame what has happened to a once great Christian tradition. (the ELCA)

    Thanks Alden!

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