Liturgy

Liturgy (meaning “work of the people”) is what we do when we gather to worship. The chief liturgy of Lutherans is the Holy Communion, the weekly Lord’s day event when we (1) hear the reading and proclamation of scripture and (2) act out the Gospel in the ritual drama of a meal.
We believe that God acts in our words and in our ritual drama making the Gospel happen. (via Baptized, We Live: Lutheranism as a Way of Life)

Acts 2:42

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Free to be shaped into a gospel community

Luther’s comments in the Preface to the German Mass reveal his approach to worship in general and specifically to liturgical practice.
A liturgical order is not to be a “rigid law” that is to be imposed in every context and on every community. The liturgical order translates the gospel, through word and sacrament, shaping the worshiping community into a gospel community. This translation may vary from place to place. The one constant is the grounding of the liturgy in word and sacrament, two activities where God has promised to be always present. Luther was not opposed to innovation as long as it was in the service of the gospel, that is, as long as it continually proclaimed the Christ event for the gathered community. But even then innovation was to be rooted in the tradition. Luther noted favorably that there are many new experiments in worship but then also laments that some “have no more than an itch to produce something novel so that they might shine before others as leading lights, rather than being ordinary teachers” (Preface to the German Mass; LW 53:61).

– Timothy J. Wengert, Dictionary of Luther and the Lutheran Traditions (2017)

Reflection & Prayer

What parts of the Lutheran liturgy are most meaningful to you? Consider bringing a pen or pencil to worship this Sunday to note what stands out to you.