Being that I am three fourths Norwegian, I had about a 0.47% chance of not being a member of a Lutheran church when I was growing up. We attended Chapel of the Cross Lutheran when we lived in the valley, and El Camino Pines Lutheran in Frazier Park. Serivces in Lutheran churches are heavy on the liturgy and recitation, and it has been my experience as an adult, that I can walk into any Lutheran church and follow along with the service without even cracking open the LBW(Lutheran Book of Worship). The acolyte will slowly stride down the aisle to light the candles. Two readers from the congregation will read the first and second lessons, and we will all rise for the reading of the gospel. It's a given that 'This is the Feast' will be sung at some point during the hour. Time for...
The confession: "We confess that we are in bondage to sin, and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Holy Name. Amen."
The Benediction: "May the Lord bless you, and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you, and grant you His peace."
It is easy to get sort of lost in the rhythm of repetition during these services, but there is certainly some comfort to be taken in tradition. Of all of these recitations, the one I truly miss follows the recessional hymn and postlude.
Pastor: "Go in peace, to serve the Lord"
Congregation: "Thanks be to God!"
I always feel like something is missing when the worship leader clumsily says "You are dismissed" at the close of the service. I love the charge of being sent out in peace and service, and our admission that it will be possible to do so only with God's help.
2 comments:
my mom always said the "God bless you and keep you..." before bed, and i love it so much- it is such a perfect goodnight prayer to say.
I like the idea of being sent out in service; I bet if you suggested it to Chris Morgan he'd say it at the end of service.
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