Liturgy (meaning "work of the people” like) is what we do when we gather to worship. The chief liturgy of Lutherans is the Holy Communion, the weekly Lord’s Day event where we 1) hear the reading and proclamation of Scripture and 2) act out the gospel in the ritual drama of the meal. We believe that God acts in our words and in our ritual drama making the gospel happen.
We are catholic.
The Holy Communion liturgy follows the form of the universal church, a form which probably goes back to the apostles:
- Scripture reading and preaching
- Prayers of intercession
- Peace sharing
- Offering
- Thanksgiving prayer
- Lord’s prayer
- MEAL
Our catholic identity is also evident in the creeds we confess and in the hymns and prayers we use.
We are evangelical.
The liturgy proclaims the center of our faith - God is gracious. Coming with unconditional love, mercy and forgiveness, he gathers us to himself and sustains us in his inclusive family. This is good news!
We are reforming.
We change the way we sing or speak or dramatize the TRADITION, the catholic form noted above, if a new way will enable the liturgy to proclaim the gospel more clearly.
Recent examples: the use of contemporary language, the inclusion of laity in liturgical functions, the ordination of women to the ministry of word and sacrament, the spirit of joy and the cultural diversity evident in the Lutheran Book of Worship.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Change does not mean altering the TRADITION, the ancient catholic form. We change only the CONVENTIONS - the musical instruments we use, the visual arts we employ, and the ways we speak, saying, move and arrange our worship space.