’s thoughts on the “German ” and orders of service St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church (Luther’s Works—Volume 53—”Liturgy and Hymns”) 6881 S. 51st Street – Franklin, Wisconsin “In the first place, I would kindly and for God’s sake request all those who see this order of service or Pastors Brian Adams & Peter Sternberg desire to follow it: Do not make it a rigid law to bind or entangle anyone’s conscience, but use it in Member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) Christian liberty as long, when, where, and how you find it to be practical and useful. For this is being published not as though we meant to lord it over anyone else, or to legislate for him, but because of the Weekend ~ November 4 & 5, 2012 widespread demand for German masses services and the general dissatisfaction and offense that has been caused by the great variety of new masses, for everyone makes his own order of service. Some have Welcome to Worship the best intentions, but others have no more than an itch to produce something novel so that they might shine before men as leading lights, rather than being ordinary teachers — as is always the case with On October 31, 1517, nailed the ninety-five theses or state- Christian liberty: very few use it for the glory of God and the good of neighbor; most use it for their own ments to the door of the Castle Church at . These statements talked advantage and pleasure. But while the exercise of this freedom is up to everyone’s conscience and must about the teaching of forgiveness of sins and the church’s practice of selling not be cramped or forbidden, nevertheless, we must make sure that freedom shall be and remain a ser- indulgences for the forgiveness of sins to pay for the construction of St. Pe- vant of love and of our fellowman. (page 61)” ter’s Church in Rome at that time. They were to be for discussion only. How- ever, they eventually led to the Lutheran Reformation. “The German service needs a plain and simple, fair and square catechism. Catechism means the instruc- tion in which the heathen who want to be Christians are taught and guided in what they should believe, The Lutheran Reformation is about much more than papers, nails and a castle know, do, and leave undone, according to the Christian faith. This is why the candidates who had been door. It is about “reforming” or changing our way of life. No longer do we admitted for such instruction and learned the Creed before their baptism used to be called live in hopelessness. We live in the light of our Savior Jesus Christ. God so “catechumenos.” This instruction or catechization I cannot put better or more plainly than has been loved the world that he gave his Son and whoever believes in Him has eternal done from the beginning of Christendom and retained until now, i.e., in these three parts, the Ten Com- life. This simple message changes our life. Our life is now a life of mandments, the Creed, and the Our Father. These three plainly and briefly contain exactly everything continuous repentance, of grace alone and faith alone, of singing, of proclaim- that a Christian needs to know. This instruction must be given, as long as there is no special congrega- ing, of teaching and of preaching the good news of Jesus Christ. tion, from the pulpit at stated times or daily as may be needed, and repeated and read aloud evenings and mornings in the homes for the children and servants, in order to train them as Christians. Nor should In 1523 Martin Luther reformed the late medieval liturgy of the Mass. He they only learn to say the words by rote. But they should be questioned point by point and give answer called it or the Latin Mass. Luther used the purity of the what each part means and how they understand it. If everything cannot be covered at once, let one point Gospel (the doctrine of justification) as his main criteria for reforming the late be taken up today, and tomorrow another. (page 65)” medieval Latin Mass. Luther recognized the need for further reform of the church’s liturgy, hinting at this already in the text of his Latin Mass. “Since the preaching and teaching of God’s Word is the most important part of divine service, we have arranged for and lessons as follows: For the holy day or Sunday we retain the customary Epis- In 1526 Luther further reformed the church’s liturgy. He called it or the German Mass. tles and and have three sermons. At five or six o’clock in the morning a few are chanted Luther composed his German Mass to provide worship in the language of the people, primarily for those for Matins. A follows on the of the day, chiefly for the sake of the servants so that they too who were less educated and less experienced in theological matters. What is probably the most surprising may be cared for and hear God’s Word, since they cannot be present at other sermons. After this an an- element of Luther’s reforms of the late medieval liturgy of the Mass, is that he did not select a single form tiphon and the “Te Deum” or the “Benedictus,” alternately with an Our Father, , and and hold it up as the ideal liturgy to be followed by all Christians. Luther actually wrote against this. “.” At the mass, at eight or nine o’clock, the sermon on the Gospel for the day. At Vespers in the afternoon the sermon before the “Magnificat” takes up the Old Testament chapter by What Luther in fact did was to evaluate the needs of the Wittenburg community he served, and then pro- chapter….. Namely, on Monday and Tuesday mornings we have a German lesson on the Ten Command- vide God’s people there with these two services. He did not hold up either service as more “authentic” ments, the Creed, Lord’s Prayer, baptism and the sacrament, so that these two days preserve and deepen than the other. Neither did he look down on those who displayed a need for the traditional forms they had the understanding of the Catechism. On Wednesday morning again a German lesson, for which the evan- grown accustomed to. Instead Luther ran these two very different services right alongside each other in gelist Matthew has been appointed so that the day shall be his very own, seeing that he is an excellent the service of the Gospel in Christ’s church. evangelist for the instruction of the congregation, records the fine Sermon on the Mount, and strongly urges the exercise of love and good works…. Thursday and Friday mornings have the weekday lessons Our service this weekend is an adaptation of Luther’s Deutsche Messe, or “German Mass.” from the of the apostles and the rest of the New Testament assigned to them. Thus enough lessons and sermons have been appointed to give the Word of God free course among us.” (page 68-69)

12 1 The Opening Hymn ……………………..“A Mighty Fortress is Our God” Some scholars The Closing Prayer As the service Christian Worship #200 believe this P: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this holy sup- concludes, we hymn was in- per. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase close with a spired by the our love for one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, final prayer and Diet of Speyer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. blessing from where, on April the Lord. 20, 1529, the German princes The version we made their for- use in today’s mal “protest” service comes against the from Christian revocation of The Benediction Worship’s Com- their liberties P: The Lord bless you and keep you. mon Service, and thus gained The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. page s 24 &25. the name The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. “Protestants.”

It was a hymn of great comfort to Luther and his followers be- The Closing Hymn ………………..“God’s Word is Our Great Heritage” cause when he Christian Worship #293 The Author of was discour- this closing aged he would hymn is Nikolai often invite his Grundtvig. He friends to sing it wrote this hymn for courage and as a verse 5 to strength, Martin Luther’s (“Kommt, lasst hymn, “A uns den 46 Mighty Fortress Psalm singen” - is our God.” “Come, let us sing the 46th Psalm.”) and he apparently sang it regularly while being sheltered at the Coburg castle.

2 11 The Distribution Hymn …………..…”Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” Martin Luther Please Rise God’s people Christian Worship #313 suggests using live in daily his own hymn: The Confession of Sins repentance. . “Jesus Christ, P: Let us confess our sins and ask God in the name of our Lord Jesus The Confes- Our Blessed Christ's forgiveness. For if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, sion of sins Savior,” which and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to concludes by was first printed forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. singing the in 1524. three-fold plea C: O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a poor miserable sinner, confess to the Triune Some of the unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended God: “Lord, words of this You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. Have Mercy on hymn come But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I Us.” from John pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, in- Huss’ Latin nocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus text. Luther’s Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being. translation was a composite of (“Lord, Have Mercy”) John Huss’ Latin Hymn and The Confes- Luther’s Ger- sion of sins is man words. concluded by asking: “Lord, have mercy on us.”

The Absolution P: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Luther also Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant wanted people of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of to be assured the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. that their sins were forgiven by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The or Prayer of the Day P: Almighty God, through the preaching of your servants, the blessed Re- With sins for- Please Rise formers, you caused the light of the Gospel to shine forth. Grant that we given, God’s may faithfully defend it against all enemies and joyfully proclaim it to people ap- the salvation of people everywhere to the glory of your holy name; proach God in through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you prayer. and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 10 3 “The ” Martin Luther’s “German Sanctus” Instead of Using Luther’s “German Sanctus,” we use the shorter form of the was first published song found in the Common Service in Christian Worship, page 22. in his “German Mass” in 1526. In this service, Luther suggested that this hymn be sung after Please be Seated the consecration and distribution of The Epistle Lesson …………………………...………..Revelation 14:6-7 the bread and be- The Epistle Les- fore the blessing of This standard Reformation Epistle lesson extols both the grace of son is from one the cup. God and the true glory of the preaching ministry. For it is God alone of the New Tes- who preserves his Word from the destructive wiles of the devil and Today, the words of tament letters that song appear in wicked men on earth. It is the great glory of the preaching ministry from Paul or Christian Worship that the saving message, which ascribes all glory to God, is likewise #267. They are: another Apostle, preserved from age to age. Where God receives all the glory for our “Isaiah, mighty seer or from the in days of old, The salvation, we need not dread what men may do, nor even the judg- Lord of all in spirit Revelation of ment of God himself. May he by his grace preserve us faithful to his did behold High on John.. This Epis- a lofty throne, in Reformation message and ministry! tle was also used splendor bright, 6 With robes that Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal at Luther’s fu- filled the temple gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, neral. courts with light. 7 Above the throne tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and were flaming sera- give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship phim; Six wings had him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of wa- they, these messen- gers of him. With ter.” two they veiled their faces as was right, With two they hum- The Verse of the Day ……………………….Sung in all services by choir bly hid their feet from sight, And with ! Alleluia! Alleluia! If you continue in my Word, you are truly my the other two aloft disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free. they soared; One to Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Distribution of the Lord’s Supper the other called and praised the Lord: "Holy is God, the Please Rise Today we celebrate the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper is a mira- Lord of heav'nly hosts! Holy is God, cle. By God’s power, the Lord’s body and blood are with the bread the Lord of heav'nly The Gospel Lesson …………………………………..…….Mark 13:5-11 The congregation and wine. In the Lord’s Supper, God gives strength and comfort to hosts! Holy is God, stands for the His believers. While the Lord’s Supper is first about our relationship the Lord of heav'nly It should not surprise us that error runs rampant through the world and reading of the with Jesus, it is also about our relationship with fellow believers. hosts! His glory fills that both nature and nations are so often in chaos. For that is exactly the heavens and the Gospel. In the Therefore, we practice “close communion.” We invite all who are what our Savior has foretold. Each error, each natural disaster, each earth!" The beams past, soldiers put members of St. Paul’s or visitors who belong to our WELS fellowship and lintels trembled country in turmoil should drive us to cling all the more tenaciously to his at the cry, And down their weap- to receive the Lord’s Supper with us. If you would like to learn more Word by which alone we are saved in the hour of judgment. For without ons and kings clouds of smoke about being a member of our family at St. Paul’s, please feel free to enwrapped the his pure Word, there is only faithless error, fear and torment, and finally removed their contact one of the pastors. throne on high.” a total separation from grace in the day of judgment. To retain that Word crowns when the Gospel was read. 4 9 C: And lead us not into temptation… Luther would P: We pray here that God would protect us from all temptations and help in all of its truth and purity and then to share it, those are the goals of true often preach on us by His Spirit to put down our sinful flesh, to despise the world and children of the Reformation. the Gospel Les- son in his ser- its vices and to overcome the devil and all his trickery. 5 6 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come vices as well. in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of C: But deliver us from evil… wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the P: And, finally, we pray that God would deliver us from all evils of body end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against and soul, now and forever. kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “You must be on your guard. You will be C: For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account and ever. Amen. of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And P: All those who sincerely desire these things will say from their hearts, the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested Amen, trusting without any doubt that their prayers are answered in and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say heaven, as Christ has promised: “Whatever you ask for in prayer, be- whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy lieve that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Spirit.

The Creed ……………………………..We All Believe in One True God” P: Secondly, in Christ, I urge you to prepare for the Lord’s Supper in true Luther separated faith and above all to take to heart the words in which Jesus gives us his the consecration Christian Worship #270 body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Remember and give thanks and distribution Luther would at times sing the for his boundless love which He proved to us when He redeemed us by of the bread from the consecration Creed. This His own blood from God’s wrath, sin, death and hell. And then, with and distribution hymn is an adap- sincere faith and trust, receive in, with and under the bread and wine, of the cup. In tation of the his true body and blood as a pledge and guarantee that his promises other words, the Creed stand firm. In His name, therefore, and according to His command, let Bread was conse- us use and receive this Sacrament. crated, and then the Bread would be distributed to the communi- P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and cants. The Song when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, say- called “The Sanc- tus” would be ing, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in sung in German remembrance of me.” by the congrega- tion. Following Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink “The Sanctus” from it all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is the Wine would be consecrated, poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you and then the Wine drink it, in remembrance of me.” would be distrib- uted to the com- municants. This procedure would be more difficult to carry out in a contemporary setting today.

8 5 Choir Anthem …………………………...……“How Firm a Foundation” The Offering Prayer After the ser- How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, Please remain seated mon shall fol- Is laid for your faith in his excellent Word! low a public What more can he say than to you he hath said, The Lord’s Prayer and Admonition paraphrase of Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled? the Lord’s Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, P: Friends in Christ: We have assembled here in the name of the Lord to Prayer and Ad- For I am thy God and will still give thee aid; receive his Holy Supper, the special promise of his grace and forgive- monition for I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand, ness. I, invite you, first of all, to lift up your hearts to God and pray those who want Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand. with me the Lord’s Prayer as Christ our Lord taught us: to partake of “When through fiery trials your pathway shall lie, the Sacrament My grace, all sufficient, shall be your supply. C: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name… of the Lord’s The flames shall not hurt you; I only design P: Here we pray that God our Father in heaven would look with mercy on Supper. Lu- Your dross to consume, and your gold to refine. all his children on earth. We ask Him to give us grace that we might ther’s para- “The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose proclaim His Word faithfully and live our lives according to His will, phrase and ad- I will not, I will not desert to its foes; for then we show that his name is precious to us. We also pray that He monition were That soul, through all hell should endeavor to shake, would keep us from any teaching and living which would dishonor His spoken by the I’ll never, no, never, no, never forsake. name. Pastor. This adaptation of Congregation Hymn ……..…“Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” This hymn of C: Thy Kingdom come… the German Christian Worship #203 Martin Luther P: We pray that his Kingdom and the rule of His grace might come to us Mass sets for- was probably and grow in us each day; that all who are still captives in Satan’s ward a respon- written in 1541. Kingdom might be brought to know Jesus Christ, His Son, so that the sive prayer for In that year a Christian Church might grow and prosper. the sake of re- service of prayer lieving monot- against the Turks C: Thy will be done on earth as it is heaven… ony. was held at Wit- P: We pray that the Holy Spirit would strengthen us to do and accept tenberg, for God’s will, in life and in death, in good times and in bad, and that we which Luther prepared a spe- might have power to put down our own sinful will and its desires. cial service, and most of the mu- C: Give us this day our daily bread… sic, including P: We pray here that our Father would also give us our daily bread, pre- this hymn. serve us from greed and selfish desires, and help us to trust that he will provide for all our needs.

C: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us… P: We ask that God would forgive our sins as we forgive those who sin against us so that our hearts may rest and rejoice in a good conscience before Him, and that no sin may ever frighten or alarm us.

The Sermon ………………………………………………….Mark 13:5-11 The Reformation Continues... Continues on next page 6 7