Lutheran Service Book

Contents

A Guide for Introducing

Prepared by The Commission on Worship The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Fall 2006

i Contents

Special thanks to Thrivent Financial for Lutherans for providing funding toward the production of this Guide.

Unless otherwise indicated, the Scripture readings used in this publication are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois. Used by permission. All rights reserved

ii The Lectionaries: Resources The Hymnal as Prayer Book

In recent times, the hymnal has unfortunately come to be viewed as a book that is used primarily in church. While it is certainly used primarily in that context, such a perception fails to understand a more comprehensive role for the hymnal. Far from being just a “church book,” the hymnal is also a preeminent “prayer book” that deserves wider usage outside of corporate worship.

Formation of Lutheran Piety Traditionally, the hymnal has been used in concert with two other books to form the piety of Lutheran Christians. Those books are the Bible and the Small Catechism. Together, these three books guide the Christian through life from cradle to grave. First, there is the Bible. Here God has revealed his will and work to us. All that is necessary for our salvation is given to us in the words of the Holy Scriptures. To young pastor Timothy St. Paul writes:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work (2 Tim. 3:14–17).

Because of the manifold uses of God’s Word—making us wise for salvation, reproving, correcting, training—it is always, therefore, the lamp that guides our path. Whether it be the very words of our Lord recorded in the Gospels, the exhortations in the apostle Paul’s epistles, or the narratives of the great heroes of the faith, such as Abraham, Moses, or David, the Bible ever remains the source of God’s revelation and, more importantly, about how he has ordered all things and given himself for our salvation. Next, there is the Small Catechism. For nearly five centuries, this simple text of Martin Luther has guided Christians into the Scriptures and helped them to grasp the essentials of God’s revelation. Like a roadmap, the catechism helps us find our way through the Word of God. Through his simple explanations of the commandments, for example, Luther brings God’s Law to bear on our own lives. Through his profound explanation of the creed, we come to see how God continually has our well-being in mind, both for our body and most especially for our soul. In his explanation of the Lord’s Prayer, Luther gives us a snapshot of the life of the Christian living under God’s gracious care. Less a textbook than a prayer book, the Small Catechism puts onto our lips simple yet direct summaries of the essentials of the faith. Finally, there is the hymnal. Here one finds words of Holy Scripture and even the Small Catechism, to be sure. But it is in the familiar words of the services and in the rich poetry of the hymns that the hymnal demonstrates its unique contribution to the formation of the faithful. If the Bible is the source of our knowledge about God and his works, and the catechism in the roadmap that guides us to the essentials in God’s Word, then the hymnal supplies us with the poetry of the faith. Here the Word of God and its teachings appear as verse wedded to melody, penetrating the heart and delighting the soul. Long before children have learned to read, they have sung. And as the elderly approach their twilight years, the melodies and texts of the church’s song are still recalled, even if their eyesight has faded and their fingers are no longer nimble enough to turn a page. From cradle to grave, the church’s song gives voice to the heartfelt cries and joyful strains of God’s children.

LSB Resources for Devotional Use In addition to the services and hymns in LSB (including hymns 766–780 on the topic of prayer), there are other resources that are specifically intended for use by the individual.

55 The Hymnal as Prayer Book

Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families (pp. 294–98) Four brief orders of service are provided for morning, noon, early evening, and at the close of the day. These rites are preceded by a page that explains how the rites may be used. Also included is a suggested pattern of daily and weekly prayer that offers specific topics or individuals to pray for on each day of the week. The inclusion of these brief orders is not meant to suggest that other services, especially the Daily Office, are inappropriate for use by individuals. A service such as Matins or Morning Prayer can certainly be prayed in the morning by individuals as well as by groups of people. Daily Prayer for Individuals and Families is especially appropriate when time is limited or for those who are unaccustomed to praying the longer services of the Daily Office.

Daily Lectionary (pp. 299–304) A daily lectionary is provided with suggested readings for every day of the year. For each day there are two readings, one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament. Both readings are con- tinuous, reading through whole books of the Bible. An occasional, third reading is suggested to fill in gaps that occur in the readings. The daily lectionary is organized in two parts. The first, which follows the Church Year, begins with Ash Wednesday and concludes with Trinity Sunday. The second part, which follows the calendar year, provides readings as early as May 18 and as late as March 9. At the conclusion of the daily lectionary, a “Table of Psalms for Daily Prayer” is provided, offering suggestions for morning and evening. All of the suggested psalms are included in the Pew Edition.

Prayers, Intercessions, and Thanksgivings (pp. 305–180) An extensive section of prayers provides nearly 100 examples on a wide variety of topics. They are carefully arranged into seven sections for easy reference. Individuals will find a rich treasury of prayers that are appropriate for sorts of situations.

Small Catechism (pp. 321–30) The inclusion of the Small Catechism in LSB is a clear reminder that they hymnal can serve in settings beyond corporate worship. Within the context of the hymnal, the concept of praying the catechism is much more understandable. Here Luther’s simple questions and answers are poised to shape one’s daily prayer, focusing on those things that are most important. One practical use of the catechism in this context is the opportunity to pair the explanations of the six chief parts with Luther’s catechism hymns. A listing of these hymns is found in the topical index on page 993 in LSB. Singing Luther’s stanzas on the Ten Commandments in conjunction with the catechism explanations brings new insights and deepens one’s appreciation for the ways in which these texts shape and mold believers.