Divine Service

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Divine Service

The Divine Service is the liturgy

Liturgy

A liturgy is the customary public worship done by a specific religious group, according to their particular traditions. The word may refer to an elaborate formal ritual such as the Eastern Orthodox Divine Liturgy and Mass , or a daily activity such as the Muslim salat and Jewish Jewish services....
of the Lutheran

Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century Germans Reformer Martin Luther....
Church which is used during the celebration of the Eucharist

Eucharist

The Eucharist, also called Holy Communion or Lord's Supper and other names, is a Christianity sacrament commemorating, by consecrating bread and wine, the Last Supper, the final meal that Jesus Christ shared with his disciples before his arrest, and eventual crucifixion, when he gave them bread saying, "This is my body", and wine...
. It has its roots in the medieval Latin mass as revised by Martin Luther

Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a Germans monk, theology, university professor, priest, father of Protestantism, and Protestant Reformers whose ideas started the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western culture....
in his Formula missae
Formula missae

Formula missae et communionis pro ecclesia Vuittembergensi was a16th century Latin liturgy of a Protestant Reformer Martin Luther for Lutheran churches in Wittenberg....
("Form of the Mass") of 1523 and his Deutsche Messe
Deutsche Messe

Deutsche Messe, or The German Mass , was published by Martin Luther in 1526. It followed his Latin mass, Formula missae .The German Mass was completely chanted, except for the sermon....
("German Mass") of 1526. It was further developed through the Kirchenordnungen ("church orders") of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries that followed in Luther's tradition.

Divine Service has equal participation from the congregation as well as from the pastor

Pastor

The term pastor usually refers to an ordained person within a Christian church. In some countries the term is more usually used in traditional Protestant churches but is also used in reference to priests and bishops within the Anglican, Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christianity churches....
, so there are hymn

Hymn

A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity/deities, a prominent figure or an epic tale....
s to be sung by all.

Confession and Absolution

First a hymn of invocation

Invocation

An invocation may take the form of:*Supplication or prayer.*A form of Spirit possession.*Command or conjuration.*Self-identification with certain spirits....
may be sung.

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The Divine Service is the liturgy

Liturgy

Lutheranism

Eucharist

Martin Luther

Divine Service

The Divine Service has equal participation from the congregation as well as from the pastor

Pastor

Hymn

Confession and Absolution

First a hymn of invocation

Invocation

An invocation may take the form of:*Supplication or prayer.*A form of Spirit possession.*Command or conjuration.*Self-identification with certain spirits....
may be sung. It is up to the pastor and congregation if a hymn of invocation is sung before the Divine Service. Next is the Invocation where the pastor stands in front of the congregation and says the Trinitarian

Trinitarian

The word trinitarian is used in several senses:*Ideas or things pertaining to the Trinity.*A person or group adhering to the doctrine of Trinitarianism, which holds God to subsist in the form of the Holy Trinity....
Formula (In the name of the Father

God the Father

In many religions, the supreme deity is given the title and attributions of Father. In many forms of polytheism, the highest god has been conceived as a "father of gods and of men"....
, and of the Son

Jesus

Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation ....
, and of the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit

In Christianity, the Holy Ghost or Holy Spirit is the spirit of God. The term Christ , is also used to refer to this presence. That is, the Spirit is considered to act in concert with and share an essential nature with God the Father and God the Son ....
) and makes the sign of the cross

Sign of the cross

The Sign of the Cross is a ritual hand motion made by members of most but not all branches of Christianity. It may be accompanied by the trinitarian formula....
. The congregation is encouraged to do so also. "The Invocation is addressed to God. It is by these same words that we were called to faith and life in Holy Baptism

Baptism

In Christianity, baptism is the ritual act, with the use of water, by which one is admitted as a full member of the Christian Church and, in the view of some, as a member of the particular Church in which the baptism is administered....
so we are reminded here of our baptism. In these words, we affirm our faith in the Triune God

Trinity

In Christianity doctrine, the Trinity is the unity of God the Father, God the Son, and Holy Spirit as three persons in monotheism. The doctrine states that God is the Triune God, existing as three persons, or in the Greek hypostasis , but one being....
, formally expressing our awareness of the Presence of God

Presence of God

Presence of God is a term used in Catholic theology and devotion.In theology, it refers to the belief that God is present by His Essence everywhere and in all things by reason of His Immensity....
, placing ourselves in that Presence and invoking the Divine blessing on the Service."

After the Invocation is the Confession

Confession

The confession of one's sins is a religious practice important to many faiths, e.g., Roman Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy....
of Sin

Sin

Sin is a term used mainly in a religion context to describe an act that violates a morality rule, or the state of having committed such a violation....
s. This consists of a pastoral Exhortation, a Versicle and Response, followed by the Confession of the congregation. In the Common Service Book of 1917, the pastor recites the Exhortation as follows:

"Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart, and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to grant us forgiveness."

The Versicle begins with the pastor or assisting minister chanting:

Our help is in the Name of the Lord.

The congregation responds,

Who made heaven and earth.

The pastor or assisting minister continues,

I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.

The congregation responds,

And Thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin.

The pastor then recites the first half of the confession:

Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto Thee, that we are by nature sinful and unclean, and that we have sinned against Thee by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to Thine infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Thy grace, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The congregation then says, with the pastor:

O Most Merciful God, Who has given Thine Only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us, and for His sake grant us remission of all our sins: and by Thy Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of Thee, and of Thy will, and true obedience to Thy Word, to the end that by Thy grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Then the pastor pronounces the Declaration of Grace:

Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, hath had mercy upon us, and hath given His Only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgiveth us all our sins. To them that believe on His Name, He giveth power to become the sons of God, and bestoweth upon them His Holy Spirit. He that believeth, and is baptized, shall be saved. Grant this, O Lord, unto us all.

In more modern hymnals, the Declaration of Grace is said only when there is no celebration of Holy Communion. When Holy Communion is celebrated, the Pastor recites the absolution, one form of which is as follows:

Upon this your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Lutheran Worship
Lutheran Worship

Lutheran Worship is one of the official hymnals of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. Published in 1982 in literature by Concordia Publishing House in St....
, Divine Service I)

The Declaration of Grace is not an absolution. In the historic liturgy, the corporate rite of confession and absolution was its own separate service, and private confession was expected before partaking of the Holy Supper. The corporate rite of confession and absolution is still contained in modern Lutheran hymnals. "Before beginning the Service of the Day, it is fitting that we seek a purification of spirit, that we turn from ourselves to God and that in penitence and prayer

Prayer

Prayer is the act of communicating with a deity or spirit in worship. Specific forms of this may include praise, requesting divine providence, confessing sins, as an act of reparation or an expression of one's emotional expression....
we receive God's assurance of mercy

Mercy

Mercy can refer both to compassionate behaviour on the part of those in power or on the part of a humanitarian third party .Mercy is a word used to describe compassion shown by one person to another, or a request from one person to another to be shown such leniency or unwarranted compassion for a crime or wrongdoing....
and grace

Divine grace

In theology, grace may be described as 'enabling power sufficient for progression'. In Christianity, grace divine is an "unmerited favour" of God, indispensable gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion, and without God's grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, impurities, and faults mankind cannot...
. The Exhortation calls us to do so. In the Confession (Lat.

Latin

Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe....
"Confiteor"), we kneel humbly before our God, acknowledging our sin and seeking purification of our Spirit. In the Declaration of Grace that follows, we receive from God Himself the assurance of God's mercy and grace that enables us to focus on our loving God."

The Service of the Word

Next the Introit

Introit

The Introit is part of the opening of the celebration of the Roman Catholic Mass and the Lutheranism Divine Service. Specifically, it refers to the antiphon that is spoken or sung at the beginning of the celebration....
for the day is sung, chanted, or spoken. This can be together or half verse by half verse. "The Introit (Lat. "entrance") marks the actual beginning of the Service of the Day. It strikes the keynote theme of the entire Service, recognizing the glory of God and announcing God's grace using pertinent verses, usually from the Psalms

Psalms

Psalms is a book of the Hebrew Bible , included in the collected works known as the "Writings" or Ketuvim....
. The Introit consists of an Antiphon

Antiphon

An antiphon is a response, usually sung in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or some other part of a religious service, such as at Vespers or at a mass ....
, followed by a Psalm verse, followed by the Gloria Patri (below). The Antiphon is then repeated for emphasis." (HLW).

After the Introit the Kyrie

Kyrie

K?rie is from the Greek language word ????e , the vocative case of ?????? , meaning O Lord. It is the common name of an important prayer of Christian liturgy, also called K?rie, el?ison which is Greek language for Lord, have mercy....
is sung. "In the Kyrie Eleison (Gr.

Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
"O Lord, have mercy"), we pray to God for grace and help in time of need. It expresses our humility and appreciation of our own weakness and need in a sinful world." (HLW).

Then the Gloria in Excelsis

Gloria in Excelsis Deo

"Gloria in excelsis Deo" is the title and beginning of a hymn known also as the Greater Doxology and the Angelic Hymn.The name is often abbreviated to Gloria in Excelsis or simply Gloria....
is sung. During Advent

Advent

Advent is a Liturgical year of the Christianity, the period of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus; in other words, the period immediately before Christmas....
and Lent

Lent

Lent, in Christianity, is the period of the liturgical year leading up to Easter. Conventionally it is described as being forty days long, though different Christian denominations calculate the forty days differently....
the Gloria in Excelsis is omitted. In its place in Advent, Veni, Emmanuel may be sung. And in Lent, Vexilla regis is sung in its place. "The Gloria in Excelsis (Lat. "Glory to God in the highest") is the angelic hymn announcing the birth of our Savior

Nativity of Jesus

The Nativity of Jesus, or simply The Nativity, refers to the accounts of the Childbirth of Jesus in the Gospels and in various New Testament apocrypha texts that serve as key elements of Christian mythology....
Jesus Christ to the shepherds. In it, we join in the hymn of the angels in celebration of the Father's gift of His Son." (HLW).

After the Collect

Collect

In Christianity liturgy, a collect [k?l?kt; kol-ekt'] is both a liturgical action and a short, general prayer. In the Middle Ages, the prayer was referred to in Latin as collectio, but in the more ancient sources, as oratio....
of the Day is chanted or said. "The Collect sums up, or "collects", all the prayers of the church into one short prayer and suggests the theme of the day or season." (HLW).

The Salutation and Response follow next. "The Salutation/Response are a reciprocal prayer of the Pastor for his people and of the congregation for its Pastor before we together offer our petitions to God. They reflect the special relationship of love between the Pastor and congregation." It goes as follows, Pastor: The Lord be with you. Congregation: And with your spirit. Pastor: Let us pray.

Next is the Old Testament

Old Testament

In Western Christianity, the Old Testament refers to the books that form the first of the two-part Christianity Bible Biblical canon. These works correspond to the Hebrew Bible , with some variations and additions....
reading, it nearly always directly relates to the Gospel lesson for the day. During Easter

Easter

Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday....
and its season a passage from the book of Acts

Acts of the Apostles

The Acts of the Apostles is a book of the Bible, which now stands fifth in the New Testament. It is commonly referred to as simply Acts. The title "Acts of the Apostles" was first used by Irenaeus in the late second century, but some have suggested that the title "Acts" be interpreted as "the Acts of the Holy Spirit" or even "the Acts...
is read. After the reading the pastor chants or says "This is the Word of the Lord." To which the congregation replies "Thanks be to God."

The Gradual

Gradual

The Gradual is a chant in the Roman Catholic Mass . In the Tridentine Mass#Present status of the Mass it is sung after the reading or singing of the Epistle and before the Alleluia, or, during penitential seasons, before the Tract ....
for the season is sung or said next. "The Gradual, so-named because it was originally sung from a step (Lat. "gradus") of the altar, provides a musical echo to the passage just read and a transition to the next lesson." (HLW).

The Epistle

Epistle

An epistle is a writing directed or sent to a person or group of people, usually a Letter and a very formal, often didactic and elegant one. The letters in the New Testament from Twelve apostles to Christians are usually referred to as epistles....
is announced, and read. After the pastor says again "This is the Word of the Lord." "The Epistle (Gr. "letter") is usually taken from the letters of the Apostles. Frequently, this lesson does not relate directly to the Gospel. Usually, it bears practical and serious thoughts for daily living." (HLW).

The Alleluia

Alleluia

The Alleluia is chanted before the Gospel lesson in the Eucharistic liturgies of the various Christian Christian liturgy. Alleluia will be solemnly chanted at other times also, usually in conjunction with Psalm verses....
verse is then sung. During Lent the Alleluia is omitted. "The Alleluia (Heb. "Praise ye the Lord") is a song of joy at the hearing of the Word of God. The accompanying verse usually reflects the mood of the day." (HLW). All rise at the singing of the Alleluia and remain standing until the after the creed is said.

The Holy Gospel

Gospel

In Christianity, a gospel is generally one of the first four books of the New Testament that describe the birth, life, ministry, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus....
is then announced, followed by the Gloria Tibi. "At the announcement of the Gospel, we sing the Gloria Tibi (Lat. "Glory to you"), joyfully affirming our recognition of the real presence of Christ." (HLW). Then after the Gospel lesson the pastor says "This is the Gospel of the Lord" the congregation responds with the Laus Tibi. "After hearing our Savior's Good News, we respond with words of praise in the Laus Tibi (Lat. "Praise to you")." (HLW).

On Sundays with Holy Communion and other major festivals the Nicene Creed

Nicene Creed

The Nicene Creed is the creed or profession of faith that is most widely used in Christianity liturgy. It is called Nicene because, in its original form, it was adopted in the city of Iznik by the first ecumenical council, which met there in 325....
is said, on other occasions the Apostles' Creed

Apostles' Creed

The Apostles' Creed , sometimes titled Symbol of the Apostles, is an early statement of Christianity belief, a creed or "symbol". It is widely used by a number of List of Christian denominations for both liturgy and catechesis purposes, most visibly by liturgical Churches of Western tradition, including the Latin Rite of the Roman Catho...
is said. "The Creed (Lat. "I believe") is our individual, public confession of faith, spoken with the "one, holy, Christian and apostolic Church". It is a statement of Christianity's most basic and fundamental beliefs, witnessing to the unity and universality of the Church." (HLW).

After is the Hymn of the Day, this hymn outlines the theme of the day and is the chief hymn of the Divine Service, so it is chosen very carefully.

Next is the Sermon

Sermon

A sermon is an public speaking by a prophet or member of the clergy. Sermons address a Bible, Theology, Religion, or Morality topic, usually expounding on a type of belief, law or Human behavior within both past and present contexts....
. "In the Sermon, the preacher "rightly divides (or interprets) the Word of truth". 2 Tim. 2:15. The Sermon contains elements of the two great doctrines of the Bible: the Law, which tells us how we are to live, and the Gospel, which proclaims forgiveness of our sins, by grace, through faith, for Christ's sake. The Gospel predominates in the Sermon. The Sermon usually relates to the lessons of the day." (HLW). After the sermon the pastor says the Votum.

After the sermon is the Offering

Offering

Offering may refer to:*Offering, a collection of donations during religious worship, see alms, tithe or Charity *Offering, a religious sacrifice of plant, animal or human life...
is collected. After it has been collected it is given to the pastor, who presents it at the altar

Altar

An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices and votive offerings are made for religion, or some other sacred place where ceremonies take place....
. "We joyfully offer to God a portion of His gifts to us, as an outward response of our faith in Him." (HLW). After that the Offertory

Offertory

Offertory , the alms of a congregation collected in Church service, or at any Religion service.Offertory has also a special sense in the services of both the Anglicanism and Roman Catholic Church churches....
is sung, the text for the Offertory is Psalm 51:12. "In the words of David

David

David , was the second king of the united Kingdom of Israel according to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. He is depicted as a righteous king, although not without fault, as well as an acclaimed warrior, musician and poet ....
, we ask God to cleanse our hearts, to keep us in the one true faith and to grant us the full joy of salvation." (HLW).

Then is the Prayer for The Church (or Prayer for the Faithful). "In the Prayer of the Faithful, the Church performs its priestly role (which is communal and not individual) by representing the people of the world before God in prayer. The Prayer of the Church is therefore not the prayer of individuals for themselves nor the congregation for itself but is indeed the prayer of the Church for the world, the work of the Church, and the Church itself." (HLW).

The Service of the Sacrament

Next is the Preface

Preface

A preface is an introduction to a book written by the author of the book. An introductory essay written by a different person is a foreword and precedes an author's preface....
, which may be chanted or spoken. "The Preface begins the Office of Holy Communion. It begins with a simple but powerful dialogue between the pastor and the congregation, which unites the whole body of believers in reverence, adoration, joy and thanksgiving in anticipation of the Sacrament. This is followed by the Common Preface, which begins "It is truly meet, right and salutary" and ends with "Therefore with angels and archangels," thus uniting the Church with angelic host. In between is the Proper Preface, which is variable." (HLW).

After the Preface, the Sanctus

Sanctus

Sanctus is the Latin word for holy or saint, and is the name of an important hymn of Christianity liturgy.In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung as the final words of the Preface_ of the Eucharistic Prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine....
is sung. "In the Sanctus (Lat. "Holy"), we join with the "Angels, Archangels and all the company of heaven" in proclaiming the glory of the Father (first sentence), praising Christ our Savior (second sentence) and singing the song of the children of Jerusalem as they welcomed the Messiah on the first Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday

Image:Meister der Palastkapelle in Palermo 002.jpg|thumb|300px|'The Entry of Christ into Jerusalem' mosaic by the Master of the Cappella Palatina in Palermo .]]...
(third sentence). Hosanna

Hosanna

Hosanna is a liturgy word in Judaism and Christianity. In Judaism, it is always used in its original Hebrew language form, Hoshana....
means "save now."" (HLW). The Sanctus is an ancient part of the liturgy. Jesus would have sung an ancient version of the Sanctus.

The Eucharist Prayer is said by the pastor after the Sanctus is sung. Following that is the Lord's Prayer

Lord's Prayer

The Lord's Prayer, also known as the Our Father or Pater noster, is probably the best-known prayer in Christianity. On Easter Sunday 2007 it was estimated that 2 billion Catholic, Protestant and Eastern Orthodox Christians read, recited, or sang the short prayer in hundreds of languages in houses of worship of all shapes and size...
. "As children, we address our God as "Our Father," praying as our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us to pray." (HLW). Then the Words of Institution

Words of Institution

The Words of Institution are those used, inserted into a narrative of the Last Supper, in Christian Eucharistic liturgies to recall those used by Jesus on that occasion....
are chanted or said. At the appropriate time in the Words of Institution the elevation

Elevation (Liturgy)

In Christian liturgy the Elevation is the ritual of raising the consecrated elements of Body of Christ and Blood of Christ during the celebration of the Eucharist....
may take place, but this is not required. "The reverent, unadorned use of the Words of Institution (Lat. "Verba") focuses all our thoughts on the acts and words or Christ and expresses the Real Presence

Real Presence

The Real Presence is the term various Christian traditions use to express their belief that, in the Eucharist, Jesus Christ is really present in what was previously just bread and wine, and not merely present in symbol, as a figure of speech , or by his power ....
of Christ's body and blood in, with and under the bread and wine. Here, God is dealing with us in a loving manner, reminding us that Christ died for our sins." (HLW).

Next is the Pax Domini, or Peace of the Lord. "The Pax Domini (Lat. "Peace of the Lord") is the same greeting spoken by the risen Christ on Easter morning. It is the final blessing before we approach the altar to receive the gift of Christ's body and blood." (HLW).

The Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei is a Latin language term meaning Lamb of God, and was originally used to refer to Jesus Christ in his role of the perfect sacrificial lamb that atonement for the sins of humanity in Christian theology, harkening back to ancient Jewish Temple sacrifices....
follows the Pax Domini, the Agnus Dei is sung by all. "The Agnus Dei (Lat. "Lamb of God") is our hymn of adoration to our Savior Jesus Christ who is truly present for us in the Sacrament. The Agnus Dei recalls the testimony of John the Baptist when he pointed to Jesus and proclaimed: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." (HLW).

The Distribution is next, first the pastor receives communion and then "those who will be assisting him" (Lutheran Worship, Divine Service I). "By Christ's own words, "Given and shed for you for the remission of sins," in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper God offers, gives, and seals for us forgiveness of sins, life and salvation." (HLW). Self examination before communion is appropriate as those communicating will be receiving the Body and Blood of Christ. If there is a kneeling rail at the altar, the communicants wait for the pastor to tell them when to kneel with a bow of his head. When there is no kneeling rail, the communicants wait for the pastor to bow his head, and the communicants then bow. When the host distributed to each communicant the pastor says "Take eat; this is the true body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, given into death for your sins." or "Take, eat; this is the very body of Christ, given for you." At the distribution of the chalice

Holy Chalice

In Christian tradition the Holy Chalice is the vessel which Jesus used at the Last Supper to serve the wine.The Gospel of Matthew saysThis incident, traditionally known as the Last Supper, is also described by the gospel writers, Mark the Evangelist and Luke the Evangelist, and by the Apostle Paul in I Corinthians....
the pastor says "Take, drink; this is the true blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, shed for the forgiveness of your sins." or "Take, drink; this is the very blood of Christ, shed for you." It is appropriate for the communicants to make the sign of the cross after communicating.

At the Dismissal the pastor says, "The body and blood of our Lord strengthen and preserve you steadfast in the true faith to life everlasting † ." The communicants may say "Amen". The communicants bow their heads when dismissed from the kneeling rail, and if there is none, bow when being dismissed. Silent prayer is appropriate after being dismissed. "The Dismissal reassures communicants of the efficacy of the Lord's Supper in creating life-saving faith in Christ." (HLW).

After is the Post Communion Cantile or Nunc Dimittis

Nunc dimittis

The Nunc dimittis is a canticle from a text in the second chapter of Gospel of Luke named after its first words in Latin language.Simeon the Righteous was a devout Jew who, according to the book of Luke, had been promised by the Holy Spirit that he would not die until he had seen the Saviour....
. "In singing the Nunc Dimittis (Lat. "Now depart"), we stand with Simeon as he looked upon the baby Jesus, in awe of the profound mystery that the Father would give His only Son in the flesh for the salvation of our souls. Having just received the Lord's Supper, we have truly seen "Thy Salvation, which [God] prepared before the face of all people."" (HLW).

Then is the Thanksgiving, a collect written by Martin Luther

Martin Luther

Martin Luther was a Germans monk, theology, university professor, priest, father of Protestantism, and Protestant Reformers whose ideas started the Protestant Reformation and changed the course of Western culture....
. "The Versicle calls us to give thanks and introduces the Thanksgiving Collect. In the Collect, we thank God for His life-saving Sacrament and pray that His gift of faith offered therein causes us to change our life and enables us to love God and love others." (HLW).

Next is the Benediction

Benediction

A benediction is a short invocation for divine help, blessing and guidance, usually at the end of worship service....
, from Numbers

Book of Numbers

The Book of Numbers, , is the fourth book of the Torah, the Tanakh, and the Old Testament. In the Greek language Septuagint it is called Arithmoi, or Numbers....
6:24. "More than a prayer for blessing, the Benediction imparts a blessing in God's name, giving positive assurance of the grace and peace of God to all who receive it in faith. The words of the Benediction are those that the God gave to Moses

Moses

Moses is a Hebrew Bible Hebrews religious leader, lawgiver, prophet, to whom the Mosaic authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed. Also called Moshe Rabbeinu in Hebrew , he is the most important prophet in Judaism, and also an important prophet of Christianity, Islam, the Bah?'? Faith, Rastafari movement, Chrislam and many ot...
(the Aaronic Blessing

Priestly Blessing

The Priestly Blessing, , also known in Hebrew as Nesiat Kapayim, , is a Judaism prayer recited by Kohanim during certain Jewish services....
) and those used by Christ at the Ascension. The final word that falls on our ears from our gracious God is "peace," affirming our reconciliation to God through the blood of Jesus Christ." (HLW). The Divine Service ends with the Amen. "We conclude the Divine Service with a triple Amen, that is, "Yea, yea, it shall be so", which expresses our firm faith in the forgiveness of sins by God's grace through Jesus Christ as heard and experienced in the Word and Sacrament of the Divine Service just ended." (HLW). Silent prayer follows, with a closing hymn after.

Definition and Origins

The term "Divine Service" is somewhat unique to Lutheranism

Lutheranism

Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century Germans Reformer Martin Luther....
, and it reflects the theology of justification

Justification (theology)

In Christian theology, justification is God's act of declaring or making a sinner righteousness before God. The concept of justification occurs in many books of the Old and New Testaments....
held by Lutherans. The term comes from the German

German language

German is a West Germanic languages, thus related to and classified alongside English language and Dutch language. It is one of the world's world language and the most widely spoken mother tongue in the European Union....
word Gottesdienst (God service), and is significant because it reflects the Lutheran belief that the main actor in the Divine Service is God himself and not man. The connotation

Connotation

Connotation is a Subjectivity culture and/or emotional coloration in addition to the explicit or denotation Meaning of any specific word or phrase in a...
of the term is that the Word and Sacrament (the two parts of the Divine Service) are gifts that God gives to his people, and therefore Lutherans emphasize God's work rather than that of man. The term Mass

Mass (liturgy)

The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The term is used also of similar celebrations in Old Catholic Churches, in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, and in some largely High Church Lutheranism Lutheranism regions, including the Scandinavian and Baltic states countries....
was used by early Lutherans but such use has dwindled since then. Also, Lutherans have historically used the term to distinguish the Divine Service with Protestant Worship

Worship

Worship usually refers to acts of religion devotion typically directed to one or more deity. It is the informal term in English for what sociology of religion call cult —traditional beliefs and practices, the individual study of which is one of the chief concerns of theology....
, where often the focus is on the worshipper bringing praise and thanksgiving to God.

External links

by Edward T. Horn, The Lutheran Quarterly (1891)
by Vernon P. Kleinig, Concordia Theological Quarterly, April 1998
by Toivo Harjunpää (JSTOR
JSTOR

JSTOR is a United States-based Internet system for archiving academic journals, founded in 1995. It provides full-text searches of Digitizing back issues of several hundred well-known journals, dating back to 1665 in the case of the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society....
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Divine Service

Confession and Absolution

Divine Service

Confession and Absolution

The Service of the Word

The Service of the Sacrament

Definition and Origins

See also

External links