About The Divine Service

“The Divine Service is the chief worship service in the Lutheran Church. The order of worship is basically the same in all orthodox Lutheran hymnals. This order of service is not unique to Lutherans. We did not invent it. It is the ancient form of worship that has been developed among Christians the world over from the very beginning of the New Testament era. It is based exclusively on Scripture and is focused completely on Jesus Christ and His saving grace on the cross of Calvary.” (Lutheranism 101, “Order in the Order,” p. 191)

For details about each part of the Divine Service please click on the links below.

Invocation

The Invocation is the beginning of our preparation for the Divine Service…

Confession & Absolution

It is only by Christ’s forgiveness of sin won on the cross that we enter into heaven…

Introit

We enter into the Divine Service with the Introit or Entrance Hymn…

Kyrie

When we pray the Kyrie we’re praying a prayer prayed in Scripture by those seeking Jesus’ mercy…

Salutation

The Salutation announces the presence of the Lord…

Collect of the Day

A collection of petitions spoken by the pastor as one prayer to the Lord on behalf of the collected members of the Church…

First Reading

The First Reading is usually, but not always, taken from the Old Testament…

Psalm or Gradual

With the Gradual we maintain a part of the Divine Service that was known by Christians at least as early as the first half of the third century AD…

Epistle Reading

The epistles are the result of the apostles’ carrying out Jesus’ great commission…

Alleluia & Verse

Alleluia is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word that means “Praise the Lord”…

Gospel Reading

The Gospel lesson is the climax of the Service of the Word, occupying a place of honor because it contains the words and deeds of our Lord…

The Creed

The word creed comes from Latin, credo, which means I believe. It’s a statement of what we believe, teach, and confess…

Sermon

The called and ordained pastor is God’s mouthpiece for the congregation as through Him the Good Shepherd’s Word sounds forth…

Prayer of the Church

Gathered in Jesus’ name, we bring petitions and thanksgivings before Him that grow out of His Word…

Offering

Having received the gracious generosity of the Father, who is the giver of every good and perfect gift, we now give of the gifts which He has given us…

Offertory

With the words of Scripture on our lips we confess our thankfulness to the Lord. The Offertory points us toward the Service of the Sacrament…

Service of the Sacrament

The Service of the Sacrament doesn’t stand alone, but as the most sacred aspect of the Divine Service…

Preface

Just as the Salutation precedes the gifts given in God’s Word, the Preface precedes the gifts given in the Sacrament…

Proper Preface

Having just said that it is good to thank and praise God, we now do that with the words of the Proper Preface…

Sanctus

In the Sanctus we join all those in heaven with songs of praise and adoration, for the One who comes in the name of the Lord…

Words of Institution

These words are repeated by the pastor, not to give historical context of the Lord’s Supper, but because they give and bestow what they declare…

Pax Domini

Pax Domini is Latin for the ‘Peace of the Lord.’ The Sacrament of Jesus’ body and blood is how the peace that the Lord is given…

Agnus Dei

The words of John the Baptist, the Agnus Dei confesses the mercy and peace that we receive from the Lamb of God in His Supper…

Benediction

The words of the Benediction are the words given to Aaron and his sons to speak over God’s people…