Guy's Books and Thoughts

I thought I'd try and explain a bit about the Lutheran liturgy.
Well, at least give an outline The Roman Catholic and Lutheran
liturgies are similar. Luther did not abolish the mass, he "gave it
a haircut" in his words.

A full service would involve two high points, the service of the word
and the service of the sacrament ( Holy Communion). Or Spoken Word and
Incarnate Word (real presence). This is also known as the mass of the
catechumens and the mass of the faithful. I believe that in the Roman
times, unbelievers and those undergoing instruction or confrimation were dismissed after the mass of the catechumens. Only those who were
confirmed as believers were allowed to take commuinon. For the record
we Lutherans do not believe in "consubstantiation." That is a term
the Roman Catholics use to describe our position. We Lutherans use
the term "Real Presence."

Here is my amateurish attempt. I think this will provide you a rough
outline. A brief summary of the service. We start with an opening hymn then:

1) Confession of Sins and absolution pronounced.
2) Introit. Sort of an introduction to the theme of the service.
3) Kyrie- A litany of which asks God for mercy on us sinners
Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us.
4) Gloria. A response to God's mercy. Glory be to God on high.
5) Collect. A collective prayer for the service.
6) Spoken word:The Pastor reads the O.T. lesson, Choir sings, Epistle
lesson
read, gradual sung, Gospel lesson read.
7) Creed. Normally the Nicene Creed is recited with a communion
service.
The Apostles Creed recited without commuion.
8) Sermon
9) Offering
10) General Prayer

To this point is the service of the word or "mass of the
Catechumen."
If no communion, the service ends with a Benediction.
With commuion, the service continues on to the service of the sacrament
also known as the "Mass of the faithful."

The service with communion continues as follows:

1) Preface. The Pastor recites the words "It is truly good right and
salutary... etc."
2) Sanctus. A response to the Pastor's prayer. This response goes
"Holy, Holy, Holy LORD GOD of Sabaoth, Heaven and Earth is full of your
glory etc."
3)Pre communion prayer
4)Lord's prayer
5) Words of Institution
6) Agnus Dei ( Lamb of God). A plea of the congregation. "Oh, Christ,
thou lamb of God, who takest away the sin of the world have mercy upon us...
etc."
7)HOLY COMMUNION
8)Nunc Dimitis. "Lord now let your servant depart in peace, for my eyes
have seen your salvation etc." This is I think uniquely Lutheran
in the liturgy. But I could be wrong.
9)Thanksgiving
10)Benediction
11) closing hymn
12) silent prayer

Think of the service as a series of stepping stones. The High Point of the Mass of the Catechumen is the SPOKEN WORD and the parts thereafter are descending "steps." The High Point of the Mass of the Faithful is HOLY COMMUNION. The steps thereafter beginning
with the Nunc Dimitis are descending steps.This step diagram
can be found in Lutheran theologian, Martin Rudnick's book CHRISTIANITY
IS FOR YOU. I also found a similar step diagram in a Catholic book.

Here is my own attempt at a revised version of the diagram:

    Spoken Word                          HOLY COMMUNION
 Collect    Creed                    Words of        Nunc
Gloria        Sermon               Institution        Dimitis
Kyrie           Offering          Lord's prayer         Thanks-
Introit           General Prayer  Sanctus                 giving
Confession                  Preface                       Benediction