The ELCA's new hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, is not only for church, but it is also designed for use at home. Here are some tips for home use:
- Pray Daily: The four services of daily prayer (pages 298–331) or one of the Litanies (hymns 237–238) can be spoken/sung aloud or silently as a daily discipline year round, weekly, or for the days a particular church season.
- Read the Bible Briefly, Purposefully: A list of short, daily bible readings (starting on page 1121) coordinate with the Sunday lessons to sustain you through the week and prepare you for the upcoming Lord's Day.
- Pray with Wild Abandon: Clear, powerful prayers for almost any occasion start on page 72. It's a joy to read through them.
- Celebrate Baptismal Birthdays: Gather around a bowl of water and use one of the thanksgivings for baptism (say page 97) to celebrate. Mark each other with a watery cross. Bless your children.
- Meditate on an Icon: Pick any of the rich graphics and meditate on it like an icon. Forget the words. Soak in the picture. What does it say about Jesus and his church.
- Memorize the Small Catechism: Memorize portions of the Small Catechism (page 1160). Eat dinner together as a family and recite them before, during or after the meal.
- Repeat Sunday's Prayer: Each night before you go to bed, re-read the previous Sunday's “Prayer of the Day.” Use it as a final “bedtime story.” Let it echo again and again through your week. If you have young children, let them read it to you if they are able at mealtime or night.
- Preview the Sunday Lessons: The lessons in the front of the book (pages 18-63) set the pattern for our Sunday worship. In December 2007, we start Year “A.” Beat the pastor to the punch; guess what she or he is going to say.
- Find your (new) Favorite Hymns: Sing or play your favorite hymns. Or, better yet, field test a new tune and tell the pastor we need to “try this one.” Help us find your new favorites.
- Read & Sing the Psalms: The psalms are meant to be read or sung aloud. All 150 are included. Read them with expression. Or learn a simple psalm tone (page 337) and sing them to yourself. Do one-a-day, and you will cover them all 2 1/3 times a given year. Do one-a-week, and you will cover them all in three years. Martin Luther cut his theological “baby teeth” on the psalms and never lost his love for them.
- Give a Hymnal as a Gift: A new hymnal makes a wonderful gift for a parent, child or friend. It will be the core of the church's worship for the next 20 years. Few books besides the bible has such a long and useful shelf life. Names may be embossed on the front. Order through the church office or directly from Augsburg/Fortress.
