Here are some FAQ's about the ELCA's latest worship book.
Why the name “Evangelical Lutheran Worship”?
This title reflects the three foundational assumptions that led to the development of this book. Evangelical reflects our commitment to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ as partners in the mission of God. Lutheran indicates that this book is true to a confessional and reforming identity. And Worship makes it clear what this resources is for and about—the gathering of God's people around the means of grace.
Is Evangelical Lutheran Worship expected to be comprehensive for all congregations?
No. Unlike predecessor books, which sought to be comprehensive for all congregations, Evangelical Lutheran Worship is understood as being a core, or primary, resource. It stands at the center of an unfolding family of resources.
Will Evangelical Lutheran Worship replace both the Lutheran Book of Worship and With One Voice?
At Emmanuel, yes.
What will happen to the old books?
We encourage you to take them home.
How can this book hold so much more and still be the same size?
Advances in paper production have achieved a thinner paper with similar durability and opacity. Also, the font being used for the liturgies in Evangelical Lutheran Worship is a more open, readable, darker font than Lutheran Book of Worship.
What happened to the “P”, “A” and “C” symbols used in Lutheran Book of Worship to identify who said or sang what portions?
The shorthand symbols were often misunderstood and could feel like “code language” to some visitors. Evangelical Lutheran Worship follows a more common practice which allows for greater flexibility by simply indicating parts to be sung or spoken by the assembly in bold type, by providing directions given in italics, or by giving a simple designation when appropriate.
The word “congregation” seems to have disappeared. Why is the word “assembly” used instead?
Evangelical Lutheran Worship is intentional about its use of the word “assembly.” We are the people of God, assembled around Word and sacrament. This assembly may be in a congregation, or it may be within another worshiping community, such as a campus ministry, youth gathering, a seminary, or a retirement center. When we gather for worship, those who are assembled include people whose church membership may be with other Lutheran or non-Lutheran congregations as well as those with no church affiliation at all. Use of the word “assembly” acknowledges that those who gather for worship have a variety of different backgrounds and affiliations and may or may not be members of the congregation that hosts the gathering. In many situations, those “assemblies” may never again include exactly the same group of people, for example, weddings and funerals.
Why is Luther's Small Catechism included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship?
The Small Catechism by Martin Luther is included in Evangelical Lutheran Worship, reflecting our confessional heritage and serving as a resource for study and remembrance. Luther sometimes preached on parts of the catechism, as Pastor Jaster occasionally will.
Why have some of the words of the services changed?
The new book of worship will use common liturgical texts developed by the English Language Liturgical Consultation (ELLC), in which our church body (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America) participates. These ecumenical texts are a sign of the unity we share. They are the common English texts that have been adopted by a large number of church bodies around the world. To get explanations for the changes in the two creeds click here. To learn even more from the ELLC web site itself click here.
How was the translation of the psalms determined?
The Evangelical Lutheran Worship psalter is a version of the psalms for singing that is a conservative revision of the psalter in Lutheran Book of Worship, which was not a direct translation. The psalm texts were worked on by a team of Hebrew scholars and then reviewed extensively by scholars not involved in the translation.
Why are there so many musical settings of Holy Communion?
Early in the Renewing Worship process it was discovered that worshiping assemblies in our church use a wide range of musical styles. What unites us are common texts, not one common melody. It is likely that most congregations will only learn a few settings of the liturgy. Determining how many settings to learn and which ones will be an important decision for each congregation.
Why are some hymns being printed with melody line only?
Many hymns were written to be sung in unison. To make this clear to the worshiper they have been included with melody line only. If a hymn appears in harmony, worshipers can be assured that it is a singable harmony, thereby minimizing confusion. This approach also makes it easier for average worshipers to find the melody line in a busy score.
What is the difference between a “hymn,” a “song,” and a “canticle”?
The terms “hymn” and “song” are interchangeable. “Canticle" is usually reserved for texts from biblical sources other than psalms, or some specific text of from the early Church.
Adapted from “Evangelical Lutheran Worship: Frequently asked Questions.” ©2006 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. All rights reserved. Permission granted for local use in introducing Evangelical Lutheran Worship.
