Grace Notes 2025-09-17
This week I am sharing with you a list of 12. Twelve things that often are missing apart from good liturgical worship, such as we value in the Lutheran Tradition. I would argue it is not good to be without the following 12…
1. The reading of Scripture Lessons, including the Old Testament…
2. The use of the Psalms…
3. Trinitarian language…
4. The use of the historic Creeds summarizing in Scripture what God has revealed…
5. Responsive prayers involving the voices of the congregation…
6. The use of Biblical Canticles such as the Gloria in Excelsis, the Sanctus, the Benedictus, the Magnificat, and the Nunc Dimittis…
7. The use of Biblical phrases, and terms...
8. A liturgical calendar ensuring the annual covering of the major events in Jesus’ life…
9. Learning to pray the Lord’s Prayer together…
10. Frequent communion as a highpoint in the Divine Service…
11. The use of rich historical and Biblical symbols…
12. Physical activity such as bowing, kneeling, crossing oneself, coming forward to the altar, eating and drinking, exchanging the peace…
Unfortunately, we don’t always know why these things are included in the Divine Service. Often, we haven’t been taught well. And without a doubt their use can often be perfunctory and seem meaningless. But none of that is the fault of the listed elements. Rather it is in our understanding, or lack thereof, along with the personal preparation that we might lack in approaching all that God wishes to give us when we gather together weekly for the Divine Service.
Since You Asked
What is the Christian’s Hope?
In a word, it is the resurrection of the body to life everlasting in the world to come. This is more accurate and complete than just saying “life after death.” It is also more helpful than saying “going to heaven.” When Jesus returns at the end of the age to judge the living and the dead, baptized believers will be raised bodily! They will share in a resurrection similar to Jesus’ resurrection. And being in His presence on that day and for all eternity is not just a matter of escaping to heaven, but living in His presence in the new heaven and earth. The Lord intends to renew and restore His creation. So our central hope is the resurrection of the dead, with believers inheriting the Kingdom.