Worship Forms come to you on A CD OR AS EMAIL ATTACHMENTS, so you can put them into your computer for your editing. Replace the local and personal references with those from your own experience and setting and they will belong to you and your people.
Relational Responsive Readings of Scripture
Confessions and Absolutions / Responses to the Word / Responsive Prayers
Illuminations are brief, pithy statements that focus the light of understanding of worshipers as the Lessons for the Day are being read. As introductions to the readings, they call the worshipers' attention to what to listen for and to apply to their lives.
Illuminations are offered that follow the Three-Year Lectionary as in Lutheran Service Book, Lutheran Worship, Christian Worship, or Lutheran Book of Worship. Holy Days and Holidays are included.
Illuminations are especially helpful when Lay Lectors participate in reading the Lessons, a practice that emphasizes that the Word is the Lord's gift to the Church, and not just the province of the Church's leaders. Suggestions for establishing an Office of Lay Lector and a formal agreement that states the responsibilities that Lectors accept with their office are provided with Illuminations.
Collects for Unison Reading provides the Prayer of the Day in easy, readable form for every Sunday of the Church Year and for Holy Days. They match the Church Year systems of Lutheran Service Book, Lutheran Worship, Christian Worship, and Lutheran Book of Worship.
In a day when worshipers are literate, Collects for Unison Reading allow them to do more than just say or sing an "Amen" to a prayer spoken by their Pastor. They may participate personally in the Prayer of the Day. The prayers retain the formal dignity of the traditional Collects, but thoughts are expressed in phrases and sentences that make unison reading easier. To allow their use, they must be printed in the service folders.
Relational Responsive Readings of Scripture are selected Scriptures organized around a theme, stated in ways that make them liturgical conversations. They begin and end with hymn stanzas and are very usable as alternative opening liturgies. They follow the ancient tradition of having God's Word, not our own words, be the mode of expressing our corporate worship.
Responsive Readings of Scripture are related to Lutheran Service Book, Lutheran Worship, Christian Worship, and Lutheran Book of Worship.
1. Seasons of the Church Year -- Readings for the Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost seasons -- twelve in all.
2. Holidays and Holy Days -- Christmas Day, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, Outreach Sunday, Mother's Day, Christian Education Sunday, Father's Day, Independence Day, Reformation Sunday, and Thanksgiving Day.
Sample Relational Responsive Readings
Confessions and Absolutions key in on thoughts and phrases from the Lessons for the Day to address the kinds of sins they expose and heal. They are available to relate to the Lectionaries of the new Lutheran Service Book and of Lutheran Worship -- as you may choose. They speak openly and honestly to our heavenly Father about our continuing to fail and to fall also as his children -- but always in confident awareness that we are his forgiven children. Instead of employing a 'mourners' bench' approach, these forms let us clearly acknowledge our sins and at the same time celebrate the wondrous truth that we live in a state of grace in which, as we turn to him in faith and repentance, our failings and fallings are continually forgiven by our gracious Father in heaven.
Confessions and Absolutions for Series A, Series B, and Series C are offered as a unit together with Responses to the Word and Responsive Prayers.
Responses to the Word
We Respond to the Word with the Word is to be used as a Response to the Lessons -- based on Scripture selections that relate to the general theme of the Sunday. Some liberty is taken to form the texts into liturgical conversations. Four or five exchanges between Pastor and People let Scripture itself speak to the hearts of worshipers and formulate their expressions of faith and worship in a New Testament mode.
Responses to the Word are offered as a unit together with Confessions and Absolutions and Responsive Prayers.
Responsive Prayers Relating to Lessons
In a day when worshipers are literate, these Responsive Prayers of the Church allow participation in the Prayer of the Church that goes beyond a "Hear our Prayer" or an "Amen". Thoughts and wording from the Lessons express the prayers in terms of the general theme of the Sunday. Since you receive them in computer format, your expression of local or immediate concerns may readily be added.
Responsive Prayers for Series A, Series B, and Series C are offered as a unit together with Confessions and Absolutions and Responses to the Word.
Sample Confessions/Responses/Prayers LSB
Sample Confessions/Readings/Prayers LW
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