Field Testing: Round 3

The editors of The Lutheran Missal are pleased to announce the beginning of our third comprehensive round of field testing, coinciding with the release of the newly-translated Sunday collects. A new field testing page has been updated with the latest texts for the Readings, Psalmody, and Collects. Click here to sign up and receive theContinue reading “Field Testing: Round 3”

Liturgical Calendar 2025–2026

The complete liturgical calendar with readings and colors for the upcoming liturgical year can be found in a Google Sheet for your convenient reference here, or viewed below. If you haven’t already, you can also subscribe to the Google Calendar for The Lutheran Missal, which provides an easy reference for Sundays and feasts throughout theContinue reading “Liturgical Calendar 2025–2026”

Artist Opportunity: Last Call!

So far more than half a dozen artists have submitted their portfolios and a rough bid to illustrate The Lutheran Missal. Any artists who have yet to make a submission are encouraged to do so before Luther’s hammer strikes the Wittenberg church door (Friday, October 31st, 2025). More details about the scope of the projectContinue reading “Artist Opportunity: Last Call!”

The Propers, Part 2—The Sense of the Melodies

The previous article in this series discussed the texts of the Propers. While very important, the texts are only one half of the package. The present article will discuss the other half of the package: the melodies, specifically the historic Gregorian chants to which the Propers are sung in the Western Church. The Propers asContinue reading “The Propers, Part 2—The Sense of the Melodies”

The Propers, Part 1—The Sense of the Texts

The Propers (that is, the Introit, Gradual, Tract, Alleluia, Sequence, Offertory, and Communion) are an integral part of the Divine Service. More than any other part of the liturgy, they give shape and life to the rhythm of the liturgical year. Unfortunately, the Propers frequently are misunderstood textually, musically, and liturgically. This series of articlesContinue reading “The Propers, Part 1—The Sense of the Texts”

The Lutheran Breviary: A Call for Volunteers

As we continue along the editing and translation processes for The Lutheran Missal, we are also keeping an eye on the future publication of The Lutheran Breviary, which has been under discussion for some time, and is now ready for your help. As with the process of putting together The Lutheran Missal, the breviary projectContinue reading “The Lutheran Breviary: A Call for Volunteers”

The Fourth Sunday in Advent

The Common Service of 1888 was a high water mark, of sorts, for the liturgy of English-speaking Lutherans in North America. Based on a variety of Lutheran and medieval sources, it was commissioned by the General Synod, the General Council, and the United Synod in the South to provide a solid and historically grounded foundationContinue reading “The Fourth Sunday in Advent”

Field Testing: Lectionary and Gradual

Two years ago, we began soliciting volunteers to field test the temporal lectionary for The Lutheran Missal, followed by the sanctoral lectionary last year. This year, we are in search of volunteers to help us by field testing the lectionary and gradual texts for both the temporale and sanctorale beginning in Advent. What is requiredContinue reading “Field Testing: Lectionary and Gradual”

The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

While the celebration of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary may be less than familiar to many American Lutherans, its observance is noted from the Gelasian sacramentary onward, appearing in medieval missals, Lutheran missals, Lutheran chant books, and Lutheran postils, as well as the hymnals and agendas of the Missouri Synod and Wisconsin Synod.Continue reading “The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary”