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”
Tag Archives: Advent
The Second Sunday in Advent
During last year’s field testing, I was able to put together some notes for each day in the first part of the liturgical year, and as we move toward the Second Sunday in Advent once again, I thought I would share a slightly expanded version of those thoughts from last year for those who weren’tContinue reading “The Second Sunday in Advent”
“Old Liturgical Rubrics”
In my previous post concerning the ranking of the Vigil of Christmas above the Fourth Sunday of Advent, I stated that this was according to the “old liturgical rubrics”—a very scholarly citation, indeed. These rubrics can be found in the following sources:Breviarium pro dioecesi ecclesiae Augustensis, 1497 (folio a1:verso)Directorium seu index divinorum officiorum secundum ritumContinue reading ““Old Liturgical Rubrics””
Stop Advent’s War on Christmas!
Every year liturgically-minded pastors and parishioners bemoan the intrusion of Christmas upon the season of Advent. It’s not that we don’t think Christmas is important. Quite the opposite—it’s so important that the Church anticipates the Nativity of Our Lord with the month-long penitential season of Advent. But since our sinful world has no use forContinue reading “Stop Advent’s War on Christmas!”
The Gospel for the First Sunday in Advent
If you follow the traditional Lutheran lectionary in any of its various recent iterations, whether in Lutheran Service Book, The Lutheran Hymnal, Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary, or others, you know that the appointed Gospel for the quickly approaching First Sunday in Advent is that of the triumphal entry from Matthew 21, usually also read at someContinue reading “The Gospel for the First Sunday in Advent”
As Advent Approaches: Weekday Readings and Liturgical Notes
It was with some mild surprise that I found myself contemplating preparations for Advent. All Saints? This Sunday? I can’t imagine how this happened. So it goes. The approach of Advent frequently brings with it the planning of additional midweek services. And, as you may have guessed, the preliminary research for The Lutheran Missal hasContinue reading “As Advent Approaches: Weekday Readings and Liturgical Notes”
The Lutheran Missal 