The Who’s Who of Lutheran Music

In Evangelical Lutheran Worship there are a few commemorations extended to musicians who have been instrumental parts of hymnody and music in the church. Let us look at what they have done and contributed.

Charles Wesley (March 2) – Hymns: the Advent hymn No. 254 Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus; the ever popular Christmas hymn No. 270 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; he also wrote the fourth verse to Easter Hymn No. 365 Jesus Christ is Risen Today and No. 373 by the same title written entirely by him; a Christ the King Hymn, No. 430 Rejoice, for Christ is King; No. 435 Lo! He Come with Clouds Descending, a hymn about the second coming of Christ; a morning hymn No. 553 Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies; No. 631 Love Divine, All Loves Excelling often set to the tune HYFRYDOL, a perennial favorite; No. 825 You Servants of God; and certainly the most well know hymn by him, No, 886 O, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing.

Nicholaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf (May 9) – Hymn No. 624 Jesus, Still Lead On, a hymn from the height of Lutheran Pietism.

Jiří Třanovský (May 29) – Hymn No. 602 Your Heart, O God is Grieved. While not well know, this is a most excellent hymn for confession and forgiveness.

Johann Sebastian Bach, Heinrich Schütz, and George Frederick Handel (July 28) – Hymns harmonized by Bach: No. 310 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise, No. 351 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, No. 405 O Spirit of Life, No. 480 O Bread of Life from Heaven, No. 501 Come with Us, O Blessed Jesus, No. 606 Our Father, We Have Wandered, No. 703 O God, Why Are You Silent, and No. 876 Let the Whole Creation Cry. Handel wrote the tune the hymn No. 376 Thine is the Glory. All three of these men wrote numerous sacred compositions including cantatas, motets, oratorios, and the like.

Philipp Nicolai, Johann Hermann, and Paul Gerhardt (October 26) – Nicolai wrote some of the most well known hymns in the Lutheran tradition including the King and Queen of chorales: No. 308 O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright! and No. 436 Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying. Also he wrote the tune for No. 786 O Holy Spirit, Enter in. Gerhardt wrote a fair few hymns: No. 241 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You, No. 273 All My Heart Again Rejoices, No. 340 A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth, his most popular text, the Passion hymn No. 352 O Sacred Head, Now Wounded, No. 378 Awake, My Heart, with Gladness, No. 568 Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow, No. 761 Evening and Morning, and No. 788 If God my Lord Be for Me.

Issac Watts (November 25) – Hymns: No. 267 Joy to the Word, No. 337 Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed, No. 434 Jesus Shall Reign, No. 625 Come, We That Love the Lord, No. 632 O God, Our Help in Ages Past, No. 772 Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways, No. 782 My Shepherd, You Supply My Need, No. 803 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, No. 847 Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs, and No. 848 Give to Our God Immortal Praise!

John of Damascus (December 4) – Hymns: No. 361 The Day of Resurrection! and No. 363 Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain, both Easter hymns.

There is also a commemoration for Catherine Winkworth and John Mason Neale (July 1) who translated many hymns.

These are just a few of the many hymn writers that make up modern hymnody.

An argument for weekly Eucharist

There is little doubt that the issue of weekly communion services has emerged – yet again – as a topic for parish discussions. So perhaps we too should devote some time to this issue.

If we look at our Roman Catholic and Orthodox brothers and sisters as well as those who are members of the Anglican Communion, we see that weekly Eucharist is most definitely part of their worship pattern. In fact, most would likely respond that they could not even have Sunday worship without it. So why is it that we as Lutherans can have such a hard time with taking the leap forward and committing to having weekly Eucharist?

While I am always the first to state the importance for us to understand that we are not a cult of Luther, perhaps looking at the reformer's own writing might shed some light on the importance of "the Sacrament of the Altar." In the Small Catechism, Luther asks "What is the benefit of such eating and drinking" referring to communion. The answer provided is "the words 'given for you' and 'shed for you for the forgiveness of sin' show us that forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation are given to us in the sacrament through these words, because where there is forgiveness of sin, there is also life and salvation." We must ask naturally, what does this mean?

It seems that forgiveness of sins is the central point here – that is chiefly grace. It is by this notion, thoroughly Lutheran, which I would make a bold point. We must, in essence, ask ourselves, "how often are we in need of God's grace?" Sometimes? All the time? Only on the first and third Sundays of the month? Surly the answer for us is indeed at all times and in all places for we are sinners in desperate need of God's grace. However we do not have the capacity to receive Eucharist at all times. Additionally, the practice of daily Eucharist, while commendable, is not practical for most. However, that which is certainly practical is weekly Eucharist.

I would readily suggest Eucharist to sinners in need of God's grace. And so I would ask every sinner to ask for communion only as often as you set foot in the door of the parish. And since it is our time together on Sunday that which chiefly defines us socially, if not spiritually, Christians, let us look forward to the day when we too will say that Sunday worship is not worship if it lack communion.

Some random thoughts about worship in the Lutheran Church

So this blog is to be a forum for liturgical ideas concerning worship in the Lutheran Church. In particular, I would like to explore the following ideas: codification of worship services, the role of music in worship, the future of worship, the use of vestments, the use of linens, the use of paraments, and lots and lots of other things.