ELCA Worship
Liturgy, the form by which we conduct worship, has so many elements to it. In our Lutheran tradition, we organize our worship in four parts - Gathering, Meal, Word, and Sending. Within those four parts is where you'll find the many pieces of our liturgy - prayers, scripture, song, confession/forgiveness, and blessings. Here you'll find a deeper dive into the theological foundation for worship within the Lutheran tradition of the ELCA.
Start with this article from Living Lutheran that gives you an introductory look into Lutheran Worship!
Lutheran Worship 101
Lutheran Worship 101
Principles for Worship
Principles for Worship presents the outcome of the first, consultative phase of Renewing
Worship. During 2001, over 100 people representing the breadth of the church took part
in a series of consultations that led to the formulation of these principles. The Use of the
Means of Grace, the statement on the practice of word and sacrament adopted in 1997
by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, served as a primary foundation for this work, and is
appended in this volume to the principles developed in 2001.
The consultations developed additional principles and supporting materials to address
four particular dimensions of the church’s worship: language, music, preaching, and worship
space. These four areas represent central matters of attention for the ELCA at this
time in its life; they are not, however, intended to be all-comprehensive. Like The Use of
the Means of Grace, these additional principles, published as part of the series of Renewing
Worship provisional resources, are intended to invite study and response, encourage
unity, and foster common understanding and practice, rather than to impose uniformity.
Worship. During 2001, over 100 people representing the breadth of the church took part
in a series of consultations that led to the formulation of these principles. The Use of the
Means of Grace, the statement on the practice of word and sacrament adopted in 1997
by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly, served as a primary foundation for this work, and is
appended in this volume to the principles developed in 2001.
The consultations developed additional principles and supporting materials to address
four particular dimensions of the church’s worship: language, music, preaching, and worship
space. These four areas represent central matters of attention for the ELCA at this
time in its life; they are not, however, intended to be all-comprehensive. Like The Use of
the Means of Grace, these additional principles, published as part of the series of Renewing
Worship provisional resources, are intended to invite study and response, encourage
unity, and foster common understanding and practice, rather than to impose uniformity.
The Use of the Means of Grace
Included in the document above but here on its own, The Use of the Means of Grace is a statement on the practice of word and sacrament adopted in 1997 by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly.