Lutheran Churches - Missouri Synod

Worship in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has retained the pattern set by Luther, with some modifications. The liturgical, charismatic, and inclusive movements are making an impact here and there. But most churches practice traditional worship. Changes in the Sunday worship of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) occur rather slowly. In its 150 year history there have been only three official English language hymnals (1912, 1941, 1982) and one German hymnal (1847). In recent decades individual congregations have experimented with texts, songs, and forms beyond these resources. The pattern for worship set by Luther in his Formual Missae (a revision of the Latin Mass, 1523) and his Deutsche Messe (a German order of the Mass, 1525) continues to be an important influence. In these works he showed how to delete from the medieval mass that which contradicts the gospel and Scripture and to retain what is useful from tradition. He was anxious to provide excellent music and texts i…