Lutheran Church–missouri Synod

During the last fifty years, the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod has devoted greater attention to the sacraments, particularly Communion. Lutherans have also recovered the Divine Service to express their practice and theology of worship. "Our Lord speaks and we listen. His Word bestows what it says. Faith that is born from what is heard acknowledges the gifts received with eager thankfulness and praise. " These are the opening words from the introduction of Lutheran Worship published by the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod in 1982. They summarize the theological understanding of the Lutheran ChurchMissouri Synod that God is the Giver, and we the receivers. We do not "make God present. " We do not come into his presence. Rather he deigns to come to us through his holy Word and sacraments. We simply receive what has first been given to us. One of the significant changes that has occurred with the introduction of a new hymnal in 1982 was the use of the term Divine Service for the chief Sun…