The Three High Things
The focus of the Divine Service is our gracious Lord coming down to serve us with His gifts. The most important parts of the Divine Service are those times when He descends to meet us with saving grace in the most personal ways. His serving us makes three high and holy things: the Holy Absolution, Holy Scripture, and the Holy Communion. Everything else either prepares for Him to meet us in these high things or responds to Him.
What follows is the text of the Divine Service used at Our Savior along with explanatory notes and Scripture references. The italicized text is spoken or sung by the pastor or lay liturgist. The text in bold is spoken or sung by the congregation.
The Divine Service
Hymn
Note: The hymns are considered “propers,” that is, they change each Sunday to fit with the readings, the season of the Church year, and the themes of the service.
The Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Note: In the invocation we call on the Triune God. How can we dare to do this? Because this is the name in which we were baptized! Since His name is here, He Himself is here, too. This reality shapes the entire service. Everything that takes place happens with Him present and by His authority. All the congregation responds with “Amen,” which means “so be it!” See Mathew 28:19 and 18:20.
The Confessions of Sins
Beloved in the Lord, let us draw near with sincere hearts to confess our sins to God, our Father, and to plead in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ for His forgiveness.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,
and You forgave the guilt of my sin.
All-Powerful God, merciful Father, I, a poor, pitiful sinner, confess to You all my sins and unrighteousness. By them I have continually offended You and fairly deserved Your punishment, both now and eternally. But from my heart I am sorry for them, and I sincerely repent of them, and I pray You, in Your limitless mercy for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
Note: When we confess our sins, we agree with what God says about us in His Word: “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). In the presence of the Lord, our sins are obvious, and He wants to remove them from us. See Psalms 124:8 and 32:5.
The Holy Absolution (the first “high thing”)
Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Note: Jesus Himself is here and speaking through the pastor’s mouth. Here we are brought back to our baptism. Our sinful nature, having been crucified again with Christ, is clothed in His righteousness. We are declared innocent! See John 20:19–23.
The Introit
Note: The introit is another “proper,” which comes from the psalms or occasionally from another Scripture passage or liturgical text. With the introit, we respond to the absolution by entering (introit means “entrance”) the altar of God. Having been cleansed and declared holy, we are welcome in His presence. See Psalms 95:2 and 100:2.
The Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
The Kyrie
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Note: “Lord, have mercy” is a translation of the ancient Greek kyrie eleison (pronounced KEE-ree-yay e-LAY-son). This ancient prayer is sung in preparation for the hearing of Holy Scripture. With these words, we cry out to our Lord like beggars and surrender to Jesus as the conqueror who overcomes sin, death, and the devil. See Mark 10:47.
The Gloria In Excelsis
Glory to God on high!
And on earth peace, good will toward men.
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You,
we glorify You, we give thanks to You for Your great glory.
O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty!
O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ!
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us!
You take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer!
You sit at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy on us!
For You only are holy, You only are the Lord,
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,
are most high in the glory of God the Father! Amen.
Note: With this song, the angels announced the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Lord, to shepherds who were out in the field keeping watch over their flocks. Each Sunday we join the angels in rejoicing over our Savior’s birth and in praising our God for all that He has done for our salvation and for the way He continues to deliver this salvation to us. See Luke 2:14 and John 1:29.
The Salutation
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Note: The salutation confesses that the pastor is placed there by the Lord Himself to speak on His behalf. It reflects the special relationship between the pastor, as the called and ordained servant of the Word, and the congregation. What follows this blessing will be the Lord’s speaking, serving, and giving. By the response, “And with your spirit,” the congregation acknowledges this. See 2 Timothy 4:22.
The Collect
Note: The collect is another “proper,” a prayer that is fitting and appropriate for that Sunday. It gathers into one short, summary prayer themes and phrases from the readings. Through the prayer, we address God, exercise our faith in Him, praise Him, and bring Him our requests. In the readings from God’s Word that follow, we listen to His response.
The Reading of God’s Word (the second “high thing”)
Note: On most Sundays, we hear three readings from Holy Scripture: a reading from the Old Testament (Genesis–Malachi), a reading from the Letters or Epistles (Acts–Revelation), and a reading from one of the four Gospels (by St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, or St. John). Holy Scripture is God’s own Word. He wants us to know Him and His love so much that He speaks to us in these words, which are inspired and breathed out by the Holy Spirit. See 2 Timothy 3:16.
The response to the first two readings is:
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
We greet and then respond to the reading of the Holy Gospel with these words:
Glory be to You, O Lord!
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to You, O Christ!
Note: First we stand and sing the triple “Hallelujah!” (“Praise the Lord!”) to the Holy Trinity. All Scripture is equally divine and inspired, yet the reading of the Holy Gospel brings Jesus Christ into our midst in a unique way: here He is, God in human flesh who lived, died, and rose for us. We greet Him as He comes to us in the Word with His salvation by singing “Glory be to You, O Lord!” and then reply to the Good News we just heard with “Praise be to You, O Christ!”
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, Very God of Very God, begotten not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from Heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried, and the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father, and He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead, whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spake by the prophets. And I believe one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
Note: After God speaks to us, we respond by confessing our faith in Him. Christians, including martyrs and saints, have been confessing the Nicene Creed (above) since the fourth century AD. The Apostles’ Creed, which we also confess and use on occasion in the Divine Service, is even older. The Athanasian Creed is used every year on Trinity Sunday. The word “creed” comes from the Latin credo, which means “I believe!” By reciting the Creed, we are saying to God, “I believe what You have spoken to me in Your Word!” We are also confessing the faith to one another and so building one another up in the faith.
Hymn
Note: The hymns are considered “propers,” that is, they change each Sunday to fit with the readings, the season of the Church year, and the themes of the service.
The Sermon
Note: Our Lord Jesus Christ uses the pastor’s mouth again during the sermon. Because Holy Scripture is inspired, as the pastor preaches Scripture it is Jesus Himself speaking to us. The sermon is not a separate “high thing” but a continuation and extension of the second “high thing,” the reading of God’s Word. See Hebrews 13:17.
The Offertory
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me out of Your presence, nor take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and sustain me with a free spirit. Amen.
Note: In the offertory, we again respond to Jesus as He has just come to us through His Word and preaching. This song, taken straight from the psalms, means, “Yes, Lord, do it! Everything You said—do it all in me!” We offer ourselves to Him. See Psalm 51:10–12.
The Offering of Tithes and Gifts
I will offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and call on the name of the Lord.
O Lord, my Strength, I love You.
Note: As priests of God and like the magi before us (Matthew 2:11), we respond to the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ by offering our earthly lives, work, and time, and our earthly gifts of money to the Lord. As the liturgist presents the offerings, given freely in gratitude and love, we stand and say, “O Lord, my strength, I love you” (Psalm 18:1). See also Psalm 116:17.
The General and Pastoral Prayers
Note: We also respond to God’s Word with our prayers. Responding to what He has given and promised, we bring our praises and prayers to Him. Such prayers include asking God to give us a right use of His Word and Sacraments, asking blessings appropriate to the season of the Church year, praying for the Church and the proclamation of the Gospel, praying for good government, and praying for those who are sick, elderly, or who have special concerns and needs. See 1 Timothy 2:1–4.
The Preface and Proper Preface
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Lift up your hearts!
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is good and right that we do.
It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord . . . . Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
Note: The preface and proper preface (appropriate to the Sunday or season) come before and prepare us for the Holy Communion, for Jesus Christ to come to us in His true body and blood. See 2 Timothy 4:22, Colossians 3:1, and Psalm 136.
The Sanctus
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth!
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory!
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest!
Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is He
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest!
Note: As Jesus comes to us, we see by faith that the altar is the very throne of God and we join the angels and archangels, the seraphim and saints, in singing His praises. We also take on our lips the words of the crowd that greeted our Lord on Palm Sunday. As He rode into Jerusalem for His victorious death, so now He comes into our midst in, with, and under the bread and wine. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! See Isaiah 6:3 and Matthew 21:9.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Note: What could be better than praying God’s own words back to Him? As we continue to prepare for Holy Communion, Jesus puts His words into our mouths and gives His Father to us, His baptized siblings, with the promise that He hears and answers all our prayers. Even as we pray the Lord’s Prayer, the very things we need are already prepared for us. Through the Holy Communion of Jesus’ body and blood, God’s name is kept holy among us, His kingdom comes to us, His will is done among us, and we receive the bread of heaven, the forgiveness of sins, help in temptation, and recuse from the evil one and his works and ways. See Matthew 6:9–13 and Luke 11:1–4.
The Words of Institution (the third “high thing”)
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
(Matthew 26:26-28, Mark 14:22-24, Luke 22:19-20, 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 Spoken by the pastor)
Note: It is not the power of the pastor or the faith of the people that makes this miracle happen, but the might words of Christ Himself, speaking with the pastor’s mouth: “This is My body”; “This is My blood,” the very same body and blood that were born of Mary and crucified for us. And so it is, just as He says! This is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink. See Matthew 26:26–28, Mark 14:22–24, Luke 22:19–20, and 1 Corinthians 11:23–25.
The Pax Domini
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
Note: Just as Jesus rose from the dead and appeared in His flesh to the disciples on the first Easter, giving them His peace, so He comes now to us with that same peace in His body and blood. The peace of the Lord is not floating in space but is located in the gifts He gives here. See John 20:19.
The Agnus Dei
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us!
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us!
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace! Amen.
Note: The last thing that prepares us for the Holy Communion is this hymn of praise to Christ! Jesus is present in the elements on the altar. We are about to receive His true body and blood. So we praise, adore, and petition Him with the words of John the Baptist, who called Jesus the Lamb of God (in Latin, agnus dei). Have mercy! Grant us peace! He does, and He will. See John 1:29.
The Holy Communion (receiving the third “high thing”)
Note: The body and blood of Jesus is a powerful and holy gift, and so we must be rightly prepared to receive Him. Examining ourselves for sin, trusting Jesus as our Savior, believing in His real presence in the Holy Communion, seeking reconciliation with others, and confessing the faith together with the entire congregation, we receive His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation. All who receive Holy Communion with us must first be instructed in these things, which our pastor will be very glad to do. Please contact the church office for an appointment. During Holy Communion, we sing hymns together, listen to the reading of a psalm, and pray silently for ourselves and for others. See 1 Corinthians 11:27–32.
The Nunc Dimittis
Now, Lord, You dismiss Your servant in peace, as You have promised,
for my eyes have seen the salvation You prepared before the face of all people,
a Light to enlighten the Gentiles and the Glory of Your people Israel!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Note: First sung by Simeon when he held baby Jesus in his arms, the Nunc Dimittis is our response to Holy Communion. Having received our Lord’s body and blood, we confess that we are ready to go, as if to say, “O Lord, now I can go home in peace, having received Your salvation. Now I am even prepared to die. I have everything I need.” It is also fitting as a prayer at the end of the day. See Luke 2:29–32.
The Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving Collect
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
And His mercy endures forever!
We thank You, All-Powerful God, for refreshing us with this healing gift, and we pray: Father of mercy, by this Holy Food make us strong in faith toward You, and in deep love for each other, that through us other beloved sinners may kneel to You and receive with us grace and life in Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, one eternal God, now, and in the endless world to come. Amen.
Note: What else is there to do after receiving the precious gift of Jesus’ body and blood except give thanks? And so we do! We thank God for His gift. We ask Him to us this gift to strengthen us in faith toward Him and in love toward one another, that we might be His people hear and live in the kingdom of His beloved Son forever with other forgiven sinners. See Psalm 107:1.
The Salutation
The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Note: The salutation confesses that the pastor is placed there by the Lord Himself to speak on His behalf. It reflects the special relationship between the pastor, as the called and ordained servant of the Word, and the congregation. What follows this blessing will be the Lord’s speaking, serving, and giving. By the response, “And with your spirit,” the congregation acknowledges this. See 2 Timothy 4:22.
The Benedicamus
Bless we the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Note: As the service nears its conclusion, the congregation is again invited to join in praising and thanking God for coming among us with His gifts. See Psalm 103:1.
The Benediction
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
Note: In the Benediction the Triune Lord who baptized us and fed us has the last word, and it is all blessing (“benediction” means “blessing”). As we leave to continue our journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, God repeats words that He said first through Aaron in the wilderness more than 3,000 years ago. We return to our homes, our families, our lives, and our work with His face shining on us and His grace and peace with us, until we gather again the next Sunday, unless He comes for us or we go to Him first! See Numbers 6:24–26.
