Worship Planning template 2024-2025

The Worship Planning template is a simple Excel tool to help pastors and worship teams in their worship planning.

The template offers the RCL readings for each Sunday and Special services, with suggestions for Invocation/Call to Worship, Confession, Creed, Lord's Prayer, Holy Communion, and Hymns/Songs (opening, praise after forgiveness, kids, post sermon/offering and sending)

The resource is designed for you to adapt for your own context

You can download the 2024-2025 Worship Planning template here

Contemporary Lutheran Worship Songs - The Song Writer initative

The Song Writer Initiative is a resource of the Center for Worship Leaders of Concordia University Irvine, offering Contemporary Worship songs which are strongly influenced by a Lutheran approach to worship and theology.  

You can listen to and download sheet music for their recent songs at https://www.cui.edu/academicprograms/christcollege/center-for-worship-leadership/songwriter

Worship Planning Spreadsheet for 2019-2020 Year A

This Excel spreadsheet  assists with Worship Planning, using readings from the Revised Common Lectionary (Thematic).

Current fields include:  

• Date 
• Liturgical Day
• Liturgical Colour
• Old Testament Reading
• Psalm
• New Testament Reading 
• Gospel Reading 
• Alternative or off lectionary readings Reading
• Worship Order

• WORSHIP ELEMENTS
• Musicians:  
• Musicians:  
• Invocation/Call to Worship
• Confession
• CREED
• LORD'S Prayer
• Holy Communion
• Worship Activity
• Guests

• Music
• Opening Song
• Praise Song after forgiveness
• Kids Song
• Post Sermon Song/Offering Song
• Sending Song

You can add fields for your specific ministry

Developed originally for Sydney Lutheran Parish

You can download the spreadsheet at  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UzTWIvZKz3aTf61zFzSOjNvfk5PbseA_/view?usp=sharing

Revised Common Lectionary Year A 2019-2020 Calendar Poster free

Sola Publisher offers a free colour calendar for based on the Revised Common Lectionary Readings

This is available for download at https://www.solapublishing.com/free-worship-resources/273.html

Resource: Lay Person Upfront

Lay person upfront is a resource developed by Pastor Rob Edwards when he was pastor Calvary Rockhampton Lutheran Church.

The resources assists lay people who have the task of leading worship, lay leading, or lay preaching in a Lutheran context

You can download Lay person up front here.

Worship ideas: Christ the King Sunday

Christ the King Sunday is the most common name for the last Sunday of the Church Year, in the Revised Common Lectionary.  Other names for this Sunday include Day of Fulfillment, Doom Sunday, Reign of Christ Sunday, Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, and Return of Christ Sunday.   The Church of Wales in addition to Christ the King Sunday, has a season of the four Sundays before Advent, called Kingdom Sundays.   
Christ the King Sunday calls believers to focus on the theme that Christ has dominion over all of creation, with Jesus using His power to make possible freedom and a future for all people.   Christ the King Sunday ideally prepares us for Advent as we wait the coming Messiah.

For more information about the history and meaning of Christ the King Sunday visit
http://www.churchyear.net/ctksunday.html
Lutheran Forum

Worship ideas
Calvin Institute of Worship
Christian Resource Institute
David Beswick worship resources
Desperate Preacher
ELCA Pastor's worship order
Lutheran Church of Australia Worship Resources
Reformed Worship ideas
St Paul's Lutheran Church Sydney Worship Order
Textweek
United Methodist Worship
Worship Ideas
Worship Together -  Contemporary Song Suggestions

Children's Ideas
Kids Sermon
Sunday Children's Focus
Children's Sermon today
Morehouse Education 

2017 Christmas and Advent resources

Advent and Christmas resources

Lutheran Church of Australia
Christmas worship resources including children's presentations,
Advent Year B
Grow Ministries and Grow Ministries Advent 

Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Living our Baptism 5 gifts of discipleship
Essay:  The Advent wisdom project 
Bible Studies Advent
Bible Studies Christmas
Congregational Communication Tools
Daily Lectionary Advent
Daily Lectionary Christmas

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod resources including:
Banners, bulletins, stoles, wreaths and candles
Gifts, Bible studies, books, church supplies and music
FAQ - history of Advent and the meaning of the Advent wreath
FAQ - What date was Jesus born?
Who is Jesus?
Chapel Talks for Advent
Church Year: Sundays and Seasons
LCMS Lectionary
LetUsPray
Good King Wenceslas (It’s all about Mercy)
Unwrapping the Gifts
Christmas Mourning
Advent Devotions
Advent Devotions Transforming this Christmas beyond our circumstances.
Advent Devotions in Spanish
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League Christmas Collection on CD
Advent Chain and Christmas Ornaments
Advent Joy-A-Tude
The Advent Wreath Devotional
Christmas Wrappings, Devotional
Scripture Advent Chain Instructions
Christmas Ornaments (4) — Downloadable
One Extraordinary Night — Bible Study by Donna Pyle
No Stranger in the Manger — Bible Study by Donna Pyle
The Joy of Christmas Mustard Seeds Packet

Wisonsin Evangelical Lutheran Church
Article Too much Christmas
Article Traditions with a purpose
Teen Devotions 

Books, gifts and church resources

CPH
Augsburg Fortress
North West Publishing
Sola Publishing 
Australian Church Resources 

Worship

Textweek
Includes readings, images, movies, commetaries, lectionary reflections, group studies, worship resources, prayer, hymns, resources for children and drama

Advent Devotions

Lutheran Hour Ministries free devotions for congregational distribution
Luther Seminary
Higher Things
Vibrant Faith - taking Advent Home

www.lutheranmission.blogspot.com 

previous years entries

Advent and Christmas

Christmas 

Bible Society of Australia
Free resource: the really Good News of Christmas
/https://www.biblesociety.org.au/reallygood/

Advent Candle Lighting resource

Books and Devotions

 

Book of Ministerial Acts from Church of the Lutheran Brethren

The Church of the Lutheran Brethren's Bookd of Ministerial Acts is available as a pdf at http://www.clba.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CLB-Ministerial-Acts-Interactive.pdf

Table of contents

The Creeds of the Christian Church

Baptism
Baptism of Infants—First Setting 
Baptism of Infants—Second Setting 
Baptism of Older Children 
Baptism of Adults
Emergency Baptism
Private Baptism 

Communion
Service of Holy Communion 
Private Communion

Confirmation 

Marriage
Service of Marriage
Preface to the Marriage Ceremony When There  Has Been a Divorce—First Setting
Preface to the Marriage Ceremony When There  Has Been a Divorce—Second Setting
Preface to the Marriage Ceremony When There  Has Been a Divorce—Third Setting

Burial of the Dead 
Funeral Service
Scripture Readings
Committal Service—First Setting
Committal Service—Second Setting

Anointing the Sick
Reception of New Members

Ordination, Installation, Commissioning
Ordination of a Pastor
Installation of a Pastor
Ordination and Installation of Elders
Commissioning
Installation of Deacons/Deaconesses
Installation of Church Officers
Installation of Sunday School Teachers 

Groundbreaking

Cornerstone Laying

Service of Dedication for a Church

Mortgage Burning

Service of Dedication for a Home

Service of Dedication for a Ship or Boat

Church Discipline

Reinstatement of Membership
Restoration Service for a Pastor

Pericope Texts 
Series A 
Series B 
Series C

Book: A simplified guide to worshipping as Lutherans

A simplified guide to worshipping as Lutherans is prepared for lay people, congregational leaders, pastors, church musicians, worship leaders, and worship committees. It provides an answer for those who are asking the question: What does it mean to worship as a Lutheran in the twenty-first century?
Written in and for 2009 James Waddel aims to provide lay people and pastors with a clear and understandable presentation of Lutheran theology for Lutheran worship, especially amongst the range of differing and confusing opinions.    
James also aims to help those involved in contemporary Lutheran worship by providing positive direction and equip worship leaders and pastors with concrete practical tools to evaluate contemporary worship forms.  

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: A Pastor’s Story
Chapter 2: The State of the Conversation about Worship Today
Chapter 3: What Is Worship?
Chapter 4: Lutheran Assumptions about Worship
Chapter 5: More about Assumptions and Methodology
Chapter 6: Worship As Adiaphora
Chapter 7: Worship As Confession
Chapter 8: Lutheran Theology for Lutheran Worship
Chapter 9: Worship and Culture
Conclusion
Appendix 1: An Outline for Worshiping As Lutherans
Appendix 2: A Tool to Evaluate Songs for Worshiping As Lutherans

RCL Lectionary Missionary Snippets June 2017

Mission Snippets are short statements for the church (ie.  all who believe in Jesus) to help us live out our calling to make disciples of all nations.   They are based on the Revised Common Lectionary readings for the week, with June 2017's being based on the Gospel Reading.  

Some thing to note in understanding the Mission Snippets, they are written from the perspective:

• The Church is all Christians (not the building, the insitution, the legal identity, etc.)
• That as God's Church we have received His Good News and know that our salvation is totally dependant on what God has done through Jesus Christ.
• That having received God's Good News we are not called to keep it to ourselves, but God has called every Christian to be sharing His Good News.
• They are what they are, snippets to encourage you to ask questions, to explore more, to discuss further....

June 4  Pentecost Sunday
John 20:19-23
Jesus brings peace even when there is fear
19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”    John 20:19
What fears do you have in relation to your faith?
What fears might others have in relation to having faith in Jesus?
How does the presence of Jesus help overcome our fears?
How do we be in the presence of Jesus today?
How do we help others to be in the presence of Jesus?

Holy Spirit – the power for forgiveness
22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”   John 20:22-23
In Acts 10:44 we are told that the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message, how are you regularly hearing the Gospel and God’s Word so you are regularly receiving God's Spirit?
How are you helping and encouraging others to hear God’s Word so they can regularly receive the Holy Spirit?
What opportunities exist for you to bring God’s forgiveness, specifically, into the lives of others?
Why might you need the Holy Spirit to do this?

June 11  Trinity Sunday
Matthew 28:16-20
Being active despite doubts
When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.   Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.    
Matthew 28:16-17
What doubts do you have about Jesus?
What doubts do other Christians you know have about Jesus?
What does it mean for Jesus to say to you even though you may have doubts “all authority on heaven and earth has been given to me.  Therefore go……”?
How do we assist others who have doubts to be actively involved in making disciples for Jesus?

Making disciples – baptising, teaching, and being with Jesus
19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
How is your life centred on making disciples?
How are you leading people to baptism?
What are you teaching people about Jesus?
What are the blessings as disciplemakers we receive by always being with Jesus?

June 18 Proper 6
Matthew 9:35-10:8
Jesus ministry involves teaching, proclaiming the Good News and healing.
35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.   Matthew 9:35 
How are you regularly receiving teaching from Jesus?
Explain the Good News in your own words.
What does healing from Jesus look like?
Who are the people you are going to meet who you can teach, proclaiming the Good News  and brining healing from Jesus to?

Jesus’ ministry involves having compassion for the majority
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Matthew 10:36 
Who or what do the crowds look like  in your life?
What is harassing them resulting in them being helpless?
What teaching do they need from Jesus?
How might you show Jesus’ compassion to the majority?

Don’t be overwhelmed, rely on God and be part of God’s solution
37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out impure spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.   Matthew 9:37-10:1
What resources do you believe are needed to do God’s work in your environment?
What is God calling you to pray about and for?
How might Jesus be calling you to be part of his ministry solution?

Freely you have received freely give
As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’   Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.   Matthew 10:7-8
What is it that you have received from God?
What does it mean for you to give it freely to others?
How does this affect how you give?


June 25 Proper 7
Matthew 10:24-39
Being like God
“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for students to be like their teachers, and servants like their masters.  Matthew 10:24-25 
What activities and situations are helpful in shaping you to learn from God to be like God?
What does it mean for you to be like God?
How are you helping others be like God?

Fearing God who cares,  more than fearing other things, ideas and people
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.  29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.  32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.     Matthew 10:28-33
What or who are you fearful of and why?
Why is it more important to fear God than anyone or anything else?
What does it mean to practically acknowledge God before others?
How we can help people with their fears that affect their relationship with God?

Godly peace over worldly peace
34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—  36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’    Matthew 10:34-36
What is the difference between Godly peace and worldly peace?
Why is it important to understand the difference between Godly peace and worldly peace?
How do we help people have Godly peace when their life is not peaceful?

Losing our lives to live
39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.   Matthew 10:39
Have you ever encountered someone who appears to live this out, what does it look like?
Why do you think Jesus wants us to lose our life, and what does this mean?
How would you explain this verse to someone exploring God, Jesus and Christianity, in the light of our salvation comes through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus?

Feel free to use these snippets for ministry and mission work in your own life and congregational life.

Prepared by Pastor Richard Schwedes richardschwedes@gmail.com

Worship Resource: Kids in the Divine Service

Kids in the Divine Service is a series of bulletin inserts featuring seasons of the church year — Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Pentecost produced by the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.

Resources will be added throughout the year, and the series will also feature the liturgy, sanctuary and general information about the Divine Service.

Why is this important?
“Impress these words upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deut. 6:7).

The Word of God we receive in the Divine Service goes with us, out into the world and into our everyday callings as parents and children. Kids in the Divine Service is written for parents and children to read and talk about together.

Although some of the vocabulary and concepts may be best understood by children 10 years of age and older, there are many parts of Kids in the Divine Service which can be understood, experienced and appreciated by younger children.

Whether a child reads or is read to, parents and children are encouraged to work through the bulletin inserts together and answer questions as they arise. Parents will probably learn something, too.

Using Kids in the Divine Service
Kids in the Divine Service is free to download; make as many copies as you need. The resources may be distributed for congregational use in a variety of ways, including:

• Sunday morning bulletins
• Sunday School resource
• School or church newsletters

Download Kids in the Divine Service here

Pentecost Worship and Study Resources

Pentecost Sunday is a major celebration of the Christian Church, occuring 50 days after Easter.
In 2017 we celebrate Pentecost on Sunday 4th June 2017

Some background and explanations
International Standard Bible -  Pentecost
Bible Study tools - Pentecost
Churchyear.net-Pentecost
Wikipedia - Pentecost
Catholic Encyclopdia - Pentecost
Russian Orthodox - Pentecost

Videos Pentecost in 2 minutes- Lutheran video
What is Pentecost - CPH 
Greek Orthodox - Pentecost video
Visual Bible - day of Pentecost
Pentecost - the church is born
Pentecost - the skit guys
Pentecost - a reflective retelling of Acts 2:1-4
The Story of Pentecost - Dan Stevers
What's in the bible?  - Pentecost
Pentecost kids story

Worship Resources
Textweek 
Lutheran Church of Australia - Worship Planning
All age worship from Barnabas in churches
The Billabong
Calvin Worship Institute
Engage Worship ideas- Pentecost
Kids Friendly Church - New Zealand 
Kir-Shalom resources
Ministry Matters - various resources
Presbyterian Church USA 
The Worship Closet
United Method church resources
Reformed Worship - Pentecost 2017
Rethink worship 
re: worship
Uniting Church of Australia all age worship
25 contemporary songs for Pentecost Sunday- Praise Charts
List of Pentecost contemporary songs and traditional hymns includes CCLI songs, Alltogether Songs, LCA hymnal with supplement, Lutheran Service Book, Evangelical Lutheran Worship, This far by faith hymnal and Together in Song

Bible Studies
The meaning of Pentecost - bible.org
The Pentecostal experience - bible.org
Be open to the Spirit - ELCA
A longer look at the lessons (fee based) - CPH
Answers for a study of the Epistle of Pentecost - Trinity Lutheran

Articles
Pentecost Paradoxes - Working Preacher
Preaching a present day Pentecost - Working Preacher
Let the Pentecostal fires and the winds of the Spirit transform your congregation into a force that takes action on behalf of God’s ailing creation.  - Lutherans restoring creation
What is Pentecost and why does it matter - Patheos
Pentecost: the day of the Lord  - Word and World
The gift of the Holy Spirit - Lutheran Witness

Visuals and images
Pintrest images, art, displays, craft, ideas
Google images
Bing images
Goodsalt 
CanStock

Resource: Pairing Arch books with the lectionary

Arch Books produced by CPH are a popular resource for families and congregations in helping young people connect to God and His story.   
CPH each month releases recommendations of which Arch books pair with the lectionary readings.  
To view these pairings visit http://blog.cph.org/tag/arch-books/

Carols and Reading Services

Carols and Readings services have become a special part of many congregations and schools Christmas worship.  
Kings College in the UK, is recognised as the community who first began such services.   Congregations and schools throughout the world have used, adapted and shared these services, which have become special to many people.  
Following are some of the Carols and Readings services that congregations and schools have used and will use, plus a few additional resources.

Carols and Readings - Powerpoint - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Narraweena, NSW Australia

A family friendly carols and readings service - script - Worshipping with Children

A festival of nine lessons and carols - service order - Kings College

Nine lessons and Carols for Christmastide - Reformed Worship

Nine lessons and Carols - service builder -  Better Gatherings

A contemporary service of worship and carols - service order - worthily, magnify

Lessons and Carols - service order - Messiah Lutheran Church

Commentary on the readings for a carols and readings service - Spiritual Journeys

Object lessons, readings and carols - Scipt -  BRF

Books for Year A - The cultural world of the prophets, Jesus and the apostles

John J Pilch has produced some easy to read material that offer some historial and literary information on each of the readings and psalm for the Sundays in the lectionary for Year A.

Each of the books explore the cultural world of the prophets, Jesus and the apostles offering informaton about aspects of the cultural world in which the authors of these documents and their original recipients lived.  Such information helps too identify plausible links with the gospel for each Sunday and encourages the reader to explore their pastoral applications to modern life.

 

Hymn lyrics for Lutheran Book of Worship and With one voice

Hymn lyrics for public domain hymns in the Lutheran Book of Worship and With one voice are available here and the Psalms in the Lutheran Book of Worship

Thanks to Rev Amber Bergeron from Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Badger, MN

Book: Reading the Liturgy: An exploration of texts in Christian worship

This is a unique contribution to discussions within churches about the provision of suitable words for liturgical worship and to debates among scholars about liturgical hermeneutics, as well as offering a new methodological paradigm for liturgical studies to inspire students and researchers.  By combining insights from literary and linguistic studies with those from historical and contemporary liturgical studies, Juliette Day investigates the nature of a text in relation to unscripted speech; how authors and worshippers make use of genre, narrative and other texts; how the textuality of the liturgy as well as its ritual context affect the sort of language used in worship and what implicit meanings are conveyed in the way liturgical texts are printed in books. 
Day discusses the history of liturgical texts and their function, as well as liturgical genres and narratives. She examines the function of language in liturgical worship and emphasizes its meaning for readers, worshippers and speakers. Day applies insights from literary and linguistic studies to liturgical texts in a comprehensive fashion, making it accessible to a broad readership.

What others are saying about Reading the Liturgy!!
Craig Stephens (preferred Amazon Reviewer)
Day investigates the myriad elements of the textuality of liturgies. While expositing the concrete literary aspects of liturgical texts, Day highlights the uniqueness of the worshipful, communal and liminal natures of liturgies that set them apart from other writing and speech.
In addition to the details of the written text, Day highlights the relationship between the author’s intended meaning and the liturgy’s significance for participants. She elaborates on the processes of liturgical production, revision, acceptance and interpretation. The liturgical narratives can serve as guiding forces in helping a person join his or her narrative to the narrative of Christ and the story of salvation. Liturgy reinforces this redemptive experience at every worship event. Day asserts, “The liturgy is where my narrative and God’s narrative meet.” This is why the liturgical narrative is of fundamental importance to Christian worship and mission.
Day addresses the changes in culture and worship styles that effect the meaning and efficacy of liturgy including a decline in Biblical literacy among people. The author is aware of the increase of spontaneous worship and innovative styles that might preclude the performance of liturgical worship. Similarly, she responds to objections that some Christians have toward repetition in worship.
For Day, the liturgy creates shared prayer and shared worship that connect salvation history, present participation and future potentiality. The liturgical texts facilitate divine encounters with the timeless Lord for all sincere participants.
This is a book for readers who take liturgy and worship seriously and who want to get behind the text of liturgy to its roots. Day demonstrates a keen understanding and familiarity with the many aspects of liturgical text and worship.

Cathloic Book Review

Gospel Magic

Many pastors and congregations use object lessons to illustrate the Gospel and teachings of Christianity.   One form of object lessons used by some is Gospel magic.   It is important to remember that Gospel magic is about promoting the Christian message, is not used to invoke spirits and is used to present theological points in entertaining and engaging ways.
Some resources for Gospel Magic include:
Gospel Magic Company
Mission Magic
Professor Wonder
Creative Ministry Solutions
Laflin Magic Store
Fellowship of Christian Magicians
Fellowship of Christian Magicans Germany
The Great Escape from Christian Ministry in Today's marketplace
Pinterest entries

Luther's hymn melodies

Noted liturgical scholar, composer, and Concordia Seminary Professor Emeritus James Brauer has brought together his decades-long research into Luther’s use of contemporary tunes and melodies in his prolific composition of hymns and sacred songs for the growing Reformation movement in 16th-century Germany.

Professor Brauer’s research has grown to the point that it is too large for an article, but not large enough for a print book. Yet, the research is too good not to share. So it is now available as an ebook which is available from here 

 As we look ahead to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017, Brauer’s work is an invaluable study into how Martin Luther lived out a vibrant gift for music and the arts

Lutheran Synod Digital Publishing

Lutheran Synod Digital Publishing (LSDP) is a website dedicated to developing and publishing digital resources for Lutheran congregations.  The name “Lutheran Synod” shows that our resources can be used in various synods, but “the Lutheran Synod” also is an homage to the “nickname” of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod in the early years.  This site is affiliated with the ELS and the majority of the liturgical resources on this site are based on the historic lectionary of the ELS.

Currently they offer:
Church Year icon/symbol collections
Church Web site design
Video production
Logo design

English Lutheran Hymnal timeline

Visit https://lutheransynodpublishing.com  for more information