May 7, 2015 – “O” is for Observances

What kind of observances do the congregations of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America follow today? Instead of observances, we might call them major and lesser festivals, offices and worship services. Some local churches have recently advertised their “observances” for Holy Week. What they were advertising were the services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Vigil. Possibly they also included Stations of the Cross – yes even the Lutheran church participates in the service of the Stations. Of course Easter Sunday would be a major festival in the Lutheran Church; just like Christmas Eve, Palm Sunday, Transfiguration, and Epiphany would be major festivals. Minor festivals might include St. Michael and all Angels, Confession of Peter, Conversion of Paul, and the Name of Jesus, just to name a few.

Every Sunday, Lutheran churches offer worship services – depending on the church, they will be scheduled anytime throughout the day — though most are scheduled in the morning. Some Lutheran churches have added services on Saturday — some have expanded their services to Wednesday and Thursday evenings. However, most people consider Sunday as the primary day of worship.

The “Offices” include the daily offices such as Morning and Evening Prayer and Vespers. Although these “Offices” can be scheduled as an act of the faith community, many have turned them into individual observances of faith-living. Pastors are encouraged to pray the offices – whole groups are formed around the idea that more faithful living comes with the practice of observing the offices.

There are many options for individuals that the Lutheran congregations of all areas offer to people for worship and other “observances”. Check out the Lutheran church near you if you are looking for a worshipping community that focuses on the Grace of G*d through faith in Jesus Christ.

Pastor Dave