Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
For most of us, this is an Easter season like none before. We have not been able to physically gather in worship for many weeks. In some places, it could be many more weeks until in-person worship may be safe. Pastors, deacons, musicians and worship leaders have worked tirelessly to find ways to be in community in unique and creative ways. We have learned from each other. We will continue to learn from this time, and it will likely shape how we are church together for years to come. The Office of the Presiding Bishop is exploring ways to guide conversation and reflection on our worship life into the future.
As a church musician, one of the things I lament most these days is not being able to sing in community. Singing and leading others in song is inherent to my vocation as a worship leader, and music has been essential to Lutheran worship. Recent advice from medical experts suggests that singing together may not be safe for some time even after we are able to gather in person. In these times, we may need to learn (or re-learn) how to listen. Even as the rest of creation sings — we will need to listen. Listen to the music of the earth. Listen to the music that carries proclamation, even if it is not safe for us to vocalize that proclamation in community.
Tomorrow is the Ascension of Our Lord. The 40th day of Easter. Even though Luke’s gospel account tells of Jesus ascending to the heavens, we know that we still find Christ’s presence among us. We are assured, even in this time of pandemic: Christ is among us. As many of us continue to shelter in place, I invite you to consider using the Worship in the Home resources to mark this festival. Find below additional resources for worship and information to help us through the weeks and months ahead, and also some news about resources that will carry us well into the future. May you continue to see Christ’s presence among us.
In peace, Deacon John E. Weit Assistant to the Presiding Bishop
Executive for Worship
Worship in the Home Available each week on the ELCA worship blog are materials for “Worship in the Home.” Although various formats of livestreaming worship work well in many contexts, you are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. Consider ways to pray and sing using this resource at home. If you don’t have a hymnal at home, perhaps churches might safely distribute copies for home use. In addition to Sunday worship resources, Daily Prayer in the Home is available, providing simplified forms of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer, as well as table prayers.”
COVID-19 In the midst of the spread of COVID-19, resources that offer guidance for congregations and members are available at ELCA.org/PublicHealth. “Considerations for Returning to In-Person Worship” is now available. English and Spanish versions are available for many of the resources.
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All Creation Sings Here in “Worship News” we have been highlighting All Creation Sings, the forthcoming liturgy-and-song supplement to Evangelical Lutheran Worship. A digital preview highlighting a sample of the liturgical content and assembly song is available on the All Creation Sings website.
New on the ELCA Worship blog is a post reflecting upon hymns of healing and lament that are especially pertinent in these days. You may also read a post from March that describes the hymnody content in general and a post from April that introduces the liturgical content. Stay tuned in June for additional blog postings and a list of the 200 hymns and songs that will be included.
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