Alleluia! Christ is risen. Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!
Greetings in these 50 days of Easter.
As we continue to move through this time of the pandemic, we are making significant progress in vaccine distribution and see a path toward a safe return of certain in-person worship practices in the coming weeks and months. Although we also know that, even as vaccination rates continue to rise, other protective measures will need to continue for some time.
The question we have been asked most often in these last weeks is about assembly singing. Music is important to Lutheran worship, especially singing together in community. While congregations and other groups have offered creative musical offerings during this past year, many will agree that this doesn’t replace singing together in person.
One metric suggests a threshold of 70% to 85% of the nation’s population being fully vaccinated as a goal for safe singing in person in larger groups. This means robust singing will likely be one of the last things to fully resume. We continue to trust scientists and medical professionals as they help us to make informed decisions on important worship practices.
Even if we cannot yet fully participate, the church’s song goes on. God’s promise to love and care for humankind and all of creation never ceases.
In peace, Deacon John E. Weit Executive for Worship
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All Creation Sings
Brief descriptions of the 200 assembly songs in All Creation Sings are now available with a subscription to SundaysandSeasons.com. These give context to the hymn or song through biographical background, lectionary or Scripture connections, or usage suggestions.
The All Creation Sings website includes videos of selected hymns and songs, several blog posts, an overview webinar, and a resource to support introducing ACS in synods and congregations.
The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians (ALCM) is sponsoring a free webinar focused on the assembly song in All Creation Sings. Learn more at ALCM.org. Augsburg Fortress will offer a webinar focused on the liturgical content of All Creation Sings in June 2021.
Pew, Accompaniment and Leaders editions are available for purchase. Introductory pricing for the Pew edition is available until June 15, 2021.
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Worship Resources at ELCA.org
When it is possible for worshiping communities to gather safely in person, you may desire a rite for regathering. "Worship Resource for Re-Gathering" is available in both PDF and Word formats. You are invited to adapt as needed for your context.
Thanksgiving for the Word prayers for Easter and the Time after Pentecost are available in PDF and Word formats. |
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Emanuel Nine
Refreshed worship resources for the Commemoration of the Emanuel Nine (June 17) are available in PDF and Word formats, including Scripture suggestions for a commemoration service. Additional resources for marking this commemoration in synods and congregations can be found at ELCA.org/EmanuelNine.
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Worship in the Home “Worship in the Home” is available weekly on the ELCA Worship blog. You are encouraged to worship as you are able in homes on Sunday and throughout the week. If you don’t have Evangelical Lutheran Worship at home, a copy can be purchased through Augsburg Fortress’ web store, or perhaps your church might set up a lending library for home use. In addition to Sunday worship resources, resources for Daily Prayer are available, including simplified forms of Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and Night Prayer as well as table prayers.
Recently featured in the Worship blog
“All Creation Sings Hymn Spotlight: ‘Christ Has Risen While Earth Slumbers’”
“The Work of Lamenting Racism in All Creation Sings”
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