Lutheran worship services

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I’ve just come from donating blood at a Lutheran church. On their website they have to Sunday a.m. services-one is contemporary the other traditional. To someone who has never been to a Lutheran service(me) how would you describe the differences between the two forms of worship? Thank you-stay safe.
 
I’ve just come from donating blood at a Lutheran church. On their website they have to Sunday a.m. services-one is contemporary the other traditional. To someone who has never been to a Lutheran service(me) how would you describe the differences between the two forms of worship? Thank you-stay safe.
It’s difficult to say for sure (depending on what type of Lutheran church you’re referring to), but most likely, the contemporary service will have praise music and the traditional service will have traditional hymns. The liturgy itself could be very much the same between the two services.
 
It’s difficult to say for sure (depending on what type of Lutheran church you’re referring to), but most likely, the contemporary service will have praise music and the traditional service will have traditional hymns. The liturgy itself could be very much the same between the two services.
I second this.

Having a “Contemporary” and “Traditional” service is not a Lutheran-only thing, but is a trend that can be observed throughout many Christian groups.
 
I second this.

Having a “Contemporary” and “Traditional” service is not a Lutheran-only thing, but is a trend that can be observed throughout many Christian groups.
I do as well. I know of 2 Episcopal churches near me that have both traditional and contemporary services. At the one’s contemporary service, there is a band with guitars and percussion and other instruments playing upbeat music and at the other there is a jazz ensemble at its contemporary service. There is also a UMC church near me with both kinds of services. And a church affiliated with PCA that has contemporary music at both of their services. From my understanding there are also Lifeteen Masses at some Catholic churches with more contemporary music. And at one Catholic church near me there is a Men’s contemporary choir at one of their Sunday morning Masses. I still recall their rendition of “Shout to the Lord” which they sang at an Easter Mass. The congregants applauded at the end of the Mass.
 
I do as well. I know of 2 Episcopal churches near me that have both traditional and contemporary services. At the one’s contemporary service, there is a band with guitars and percussion and other instruments playing upbeat music and at the other there is a jazz ensemble at its contemporary service. There is also a UMC church near me with both kinds of services. And a church affiliated with PCA that has contemporary music at both of their services.
That’s of course by no means standard for Episcopal Churches however. Some use the contemporary/traditional distinction along side the Rite II/Rite I distinction.
 
Thank you all for your responses and (name removed by moderator)ut. I believe this particular church is evangelical but not sure. You’ve all given me an idea of what contemporary and traditional may have to do with. Take care-stay safe.
 
That’s of course by no means standard for Episcopal Churches however. Some use the contemporary/traditional distinction along side the Rite II/Rite I distinction.
Oh of course not. I didn’t mean to imply it was. At the one near me they do have 4 different services though. A Sat evening service is a reflective healing service with acoustic guitar and piano where communicants stand around the altar and pass the bread and wine to each other. The early Sunday morning service is Rite 1. The mid morning service Rite 2. And the late Sun morning is the contemporary one where besides the bread and wine, grape juice is also offered for those who prefer it. Their idea is to recognize that there are many paths to spiritual development and they offer the variety of worship services for worshipers to find the one that speaks the most to them. At the other Episcopal church, their jazz service is Sat evening and held in their parish hall.
 
Thank you all for your responses and (name removed by moderator)ut. I believe this particular church is evangelical but not sure. You’ve all given me an idea of what contemporary and traditional may have to do with. Take care-stay safe.
I don’t know if this is what you mean. But just to add a bit of info, among the Lutheran churches is the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Of the Lutheran branches, it tends to be considered as more of a progressive branch than some of the others. You as well take care and be safe. God bless you along your path! 🙂
 
It’s difficult to say for sure (depending on what type of Lutheran church you’re referring to), but most likely, the contemporary service will have praise music and the traditional service will have traditional hymns. The liturgy itself could be very much the same between the two services.
The ECLA church near my house has a similar distinction between their early and late services. The early is their “Traditional” service with traditional hymns and a subjectively more reverent atmosphere. The later service is their contemporary “GO” service which has somewhat more modern music and is more informal for the kids (whom also get their kid time with the priest as well).
 
It’s difficult to say for sure (depending on what type of Lutheran church you’re referring to), but most likely, the contemporary service will have praise music and the traditional service will have traditional hymns. The liturgy itself could be very much the same between the two services.
That’s the difference in the LCMS Church here in my neck of the woods. The Saturday night contemporary service has a Praise band and the Sunday traditional service has an organ and traditional hymns.
 
check out the roman catholic church across the street

just one lowly man’s humble opinion
 
My parents currently attend a Lutheran church with a contemporary and traditional service. The contemporary service has the more praise and worship style music… And the pastor simply wears a suit. At the traditional service, he wears vestments and more traditional hymns are used.
 
I do as well. I know of 2 Episcopal churches near me that have both traditional and contemporary services. At the one’s contemporary service, there is a band with guitars and percussion and other instruments playing upbeat music and at the other there is a jazz ensemble at its contemporary service. There is also a UMC church near me with both kinds of services. And a church affiliated with PCA that has contemporary music at both of their services. From my understanding there are also Lifeteen Masses at some Catholic churches with more contemporary music. And at one Catholic church near me there is a Men’s contemporary choir at one of their Sunday morning Masses. I still recall their rendition of “Shout to the Lord” which they sang at an Easter Mass. The congregants applauded at the end of the Mass.
The PNCC parish near me has only one mass per Sunday, but some weeks they use Contemporary Rite and others Traditional Rite.

The differences are not so pronounced as what you described – most it’s just a matter of which section of the missal to use.
 
“check out the roman…” I have several times, but thank you for the reminder.
 
My parents currently attend a Lutheran church with a contemporary and traditional service. The contemporary service has the more praise and worship style music… And the pastor simply wears a suit. At the traditional service, he wears vestments and more traditional hymns are used.
Now that’s something I didn’t see as a Lutheran, but it points to a concern I always had about contemporary worship, that the focus becomes the "contemporary " instead of the "worship ".
I was taught as a youth that the focus of worship is word and sacrament, that all aspects of service should direct us to His means of grace. The pastor not being robed doesn’t add to the contemporary nature of the service. Check the link. zionbeecher.net/news/2012/07/pastors-robes-and-special-clothing/

Jon
 
Now that’s something I didn’t see as a Lutheran, but it points to a concern I always had about contemporary worship, that the focus becomes the "contemporary " instead of the "worship ".
I was taught as a youth that the focus of worship is word and sacrament, that all aspects of service should direct us to His means of grace. The pastor not being robed doesn’t add to the contemporary nature of the service. Check the link. zionbeecher.net/news/2012/07/pastors-robes-and-special-clothing/

Jon
Good to hear. Certainly as a Catholic I agree heartily with the value of priestly vestments. That being said, my parents come from a very low church evangelical background- even the contemporary vestment-less Lutheran service is a huge step for them.
 
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