Principles and suggestions for liturgical renewal in parish life *

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to assist pastors and congregations in the renewal of life and mission in the Church. It seeks to set down basic principles which should govern the life of a congregation and to provide practical suggestions for enriching the devotional life in worship. The principles are considered to be everywhere applicable, while all suggestions might not be appropriate to every parish. The contents are not to be considered as definitive, but rather reflect the concerns of the committee which prepared them. The Steering Committee¹ of the Commission on the Liturgy, composed of pastors in the Chicago area, was not always in agreement on the wording of each statement, but sought as much as possible to reflect the spirit of liturgical renewal in the Church.

This document is not to be considered a promotional manual nor a “do-it-yourself” handbook. It seeks to avoid such superficiality. It seeks rather to build upon the foundation of the evangelical biblical faith as reflected in the Lutheran tradition and to give concrete expression to the life and witness of the people of God. The format is arranged so that various expressions of parish life are examined, first in respect to theological principles and second in respect to practical suggestions which are consonant with these principles.

At the joint workshop of the Commission on Theology and the Commission on the Liturgy at the Seventh Annual Conference of the Lutheran Society for worship, music and the arts these principles and suggestions were discussed. The concern most frequently expressed was that the Church must be more imaginative in its approach to worship and more sensitive to the problems of contemporary society. It is hoped that the principles and suggestions in this paper may stimulate further study and discussion within the Society on liturgical renewal in parish life.

The following served on the Steering