Worship Planning Archives

Celebrating Reformation with Divine Service, Setting Five

The Rev. Will Weedon, LCMS director of Worship, offers some advice to help a congregation sing the Divine Service, Setting Five, for Reformation Day or any other Sunday.

The Liturgy of Baptism & Daily Prayer Offices

Four interviews with the Rev. William Weedon, director of Worship and International Center chaplain, on "The Liturgy of Holy Baptism" as well as eight interviews on "The Daily Prayer Offices." These two series delve deeply into the history, practice and theology of the Church's liturgies of Baptism and Prayer.

When Disaster Strikes: Worship Resources with Litany

Here are a number of brief resources you may find useful in addressing the sorts of questions that arise among God's people when faced with disasters in this fallen world. They all seek to refresh the weary with the wonderful promises of God's Word related to suffering, the end of this age, and the joys of the age that will dawn at our Lord's return.

Bidding Prayer

One of the treasures that has come down to us from the ancient church is the Bidding Prayer.

The Reformation: Questions and Answers

Unwrapping the Gifts is a bimonthly publication of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Worship Ministry devoted to providing resources for worship. Everyone involved in planning worship is encouraged to subscribe to the Unwrapping the Gifts RSS feed.

Unwrapping Lutheran Service Book: Service of Prayer and Preaching

One of the contributions of the Lutheran Service Book to the worship life of many congregations is the “Service of Prayer and Preaching” (LSB 260-267).

The Care and Keeping of a Substitute Organist

First and foremost, you want your substitute to lead the congregational singing and not detract from the worship that’s planned. Here are a few ideas to ensure a smooth transition to someone different “on the bench.”

A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing…in Canon

What do “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” and “All Praise to Thee, My God, This Night” (Lutheran Service Book 883) have in common? Both can be sung as a musical round or canon, a musical composition in which two or more voices sing exactly the same melody but with each voice beginning at a different time, allowing the voices to fit together harmonically.

Text, Meet Your Tune!

Good music can make a text more memorable and easier to sing.

The Lutheran Confessions No. 1: About God and Music

Let’s explore a fundamental, universal question: Just what is the music for worship and how do we know it when we see it?

Random Thoughts on Ringing Bells Randomly

There is no doubt that handbell choirs enrich the worship life of many congregations. While many bell choirs focus primarily on anthems that are played as prelude, postlude or responses within the service, there are other ways to utilize handbells without a lot of rehearsal.