Liturgical Variations: Understanding Liturgical Worship, Part II

Micah over at Variations on a Liturgical Theme has posted his latest installment of Understanding the Liturgical Worship Service.

Topics include

• Prelude
• Opening Hymn/Gathering Song
• Invocation

Here is his introduction

This is a continuation of my series that tries to help explain the elements of the Divine Service. At the conclusion of explanations, I'll also discuss whether something is sacrificial (we serve God) or sacramental (God serves us), what Scripture inspired this element, any (contemporary) alternatives, and any hymns based on that element.

It's shaping up to be an excellent series, folks.  Among other things, Micah gives us the scriptural references regarding the various liturgical acts.

And speaking of opening hymns, here is a grand setting of  Hymn #1 from The Lutheran Hymnal, "Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty."  This gathering would not have used TLH, so the text may vary slightly.  They disabled the embed code, so you have to click over to hear it.

Not to be left out, though, here is an organ arrangement of the same tune.

On the 5th Day of Christmas: Lutheran High School Music Concert

Over at Composing My Thoughts, high school music teacher (and composer) Dale Witte posted the Christmas Concert from Winnebago Lutheran Academy in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.

WLA is an Area Lutheran High School of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS).

A highlight for me was hearing the kids rock it out to Michael W. Smith's Lux Venit/Gloria.

If you have not heard some of Dale Witte's compositions, you will find some of them on this recording, including "This Little Light of Mine" and selections from his setting of the Office of Compline - Prayer at the Close of the Day.

Coming January 10 (the Baptism of our Lord), the honors choir from the Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) gives us "To Jordan's River Came the Lord."

Know of any other Lutheran high schools with postings of their choir on line, please drop a note in the comment section and it will be considered for a future post.