A Rubrical Manual for Laity

by Marc Gajeton

“To be reverent we must be prepared. We must know what we are doing, and why we are doing
it. The physical preparations, as far as may be, should be taken care of well in advance. There should be
no last-minute running to and fro, no hasty final preparation, no distressed paging about. A meditation,
brief if need be, but as long as the time permits, ought never to be overlooked; spiritual preparation is
more essential to reverence than the proper ordering of the physical adjuncts” (Piepkorn).

The rites and rubrical directions of our synodically approved hymnals, as they are brought to bear
on the Lutheran Common Service (TLH p. 15; LW, p. 136; LSB p. 184), form a solid foundation. The
Altar Books of all three of our most recent hymnals provide additional rubrics.

The rules here used are the rubrics prescribed in The Lutheran Hymnal of 1941 and in the
companion volume for that Hymnal, The Lutheran Liturgy. Incidentally, those rubrics have never been
replaced by the LCMS. Unless they are explicitly contradicted, replaced, or restated in new Rites
provided by the Commission on Worship, they are still the guide for the conduct of the Services in our
churches.

General Rubrics

1. The word “shall” in the Rubrics makes the part of the Service so designated obligatory, while the
word “may” leaves it optional.
2. If the Confessional Service immediately precedes the Communion Service, the latter shall begin with
the Trinitarian Invocation, followed by the Introit.
3. Good usage permits speaking the Preparatory Service.
4. The sign of the cross may be made at the Trinitarian Invocation and at the words of the Nicene Creed
“and the life of the world to come.”
5. ℣ stands for Versicle, said by the Minister; ℟ designates the Response by the Congregation.
6. Instead of the Introit a Psalm may be used. The Introit consists of Antiphon, Psalm, and Gloria Patri.
When also the Gloria Patri is sung by the choir, the Antiphon is repeated.
7. Other Collects may be used with the Collect for the Day; the Congregation shall say or chant “Amen”
after each Collect.
8. In the Service other Scripture lessons may be read before the Epistle. The Epistle and the Gospel shall
always be read.
9. The Introit, Collect, Epistle, Gradual, and Gospel for the Transfiguration of our Lord shall be used on
the last Sunday after the Epiphany in each year, except when there is only one Sunday after the
Epiphany.
10. Choir selections may be sung immediately after the Gradual or after the Hallelujah.
11. On Trinity Sunday, at Matins, the Athanasian Creed may be used instead of the Psalmody.
12. Silent prayer should be offered upon entering the church and after the Benediction.
13. All necessary announcements which are not part of the Special Intercessions and Thanksgivings
should be made after the close of the Service.
14. Matins and Vespers end with the Benedicamus if the Minister is not conducting the Service. If the
Minister is the Officiant, he shall pronounce the Benediction, and the Benedicamus may be omitted.
15. Congregations are urged to let the basic structure of the Service remain intact. The wide choice
permitted in the Rubrics makes it possible to have the Service as simple or as elaborate as the
circumstances of each congregation may indicate.
16. The Hymnal is intended for use not only in the church service and in the school, but it may serve
profitably also for family and private devotions. The prayers and the tables for Bible reading will be
an aid for these uses.
17. The head may be bowed at the holy name of Jesus.

Invocation

1. The sign of the cross may be made at the invocation, "In the name of the Father…"