Engelske liturgier

Liturgy of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark

Published in Hymns in English – A selection of Hymns from the Danish Hymnbook
© 2009 Det Kgl. Vajsenhus’ Forlag
Translation: Liselotte Horneman Kragh, Edward Broadbridge

Order of Worship

Baptism

Confirmation

Marriage

Church Blessing of Civil Marriage

Funeral

Committal

Order of Worship

I THE ENTRANCE
Prior to the service the church bells are rung three times. At the end of the third time, three times three strokes of the bell are heard, calling to prayer.

1. OPENING (ORGAN PRELUDE/THE VOLUNTARY)
After the final nine strokes of the bell the service begins with the organist playing a prelude (the voluntary) or a biblical hymn or the choir singing, during which the pastor goes and stands before the altar.

2. INTRODUCTORY PRAYER
The introductory prayer is read by the cantor or the sexton or a member of the congregation. During this prayer the pastor kneels before the altar.

Let us pray.
Lord, I have come into Your house
to hear what you will speak to me,
You, Lord,
Jesus Christ, my Saviour,
and Holy Spirit, my Comforter in life and death.
Lord, through Your Holy Spirit, and for the sake of Jesus Christ, open my heart
that I may learn from your word
to grieve over my sins,
to believe in Jesus in life and death,
and daily increase in righteousness and holiness of life.
Grant this, O Lord, through Jesus Christ.
Amen.

Let us pray.
Lord, I have come into Your house
to hear what you will speak to me.
Through Your Holy Spirit open my heart
that I may learn from your word to repent of my sins,
to believe in Jesus Christ
and daily to be strengthened and upheld by this faith.
Amen.

3 OPENING HYMN
After the hymn (or after the introductory greeting) the responses of “Lord, have mercy upon us” (The Kyrie) may be said or sung and the hymn of praise (Gloria) be sung.

4. GREETING
The pastor, facing the congregation, says or chants:
The Lord be with you!
And with your spirit! or: And also with you!

5. INTRODUCTORY COLLECT
The pastor continues:
Let us pray.

Here the Collect of the Day is said or chanted by the pastor, turning to face the altar.
Amen.

II THE LITURGY OF WORD

6 OLD TESTAMENT READING
All stand for the reading of the biblical texts.

7 HYMN

8 NEW TESTAMENT READING, from the epistles or the gospels.

9 THE APOSTLES' CREED
All stand for the Creed, which is said or sung by the pastor and congregation in unison (or by the pastor only). The Creed may be introduced by the pastor with the following words: Let us profess our Christian faith. The pastor may also read the Creed from the pulpit after the sermon. When a baptism takes place during the service the Creed may be omitted here.

We renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways.
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

I (we) believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; beotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made.
Who, for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I (we) believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father and the Son; who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets. And I (we) believe in one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. I (we) acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I (we) look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come.

After the Creed the congregation answer: Amen

10 HYMN preceding the sermon

11 GOSPEL READING
From the pulpit the pastor introduces the reading from the Gospel with the following words:
From the Holy Gospel according to …. (Matthew, Mark, Luke or John)
All stand and sing the response:
God be praised for his joyful tidings.
The text is read by the pastor.

12 THE SERMON
The sermon may start with a short prayer.
The sermon concludes with a doxology:
Praise and thanks and eternal glory be to You,
our God,
Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
who was and is and shall be one, triune God,
most praised from the beginning, now and for evermore.
Amen.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son:
and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.

13 PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
This prayer is said from the pulpit in connection with the sermon or it can be said from the altar after the hymn preceding the sermon.
If there is no baptism or Holy Communion the prayer is concluded with the Lord’s Prayer.
The prayer may be freely formulated or the pastor may read the following prayer or use it as a guideline.

God, bring comfort and strength to all who are ill and full of sorrow, be they near or far. With your abiding grace help those burdened by doubts and give us your guidance in the time of trial.
Bless and keep your Holy Church and bless us who are in it. Bless and keep your Holy Sacraments and let your Word have free reign among us so that your Kingdom may unfold and grow, in justice and peace and joy through The Holy Spirit, and let the light of your grace shine forth upon those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
May your Hand protect our people and our country and all those in authority, bless and keep our king (name), queen (name) and our royal family (names). Grant them and us your grace, peace and blessing and, after a Christian life, eternal bliss.

After the Prayer of the Church (or the sermon) announcements are made. The Apostolic blessing concludes what is said from the pulpit and all stand for the blessing.

Let us with the Apostles wish one another:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.

14 HYMN FOLLOWING THE SERMON
During this hymn the pastor goes and stands before the altar.
The Prayer of the Church can be said after this hymn. If so, the Prayer of the Church is followed by a hymn before the Communion.
If there is no Communion the closing Collect is said (no. 19) or The Prayer of the Church ending in The Lord’s Prayer.

III HOLY COMMUNION

15 THE PRAYER OF HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion begins with one of the following three introductionsa
a The pastor says (facing the congregation):
Dear friends in Christ! Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself said: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” In His holy supper our crucified and resurrected Saviour gives Himself to us, so that whoever hungers and thirsts for righteousness may find the food and drink of eternal life here. Come to Him in faithful obedience and receive His invitation when He says: “Take and eat; drink from it, all of you; do this in remembrance of me!” He will then unite himself to you, that you may always remember Him on your journey on this earth and one day be welcomed at His feast in heaven. With all our heart we pray:

This introduction may be omitted.

The pastor says (facing the altar):
Our Lord and Saviour who rose from the dead
to be lovingly and richly present in our midst
Grant us that may we receive Your body and blood
in remembrance of You
and as the affirmation of our belief in the forgiveness of sins.
Cleanse us from our sins
and let the hope of eternal life shine forth in our lives.
Make our heart ever more loving
and let us with all believers be united with You
as You are one with the Father.
All:
Amen.

Here follow the Lord’s Prayer and the Words of Institution.

b The pastor says or chants (facing the congregation) :
Lift up your hearts to the Lord,
Let us praise His name.
The pastor continues (facing the altar):
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is,
and is to come.
All:
Hosanna in the highest!
Pastor:
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna in the highest!

All sing (possibly only the 1st verse):

O Lamb of God
Tune: Thomas Laub 1888

1. O Lamb of God
upon the cross,
You bore all sins full knowing,
our comfort thence is flowing;
on us below
Your mercy show!

2. O Lamb of God
upon the cross,
You bore all sins full knowing
from there all peace is flowing;
from heav’n above
give peace and love.

3. O Lamb of God
upon the cross,
You bore all sins full knowing
from there all life is flowing;
though we must die,
raise us on high!

Text: Agnus Dei (Latin), German c. 1500, N.F.S. Grundtvig 1837
Trans: Edward Broadbridge 2009
DDS 439

The pastor says or chants:
Our Lord and Saviour who rose from the dead
to be lovingly and richly present in our midst
Grant us that we may receive your body and blood
in remembrance of you
and as the affirmation of our belief in the forgiveness of sins.
Cleanse us from our sins
and let the hope of eternal life shine forth in our lives.
Make our heart ever more loving
and let us with all believers be united with you
as you are one with the Father.
All:
Amen.

Here follow the Lord’s Prayer and the Words of Institution.

c The pastor says or chants (facing the congregation) :
Lift up your hearts to the Lord
Let us praise His name
The pastor continues (facing the altar):
We thank and praise You, Almighty God, Father,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
You created heaven and all its hosts,
earth and everything upon it.
You give us the breath of life
every day You fill us with your goodness.
Joining our voices with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth
and the hosts of heaven
we therefore sing Your praise:
All sing:
Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
Pastor:
Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.
All:
Hosanna in the highest.

The pastor says or chants:
Our Lord and Saviour who rose from the dead
to be lovingly and richly present in our midst
Grant us that we may receive Your body and blood
in remembrance of You
and as the affirmation of our belief in the forgiveness of sins.
Cleanse us from our sins
and let the hope of eternal life shine forth in our lives.
Make our heart ever more loving
and let us with all believers be united with You
as You are one with the Father.
All:
Amen.

Holy God and Father, we praise You
that You have rescued us from the power of darkness
and transferred us into the kingdom of Your beloved Son,
With gratitude we recall
His bitter suffering and death,
His victorious resurrection and ascension
and look forward to His glorious return.
We beseech You:
Send Your Holy Spirit upon us and to this meal
Grant that we may faithfully receive the body and blood
of Our Lord Jesus Christ
and thereby take part in His perfect sacrifice
that brings forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
Let us through His love be ever more united
with all believers
and be one with Your people
when You gather them in Your kingdom.

When Communion Prayer c is used the hymn “O Lamb of God” is sung either before or during the administering of the bread and wine.

16 THE LORD’S PRAYER
The pastor (or the pastor and the congregation in unison)
(traditional:)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen .

17 THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
All stand and the pastor continues to read or chant the Words of Institution. Whilst saying or chanting the words the pastor holds up the bread and the chalice, facing the congregation (alternatively the altar).

On the night in which He was betrayed, Our Lord Jesus Christ took bread and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.
Likewise, after supper, He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you for the forgiveness of sin. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.

18 COMMUNION
After the Words of Institution communicants go to the altar and kneel. To each communicant the pastor delivers the bread, saying:
The Body of Christ.
And then the chalice, saying:
The Blood of Christ.
Before each group of communicants leaves the altar, the pastor says (whilst making the sign of the cross with the chalice):
The crucified and risen Saviour,
Our Lord, Jesus Christ
who has now given you/us His holy body and blood
for your/our redemption
may He strengthen and uphold you/us
in true faith unto eternal life.

After each group of communicants except the last the pastor may prefer to say:
Peace be with you!
During the administering of bread and wine a hymn may be sung, the organ may play, or there is silence.
After communion each group of communicants returns to their seats and a hymn may be sung.

IV THE DISMISSAL

19 CLOSING COLLECT
The pastor says or chants (facing the congregation):
Let us pray!
The closing collect is spoken or chanted by the pastor (facing the altar).

Following communion:
We thank You, Lord, our God, Father Almighty,
that You have so mercifully showered these gifts of life upon us.
We beseech You
that You will let Your wondrous gifts come to life within us
so that our faith may be strengthened and our hope be deeply rooted
and the love of our neighbour may be vibrant in our hearts
for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Alternatively one of the closing collects of the special feasts of the church year may be used or the following collect:
We thank You, Lord, our God, Father Almighty,
that You have strengthened us
with Your gifts of life.
We beseech You
bring to completion
what You have begun in us
so that our faith may be strengthened and our hope be deeply rooted
and the love of our neighbour may be vibrant in our hearts
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one true God now and for all eternity.

Following baptism and communion:
Lord, our God, heavenly Father,
We thank You for your infinite mercy
that You have given us Your words and sacraments
through Your precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ,
to comfort us
and to thus let us find forgiveness for our sins.
We beseech You:
Grant us Your Holy Spirit
that we may believe in Your words with all our heart
and through baptism and communion
be strengthened in our faith every day
until we come to share eternal bliss
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one true God for ever and ever.

Following baptism:
Lord, our God, heavenly Father,
We thank You with all our heart
that You have let us be mercifully baptized
and thereby bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins,
the Holy Spirit and eternal life
for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Keep us faithful and let us never doubt this precious gift of Yours.
and by the strength of Your Holy Spirit
let us fight against sin and thus rest in the mercy of our baptism
until we come to share eternal bliss
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one true God for ever and ever.

When there has been neither baptism nor communion:
Lord, our God, heavenly Father,
We thank You for Your holy and blessed word
through which You also gather us into Your church.
We beseech You:
Stay with us through Your Holy Spirit
that we may keep and live according to Your word
and faithfully live our daily life
until we come to share eternal bliss
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord
who lives and reigns with You in the Unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God for ever and ever.
All:
Amen

If there is no communion the closing collect may be left out when the Prayer of the Church and the Lord’s Prayer are said from the altar after the hymn following the sermon.

20 THE BENEDICTION
The pastor says or chants (facing the congregation):
The Lord be with you!
All:
And with your spirit! or: And also with you!

This greeting may be omitted or be said prior to the closing collect.

All stand for the Benediction. The pastor says or chants:

The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
All:
Amen, amen, amen

After the Benediction, the pastor makes the sign of the cross.

21 CLOSING HYMN

22 CLOSING PRAYER
This prayer is read by the cantor or the sexton or a member of the congregation. During this prayer the pastor kneels before the altar.
Let us pray.
Lord, I thank You with all my heart
that You have taught me
what You want me to do.
Help me, God,
through Your Holy Spirit and for the sake of Jesus Christ
to preserve Your word in a pure heart
and so be strengthened in my faith
to live a better, holy life
and in Your word find comfort
in life as in death. Amen.

Let us pray.
Lord, I thank You
that You have taught me what to do.
Help me, God,
to hold on to Your words
and in them find strength and comfort
in life as in death. Amen.

23. ORGAN POSTLUDE

Collections for charity usually take place as people are leaving the church.

Order of Service for Baptism

Baptism usually takes place in church during a service, and usually at the point in the service where the Creed is said, i.e. in connection with the first biblical reading. Or it may take place after the hymn following the sermon or after communion. In case of illness the child may be baptized at home or in hospital.
When baptism takes place at a special baptismal service this service may begin with a prelude, an introductory hymn and a short sermon before the baptismal hymn.

BAPTISM IN CHURCH

BAPTISMAL HYMN
When baptism takes place during the service the baptismal hymn may be one of the hymns of the regular service.
A common baptismal hymn is the following:

See, His arms are open wide
Tune: English 1834, C.E.F. Weyse 1838

See, His arms are o-pen wide,
little ones find bless-ing!
Child-ren come to Je-sus’ side,
in His love pro-gress-ing.
Lord, bap-tize them now, we pray,
let them grow to pon-der
their new birth, so from Your way
they may nev-er wan-der!

Text: N.F.S. Grundtvig 1837
Trans: Edward Broadbridge 2009
DDS 447

After the baptismal hymn, the pastor may ask:
Is the child baptized at home? – No!
When adults are baptized, the pastor may ask:
Have you been baptized before? – No!

PRAISE AND PRAYER
Pastor:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has born us anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3)
Let us pray:
We thank You, Heavenly Father,
that through Your only begotten Son,
You have given this Holy Baptism
in which You make us your children
and give us the Holy Spirit
with the forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
We beseech You graciously
to receive this child (these children) whom we bring before You:
Make him/her(them) a member (members) of Your church
and keep him/her (them) in communion with You now and forever.
Amen.

When adults are baptized:
We beseech You graciously to receive this man/woman
who comes to be baptized.
Make him/her a member of Your church
and keep him/her in communion with You now and forever.
Amen.

READINGS
All stand for the readings and the pastor continues:
Our Lord Jesus Christ says: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you: and behold, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world (Matthew 28:18-20).

And in the gospel according to Mark we read:
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me, do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And He took them in His arms, put His hands upon them and blessed them (Mark 10:13-15).

Let us therefore help this child (these children)
to receive God’s blessing
by baptizing him/her (them)
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

When adults are baptized:
Let us therefore help you to receive His blessing
by baptizing you
in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

SIGN OF THE CROSS
If there is more than one child, each child is carried to the font individually.
When adults are baptized, each baptismal candidate steps forward to the font.
The pastor makes the sign of the cross above the face and chest of the baptismal candidate and says:
Receive the sign of the Holy Cross upon your brow and upon your chest, as a testimony that you shall belong to the crucified Lord Jesus Christ.

What is the name of the child?
The responsible adult says the child’s full name
When adults are baptized this question is usually left out.

THE CREED
(Child’s name) Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways? – I do!
Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth? – I do!
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again. He ascended into heaven. He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead? – I do!
Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting? – I do!
Will you be baptized in this faith? – I will!

BAPTISM
The pastor pours water three times over the head of the baptismal candidate and says:
(The child’s name) I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The pastor places a hand on the head of the baptized child/person and says:
The Almighty God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
has now granted you rebirth by water and the Holy Spirit
and has bestowed upon you the remission of sins,
May His grace strengthen you unto eternal life.
He shall preserve your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forever more. Amen.

If more children are to be baptized, the pastor repeats the ritual from the sign of the cross.

THE LORD’S PRAYER
During the Lord’s Prayer the pastor places a hand on the head of the baptized child/ children.
Let us pray:
(traditional)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

Pastor: Peace be with you. Amen.
INSTRUCTION OF GODPARENTS
All sit, except parents and godparents while the pastor instructs them in their duties:
You, the godparents of this child (these children), bear witness to the fact that he/she (they) has (have) been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. If the parents die before the child comes of age, it is the duty of the godparents, as far as you are able, to ensure that he/she (they) learns (learn) about the basics of Christianity in order that he/she (they) may remain in Christ, even as he/she (they) now through baptism has (have) been grafted into Him.
Peace be with you.

You, the parents and godparents of this child (these children), have now witnessed how he/she (they) was (were) baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. It is your duty as parents to bring up your child in the Christian faith and to pray for him/her (them) in order that he/she (they) may remain in Christ, even as he/she (they) through baptism has (have) now been grafted into Him. If the parents die before the child comes of age, it is the duty of the godparents, as far as they are able, to ensure that the child learns about the Christian faith.
Peace be with you.

This instruction may be freely formulated or one of instructions given above may be used as a guideline.
When adults are baptized, the pastor usually ends with a few words freely composed and addressed to the godparents/sponsors.

BAPTISMAL HYMN
After baptism follows a hymn. When baptism takes place within a regular service, the service continues as usual and the hymn may be one of the hymns of the regular service.

(BAPTISMAL PRAYER)
At services without communion and at special baptismal services the following baptismal prayer may be used as a concluding prayer.

Lord, our God, heavenly Father,
We thank You with all our heart
that You have let us be mercifully baptized
and thereby bestowed upon us the forgiveness of sins,
the Holy Spirit and eternal life
for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ.
Keep us faithful and let us never doubt this precious gift of Yours.
and by the strength of Your Holy Spirit
let us fight against sin and thus rest in the mercy of our baptism
until we come to share eternal bliss
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever.
All: Amen.

When baptism takes place at a special baptismal service, this service is concluded with the Benediction, a concluding hymn and an organ postlude.

Order of Service for Confirmation

Confirmation usually takes place at a regular service conducted according to the Order of Worship of the local church. The service begins with an organ prelude where the confirmands enter as a procession with the pastor either at the head or at the end of the procession. Prayers and biblical texts may be the ones used for regular services or special texts for confirmation. The Creed is not said (or sung) in its usual context but otherwise the service is conducted as a regular service until the end of the hymn following the sermon. The ritual of confirmation consists of the following parts:

The confirmands are addressed.
The Creed.
Confirmation vows.
Blessing of each confirmand.
The Lord’s Prayer.

The confirmands approach the altar prior to or after the Creed. During this a hymn or part of a hymn may be sung.

ADDRESS (dialogue).
Standing at the arch of the chancel or at some other appropriate place the pastor addresses the confirmands and this may take the form of a dialogue. This can be omitted or take place in connection with the sermon.

After this address (and before the Creed) the pastor may pray for the confirmands:
Almighty, merciful God, heavenly Father,
We thank You for having received these young people
as Your children in Your holy baptism
and for having led them by the light of Your word.
We beseech You graciously to bring to completion
what You have begun in them
and let them know ever more clearly the salvation
You have prepared for them in Your only begotten Son. Amen.

Our God and Father in Heaven,
We thank You for having received us
when we were baptized.
We have got to know You in Jesus Christ
that we may live as Your children
and have faith in your love.
We beseech You graciously to confirm
to these young people
that You are with them always,
even unto the end of the world.
Let Your living hope be their strength
and keep them from evil
that Your joy may be ever present in them. Amen.

THE CREED
The Renunciation and the Creed are said by the pastor and the confirmands in unison (or by all present):
We renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways.
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

CONFIRMATION VOWS (may be left out)
Mentioning each confirmand by name the pastor asks him or her individually and the confirmand responds to each question.
Name: Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways? – I do!
Do you believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ His Son, and in the Holy Spirit? – I do!

Or the pastor, still mentioning each confirmand by name, asks:
Name: Do you wish to be confirmed in the Christian Faith? – I do!

Alternatively these vows are omitted and the blessing of the confirmands starts with the pastor mentioning the confirmand’s name.
BLESSING OF EACH CONFIRMAND
The confirmand kneeling, the pastor places a hand on the head of the confirmand and blesses him or her:
Our triune God
who has received you as His child in His holy baptism
and has made you an heir to life eternal,
May He uphold you in the grace given in your baptism
until your last hour
May He grant you steadfastness of faith
to the salvation of your soul.

Our God Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
granted you rebirth by water and the Holy Spirit
and gave you remission of sins in your baptism.
May His grace strengthen you unto eternal life.

Our God Almighty, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who has accepted you, His child, in Holy Baptism,
May He strengthen your faith,
and be the giver of hope,
May He bless you and keep you in His love.

After this blessing the pastor may read a verse from the Bible or from a hymn to each confirmand. For every group of confirmands the pastor says:
Peace be with you.

The Lord’s Prayer:
When all have been confirmed, confirmands and pastor say the Lord’s Prayer in unison.
(traditional)
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

The ritual of confirmation is concluded with a hymn during which the confirmands return to their seats. The service then continues as a regular service. As concluding prayer the collect following baptism is read, or a special collect for confirmation. During the organ postlude the confirmands may exit the church in the processional order in which they entered.

The Marriage Service

A church wedding is solemnized by a pastor in a church in the presence of at least two witnesses.
Prior to the marriage service the church bells may be rung or chimed according to local custom.

OPENING (ORGAN PRELUDE/THE VOLUNTARY)

OPENING HYMN

GREETING
Pastor:
The Lord be with you!
And with your spirit! or: And also with you!

This greeting may be left out or the pastor may say:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
be with you all.

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER AND READING
Pastor (standing at the altar or in the chancel):
Lord God, Heavenly Father.
We thank You for giving us life
and for the gift of all the people who have
supported and loved us
from our childhood to this day
We beseech You gracefully
to continue to give us what we need
and every day renew the love we have for each other
through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one true God now and for all eternity.
Amen.

The pastor continues:
It is written:
When God had created heaven and earth, the sea, the sun and the moon, stars, plants and animals, He said: "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. And God blessed them.

And Our Lord Jesus Christ says:
Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ and said, “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh”? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.

And the Apostle Paul writes:
Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

HYMN

SPEECH TO BRIDE AND GROOM
The couple may step forward to the altar or wait until after the speech.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS AND PRONOUNCEMENT.
Pastor:
I ask you, (groom’s name):
Will you take (bride’s name) who stands by your side,
to be your wedded wife? – I will!
Will you love her and honour her
and live with her for better or for worse
in whatever fortune God may grant you
as it is fitting that a husband should live with his wife
until death do you part? – I will!

Likewise, I ask you, (bride’s name):
Will you take (groom’s name) who stands by your side,
to be your wedded husband? – I will!
Will you love him and honour him
and live with him for better or for worse
in whatever fortune God may grant you
as it is fitting that a wife should live with her husband
until death do you part? – I will!

Then join your right hands together.

The pastor places a hand on the joined hands of the couple and says:
Since you have given your consent and made your marriage vows to each other, and you have confessed it publicly before the eyes of God and in the presence of this congregation and have confirmed it by the joining of hands I now pronounce you to be husband and wife before God and man.

At this point bride and groom may exchange rings.

INTERCESSION/NUPTIAL BLESSING
Pastor:
Let us pray.
Bride and groom kneel. The pastor places a hand on each head and says:

Almighty God who created man and woman
that they may live together in holy matrimony
and blessed them,
We beseech You:
Bless this bride and groom
Guide them by Your grace always
and let them live in mutual love.

Or
Dear Heavenly Father,
Grant this bride and groom grace, happiness and blessings
in body and soul.
Ensure their steadfast love for one another
that they may serve You faithfully in all their doings
and live as Your precious children
finally to be gathered with You in your eternal mansions.
In the name of Jesus we pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

(contemporary)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those
who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours,
now and forever. Amen.

If the wedding service ends with the ensuing hymn the pastor gives the Benediction to the couple rather than saying: Peace be with you!
Bride and groom return to their seats.

HYMN
If a child is to be baptized in the course of the ceremony, baptism follows immediately after the marriage ceremony and the concluding collect may then be a baptismal collect.

CONCLUDING PRAYER
The pastor says or chants:
Lord God, Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of marriage
and we beseech You
to preserve this ordinance and blessing
to be unshakably in our midst.
Through Your Holy Spirit
enable all Christian couples to help each other
and never lose sight of Your saving grace.
Let them rejoice in hope,
be patient in affliction,
and be constant in prayer
and strengthen them to be members
of Your living church
that they may one day be united with You in Your kingdom
where You live and reign with Your Son and the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever.

Lord, God, Heavenly Father.
We thank You for the gift of marriage
and we beseech You:
Pour out Your grace upon (groom’s name) and (bride’s name),
who have entered into marriage
and grant them Your blessings
that they may be joined in mutual love
and a godly life
and not cause strife and anger
May they always feel Your merciful presence,
also in times of trial,
Let them and all of us live our lives here on earth
faithfully and obediently
until we come to share eternal bliss
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever.

All:
Amen.

THE BENEDICTION
The pastor says or chants (facing the congregation):
The Lord be with you!
All:
And with your spirit! or: And also with you!

This greeting may be omitted or be said prior to the closing prayer.

All stand for the Benediction. The pastor says or chants:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
All sing:
Amen, amen, amen

CLOSING HYMN

ORGAN POSTLUDE

Church Blessing of Civil Marriage

Prior to the service, the bells may be rung or chimed according to local custom.

OPENING (ORGAN PRELUDE/THE VOLUNTARY)

OPENING HYMN

GREETING
Pastor:
The Lord be with you!
All:
And with your spirit! or: And also with you!

This greeting may be omitted or the pastor may say:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost,
be with you all.

INTRODUCTORY PRAYER AND READING
Pastor (standing before the altar or in the chancel):
Lord, God, Heavenly Father.
We thank You for giving us life
and for the gift of all the people who have
supported and loved us
from our childhood to this day
We beseech You gracefully
to continue to give us what we need
and every day renew the love we have for each other
through Jesus Christ, our Lord
Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one true God now and for all eternity. Amen.

HYMN

SPEECH TO BRIDE AND GROOM
The couple may step forward to the altar or wait until after the speech.

EXCHANGE OF VOWS (may be omitted)
Pastor:
(husband’s name) and (wife’s name). You have already entered into a legally binding marriage and have come today to the house of God to ask for His blessing on your marriage.

I ask you, (husband’s name):
Will you love and honour (wife’s name)
and live with her for better or for worse
in whatever fortune God may grant you
as it is fitting that a husband should live with his wife
until death do you part? – I will!

Likewise, I ask you, (wife’s name):
Will you love and honour (husband’s name)
and live with him for better or for worse
in whatever fortune God may grant you
as it is fitting that a wife should live with her husband?
until death do you part? – I will!

INTERCESSION
Pastor:
Unless God builds the house, those who build it labour in vain. We therefore ask for God’s blessing upon this man and this woman.

Bride and groom kneel and the pastor places a hand on their heads and says:
Almighty God who created man and woman
that they may live together in holy matrimony
and blessed them,
We beseech You:
Pour out your blessings
also on (husband’s name) and (wife’s name).
Guide them by Your grace always
and let them live in mutual love.

In the name of Jesus we pray:

The bride and groom return to their seats.

HYMN

CONCLUDING PRAYER
The pastor says or chants:
Lord, God, Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of marriage
and we beseech You
to preserve this ordinance and blessing
to be unshakably in our midst.
Through Your Holy Spirit
enable all Christian couples to help each other
and never lose sight of Your saving grace.
Let them rejoice in hope,
be patient in affliction,
and be constant in prayer
and strengthen them to be members
of Your living church
that they may one day be united with You in Your kingdom
where You live and reign with Your Son and the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever.

Lord, God, Heavenly Father.
We thank You for the gift of marriage
and we beseech You:
Pour out Your grace upon N and N,
and grant them Your blessings
that they may be joined in mutual love
and a godly life
and not cause strife and anger
May they always feel Your merciful presence,
also in times of trial.
Let them and all of us live our lives here on earth
faithfully and obediently
until we come to share eternal bliss
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever.

All:
Amen.

THE BENEDICTION
The pastor says or chants (facing the congregation):
The Lord be with you!
All:
And with your spirit! or: And also with you!

This greeting may be left out or be said prior to the closing prayer.

CLOSING HYMN

ORGAN POSTLUDE

The Funeral Service

Two orders of service will be given: a longer and a shorter version. Both may be used for cremations and burials. The orders are guidelines, but the committal is always conducted according to the authorized ritual. Hymns are sung. At ground burials the committal at the grave in the cemetery concludes the ceremony. Following local custom or when necessity dictates committal at the grave may take place prior to the service conducted in church. At cremations committal takes place in church or chapel.
Burials at sea are conducted according to the orders of service given below with the necessary adjustments.
The orders of service given here may also be used for the burial of children and stillborn babies.

I LONGER VERSION

Guideline

ORGAN PRELUDE

HYMN

GREETING
Pastor:
Grace be with you
and peace from God our Father,
and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Pastor:
The Lord be with you!
And with your spirit! or: And also with you!

INTRODUCTORY COLLECT
Pastor:
Let us pray.
The pastor says one of these prayers:
Almighty, eternal God,
Father of mercy and God of all consolation,
hear us
when we call out to You in our sorrow and loss,
send us comfort and strength in our time of need
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Almighty, eternal God, heavenly Father,
we thank You
that You so loved the world
that You gave Your one and only Son,
so that whoever believes in Him
shall not perish but have eternal life.
We beseech You
to comfort and strengthen us in our grief
and preserve our living faith in Your only-begotten Son
that we may one day return to You
in the company of all those You have redeemed
and praise and glorify You in all eternity
through Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Merciful Father,
We thank You for the gift of life
with its joys and sorrows
we thank You for knowing that
for those who love You
all things may be a blessing.
Keep us steady in our grief,
remind us
that through the death and resurrection of Your Son
You bore our suffering
and gave us new birth into a living hope.
Let us never forget
that through baptism we were reborn as Your children
to receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life.
In this faith
we give You thanks
for all the precious gifts
You gave us through the life of (deceased’s name)
who has now passed away
and we entrust his/her body and soul
into Your keeping
and pray that You will keep him/her safe
until his/her joyful resurrection on the Last Day.
Send us Your help as we mourn our loss,
and strengthen us as we hope for Your coming kingdom
when You gather up all things
and we may praise and glorify You as Your children for all eternity.
Amen.

Our Creator and Father in heaven,
You see our sorrows,
this we know from Your beloved Son,
Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who came to share life and death with us
that we may share eternal life with Him.
Send us Your Holy Spirit.
Pour out Your love,
share our grief,
give us new life
that we may gain courage
and believe Your Son’s word
and cast off all fear
and live happily together here
until You gather us in the eternal fullness of Your joy and light.
You who with the Son and in the unity of the Holy Spirit
live and reign,
one true God, forever and ever. Amen.

All may respond with Amen after the concluding collect. When this is the case, the collects may end with the usual words of praise.

READING(S)
The pastor continues with one (or two) of the readings given below from the Old Testament and/or the New Testament.

Old Testament readings:
Psalm 23: 1-4/ Psalm 39: 5-8/Psalm 42: 2-6/Psalm 68: 20-21
Psalm 90:1-12/Psalm 102: 2-3,12, 24-28/Psalm 103:1-6
Psalm 103: 13-17a/Psalm 130:1b-6/Psalm 139:1-12
Isaiah 53:8-11 / Isaiah 55:8-11

New Testament Readings:
Matthew 28:1-10/ Mark 16:1-8
Luke 7:11-16/ Luke 12:36-37/Luke 24: 1-6
John 3:16/John 5:24-25/John 11:25-26a/John 14:1-6
Romans 6:3-5/Romans 8:31b-32/Romans 8:38-39/Romans 14:7-9
1 Corinthians 15:20-22/ 1 Corinthians 15:54-57/ 2 Corinthians 5:1-8/ Philippians 2:5-11
Hebrews 3:7-8/Hebrews 9:27-28/Revelation 21:3-5a

Other readings may be more suitable for a particular occasion, for instance at the funeral of a child:
Psalm 139:1-12 or Jeremiah 29:12-14a and Mark 10:13-16.

THE CREED
After the reading the Creed may be said or it may be said in connection with the sermon.
We renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways.
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
Amen.

HYMN
May be omitted or replaced by a hymn between two readings.

SERMON
If there is more than one biblical reading, the second reading may be read as an introduction to the sermon.

HYMN

COMMITTAL (in church or chapel)
When committal takes place within the church or chapel, it is done after the hymn following the sermon. If this is the case, the closing collect is omitted and the service is concluded with a hymn and an organ postlude.

Committal is always conducted according to the authorized ritual.

CLOSING COLLECT
Pastor:
Let us pray.
The pastor says one of the following prayers:
Lord, God, Heavenly Father
We thank You with all our heart
that You let us live in these blessed times
when we may hear Your holy word,
know your divine and fatherly will
and behold Your Son, Jesus Christ.
We beseech You
in Your abundant mercy
to hold steady the blissful light of Your word in our midst
and to let our heart be guided and led by Your Holy Spirit
that we may never go astray
but rather leave everything else
and always adhere to Your word
and in it finally attain bliss
through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever. Amen.

Our God and Father in heaven,
we thank You for having received our Lord Jesus Christ into Your kingdom
when He had given his life
to save the world.
We beseech You
to also receive us
who have been baptized
into His death.
Let us not go astray in fear and anger
on this day of sorrow,
let us live like the Lord,
hopeful in his faith
until You grant us eternal bliss
through Your crucified and risen Son
Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one true God forever and ever. Amen.

Loving and righteous God,
helper of the helpless
saviour of the lost
judge of the joyful
we beseech You:
Send us Your Holy Spirit
to keep our hope alive
that we may not despair in these times of adversity
strengthen our faith
that we may not stray from You,
keep our love radiant
that we may not stray from each other in our grief
but live as well as we are able
until You gather us unto You
under a new heaven and on a new earth,
made new through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

All may respond with Amen after the concluding collect.

THE BENEDICTION
Pastor :
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
All sing:
Amen, amen, amen

HYMN

ORGAN POSTLUDE

COMMITTAL (in the cemetery)
Committal is always conducted according to the authorized ritual
The ceremony ends with a short hymn.

II Shorter version

Guideline

HYMN

GREETING
Pastor:
Grace be with you
and peace from God our Father,
and our Lord Jesus Christ.

READING
The pastor continues with one of the readings listed in the longer version. The readings may be omitted, if the Creed is said.

THE CREED
After the reading the Creed may be said or it may replace the reading.
We renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways.
We believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
We believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again; He ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and he life everlasting.
Amen.

The Committal

The pastor begins with the acclamation (1 Peter 1:3):
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope
through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The pastor putting three handfuls of earth on the lid of the coffin says:
(Deceased’s name) You have come from dust
To dust you shall return
From dust you shall rise again.

Let us pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be Thy name,
Thy kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.

THE BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

If the Aaronic benediction has already been given in the course of the service the Apostolic blessing may be used instead:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with us all evermore. Amen.

Translation of the liturgy: Liselotte Horneman Kragh 2009

‘O lamb of God upon the cross’ (DDS 439)
Text: Agnus Dei (Latin), German c. 1500, N.F.S. Grundtvig 1837
Trans: Edward Broadbridge 2009

‘See, his arms are open wide’ (DDS 447)
Text: N.F.S. Grundtvig 1837
Trans: Edward Broadbridge 2009

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