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About ELPB - 2022
INTRODUCTION TO THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN PRAYER BOOK 2022
The Evangelical Lutheran Prayer Book was produced to provide the layman with a resource, in one volume, which will enable him to engage in regular, systematic prayer, which is in line with the liturgical traditions and rhythms of the Church. In times past this was known as liturgical prayer. It is a thoroughly Biblical practice.
The early Christians continued the Jewish practice of reciting prayers at certain hours of the day or night. In the Psalms we find expressions like “in the morning I offer you my prayer”; “At midnight I will rise and thank you”; “Evening, morning and at noon I will cry and lament”; “Seven times a day I praise you”. The Apostles observed the Jewish custom of praying at the third, sixth and ninth hour, and at midnight (Acts 10:3, 9; 16:25; etc.).
The prayer of the early Christians consisted of almost the same elements as the Jewish: recital or chanting of Psalms and reading the Old Testament. To that were soon added readings of the Gospels, Acts, epistles, and other canticles. Other elements were added over the course of the centuries, with this discipline developing into the Daily Office. Generally, the Daily Office consists of eight separate prayer liturgies to be performed at specific times of the day: Matins (midnight), Lauds (dawn), Prime (early morning), Terce (mid-morning), Sext (midday), None (mid-afternoon), Vespers (evening), and Compline (night, prior to bedtime).
This book, however, is intended to help the layman develop a regular habit of prayer, not to turn the layman into a cloistered monk. To that end, the traditional prayer offices have been combined and streamlined into one basic structure. This single prayer liturgy was then modified for each of the seasons of the liturgical year. The individual can use these liturgies alone, with the family, or in a small group setting. Everything needed to use them is contained within the pages of this volume, with the exception of the Scripture readings listed in the lectionaries.
In addition to the Historic Lectionary and The Lessons for Morning and Evening, a small collection of short Scripture readings appropriate for the seasons and various festivals of the church year, as well as the Passion history, have also been included.
Traditionally, the singing or recitation of the Psalms is an important part of the Daily Office. Included in this book is the entire New King James Psalter, pointed for chanting. A canticle, pointed for chanting, has been appointed for each day of the week. A section containing office hymns, sequences, and other chants has also been included for those who wish to sing.
Also included in this book is Dr. Martin Luther’s Small Catechism. The Small Catechism was written in 1528 by Dr. Luther. It was intended to be used to instruct the laity in the foundations of Christian doctrine, and thereby ensure the structure and stability of the Church. The Small Catechism is intended more for use in the households of ordinary people, particularly in the instruction of children. The catechism has been included for wherever use of a devotional writing, sermon, exposition, or the like is indicated.
All liturgical texts included in this book are in the public domain. The Small Catechism was taken from Triglot Concordia: The Symbolical Books of the Evangelical Lutheran Church: German-Latin-English. (St. Louis: Concordia, 1921). The Psalter, as well as the additional Scripture readings for various occasions, are from the New King James Version of the Bible, and are used by the gracious permission of the publisher of that translation.
Included are a section of prayers, including Prayers for Each Day of the Week, which have been written for this volume. These prayers are centered on a theme for each day of the week, and anchored in the language of Luther’s Small Catechism.
St. Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that we have been made a new creation by the power of the Holy Spirit. Since we are a new creation, we should no longer conform our lives to the patterns of this old creation. We are now citizens of heaven in exile here on earth. “Join with others in following my example, brothers,” Paul tells the Philippians, “and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you…But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body” (Philippians 3: 17, 20-21).
Worship, private or corporate, should conform to “heavenly” culture. For a time, at worship, the believer can get a glimpse of heaven, even if it is an imperfect one. If we adopt aspects of our human, secular culture into worship in order to make people outside of the Church comfortable, we draw people’s attention away from God’s word, worship of Him, and His service to us.
Using this book, however, is not intended to replace the gathering together with fellow Christians around Word and Sacrament. It is intended to be used as a resource between the times when one gathers together with other believers to hear God’s Word proclaimed and to receive the Lord’s Supper. Scripture encourages us to devote ourselves to the Apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer as the first Christians are described doing (Acts 2:42). And, while private prayer is certainly important, as exemplified by Christ Himself who often went off alone to pray, Scripture also calls us not to neglect meeting together. Meeting together in corporate worship, we may then encourage each other as the Day approaches (Hebrews 10:25).
Finally, while I have worked diligently to find and correct any and all mistakes in this work, I am certain that errors remain. I beg the reader’s forgiveness. It is my prayer that, in spite of any error of layout, grammar, or spelling, this book would be a blessing to those who would use it, and serve as a bit of heavenly culture in a secular world.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Joseph D. Klotz
Hodgkins, Illinois
Trinity, 2022
Leather-bound ELPB - 2020.
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