Gloria

Yesterday morning we studied the Gloria (Glory be to God on High) in Bible class. The reasons we're studying these songs of the liturgy is because many people are unfamiliar with them or at least with their background, where they come from in the Bible, and how they've been used throughout history. And I think that is especially true with the Gloria.

The Gloria really is filled with compressed language. Every once in a while it's good to unpack it and remember what's all in there. Just that one phrase addressed to Jesus, "You take away the sin of the world." It sounds so basic and so elementary, but really is quitew profound. When we sing this song, it's like standing with John the Baptist on the banks of the Jordan. We're pointing to Jesus, and we're pointing out what's important about this man we have come to worship and praise. "You take away the sin of the world." And because you do, we ask that you would look upon us, your people, and have mercy on us.

In some ways, the Gloria is much like a creed, though it is written in poetry. It summarizes what we know and believe about God.

After studying this part of the liturgy, we played through many different samples of settings of the liturgy. What did you think? While we may not make use of all of these settings, what does it teach us about the flexibility and variety in the liturgy? There is a segment of Christianity and Lutheranism that maintains that the liturgy is no longer useful for Christian churches and a new form of worship is necessary if we are going to reach the lost, or the youth, or keep the faithful. Is that true? Or is the liturgy flexible enough to adjust to changing times and some changing tastes?