Hymn of the day

The hymn of the day is a congregational hymn that is centered on the theme of the lectionary texts for a given Sunday divine service.

The practice was developed by Lutherans and is currently in use in other denominations. According to Carl Schalk, the hymn of the day came out of the singing of the gradual which is sung before the epistle reading.^[1]

Generally, it is used during the Word section of the liturgy, but can vary in its placement depending on which Lutheran hymnal is used. For example, the Lutheran Book of Worship (1978) suggests that the hymn of the day be placed either immediately before or after the sermon. The newer Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006), however, only suggests its use after the sermon. The Lutheran Hymnal (1941) suggests that the hymn of the day precede the sermon, with the Apostles' Creed interposed between the hymn of the day and the sermon.

Regardless of placement, some Lutherans, including Schalk, believe this to be the most important hymn in the worship service.

References

^ Schalk, Carl ed. Church Pamphlet Series "The Hymn of the Day and Its Use in Lutheran Worship," Concordia Publishing, 1983.

Order of the Divine Service in Lutheranism

Preparatory Service

Entrance hymn and Trinitarian formula (known as the Invocation)
Penitential Act including the Confiteor and Declaration of Grace (or Asperges on Easter)

The Service of the Word

Introit
Gloria Patri
Kýrie
Gloria
Dominus vobiscum
Oremus
Collect
Old Testament reading
gradual (or Responsorial Psalm)
Epistle
Alleluia (tract during Lent)
Gospel
Hymn of the day
Homily or Postil (Sermon)
Nicene Creed (Athanasian Creed on Trinity Sunday)
Offertory
Prayers of the Faithful

The Service of the Eucharist

Preface (Sursum corda / Sanctus / Hosanna)
Eucharistic Prayer (Epiclesis / Words of Institution / Memorial Acclamation)
Lord's Prayer
Sign of peace / pax (elevation)
Agnus Dei
Distribution
Nunc dimittis
Postcommunion
Benedicamus Domino
Benediction
Dismissal
Ite, missa est

Participants

Parts of the Sanctuary

Candles

Liturgical vessels

ciborium
chalice
cruet

Liturgical objects

Vestments

Liturgical books and hymnals

Christian Worship (1993)
Christian Worship (2021)
Common Service Book (1917)
Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (1912)
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (1996)
Evangelical Lutheran Worship (2006)
Lutheran Book of Worship (1978)
The Lutheran Hymnal (1941)
Lutheran Hymnal with Supplement (1989)
Lutheran Service Book (2006)
Lutheran Worship (1982)
ReClaim Hymnal (2006)
Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

v t e Lutheran hymns
Advent or Christmas	"Advent är mörker och kyla" "Befiehl du deine Wege" ("Give to the Winds Thy Fears") "Bereden väg för Herran" ("Thy Way and All Thy Sorrows") "Christum wir sollen loben schon" ("Now Praise We Christ the Holy One") "Det kimer nu til julefest" ("The Happy Christmas Comes Once More") "Det är advent" "Eg veit i himmerik ei borg" ("Ich weiß mir ein ewiges Himmelreich") "Ermuntre dich, mein schwacher Geist" ("Arise, My Soul, Sing Joyfully") "Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ" ("O Jesus Christ, All Praise to Thee") "Ich steh an deiner Krippen hier" ("I Stand Beside Thy Manger Here") "Lobt Gott, ihr Christen alle gleich" ("Praise God the Lord, Ye Sons of Men") "Macht hoch die Tür" ("Lift Up Your Heads") "Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder" "Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland" ("Savior of the Nations, Come") "Such, wer da will, ein ander Ziel" ("Seek Where Ye May to Find a Way") "Vi tänder ett ljus i advent" "Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her" ("From Heaven Above to Earth I Come") "Wie soll ich dich empfangen" ("O How Shall I Receive Thee")
Epiphany	"Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn" ("The Only Son from Heaven") "Nun liebe Seel, nun ist es Zeit" ("Up, Ye Christians, Join in Singing") "Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern" ("How Lovely Shines the Morning Star")
Lent and Passion	"An Wasserflüssen Babylon" "Christe, du Lamm Gottes" ("O Christ, Thou Lamb of God") "Christus, der uns selig macht" ("Christ, by Whose All-saving Light") "Da der Herr Christ zu Tische saß" "Da Jesus an dem Kreuze stund ("Our Blessed Savior Spoke Seven Times") "Ein Lämmlein geht und trägt die Schuld" ("A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth") "Herzliebster Jesu" ("O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken") "Jesu Leiden, Pein und Tod" "O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden ("O Sacred Head, Now Wounded") "O Lamm Gottes, unschuldig" ("Lamb of God, Pure and Holy") "O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß" ("O Sinner, Come Thy Sin to Mourn") "O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben" ("Upon the Cross Extended")
Easter	"Christ lag in Todesbanden" ("Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands") "Erschienen ist der herrlich Tag" ("On Earth Has Dawned This Day of Days") "Geh aus, mein Herz, und suche Freud" ("Go Forth, My Heart, and Seek Delight") "Heut triumphieret Gottes Sohn" ("Today in Triumph Christ Arose") "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der den Tod..." "Jesus för världen givit sitt liv" "Wir wollen alle fröhlich sein" ("Now Glad of Heart Be Every One")
Pentecost	"Komm, Gott Schöpfer, Heiliger Geist" ("Come, Holy Spirit, From Above") "Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott" ("Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord") "Nun bitten wir den Heiligen Geist" ("We now implore God the Holy Ghost")
Trinity	"Allein Gott in der Höh sei Ehr" ("All glory be to God on high")
Reformation	"Ach Gott, vom Himmel sieh darein" ("O Lord, Look Down from Heaven, Behold") "Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott ("A Mighty Fortress Is Our God") "Erhalt uns, Herr, bei deinem Wort" ("Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word") "God's Word Is Our Great Heritage" "Wär Gott nicht mit uns diese Zeit" ("If God Had Not Been on Our Side") "Wo Gott der Herr nicht bei uns hält" ("Ye Christians, pluck your Courage up")
The church	"Es spricht der Unweisen Mund wohl" ("The Mouth of Fools Doth God Confess") "Sie ist mir lieb, die werte Magd"
Life everlasting	"Jerusalem, du hochgebaute Stadt" ("Jerusalem, Thou City Fair and High")
Justification or Law and Gospel	"Dies sind die heilgen zehn Gebot" ("I Am Alone, Your God and Lord") "Es ist das Heil uns kommen her" ("Salvation Unto Us Is Come") "Nun freut euch, lieben Christen g'mein" ("Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice")
Trials	"Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid" ("O Lord, How Many Miseries") "Ach lieben Christen seid getrost" "Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig" "Blott en Dag (Day by Day) "Herr Jesu Christ, du höchstes Gut" "Ich hab in Gottes Herz und Sinn" ("I Into God's Own Heart and Mind") "Lob Gott getrost mit Singen" ("Praise God, praise God with singing") "Straf mich nicht in deinem Zorn" ("Not in Anger, Mighty God") "Warum betrübst du dich, mein Herz" ("Why art Thou Thus Cast Down, My Heart?") "Warum sollt ich mich denn grämen" ("Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me") "Was Gott tut, das ist wohlgetan" ("What God Ordains Is Always Good") "Was willst du dich betrüben" "Wer nur den lieben Gott läßt walten" ("If Thou but Trust in God to Guide Thee")
Lord's Supper	"Gott sei gelobet und gebenedeiet" ("O Lord, We Praise Thee") "Im Frieden dein, o Herre mein" "Jesus Christus, unser Heiland, der von uns..." ("Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior") "Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele" ("Soul, Adorn Thyself with Gladness")
Baptism	"Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam" ("To Jordan Came Our Lord") "Tryggare kan ingen vara ("Children of the Heavenly Father")
Dying and Burials	"Aus der Tiefen rufe ich, Herr, zu dir" "Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir" ("Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee") "Es ist genug" "Herr Jesu Christ, wahr Mensch und Gott" ("Lord Jesus Christ, True Man and God") "Herzlich lieb hab ich dich, o Herr" ("Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart") "Herzlich tut mich verlangen" "Meinen Jesum laß ich nicht" ("Jesus I Will Never Leave") "Mit Fried und Freud ich fahr dahin" ("In Peace and Joy I Now Depart") "Mitten wir im Leben sind" ("In the Midst of Earthly Life") "Nun lasst uns den Leib begraben" ("Now Lay We Calmly in the Grave") "So nimm denn meine Hände" "Valet will ich dir geben" ("Farewell I Gladly Bid Thee") "Wer weiß, wie nahe mir mein Ende" ("Who Knows When Death May Overtake Me")
Thanks and Praise	"De Levendes Land" (Land of the Living) "Die beste Zeit im Jahr ist mein" "Du meine Seele singe" "Es woll uns Gott genädig sein" ("May God Bestow on Us His Grace") "Herr Gott, dich loben wir" ("We Sing Thy Praise, O God") "How Great Thou Art" "Ich singe dir mit Herz und Mund" ("Rejoice My Heart, Be Glad and Sing") "Nun danket all und bringet Ehr" ("All Ye Who on This Earth Do Dwell") "Nun preiset alle Gottes Barmherzigleit" ("For the Lord reigneth" or "Now Let All Loudly Sing Praise") "Nun danket alle Gott" ("Now Thank We All Our God") "Nun laßt uns Gott dem Herren" ("Now Let Us Come With Singing") "Nun lob, mein Seel, den Herren" ("My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker")
Opening of Service	"Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend" ("Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now")
Lord's Prayer	"Vater unser im Himmelreich" ("Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above")
Creed	"Wir glauben all an einen Gott" ("We All Believe in One True God")
Morning	"Die güldne Sonne voll Freud und Wonne" ("Evening and Morning") "Din klara sol går åter opp" ("Again, Thy Glorious Sun Doth Rise")
Evening	"Der Mond ist aufgegangen" ("The moon has been arising") "Weißt du, wie viel Sternlein stehen" ("Can you count the stars that brightly") "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Wake, Awake, the Night is Flying") "Werde munter, mein Gemüte" ("Sink Not Yet, My Soul, to Slumber")
Lutheran chorale List of hymns by Martin Luther Passion Hymns Hymn of the day