Questions and Answers

How many orders of service will be included in the new hymnal?

Three musical settings of the main service will be included in the hymnal and they can be used for worship with or without communion. Services from the Daily Office such as Morning Praise and Evening Prayer will also be included. Additional musical settings will be available in digital format only in the digital service builder. Additional musical resources will be available in the musicians resource.

Which version of the Lord’s Prayer will be included?

Which version of the Lord’s Prayer will be included? Both the traditional and the contemporary versions of the Lord’s Prayer found in Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal will be used in the new hymnal.

Will there be harmony for hymns and liturgy?

It is our intention to make this hymnal as accessible as possible for the singer. Nearly all the hymns in the hymnal will have singable SATB harmonization (as opposed to organ settings that are not meant for SATB singing). Canticles in the setting from The Common Service (CW page 15) will also include harmony.

I hear there will be a psalter. What is that?

A complete psalter is planned for release at the same time as the new hymnal. The psalter will include settings of every psalm in many styles, including responsorial (like the present hymnal) and metrical paraphrase (like a hymn). It will also include aids for private devotion, including commentary by Martin Luther and prayers. The psalter will feature 438 settings in 800 pages. For more information, see the section on the psalter in Christian Worship: Preview.

What are the dimensions of the new hymnal and psalter?

Added April 2021

The new hymnal is roughly the same size as the previous hymnal. The new hymnal and psalter are both a 6 × 9 inch trim size. The new hymnal has a few more pages than the previous hymnal, but the difference in thickness is negligible. The psalter is a little thinner than the hymnal.

How many new hymns will there be?

Over four hundred hymns from Christian Worship (1993) and Christian Worship: Supplement will be included in the pew edition of the new hymnal. Approximately one third of 650+ hymns will be new. This doesn’t mean that these hymns were all written in the 21st century. It simply means that they are “new to us.” Some of these new hymns come from the age of Lutheran orthodoxy, while others were written within the last decade. In short, our new hymnal will contain much that is familiar, plenty that is new, and some “new” that is really quite “old.” See the discussion in Christian Worship: Preview.

There will be a wide selection of hymns by Keith and Kristyn Getty and some other modern hymn writers like them. Such hymns were highly appreciated in Christian Worship: Supplement. Here is a partial list.

What are some new features of the hymn section?

One will immediately note that the sacramental sections have been enriched and expanded. This is a welcome development in a Lutheran hymnal. The number of communion hymns has almost doubled, from ten in Christian Worship (1993) to eighteen in the new hymnal. There will be a section titled “Holy Baptism” for the actual administration of Baptism in services. A separate section, “Baptismal Life,” will unfold the daily meaning of Baptism for God’s people. Speaking of daily life, a new section titled “Vocation” will sing of the ways we serve the Savior in our various callings and duties. Finally, much of what used to be in the End Times section of Christian Worship (1993)has been broken out into three different areas: Second Coming, Church Militant, and Church Triumphant.

Some hymns will be tune only. Accompaniments will not be in the pew edition. Why is that?

While efforts were made to simplify many harmonies to support four-part singing, one will quickly notice that roughly seventy hymns will be printed with “melody only.” Why? Some of the hymns are intended by their composers to be “melody only.” Other hymns are melody only because the melody is found more than once in the hymnal. Still other hymns, if the accompaniment is particularly complex, save precious pages by placing the melody in the hymnal and the accompaniment in the Christian Worship: Accompaniment for Hymns. We have tried to avoid the three-page layout of some hymns in Christian Worship: Supplement.

The hymnal in the pew will most definitely be a singer’s book. Christian Worship: Accompaniment for Hymns has been designed to be the keyboardists’ book—packed with alternate harmonizations and festival settings. Finally, Christian Worship: Musicians Resource is an electronic-only product that will provide instrumental parts for all the hymns in the hymnal. The new hymnal is at the top of a pyramid of musical resources that will support the singing of God’s people on several different levels!

For more details on this topic, please download “Some perspectives on tune-only hymns.”

Will there be scripture references associated with each hymn?

This is one of the most requested features for the new hymnal. Bible verses relevant to the hymn are offered for reference and devotional purposes. But if a hymn contains many scriptural allusions, only the main ones will be listed.

More images are available in the hymns section of Christian Worship: Preview.

Can you send us some hymns for us to try out in our congregations?

Because of copyright restrictions, we are not able to release any materials in advance for public use.

What will people appreciate about the new lectionary?

The new lectionary will feature thematic Sundays. All three readings, the Psalm of the Day, the Prayer of the Day, the Gospel Acclamation, and the Hymn of the Day will support the day’s theme. An increased number of Old Testament narratives will help build biblical literacy and provide good preaching texts.

What is a Gospel Acclamation?

The Gospel Acclamation is a name for what Christian Worship (1993) called the Verse of the Day. It is a scripture verse meant to introduce the Gospel.

Why did we change “End Times”?

Christian Worship (1993) created a season called End Times that would occur at the end of the Season after Pentecost. The WELS is the only group that has used that season. The new calendar brings us back in line with the majority of Christendom. We recommend observing Reformation on the last Sunday of October and All Saints on the first Sunday of November. The readings appointed for the last Sundays of the church year will retain their “end of times” feeling. The Festival of Christ the King is appointed as an alternate for the Last Sunday of the Church Year.

How do I access the new lectionary?

Updated July 2021

The hymnal project released the new lectionary in June 2021 to enable worship planning for the new church year beginning in Advent 2021. The new three-year lectionary is included in a detailed planning guide for Year C. Download worship planning tools for Year C under Resources / Look Inside #9. Both the three-year and one-year lectionaries are also available for Logos Bible Software:

• Three-Year Lectionary, $3.99

• One-Year Lectionary, $3.99

The public may also browse the new lectionary by visiting Christian Worship: Service Builder.

How does the Proper system work in the Season after Pentecost?

This is another change that brings us into alignment with more of the Christian Church at large. In Christian Worship (1993), the worship planner had to find the date of Pentecost and then count Sundays to find out what propers, or readings, were appointed for that day. In this system the worship planner simply needs the date of the Sunday. Each proper is assigned a range of dates by which it is paired with the Sunday on which it is used. If there are any propers that are not used because of the date of Easter, they come at the beginning of the season rather than at the end.

For example, Sunday, August 2, 2020, falls inside the range of Proper 13 (July 31-August 6), and since it is year A, the Gospel reading is Matthew 14:13-21, etc.

The name of the Sunday is not “Proper 13.” It could simply be called “The Season After Pentecost, Sunday, August 2, 2020.” It could also be referred to as the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost. Bear in mind, that readings come from the calendar date, not the number of Sundays after Pentecost.

We will provide annual calendar and reading lists to keep the process simple.

What digital products will accompany the print materials?

The hymnal project includes three digital products.

To assist pastors and worship planners, we offer a powerful program to make planning and preparing liturgical services faster and more convenient than ever. Christian Worship: Service Builder is a comprehensive software application that allows worship planners to rapidly and effectively manage the complexity of worship planning and service folder generation. Subscribers will complete their worship planning and preparation work faster than otherwise possible while gaining intuitive, structured access to the entire suite of hymnal resources.

To assist musicians and directors, we offer an online resource, Christian Worship: Musician’s Resource, that delivers all the musical arrangements needed to adorn Christian worship with the beauty and grace of special instrumentation. Musicians will find a structured database of additional musical materials available for purchase in a variety of formats that fit well into their existing workflows.

We are also planning for a mobile application for laypeople. Since this will be the last resource to be developed, we cannot yet offer a description or timeline.

Will all the content from the hymnal and psalter be included in the Christian Worship: Service Builder?

In addition to the entire set of rites and hymns in Christian Worship: Hymnal, the entire set of psalms available in Christian Worship: Psalter will be offered for use in Christian Worship: Service Builder.

What extra content will Christian Worship: Service Builder contain?

The lectionary readings and all elements of each service will be offered in Christian Worship: Service Builder, a web-based application that will greatly expedite the planning of services and the production of worship folders. Helpful suggestions and planning prompts in Christian Worship: Service Builder will be primarily based on the lectionary.

Three different musical settings of The Service will appear in the hymnal pew edition. Five or six more settings of The Service will be available in the Christian Worship: Service Builder.

To provide variety over years of use, Christian Worship: Service Builder will also include more than a dozen different alleluia refrains, along with a proper verse of the day for every individual festival across years A, B, and C.

Christian Worship: Service Builder not only includes the entire hymnal but also allows worship planners to import and use congregational favorites from other sources. All imported material remains available in the application for re-use.

Does the Service Builder include the text for the lectionary?

For added convenience, Christian Worship: Service Builder offers subscribers the option to embed the NIV text of the day’s readings directly in the worship folder at no additional charge. Worshipers will appreciate that the accurate and familiar style of the NIV text harmonizes well with the style of language employed throughout the psalms, rites, prayers, and other texts in Christian Worship.

Will you be providing files for use with projectors?

Christian Worship: Service Builder not only facilitates every aspect of worship planning and service folder generation, it also provides an out-of-the-box solution for generating slide decks for use in projection.

Will there be a replacement for HymnSoft?

Updated March 2020

In addition to its many other features, Christian Worship: Service Builder will offer a Playlist add-on module to provide congregations resources akin to the core functionality of HymnSoft. This Playlist module will utilize MP3 audio files. It can provide audio playback from any music player software via a computer or tablet connected to your church’s sound system.

Why would churches purchase Christian Worship: Service Builder?

Added March 2020

If you are not yet familiar with the capabilities of Service Builder, please see the description and demo videos.

1. Time savings. The ease of preparing worship folders is extraordinary.

2. High-quality look. Beautifully designed worship folders highlight the importance of gathering for worship for attentive listening, proclamation, and praise.

3. New resources. Using Service Builder is the easiest way to access all of the new resources and to format them appropriately.

If we've purchased Service Builder for creating worship folders, why have new hymnals in the pews?

Added March 2020

Research during development of the new hymnal indicated that the future of hard bound hymnals in hymnal pew racks continues to be very strong. There remains a desire both in WELS and in other denominations for continued use of hymnal books.

What are the benefits of using the hymnal and using a worship folder?

• The new hymnal is expertly designed and the content is carefully curated. These attributes communicate to worshipers and visitors alike a sense of rootedness in the church.

• Hymnals are durable and last many years in a variety of worship settings.

• Hymnals allow singing in harmony. Copyright restrictions prohibit the printing or projection of harmony parts in hymns.

• Hymnals are a one-time investment that also reduce the long-term cost of the ongoing investment in Christian Worship: Service Builder.

Both resources provide unique value for a congregation’s worship life and most congregations will find that they benefit greatly from the complementary role the two resources play.

For even more on the value of using hymnals, see the article Service Builder and Books.

What is the rationale for Christian Worship: Service Builder pricing?

Added March 2020

Christian Worship: Service Builder pricing is included in a budgeting spreadsheet published in late March 2020.

Christian Worship: Service Builder is available at a discount to congregations that purchase a minimum number of hymnals. Christian Worship: Service Builder costs more if a congregation opts not to purchase hymnals. In both scenarios the annual subscription cost is based on average worship attendance.

The different pricings were carefully calculated to assure that production of Christian Worship: Service Builder was viable in a small denomination with a limited market share. While one might find a similar products for larger denominations, small market realities cannot be ignored. By way of comparison, consider what a popular application like TurboTax would cost if developed and sold to only 1000 users.

Nevertheless, Christian Worship: Service Builder is not overly costly. For just a few dollars per week, congregations gain access to a powerful and valuable tool that will quickly pay for itself in time saved for pastor and church office. It will also save time in long-range worship planning, collaborative planning, and through automated copyright compliance reporting.

What licensing will be needed to reprint/project (and stream) Service Builder content?
Added July 2021
Updated August 2022

Both OneLicense and CCLI cover a vast catalog of copyrighted works from many publishers. Congregations that regularly use resources beyond those published by our church body will need to carry the licenses that allow them to do so, typically both OL and CCLI. Printing the lyrics of a copyrighted choral anthem in your service folder for the congregation to follow along is one example of something for which separate licensing is needed. 

During the summer of 2021 we are working to finalize how Christian Worship: Service Builder will work. It has two main parts: (1) the subscription for the software that provides the calendar, manages all the content, and automatically reports usage; and (2) the licensing that allows congregations to reprint/project and, where applicable, stream copyrighted content. The best counsel we can give congregations at this time before the trial version of Service Builder is released later this fall is this: if you have a OneLicense subscription, keep that account active. Annual subscriptions to both OL and CCLI will continue to be required. There are no plans for a change in this requirement. For additional information, see this Help Center article or the licensing information from NPH.

The goal we are working diligently to achieve is that a single license will cover reprint licensing for nearly all of the Christian Worship content (hymnal and psalter). As mentioned above, congregations that regularly use a broader repertory will need the various licenses such use requires. And note that any streaming of copyrighted material requires separate reporting outside of Christian Worship: Service Builder.

Why is the pricing for the Christian Worship: Playlist so different than HymnSoft?

Added July 2021

Both the underlying technology and the market for copyrighted works has changed significantly. The technology has improved. HymnSoft development was stagnant, but Christian Worship: Service Builder development will be ongoing. The copyright situation is not so improved. Copyright holders are reluctant to grant permission for digital use. Copyright holders typically require higher royalty payments for digital use. These are costs outside the control of WELS or NPH.

When will we receive our order?

Updated July 2021

The new hymnal is scheduled for first use in Advent of 2021. Preorders for the hymnal and psalter began in late 2020. Congregations that placed their orders before the middle of June will receive their first print run hymnals in September, others throughout October and November. Once the preorders have been shipped out, new orders will ship in NPH’s normal shipping time frame, arriving in 3-10 business days. (Imprinting likely adds another 14 business days.) 

In mid-September each congregation will receive at no cost two copies of the hymnal and one psalter.

What will the cost be for the various resources?

Tentative prices for Christian Worship resources are on pages 58-59 of Christian Worship: Preview (in print) or on the Looking Ahead resource on this website.

If we can’t afford to purchase everything in the hymnal suite, what are the essential volumes to obtain first?

In addition to the pew edition, these volumes:

• Christian Worship: Accompaniment for Hymns, Volumes 1 and 2
  Some hymns in the pew edition are tune-only; the accompaniment edition also offers alternate accompaniments for many hymns.

• Christian Worship: Accompaniment for Services

• Christian Worship: Altar Book

• Christian Worship: Service Builder
  Few worship planners and church offices will want to be without this powerful and time-saving resource.

Later, if not for the entire congregation, purchase Christian Worship: Psalter and Christian Worship: Accompaniment for the Psalter, Volumes 1 and 2 at least for the choir or cantors. Additional resources will enrich planning and understanding of worship.

What is included in the various supporting volumes?

Added July 2021

The tables of contents for most volumes and some additional information are available by clicking or tapping the button below.

Can we get some of the new materials to use now?

Updated July 2021

Because of copyright restrictions we are not able to release any materials in advance for public use. However, those congregations that subscribe to hymnal updates and who plan to take part in WELS National Hymnal Week (Sept. 19-26, 2021) will be able to try out some pre-selected new hymnal materials without purchasing hymnals. New music will be shared by request only with those who have filled out this survey, ideally by August 6.

How soon will musicians need to be able to play new music?

Added July 2021

A detailed planning guide for Year C is available (starting this Advent). It does not suggest any new canticles (songs of the liturgy) until January. So musicians will have ample time to prepare after receiving music in fall. The planning guide also gives suggestions for new hymns, but they are generally much easier to master. Download worship planning tools for Year C under Resources / Look Inside #9.

Who authorized the new hymnal project?

Updated November 2020

The congregations of WELS authorized the new hymnal project. They did this through the voting delegates at the 2011 synod convention by adopting the 2017 long-range plan, which included the hymnal project. Thus the hymnal project is not a project merely of Northwestern Publishing House and/or the Commission on Worship. It is a synodical project. The same was true for the 1993 hymnal. The title page says “Authorized by the WELS.” This is as it should be for a resource so central to the life of the church. (CW: Supplement, on the other hand being provisional and supplemental, was “authorized by the Commission on Worship.”