LCMS Worship Institute: S1Ep8. Untangling the Confusion over Liturgy and Worship – Paul Grime

https://kfuo-od.streamguys1.com/recast/lcms-worship-institute/20250818170333-Grime2.mp3
Download Audio File

We continue to struggle with misunderstanding and debates over our understanding of worship, with terms like “liturgy” and “adiaphora” often thrown around without a clear sense of what they actually mean. Grime’s goal is to give the participants a clearer understanding of how our Lutheran theology is uniquely positioned to help us wade through this confusion. This presentation will be something of an unpacking of Thomas Winger’s chapter in the LSB Companion to the Services on “The Liturgy” (pp. 1–39).

Bio:

The Rev. Dr. Paul Grime joined the faculty of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne (CTSFW), in the fall of 2007. He serves as dean of spiritual formation and dean of the chapel and teaches in the Pastoral Ministry and Missions Department. He is a native of northwest Ohio and attended Valparaiso University, graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Organ Performance and Church Music. The following year he completed a Master of Music in Organ Performance at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. His organ instructors were William Eifrig (Valparaiso) and David Mulburry (Cincinnati). In 1982, he matriculated to CTSFW, where he completed the Master of Divinity in 1986. He stayed on for one additional year, serving as acting kantor at Kramer Chapel, graduating with a Master of Sacred Theology in 1987. Following studies at CTSFW, Grime moved to Milwaukee where he began his doctoral studies at Marquette University. Concurrently, he received a call from St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in West Allis, Wis., where he served from 1987 to 1996. He was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Religious Studies in 1994, writing his dissertation on the topic “The Doctrine of the Trinity in the Hymns of Martin Luther.” His doctoral advisor was Kenneth Hagen. In 1996, Grime accepted a call to serve as executive director for The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Commission on Worship. During his 11 years in that capacity, he served as project director, first for the development of Hymnal Supplement 98 and then for Lutheran Service Book and all of its companion volumes, which were published in 2006 and 2007. He is married to Debra; they have two sons, Matthew and Nathan.

This session recording is from the 2024 LCMS Institute on Liturgy, Preaching and Church Music held July 9–12, 2024 in Seward, Neb. For more information on the Institute, please visit https://resources.lcms.org/worship-planning/2024-institute-on-liturgy-preaching-and-church-music-resources.

Morning Prayer Venite from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission. Setting by Paul Soulek.

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s (LCMS) Worship ministry aims to nurture a culture of confessional faithfulness, artistic excellence and integrity in the presentation, distribution and reception of God’s life-giving gifts in Word and Sacraments. This ministry seeks to develop and deepen an understanding and love for the Lutheran heritage in Christian worship, and promotes the Lutheran Service Book as the core worship resource for the LCMS while also identifying and encouraging the many musical treasures and gifts that the Holy Spirit continues to pour upon the church. For more information: lcms.org/worship/institutes; lcms.org/worship

Learn more about LCMS National Mission lcms.org/nationalmission

Not all the views expressed are necessarily those of the LCMS; please discuss any questions with your pastor.