Flagon
From a Latin word meaning "bottle" or "flask." A flagon is a large pouring vessel that contains wine for use during distribution of the Lord's Supper. The blood of Christ is poured from the flagon into a chalice.

Funeral Pall
A large, white cloth that covers a closed casket during the funeral service. Based on St. John's vision of the saints in heaven (Rev. 7:9), the pall symbolizes the white robe of righteousness given to all believers in Christ. The pall is also a reminder of the white garment sometimes given at the time of Baptism and symbolizes the new life in Christ first given at Baptism and now fully realized in death.

Gloria in excelsis (GLOR-ee-ah in ex-SHELL-sis)
Also known as the "greater doxology," this is the hymn of praise sung at the beginning of the Divine Service. It originates from the fourth century and has been in regular use for over a millennium. The canticle begins with the angel's song in Luke 2:14 and then continues with a hymn of praise to the triune God, focusing chiefly on the saving work of Jesus, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." It is omitted during Advent, in anticipation of the celebration of Jesus' birth at Christmas, and during Lent, a season of penitence.

Gloria Patri (GLOR-ee-ah PAH-tree)
Latin for "glory to the Father." The complete text is: "Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen." Also known as the "lesser doxology," this ascription of praise is appended to psalms and other liturgical texts.

Gradual
A selection of psalm verses traditionally sung between the Epistle and Gospel. With the regular use of the Old Testament reading, the Gradual now appears after that reading, before the Epistle. The word Gradual is from the Latin for "step," which refers to the step of the lectern from which the Gradual was traditionally sung.

Holy Gospel
Refers to the reading of one of the evangels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) in the Divine Service. The reading of the words of Jesus is given the highest place of prominence by being read last. At services when the Lord's Supper is celebrated, the congregation stands for the reading. Especially on high festivals like Christmas, Easter, Pentecost, etc., the Gospel may be read from the center of the nave, symbolizing what it means that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). The movement to and from this location is referred to as the Gospel Procession.

Holy Innocents
Observed on December 28, this festival commemorates the baby boys of Bethlehem who were executed by King Herod in his attempt to murder the newborn king of the Jews (Matt. 2).

Homily
From the Greek for "discourse." A homily is a sermon on a biblical text. There is no distinction between a homily and sermon.

Hosanna
From Hebrew, its basic meaning is "to save." It functions as a plea to God our king to have mercy on us and save us from our lost condition.

Icon
A style of sacred art usually associated with Eastern Orthodox churches. Painted according to strict guidelines, the two-dimensional paintings are intended as windows into heaven and form the basis for a rich devotional piety.

Incense
From the Latin word "to set on fire." In Jewish worship in the temple, incense symbolized prayer rising before God (Ps. 141:2). The same image is used of the prayers of the saints in heaven (Rev. 8:3—5). In use in the Christian Church for over 1,500 years, the sweet smelling aroma engages another of the senses. Its association with prayer recommends it for use at any service, but especially the prayer offices (see Daily Office).

Introit (in-TRO-it)
From the Latin, meaning "to enter." Traditionally this was the entrance hymn to the Divine Service, consisting of antiphon, psalm, Gloria Patri, and antiphon repeated. During the Middle Ages it was shortened considerably and lost its function as an entrance hymn.

Invitatory (in-VYE-tah-toe-ree)
An antiphon preceding the Venite in Matins/Morning Prayer, this variable introduction concludes with the invitation, "O come, let us worship Him."

Invocation
From the Latin, "to call upon." Used at the beginning of many, though not all, services. It serves as a reminder of Baptism and may be accompanied by the sign of the cross.

Kyrie eleison (KEE-ree-ay ay-LAY-ee-zon)
From the Greek, it is a direct address to God, meaning "Lord, have mercy." The ten lepers, blind man Bartimaeus, and others addressed Jesus with these words. The Kyrie appears early in the Divine Service. It is not part of the confession of sins but a cry to God to have mercy on us and all humanity.

Lectern
The lectern is the reading stand from which the Word of God is read. In some churches it is highly ornamented, though usually less so than the pulpit.

Lectionary
A schedule of readings from Holy Scripture for use in the weekly liturgy. In current use are both an historic, one-year lectionary with readings that have been in use for centuries, and a more recently developed three-year lectionary. Use of a lectionary provides the congregation with the opportunity to hear carefully chosen sections from the entire Bible.

Lent
The penitential period of preparation before the celebration of Jesus' resurrection. Its 40-day duration (not counting the Sundays in Lent) begins on Ash Wednesday which can occur as early as Feb. 4 and as late as Mar. 10, depending on the date of Easter. In the early church, Lent developed as a time of intense instruction for those who would be baptized at the Easter Vigil. The name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for "spring" and the Old English word for "lengthen," as in the lengthening of days with the approach of spring (in the northern hemisphere).

Litany
In general, a responsory prayer with repeated congregational responses. In the Divine Service, the Kyrie is sometimes cast in the form of a litany, with the congregation responding to each petition with the words, "Lord, have mercy." An expanded form of this litany is found in Evening Prayer. The most comprehensive form of the litany is the medieval version that was revised by Luther and still appears in hymnals today.

Liturgy
In the Lutheran Confessions, liturgy is defined as "public service" in the sense that the proclamation of the Gospel and administration of the sacraments is God's service done on behalf of his people. Sometimes the word is used to denote an order of service, though the more specific terms "order of service" or "ordo" are preferred.

Magnificat (mahg-NIF-ih-kaht)
The opening word in the Latin text of the song of Mary from Luke 1:46—55, "My soul magnifies the Lord." This New Testament canticle has been sung at the daily service of Vespers (Evening Prayer) for some 1,500 years.

Mass
One of the names for the service of Word and Sacrament. The term is used this way in the Lutheran Confessions, though in his later years, Martin Luther used it less frequently. More common terms among Lutherans are Divine Service, the Lord's Supper, and the Sacrament of the Altar.

Matins
The first of eight daily prayer services that developed during the Middle Ages for use in the monasteries. At the time of the Reformation, these services were reduced to two: Matins in the morning and Vespers in the evening. Matins is a Middle English word that comes from Latin for "of the morning."

Maundy Thursday
From the Latin word mandatum, which means "command." The reference is to the Holy Gospel appointed for the day from John 13:34, "A new command I give you: Love one another."

Narthex
Greek for "enclosure." The narthex is an entryway or gathering room that leads into a church.

Nave
From the Latin navis, which means ship. The nave is the main section of a church where the worshipers are gathered. The term may have derived from the ship-like appearance of early naves or from the early church understanding of the church as the ark of salvation.

Nicene Creed (nye-SEEN)
Composed in A.D. 325 at a council of bishops (pastors) in Nicaea as a defense against the false teaching that Jesus was not true God. The creed was expanded to its present form at the Council of Constantinople in A.D. 381. It has been used in the Divine Service as a corporate confession of the faith for centuries.

Nunc Dimittis (noonk di-MIT-iss)
Latin for "now dismiss." These are the words spoken by Simeon as he held the 40-day-old Jesus in his arms (Luke 2:25—35). One of the New Testament canticles, it was traditionally used in the daily service of Compline and as an alternate to the Magnificat in Vespers. In the Lutheran Church it is also appointed for use following the distribution of the Lord's Supper.

O Antiphons
Refrains that developed during the eighth century for use with the Magnificat at Vespers on the days leading up to Christmas (Dec. 17—23). Each is addressed to Christ, using an Old Testament image (O Wisdom, O Adonai, O Root of Jesse, O Key of David, O Dayspring, O King of the Nations, O Emmanuel). The antiphons are also reflected in the seven stanzas of "Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel" (LW 31).

Ordinary
Those parts of the service that remain constant from week to week. For centuries the ordinary of the weekly communion service were the Kyrie, Gloria in Excelsis, Nicene Creed, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei. Countless composers have written complete musical settings using these texts. The parts of the service that change from week to week are called the propers.

Ordo
Latin for "order." The term is used to refer to an order of service.

Paraments
This is the general term given to all of the liturgical cloths that are placed on the altar, pulpit, and lectern. The paraments are usually fashioned in various colors for use during specific seasons and days of the church year.

Paschal Candle (PASS-kel)
A large candle that has special significance during the Easter Vigil. It is also used at baptisms and funerals. Ordinarily it is located near the font. During the Fifty Days of Easter (Easter through Pentecost) it is placed near the altar, and at funerals it stands near the casket. Paschal comes from the Greek work for Passover and refers specifically to the celebration of Christ's resurrection.

Passion Sunday
In the three-year lectionary, the Sunday before Easter. Traditionally referred to as Palm Sunday, the day commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem but then shifts focus toward the suffering that Jesus endured on our behalf. In the historic one-year series, the fifth Sunday in Lent is called "Passion Sunday."

Paten (PATT-en)
Latin for "dish." A paten is a plate, usually made of a precious metal like silver, from which the body of Christ is distributed.

Pax Domini (POX DOE-mee-nee)
Latin for "peace of the Lord." Prior to the distribution of the Lord's body and blood, the pastor blesses the people with the words, "The peace of the Lord be with you always."

Pentecost
From the Greek for "fiftieth day." Pentecost is the liturgical celebration of that 50th day of Easter when the Holy Spirit was poured out on the disciples, marking the birth of the church. Liturgically, Pentecost is not the beginning of a new season, but the culmination of Easter.

Pericope (per-IK-oh-pee)
A pericope is a section of Holy Scripture that is read in a service. Since the eighth century, pericopes have been gathered together in lectionaries in which readings are appointed for each Sunday or festival. From the Greek, meaning to "cut around."

Preface
The opening dialogue between pastor and people that begins the liturgy of Holy Communion. These words, dating from the second century, are likely the most ancient part of the Divine Service.

Propers
Those parts of the service that change from week to week, including the Introit, Collect, Gradual, readings, hymns, etc. The changing propers give shape and direction to the church year calendar.

A Through E

Q Through Z