Understanding the Liturgical Worship Service: Service of the Sacrament Part IV

(Before I begin, let me give a quick plug: I've started another blog to not keep up on; this one will only be presenting less familiar hymns, as well as alternative translations to familiar ones. Most of these will be by other folks, although I might alter a few things, since these hymns are in public domain (i.e. older). Hopefully it will be more devotional and less academic/controversial.)

Words of Institution

Explanation: These are the very words that Jesus said when He instituted the Sacrament of Holy Supper. "Because the Words (verba) of Institution are the very heart of the sacramental action, they should always be employed. It is through Christ's word and its power, not through the action of the celebrant, that Christ's body and blood are present in the bread and wine." (Theology and Practice of The LORD'S SUPPER, CTCR Doc, 1983).
Sacramental: The are Christ's very words.
Scripture: Matt 26:26-28, Luke 22:19-20, I Cor 11:23-25
Alternative: Some chant this, some just speak it. I suppose having soft piano music in the background (like some do during prayers) might be okay, but this can very easily become distracting, so care should be taken.

Pax Domini

Explanation: Pax Domini means "The peace of the Lord." When the risen Christ first physically appeared to His apostles in the upper room, He greeted them by saying, "Peace be with you." In the same way, Christ is about to physically appear to us in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine.
Sacramental: Christ gives us His peace.
Scripture: Judges 6:23, John 20:19-20, Romans 5:1-2
Alternatives: Some congregations "share the peace" with each other at this time. It's slightly disruptive, but it's a liturgical answer to just greeting each other before the first hymn.
Hymns: no

Agnus Dei

Explanation: This song, spoken by John the Baptist in John 1, has been in use since the 8th Century, maybe even earlier. Thrice we call upon the Lamb of God to hear us, have mercy on us, and take our sins away. This is an illusion to the Exodus of the folk of Israel, where a first-born, spotless lamb was sacrificed, it's blood painted on door frames, and eaten by the household, so that their lives would be spared. Likewise, Christ lived a spotless (free of sin) life, was sacrificed on the cross, His blood placed on the door frame of our hearts (figuratively speaking), and eaten in the forms of bread and wine. Therefore, our eternal lives are spared. In this manner, He "grant(s) us peace."
Sacramental: We sing the words of Scripture back to God.
Scripture: Exod 12:1-23, I Cor 5:7b, I Pet 1:19-20
Alternative: Michael W. Smith has a song called "Agnus Dei," but the text is different. I'm not aware of any other versions.
Hymns: The only hymn version I know is found in the DS IV in LSB.

Understanding the Liturgical Worship Service: Service of the Sacrament Part III

Prayer of Thanksgiving/Eucharistic Prayer

Historical: This is a prayer that was once in the Divine Service, then taken out, then re-introduced ignorantly and incorrectly in LBW, before be properly re-introduced in the LSB. I'm not going to go into the details here, though; suffice it to say that there is nothing to be afraid of in the LSB version of prayer of thanksgiving.
Explanation: Thanking God for His Holy Supper. The prayer is essentially a retelling of God's Salvation History, and historically can get pretty lengthy. It is often adapted to fit the liturgical season/holiday, as well, focusing on whatever particular event is relevant. The practice of re-telling important tales goes back to Hebrew/Old Testament culture and so the Prayer of Thanksgiving is merely an extension of that practice.
Also note: LSB's version also includes a bit where we ask God that we worthily receive His body and blood, replacing the Exhortation, which I'll discuss later.
(The word 'Eucharist' comes from the Greek word for 'thanks' and it's because of this prayer that some call the Lord's Supper the 'Eucharist.')
Sacramental: We tell back to God what He has told us in His Word.
Scripture: Matthew 26:6
Alternative: a bunch of DS settings exclude this
Hymns: no

Exhortation

Explanation: A number of hymnals (especially older ones, but also the ELH) include this. Taking Paul's warning that one should examine one's self before eating and drinking our Lord, this is basically a just that: an review of the fact that we are sinful beings in need of God's mercy and forgiveness, which we receive in Jesus' body and blood. Most LCMS congregations either hope that folks do this on their own, or they hope that folks pay attention to the Prayer of Thanksgiving.
Please don't think that I'm condemning the (compilers of the) LSB; nor am I condemning congregations that leave Paul's exhortation up to the members. I'm simply saying that this is an historical part of the Lutheran Divine Service and that it's not 100% wrong. I think the LSB did a fine job of keeping the exhortation in mind, both in the "Prayers for Worship" on the inside cover, as well as in the Prayer of Thanksgiving.
Sacramental: We examine ourselves.
Scripture: I Corinthians 11:27-29
Alternative: LSB inside cover
Hymns: a bunch of hymns ask God that we worthily receive His body and blood, but these are more appropriate during Communion than before, really

Lord's Prayer

Explanation: I'm going to skip over the meaning of Jesus' words and just talk about their relationship to the Lord's Supper.
Our Father in Heaven: we acknowledge that God is in heaven (despite what some think)
Let Your Name be hallowed: His Name is hallowed when His people do what He says: like eating and drinking His flesh and blood.
Let Your kingdom come: We are about to sing the song of all the company of heaven, and feast on Christ, the Lamb of God. This truly is "heaven on earth."
Let Your will be done on earth, just like it is done in heaven: "This do in remembrance of Me."
Give us today our daily bread: Um, pretty self-explanatory
And forgive us our guilts, as we have forgiven or guilters: "Shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins."
Save us from trial/temptation/accosting, but allay us of evil: what is more refreshing and enlivening than Jesus' body and blood?
Yes, folks, there is a reason this prayer is not said along with all the other prayers.
Scripture: Matthew 6:9-13
Alternatives: I'm sure there are contemporary songs on the Lord's Prayer. (Please don't sing that schmalzy one from the 40's?- it's awful and anyone without gray hair probably despises it.)
Hymns: LSB 957-959; there are others, too

Understanding the Liturgical Worship Service: Service of the Sacrament Part II

Sanctus (Holy)

Explanation: Like the Gloria in excelsis, the Sanctus is the song the angels sang, but this time in the presence of their exalted Lord and in the vision of Isaiah the prophet. Why is this important? We sinful, deathly, and very earthly beings are eating and drinking the flesh and blood of a sinless, once dead but now living, and very earthly-yet-heavenly Being; that is to say, at the Lord's Supper heaven and earth meet. We are about to experience our Lord Christ: a foretaste, a preview of the feast to come. And so we sing the song we'll sing when we meet Him then.
'Hosanna' means 'save us now,' although it is a word of praise, since we have the Hope and assurance that indeed our Messiah has saved us by His death and resurrection, and He heals us with His true body and blood.
Sacramental: We sing back what has already been told to us in Scripture.
Scripture: Isaiah 6:3
Alternative: Revelation Song (this could also incorporate the Agnus Dei); please don't sing Hosanna, since it really doesn't deal with our text, nor is it 100% theologically sound.
Hymns: LSB 960-961; There also have been a number of attempts to turn Holy, Holy, Holy (LSB 507) into the Sanctus, including by Jaroslav Vajda.

Benedictus

Explanation: The Benedictus (Blessed) is taken from Psalm 118 and said by the crowds when Jesus bodily entered Jerusalem, just like our risen and uplifted Lord is about to bodily enter us. Hosanna means "Lord, save us," and was used for the entrance of the King, akin to "God save the King." Jesus, our heavenly King, makes His entrance.
Sacramental: We sing back what has already been told to us in Scripture.
Scripture: Psalm 118:25-26, Matthew 21:9
Alternative: I'm not aware of any.
Hymns: All Glory, Laud, and Honor (LSB 442)

Bible Vocabulary: Words that Should Be Better Understood; Part II: Lord

I am very happy to be back on the blogosphere. Thank you for waiting to read another fascinating herald.

Now, to business:
Did you know? The word 'lord' comes from an Old English word which, upon modernization, is 'loaf-ward,'  or bread-keeper / bread-guard. Guess what: Jesus is not just our bread-keeper, He is our Bread-giver!* He gives us His very body and blood to us (every) Sunday in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine, which body and blood strengthen and (what?) preserve, or keep, us unto life everlasting. Jesus is Lord, indeed!

*Although we can't shorten this the same way as 'lord,' since we'd get 'liver.'