A Walk Through the Liturgy: The Gloria in Excelsis

Encore Post: During two seasons of the Church Year, the Gloria in Excelsis (Glory to God in the Highest) is absent from the Liturgy.

During the rest of the church year, when Pastor and congregation finish singing the tri-fold Kyrie there is a very short line that is sung solely by Pastor. “Glory be to God on High!” And immediately the whole congregation join in singing “And on earth, peace good will toward men.” It’s as if the Pastor and congregation are reenacting the events of Christ’s birth according to Luke 2:8-14.

The Pastor and congregation join in that wonderful song with the Angels and all the company of Heaven (similarly to the Sanctus). But why does Pastor have the first line by himself? Perhaps, and this my speculation, it has to do with the fact that the Pastor is the “Angel” to the congregation. “Angel” means messenger. And in the book of Revelation, Jesus tells John to write the seven letters to the seven angels of the churches. The angels are the pastors of those churches. The pastor is the messenger sent by God to this congregation to announce the good news of Christ Jesus, that in Him we have forgiveness of sins and peace with God. Pastors proclaim the same peace sung by the angelic host to those in the congregation! With such news of forgiveness for the sake of the Son, Jesus Christ, it is only right and proper for the congregation to join in the hymn of the heavenly host.

But the words of the Gloria go further than just the words of the angels on the night of Christ’s birth. We know the full story of Christ’s birth, life, death, resurrection and ascension for our salvation via the Gospels. The canticle hymn of praise hits all of these facets for which we ought to praise God for what He has done to save us from our sins and give to us His peace. With this hymn we have a fitting close to a little portion of the service, singing praise for the forgiveness of sins just recently announced upon us for the sake of Christ Jesus. We are ready now for the Collect of the Day and the readings of the Day.

Rev. Jacob Hercamp
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church
La Grange, MO