A cup overflows: French Liturgy Workshop brings abundant blessings from God

by David Somers

MONTREAL, QC - Members of Lutheran churches and beyond were invited to attend a workshop on the basics of the Lutheran liturgy in the French language in Montreal from May 17-21, 2023. Such teaching is crucial at a time where new francophone Lutherans are increasingly springing up as never before. The group gathered for the launching of the abbreviated version of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s French hymnal: Liturgies et cantiques luthériens - Édition africaine (LCL-ÉA).

The workshop opened with LCC’s President Timothy Teuscher bringing greetings on behalf of Lutheran Church–Canada and the International Lutheran Council, and calling the group to consider the essential necessity of right worship.

ILLF constituting members and LCC President with new French hymnal. (Left to Right) Cantor Phillip Magness, Rev. Dr. David Somers, LCC President Timothy Teuscher, and Rev. Dr. David Saar

The LCL-ÉA is a fruit of the collaboration of LCC’s Institut liturgique luthérien francophone (the Francophone Lutheran Liturgical Institute - ILLF) team comprised of Rev. Dr. David Saar (Pastor, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mount Forest, Ontario); Rev. Dr. David Somers (LCC Missionary-at-Large, French Ministries); and LCMS Cantor Phillip Magness—the main presenter at the workshop. Rev. David Milette (Pastor, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Moncton, New Brunswick) served as liturgist throughout the workshop.

Participants pictured from Haiti, Congo, France, the USA, and Canada. Rev. David Milette (fourth from right) served as liturgist for the workshop.

The development of the French hymnals is a significant element of LCC French ministries and a major contribution to the worship life of the francophone Lutheran world. The gathering itself saw participants from nine countries. In addition to LCC members, the workshop included representatives from Lutheran churches in Haiti; five new African francophone congregations of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; the Evangelical Luthern Church - Synod of France ( Église évangélique luthérienneSynode de France); Lutheran churches in Burundi and the Democractic Republic of Congo); Lutherans in Africa; and an African Pentecostal church body considering the adoption of Lutheran teaching. Students of the Concordia Theological Seminary of Haiti - Laotchikit Centre Séminaire Théologique Concordia d’Haiti - Centre de Laotchikit) joined online for the Saturday session.

Beyond the presentation of the LCL-ÉA, this event provided an opportunity to showcase French Lutheran materials, many of which are available through LCC’s French Ministries such as the new Viens et vois Jésus (“Come and See Jesus”) Sunday school curriculum and accompanying lectionary-based children’s activity pages based on those done in English by Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada.

Rev. Walta Clercius, Assistant Missionary-at-Large for LCC French Ministries.

Finally, the workshop provided a unique and heretofore unavailable opportunity for confessional francophone Lutherans from three continents to get to know each other and become familiar with the work and challenges of the reality of the world’s burgeoning French-language Lutheranism.

Support for the workshop was provided by the International Lutheran Council; the C.T. Wetzstein Donor Advised Fund in Support of Christian Education; Lutheran Women Missionary League - Canada (LWMLC) and the LWMLC’s Laurentian District; the Lutheran Heritage Foundation; Lutheran Laymen’s League of Canada; The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod; and Lutheran Church–Canada.

Rev. Dr. David Somers serves as Missionary-at-Large for Lutheran Church–Canada’s French ministries.