Montreal workshop attracts participants from Canada and beyond

by James Morgan

Lutherans from North America and Haiti learned more about the French hymnal

Francophone Lutherans from three countries gathered in Montreal August 22 to 24 to discover more about Lutheran Church–Canada’s Liturgies et cantiques luthériens (LCL) and how congregations can use the French-language hymnal. Thirty-six people attended the workshop. Canadian participants included members of LCC congregations from Quebec, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Saskatchewan, while American representation was from The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod. Representatives of both the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti and Lutheran Church–Haiti also attended. Phillip Magness, cantor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Napierville, Illinois, led the workshop.

According to Rev. Dr. David Somers, pastor of Église luthérienne de l’Ascension in Montreal and the Mission luthérienne au Quebec the workshop “was designed to raise awareness of LCL’s availability and to train lay people and clergy in its daily use and application, especially for the Daily Offices,” noting this is something that previously has not received any attention in francophone parishes.

“We learned songs, hymns, psalms, antiphons, verses and choruses from various sources and places—all to build up God’s people in worship at church, school, home, and wherever,” the pastor explained.

Conversation among the workshop participants was positive, reports Pastor Somers, especially since the event accomplished the geographically difficult task of bringing together francophone Lutherans from a large area. Participants said it gave them a greater understanding and appreciation for the breadth and depth of Lutheran communal prayer and served as a way to reinforce liturgical worship in their congregations.

Phillip Magness, cantor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Napierville, Illinois, led the workshop

At Mr. Magness’ suggestion, organizers recorded Matins, Vespers, psalms, antiphons, hymns and liturgies from the hymnal to help teach the hymnal to congregations.

The influence of LCL extends beyond Lutheranism. Pastor Somers says the workshop took place in meeting space at an Anglican church and the Sacristan there, who is responsible for the care of the church building, was interested in the whole discussion. “He said he was happy to know someone for once was encouraging and maintaining the historical liturgy and practice,” reported Pastor Somers. “He asked me to come and explain the liturgy to a parish meeting.”

A participant from the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti asked Dr. Somers to visit the Caribbean country to conduct the workshop there so that pastors, lay leaders, and musicians can adapt it for use in parishes and schools. Pastor Somers helped develop the French hymnal along with Rev. Dr. David Saar of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mount Forest, Ontario,

Liturgies at cantiques luthériens, first released in December 2009 is available for purchase from Concordia Publishing House at canada.cph.org or by calling toll-free; 1-800-325-3040 (service in English only).

Funding for the workshop was provided by a grant from the Marvin M. Schwan Foundation which also supported the production of LCL.

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