The (Sometimes Hilarious) Love Between Lutherans and Their Hymnals

I've not been posting much lately since I'm now back in school, attempting to finish up a BA in Religious Studies at the University of Alabama, but this sturck me as hilarious. Who other than the Lutheran Church treats a change in hymnals like a funeral. I Present to you, directly from the LCMS Central Illinois District's Web Site:

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ORDER OF SERVICE FOR

THE DISPOSITION OF

LUTHERAN WORSHIP AND

THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL


Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Let us be grateful for the many years of service that these hymnals,
Lutheran Worship and The Lutheran Hymnal, have given us. These
hymnals were set apart and dedicated to the glory, honor, and worship
of God and for the ministry of God's Word and Sacrament, even
though they will no longer be used for this purpose.

P: Let us pray.
Lord God, we give thanks for revealing your presence in Word and Sacrament and for the blessings bestowed on your people through the use of these hymnals. As we resign these hymnals from their service, continue to bless us, that we may ever be conscious of your unchanging love, grow in faith and hope, and finally be united with Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

These hymnals are dear to our hearts and are cherished among us because they have been our guide in receiving God's gifts and directing our worship and praise toward the only true God in a most appropriate manner. We will certainly feel some loss with their departure from our sanctuary.

However, we can be comforted that God will use our new hymnals, which include much guidance from these hymnals, for the proclamation of his Word and the administration of his holy sacraments.

So that we may be comforted, Let us hear the Word of the Lord:

David said in Psalm 96 (1, 2, 4, 6-9 (ESV))
"Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to
the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. ...For
great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all
gods. ...Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are
in his sanctuary. ...Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength! Ascribe to the Lord the glory
due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship
the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!"

Jesus said in Matthew 18 (20 (ESV))
“For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

And in Matthew 28 (19, 20 (ESV))
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching
them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am
with you always, to the end of the age.”

P: Let us go forth in peace in the name of the Lord.
C: Amen

Order of Service for the Disposition of Lutheran Book of Worship
by Rev. Michael Poynter

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I love the, "So that we may be comforted, Let us hear the Word of the Lord" part. I can just imagine the sobbing of a particular congregation member in my parish in Birmingham, who also would never let go of his trusty KJV bible.

"If it ain't TLH, it ain't hymnal."