On October 3, 2026, Evangelical Lutheran Worship celebrated its 20th anniversary. When the worship book entered the world, it wasn’t so much a book, but one expression of the larger Renewing Worship process that was robustly engaged in between 2000 and 2005. As noted in the introduction, “Evangelical Lutheran Worship is a core rather than a comprehensive resource” (ELW, p. 7). It provides a core set of resources—liturgical settings, prayers, hymns, and more—that worshiping assemblies can use and build upon.
Much indeed has been built around this core resource in the past two decades: guidebooks for worship leaders, a hymnal companion, many resources for music leaders and choirs, helpful indexes, pastoral care resources, and so much more. In 2020, All Creation Sings joined the family, providing additional settings of holy communion; litanies, prayers and laments; and 200 hymns and songs.
To celebrate 20 years, our colleagues at Augsburg Fortress shared some fun facts and trivia available for download on the Augsburg Fortress website. What was familiar to you? Did anything surprise you? Will you celebrate this anniversary in your own place in some way, perhaps by singing a beloved hymn that your assembly got to know through ELW?
For 20 years, Evangelical Lutheran Worship and the family of resources surrounding it have guided worshipers as they gather, proclaim the word, pray and sing, share in the sacraments, and are sent forth in service. If you were not active in a congregation as a pastor, deacon, musician or other leader in 2006, you may not be aware of the several free, downloadable resources made available through ELCA Worship at that time. While designed for introductory events, you may be surprised to see how much is still new or not fully probed. Check out ELW: Introduction, ELW: A Deeper Look, and ELW: Freedom and Flexibility. Others on more specific topics can also be found at resources.elca.org.
Since the release of Evangelical Lutheran Worship in 2006, a percentage of the sales of several principal resources in the ELW family continues to be reinvested into worship projects of the ELCA churchwide organization and Augsburg Fortress. This includes smaller-market and mission-focused worship resources for use in the ELCA and ongoing education for the ELCA regarding worship.
The title Evangelical Lutheran Worship calls us to continually share the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. In our worship, we are gathered as the body of Christ and then sent into mission for the life of the world. Let us give thanks for being nourished in word, meal, and song, that we may, in the words of ELW 678,
Open wide our hands in sharing, as we heed Christ’s ageless call,
healing, teaching, and reclaiming, serving you by loving all.“God, Whose Giving Knows No Ending”
Robert L. Edwards (1915-2006)