Fifth Anniversary – JDDJ
The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification
Join Lutherans and Roman Catholics around the world in the fall of 2004 as we together celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (JDDJ). What follows on this page are three ideas for marking the occasion in your community.
Joint Service of Evening Prayer with the Local Bishops Presiding
Making this a choral service with the choirs and other music groups of all the parishes of the diocese/synod invited to participate can insure a good attendance.
This will necessitate selecting a music director who will select the choral pieces and send them to all the parish music directors who are participating so that they can rehearse ahead of time.
A possible outline:
- Choral Prelude
- Light Service from the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW)
- Two Psalms – choir sings verses and congregation the refrain
- Choral Anthem
- Scripture Lesson
- Reflection on the Lesson and JDDJ by both bishops
- Choral Anthem
- Canticle of Mary – sung by all to a hymn tune
- Litany – Intercessions taken from either Roman Breviary or LBW
- Prayer of the Day – can be the World Council of Churches prayer for Christian Unity
- Offering – dedicated to a specific local or international need
- Choral Anthem
- Lord’s Prayer
- Oration
- Benediction – offered together by both bishops
- Closing Hymn – sung by all
Note: In this format, since the bishops are preaching, other presiding roles can be alternated by two other ELCA and Roman Catholic clergy.
A more extensive outline of the above model will be used this June by the Long Island Lutheran-Roman Catholic Dialogue. Contact Donald Beckmann via e-mail or by phone at 516-678-5800 ext. 613.
Joint Pastoral Letter by ELCA and RC Bishops
Some elements of this might be:
- A joint personal statement by the bishops of their own faith in Christ and the new life they have experienced through their faith in his saving work.
- An expression of hope that all the members of their diocese and synod will be able to support one another in their growth in faith in the risen Christ and in the justification that we have received through his cross and resurrection.
- A celebration of the gift that the JDDJ has been to both our communions.
- A report on local joint efforts in both theological discussion and social justice.
- An invitation to a joint Service of Thanksgiving.
Promote Joint Parish Discussion Groups (along with Episcopal parishes) for Eastertide of 2005 using the EDEO-LERN-NADEO Gospels of the Easter Season, Year A study guide.
This is nearing completion. The plan is not to publish this as a book but to have it available on the net for congregations to use. It includes for each of the Easter Sundays and for Ascension Day:
- A reflection on the Gospel of the day
- Questions to start discussion based on each Gospel pericope
- A form for a Pentecost Evening Prayer to conclude the seven weeks
- An opportunity for interactive responses
While this discussion series is not based specifically on the JDDJ, promoting it at the time of the anniversary observance can be a witness to practical example of our seeking to live out the closer if still not complete communion to which the Declaration has brought us. Local secular and religious news media could be informed about this joint pastoral letter. If the letter mentions the joint service and the Easter 2005 Gospel study, this might also give an opportunity to promote these events in the media.
Click here for another worship resource that can be used to celebrate the anniversary.