Service Book and Hymnal (SBH): 41 Years later
© James Gerhardt Sucha
INTRODUCTION
The Service Book and Hymnal (SBH), which was introduced in 1958, is still fondly remembered by many in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as the hymnal that made a big impact on Lutheran worship, and many lives. Mention the red hymnal to any ELCA baby-boomer who grew up with it, and it generates a smile and a memory. The SBH was replaced by the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) in 1978, but many congregations still use it as the main worship book, or along side the LBW and/or With One Voice (WOV) today. It is also missed by many people today who loved the hymnal and its contents.
BACKGROUND
Before 1958, all of the different ethnic Lutheran bodies had their own distinct hymnals and traditions. At that time, there was the Concordia Hymnal (1932) of the Norwegian Lutherans, The American Lutheran Hymnal (1930) of the American Lutheran Church (ALC), The Hymnal (1925) of the Augustana Synod, The Common Service Book & Hymnal, (1917) of the United Lutheran Church, and other hymnals from Finnish and Danish Lutheran congregations.
A committee to study the diversity of the hymnals and traditions began in the early 1940's under the direction of noted Lutheran scholar Dr. Luther D. Reed. Dr. Reed had already served on a commission that produced the 1917 Common Service Book & Hymnal, and he was no stranger to Lutheran customs and traditions of all synods. An invitation to join the panel was expressed to the Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod (LC-MS), but they declined the invitation. The Missouri Synod had just completed their own hymnal in 1942 entitled, The Lutheran Hymnal and found no need to join the talk process.
In 1945, the panel expanded to formally call themselves The Joint Commission on Worship, with representatives from all participating Lutheran bodies. Their goal, to integrate the heritage of all Lutheran bodies into one book for one church, would start them on a journey for twelve years. Dr. Reed headed the commission, and saw to it that each body of Lutherans would have a voice in the hymnal. It was decided to retain the old archaic style of language in the hymnal instead of updating the English in it, a decision that actually made the melodies of the liturgy much more meaningful with the music. However, the decision to use the old forms of English shortened the life of the SBH to only 20 years. The SBH offered three settings of liturgy, matins, vespers, burial of the dead, graduals, wedding services, and over 600+ hymns.
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