In 1986, the General Synod of the Church of Sweden adopted a new order of worship, a new lectionary, and a new hymnal. The revised order for worship, which replaced versions from 1942, are characterized by more active congregational participation, greater choice in shaping worship, and a richer eucharistic liturgy.
Liturgy and Worship
The hymnal replaces the one of 1937. Compared with earlier versions, the current hymnal is markedly international and ecumenical. Of its 700 selections, the first 325 are common to hymn books used by 14 other Swedish denominations.
Baptism (dop)
Until about 1860, virtually all Swedish citizens were baptized under the auspices of the Church of Sweden, though this was not mandatory. However, when Baptist movements entered Sweden in the second half of the 19th century, baptism according to the Church of Sweden rite was made obligatory. As a result, baptism was looked upon as a social com-mitment.Though Church of Sweden baptism is now no longer obligatory, the practice of registering all children in Church of Sweden at birth continues; they automatically become members of the Church of Sweden provided at least one of the parents is a member and does not renounce membership on behalf of the child within six weeks. Thus, people are registered Church of Sweden members without being baptized. However, baptism is a prerequisite for reception of holy communion.
A profound debate regarding baptism and Church of Sweden membership is now underway. The 1992 General Synod decided that current practice is to be changed. It appointed a working group to propose alternatives.
Outline of the Rite for the Baptism of Children the Church of Sweden
Priest:NN, I baptise you
- Hymn
- Introduction and prayer of thanksgiving
- Gospel reading
- Prayer of deliverance
- Bible reading
- Address
- Hymn
- Baptismal prayer
- Creed
- Act of baptism
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
God of life,
fill NN with Your Spirit,
and help him/her day by day
to live as your child.
On the theological level, the Church of Sweden has always maintained a classical view of baptism. Baptism in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, means that the individual is incorporated into the church. Baptism means participation in the death and resurrection of Christ.
- Welcome
- Intercessions
- Lord's Prayer
- Blessing
- Hymn
- Dismissal
Increasingly, the priest has an appointment with the parents before baptism to discuss its significance. Baptized children have the right to receive holy communion.
Confirmation (konfirmation)
Confirmation by a bishop, the custom during the Middle Ages, became obsolescent during the Swedish Reformation. It was replaced by an examination and confession before first communion. (Already during the Middle Ages, the great size of Swedish dioceses meant confirmation was often neglected, as bishops' visits to many areas were infrequent.)During the 18th century, confirmation became an affirmation of the baptism made by the adult believer. In the 19th century, confirmation became more widespread, serving as a sort of rite de passage from childhood to adulthood.
Today, confirmation is preceded by a one-year teaching period. Part of the teaching can be arranged at camps, all over the country. There has been an intensive debate on which teaching methods should be used in confirmation preparation. Priests officiate at confirmation; other people may serve as confirmation instructors.
The confirmation liturgy, which recalls the confirmands' baptism, includes a review of Christian teaching, the Apostles' Creed, prayer and the imposition of hands, and a sending forth. The focus is the prayer and laying on of hands: "May the good Spirit of God be upon you, now and forever."
Eucharist (mässa)
The Swedish Reformation was liturgically conservative. The traditional order of the mass and liturgical vestments were retained. In the Church Ordinance of 1571, Archbishop Laurentius Petri wrote:"We use vestments, altar and altar cloths, chalice and paten, etc. We have no hesitation in calling the Lord's Supper the mass. Nor is it forbidden to call this sacrament a sacrifice, as that sacrifice which our high priest Christ himself once made on the cross is now made present in the mass."
However, in later centuries, the liturgy underwent a process of reduction. Certain parts of the mass (for instance the Gloria in Excelsis) were regularly omitted.
During the 20th century, this trend was halted, and liturgical renewal commenced. It has become increasingly common for mass to be cel-ebrated not only on Sundays, but also on certain weekdays.
An outline of the order for eucharist in the Church of Sweden follows, including one of the several possible eucharistic prayers. Hymns would normally be sung at several points.
The Preparation
- Confession and Absolution
- Introit
- Kyrie
- Gloria
The Ministry of the Word
- Collect
- Lessons (Old Testament, Epistle, Gospel)
- Sermon
- Creed
- Intercessions
The Ministry of the Sacrament
Praise be to you, Lord of heaven and earth.
- Offertory
- Thanksgiving
- Eucharistic Prayer:
You have revealed your mercy towards your people
in giving your only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him
should not perish, but have eternal life.We give thanks for the redemption
you have prepared for us through Jesus Christ.
Let Your Holy Spirit come into our hearts
to enlighten us with a living faith.Sanctify by your Spirit this bread and wine,
which earth has given and human hands have made.
Here we offer them to you,
that through them we may partake
of the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.On the same night in which
he was betrayed,
he took bread, gave thanks,
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:"Take, eat.
This is my body,
which is given for you.
Do this in remembrance of me."In the same way, he took the cup,
gave thanks,
and gave it to his disciples, saying:"Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood of the new covenant,
which is shed for you and for many
for the forgiveness of sins.
Do this, as often as you drink it,
in remembrance of me."Therefore, heavenly Father, we celebrate this
supper in remembrance of your Son's passion and death,
his resurrection and ascension.
We will eat the Bread of Life and drink the Cup of
Blessing until the day when he comes again in glory.We ask you: remember the perfect and eternal sacrifice
through which, in Christ, you have reconciled us with yourself.
Grant that we may be united into one body,
and be made a perfect living sacrifice in Christ.Through him, and with him, and in him,
by the power of the Holy Spirit,
all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father,
for ever and ever.Amen
- Lord's Prayer
- Breaking of the Bread
- Peace
- Agnus Dei
- Communion
- Prayer (Post Communion)
- Benedicamus
- Blessing
Marriage (vigsel)
Marriage as an institution has a relatively strong position in Sweden. Most Swedish marriages take place in the Church of Sweden. The number of divorces has increased in recent decades. The Church of Sweden allows people to enter a new marriage after a divorce, without any particular conditions.To a great extent, a church marriage ceremony in Sweden remains a communal celebration for family and friends, though a tendency towards privatization is perceptible.
Attendance and Other Statistics
About 7.6 million people (1993) belong to the Church of Sweden. Annual attendance is about 21 million. Somewhat less than 4 percent of the Church of Sweden membership attends public worship during an average week; about 2 per cent are regular attenders. Attendance rates vary considerably; they are higher in parts of Sweden strongly influenced by the 19th-century revival movements.Of all Swedish infants, about 73 per cent are baptized in the Church of Sweden; about 58 percent of those eligible to be confirmed are. A new phenomenon in the Church of Sweden is young people being baptized in connection with confirmation; in 1987, that number was 2579.
Of all marriages performed in Sweden, about 63 percent take place under the auspices of the Church of Sweden. About 32 percent are civil ceremonies, and the rest are in some other religious context. About 90 percent of all Swedish funerals take place within the Church of Sweden; about 2 percent are civil ceremonies.
Many Swedes have private religious convictions that do not fit neatly within any established religious community or recognized denomination.
