“Sampler” worship booklet
I am an organist at my WELS church. I have been looking for information on the old Sampler: New Hymns and Liturgy books that were first published in the late 1980s. Are they still in print or for sale/available anywhere? I can't find much about them online. Any information will help!
I am not aware of any place where you might obtain a copy. The booklet contained 21 hymns—20 of which are in Christian Worship: A Lutheran Hymnal.
The liturgy was a revision of the Common Service—with and without Holy Communion. The revision of that order of service included: “a) A single, new Confession of Sins — Briefer and with the Kyrie sung between the confession and absolution. b) The traditional Introit is omitted. c) Psalmody is introduced before the scripture readings and functions somewhat as the traditional Introit. It may be spoken responsively or sung. d) Provision is made for an Old Testament reading in non-Communion services. e) A new proper, the Verse, is sung just before the Gospel. This is basically a New Testament verse, often a “gem” of Scripture, relating to the season and the particular Sunday. It is intended to be sung by the choir. If there is no choir, it may be spoken by the pastor and concluded with the familiar triple Alleluia of the congregation. f) When there are three readings, no Gradual or other type of response is provided between the first and second readings. g) Prayer of the Church: A responsive form of our present General Prayer is provided which may be used when desired.” (from the essay Enriching our Worship Heritage)
Pastors like myself who served in parish ministry at the time of the Sampler may have personal copies of the Sampler you could borrow. Church libraries could be another source.
