The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Dr. Stanley R. Hall (1949–2008) was the Jean Brown Associate Professor of Liturgics and Homiletics at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Texas. He held degrees from Purdue University (BA), San Francisco Theological Seminary (MDiv), and University of Notre Dame (MA, PhD). He was ordained as a minister of word and sacrament in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1976 and served for over 15 years in parish ministry before he began teaching liturgics and worship.
Last Updated: September 11, 2025
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them up to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give God thanks and praise.
"Says who?!" So say kids when they have disagreements. And so say church folk to each other when they disagree about worship practices or changes. Who determines what happens during worship? What should be said or done? In what order? How much variation is allowed from week to week or within a denomination?
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