Over 40 different Lutheran denominations currently exist in North America. However, most North American Lutherans belong to one of the three largest denominations, namely, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, or the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod.

Worship in LCMS congregations is generally thought of as orthodox and liturgical, utilizing a printed order of service and hymnal, and is typically accompanied by a pipe organ or piano.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America was formed in 1988 by the merger of two major Lutheran denominations, the American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church in America, along with the much smaller Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches.

The Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), also referred to simply as the Wisconsin Synod, is an American Confessional Lutheran denomination of Christianity. Characterized as theologically conservative, it was founded in 1850 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Lutherans follow the basic idea of “grace alone,” which means they get to heaven solely by God’s grace. There is nothing a person can do to earn his way to heaven. This differs from other religions, such as Catholicism, which advocates good works for entrance to heaven.

Lutheranism never abandoned the practice of making the sign of the cross in principle and it was commonly retained in worship at least until the early 19th century. Since then, the sign of the cross has become fairly commonplace among Lutherans at worship. The sign of the cross is now customary in the Divine Service.

Lutherans believe that the person Jesus is God the Son, the second Person of the Trinity, who was incarnated in the womb of his mother Mary as a human being, and since, as a person, he was “born of the Virgin Mary”. Lutherans have always believed that Mary is the Theotokos, the God-bearer.

Lutherans believe that humans are saved from their sins by God’s grace alone (Sola Gratia), through faith alone (Sola Fide), on the basis of Scripture alone (Sola Scriptura). Orthodox Lutheran theology holds that God made the world, including humanity, perfect, holy and sinless.

This Wednesday (March 5) marks the beginning of Lent with Ash Wednesday. Catholics are not the only group observing Ash Wednesday. Anglicans/Episcopalians, Lutherans, United Methodists and other liturgical Protestants partake in receiving ashes.

CLASS. Although it is traditionally a Catholic devotion, Lutherans are encouraged to pray the Rosary as well. The Lutheran Rosary as it is known today was developed in 2005 by John Longworth, a seminarian at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, along with his wife Sara.

For Catholics, Lent is an obligatory Sacred Tradition. For Lutherans, who do not hold anything holy outside of Scripture, the season of Lent is observed, but fasting and penance are not viewed as compulsory. Catholics often refrain from eating meat on Friday during Lent, but this is not common among Lutherans.

As a human corpse decomposes, it turns to dust, or ash. The ashes placed on one’s forehead are a symbol of that. As the priest applies them in a cross formation on someone’s forehead, they will say either, “Turn away from sin and believe in the Gospel” or “Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

Ashes Are Drawn on Foreheads A priest, minister, or trained layperson can distribute ashes. when the ashes are drawn on the forehead, the priest say one of these: “Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.” “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.”

No. Ash Wednesday is not a day of obligation and the ashes are not obligatory. Ash Wednesday is an important day in the Christian calendar as it marks the first day of fasting, repentance, prayer and self-control that will be required during Lent. …

Also, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays during Lent, adult Catholics over the age of 14 abstain from eating meat. During these days, it is not acceptable to eat lamb, chicken, beef, pork, ham, deer and most other meats. However, eggs, milk, fish, grains, and fruits and vegetables are all allowed.

Everyone from the age of 14 to the age of 60 is bound by law to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. Church requirements on fasting only relate to solid food, not to drink, so Church law does not restrict the amount of water or other beverages – even alcoholic drinks – which may be consumed.

The reason Catholics do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday and on the Fridays of Lent is because abstaining from meat or fasting from food in general is a form of sacrifice. This reminds Catholics of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross on Good Friday.

Can you eat shrimp during Lent? You can tuck into a bit of seafood during Lent, however, you are not allowed to eat meat or poultry on Ash Wednesday or any Friday during Lent. This is because, during Biblical times, fish and seafood was cheap and not considered a luxury.

Catholics will avoid meat, including beef, pork, chicken, ham, and lamb, on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and other Fridays during Lent. However, fish and animal products like eggs and milk are allowed. They do not eat meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and other Fridays during Lent as an act of penance.

Fish, Fridays & Lent It simply meant abstaining from eating the flesh of warm-blooded animals—since the thinking goes, Jesus was a warm-blooded animal. Fish, though, which are cold blooded were considered okay to eat on fasting days.