Luther and Lewis

Therefore, although a man’s state may be lower than your own, you must not forget that it is likewise created and ordained by God. And again you must know, that you have been given your state that you may humble yourself and serve others.—Martin Luther, Sermons, 1544

The advantage of a fixed form of service is that we know what is coming... In a fixed form we ought to have ‘gone through the motions’ before in our private prayers; the rigid form really sets our devotions free. I also find the more rigid it is, the easier to keep one’s thoughts from straying. Also it prevents getting too completely eaten up by whatever happens to be the preoccupation of the moment [i.e., war, an election, or what not]. The permanent shape of Christianity shows through.—C. S. Lewis, Business of Heaven, p. 203 And can I just add a very loud sung: Amen! Amen! Amen!?