Gottesdienst

Gottesdienst is the German term for a Christian public worship service. The word combines Gott (God) and Dienst (service) and denotes the act of worship offered to God by a community. In German-speaking regions it is used across denominations to refer to the regular Sunday worship as well as to other liturgical celebrations.

In Catholic, Lutheran, Reformed and many other churches, Gottesdienst encompasses the liturgy: scripture readings, a sermon or homily, creeds or prayers, intercessions, hymns or psalms, and the celebration of the sacraments such as baptism and the Eucharist in Catholic and many Protestant contexts. The structure may be formal and highly prescribed in some traditions, or more flexible and sermon-centered in others. The term also appears in the concept of a "Gottesdienstordnung" or order of service, which outlines the sequence of prayers, readings, and rites.

Typical services occur on Sundays, but Gottesdienst can also be held on weekdays or for special occasions like weddings, funerals, or feast days. In addition to public corporate worship, some communities distinguish between weekly liturgy and personal or family prayer as part of the broader concept of Gottesdienst.

Historically the term reflects the Protestant Reformation emphasis on public worship conducted in the vernacular and organized within a congregation, while Catholic usage links more closely with liturgical rites conducted by clergy. Today Gottesdienst remains a central term for public worship in many German-speaking churches.