This article investigates the hymnals of four Lutheran churches in Germany, North America, Sweden and Denmark in order to identify the connection between ecclesiastic and theological development during the 20th century, as well as the editorial process used in crreating the hymnals of the period. The hymnals reflect a signeficant development from a tgraditional non-ritualistic to an Anglican-inspired ritualistic conception of the Sunday service as a side-effect of the transition of the typical Lutheran churches from majority to minority churches.