This project will be completed over time. You can participate by revising, refining, or correcting these entries using the page comment function. if you think I have left something out, please, suggest it.

Each page contains all the entries for a single letter of the alphabet. Use the page controls at the bottom of each page to navigate: 1=A, 2=B, 3=C, 4=D, etc.

V

Verba Domini. Latin for “the words of the Lord”; see Words of Our Lord. Sometimes appears as just “Verba.”

Verse. A response sung between the Epistle and the Gospel readings in the Divine Service.

vestments. The special clothing that the pastor wears during the Divine. The various vestments have symbolic meanings that teach us about the pastoral office. For example, the alb is the white robe the pastor wears at the Divine Service: it symbolizes the white robe of Christ righteousness which covers ours sins and thus “covers up” the individual person of the pastor who stands in the stead of Christ when he preaches God’s Word, forgives sins, and conducts the sacraments.

Vigil. Worship service that takes place the evening before a feast or festival day. The Vigil of Easter is the greatest vigil of the year.