Lutheran Service Builder | Service Planning and Global Search | Training Webinar 2026
New to Lutheran Service Builder, or want to brush up? This is Session 1 of a four-part training series. By the end of this video you will know how to set up your Lutheran Service Builder account and plan a worship service, from creating your church location and choosing a lectionary to building a service plan and using the global search. Lutheran Service Builder is a web-based program that lets churches plan services, create bulletin inserts and interiors, export PowerPoint presentations and playlists, and stay compliant with copyright requirements. Sign in or start a free trial at https://app.lutheranservicebuilder.com. What you will learn - The difference between the trial, the software license, and the hymn license, and what each one lets you print and stream - How to sign in, set your preferences, and complete your account settings - How to add a church location and choose your lectionary (one-year or three-year) - How to invite and manage users so your office can collaborate in one account - How to add a CCLI license and free content subscriptions like Let Us Pray - How to read the calendar and the Propers for any Sunday - How to build a service plan: readings, hymns with usage tracking, order of service, rites, and notes - How to preview a hymn's text, melody, and copyright information - How to use the global search with filters for hymn number, scripture, topic, author, tune, and more Chapters 0:00 Welcome and introductions 1:09 What is Lutheran Service Builder? 2:03 The four-session series overview 2:51 Housekeeping and how to ask questions 3:36 Today's goal: set up your account and plan a service 4:36 Trials and licenses explained 6:35 The trial: read-only, unlimited, works on mobile 7:42 The software license 8:35 The hymn license 9:25 Signing in at app.lutheranservicebuilder.com 11:39 The settings menu 14:04 Preferences: name and email 15:08 Account settings: church name, locations, and lectionary 18:08 Adding and inviting users to collaborate 19:40 CCLI license and content subscriptions (Let Us Pray) 24:52 The calendar view 28:03 Planning a service: the Propers 30:42 Service plan: adding readings 33:11 Adding hymns and tracking your usage 36:49 Order of service and additional rites 39:03 Usage, notes, and editing a service 43:21 Previewing a hymn: text, melody, and info 46:32 The global search 51:11 Narrowing your search with filters 57:01 How to get software support 1:00:06 Questions and answers Frequently asked questions What is Lutheran Service Builder? A web-based program that lets churches plan worship services, create bulletin inserts and interiors, export PowerPoint presentations and playlists, and stay within copyright requirements. Is there a free version of Lutheran Service Builder? Yes. The trial gives read-only access to everything in the software with no time limit, and it works on your phone. You can view liturgies, hymns, prayers, and the Propers of the day. To print, export, or duplicate content you will need the software license, and the hymn license for copyrighted hymns. What is the difference between the software license and the hymn license? The software license gives full access plus the right to print and use the liturgy and public-domain hymns, and to stream and upload video recordings of your liturgy. The hymn license, which requires the software license, adds the right to print and use most copyrighted hymn text and melodies and to stream them. Can more than one person in our church office use the same account? Yes. The account owner can invite additional users by email so staff can collaborate on services together. Owners can manage account settings and make others co-owners. Standard users cannot access account settings. Can I change the Bible version in Lutheran Service Builder? No. It uses the English Standard Version (ESV, 2001) to stay consistent with the printed Lutheran Service Book, the Altar Book, and the Agenda. How do I search for a hymn or reading? Use the global search (the magnifying glass). You can search by any word, an exact phrase in quotes, a scripture reference, or a hymn or page number, and narrow results with filters for type, topic, author, tune, meter, lectionary series, and holiday. The full series Part 1: Introduction, service planning, and global search (this video) Part 2: Bulletins and bulletin formats Part 3: Presentations and PowerPoint formats Part 4: MyWorship resources and add-ons Get help Visit the online Help Center, start an in-app chat, or email support@cts.cph.org. Phone support is available Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CT. #LutheranServiceBuilder #LCMS #WorshipPlanning #ChurchSoftware #Concordia
