Freedom251 › Worship Planning Software
Lutheran Service Builder
What Lutheran Service Builder is
Lutheran Service Builder is web-based software for planning worship services and creating their related bulletins and presentations. A service plan can include daily propers, lectionary or other readings, hymns, an order of service, rites, and staff notes. The bulletin view draws on that plan, supports custom templates and display options, and exports to a word processor; presentations also use the plan and can export to MediaShout 6. Global search filters resources by type, topic, tune, meter, author, copyright, and holiday, with results that can show hymn text, melody, copyright details, and Scripture references. My Worship Resources stores custom worship elements and liturgies, supports creating hymns and common service parts, and allows templates to be reused. Users can upload a database from the desktop edition, including custom resources. Add-ons include Concordia Organist for service playlists and a separate Hymn License for usage tracking and reporting; the latter excludes the LSB 462 tune and LSB 712 text and tune. The web product requires internet access. Annual service plans start at $500 a year for churches with 1–199 average weekly attendance; hymn licensing is sold separately.
Who it suits
It suits churches planning worship services, bulletins, and presentations online. The attendance-based plans and separate hymn license are relevant to churches evaluating the required annual costs.
What it does well
- Service plans populate bulletins and presentations.
- Search filters include tune and Scripture references.
- Custom worship resources and templates can be saved.
- Desktop databases can be uploaded.
What to know first
- Requires an internet connection.
- Full functionality requires an annual license.
- Hymn license is sold separately.
- Some listed hymns are excluded from the license.
Limits
There is no free plan. Core annual plans include a liturgy license, while a hymn license is sold separately; the 1–199 attendance plan costs $500 a year in its first year and $250 a year after that.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Hymn License — 1–199 weekly attendance | Annual Cost $150 · 1–199 weekly attendance · add-on license | $150 a year |
| Hymn License — 200–399 weekly attendance | Annual Cost $260 · 200–399 weekly attendance · add-on license | $260 a year |
| The Concordia Organist subscription | $300 per year regardless of church size · Add-on · digital organ recordings for Lutheran Service Book music | $300 a year |
| Hymn License — 400–699 weekly attendance | Annual Cost $375 · 400–699 weekly attendance · add-on license | $375 a year |
| Lutheran Service Builder — 1–199 weekly attendance | First year $500; each year after $250 · 1–199 average weekly attendance · liturgy license included · hymn license sold separately | $500 a year |
| Hymn License — 700+ weekly attendance | Annual Cost $500 · 700+ weekly attendance · add-on license | $500 a year |
| One and All Rejoice | $60 per year · Add-on · 181 hymns, with 19 requiring an additional license | $60 a year |
| Lutheran Service Builder — 200–399 weekly attendance | First year $650; each year after $400 · 200–399 average weekly attendance · liturgy license included · hymn license sold separately | $650 a year |
The first 8 of 10 plans, as music.cph.org lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word. Every plan
Getting started
- Open the Lutheran Service Builder website.
- Start with the free trial or choose a plan based on average weekly attendance.
- Use the web product with an internet connection.
- Upload a desktop-version database if you have one.
- Create a service plan, then use its bulletin or presentation view.
Verdict
Lutheran Service Builder links service planning with bulletin and presentation outputs, plus tools for searching and reusing worship resources. Its annual plans are attendance-based, and hymn licensing is a separate cost.
Questions
How much does Lutheran Service Builder cost?
Core plans range from $500 a year to $950 a year in the first year, depending on average weekly attendance. Renewal prices range from $250 a year to $700 a year. Hymn licenses and other add-ons have separate prices.
Is there a free plan or trial?
There is no free plan, but a free trial is available.
What platforms does it support?
It is web-based and can be used anywhere with an internet connection.
Does it include a hymn license?
The core plans include a liturgy license, while the hymn license is sold separately. The Hymn License excludes the LSB 462 tune and the LSB 712 text and tune.
What add-ons are available?
The Concordia Organist subscription provides digital organ recordings for Lutheran Service Book music and supports service playlists. Other listed add-ons include One and All Rejoice and Hymn License plans.
Who makes Lutheran Service Builder?
The product is from Concordia Publishing House, which lists its location in St. Louis, Missouri.
Facts from Lutheran Service Builder's own pages
- Bulletins
- Bulletin view fills from the service plan, supports custom service templates and display options, and exports to a word processor. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Copyright reporting
- The separate Hymn License tracks covered hymn use and automatically submits usage reports to Concordia Publishing House. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Custom resources
- My Worship Resources lets users save custom worship elements and liturgies, create hymns and common service parts, and reuse templates. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Desktop database migration
- The web product can upload a database from the desktop version, including custom resources. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Founded
- 1869 · music.cph.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Headquarters
- St. Louis, Missouri, USA · music.cph.org, 28 Sept 2026
- Hymn license exclusions
- The Hymn License excludes LSB 462 tune and LSB 712 text and tune. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Internet access
- The maker says the web-based product can be used anywhere with an internet connection. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- License requirement
- The license agreement says full functionality requires an annual Support/Liturgy License and that certain features cease to function if registration and payment are not confirmed. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Maker location
- The product page lists Concordia Publishing House at 3558 South Jefferson Ave., St. Louis, Missouri 63128. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Playlist add-on
- The Concordia Organist add-on can generate service playlists, play selected hymn stanzas, and download playlists as ZIP files of MP3s. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Presentations
- Presentation view fills from the service plan and can export to MediaShout 6. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Lutheran Service Builder is web-based software for planning worship services, bulletins, and presentations. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Search
- Global search supports filters for type, topic, tune, meter, author, copyright, and holiday, and can show hymn text, melody, copyright details, and Scripture references. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Service planning
- Users can view daily propers, select lectionary or other readings and hymns, choose an order of service, and add rites and staff notes. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker offers an online help center, support technicians, webinars, and blog posts, and lists support by phone and email. · music.cph.org, 8 Oct 2026
Where Lutheran Service Builder stands on Freedom251
- Worship Planning Software#16 of 24