With Apologies

Dear Gottesdienst crowd,

You may be wondering what happened to the recent post by one of our editors linking to Dr. Adam Koontz’s excellent lecture at the seminary symposium a few days ago.

Gottesdienst EditorialJanuary 22, 2022Comment

A Response from Dr Räsänen

Dear Burnell F Eckardt

I am deeply grateful and touched for this award. Thank you very much. This kind of support means a lot to me and I truly appreciate it from the bottom of my heart.

Burnell EckardtJanuary 21, 2022Comment

Sabre of Boldness to Paivi Räsänen

Dr. Päivi Räsänen, MP, Finland, was awarded the 2022 Sabre of Boldness on 19 January 2022 in Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA, in absentia.

Burnell EckardtJanuary 20, 2022 Comments

Matins

I have heard from brother pastors that there are still resistors to every-Sunday communion. One of their ploys is to suggest Matins be used instead of the Divine Service on certain weeks in the month.

Larry BeaneJanuary 18, 2022 Comments

To Everything There is a Season

The pastoral life, and yes the Christian life in general - puts flesh on the words of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes Chapter Three. There is indeed “a time for every matter under heaven.”

Larry BeaneJanuary 17, 2022Comment

Rite of Home Blessing

We Lutherans sometimes fall victim to the “too Catholic” superstition.

Larry BeaneJanuary 14, 2022 Comments

Being Intentional

Every year at the start of the Church year, I encourage my people to slow down during the Advent season.

John BussmanJanuary 13, 2022 Comments

Gottesdienst Reception Wed Jan 19th 6:30pm-9:00pm

Gottesdienst will host a reception on Wednesday, Jan 19th at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne from 6:30pm-9:00pm…

David PetersenJanuary 13, 2022Redeemer Lutheran ChurchSabre of Boldness, Gottesdienst, CTS Symposia, Ft. Wayne Winter FunComment

So Much Boomer...

This is a Roman Catholic Midnight Mass from Christmas Eve 2021. It is Idiocracy meets the Jerry Lewis Telethon and the Super Bowl Halftime Show with a twist of Saturday Night Live.

Larry BeaneJanuary 12, 2022 Comments

The Epiphany of Our Lord

On January 6th, the Church celebrated the Epiphany of Our Lord, remembering in particular the visit of the Magi. As many of you may know, the visit of the Magi is only one of several events that has historically been connected with the celebration of the Epiphany. One particularly beautiful example of liturgical composition is the Benedictus antiphon for the morning of January 6th:

Stefan GramenzJanuary 11, 2022Comment

On Blessing the Children at the Altar - Let Them Come Up

I have memories from when I was a very small child of my parents going to receive the Sacrament of the Altar.

Ben BallJanuary 7, 2022 Comments

Burnell EckardtJanuary 6, 2022 Comments

Update

A number of subscribers have begun to ask whether they missed the Christmas issue of Gottesdienst. Unfortunately the struggling mail service failed us again, and there were delays. The good news is that the stallion has finally broken through the fences and the issues have begun to arrive at last.

Gottesdienst EditorialJanuary 5, 2022Comment

The Epiphany Announcement for the Year of Our Lord 20+22

Ben BallJanuary 4, 2022 Comments

On Blessing Children at the Altar

Burnell EckardtJanuary 3, 2022 Comments

A Prayer to Close the Year

For the last time in this year I now bend my knees before You, O my God.

Ben BallDecember 31, 2021 Comments

Luther on the Virgin Birth of Christ

“…she brought forth without sin, without shame, without pain and without injury, just as she had conceived without sin.”

Fr. Mark BradenDecember 29, 2021 Comments

In and Out of Egypt with the Lamb of God

God does not fail or neglect the children of Bethlehem, but He calls them to Himself and rescues them from every evil, unto the Life everlasting in body and soul. Their little bodies are cruelly butchered and put to death, but God gives them rest, and He shall raise them in glory at the last.

Meanwhile, Christ Jesus does not “run away” in fear from danger and from death, but He proceeds in faith to the Sacrifice of His Cross, which shall be at the time appointed by His Father in heaven. No one takes His life from Him, but He lays it down willingly when that Day and that Hour come. He does not escape the trials and tribulations of this life — which the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem are spared, though their mothers and fathers are not. But He submits Himself to every bit of the Great Tribulation — for you and your salvation, and for the sake of all people.

Gottesblog