A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy
I listened to a recent podcast, in which the host, an LCMS parish pastor, said the following:
Read MoreThere is something very, very powerful about private '“for you” Confession and Absolution rather than just corporate confession. I sound kind of old school, I guess, when I say that, but, I think there people need to hear…
A member of an LCMS congregation posted with great gusto and passion on a Facebook group concerning the Sign of the Cross, of which he disapproved, because it is a “tradition of men.”
Read MoreIn our age, when someone is said to be “going through the motions” it is not meant as a compliment. For people like to think that they are being genuine and truthful and spiritual only when they rise above the merely physical. And so it is especially fortunate that one of the most basic and common examples in all of the rich storehouse of the tradition of Christian prayer is a prayer which requires the Christian to go through the motions.
Read MoreTo maintain liturgical decorum of all legitimate kinds is to indicate an awareness of the presence of Christ. In fact, sometimes a failure to engage in ritual indicates a failure to worship in truth.
Read MoreThe guys at Unite Leadership Collective are adamant that the seminary model we have for pastoral formation is not sufficient. In the past, the narrative has been that the “residential model” is the “gold standard,” but we need something to supplement it. But the shift now is to question the “gold standard” part itself.
Read MoreThe origins of these two disparate approaches to clerical garb provide an interesting contrast.
Read MoreI have a Substack called Most Certainly Beane. You are invited to subscribe (it’s free), or simply to read it at the website. Or not! I never post things behind a paywall. The name is tongue-in-cheek humor. I wanted to put my name on it (as I’m the only contributor) and make the name of the blog a kind of Lutheran “dad joke.” So there it is. You are free to groan, and as Lutherans, hopefully in four-part harmony.
Read MoreWhile the Lutheran Church is, unquestionably, a liturgical church (at least, according to her symbols), the heritage of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is particularly one of liturgical renewal. The LCMS found her origins in the liturgical and confessional revivals of the early 19th century, and was distinguished at the outset from other American Lutherans by such “papistic” customs as crucifixes, chanting, and (oh, the horror!) lighted altar candles in broad daylight.
Read MoreThe Texas District President, the Rev. Michael Newman, wrote a recent piece called “The Way to Unity in the LCMS.” In it, he makes the case that when it comes to vestments and liturgy, anything goes. His argument is based on the “satis est” of AC 7:
Read MoreJoin us at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ventura, IA for a CTSFW continuing education course on Lutheran Preaching taught by Rev. David Petersen.
Read MoreIn looking to explain and combat the current laity shortage, a lot of the discussions seem to miss the elephant in the parlor.
Read MoreIt is always amusing when people assume the editors of Gottesdienst agree on every single issue. We don’t. And thanks be to God!
Read MorePride is the chief sin. It is the sin against the First Commandment, and as every sin is against the First Commandment, every sin is pride.
Read MoreA Lutheran call against rule by professionals or experts in the world and church. and an encouragement for Christian creativity and making as engagement with the world.
Read MoreAs I was writing for a major publishing project a few years ago, an editor struck several uses of the term Christendom from the draft article, informing me that the term and notion of Christendom were to be excluded from the major work then in its infant stages.
Read More
