FW: Why Traditional, Liturgical Worship Is Not Necessary For Salvation But May Be Beneficial For the Christian

 

Consider…   Feed: By Blood, Sweat, and Tears Posted on: Saturday, February 25, 2012 10:39 AM Author: aarman32291 Subject: Why Traditional, Liturgical Worship Is Not Necessary For Salvation But May Be Beneficial For the Christian   Today's Christian landscape is fueled by a dichotomy between distinct styles of worship; namely, "Traditional Worship" and "Contemporary Worship." The differences in these styles of worship seem to have grown at an exponential fashion in recent days, and the battle has escalated to such an extent that people on both sides of the aisle are willing to condemn the other for their practices. However fierce this battle may wage, keep this in mind, "The people are taught that consciences are not to be burdened as though observing such things were necessary for salvation [Colossians 2:16-17]" (AC XV.) A good friend of mine, with whom I frequently argue about this very matter, is the Worship Leader for a non-denominational school in Garden Valley, TX. He sees "my style" of worship as being without passion, dying, and antiquated and therefore cannot help me to grow in my faith; while I see "his style" of worship as irreverent, distracting, and without solid foundation and therefore cannot help him to grow in his faith. Which of us is correct? I don't believe this question can be answered without first defining what worship is. In my friend's style, worship is about how we come to God, to praise Him, and to show Him that we love Him. Don't get me wrong, "Blessed be the name of the Lord," (Ps. 113:2A ESV) but this praise can only come about in the other definition of worship. This definition is explained in Luther's explanation of the Apostle's creed. "I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him." When Christian's see that we are dead to sin and cannot "by our own reason or strength," praise God's name (that is to keep the 2nd commandment) we know that worship is not about what we do for God. Rather, worship is about God coming to us in His word, and "the word [become] flesh" (John 1:14 ESV) on the cross. Now keep this definition of worship in mind: "We [are able to] praise God only because God first comes to us, lost and condemned persons, through His son on the cross for the forgiveness of sins through His word." Now am I saying that you can't use a rock band to freely proclaim Christ Crucified? I certainly am not; this would be completely going against the Augsburg Confession and would be negating the hard work of CPH who put out the LSB guitar edition (which I use frequently for having hymn sings with my friends.) But I am stating what the confessions teach: "those practices which provide benefit to the Christian Life are to be revered and practiced," and more frequently than not, these Christ centered, cross focused, scriptural based hymns are not used in a contemporary setting. Rev. Randy Asburry of Hope Lutheran Church in St. Louis Missouri reminded me that, "Liturgical worship is not of the 'essence' of the Church (not what makes the Church the Church), but it is a gift for the 'bene esse' (well-being) of the Church, especially in keeping us 'on the same page.'" This belief is congruent with the Lutheran confessions which furthermore state that, "No tradition was set up by the Holy Fathers for the purpose of meriting the forgiveness of sins, or righteousness. Rather, they were instituted for the sake of good order in the Church and for the sake of peace," (AP XV: 13.) As Leviticus shows us, God is a God of order. The laws which he gave the Israelites were to provide order and guidance from the terrors of the world (sin, distraction, trichinosis etc.) In this same way the liturgy of the Lutheran Church is designed to focus us on the Cross. Referring back to my frequent discussions with my "wayward" friend on the subject; he will frequently mock the bizarre nature of the vestments and lesser ceremonies in the church. Once I commented on a video of a service he led saying, "It was great, but I would put the band at the back of the church. Lutheran's wouldn't be too happy with a drum set where the altar should be." He retorted, "Yeah, you can't block view of that Advent Wreath." This brings me to an interesting point; why do we have all of these practices (proper lighting of candles, the processional cross etc.?) Melancthon writes, "Ceremonies are needed for this reason alone, that the uneducated be taught [what they need to know about Christ,] (AC XXIV.) It is this point that is especially important for children. Over the years, my mother has spoken diligently about the importance of the liturgy in the church, even so far as to recommend contrary to the typical Lutheran practice of sitting in back. She says, "Children who can see and hear everything that is going on in the divine service are more likely to remember the liturgy, participate, and be less 'squirrely.'" Many times when new parents would come to our church, she would make a point to quickly introduce herself and lead them to the front. Children understand what is going on, and through proper experience are often more reverent than many adults I know. Children who experience the liturgy at an early age or more likely to realize… "oh yeah, this is about that big shiny guy on the cross up there, and that wine and bread must be important too." Close your eyes and think about a contemporary worship service. Everyone is facing forward. What are they looking at? Is it Christ crucified for our sins? Oh, that's right there is a band up there. Well are they pointing us to the Cross? "This is the noise we make with our voice and with our hands. We come to celebrate all across this land. The joy that's in our hearts makes us want to dance for you. Join as the angels sing and worship as they do. And we worship You alone with our songs of praise. One day before Your throne. This is the noise we make" - Chris Tomlin Not once are we reminded of our sin and need for a savior. Not once in this song is Christ crucified proclaimed. The focus of this song is clearly about what we do to praise God and creating a mystic emotional response to the music. Now close your eyes and think about a Liturgical Worship Service. Everyone is facing forward, what are they looking at? Oh, there's a crucifix up there? What is everyone singing? "Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe, who thyself for me once giving to the darkest depths of woe: Through thy sufferings death, and merit. I, eternal life inherit. Thousand, thousand thanks shall be, Dearest Jesus unto Thee." - LSB 420:1 The focus of that hymn is clearly Christ death on the cross for our salvation. Now, again, am I saying that people who go to Traditional, Liturgical worship services are more righteous or even better Christians? No! Of course not, Article XV of the Apology to the Augsburg Confession clearly states that, "We do not merit forgiveness of sins or grace by celebrating human traditions," (3.) But I am saying that churches that use the liturgy of The Lutheran Hymnal, the Worship Supplement '69, the Lutheran Worship, The Hymnal Supplement '98, and the Lutheran Service Book are more likely to have a service centered on the Cross. Therefore the "bene esse" which Traditional, Liturgical worship brings is that it points us to the cross and that Cross is necessary for salvation. Blessings in Christ, Aaron Nielsen P.S.  A quick shout out to Rev. Randy Asburry. He was a great help in the writing of this article. If you would like to see more of his insight, check out his Blog at http://rasburrypatch.blogspot.com/. View article...

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FW: Take a Stand for Religious Liberty — How Pastors Can Organize Grass Root Efforts in Their Congregations

 

Christian Freedom…   Feed: Cyberbrethren Lutheran Blog Feed Posted on: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 7:31 AM Author: Paul T. McCain Subject: Take a Stand for Religious Liberty — How Pastors Can Organize Grass Root Efforts in Their Congregations   I was greatly encouraged to receive a copy of a letter a Lutheran pastor in Indiana has sent out to his fellow pastors in that state. He is encouraging them to organize grass-root protests and actions in their local congregations. I strongly encourage all parish pastors to do something similar in their congregations and encourage their fellow pastors to do likewise. There has rarely before been in our country such a serious threat to religious liberty. We can not simply sit back and expect, or wait, for somebody else "to do something" about it. February 27, 2012 Dear Brothers in the Office, In his February 3 letter, Synod President Matthew Harrison wrote, "I encourage the members of the LCMS to join with me in supporting efforts to preserve our essential right to exercise our religious beliefs." I am writing in response to this call. A recent federal Health and Human Services Department "mandate" requires all healthcare plans to include "preventive care" that includes even abortion-inducing drugs. It also mandates several other practices that violate sincere and long-held moral teachings of other major Christian denominations. Although religious institutions are not required to list these "services" explicitly in their insurance policies, their insurance carriers must provide them to all persons covered by their health plans at no additional charge. This so-called "accommodation" announced on February 10 merely enables the pretense that those who have profound, faith-based moral objections can avoid providing these services. In fact, the rules were adopted with no change whatsoever from the version published months earlier. It is not only religious institutions that are forced to violate their beliefs and their consciences. Faithful Christian employers who acknowledge the sanctity of life are not permitted even the fig leaf of pretending they are not implicated in these abortions or other practices that violate the teachings of their faith. Our own LCMS healthcare plan is among the few that have a "grandfather" exemption. For the moment we are exempt from this requirement. Our exemption is, however, very fragile. Already our costs are higher than necessary because we have been unable to adapt our plan to changing circumstances and possibilities. As soon as we make any substantial change, our exemption vanishes. Even if we ourselves were totally unaffected by this mandate, however, we ought to stand with those whose freedom of conscience and free exercise of religion are being violated. Unless we defend religious liberty, we shall surely lose it. Saint Paul's has agreed to sponsor a "grassroots" effort to respond to President Harrison's call. This plan grew out of conversations among members of several area congregations, and especially the CTS community. Further discussions followed President Harrison's February 14 letter, in which he urged again that we ".fight for constitutional sanity against secularizing forces.." We are encouraged and strengthened by his clear and courageous stand before Congress on February 26. The plan is an Internet-assisted effort to educate our members concerning the real and present danger to the religious liberty we have thus far enjoyed, and to encourage them to take at least a small step to stand in defense of this most valuable freedom. Although American Lutherans have traditionally avoided involvement in affairs of the State, today the State is invading the realm of the Church. This violates both our Constitution and our American traditions, as Pastor Harrison has noted in issuing his call to action. The plan is quite flexible. Each congregation can adapt it to its own situation and interests. It is interactive in that some aspects are yet to be finalized, depending on the response from our pastors and congregations. The proposed general approach is as follows: * Saint Paul's is in the process of gathering, preparing and posting extensive background materials and resources on an Internet site and a Facebook page. These are meant to facilitate congregational and individual study of this and related issues. This material is now beginning to be posted at www.scandhouse.org/liberty<http://www.scandhouse.org/liberty> and on the Facebook page www.facebook.com/sureLiberty<http://www.facebook.com/sureLiberty> ). The website offers the advantage of stability and organization, while the Facebook permits quick, if somewhat chaotic, response. Particularly if a reliable moderator emerges, a forum feature may be added to facilitate discussion and interaction – based either on Facebook or the website. * More in-depth resources and analysis will be added in the coming days (and weeks). This is an interactive effort: members may offer additional high-quality materials that may be added to the site (as time and stamina permit). These resources are being developed under leadership of Chris Barnekov, a St. Paul's member with a doctorate in economic policy and four decades' experience as a senior policy analyst for six different federal agencies. In recent years, Dr. Barnekov has focused almost exclusively on issues of Church and State (a brief bio will be posted on the site). * Congregations are encouraged to discuss these issues in adult classes or other appropriate forums. The resources are meant to facilitate these discussions, gathering background information and analysis in one place, with several layers of depth. * Each congregation is encouraged to send a letter signed by as many individual members as wish (a sample letter is attached and posted on the website, but of course congregations may write their own: we simply urge that letters be kept succinct and positive in tone). * For strategic reasons, we suggest that the letters be addressed to Fort Wayne's Roman Catholic Bishop Kevin Rhoades. The main reasons for this are (1) Catholics are currently the main target (we're next), and (2) the letter can be positive and encouraging in tone, rather than negative (as a letter to HHS would have to be – but we'll send copies to appropriate government officials). See the sample attached to this email. * Congregations are encouraged to send their letters to St. Paul's by shortly after Easter. They will be presented in a public event including as many pastors (and members) as wish to participate, with media invited. * A precise date will be set and announced on the website and Facebook page, depending on how many wish to take part in person (they may choose to bring and present their own letters at that time). This event may include congregations from the wider Christian community (parallel efforts are being considered in some other denominations). * The tone of this event, as of the letters, is meant to be joyful, a celebration of thanksgiving to Our Lord for His gracious blessings of liberty. We do not, of course, have in mind a public worship service (it will involve other denominations), rather a celebration that will have the effect of a demonstration, but not the tone of a protest. * The more precise details of the proposed event will depend largely on feedback from pastors and congregations. Many interesting possibilities have already been mentioned. We will use the Internet site and Facebook to have a "conversation" about this. The media is falsely portraying this controversy as a concern of only a few "reactionary" Catholic bishops, and claiming it is all about contraception or an assault on women's rights. The true issue is religious liberty, and this is a serious concern to all believers. We want to demonstrate this by standing, literally, with those who are currently the main target of this unprecedented assault on Freedom of Religion. It is our hope that, if the Lord wills, we can shock the media by the unusual sight of Lutherans and other denominations rallying in support of our Roman Catholic brethren. This falls into the category of a "man bites dog story," which the media generally finds irresistible (even though they might otherwise choose to ignore us). We wish to counteract the negative image the media typically presents of Christians, and get past the usual media filter to help Americans understand the significance and danger of this assault on liberty. More importantly, we wish to educate our own members and raise their awareness of these increasingly important issues of relations between Church and State. In past years, we could safely ignore these issues because in America the 'Kingdom at the Left Hand' largely remained within its own 'bounds.' Sadly, this is no longer true today, and we now face the unprecedented need to "defend" our boundaries. We hope to do so with the means provided by our Lord, the Gospel and the Sword of the Spirit. We invite you to consider joining with us in this most atypical excursion into public policy, and helping us bring a Christian perspective into this controversy. I would appreciate your feedback and thoughts. Sincerely in Christ, Pastor Peter C. Cage Saint Paul's Lutheran Church Fort Wayne, Indiana View article...

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FW: Indelible Grace Update // Hymns Discussion, Tour Dates

 

Hymnody Resurgent…   From: Indelible Grace Music [mailto:music@indeliblegrace.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:06 AM To: revpaulcain@gmail.com Subject: Indelible Grace Update // Hymns Discussion, Tour Dates   If you're having trouble viewing this email, you may see it online.   Share This: Listen to a special discussion about the re-tuned hymn movement   Indelible Grace founder Kevin Twit (along with longtime contributor Sandra McCracken) recently took part in a discussion about the re-tuned hymn movement at Calvin College, including an informal singing time. Click here to stream or download the discussion.   Two-day Hymnody Course in St. Louis   Kevin Twit will be teaching a two-day course on the History Of Hymnody on March 16-17 at Covenant Seminary in St. Louis. You can register online for $25 and find out more information by clicking here.   Kevin will also lead a hymn sing at the Covenant Seminary chapel (along with special guests) on Monday, March 5th at 7pm.      Matthew Smith & Indelible Grace Booking Now for 2012    If you are at a church, college, Christian school, or other venue and would like to find out how to bring a concert of hymns to your town, click here to contact us with your information, including city and venue name.   March 17 AVAILABLE - Chicago area - Contact us 18 Libertyville IL 20 Sullivan IL - RSVP here 21 Tremont IL - RSVP here 22 Lafayette IN - RSVP here 23 Richmond KY - RSVP here 24 AVAILABLE - Kentucky - Contact us 25 Bowling Green KY - RSVP here   April 19 Windsor CO 20 Sterling CO - RSVP here 21 Centennial CO 22 Englewood CO - RSVP here   May 4 Fayetteville AR 5 AVAILABLE - Arkansas/Oklahoma - Contact us 6 Bartlesville OK   Fall tour booking now Don't wait until dates are listed! If you are in these areas (or even if you're not!), click here to contact us. North - New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, DC, etc South - North & South Carolina, Georgia Midwest - Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, etc West Coast - California, Washington, Oregon Deep South - Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana       PO Box 128221 : Nashville, TN 37212 : www.igracemusic.com : info@detunedradio.com This email was sent to revpaulcain@gmail.com. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences | opt out using TrueRemove®. Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.

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FW: Worship

 

Consider…   Feed: Lutheran Hymn Revival Posted on: Monday, February 27, 2012 5:59 PM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Amberg) Subject:   http://bbsandt.wordpress.com/2012/02/25/traditional-vs-contemporary/ View article...

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FW: The Parental Office

 

Consider…   Feed: Stand Firm Posted on: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 4:00 AM Author: Scott Diekmann Subject: The Parental Office   My friend Brian Yamabe and his co-blogger Joshua McNary are the authors of a blog/podcast called The Parental Office.  They're both fathers of younger kids, and are thus called by God to teach the faith to their kids.  They are producing a series of podcasts in which they discuss their parental vocation, including ideas on how to raise their kids in a God-pleasing way using Lutheran theology and resources.  As Brian states: One issue that has stuck with me the last couple of years is how to pass on the faith to my daughters. What can we do better at home? What can we do better at church? What has worked with my daughters? What has worked for others? What should we avoid? I'm hoping the podcast can be a platform for exchanging information that helps parents integrate their children into the Christian life. I like what they're doing.  This is more than just a "how to" show, it's a resource that might very well reorder your thought processes on how to raise your kids from a Biblical, Lutheran perspective, and cause you to reconsider you vocation as parent.    You can follow Brian and Joshua on Facebook or Twitter.  Their podcasts are available on their blog, and are available on iTunes. View article...

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FW: Weedon goes to Saint Louis: Hamel’s loss is YOUR gain by Rev. Charles Lehmann

 

On Weedon…   Feed: Steadfast Lutherans Posted on: Tuesday, February 28, 2012 7:52 AM Author: Pastor Joshua Scheer Subject: Weedon goes to Saint Louis: Hamel's loss is YOUR gain by Rev. Charles Lehmann   Then Vicar Lehmann with Pastor Weedon Every time the Verba are spoken by one of the Lord's pastors over the bread and wine, heaven comes down to earth.  Angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven sing before the Lamb who was slain but is alive forevermore.  The saints in heaven and on earth join together in song and praise their Savior for His glorious condescension. This reality is the same whether it's happening at a small rural congregation with a dozen of the faithful who are there to receive the gifts or if it's at a large cathedral in Europe that was built over the course of centuries and has all of its pews filled.  The reality is the same.  Heaven on earth. Sometimes we are given an extra gift.  It doesn't make the reality more real.  It doesn't make the forgiveness of sins more certain than it would be somewhere else.  But it is a significant gift.  Sometimes you enter a place where because of many years of faithful teaching, the people know what's going on.  They're certain of it.  You can see it in their eyes when they sing.  You can recognize it in their posture when they kneel so that you can pour life down their throats. That's why Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Hamel, Illinois is a little slice of heaven.  Over the past nineteen years, Pastor William Weedon has faithfully taught them the reality of what is going on each time they gather together.  He has preached it forcefully. You haven't really dived into the Scriptures until you've done it while sitting at his feet. I was one of a small group of men who were blessed to sit at his feet as a vicar.  My year was from 2005-2006.  It was a wonderful and difficult year.  Everything I know about being a pastor I learned from Pastor Weedon and from Saint Paul's.  I learned what it is for a congregation to love their pastor and for a pastor to love their congregation.  I learned what can happen when a Pastor relentlessly and forcefully delivers Jesus to his people for thirteen years.  I owe Pastor Weedon a debt I will never be able to repay, and I suspect his other vicars would write similar words. Sixteen days ago, Pastor Weedon announced to Saint Paul's that he had been called by the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to be her director of worship and chaplain of the International Center.  I suspected he would take it.  I knew it was going to be a devastating blow to him, his family, and all my many loved ones at Saint Paul's. For two weeks, like many people, I was of two minds on Pastor Weedon's decision.  I wanted him to take the call.  I wanted him to introduce thousands of congregations throughout the Synod to the appreciation of the Lord's gifts he has cultivated at Saint Paul's for almost twenty years.  I also just wanted him to stay put and keep doing it there.  Most importantly, I knew that he was free to choose the call he wanted to serve. Two days ago, on Invocabit Sunday, Pastor Weedon announced that he had accepted the call.  There were lots of tears.  I've chatted with several of my friends at Saint Paul's and they are united in their grief.  They love their pastor and they're going to miss him.  I would too.  I'm still getting used to the idea of a universe where Pastor Weedon is not the pastor of Saint Paul's.  Sometimes, I still don't like that universe very much. Pastor Weedon But God has called my friend to serve the Synod at large.  Jesus is in charge, just as He has always been.  It was Jesus and not Pastor Weedon who accomplished all that he did over those nineteen years at Saint Paul's.  Pastor Weedon was the Lord's instrument.  He was a wise and faithful instrument who knew to stay out of the way, but he was an instrument. Pastor Weedon now has an opportunity to serve the whole Synod in the same humble and selfless way.  In a way God is saying, "I'd like to introduce you to my friend William.  For awhile he belonged to My flock in Hamel.  Now I want to give him to all of you." God is giving the Synod a great gift.  No, Pastor Weedon isn't Jesus, and one of the best things about him is that he knows that.  Pastor Weedon's first words to me as a vicar still ring true today.  "A pastor who does not pray for his people is completely useless."  Now Pastor Weedon is serving the whole Synod, and because of that, you can be sure that he's praying for you.  He's probably doing it right now. My plea is simple.  Pray for him.  Express your love for him.  Thank him for the enormous sacrifice he is making.  Thank his congregation for loving and supporting him all these years and making him into the man he is.  Thank Jesus for sharing him with all of us. There are some who have attacked, criticized, or made jokes about Pastor Weedon's new call.  To them I say, "Repent.  God has done this, and He will work wonders through it."  Not all of us will benefit from Pastor Weedon's new position in the same way.  Some of you might be in congregations that appreciate the gifts that Christ won on the cross in a way very similar to what you'd find in Hamel.  You and your pastor will be encouraged in that!  For those of you who are not in such a congregation, I am sure that Pastor Weedon will seek to share with you what he shared with Saint Paul's. And, finally, to my beloved friend and mentor, William:  Fear not.  You've always known that "it's a dangerous business going out your front door." Pastor Lehmann   Rev. Charles Lehmann Vicar, Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hamel, IL  (August 2005-July 2006)     Associate Editor's Note: Pastor Weedon has done great things for our Synod and it looks like he will continue to do so.  We at BJS are thankful to God for him and wish him blessings at his new position and also ask our readers to keep him, his family, his former congregation, and those whom he will serve at the IC in your prayers.  A special thank you to Pastor Lehmann for writing this article to be posted here.   View article...

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FW: Hymn of the Day for Lent 2B

 

Cantemus…   Feed: PrayTellBlog Posted on: Sunday, February 26, 2012 6:55 AM Author: Michael Joncas Subject: Hymn of the Day for Lent 2B   Here is the second hymn of the day text that I have created for Cycle B of the Roman Catholic Sunday lectionary system. I invite Pray Tell readers to critique the text. I would ask that those offering their critiques stay focused on this text and not use this column to debate the wisdom of constructing Hymns of the Day for Roman Catholic use. It may be helpful to read the comments archived under Hymn of the Day for Lent 1B to get some sense of where the conversation has already gone. (For example, I recognize that this might be better characterized as a Gospel Hymn or a Sermon Hymn than a Hymn of the Day because it does not bring in the other readings, but your critiques will help me improve it.) Note that the stanzas in brackets may be omitted when the hymn is sung. Hymn of the Day for the Second Sunday of Lent, Cycle B [How good it is for us With Peter, James and John To climb the heights at Jesus' call And bear with him alone.] How good it is for us To glimpse our Lord on high: His clothes outshining earthly light, His radiance as the sky. How good it is for us To view the speech unheard When Law and Prophet both appear, Companions of the Word. How good it is for us To hear the Father's choice: "This one is my beloved Son; Come, listen to his voice." [How good it is for us To see God's future now, To seek as Peter by our shrines Eternity endowed.] Yet better far for us With Peter, John and James To follow Jesus down the mount And journey through the plains. For on another hill When he is lifted high We'll come to see his majesty In love poured out to die. Grant us, transfigured Lord, To see your beauty shine In lives transformed by charity, By hope, by faith divine. 66.86. (SM) Suggested Hymn Tune: FESTAL SONG (H1982 #551) Alternative Hymn Tune: BELLWOODS [H1982 #600] Fr. Jan Michael Joncas 15 February 2012 Redemptorist House, Washington, DC View article...

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FW: A blessing for Synod and a loss for St. Paul's Hamel...

 

LCMS News…   Feed: Pastoral Meanderings Posted on: Monday, February 27, 2012 7:34 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Peters) Subject: A blessing for Synod and a loss for St. Paul's Hamel...   Good Pastor William Weedon announced on Sunday he believed the Lord had called him to be Chaplain at the International Center and Worship Director for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  While I am thrilled to have Pr Weedon as the "lead" Pastor of our church directing, resourcing, and supporting the best of evangelical and catholic worship practice, consistent with our Confessions, I cannot help but feel for the good folks at St. Paul's who will so sorely miss their Pastor of more than 20 years.  May the Lord bless them during the time of their consideration and supply them with someone worthy of the Office of the Ministry, as Pr. Weedon has been so faithful to the Lord and to the people there.   And pray for them all.... Good Pastor Weedon and the good folk at St. Paul's... View article...

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Liturgy Review: The Early Church

 

Johnson, Lawrence J. Worship in the Early Church: An Anthology of Historical Sources (Volume 1: First through Third Centuries; Volume 2: Fourth Century; Volume 3: Fifth Century; Volume 4: Sixth Century). Collegeville: Pueblo/Liturgical Press, 2009. CD-ROM of pdf files. $189.95. www.litpress.org (LHP)   Johnson, Lawrence J. Worship in the Early Church: An Anthology of Historical Sources (Volume 1: First through Third Centuries). Collegeville: Pueblo/Liturgical Press, 2009. 282 Pages. Cloth. $74.95. www.litpress.org (LHP)   Bradshaw, Paul F. Early Christian Worship: A Basic Introduction to Ideas and Practice (Second Edition). Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2010. 104 Pages. Paper. $16.95. www.litpress.org (LHP) Bradshaw, Paul F. Reconstructing Early Christian Worship. Collegeville: Pueblo/Liturgical Press, 2010. 151 Pages. Paper. $19.95. www.litpress.org (LHP)   Bradshaw, Paul F and Maxwell E. Johnson. The Origins of Feasts, Fasts and Seasons in Early Christianity. Collegeville: Pueblo/Liturgical Press, 2011. 222 Pages. Paper. $29.95. www.litpress.org (LHP) We don't know everything we would like to know about worship in the early Church, but we know a lot. Liturgical Press proves it. These volumes are significant because they show Christians today why we worship the way we do. No, Lutheran worship is not merely German. It has a long history. If anything, it is very Jewish in structure. Take the Synagogue Liturgy + the Passover Liturgy as remodeled by Jesus + the once-for-all atoning sacrifice of Jesus replacing the temple, and Sunday morning's Divine Service, Gottesdienst, looks a lot like it. First up, a monumental four-volume series. Worship in the Early Church is a four-volume collection of excerpts from early Christian writings illustrating the Church's liturgical practice in both East and West, from its Jewish beginnings through the end of the sixth century. Source material includes doctrinal and historical treatises, scriptural commentaries, sermons, letters, synodal legislation, early church orders, monastic rules, baptismal and funeral epigrams. Each author or major selection is preceded by a short introduction containing such information as dates, country of origin, and various other background details. A bibliography of pertinent periodical and liturgical literature is given as well as a bibliography referencing standard encyclopedias of religion and manuals of patrology. Lawrence J. Johnson is the former executive secretary of the Federation of Diocesan Liturgical Commissions and the former editor/director of The Pastoral Press. He has written several books on the liturgy and its music, including The Mystery of Faith: A Study of the Structural Elements of the Order of the Mass. (publisher's website) The amount of material included in these volumes is simply stunning. Much is unavailable elsewhere. Add the convenience of a digital version, and you can study on the go with your laptop, tablet, or even Kindle. The CD-Rom is worth "the price of admission." A searchable pdf is an incredible research tool. We were also blessed with the opportunity to get a hardcover version of Volume One.  It features... Jewish prayers from table and synagogue; Subapostolic Era: the Didache, Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Pastor Hermas; Second Century: Justin Martyr, Irenaeus of Lyons, Melito of Sardis; Third Century: Tertullian, Cyprian of Carthage, Hippolytus of Rome, the Didascalia of the Apostles, Origen, the Apostolic Church Order; and others. (publisher's website) Johnson's masterwork features an unbelievable number of references, including citations of scholarly articles on each writing, multiple sources of the original text, extensive footnotes, and his own alternate translations. Save up for the whole set in print, CD-Rom, or both. At the very least, spend the money to own Volume one.   I've read most of what Paul Bradshaw has in print over the last twelve years. Our next book is a revision of one published in 1996.   Early Christian Worship is a straightforward, readable introduction to worship in the first four centuries of the church's existence. How did early Christians see and understand their own worship? How did this interact with early Christian beliefs? The book has been brought up-to-date and revised, with some chapters rewritten and an updated bibliography. Paul F. Bradshaw is professor of liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, and priest-vicar of Westminster Abbey and a member of the Church of England Liturgical Commission. He is the author or editor of several major books (The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship, Eucharistic Origins, Reconstructing Early Christian Worship, The Study of Liturgy, A Companion to Common Worship, volumes 1 and 2). (publisher's website) The author has revisited every chapter in the previous edition, incorporating the latest reliable scholarship and newly found ancient manuscripts. We are again reminded by the (counter)example of Tertullian, that ancient does not always mean correct (19). Chrystostom notes a [Divine?] passive form for the baptismal wording (29ff).  Infants were baptized. From ancient times, someone from their family spoke for them, as was the case for those too ill to answer for themselves (34).  The Sacrifice of the Mass, sadly, has ancient roots (68ff), as does transubstantiation (74). Still, the Word trumps tradition. Monasticism fused the desert and cathedral prayer traditions (82). "Eighth Day" theology predates the Christian Easter and has Jewish Psalm 90:4 origins (86). I commend the author particularly for revising his assessment of what the ancient data says about December 25 (94). He at least presents two competing theories, rather than the one of the previous edition that made Christians the ones who co-opted a Roman holiday. Affordable and informative, Early Christian Worship is essential reading.  Our fourth resource is another by Bradshaw.   Building on the approach set out in his Search for the Origins of Christian Worship, Paul Bradshaw attempts to drill down at several key points beneath the surface impression of early Christian worship that has been accepted in most studies of the primary sources. His aim is to see whether a somewhat different picture emerges when one examines the material with altered presuppositions and a questioning attitude. Thus, each chapter in Reconstructing Early Christian Worship begins from the conventional depiction of its topic. The author then subjects the sources to an assessment from the perspective of the methodology set out in his earlier work, which then leads to new conclusions. Important aspects of the Eucharist, baptism, and daily prayer are each explored in turn and new understandings of those rites opened up. The resulting change in perception not only affects how we reconstruct our vision of the past but also how we use the past as precedent for worship practice today. Each chapter ends with a comment on the possible modern application of these new discoveries. Paul F. Bradshaw is professor of liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, and priest-vicar of Westminster Abbey and a member of the Church of England Liturgical Commission. He is the author or editor of several major books (The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship, Eucharistic Origins, Reconstructing Early Christian Worship, The Study of Liturgy, A Companion to Common Worship, volumes 1 and 2). (publisher's website) I appreciate much about Bradshaw's scholarship and readable writing, but I have doubts about his orthodoxy based on the questions he raises. They sound like doubts rather than faith. "Did Jesus Institute the Eucharist at the Last Supper?" was a bit much to take (Chapter 1), but it prepared me for when he later questioned whether Paul was the one who associated the two events (19).  This volume has an appalling amount of historical criticism. I had my fill of that in studying the 1970's history of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod!  Why will I still recommend this volume to you? Bradshaw has great sources. You can read them for yourself and make your own better conclusions. Besides, his paperback studies of early Christian worship theology and practice are very affordable. I trust my Lutheran readers to be discerning, appropriately skeptical, willing to double-check sources, and properly define their terms.   In our final book of this review, Bradshaw teams up with Maxwell E. Johnson.   The liturgical year is a relatively modern invention. The term itself only came into use in the late sixteenth century. In antiquity, Christians did not view the various festivals and fasts that they experienced as a unified whole. Instead, the different seasons formed a number of completely unrelated cycles and tended to overlap and conflict with one another. In early Christianity, the fundamental cycle was that of the seven-day week. Taken over from Judaism by the first Christians, this was centered on Sunday rather than the sabbath. As the early Church established its identity, the days of the week set aside for fasting came to be different from those customary among the Jews. There also existed an annual cycle related to Easter. Drawing upon the latest research, the authors track the development of the Church's feasts, fasts, and seasons, including the sabbath and Sunday, Holy Week and Easter, Christmas and Epiphany, and the feasts of the Virgin Mary, the martyrs, and other saints. Paul F. Bradshaw is professor of liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, USA, an honorary canon of the Diocese of Northern Indiana, and a priest-vicar of Westminster Abbey. He has written or edited more than twenty books on the subject of Christian worship, together with over ninety essays or articles in periodicals. A former president of both the North American Academy of Liturgy and the international Societas Liturgica, he was also editor-in-chief of the journal Studia Liturgica from 1987 to 2005. Maxwell E. Johnson is professor of liturgy at the University of Notre Dame, USA, and a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. His numerous publications are on the origins and development of early Christian liturgy as well as on current ecumenical theological questions, especially among Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans. He is the author and/or editor of over fifteen books and seventy essays and articles in books and journals. He is also a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy, Societas Liturgica, and the Society of Oriental Liturgy. (publisher's website) Bradshaw's co-author is an ELCA Lutheran. The two make a good pair as they strengthen one another. There is appropriate skepticism of Roman evidence of Baptism at Easter (83). Discussion of the history of Christian celebrations on January 6 and December 25 are expanded (146ff). The authors give extensive new data on the development of Saints' Days (e.g., 190, 191). This volume is an improvement and a successor to a similar volume by Thomas Talley. It succeeds in presenting the extensive and often contradictory data and practice of ancient Christian communities throughout the Mediterranean and beyond in a systematic and readable way.  Bradshaw and Johnson will provide a layman with a readable introduction to the earliest celebrations of Christianity. Pastors will have ample ammunition for extended historical discussions of Christian feasts for Bible Study and pulpit.   The modern Church has largely lost a sense of history, and that means a loss of identity. The Roman revisions to the English Mass have been somewhat controversial. The controversy was unnecessary, for the Roman Church has had a long view of history. The pastoral provisions that led to an Anglican Ordinariate are a long-term process of bringing the heirs of the Church of England to Rome. I expect similar offers to other Christian traditions as Rome's ecumenical plan unfolds over the decades and centuries. The English Mass after Vatican II was just a rough draft, what Lutherans have called "hymnal supplements" or experimental liturgies. The long view of the Church at worship takes forty years to come up with the best translation of the traditional texts. Lutherans and other Americans (like the Evangelicals) can learn at least that from the Bishop of Rome and those loyal to him. The "Top 40" approach to church music will never work in the long term. Thanks, Liturgical Press! The Rev. Paul J Cain is Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming, Headmaster of Martin Luther Grammar School, a member of the Board of Directors of The Consortium for Classical and Lutheran Education, Wyoming District Worship Chairman, and Editor of QBR.

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