FW: Nicolaus Selnecker: a Scheme for Chief Hymns.

 

Selnecker…   Feed: Lutheran Orthodoxy Posted on: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 7:03 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Matt Carver (Matthaeus Glyptes)) Subject: Nicolaus Selnecker: a Scheme for Chief Hymns.   A selection of Nicolaus Selnecker, one of the authors of the Formula of Concord, on the contemporary usage of chief hymns in Leipzig, AD 1587. "IN OUR CHURCHES, we preserve the hymns of Dr. Luther and joyfully join one another in singing them and the others in his hymnal… We here in Leipzig have long had a good Christian scheme for which hymn is to be sung in church on every Sunday and festival, according to what best fits that day's Gospel, and this scheme has been kept up to this day…  To relate this order briefly for the instruction of others, the congregation, during Advent, sings "Savior of the Nations, Come" along with the German Litany. During the Christmas holiday is sung: "We Praise Thee Jesus at Thy Birth", "Now Praise We Christ, the Holy One," "Thanks Let us Render" [the Sequence, Danksagen wir alle —MC], "From Heav'n Above to Earth I Come," "From Heav'n the Angel Troop Came near," "Why, Herod, Fearest Thou the Foe?", and "Hail the Day So Rich in Cheer." These hymns are cycled through until Candlemas. Now, if the Baptism of Christ is preached, as often happens, on the Second Sunday after Epiphany, then "To Jordan Came Our Lord the Christ" is sung. On Candlemas is sung "Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart in Peace" as well as "In Peace and Joy I Now Depart." On the Fifth Sunday after Epiphany, the hymn "In Peace and Joy…" is repeated, or else "O Lord Look Down from Heav'n, Behold" is sung. Septuagesima: "Salvation unto Us Has Come"; Sexagesima: "Our Father, Thou in Heav'n Above"; Esto mihi: "By Adam's Fall Is All Forlorn"; Invocavit: "O Christ, Who art the Light and Day" —which hymn is repeated with the German Litany in church every Sunday until Palm Sunday.  On Palm Sunday, before the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of St. Matthew is chanted, the hymn "From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee" is normally sung. On Maundy Thursday, "Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior" (concerning the Lord's Supper) is sung. On Good Friday, before the whole Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ according to the Gospel of St. John is chanted, that excellent hymn "Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice" is sung.During the Easter holiday are sung "This is Such a Holy Day" [Also heilig ist der Tag - after Salve festa dies —MC], "Christ Is Arisen from the Grave's Dark Prison," "Jesus Christ our Savior True, Who Death Overthrew,"… and such are continued until Rogation Sunday and that week, when "Our Father Thou in Heav'n Above" is sung. On Ascension, however, the comforting hymn "Dear Christians, One and All…" is repeated; also, "Christ rose to heaven" [Christ fuhr gen Himmel]. On Exaudi: "If God Had Not Been on Our Side." During the Pentecost holiday: "We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost," "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord." On Trinity: "God the Father, Be Our Stay," "May God Bestow on Us His Grace." On the First Sunday after Trinity is sung the last hymn named, and "The Mouth of Fools doth God Confess" is occasionally added on account of the Gospel. On Trinity II: "Lord, Hear the Voice of My Complaint"; Trinity III: "Have Mercy on Me, Lord my God" [Erbarm dich mein, o Herre Gott," or "The Only Son from Heaven"; IV: "That Man a Godly Life Might Live"; V: "Were God Not with Us at This Time" or "If God Had Not Been on Our Side"; VI: "Wilt Thou, O Man, Live Happily" or "Salvation unto Us Has Come"; VII: "My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker" or "My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord"; VIII: "O Lord, Look Down from Heav'n, Behold"; IX. "The Mouth of Fools doth God Confess"; X. "Beside the Streams of Babylon" [An Wasserflüssen Babylon —MC]; XI: "In Thee Alone, O Christ, My Lord" or "From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee"; XII: "By Adam's Fall Is All Forlorn"; XIII: "Salvation unto Us Has Come" or "That Man a Godly Life Might Live"; XIV: "Have Mercy on Me, Lord my God" or "In Thee Alone, O Christ, My Lord"; XV: "A Mighty Fortress Is our God"; XVI: "In the Midst of Earthly Life" or "In Peace and Joy I Now Depart"; XVII: "Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice"; XVIII: "The Only Son from Heaven"; XIX: "Lord, Hear the Voice…" or "My Soul, Now Bless…"; XX: "O Lord, Look Down from Heav'n, Behold"; XXI: "Salvation unto Us Has Come," "May God Bestow on Us His Grace"; XXII: "Have Mercy…", "From Depths of Woe…"; XXIII: "The Mouth of Fools…"; XXIV: "In Peace and Joy…", "Lord Jesus Christ, True Man and God"; XXV: "God the Father, Be Our Stay"; XXVI: "Our Father…"; XXVII: "Dear Christians…" or "A Mighty Fortress." Similarly, on festivals we sing, e.g., on the Annunciation, "The Only Son from Heaven"; Conversion of St. Paul: "Have Mercy on Me, Lord my God"; Feasts of Apostles: "Lord God, We Sing Thy Praise" [i.e., the Te Deum]; on the feast of John the Baptist, "To Jordan Came Our Lord the Christ"; on the Visitation, "My Soul Now Magnifies the Lord"; On St. Michael, "Lord God, We All to Thee Give Praise" or "My Soul, Now Bless Thy Maker"… I say this all on account of the German hymns, which we… maintain every Sunday morning… Concerning which I must boast that a better scheme for hymns may not easily be established." (Translation © Matthew Carver, 2012, after the German text quoted in Kümmerle: Enzyklopädie…) View article...

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FW: Who is the Pharisee here?

 

Consider…   Feed: Pastoral Meanderings Posted on: Tuesday, February 07, 2012 5:00 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Peters) Subject: Who is the Pharisee here?   Over the course of many discussions with folks about contemporary Christian worship and music, the charge is often leveled against the liturgical types that they are the modern day Pharisees -- concerned with forms instead of the heart and its sincere faith or preoccupied with legalistic attitudes about worship instead of the "Spirit and Truth" characterization of Jesus... Let me begin by saying there is a bit of truth in this.  There are liturgical types who do mirror the old Pharisaic attitudes and perspective.  There are Lutheran liturgical types that are caught up in a frenzy for a medieval mass with all that glitters.  But they are few and they give the rest of us a bad name.  We are not liturgical Nazis.  We are not concerned about such things as hand or foot placement.  We have bigger fish to fry.  Our concern is for the means of grace and where it is that we gather our confidence and standing before God.  We battle not for damask and diptychs but for the Word and Sacraments that when God's people come on Sunday morning they may know for sure where Christ and His gifts are to be found. In fact, it appears to me that those who insist upon doing as they please on Sunday morning are more Pharisaic.  They certainly do not honor the liturgical rubrics as having much value or any force but they have high regard for another law.  They have turned their freedom into a new law.  Forgetting Paul's salutary admonition that not everything possible is beneficial, they jealously guard their "right" to do as they please -- to do what works.  Hiding behind the false cover of adiaphora (which they do not understand except as unimportant), they hold us captive to a different law.  In bondage to numbers and statistics, they slovenly borrow and steal whatever they think will work to puff up the balance sheet and prove that they are successful.  In this way they are as bound to the outward appearance of the law and righteousness as the Pharisee. On the other hand, I would characterize most Lutheran liturgical types as the Publican in all of this.  Their concern is not how it all looks but will it forgive sins?  Will it convey Christ?  Will it call forth, gather as one, nurture in hope, and sustain the faith of God's people?  Our bondage to the means of grace is not a choice but our captivity to the Word and promise of our Lord who has bound Himself to the Word and Sacraments.  So for us the liturgical or worship wars have nothing to do with taste or effectiveness (in human judgement) or even faithfulness in the abstract.  Our stance is really about the primacy of the means of grace, which are the heart and core of the liturgy and the framework for the faithful Lutheran liturgical practice.  Apart from the means of grace, we have little reason to gather and even less confidence that our gathering is legitimate or has any power to address what ails us. No, there may be liturgical types who fit in with the Pharisees but it is more likely that the other side has tied itself to appearances, to earthly measures of success, and to illusive standards (like feelings) instead of faithfulness to the means of grace.  What is at stake here in this grand discussion is nothing less than the Gospel itself.  Until we recognize this, worship will continue to be a battle ground and there will be blood on the pews (or theater seating with cup holders). View article...

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FW: I Turn, O Christ, to You

 

Cantemus…   Feed: Lutheran Hymn Revival Posted on: Monday, February 06, 2012 10:15 PM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Amberg) Subject: I Turn, O Christ, to You   This is for my father confessor, Pr. Michael Monterastelli. Lord God, I turn to You In every trying hour; The sins You know I do, Have left me void of pow'r. And in my inward struggle, Both shame and doubting mingle; No strength is left for patience, No comfort for my conscience, So what can I, poor sinner do, But turn, O Lord, to You?   You made me by Your Word, You fashioned me from clay, But what is my reward For sinning every day? What help is in my reason That leaves me still in prison Whenever I would fathom My lack of faith and freedom? So what can I, poor sinner do, But turn, O Lord, to You?   When sickness comes and takes The gladness out of life, And daily trial makes My joy turn into strife, And prayers appear unanswered, And hope to fear surrendered, Should I trust in the liar Who kindled first the fire? No, what can I, poor sinner do, But turn, O Lord, to You?   And when my flesh and blood, Which can't inherit heav'n, Search for the hidden God Who so much death has giv'n, That first lie of the devil Will make me call You evil, And all I think and ponder Will make me farther wander; So what can I, poor sinner, do, But turn, O Lord, to You?   To You, O Jesus Christ, True God, and Mary's Son, For sinners sacrificed, Whose work for me was done In love for all creation, When once for our salvation, You bore sin's cursed burden To bring us peace and pardon; What can a wretched sinner do, But turn, O Christ, to You?    And though my sins are more Than stars up in the sky, Than sands upon the shore, For them You willed to die, When all God's holy essence Was in your human substance, And all Your pure obedience Was reckoned to my conscience, By God, our Heav'nly Father who Turns me, O Christ, to You.   And in this sinful flesh, I live a life of faith; Each day, all pure and fresh I rise from sin and death; For what my Savior suffered Is freely to me offered; In holy Word and water My burden is made lighter, So that, with heart and faith made new, I turn, O Christ, to You.   And in the Church of God, I live with hope and love; Christ's body and his blood, Give comfort from above, Forgiving my transgression, With heavenly compassion, So that I stand unmoving – The Holy Spirit proving, That sinners still their whole life through May turn, O Christ, to You.     View article...

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LHP Review: Personal Projects (Update)

 

Rev. Cain:

 

Thank you for taking the time to review my books.

 

Near the end of your review, you state, "CWC resources must go through Doctrinal Review. I am not aware if there is a similar process for books published by/through the SBC." LifeWay does, in fact, require such a review, and both of my books were reviewed by Dr. Stephen D. Drake at LifeWay. Perhaps the readers of your review would benefit from a mention of this fact.

 

Thank you once again for reviewing my books.

 

Bob

 

Robert Leslie Palmer

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FW: Jehovah Knoweth None

 

Tchividjian…   Feed: Tullian Tchividjian Posted on: Monday, February 06, 2012 12:04 PM Author: Tullian Tchividjian Subject: Jehovah Knoweth None   I'm two weeks into a new sermon series on Galatians that I've entitled Free at Last. And I dare say that there is no other commentary on Galatians that is better or more important than Martin Luther's. Galatians, according to Luther, is the "Magna Carta of Christian Freedom." It is, he said, "my Katharina von Bora", referring to his beloved wife. Luther's commentary is not just a groundbreaking commentary on Galatians, it is one of the most important books ever written on the Gospel. One of my favorite sections is when he writes on how to answer the Accuser: Paul does not say that works are objectionable, but to build one's hopes for righteousness on works is disastrous, for that makes Christ good for nothing.  Let us bear this in mind when the devil accuses our conscience. When that dragon accuses us of having done no good at all, say to him, "You trouble me with the remembrance of my past sins; you remind me that I have done no good. But this does not bother me, because if I were to trust in my own good deeds, or despair because I have done no good deeds, Christ would profit me neither way. I am not going to make Him unprofitable to me. This I would do if I should presume to purchase for myself the favor of God by my good deeds or if I should despair of my salvation because of my sins." This reminds me of my favorite hymn line: Well may the accuser roar, of sins that I have done; I know them all and thousands more, Jehovah knoweth none! View article...

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FW: What Kind Of A Pastor Do Sinners Need?

 

Tchividjian…   Feed: Tullian Tchividjian Posted on: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 8:56 PM Author: Tullian Tchividjian Subject: What Kind Of A Pastor Do Sinners Need?   Sinclair Ferguson answers this question from his Marrow Controversy Lectures: But when your people come and have been broken by sin and have fallen into temptation and are ashamed to confess the awful mess they have made of their life, it is not a Calvinistic pastor who has been sanctified by vinegar that they need. It is a pastor that has been mastered by the unconditional, free grace of God. It is a pastor from whom ironclad orthodoxy has been torn away and the whole armor of a gracious God has been placed upon his soul–the armor of one who would not break the bruised reed or quench the dimly burning wick. You see, my friends, as we think together in these days about a Godly pastor we have to ask, what is a Godly pastor? A Godly pastor is one who is like God, who has a heart of free grace running after sinners. The Godly pastor is the one who sees the prodigal and runs and falls on his neck and weeps and kisses him and says, "This my son was dead, he was lost and now he is alive and found." Pastors, when sinners are drowning, don't tell them to paddle harder and kick faster. Throw them the life-line of amazing grace. View article...

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FW: Lutheran Witness — Worship for the Weary

 

Pauls…   Feed: Steadfast Lutherans Posted on: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:01 AM Author: Pastor Tim Rossow Subject: Lutheran Witness — Worship for the Weary   Here is yet another excellent article found on Lutheran Witness The View from Here written by Rev Tim Pauls. You can subscribe to the Lutheran Witness here. You can also follow LW on facebook here.   Worship for the Weary by Tim Pauls I'm all for hearty praise, good feelings and new insight in worship, but if these are lacking, it doesn't mean the service is a bust. I offer the hypothetical of a parishioner who is fighting cancer. Given his illness and the withering effects of chemotherapy, he's low on energy of all kinds. He feels no joy and dozes during the sermon. But then he receives the Lord's Supper, and so he goes home confident that he remains a forgiven child of God. For one near death, there's no better assurance. Replace that hypothetical with the grieving new widow or parents trying to teach small children to sit still in the pew. For all sorts of reasons, Christians are weary bunch. They're tempted or prevented from focusing in worship as they should, but because of the Lord's work in His Word and Sacraments, they can still be certain that He forgives them. A recent article entitled "Survey: Half of churchgoer's lives not affected by time in pews" summarized a study in which 46 percent of churchgoing Americans reported that their lives have not changed due to their church attendance. Additionally, only 44 percent feel God's presence in church every week, and a full 60 percent could not remember a significant new insight from their last visit to church. The article describes this as "a finding sure to disappoint pastors." Personally, I'm more concerned about the survey. Its methodology and specific questions aren't available, nor are its results particularly useful. Consider those who complain of little insight: It's quite possible they are hearing poor preaching. But it's equally possible that many don't consider good preaching to be insightful because they're looking for another message. Or consider those who apparently don't feel God's presence every week. In many churches, a sense of God's presence is reduced to emotional feeling, as in, "I feel Jesus in my heart." But God isn't present because we feel Him. He's present because He says He's in His means of grace, whether we feel Him or not. Remember the hypothetical cancer patient, widow and young parents I mentioned before. Because of their circumstances, all would likely say their lives hadn't changed because of worship; they didn't feel God's presence, and they derived little new insight. But all of them could also say that they were certain that God was present and that they were forgiven there. It is certain because God says so, not because they feel it. What comfort! I remember a mother remarking, "With little kids, I don't hear much between the Invocation and the Benediction, but thanks to the Supper, I know I've received forgiveness." God grant to preachers sermons that are packed with insightful Law and Gospel, and God grant to churchgoers freedom from distractions and thirst for the pure Word. But where matters are less than ideal because of sin or circumstance, God grant faith that acknowledges His presence and grace anyway, according to His promises. There's no better comfort for the weary. View article...

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FW: Utility and Benefit. . .

 

Peters…   Feed: Pastoral Meanderings Posted on: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 7:07 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Pastor Peters) Subject: Utility and Benefit. . .   I have never quite figured out the extensive money and efforts to promote sports in schools (elementary to college).  It is not that I don't enjoy a good game (though football is my preferred spectator sport).  I do.  But for all the money we invest in sports, it has not borne many benefits to Americans.  We are largely sedentary in our lifestyles -- a nice way for saying, as me Mum used to say, that we sit on our lard butts too darn much.  In addition the numbers of individuals who go on to sports careers is miniscule compared to the general population.  Sports programs are costly, do not directly benefit the health and physical activity of the general population, and provide training for the vocations of but a few.  So, why do we continue to fund them so highly? I surely know that our heros are largely drawn from the ranks of Hollywood and the stadium.  This is not exactly a great thing.  For every Tebow who seems honorable there are hosts of Barry Bonds with less than honorable pasts.  Still it seems a high price to pay just so we can have a few faces plastered on Wheaties boxes or in Nike commercials.  Is this really why we invest so heavily in sports?  To provide a few role models for our kids (a dubious goal in the first place and this turned out about as well as the sports programs have for personal health and vigorous exercise for the rest of us). In contrast, the arts are cut at every turn.  As soon as the school runs up against a budget problem art and music feel the pain.  In fact, in my area the choral programs in schools are not choral at all (unless you consider singing melody to a CD background track choral music).  It would seem that at best we are training people to sing with their radios while they make their way into the cubicle for work every day.  While that in and of itself is not a bad thing, I would hope we expect more. Instrumental music was once the future for those who played something in middle or high school.  Community bands, church instrumental ensembles, orchestra pits for community musicals -- why I recall the days when adults came together in the church and community dragging their beat up trombone, trumpet, flute, oboe, and clarinet cases to make wonderful music.  In my first parish,  nearly half the average Sunday attendance was involved in the parish music program! To teach youth to sing was once to give them a lifelong outlet for their voices.  Glee clubs, community choirs, musical theater, church choirs, and congregational hymns provided a regular outlet for what folks once learned in school (how to read music and sing in parts).  In the dark ages when I was in school, the choirs sang largely a Capella and we competed for regional and even state honors for excellence.  Most of those folks still sing regularly (from their church choirs to the hymns and songs of Sunday morning worship). Given the sad state of music in American churches today, I can see practical benefit to shifting some sports dollars to teaching kids to read music and sing parts once again.  More than benefiting churches, it would benefit the people -- it is a gift that keeps on giving over the whole of a person's life.  As a Pastor I know the value of hymn singing as a profound way to memorize the faith.  Take a trip to a nursing home and see how the great hymns of old awaken the sparkle in the eyes of the aged and infirm and renew their sagging spirits as they sing (in their hearts if not with their voices) as one of the people of God gathered around the Word, font, and table of the Lord again.  I long for the days when you could regularly count on at least one stanza of favorite hymns sung in parts by the folks in the pews. The legendary choral programs of the Lutheran universities (perhaps the places where Lutheranism is still taken seriously in those institutions) are not frosting on the cake -- they give their singers skills and abilities that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.  This is salutary and beneficial for the singers and not simply for those who buy the CDs or listen to the choirs touring.  Singing is a good thing and singing in church is a grand endeavor.  Would that we gave our kids something that truly would stick with them the whole of their lives instead of the great ability to sit and watch on TV the sports they wanted to play in high school but mostly didn't (sitting on the bench, instead). So my vote goes to reintroducing the choral program into the school, spending the bucks on the bands, and bringing back musical productions (Oklahoma, anyone? -- not just for the stereotypical gay Glee wannabe, either).  In this way we at least give our kids something useful over the whole of their lives instead of merely an interest to follow the exploits of overpaid and often flawed heroes who distract us with a couple of hours of activity on AstroTurf while we eat and drink too much watching them.... From Francis Pott, who is part of a whole movement of composers from Britain who are continuing its tradition of choral music... give it a listen and know that good choral music is STILL being composed and sung!   View article...

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FW: So I write about sin a lot...

 

Cantemus…   Feed: Lutheran Hymn Revival Posted on: Wednesday, February 01, 2012 4:03 PM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Amberg) Subject: So I write about sin a lot...     Tune: Herzliebster Jesu (O Dearest Jesus)   O God, for pardon and for free remission, I come to You in sorrow and contrition, Hear in Your grace Your servant's meek petition, Lord Christ, have mercy!   Though from my birth I have a sinful nature, You are my God and I am still your creature; Fulfill Your pledge to sinners in the Scripture: Lord Christ, have mercy!   For helpless sinners was your incarnation; Why else except for men and their salvation Did You come down and suffer sin's temptation? Lord Christ, have mercy!   As David cried to you beneath his burden, And by your grace his heart You did not harden, So hear my plea for mercy and for pardon, Lord Christ, have mercy!   As once the thief implored you for compassion, While You were dying for the world's transgression, So look with pity on my soul's confession. Lord Christ, have mercy!   Since from Your wounds Your blood was freely flowing, Making the peace that passes all our knowing, Give me the rest Your death is still bestowing. Lord Christ, have mercy!   And as the women washed your feet with weeping, So let my tears stay safe within your keeping, Forgiven much, much love for others reaping. Lord Christ, have mercy.   Then with my sins and Satan too defeated, Let me by saints and angels soon be greeted, The good You have begun in me completed. Lord Christ, have mercy.         View article...

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FW: Spend Lent with our fathers (and a few mothers) in the faith…

 

Consider…   Feed: Steadfast Lutherans Posted on: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:51 PM Author: Pastor Joshua Scheer Subject: Spend Lent with our fathers (and a few mothers) in the faith…   A few years back I spent a lot of time writing a daily devotional for Lent that incorporated the Small Catechism, reading through the Gospels, regular prayer, and learning more about our Lutheran Heritage.  The result was something I entitled "Lutherans for Lent".  It involves a devotion for each day consisting of a brief biography of one of our Lutheran fathers, a suggested scheduled reading of a chief part of the Catechism, a couple chapters suggested continuous reading of the Gospels, and then also some weekly rotated prayer suggestions. In the parishes I have served many people have come to know how much I believe teaching our Lutheran Heritage is an important part of seeing God's continued care for His people.  Along with that I view our heritage as proof that our doctrine and the practice of that doctrine cannot be divided.  Seeing how our Faith has looked in the lives of those who came before us can help us understand how it finds expression in our daily lives today as well. So for anyone's resource and use, I make the following available for free to whoever would like to use them to become better acquainted with our Lutheran fathers (and some mothers too).   For a copy licensed to be used in congregations, click here (for 2-sided book formatting, click here).   For a copy licensed to be used in households, click here (for 2-sided book formatting, click here.   If you like this, please consider making a donation to the SAVE ULC fund.   View article...

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FW: Bulletin Inserts for the Gesima season

 

Another resource…   Feed: Posted on: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 3:05 PM Author: ToddPeperkorn Subject: Bulletin Inserts for the Gesima season   From time to time I have to explain what the "Gesima" season is to my parishioners (okay, every year).  I inherited this insert from a brother pastor many years ago.  I hope you find it of some benefit as you teach the flock of the gifts of God!  You may download it here in either PDF or .DOC format.  Enjoy! Pastor Todd Peperkorn   GesimaInsert.pdf GesimaInsert.doc View article...

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FW: Lutheran Witness — Worship for the Weary

Pauls…

 

Feed: Steadfast Lutherans
Posted on: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 9:01 AM
Author: Pastor Tim Rossow
Subject: Lutheran Witness — Worship for the Weary

 

Here is yet another excellent article found on Lutheran Witness The View from Here written by Rev Tim Pauls. You can subscribe to the Lutheran Witness here. You can also follow LW on facebook here.   Worship for the Weary by Tim Pauls I'm all for hearty praise, good feelings and new insight in worship, but if these are lacking, it doesn't mean the service is a bust. I offer the hypothetical of a parishioner who is fighting cancer. Given his illness and the withering effects of chemotherapy, he's low on energy of all kinds. He feels no joy and dozes during the sermon. But then he receives the Lord's Supper, and so he goes home confident that he remains a forgiven child of God. For one near death, there's no better assurance. Replace that hypothetical with the grieving new widow or parents trying to teach small children to sit still in the pew. For all sorts of reasons, Christians are weary bunch. They're tempted or prevented from focusing in worship as they should, but because of the Lord's work in His Word and Sacraments, they can still be certain that He forgives them. A recent article entitled "Survey: Half of churchgoer's lives not affected by time in pews" summarized a study in which 46 percent of churchgoing Americans reported that their lives have not changed due to their church attendance. Additionally, only 44 percent feel God's presence in church every week, and a full 60 percent could not remember a significant new insight from their last visit to church. The article describes this as "a finding sure to disappoint pastors." Personally, I'm more concerned about the survey. Its methodology and specific questions aren't available, nor are its results particularly useful. Consider those who complain of little insight: It's quite possible they are hearing poor preaching. But it's equally possible that many don't consider good preaching to be insightful because they're looking for another message. Or consider those who apparently don't feel God's presence every week. In many churches, a sense of God's presence is reduced to emotional feeling, as in, "I feel Jesus in my heart." But God isn't present because we feel Him. He's present because He says He's in His means of grace, whether we feel Him or not. Remember the hypothetical cancer patient, widow and young parents I mentioned before. Because of their circumstances, all would likely say their lives hadn't changed because of worship; they didn't feel God's presence, and they derived little new insight. But all of them could also say that they were certain that God was present and that they were forgiven there. It is certain because God says so, not because they feel it. What comfort! I remember a mother remarking, "With little kids, I don't hear much between the Invocation and the Benediction, but thanks to the Supper, I know I've received forgiveness." God grant to preachers sermons that are packed with insightful Law and Gospel, and God grant to churchgoers freedom from distractions and thirst for the pure Word. But where matters are less than ideal because of sin or circumstance, God grant faith that acknowledges His presence and grace anyway, according to His promises. There's no better comfort for the weary.

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FW: Suggestion for the Ash Wednesday Liturgy

 

Consider…   Feed: Weedon's Blog Posted on: Monday, January 30, 2012 8:04 PM Author: noreply@blogger.com (William Weedon) Subject: Suggestion for the Ash Wednesday Liturgy   So, in the LW Agenda, after the address and opening litany for Ash Wednesday, the rubrics direct you to continue with the OT reading - in other words, the address and litany replace the entrance rite entirely. Along comes LSB Altar Book, and now in addition to the address and opening litany, the rubrics specifically permit the distribution of ashes (either as the people enter or after the opening litany).  But then things get confusing: "After all have received the ashes, the service continues with the Service of Confession and Absolution in the Divine Service, or with the rite of Corporate Confession and Absolution." (p. 486)  The rationale for the Confession and Absolution p. 483 with rubric 3:  "Ashes are a sign of mortality and death.  Therefore, the imposition of ashes should be followed by the rite of Confession and Absolution." Absolutely nothing is said about anything else in the Entrance Rite.  The assumption seems to be that following Confession and Absolution for whichever Divine Service we'd continue with Introit, Kyrie, salutation and collect. Yet we DO note in the rubrics for Corporate Confession and Absolution (p. 422, rubric 3):  "This rite may also replace the preparation rite of the Divine Service.  Following this rite, the service would continue at the Introit/Entrance Hymn or Salutation and Collect of the Day. *This is particularly appropriate in Lent, and is suggested in the order for Ash Wednesday.*" Well, it's not suggested there no matter what the rubric says, but the fact that it is suggested HERE leads me to ask: doesn't it make sense if you insist on doing Confession and Absolution immediately after the Ashes, to move directly to salutation and collect?  Or even to the OT reading?  The litany has already covered the "Kyrie" if you will and it concludes with a collect.  And an "entrance" - either Introit or Entrance Hymn makes little sense so late in the service (I mean, in our place, it takes about 20 minutes before the opening litany and distribution of ashes if finished - let alone adding to it a Confession and Absolution!). Perhaps also of import is the rubric on p. 410 (#4) that "the Litany may serve as an Entrance Rite in the Divine Service, replacing the Introit, Kyrie, and Hymn of Praise."  If that holds for "THE Litany" why not for the Ash Wednesday litany (as it once did in LW)?   I'd posted all the above over on ALPB and Pr. Zimmerman wrote me to inform me of his practice which makes the absolute most sense of out of the confusing rubrics.  Here's his practice:   Opening Hymn Invocation Opening Sentences Lenten Address (from LSB Altar Book) Salutation and Collect of the Day OT  Psalm NT Verse Holy Gospel Hymn of Day Sermon Service of Ashes:  The Litany, Blessing of Ashes, Imposition of Ashes, Declaration of Grace Offering Received Offertory and then Service of the Sacrament as usual.   I like his immensely because it is clear, it simplifies the service, it gives you the opportunity to preach upon the practice before inviting folks up for the ashes, and it avoids the needless repetitions (Western liturgy does NOT like repetition in general!) of the Litany at the beginning and then the Prayer of the Church following the sermon.  It totally preserves the rubrics concern that some form of declaration of grace be spoken after the ashes are distributed.  I think it's the best solution I've yet seen to the rather confusing rubrics in Lutheran Service Book on this matter.   One more matter of note - I also appreciate Pr. Mozolak's practice of reminding those who receive the ashes, not only that they are dust and to dust they shall return, but that they are Christ's and to Christ they shall return.  I'm not sure what to do with that yet, but I like it.  A lot.   http://feeds.feedburner.com/WeedonsBlog View article...

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Resources Received

 

ESV Single Column Legacy Bible. Wheaton: Crossway, 2012. 1664 Pages. TruTone. $49.99. www.crossway.org (P) Jenson, Robert W. Lutheran Slogans: Use and Abuse. Delhi, NY: ALPB Books, 2011. 80 Pages. Paper. $6.00. www.alpb.org (LHPN) The Lake Louise Commission: The Sacred Family. Delhi, NY: ALPB Books, 2011. 124 Pages. Paper. $12.50 www.alpb.org (LHPN) Ronneberg, Rod. L. A Little Book of Canons: Eucharistic Prayers for Times and Seasons.  Delhi, NY: ALPB Books, 2011. 120 Pages. Paper. $10.00. www.alpb.org (LHPN)

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FW: Why I Like Doing It the Hard Way

 

Consider…   Feed: Justification Rules Posted on: Monday, January 30, 2012 10:22 AM Author: noreply@blogger.com (Jay Hobson) Subject: Why I Like Doing It the Hard Way   There are a lot of resources available for a pastor to use. There are sermon series with full sermons available to preach. There are pre-molded bible studies that you can pick up and use in an instant. There are confirmation materials that practically teach themselves. In theory, the pastor wouldn't even need to know the Word of God at all with everything that is available for pastors. But I like doing it the "hard way". Concordia Publishing House (CPH) provides a bible study on each chapter of the bible, yet I am writing my own. That's not to say that I go it alone, or do not cherish some of the treasures that are available. For example, Rev. Peter Bender of the Concordia Catechetical Academy provides a great resource for catechesis. I use it to teach, but also supplement it (not that it needs much supplementing) with that of my own studies. CPH has produced a Lenten Sermon Series based on the Penitential Psalms. I am using their ideas, but I am not using their full written sermons. I will do things myself. There are two reasons why I especially like to do this: 1) Learned in the Word of God. When I write a bible study, I am forced to study and know the text. I am forced to look at the Hebrew and Greek and read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest it. With a prefabricated bible study, I am tempted not to study as much. The end result is a more knowledgeable pastor and more time spent in and throughout the Word of God. It becomes a blessing to me in that I grow in the knowledge of the Word and of Christ. But is also a blessing to my congregation for the more skilled I am with the Word of God, the more clearly they will hear Christ proclaimed to them. 2) Contextualization. When I write a bible study, I can tailor the study to the congregation. Hear me rightly, please. The truth of the Scriptures reaches across all times and all places, and as such needs no contextualization. However, because the Scripture comes to not simply to a man, but to "Bill the farmer, husband, father, school board representative, and U.S. citizen," the Scripture is spoken to him in his vocation. Thus, my bible study can be focus on the needs of the congregation as governed by where the Word of God leads. And, of course, this is a necessity when it comes to preaching. On the other side, there are two reasons why this is burdensome: 1) Time. Writing a bible study is time consuming. Writing a sermon takes up a large portion of the week. Writing out individual bulletin inserts about the divine service (instead of purchasing them from CPH) takes more than a couple hours. It cuts into other things I could be doing - Shut-Ins could use more frequent visits, congregation members and less-frequent members could be visited, more time could be spent in other academic pursuits. The bottom line is that it takes extra time to do these things, and even more time to do them well. But in my opinion, it is time well spent. 2) My limited capacity. I am newly out of seminary. It is easy to get over ambitious in what I am trying to accomplish. Granted, I can do a lot, but there still room for improvement. Simply put, there are pastor who take a better approach at a certain study than I would have ever been able to conceive. There are likely better ways than my ways. But my ways train me in the Word of God. It is time consuming and the struggle is great, but in the end it is for the benefit of all that I take this "hard way". It gets me and the congregation deeper into the Word and that is always a good thing. +Kyrie Eleison+ View article...

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