Gottesdienst in Kansas, September 15, 2012
On September 15, 2012
Lectures on Lutheranism
is honored and privileged to host the
Reverend Dr. Burnell Eckardt,
M.Div., STM., Ph.D.,
speaking on how we are
Gathered in the New Testament
When most of us talk about the New Testament, we’re talking about the body of writing that comes after what is commonly referred to as the Old Testament. Most of the time we’re talking about the four gospel accounts, the book of Acts, and the twenty-two other writings by the apostles. But this term, “New Testament” didn’t always or even chiefly refer to the apostolic writings. It first referred to the Lord’s holy Supper, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and drink. The term “new testament” was first used by Christ in establishing a new covenant between God and man; the new testament in His blood.
It’s no accident that the term new testament refers both to the canon of apostolic books arising after Christ’s ministry and to the Holy Sacrament of the altar. This fact alone should alert us to the integral connection between word and worship, or between faith and the reception of the incarnate Christ. And just as the written New Testament is the Word of God and therefore the ultimate norm and rule for all of Christian life, so the new testament as sacrament, in Christ’s blood, must be the heart of truly Christian worship, from which all other forms of devotion and piety flow.
The fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures in the New is integrally linked to the Holy Supper, a link which is especially seen in the traditional liturgy of the saints gathered in the New Testament of Jesus.
Dr. Eckardt has been a pastor since 1982, and has served parishes in Virginia and Wisconsin prior to his move to Kewanee in 1995, where he continues to serve the people of God. Dr. Eckardt is also the editor-in-chief of Gottesdienst, the journal of Lutheran Liturgy (see www.gottesdienst.org), since 1995.
He holds a Ph.D. in historical theology from Marquette University, and a Masters of Sacred Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He is the author of The New Testament in His Blood: A Study of the Holy Liturgy of the Christian Church (Kewanee, Ill: Gottesdienst, 2010), Every Day Will I Bless Thee: Meditations for the Daily Office (Sussex, Wis.: Concordia Catechetical Academy, 1998), and Anselm and Luther on the Atonement: Was it Necessary? (New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 1992).
His areas of special scholarly interest are liturgical theology and Biblical hermeneutics. Toward this end his interest in patristic and medieval history is especially concerned with their schools of thought regarding Biblical interpretation and its application to worship.
Since 2007 he has been teaching online courses in Major World Religions, Philosophy, and Logic, for John Wood Community College in Quincy, Illinois.
Besides his regular work with Gottesdienst, he has over the years had numerous speaking engagements both at home and abroad, and has written many published articles, as well as several hymns, two musical plays performed in Lutheran schools, and a Christmas cantata. His parish is also host to an annual Oktoberfest conference and gathering in Kewanee, Illinois.
He and his wife Carol have six sons, three daughters-in-law, and two grandchildren.
2012 Schedule
Saturday, September 15th
12:15 – Divine Service
1:15 – Dr. Eckardt, session I
2:50 – Break
3:00 – Dr. Eckardt, session II
4:45 – Closing Vespers
5:15 – Beer & Brat Dinner (at the Parsonage)
Dr. Eckardt will also be leading Sunday morning’s Adult Forum in a discussion based on Saturday’s presentation, and will be preaching at the Divine Service on Sunday, Sept. 16th at 10:30am.
Area Hotels
Hoisington (2 blocks from chruch)
Cheyenne Inn & Suites (866-372-0882).
Great Bend (about 12 miles south of Hoisington)
Diretions and Map to Concordia Lutheran Church
Contact Pr. Lovett