A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy
In this week’s Thinking Out Loud (Trinity Sunday), I had asked Fr. Petersen why John 3 had been the appointed Gospel for The Feast of the Most Holy Trinity. Not having readily available by memory this history of this feast, we embarked upon some sanctified speculation. An astute listener e-mailed me with the following from Fred Lindemann, in volume three of his The Sermon and the Propers:
Read MoreThe recent controversy over CPH’s new essays on the Large Catechism has caused some to ask whether it is appropriate for women to publicly teach official doctrine to the church. Some may argue directly from divine revelation to answer this question. Others might argue, from a sort of natural-law perspective informed by Scripture, that there is an ontological difference between men and women which makes it appropriate for men, but not women, to write the kind of essays newly attached to the catechism. Mark Preus’ recent article has jump-started the conversation on the first kind of argument; I would like to do the same thing for the second kind.
Read MoreAs this old codger has reached the term of the Psalmist’s estimate of the normal span of a man’s life, he is wondering whether the time has come for him to put his pen to a burst of Retractationes. Bill Weinrich must be much more familiar with Augustine’s swan song than am I, but I remember Henry Chadwick pronouncing in his plummy tones how in this his literary au revoir the Bishop of Hippo and Doctor of Grace more often insisted that he was right than admitted being in the wrong.
Read MoreRev. Mark Preus’s guest essay of two days ago has blessed the church with a lot of conversation and discussion. One of the commenters questioned Pr. Preus’s methodology and scholarship. This is his response. ~ Ed.
Read MoreHere are a couple videos spoofing the TV “reality” shows that feature people looking for a house. Only these folks are looking for a church.
Read MoreThe purpose of this essay is to strive for the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, so that we might together humbly accept the Word of God on this matter, submit to it, and encourage each other to apply it to our congregations and synod, speaking the truth in love, lest the devil divide us by seducing us from the clear word of God.
Read MoreCourage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means at the point of highest reality.
Read MoreCounsel for fighting sexual sins and suicide ideation from a Lutheran perspective,.
Read MoreMy many friends and acquaintances will need no explanation for my getting up at 5:00 a.m. this past Saturday morning followed by Bonnie moments later, the two of us thereafter glued to the television (while thirstily downing a pot of tea) for a good four hours, I till taking off for the St Catharines Downtown Market, she through the balcony appearance of King Charles and Queen Camilla.
Read MoreI’ve enjoyed some of the comments on my last piece about the children’s sermon - here at the blog, and on social media: the good, the bad, and the ugly. The strong reactions suggest that this is a topic that needs to be discussed.
Read MoreI’m amazed that there are still people out there who think that by adding some fad element to the liturgy, we can “grow the church” by “attracting the youth.” One of the worst of such techniques is the “children’s sermon” - sometimes euphemistically called the “children’s message.”
Read MoreRegistration link and info for Gottesdienst Conference on the Liturgy May 1-2, 2023 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Ft. Wayne.
Read MoreI received the following email - from a colleague whom I respect - in response to my Not See blogpost. It’s a bit long, but I think it important to share it here unedited (except to change a particular person’s name to his initials):
Read MoreThis is not your grandfather’s “contemporary worship”: hippie boomers with acoustic guitars singing the cringe Chicago Folk Service, or the “praise band” performing the emetic “Shine, Jesus, Shine.” Nor are they even like the terrible mashups of the Beatles and U2.
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