A Sermon for Gaudete on the Stewardship of Closing the Altar by Rev. Evan Scamman

Explanation of Closed Communion on Gaudete Sunday

Hermann Sasse, a liturgical theologian even as he arranged for the inscription on his tombstone

Given the major role Hermann Sasse has played in my spiritual and scholarly life over the past five decades, informed Gottesblog readers will have no difficulty imagining my emotions as on the afternoon of the Last Sunday of the Church Year orthodox Australian Lutheran layman the retired physician Dr Ian Hamer drove a few of us to the Adelaide cemetery where this patriarch of 20th-century world Lutheranism was laid to rest on his falling asleep in 1976.

John StephensonDecember 18, 2023 Comments

Adeste Infideles?

This is a tale of two hymns. One, a traditional text written in Latin, popularly sung in many languages at Christmas around the world, including in our own churches: O Come, All Ye Faithful (LSB 379). The other, a modern-day adaptation called O Come All You Unfaithful.

Larry BeaneDecember 18, 2023 Comments

What a Lutheran Isn't

Whenever we Lutherans (so-called) enter a discussion on social media, we can count on people avoiding whatever issue we want to discuss, and instead pivoting to salacious accusations against Martin Luther.

Larry BeaneDecember 17, 2023 Comments

The Lord Is with You Where the Wild Things Are

Because you are ransomed and redeemed by the Lord, reconciled to God, and righteous in His sight through faith in His Word, the roaring lion who is always on the prowl, always seeking to devour you, and the vicious beasts that would destroy you — they are all kept at bay. The wild things cannot harm you, because the Lord is with you. It often may not seem that way at all in your present experience. For here and now, in this body and life on earth, you still suffer harm and heartache, hurts and hungers, death and the grave. But have you not heard? Christ Jesus Himself has also suffered all of these things and more, and everything that you suffer. He has spent His time in the wilderness, where the wild things are.

Advent, SermonRick StuckwischDecember 16, 2023Advent, Gaudete, SermonComment

Concerning the Fourth Sunday in Advent

A post and a follow-up went out on the Gottesblog a few weeks ago about which Propers to use this year on the Fourth Sunday in Advent since it falls on December 24.

John BussmanDecember 13, 2023Vigil of Christmas, Advent 4, Rorate Coeli, John the Baptist Comments

"You Men at Gottesdienst"

“Ann” (name changed) posted the above comment in response to my piece “The Inevitable Conclusion.”

Larry BeaneDecember 12, 2023 Comments

Guest Essay: The Gap Between God and Man

To be sure, the Creator and creature are different, but – especially at this time of year! – we can rejoice in the fact that we shouldn’t draw such a sharp distinction between God and man that the rest of the Scriptures are at odds with a crude understanding of that bare statement.

Bible, Doctrine & Practice, Preaching, TheologyGuest AuthorDecember 9, 2023Scott Adle Comments

The Second Sunday in Advent

I’m in the habit of putting poems or patristic quotations in the service leaflet each week, and this one by Christina Rossetti seems to make its appearance on the Second Sunday in Advent each year.

Stefan GramenzDecember 8, 2023Comment

Worship at Concordia - Texas

Concordia Texas has begun celebrating the Lord's Supper at the chapel services.

Guest AuthorDecember 8, 2023 Comments

Ambrose, Bishop!

Note: Today is the feast of St. Ambrose of Milan. Below is my daily devotion for today based on the Treasury of Daily Prayer lectionary.

Larry BeaneDecember 7, 2023Comment

Scamman follows up with evidence for the Christmas Vigil

David PetersenDecember 7, 2023Evan Scamman, Christmas, ADvent, Lectionary Comments

Scamman's Defense of the Christmas Vigil replacing Advent 4

A defense for using the Christmas Vigil Propers on Sunday, December 24, 2023 instead of Advent 4.

The Vice—the Vise—of Pornography

Burnell EckardtDecember 3, 2023 Comments

The Treasury of Daily Prayer and the Pray Now App

One of the best things ever from CPH is the one-two punch of the Treasury of Daily Prayer and the Pray Now app.

Larry BeaneDecember 2, 2023 Comments

St. Andrew's Ode to the Cross

Burnell EckardtNovember 30, 2023 Comment

A Blueprint for the Concordias?

If a state government can do this, could our synod do this with our Concordias?

Larry BeaneNovember 28, 2023 Comments

Nun Danket Alle Gott

With the Thanksgiving feast upon us, many of our churches will sing the old Lutheran hymn, Nun Danket Alle Gott (“Now Thank We All Our God” LSB 895).

Larry BeaneNovember 21, 2023 Comments