A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy
A word was coined in 1975 that has gotten a lot of traction as of late: “Lawfare.” It is a portmanteau of the words “Law” and “warfare.” Lawfare is a weaponized use of the law (in the civil sense) that turns the legal process itself into punishment.
Read MoreThe delightful and erudite Reverend Father Charles McClean gives a brilliant address on the history of the Society of St. James - which worked in the early to mid 20th century to restore liturgical and eucharistic piety back to an American Lutheran context decimated by various cultural forces that left our churches ceremonially impoverished.
Read MoreAfter two generations of failing to bring in the youth by being like the other denominations, perhaps it is time for the “whatever it takes” element in our synod to try something truly contemporary and new—something that they have hitherto been unwilling to do: practice reverent and historic worship.
Read MoreGuest posters should probably fear to go where Frs Eckardt and Beane have trod, but perhaps they would consider this a friendly amendment.
Read More“Confessional” churches receive more converts than “Missional” churches, and “Traditional” churches receive more converts than “Contemporary” services.
Read MoreLast night, on May 4, 2024, the Greek Orthodox patriarch went into the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (on Eastern Holy Saturday) and emerged with a candle that he claims was lit by the annual miracle of the Holy Fire. And this has been going on for centuries. There are many Christians around the world who believe this is a recurring miracle.
Read MoreThis article was published in the St. Paul’s (Kewanee) Newsletter for May. My retirement from the parish is set for June 9th.
Read MoreInstead of the Packers or Iron Man, you should incorporate the apostles or King David. Instead of cracking jokes, you should be treading on demons. Instead of seeing yourself as a stand up comedian, you should see yourself as a messenger tasked with urgent news: the oracles of God centered on the cross and the blood of the Lord in whose stead you stand.
Read MoreThe emphasis has been on the fewness of the number of people. I submit that we should emphasize not the fewness in terms of number of people, but the fewness in actual laborers. What you are being called into is labor. It is work. By the sweat of your brow you will eat. It is a daily picking up of your cross. It will be difficult, challenging, exhausting. It is work, which is fitting for a laborer.
Read MoreThe world is always evil, but as age gives way to age, the spirit of the age chooses different evils to emphasize. Today’s preachers of the Church must bring the Word to bear on today’s evils.
Read MoreIn our current (Easter) print issue, my Liturgical Observation column provided an analysis of preaching, and some common preaching practices that cannot even legitimately be classified as preaching. The article is posted here, in hopes that a wider discussion of these matters can be generated, toward the hope that in the end, better preaching might be result.
Read MoreThis article about the ongoing current debate about clerical celibacy in the Roman Catholic Church made me think of the same debate embedded in our Book of Concord - namely Article 23 of the Augsburg Confession, it’s response by Rome in the Roman Confutation, and our counter-response in Apology 23.
Read MoreWe don’t have an appearance of Jesus. We have fear. Those are the last words of Mark. “For they were afraid.”
Read MoreScamman’s Law states that whenever two Lutherans attempt to discuss a liturgical practice, a third Lutheran will try to end the discussion, citing “Adiaphora!”
Read MoreEarly bird registration for The Gottesdienst Conference on Art , Beauty, and Confession expires on April 15.
Read MoreI read something on social media recently, that if true, is a disgrace, and an indictment of both our polity and lack of erudition in the LCMS. An LCMS layman reported being summoned to a meeting of the Board of Elders of his congregation and was castigated for reading Thomas Aquinas and sharing the above two quotes on social media.
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