A blog of the Evangelical Lutheran Liturgy
What I’ve been thinking about more and more is this. How do we as pastors help or hinder that process? Are we to see ourselves primarily as agents of alleviating pain or of administering it? Are we called to make other people’s lives easier and more comfortable? Or are we called to call them to a life of embracing difficulty, of endurance and fortitude, of daring and risk, of zeal for what is good despite the pain?
Read MoreWhile looking into the confrontation between Emperor Valens and Basil the Great, Bishop of Caesarea, I came across this beautifully-written summary. I’m gratified by the example of St. Basil…
Read MoreAugust 19-20, 2024 in Madison Tennessee. Register now!
Read MoreTo be sure, we Lutherans do not walk with the archbishop, nor he with us. But we do stand sympathetically with him on a principle found in Article 28 of the Augsburg Confession.
Read MoreOf course, this is not normally language we consider pastoral or biblical - but there are times for bluntness, sarcasm, and for raising eyebrows. Dealing with false teachers in the congregation is not a time to be nice or to worry about hurt feelings.
Read MoreEarly life experience taught me that spirits are most definitely not to be trifled with.
Read MoreThe 2024 St. Michael Liturgical Conference - Zion Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Detroit - Monday, September 30, 2024.
Read MoreAccording to Scripture, a change in style can have sufficient force as to change a blessing into its very opposite, a curse. This is not just mission drift; it is mission reversal.
Read MoreHappy Independence Day to our American readers!
Read MoreA number of people have asked about the hymn of the day that was sung at my retirement mass on June 9th. It is my own composition, composed and written for the celebration of the cornerstone centennial celebration of St. Paul’s in Kewanee in 2003.
Read MoreI found these remarks by the notable writer Shelby Foote (1916-2005) to be somewhat analogous and applicable to preaching. After all, preaching is a form of writing, insofar as it requires preparation and thought, and is done by means of words woven together into a larger work of narrative - whether one preaches with a manuscript or not.
Read MoreThe Executive Committee of the CUWAA Board of Regents has prepared a letter in response to last week's letter from the Michigan District and asked that it be shared with the South Wisconsin District and other stakeholders.
Read MoreA Communication from the Michigan District BOD and President to Michigan District Congregations, their Members, and Other Supporters of Concordia University Ann Arbor, June 21, 2024
Read MoreI would encourage everyone to take a look at this video and consider how much overlap there is with our own contemporary American context of confessional Lutheranism.
Read MoreWe LCMS pastors have a golden opportunity, and we are desperately needed. Pastors, please read this and prayerfully consider this opportunity!
Read MorePastors are called to lead by example. This article considers that idea and provides ideals that pastors should strive for as examples to their flocks.
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