Book Tag

Balaam’s Ass has been tagged by Ask the Pastor in Book Tag. This is just a quick note to say I’ve seen it, and I’ll post my few when I have some more time (probably after VBS on Saturday). Right up my alley…
Perhaps Michael will go first.
Timotheos

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Children’s Messages Defended (Or At Least Excused)

I hesitate to take issue with any blog that has a picture of Luther with a stein of beer, but I think putting children’s messages in the same category as such liturgical abominations as liturgical dancing or gender-non-specific prayers is going a little too far.
To be clear, as I said in my comments below, [...]

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Liturgy in the Local Congregation XI

Holy Communion: The Preface, Proper Preface (p. 24-25)
Following the Prayers, the Pastor reads a statement in which he reminds those present of the importance and seriousness of this holy Sacrament. Lutherans believe that Jesus comes to us physically and truly in His Supper. Because of His words and promise, His real, physical Body and [...]

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Liturgy in the Local Congregation X

The Prayers (p. 23-24)
“O my God, incline your ear and hear. … For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy” (Daniel 9:18).
“The Prayer of the Church” is an appropriate name for the prayers offered at this point. These prayers, although spoken [...]

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Liturgy in the Local Congregation IX

The Offertory (p. 22-23)
The Offertory, Offering, and General Prayer are all connected and form a bridge between the Service of the Word (ending with the sermon) and the Service of Communion (beginning with the Preface).
The Offertory is the name for something that the Lutheran church no longer practices. Instead, we have retained [...]

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Liturgy in the Local Congregation VIII

The Sermon Hymn, or Hymn of the Day (p. 22)
This hymn is perhaps the most important hymn of the service, as it relates both to the theme of the day and to the theme of the sermon. It prepares us for the message of the sermon and reminds us again of the church season [...]

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Liturgy in the Local Congregation VII

[Previous entry here]
The Creed (p. 22)
The Creed (First Lutheran uses the Nicene Creed on Communion Sundays and the Apostles’ Creed on non-Communion Sundays) is a condensed summary of salvation. It contains the basic pieces of Christian belief, and all Christians confess what is contained in these creeds. When we speak these words, we [...]

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The Heidelberg Disputation: Thesis XXIII

“The law works the wrath of God, kills, curses, accuses, judges, and damns everything that is not in Christ” (Luther, 1518).

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Jackson and God

“It’s victory,” said Tracee Raynaud, 39. “God is alive and well.”
Apparently, the end of the Michael Jackson trial has given his fans new hope in the living God.

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The Heidelberg Disputation: Thesis XXII

“That wisdom which perceives the invisible things of God by thinking in terms of works completely puffs up, blinds, and hardens” (Luther, 1518).

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