This Side of the Pulpit » Entries tagged with "liturgy"
Every Knee Shall Bow
I am a genuflecter now. I’ve seen it done, heard the gossip when Professor Feuerhahn disappeared behind the freestanding altar at Concordia Seminary, and now do it myself. The Words were spoken, and I dropped to my knees. It’s very Evangelical. It’s very biblical. It’s very Bible-based as our neighbors might say. The words of Christ, the Presence of Christ, and I dropped to my knee and paused. In the LCMS there is not much of a tradition of kneeling at the Words of Institution. Not the congregation, not the pastors. We do kneel to receive the Lord’s Body and Blood in most places. We kneel for prayer at other places. Sometimes the wedding couple kneels. But not for the Verba, not for the Words of Christ. But now I do. I’m a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Impracticality of God
More great writing and wisdom from Pr. Peters Hardly anything you see or we do on Sunday morning is practical. Not the vestments or the liturgy, not the organ or the choir, not the paraments and painting or the wooden pews and kneelers. But that is the point. It was practicality that got us in trouble in the first place. We sought a short cut to achieving our dreams of glory and it came with a price tag of death, disorder, and disappointment. We don’t need a better life now as much as we need a life that is stronger than death, mercy to forgive our sins, and hope to carry us through a life too filled with suffering, disappointment, and pain. Christian faith does not guarantee a path void of … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Kneeling as Christians (or Genuflecting)
“When menaced by the power of evil, as (Christians) kneel, they are upright before the world, while as sons and daughters, they kneel before the Father. Before God’s glory we Christians kneel and acknowledge his divinity; by that posture we also express our confidence that he will prevail… (Pope Benedict XVI) H/T http://www.ncregister.com/blog/pat-archbold/sspx-in-heretics-out#ixzz1sOgtMPl4 … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Rubrics: Maximal and Minimal
I’ve gone on a rubric kick the last week as I contemplated (now preparing for) ministry at Grace Lutheran Church. They are higher church than Redeemer, and so I have some studying and homework to do. For instance, at Grace the Pastors genuflect during the confession, at the Words of Institution etc.. They use a lavabo and incense as well. All things I do not use here. What’s funny about this is that the Lutheran blogosphere is in a tizzy about rubrics and ceremony even as I am doing this homework and study. They are debating how much and how far and “is it necessary” and all. What I want to do is learn. We don’t have a good published official ceremony and only the mere suggestion of rubrics in our hymnal … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Ceremonies and Their Purpose
Here is an excellent post by Fr. Larry Beane (yes, a Lutheran “Father”–believe it) about our worship “style” or “height” be it High Church or Low Church. There are really too many passages worthy of being a pull quote, but here’s one: Ceremonies are not about looking pretty, but rather about communicating well and with excellence. Ultimately, it’s all about charity, humility, and love. A man who loves his wife will “take pains” in the way he acts around her, treats her, and speaks to her. Christ took great pains for us on the cross. And we “take pains” to confess this truth with clarity and in love. In the final analysis, it is all about God’s grace. My congregation has grown in ceremonies over the years I have been here, from a … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Pastor Peters and Policing
Pastor Peters’ blog Pastoral Meanderings is a real gem. He offers the kind of pastoral wisdom that comes from years of experience, but retains the courage and conviction that all too often dies out as years in the pulpit increase. He posts today about a Roman Catholic priest removed for refusal to pray the Mass according to the rubrics. He does not advocate such policing in the LCMS but raises the point: whatever happened to submitting to one another for the sake of good order? Go over there and read his blog and add it to your reader. You’ll be enriched because of it. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
All the Liturgy’s a Stage
Pastor Eric Brown thinks we’re all just acting up there in the chancel…and we have understudies. Ok, not really. But he does point out that when you worship with the liturgy (the real liturgy, not your made-up ones), worship doesn’t depend on the man at all, but the office and the body present. And others can, when necessary, “stand in” for the office. His post is here. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Poor Miserable Sinner
Someone once told me that it was “a downer” beginning the worship service with those words, with an actual confession of sin, admitting we are miserable people. She thought we should begin worship on more of an “up” note. Happier, you know. More feel-good. Why do we begin with this confession of sin? Because we are sinful. Because God is holy and a consuming fire, and you are a petty, selfish, lustful, nasty person. It’s true. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
A Call to Worship?
I grew up in the LCMS. From day one, I’ve worshiped at Lutheran Churches, spending just a few years in the Evangelical Lutheran Synod. Lots of us have. But how many of you ever saw a “Call to Worship” in the hymnal. Nor did any of those worship services begin with a “Call to Worship.” But many of the “Creative Worship” services that float around the LCMS these days have one of these at the … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
LCMS Convention
The LCMS Convention is well underway (I’m behind the game on this). Already our byzantine church polity has been replaced with a less byzantine church polity, and more is underway. After all these re-structuring changes are complete, the normal order of business will be followed, i.e., electing the President and other resolutions. I cannot get excited or bothered by much of this. Re-structuring is probably necessary; our constitution is an unwieldy amalgamation of rules and conflicts. But restructuring will not change the Synod that much. Likewise the question of who is president. A more liberal president will ignore the conservatives, and a conservative president will ignore the liberals. It’s all politics, after all, and no one wants to preside over the real change that must happen in our synod. What’s that, you … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
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