This Side of the Pulpit » Entries tagged with "worship"
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
The Horror! The Horror!
At the Oklahoma District LCMS Convention last week I was privileged to be an assisting minister at the opening worship service. I read the Old Testament reading and assisted with communion distribution. We had three “stations” and used the “drive-by” style for the sake of time, numbers and logistics. Not my favorite way to give the gift of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, but that’s the way it was done. I held the cup containing the … 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
Easters Here, There and Everywhere
Easter Sunday was hard. Seeing all the faces of those I’ve known, the widows whose husbands I’ve buried, the hands held out that I had confirmed over the years, knowing why she doesn’t kneel but he does–seeing this and knowing it is my last Easter here. But at the same time already moving ahead, thinking of my new congregation kneeling, communing with them already together with the angels and the archangels, with Peter and John and Mary and all the company of heaven. Haven’t had one like that in years–stressful and sad and expectant and disappointing. Yes, disappointed that I will not be here again for this Feast but disappointed I’m not yet there either. It was a limbo on Easter Sunday. But it’s also saying goodbye. It’s the reason I am dreading … 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
The Rome or Geneva Post by Pastor Peters
Pastor Peters hit another one out of the park a few days ago. Here’s a choice paragraph: For every parish or Pastor who might be accused of mimicking Rome on Sunday morning, there are fifty who openly borrow from Willow Creek or Saddleback or which ever place or program is in vogue this week. The damage that this does is not limited only to the particular parish that trades in the sturdy Lutheranism for a flashy modern incarnation of a not so Christian Christianity. It ripples throughout our church body stealing our unity, raising conflict between brothers in the ministry and parishes that claim the same confession. It presents a muddled and muddied view of Lutheranism to the world — one that wears so many masks it does not even know … 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
Dare we Neglect the Doctrine of the Holy Trinity?
This article shows us why the worship of the Holy Trinity is at the heart of our Christian faith. Because we have failed to affirm the One in Three and Three in One at every time and place and place Him in the center of our worship and thought and sermons we have this false religion which denies the essence of God’s Being and Nature, denies the eternal Sonship of Jesus and yet thinks themselves as … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
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