This Side of the Pulpit » Archive
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
Good Friday Meditation
It is finished. That’s the way the stomach rumbles That’s the way the bee bumbles That’s the way the needle pricks That’s the way the glue sticks That’s the way the potato mashes That’s the way the pan flashes That’s the way the market crashes That’s the way the whip lashes That’s the way the teeth gnashes That’s the way the gravy stains That’s the way the moon wanes –William Burroughs That’s the way it all goes, not with lightning and flashes, not with gasps and groans, with the simple. It is finished. God is a God of order. Jesus dies like a German with a stiff upper lip? It is finished. And it was. And it is. Finished. Fertig. Genug. Alles in ordnung. Jesus wrapped up the whole diabolical drama and puts it away, buried in His body. But it signified everything. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Theology
Addendum on This Week of Weeks
Think about the blogosphere, the Facebooks and internets and such the past few days. People are complaining about the “new logo” of the Synod. There’s a story about a pedophile pastor in the LCMS and what or who knew about it before his most recent arrest. There’s more scandal and biting and bad news than normal. It’s all part of it. The demons use whatever they can to take our eyes off our Christ and Lord hanging from the Tree which brings life. If you are caught up in these stories, just back off. Maybe next week. Maybe then engage. But for now pray, and if you have no strength for that, laugh and smile and work and eat. That is God pleasing too. … Read entire article »
Holy Week is Every Week
Ah, Holy Week. When you’re in or around a church Holy Week works its magic on you. No, it’s not in peaceful divine rays of blessing on your shoulders. Its magic is not in beatific visions of heaven. The magic of Holy Week is that it makes us cranky and stressed and sinful. Yet it is still Holy. Part of Holy Week for us in the church is simply stress. We have many extra worship services, more music, … 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
Call Announcement
I announced this morning to my congregation that I have accepted the call to serve as Senior Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Tulsa, OK. Please pray for both congregations, for my and for my Associate Pastor Christian C. Tiews. My last Sunday at Redeemer Lutheran Church will be April 29, 2012. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
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
St. Cyprian: An Unlikely Saint
I really enjoyed a sermon I recently read by St. Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr, as recorded in The Sunday Sermons of the Great Fathers (4 Volume Set). While the sermon was included for the the Fourth Sunday in Lent, the sermon itself was a long exhortation on giving alms and the value of alms for our salvation. I thought he must have been one of those Fathers who gave everything away and languished in poverty for the sake of the Gospel. Not so. And his story is much more complicated than that. He was born into some wealth, and gathered perhaps even more, but at one point only gave a portion to the poor, keeping his Villa and then some. Nevertheless, the poor of Carthage loved him and when he was … Read entire article »
Filed under: Uncategorized
Weekend Report
We had a wonderful weekend in Tulsa. We arrived Friday night and had a nice visit with our friends who moved from Enid a few months ago. Saturday held the Winter Guard Competition at Union High School. They have quite an impressive campus–more on par with a small private College than a public high school. Amazing. The Winter Guard competition was fun. Enid HS had probably their best performance ever, and was awarded with First Place in their division–by several points too! All the teams performed we saw performed well and were very entertaining. Saturday evening ended with the awards presentation and burgers at our friend’s house. Sunday I woke early and attended worship at Grace Ev. Lutheran Church in Tulsa. Another amazing facility! Pastor Tiews conducted the liturgy with grace and … Read entire article »
Filed under: Personal
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
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