Immersion Baptism

Because I enjoy pain and suffering… I occasionally read LutherQuest. While some discussions are profitable, most of the discussions turn into personal attacks based on assumptions (you know what they say about assumptions…).
One discussion thread caught my eye recently and it was in regards in baptism by immersion. Apparently an LCMS church had installed a baptismal [...]

First Icon: Christ the Just Judge

As a gift for my vicarage I received my first icon (actually a gift certificate that allowed me to purchase my first icon). I purchased the “Christ the Just Judge” icon that is pictured with this post. It hangs on my office wall.
It truly is beautiful and full of symbolism. Of course Christ is depicted [...]

New Heaven and Dogs

During two summers in college I worked for the University of Missouri as a maintenance tech for the college of engineering. I did jobs ranging from helping at auctions, driving big trucks, demolition, and painting, with numerous other jobs thrown in there. During one job I was interacting with a young guy who grew up [...]

What does a seminarian/vicar listen to?

Ever wonder what a seminarian listens to on his iPod?
Here is your chance to find out!
I actually use my iPod for a number of things. I do watch movies and tv shows on it occasionally, especially on trips. I wasn’t sure if I would like the small screen, but I’m sold on it now. I [...]

Death Sucks

Dr. Jeff Gibbs, professor at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis is famous for a phrase (and I might be paraphrasing here a bit), but it essentially is, “Death Sucks.” We should never minimize the evil that is death by trivializing it and making it seem like a joyous event. Yes, the death of one suffering means an end [...]

Heresy

One of the more humorous parts about being a seminary student is how quickly we can turn on each other.
One example: During Confessions II today, where we are discussing the Formula, my very good friend asks a question about the Two Nature’s of Christ. In the process of asking a hypothetical question, he clearly stated [...]

Are we a cult?

Cult:

a system of religious veneration and devotion directed toward a particular figure or object : the cult of St. Olaf.
a relatively small group of people having religious beliefs or practices regarded by others as strange or sinister : a network of Satan-worshiping cults.
a misplaced or excessive admiration for a particular person or thing : a [...]

Thoughts from a Roman Catholic leader in Rome

New Liturgical Movement
The article linked to above provides a lot of food for thought for Lutherans.
Highlights:

Discussion on sermon length
Discussion on communion received in the hand (also discussion of the presence of Christ in the Sacrament)
Focus on the sacred in worship as well as a discussion of the divine mystery

Ahhh… Bach

Enjoy this wonderful video of Felix Hell showing off the true beauty of the pipe organ and of J.S. Bach

HT: Cyberbrethren

Book Review: American Band

American Band: Music, Dreams, and Coming of Age in the Heartland by Kristen Lane
Heels Together!
Toes Apart!
Stomach in!
Chest Out!
Shoulders Back!
Chin! Pride!
That was the chant that I learned in high school marching band. We would chant it with our director after every competition and every halftime show. Marching band is truly a way of life, both for [...]

Appropriate Prayer

An appropriate prayer this evening as St. Louis mourns the loss of at least five public servants:
Almighty God, merciful Lord, be gracious to the families of those whose lives have been tragically ended and who are now at rest with You. Comfort them in their grief, deliver them from danger, and sustain them with the [...]

Liturgical Beauty

We normally sings the Psalms unaccompanied in the chapel at the seminary. There is great beauty in this with the entire congregation singing in unison. What makes it even better is the Gloria Patri at the end. There is always a change in volume as a large portion of the congregation bows its head [...]

Liturgical Observation: Stand or Rise?

Just a little observation:
If you choose to give audible rubrics (which I don’t recommend as they distract from the liturgy) remember this: bread rises and people stand.  

Ack! Christian News

The words that no seminarian ever wants to hear are: “You’ve made Christian News!”
A friend of mine from Ft. Wayne, vicaring up in Wisconsin calls me this afternoon and utters those very words. The various four-letter words that came to my mind are not for print. Thankfully the mention of me (by way of this [...]

Thoughts on Lutheran Service Builder

First off, I’m not trying to knock CPH, the Commission on Worship, or the developers of Lutheran Service Builder, because I think all of them together have done an excellent job in the development of the hymnal and the software. Through my fieldwork congregation I’ve had the opportunity to work with the software and it [...]

Modern Heresy

It is widely reported that Arius wrote hymns containing his heretical theology. This allowed his doctrines to spread easily and quickly.
Now for a modern day heresy (not a new heresy… just a new heretical song):

Hymn Scripture Reference

Has anyone else noticed that in Lutheran Service Book (LSB) the reference to the Apocrypha was removed from the hymn, Now Thank We All Our God (LSB: 895, TLH: 36).
In The Lutheran Hymnal the scripture reference given is Ecclesiasticus 50:2: “Now therefore bless ye the God of all, which only doeth wondrous things everywhere, which [...]

Great joke…

From my History of American Christianity course… not exactly relating to the subject matter… but funny nonetheless.
In heaven the British rule, the French cook, the German serve as the police, and the Italians entertain.
In hell the British cook, the French serve as the police, the Germans entertain, and the Italians rule.

Sacristan Dream

I’m the new Sacristan for the Chapel of St. Timothy and St. Titus. I took over from Tutal. A sacristan does many things including taking care of the preperations for daily chapel services and general duties around the chapel.
Last night I had a dream that I showed up right before chapel on a Wednesday (our [...]

Harry Potter Rant

If I hear one more person say that “Harry Potter is satanic” or “Harry Potter is evil” I’m going to snap. I had a old guy say it that to me tonight. He hadn’t read the books. He hadn’t seen the movies. Someone told him they were satanic and evil. If you haven’t read them…. [...]