From seminary student to vicar is a big step, but it’s a step you do not take alone. And it is an incredible learning experience.

Thank you for the especially fine March issue of The Lutheran Witness, with its emphasis on liturgical music and hymnody. I am personally well acquainted with the excellent Lutheran Summer Music Academy and Festival program for high-school students. I would also like to emphasize the fact that these young musicians have real fun and enjoyment

Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) is the newest LCMS program for preparing pastors to fill an identified need in a congregation, cultural setting, or other ministry.

In response to President Kieschnick’s March article regarding the Missouri Synod’s position on “Right to Life,” I would like to share some of the discussion from a recent Sunday morning Bible class. The question was posed: If the California mother of 14 children were a member of our church family, how would we respond? Initial

I want to compliment you on your February article, “In Bethlehem: Hope Behind the Wall,” by Rev. David L. Mahsman. Until I read this article, the thought never occurred to me that some of the Christians in that area could be Palestinian Christians. I guess I always thought that if you were a Christian in

Awww, for cryin’ out loud—four little pages written by Dr. Paul Maier about ULBRA! I know he could say a lot more—I’ve heard him speak! Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed the article, very heart-warming and edifying, and it shows what can happen when our hearts really turn toward Lutheran education: Forget closing one school that happens

Both “Dueling Messiahs” by Dr. Timothy Furnish and February’s Searching Scripture, “We Have Seen His Majesty,” by Pastor Watt were excellent articles. Their appearance in the same issue couldn’t have been better timed. Pastor Watt’s article is a great guide to Scripture and the majesty of the true Messiah, Jesus Christ. Bill Schott Mission, Kan.

With regard to Mr. Pyle’s concerns about Christ’s presence among us (“Letters,” February)—I have Good News: Christ is most certainly and personally among us today! When Christ ascended into heaven, He didn’t remove His presence on earth— He transformed it. Nor did He stop having a body when He sat down at the right hand

The Q&A column in the February Lutheran Witness, “Whom May I Commune,” was most distressing. There are some underlying questions that were not addressed: First, where were our LCMS clergy, and what were they doing, or not doing? Second, what are our pastors teaching the members about close(d) Communion that even causes such questions to

Christ’s triumph over death at that first Easter is the very heart of the Christian faith and the central event of history.

by Dr. Paul L. Maier Easter is the ultimate test of faith. The one great watershed that ultimately divides believers from unbelievers is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. As St. Paul put it so categorically in 1 Cor. 15:14: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is