by Rev. Dr. Andrew Steinmann In American culture, the month of October is highlighted by Halloween celebrations that have grown increasingly elaborate. In fact, Halloween has become the fastest growing annual celebration in our culture. Sales of Halloween costumes for adults have skyrocketed. It is not unusual to see yards decorated with ghosts, spiderwebs and
In this special edition of The Lutheran Witness, we give thanks to God for Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther, the first president of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.
by Adriane Dorr Dr. Paul L. Maier is a true Renaissance man—professor, campus chaplain, author and lecturer who just so happens to serve as the Synod’s third vice-president. He also recently retired from teaching in Western Michigan University’s Department of History for the past 50 years. He is the author of several best-selling books, such
by Kim Plummer Krull One year after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake devastated Haiti, more than 1 million people remain homeless, and the Western Hemisphere’s poorest country has struggled with a cholera epidemic. But amid huge challenges, LCMS World Relief and Human Care’s (WR-HC) Rev. Glenn F. Merritt says that the Synod’s mercy ministry, with the
by Adriane Dorr I miss Holy Week,” a friend of mine sighed as we left church a few weeks after Easter. I knew what she meant. For many of us, there are particular seasons in the Church Year that stand out in our minds, certain services or commemorations that open God’s Word up to us
The church sets aside a special day for St. Michael. Read up on who he is and what he did.
THe church has kept a magazine for 130 years. What makes this publication so necessary and unique?
How can the church make history come alive for us who are so far removed from the Early Church and the historical places of Scripture?
We serve beside God’s beloved children in good times and bad.
I’ve been known to hold on to craft magazines and Christmas editions of decorating magazines for ideas. All others go to the laundromats around town or to other places where people have to wait. Today when I was tidying up my desk space, I realized that I have quite a collection of Lutheran Witnesses saved
I so enjoyed the article “Come, Lord Jesus” by David W. Loy (June/July). My father, grandfather and three cousins were all LCMS ordained pastors, and we were taught to say: “Come, Lord Jesus, Be our Guest, and Let this food to us be blessed.” I have always called it the “uncommon” Common Table Prayer. Maybe
In his essay “Come, Lord Jesus,” Dr. David Loy did his best to extol the virtues of inviting Jesus to be our guest. On the night He was betrayed, our Lord served us as our most gracious, forgiving, life-giving Host. I remain convinced that Jesus as Host to His Christian guests is the essential relationship