Often times, it’s easy for those of us who are lifelong Lutherans to take aspects of our church life for granted. But for a new Lutheran, joining a church that confesses Christ’s bodily presence in the Lord’s Supper is comforting, reassuring, and just plain exciting!
by Rev. Dr. David P. Scaer Polls taken in October show church members are less informed about religion than the non-churched, but we Americans are more often in church than Europeans. Since we are religious, we should engage in talking about what we believe, but where do we start? Beginning with God is an obvious
by Rev. Dr. Greg Wismar Open to me the gates of righteousness.” Those words from Ps. 118:19 are deeply meaningful to our experience of the entire Christian year. Our life together in the year of the Church centers on Easter Sunday, the day of the Resurrection of our Lord. Each year, the last section of
by Rev. Jared Melius In the face of numerous adjustments to our lectionaries over the past generation, our churches still encounter one very important passage nearly every January—the account of Jesus as a young boy in the temple (Luke 2:41–52). This is a blessing. Aside from various accounts of our Lord’s passion and crucifixion, not
by Dr. Lewis W. Spitz Sr. Epiphany–a beautiful word! Beautiful because it designates the Lord’s appearing among men and the manifestation of His glory. Today we primarily commemorate the manifestation of God to the Magi, or Wise Men from the east, in the person of the Christ Child. Some Christians have celebrated the Savior’s birth
This issue of The Lutheran Witness may be difficult to read: Exploring the topic of sin hits close to home.
This issue of The Lutheran Witness may be difficult to read: Exploring the topic of sin hits close to home.
by Rev. Steven B. Borst When we were children, Christmas was about presents. The beautifully wrapped gifts under the tree—trimmed with ribbon, bows, and name tags—captivated our imagination. As Christmas Day drew near, the anticipation became almost unbearable as we dreamed about what those pretty packages might actually produce. Now that we are older, Christmas
Headed to the first Divine Service of Christmas? Here’s what to expect.
In this month’s letter, President Harrison concludes his series of three articles on the “Witness, Mercy, Life Together” emphasis for the church and the world. To find out more about these themes, check out www.lcms.org/emphasis.
After the joy and happiness of Christmas are over, it’s easy to feel a post-holiday letdown. But Dr. Lessing has the cure for your winter blahs: Jesus’ death and resurrection . . . for you!
by Rev. Dr. Robert Rosin The fall quarter of teaching in St. Louis has come to a close. (We’ve squeezed in extra days to finish a bit early, and the students don’t mind–more time free for other papers and exams.) For me, the overseas work is about to begin–Germany, Czech Republic, and part of Asia