In your September issue, Dr. Joersz opines, “The practice of asking a lay assistant to commune the pastor during the Communion has become widespread and is considered the preferred option.” Augsburg Confession, Art. XIV, rightly teaches “No one should . . . administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called.” Webster defines administer as “To
by Adriane Dorr It’s happened. Already stores are playing Christmas carols and plying you with promises of perfect presents. What happened to Thanksgiving? What happened to Advent? What happened to waiting? Not to worry. The Church does not operate like the world. The Church, in fact, thrives on waiting. It is unhurried, deliberate, thoughtful. So
The Q & A in September provides a good discussion starter on this historic, yet often misunderstood, practice. I partake of the Sacrament first, so that I, freshly strengthened by it, can thus offer it to the gentleman who assists me in the chancel. He and I both, in turn, again having been strengthened ourselves,
Your recent Q & A on “Who Communes the Pastor” gives with one hand yet takes back with the other. The response rightly noted that Luther and those who came after him approved of the practice of the pastor’s “self-communion” in the Divine Service while at the same time condemned the “private mass.” However, the
What has been written on page 23 of the September Issue of The Lutheran Witness contains an improper question and a wrong answer to the improper question. As to the answer given, Luther and Chemnitz are quoted as stating that he practice of a pastor communing himself within the Divine Service of a congregation is
I devoutly hope that the Canadian church visited by Donna Holmquist (Letters, September) was not a Lutheran Church. How inappropriate for a musical accompanist to interrupt music that should properly set a godly atmosphere for worship with a secular love song of the World War II era. Instead of “Stormy Weather,” far better had this
Have you ever wondered what God’s will is for your life? Kurt Senske reminds you of your Baptism and your self-worth in our Lord, Jesus Christ.
In all the years I have been privileged to read The Lutheran Witness, rarely have I had the honor to read a finer essay than Dr. Gene Edward Veith’s “In Praise of Work” (September). The beauty of Veith’s little essay is what he says so simply and elegantly: That there is equal dignity and worth
America’s struggling economy is affecting the Church as well. See how the Soldiers of the Cross emergency assistance fund reaches out to LCMS church workers.
The September article on Pastor Chehab was truly inspirational. It had special meaning for me, whose primary call for my ministry in India (1954–78) was to share the Gospel with Muslims. Luther T. Engelbrecht Seattle, Wash. Read More Letters to the Editor Send letters to “Letters,” c/o The Lutheran Witness, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road,
With so many Bible translations to pick from, it can be hard to know which one to choose. Which version best drives home what God means to say?
Dr. Jerald C. Joersz is right that the Sacred Scriptures do not specifically tell us whether pastors should commune themselves or not (Q & A September). Our official doctrine and practice, however, come from the Book of Concord of 1580: “The mass should be a communion, at which the priest and others receive the sacrament