The Magazine

Hope in Jackpot

by Adriane Dorr Rev. Gary Benedix recently retired from full-time ministry . . . but not really. “I have been a pastor and missionary for 42 years; the last 30 of those years were at Peace Lutheran Church in Filer, Idaho,” he states. Although he retired as Peace’s pastor in June, he continued to serve

Dancing on the Devil’s Grave

by Rev. William M. Cwirla Halloween has become a major commercial holiday in this country, second in potential profit making only to the Christmas season. The average American family now spends well over $100 each year in tricks, treats, and scary decorations. What do we Christians do with Halloween? Is it innocent fun or something

The View from Here: Being “Little” Means a Lot

by Dr. Lane R. Seitz This past Sunday I worshiped in one of the smaller congregations in our district. There were approximately 50 people in wor-ship. We have approximately 40 congregations in our district that average less than 50 people in worship each week. In most of those situations, the congregation is served by a

What Makes America American?

PBS has chronicled the American experience in war, peace, depression, and prosperity. Now religion. Dr. Rast previews “God in America.”

Hitting the Million Mark

Hope Lutheran Church in Jackpot, Nev., has indeed hit the jackpot. Find out how Rev. Gary Benedix purchased the one millionth copy of Lutheran Service Book.

It’s Mission Month

Looking for ways to celebrate the Reformation and Mission Month? LCMS World Mission and English District President David Stechholz offer a variety of ways.

Lutheran Witness: October 2010

Allow this penitential season to add to the approach of Christmas. Wait with us in eager anticipation of the fulfillment of God’s promise to send a Savior.

A Lamp and a Light

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

These words from the Book of Psalms have been spoken and sung frequently, especially after they were put to music by Amy Grant.

Bigger and better!

In the opening paragraph of your story on the LCMS’ Houston convention, you described Houston as the “fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States.” Unfortunately, you are misinformed. The fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States, behind New York (19,069,796), Los Angeles (12,874,797), and Chicago (9,580,567), is Dallas–Fort Worth (6,447,615). Houston (5,867,489) comes in at

The way ahead

While I was not a delegate to the Synod convention, I was looking forward to action on the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Synod Structure and Governance’s exhaustive study of the need for reorganizing the LCMS, as brought to the convention by Floor Committee 8. Now that the convention addressed only about 50 percent of

Variation on a theme

In response to your letters about organists at church I had to share this tidbit: While visiting in Canada a few years ago, we walked into a small church located just off the street. It was very hot and humid that morning and threatening rain. The pianist was playing the prelude when there was a

Who Communes the Pastor?

by Dr. Jerald C. Joersz We are longtime Missouri Synod Lutherans who believe in the real presence of the body and blood of our Savior Jesus Christ. However, we and other members of our congregation are offended by a practice recently introduced by our pastor. During the Communion service, he communes himself. Is this proper?

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