I started reading with great anticipation the article, “What Makes America American?” However, I was left scratching my head when I finished because the article failed to address the reason why this topic is even on Americans’ radar screens. We have a president who declared, in June 2007, “Whatever we once were, we’re no longer
I have read The Lutheran Witness many years and have probably saved all of them since 1997. My opinion of it had fallen off after the last few years, but I can say without question that it changed for the better with the October issue. I have heard Dr. Rast speak. I so enjoyed his
I think the last issue of The Lutheran Witness was wonderful and filled with great articles. I especially loved the hymnal article (“Hitting the Million Mark”). I hope many people read it so they start to realize how special it is to use a hymnal for worship. Too many churches in our Synod don’t. I
Having read your monthly journal for a number of years now, I wanted to express my gratitude for your work. The last two months especially have been heads and tails above the rest! The writing is well done, and the choice of topics and presentation address many of the concerns of my congregations here in
It has been my recent experience that many churches, including Lutheran churches, appear to be emphasizing contemporary technology. This takes the form of screens, amplified instruments (usually guitars), and monitor stations. In some churches, the architecture accommodates the monitor station, which is plainly visible. Often the amplified music is loud. The lyrics may not always
by Dr. Leslie (Jack) Fyans My mother lives in a nursing home in another state and is becoming more erratic in how she reacts to staff there. My siblings and I get calls asking us to “convince” Mom to cooperate when they have to take her to the hospital or to have a procedure. Our
Dr. Jerald C. Joersz My seven-year-old grandson asked me where God came from. I could not tell him. I hope you can. Dear reader’s grandson, I have a grandson about your age. His name is Joey. Like you, he is a very smart and curious person. He asks hard questions, some that even adults do
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.
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