Today we continue our discussion on the reading of Scripture in the church. We don't do it simply as a matter of form, but because to read aloud, and to hear Holy Scripture constitutes Christian worship. It is an act of worship of our God. Consider: "The one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me....

The Gradual. From:http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06715a.htm (Latin Graduale, from gradus, a step)The Gradual is the oldest and most important of the four chants that make up the choir's part of the Proper of the Mass. Whereas the three others (Introit, Offertory, and Communion) were introduced later, to fill up the time while something was being done, the Gradual (with ...

This is a question I keep coming back to, what exactly are the four gospels? Why were they written? Or said another way: how were they meant to be utilized? And, how were they actually employed by the church when the ink first dried? Are they simply the "memoirs of the apostles" as Justin Martyr once referred to them? Are they biographies of Jesus? Or a larger story / ac...

Our closing hymn today, #98 Of The Father's Love Begotten, is one of the great treasures of the holy Christian religion. Here is an a capella version with words displayed. The combination of text and tune reach heights of theology, and depths of emotion, not often experienced. The hymn began its life as a poem by the 4th century Christian poetAurelius Prudentius Clemens. ...

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! For the next two Sundays, December 31, and January 7, we will familiarize ourselves with the Divine Service as it is written in the Lutheran Service Book (LSB), Divine Service 3 (DS3) on page 184. A printed copy of the entire Service will be distributed to each person as you enter God's House. You will also receive th...

In the first chapter of Genesis we hear the refrain six times: "And there was evening and there was morning, the first day" ... "There was evening and there was morning, the second day" etc. Based on this refrain the church follows liturgical time, which is different than calendar time. For liturgical purposes the new day begins at sunset, and runs through to the next. Su...

Our study of the history, theology and practice of Christian worship has been a great boon for all, including the teacher. But the whole congregation benefits in that the storehouse of knowledge and understanding of our faith and worship is increased. Like a healthy bank account it sees us through lean times. Today we will continue our discussions on the reading and heari...

Once again the discussion was lively last week. When a person who has been praying the church's liturgy his whole life, looks under the hood so to speak, his amazement and appreciation of Christian worship is trebled. We have started each class with the order of Responsive Prayer I (p. 282) or Responsive Prayer II (p. 285). Take the time to look at those, and to pray them...

If you are a Christian, and if you send out Christmas cards, and decorate your house and yard for this holy season, let those efforts reflect your faith. It's too late for this year, but think about it for next Christmas. If you're going to go to the effort and expense, let your preparations say something. Christmas is not about our kids, grandkids, dogs or cats so why fe...

Properly speaking there is only one true Liturgist: Jesus himself! He is the "liturgist in the Holy Places, in the True tent that the Lord set up, not man." He is "the High Priest who offers (prosphero) gifts and sacrifices." (Hebrews 8:1-3) This means that Jesus himself is the actual liturgist at every Eucharist the church celebrates. That is not to say that our actions ...