SEEN IN PASSING Items of interest from various sources of religious news and opinion, in print and on the web. The Great Pastoral Resignation? A study released by the Barna group in November revealed that over twenty thousand Christian pastors left the ministry during the recent pandemic, and half of those who remain say they… Read More »Month Archive Read More
Year/Month: 2022/05
ILC NEWSLETTER Every other month we get an update on what’s been happening recently at ourImmanuel Lutheran High School, College and Seminary in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. As restrictions regarding COVID-19 have decreased, especially in the last year, people across the United States have welcomed the return of their “normal” activities—traveling, attending sports events and concerts,… Read More »Month Archive Read More
TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006 Date Hymns Reading Comments May 2 WS 781 Acts 5:17-42 Set free from prison, the apostles continue to tell “the full message of this new life.” Why did the apostles keep preaching Jesus after the authorities ordered them… Read More »Month Archive Read More
NOTES FROM THE FIELD In this series, thoseinvolved with CLC foreign missions profile one aspect of our overseas endeavors. Following 2 Timothy 2:2, our focus overseas is training indigenous pastors. You help to establish and fund seminaries through your contributions to the Mission Development Fund. Your Kinship sponsorships fund the printing or purchase of materials… Read More »Month Archive Read More
WHAT’S NEW WITH YOU? Updates from congregations around the Church of the Lutheran Confession “They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” (Acts 2:42) That’s the goal. One hundred fifteen Christians around Lemmon, South Dakota (population 1,200) gather themselves under the name “St. Luke’s Lutheran Church”… Read More »Month Archive Read More
Ever wonder why we Lutherans use the form of worship we do? In this series we examine the depth and meaning of the various elements of our worship service, beginning with the history of Christian worship itself. When the apostle Paul said goodbye to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20, he told them, “I did… Read More »Month Archive Read More
“Thesis XVII–You are not rightly distinguishing Law and Gospel in the Word of God if you describe believers in a way that is not always realistic—both with regard to the strength of their faith and to the feeling and fruitfulness of their faith.” “You can always tell a German,” the joke begins. “You just can’t… Read More »Month Archive Read More
It’s always an anxious time, especially for family and friends, when someone is reported missing in the wilderness. Search and rescue teams spring into action. We wait expectantly for any word of the missing person. It’s a moment of great joy if the missing person is found alive and well. It’s a time of great… Read More »Month Archive Read More
“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia.” (Ezra 1:1 NASB) Seventy years had passed, and the time had come for the Jews taken into exile in Babylon to begin their return… Read More »Month Archive Read More
No Headaches, Only Hallelujahs This series offers an overview of the chief teachings of the Christian church. The words roll off our lips easily enough: triune, trinity. We’ve been taught from early on that God is “triune.” But that easy familiarity with this description of God belies the fact that anyone who tries to reason… Read More »Month Archive Read More
I don’t know anyone that likes goodbye. We look forward to warm welcomes standing in our doorways, we cherish the moments of togetherness around a table, but we all know that eventually, we will be standing there at the end of the drive, staring, and waving as the car disappears around the bend. The last,… Read More »Month Archive Read More
“I Shall Not Want!” Aren’t those amazing, wonderful words? “I shall not want!” I shall not lack any good thing. All my needs shall be provided, or as the Apostle Paul puts it, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19) That’s what we… Read More »Month Archive Read More