Gary Jepsen, pastor of Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Puyallup, WA, has provided this short essay, “A Layman’s Guide to the Use of Reason: Insights into what Luther Saw as the Proper Role for Reason in Christian Deliberation,” to give the average person some tools for understanding the proper role for reason in the faith, life, [...]
Episcopalians, Lutherans Taking Action on Sexuality Topics 09-154-MRC CHICAGO (ELCA) — The 2009 General Convention of the Episcopal Church took a series of actions on the topic of human sexuality July 8-17 in Anaheim, Calif. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will also make decisions on matters concerning the topic at its 2009 Churchwide [...]
by Paul T. McCain / CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 Over the weekend a friend noted he is observing the anniversary of his ordination and said that he wishes he felt just as optimistic and idealistic as he did on the day he was ordained. I offered a couple of platitudes and words of encouragement, but felt [...]
Here is the handout, from Bob and Cathy Mattson, for the Eighth Sunday in Pentecost. Eighth Sunday in Pentecost (.doc) Eighth Sunday in Pentecost (.pdf) 09 Pentecost 8th Sunday
Here is a sermon for today from the French reformer John Calvin (1509-1564), who arrived in Geneva on this day in 1539. With the help of William Farel (1489-1565) Calvin transformed Geneva into a center of Reformed Christianity, and a theocracy. Freedom from the Bondage of the Law Tell me, ye that desire to be [...]
On this day in 1933 a Concordat between the German government and Roman Catholic Church was concluded. Cardinal Faulhaber, who helped to negotiate the Concordat with Adolf Hitler, assessed its importance in a sermon delivered in 1937: At a time when the heads of the major nations in the world faced the new Germany with [...]
Here is a hymn for today from Jacob Fabricius, who was born on this day in 1593 (d. 1654). Fear not, O little flock, the foeWho madly seeks your overthrow;Dread not his rage and power;What though your courage sometimes faints?His seeming triumph o’er God’s saintsLasts but a little hour. Fear not, be strong! your cause [...]
On this day in 1692, in the Massachusetts Colony of Salem, five women were convicted and hanged for witchcraft: Sarah Good, Sarah Wildes, Elizabeth Howe, Rebecca Nourse and Susannah Martin (in the preceding month, Bridget Bishop had become the first Salem resident executed for witchcraft). The Salem witch trials were a series of hearings before [...]
The 2009 St. Michael Liturgical Conference will be held at Zion Evangelical Lutheran church of Detroit, Michigan, on Monday, September 28, 2009, with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. The conference will focus on the Triduum Sacrum. The keynote presentation, “The Triduum Sacrum and the Paschal Catechumenate” will be given by the Rev. Dr. Kent Burreson, [...]
