And whatever you do, in word and deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Col. 3:17) There’s a rite from The Lutheran Service Book Agenda I can use to give thanks to God for servants of the congregation and the good works they do […]
Arise and Shine A Series of Special Services for Advent and Christmas This Advent and Christmas we prepare for and welcome the Christ Child, who is the light of the world, arising in our lives this season. In celebration, we, in turn, shine with the light of Christ in various ways for all the world […]
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly! (Psalm 149:1) Last Sunday I enjoyed sharing with you a brief history of the hymn books we’ve used here at St. Paul Lutheran Church since 1912 (with the exception of the Lutheran Book of Worship from 1978 and Lutheran Worship, […]
For a number of months, a pastor, the Reverend Edward Doering, in Illinois, has been anxiously waiting the opportunity to go to Oregon and to gather the scattered Lutherans in that state into congregations. But there never has been any financial possibility. Now, however, we are happy to report that a number of congregations in […]
Preaching during the seven Sundays of the Easter season is my favorite time because I love to proclaim the risen Jesus—the things he said and did before he went up to heaven on Ascension Day. Luke records that just before he rose up into the clouds he said to his disciples, “Thus it stands written: […]
Last Sunday evening I held a meeting in the Connect Center regarding our church’s evangelism. Around twenty people came and heard me give a presentation which included my personal and professional thoughts about it; we read an article together, watched a video from the last Northwest District Convention, and enjoyed an hour-long question and answer […]
If current trajectories continue, American churches will pass a tipping point. Our congregations will begin a likely unstoppable path toward decline that will rival many European churches of the past century.