Category: Church

Easter Vigil 2021

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April 2, 2021

8:31 pm

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2021, Church, Services

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Picture of Christ on the cross saying, "It Is Finished!"
It Is Finished!

Yep, today is Good Friday. It is, for human beings, the best thing that could have ever happened, but for Jesus, the Christ… It was sheer torture. One of my favorite Gerhart hymns, “A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth,” verse 3, gets to the point quite well.

“… / O wondrous Love, what have You done! / The Father offers up His Son, / Desiring our salvation. / O Love, how strong You are to save! / You lay the One into the grave / Who built the earth’s foundation.”

Good Friday isn’t the end of the story, either. Pretty much everyone knows that Easter Sunday is coming up pretty quickly. Yes, Easter without Good Friday is pretty meaningless. It is more than a pastoral footnote about seeds growing, caterpillars turning to butterflies, and other “springy” images, though. It is about the cost of forgiveness. Not the cost to us, it cost God more than we can begin to understand.

To help us begin to work our way toward at least appreciating what God has done and continues to do for us, earlier generations of Christians used the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter to hold Easter Vigil services. One of the best explanations of Easter and “light walk-throughs” actually came from my pastor and cantor on the “Coffee Hour” podcast at KFUO.  <– If you click that link, it will take you to the page. Scroll down a bit, and you will see the podcast called, “The Coffee Hour – Easter Vigil: From Darkness to Light.” It lasts a little bit under 30 minutes.

In case you don’t have a church nearby that has Easter Vigil services, my church is. It will start at 6:30 PM tomorrow. Zion, Tomball’s website has a link to the YouTube live-stream and bulletin download here. I’m not entirely certain what they are going to do for the opening bonfire and procession into the church, maybe Facebook live? We shall see.

 

{The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge} Bri’s Big Question: How to Survive Election Season

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November 6, 2020

10:45 am

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In this week’s episode (recorded days before Election Day 2020), Bri asks a timely and relevant “Big Question”: How do I survive election season as a Lutheran woman?

In the honest and open conversation that follows, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel cover a range of topics and ideas at the intersection of Lutheran faith and politics: voting out of love for our neighbors, trusting “not in princes,” and finding our ultimate identity in Christ — not political party affiliations. They also touch on the place of social media in political discourse, the value of secret ballots, the way voting priorities change as you age, and whether or not this year’s election is actually the most contentious in American political history.

In the end, Bri reminds us that whether we vote red or blue (or something else entirely), we are sisters in Christ, and we are loved.

Learn more about the following resources mentioned or quoted in the episode:

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

The Lutheran Ladies Lounge is the podcast produced by KFUO Radio and hosted by Sarah Gulseth, Erin Alter, Rachel Bomberger, and Bri Gerzevske. Created for Lutheran ladies to have a place to escape to with inviting conversations, laughter, and fellowship with Lutheran sisters, we invite all of you Lutheran ladies to join Sarah, Erin, Rachel, and Bri on the sofa in the Lutheran Ladies Lounge to sit, rest your feet, and stay a while. If you’re a Lutheran lady, join us in our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge.

{The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge} Bri’s Big Question: How to Survive Election Season

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November 6, 2020

10:45 am

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Church

In this week’s episode (recorded days before Election Day 2020), Bri asks a timely and relevant “Big Question”: How do I survive election season as a Lutheran woman?

In the honest and open conversation that follows, Sarah, Erin, Bri, and Rachel cover a range of topics and ideas at the intersection of Lutheran faith and politics: voting out of love for our neighbors, trusting “not in princes,” and finding our ultimate identity in Christ — not political party affiliations. They also touch on the place of social media in political discourse, the value of secret ballots, the way voting priorities change as you age, and whether or not this year’s election is actually the most contentious in American political history.

In the end, Bri reminds us that whether we vote red or blue (or something else entirely), we are sisters in Christ, and we are loved.

Learn more about the following resources mentioned or quoted in the episode:

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

The Lutheran Ladies Lounge is the podcast produced by KFUO Radio and hosted by Sarah Gulseth, Erin Alter, Rachel Bomberger, and Bri Gerzevske. Created for Lutheran ladies to have a place to escape to with inviting conversations, laughter, and fellowship with Lutheran sisters, we invite all of you Lutheran ladies to join Sarah, Erin, Rachel, and Bri on the sofa in the Lutheran Ladies Lounge to sit, rest your feet, and stay a while. If you’re a Lutheran lady, join us in our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge.

Sharper Iron — The Word is Trustworthy: Godliness with Contentment Is Great Gain

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November 5, 2020

9:00 am

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Christ, Church, Doctrine

Rev. Kurt Cockran, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 6:3-10.

As Paul begins to bring his first letter to Timothy to a close, he again reminds the young pastor of the importance of sound doctrine. Only the healthy words of Jesus Christ can bring true spiritual health and godliness. Those who teach anything different, though claiming great knowledge, actually understand nothing. They would either fall into the distraction of quarreling over obscure passages or into the danger of questioning the clear truth of God’s Word. Paul instructs Timothy to rebuke such false teachers, all the while caring for those who have been misled as false learners. Paul particularly points out how false teaching leads toward the idolatry of riches. The desire to be rich and the love of money can lead to all kinds of evil, even to a forsaking of the truth. God gives great gain to His people through contentment with His gifts for this life and the next.

“The Word is Trustworthy” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three pastoral epistles: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. These three letters are named after their recipients, two young pastors in the Christian Church. St. Paul gives instruction to these two men concerning the doctrine and life of the congregations where they are given to serve. In these epistles, the Apostle teaches both pastors and congregations of all times and places that the sound doctrine from God’s Word is faithful to save sinners in Christ Jesus.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

1 Timothy 6:3-10

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound[a] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and[b] we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:3 Or healthy
  2. 1 Timothy 6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that]

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Sharper Iron — The Word is Trustworthy: Godliness with Contentment Is Great Gain

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November 5, 2020

9:00 am

Comments Off on Sharper Iron — The Word is Trustworthy: Godliness with Contentment Is Great Gain

Christ, Church, Doctrine

Rev. Kurt Cockran, pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Tucson, AZ, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study 1 Timothy 6:3-10.

As Paul begins to bring his first letter to Timothy to a close, he again reminds the young pastor of the importance of sound doctrine. Only the healthy words of Jesus Christ can bring true spiritual health and godliness. Those who teach anything different, though claiming great knowledge, actually understand nothing. They would either fall into the distraction of quarreling over obscure passages or into the danger of questioning the clear truth of God’s Word. Paul instructs Timothy to rebuke such false teachers, all the while caring for those who have been misled as false learners. Paul particularly points out how false teaching leads toward the idolatry of riches. The desire to be rich and the love of money can lead to all kinds of evil, even to a forsaking of the truth. God gives great gain to His people through contentment with His gifts for this life and the next.

“The Word is Trustworthy” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the three pastoral epistles: 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. These three letters are named after their recipients, two young pastors in the Christian Church. St. Paul gives instruction to these two men concerning the doctrine and life of the congregations where they are given to serve. In these epistles, the Apostle teaches both pastors and congregations of all times and places that the sound doctrine from God’s Word is faithful to save sinners in Christ Jesus.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

1 Timothy 6:3-10

3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound[a] words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, 4 he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and[b] we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 6:3 Or healthy
  2. 1 Timothy 6:7 Greek for; some manuscripts insert [it is] certain [that]

English Standard Version (ESV)

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Mission Field: USA — Communication and Social Media Strategies for Outreach

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November 3, 2020

10:25 am

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Church

Social media has become the new social marketplace.  We know people hang out there.  How do we connect with them to share the Gospel?

In this episode, Seth Hinz— Brand, Marketing, & Creative Director for Pathfinder Church in St. Louis, Missouri, joins hosts Rev. Dr. Steven Schave, Director of LCMS Church Planting, and Rev. Dr. Mark Larson, Manager of Church Planting in the Mission Field: USA initiative, to explore communications and social media strategies for outreach.

Seth Hinz
Seth Hinz

About Seth Hinz: Seth Hinz is the Brand, Marketing, & Creative Director for Pathfinder Church in St. Louis, Missouri (Nov 2018 – Present). He has also served as  the Web/Media Director for Michigan District, LCMS (2010 – 2018), where he grew the District’s digital presence to be a thought leader for LCMS churches in Michigan and beyond in the areas of healthy workers and healthy congregations.  He has served as the Social Media Manager for the LCMS National Youth Gathering (2013, 2016, 2019).  He founded Lutheran Communicators – a Facebook group comprised of over 2,600 Lutherans interested in communication, social media, and creativity.

He is a graduate of Concordia University Ann Arbor with a BA in Communications and Business Administration, and a Masters in Organizational Leadership and Administration.  He is the son, nephew, and grandson of LCMS pastors.

Sign up to receive email notifications of new podcast releases and other church-planting ministry news. Registration only requires your email address, name and zip code. Check the “Church Planting” option on the form.

Sign up > mailchi.mp/lcms/resources

The “Mission Field: USA – Church Planting” podcast series, provided by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Office of National Mission, offers a theological background and best practices for launching new congregations and ministries within a Lutheran framework.

Mission Field: USA — Communication and Social Media Strategies for Outreach

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November 3, 2020

10:25 am

Comments Off on Mission Field: USA — Communication and Social Media Strategies for Outreach

Church

Social media has become the new social marketplace.  We know people hang out there.  How do we connect with them to share the Gospel?

In this episode, Seth Hinz— Brand, Marketing, & Creative Director for Pathfinder Church in St. Louis, Missouri, joins hosts Rev. Dr. Steven Schave, Director of LCMS Church Planting, and Rev. Dr. Mark Larson, Manager of Church Planting in the Mission Field: USA initiative, to explore communications and social media strategies for outreach.

Seth Hinz
Seth Hinz

About Seth Hinz: Seth Hinz is the Brand, Marketing, & Creative Director for Pathfinder Church in St. Louis, Missouri (Nov 2018 – Present). He has also served as  the Web/Media Director for Michigan District, LCMS (2010 – 2018), where he grew the District’s digital presence to be a thought leader for LCMS churches in Michigan and beyond in the areas of healthy workers and healthy congregations.  He has served as the Social Media Manager for the LCMS National Youth Gathering (2013, 2016, 2019).  He founded Lutheran Communicators – a Facebook group comprised of over 2,600 Lutherans interested in communication, social media, and creativity.

He is a graduate of Concordia University Ann Arbor with a BA in Communications and Business Administration, and a Masters in Organizational Leadership and Administration.  He is the son, nephew, and grandson of LCMS pastors.

Sign up to receive email notifications of new podcast releases and other church-planting ministry news. Registration only requires your email address, name and zip code. Check the “Church Planting” option on the form.

Sign up > mailchi.mp/lcms/resources

The “Mission Field: USA – Church Planting” podcast series, provided by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Office of National Mission, offers a theological background and best practices for launching new congregations and ministries within a Lutheran framework.

LCMS Youth Ministry End Goals – Research – Impact of Environment and Reaching Out

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November 3, 2020

10:15 am

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In our second session diving into LCMS Youth Ministry’s research, we dive into the 2017 review with LCMS congregations, their retention, and their relationships with Millennials. Mark and Julianna are joined by Ryan Curnutt, Senior Research Analyst at the LCMS, as they share findings and how they can benefit your youth ministry. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Find the book “Relationships Count” at cph.org/p-34106-relationships-count-engaging-retaining-millennials-ebook-edition.aspx.

Ryan Curnutt
Ryan Curnutt

Bio: Ryan Curnutt is senior research analyst at LCMS Research Services. He has served the LCMS national office for 11 years. He was the lead researcher for the 2017 Millennials and the LCMS research. Ryan serves as the evaluator of the LCMS Youth Gathering and worked on other projects such as the LYF and Young Adult Volunteer poll. Ryan is married to Kristina with three daughters. 

End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced and new youth leaders.

LCMS Youth Ministry End Goals – Research – Impact of Environment and Reaching Out

by

November 3, 2020

10:15 am

Comments Off on LCMS Youth Ministry End Goals – Research – Impact of Environment and Reaching Out

Church

In our second session diving into LCMS Youth Ministry’s research, we dive into the 2017 review with LCMS congregations, their retention, and their relationships with Millennials. Mark and Julianna are joined by Ryan Curnutt, Senior Research Analyst at the LCMS, as they share findings and how they can benefit your youth ministry. Find the LCMS Youth Ministry resource website at youthesource.com. Find the book “Relationships Count” at cph.org/p-34106-relationships-count-engaging-retaining-millennials-ebook-edition.aspx.

Ryan Curnutt
Ryan Curnutt

Bio: Ryan Curnutt is senior research analyst at LCMS Research Services. He has served the LCMS national office for 11 years. He was the lead researcher for the 2017 Millennials and the LCMS research. Ryan serves as the evaluator of the LCMS Youth Gathering and worked on other projects such as the LYF and Young Adult Volunteer poll. Ryan is married to Kristina with three daughters. 

End Goals is the podcast of LCMS Youth Ministry in the Office of National Mission. LCMS Youth Ministry Staff discuss practices for healthy youth ministry and interview practitioners who provide insight for experienced and new youth leaders.

{The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge} Story Time with Sarah: Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony

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October 30, 2020

9:45 am

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Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony
“Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony” By Lucas Cranach the Younger – 1. Kunsthistorisches Museum Wien, Bilddatenbank.2. GalleriX, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4854884

Anna of Denmark (1532–1585) was a Danish princess from the House of Oldenburg who became Electress of Saxony through her marriage to Augustus of Saxony in 1548. As one of the most influential women in post-Reformation Europe, she played a vital role in preserving and promoting Orthodox Lutheranism in the years following Martin Luther’s death in 1546.

In this “Story Time with Sarah” episode, the Lutheran Ladies revisit the life and times of the energetic electress, celebrating Anna’s prowess as a horticultural and proto-pharmaceutical scientist, her faithfulness as a wife and mother, and — especially — her staunch advocacy and support for Lutheran theology and practice in the Holy Roman Empire.

Click here to listen to last year’s Women of the Reformation trivia challenge, or to learn more about Anna of Denmark, Electress of Saxony.

Sources listed in this episode:
Brian J. Hale: “Anna of Saxony and Her Library.” Early Modern Women: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Vol. 9, No. 1. Fall 2014, p. 101-114
Pernille Arenfeldt: “Gendered Patronage and Confessionalization.” Renaissance Women as Patrons of Art and Culture. Renaessanceforum 4. 2008. www.renaessanceforum.dk.

Connect with the Lutheran ladies on social media in The Lutheran Ladies’ Lounge Facebook discussion group (facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge) and follow Sarah (@mrsbaseballpants), Rachel (@rachbomberger), Erin (@erin.alter), and Bri (@grrrzevske) on Instagram.

The Lutheran Ladies Lounge is the podcast produced by KFUO Radio and hosted by Sarah Gulseth, Erin Alter, Rachel Bomberger, and Bri Gerzevske. Created for Lutheran ladies to have a place to escape to with inviting conversations, laughter, and fellowship with Lutheran sisters, we invite all of you Lutheran ladies to join Sarah, Erin, Rachel, and Bri on the sofa in the Lutheran Ladies Lounge to sit, rest your feet, and stay a while. If you’re a Lutheran lady, join us in our Facebook group: facebook.com/groups/LutheranLadiesLounge.