Worship « St. Mark's Lutheran

Christmas Worship

By Parson Brown, on 1:11 pm%

Rock-a-bye baby: A Theology of Children, Church and Family – post #1

By Parson Brown, on 6:57 pm%

Last month’s Lutheran Witness had a slate of articles that I was slightly shocked at. I want to explore some of that shock and some of the theology underlying it.
Here is a chart that basically spells out the problem (the chart is my compilation, pastors usually aren’t great at numbers and synodocrats don’t like publishing . . . → Read More: Rock-a-bye baby: A Theology of Children, Church and Family – post #1

Hymns We Sing #1, Cont.

By Parson Brown, on 9:38 am%

I ran out of room yesterday, so I’ll continue this today. I want to talk about Lutheran Service Book #782 Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings. We have sung whole or parts of this hymn 9 times in the last three years. The text has a special connection to St. Mark. It was written by . . . → Read More: Hymns We Sing #1, Cont.

Hymns we Sing #1

By Parson Brown, on 4:23 pm%

I’m a numbers guy. I hold firmly to the truth that if it isn’t measured it isn’t done, or said another way, the things you really care about, you attempt to track. The big problem with being a numbers guy is that the numbers never tell a full story, and they are often tracking . . . → Read More: Hymns we Sing #1

What form of Christian Worship? – discussion in the comments & American Idol

By Parson Brown, on 2:40 pm%

I’ve been having a good back and forth in the comments with “orthodox protestant” – part of it over the role of music in worship. Dennis and I for the 4th Sunday’s (last Sunday didn’t count becuase it was Memorial Day which overrides other elements) have been searching though “modern” music. By modern we . . . → Read More: What form of Christian Worship? – discussion in the comments & American Idol

Christian Worship – What is its purpose? What is its form?

By Parson Brown, on 7:38 pm%

“Orthodox Protestant” in the comments has asked a few great questions. (You can see more of them on the comments toolbar.) The most recent was this.

So,,,is the purpose of worship for the people of God to assemble corporately to hear the gospel preached, confess our sins and partake of the sacraments? Or . . . → Read More: Christian Worship – What is its purpose? What is its form?

Easter reflection – New Life on the Way

By Parson Brown, on 12:38 pm%

This morning, about 4 AM, my wife pushes me and says she thinks its time and adds she is having contractions about 4 minutes apart. At 4 AM when I heard that I was thinking more about how to deliver a child than driving to the hospital becuase this thing is coming now. The . . . → Read More: Easter reflection – New Life on the Way

The Law, repentance and hypocrisy – and a quick note

By Parson Brown, on 7:26 pm%

Last week I know I was hoping to get back to writing these more regularly as we got into Jeremiah and Romans. My wife is roughly 8 months pregnant and is starting to run out of steam much quicker. Short answer is that the family has been taking more time of necessity. I . . . → Read More: The Law, repentance and hypocrisy – and a quick note

Chronological Discrimination

By Parson Brown, on 6:45 pm%

No this is not a post about the young vs. the old. These two posts – post 1, post 2 – from the Faith & Theology blog summarize my thoughts on quality hymns.

Our hymnbooks (we have two in the pews) have collected the best that certain traditions have offered. Lutheran Service Book . . . → Read More: Chronological Discrimination

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