Topics

1

Your Turn / The Tone of Liturgy in 2021

« on: January 24, 2021, 11:59:11 AM »

Here is a run-down on the music, hymnody, and texts done at the pre-inaugural liturgy at the Cathedral of St. Matthew. I have been curious but we could see or hear any of it; the media showed only the congregation of and on.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/act-faith-prayers-and-music-bidens-inauguration-day-mass

Does such a liturgy for such a dignitary affect the direction of liturgy throughout the nation? I remember the Kennedy funeral liturgy and think that Cardinal Cushing became a negative example setting in a reaction that might be thought to have culminated in the quintessential guitar mass. This mass is far removed from "guitar." Does it portend a more conservative trend.

(Don't introduce politics here. Only theology and liturgy!)

Peace, JOHN

2

Your Turn / St. Peter's, Manhattan

« on: January 05, 2021, 05:23:05 PM »

Many here know of St. Peter's in Midtown Manhattan (Lexington and 53rd). Last night it suffered serious water damage from a ruptured water main. The sanctuary and most of the educational rooms are below street level so it was extensive, probably in the millions of dollars. John Damm served as pastor for many years.

3

Your Turn / Christianity and Zombie Ants by Piotr Malysz.

« on: September 29, 2020, 09:44:59 AM »

There's an excellent new commentary on today's turbulent and trying times. Christianity and Zombie Ants by Piotr Malysz. Go to Selected Re-prints.

https://www.lutheranforum.com/blog/christianity-and-zombie-ants

4

Selected Re-Prints / Christianity and Zombie Ants, by Piotr Malysz

« on: September 29, 2020, 09:39:11 AM »

There's an excellent new commentary on today's turbulent and trying times in <lutheranforum.org>. Christianity and Zombie Ants by Piotr Malysz.

https://www.lutheranforum.com/blog/christianity-and-zombie-ants

5

Your Turn / Pope Francis (Celebacy & Deacons)

« on: February 13, 2020, 02:38:40 PM »

Pope Francis has declined to approve married priests and women deacons (deaconesses?) for the Amazon. Here is the Times report:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/world/europe/pope-married-priests.html

Comments?

Peace, JOHN

6

Your Turn / Leonard Klein +

« on: December 04, 2019, 07:36:33 PM »

I am sad to report that our former editor of Lutheran Forum and strong ALPB supporter, Leonard Klein, has died of cancer. At this time all I know is this:

https://www.cdow.org/fr-leonard-klein-head-of-three-wilmington-city-catholic-churches-has-died/

May he rest in peace. JOHN

7

Your Turn / Church Politics (Not Lutheran)

« on: November 23, 2019, 07:32:03 AM »

A friend in Australia sent me this:

https://www.ncronline.org/news/opinion/editorial-failed-leadership-us-bishops-clear?clickSource=email

And here I thought that we Lutherans had the corner on the church/secular political mix.   

Peace, JOHN

8

Your Turn / Return of Forum Online

« on: October 24, 2019, 06:12:44 AM »

We are back online.     Thanks be to God!

And thanks to all subscribers and donors. It does cost money to operate Forum Online. Soon, we will again be asking you (as we do each year) for a donation to the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau. We need your gift to keep operating; please give generously. Watch for our annual appeal and don't put it off. That's if you are a subscriber to the Forum package (Forum Letter and Lutheran Forum).

If you do not subscribe you should still help us pay for the Forum Online you are using. You may send your gift to:

American Lutheran Publicity Bureau  or ALPB
PO Box 327
Delhi, NY 13753

Don't be a cheap freeloader. If you give, thank you in advance.

Peace, JOHN

9

2019 LCMS Convention / LIRS

« on: July 17, 2019, 07:47:16 AM »

Let's have LIRS comments here under a new topic. As new subjects come up, start a "NEW TOPIC."

Peace, JOHN

10

Your Turn / Test, 12 MAY

« on: May 12, 2019, 08:15:14 AM »

Testing to see if Forum Online is back. Please behave now.

Peace, JOHN

11

Your Turn / Test, 12 May

« on: May 12, 2019, 07:36:45 AM »

This is a test to see if Online Forum is back in business. Let's behave now.

Peace, JOHN

12

Your Turn / ALPB Appoints New Editor for Lutheran Forum

« on: March 02, 2019, 04:55:08 PM »

    Please join me in welcoming Dr. R. David Nelson as the new editor of Lutheran Forum. His first issue will be Summer 2019. Dr. Nelson comes with vast experience in the publishing world. He is the Senior Acquisitions Editor of Baker Academic & Brazos Press in Grand Rapids, Michigan. David is the author or editor of numerous theological books and essays, including some for the ALPB. He has a M. Div. from Beeson Divinity School and Ph. D. From the University of Aberdeen, Scotland. He and his wife Dacia have three children.

    The ALPB is most grateful for Sarah Hinlicky Wilson’s editorship of eleven years. We are delighted to learn that she and her family are doing well adapting to a new life in Tokyo. Thanks also to Matthew Staneck who edits the Spring 2019 issue as the interim editor and to Piotr Malysz, who has been associate editor with Matt. We wish them all God’s richest blessings for the future.


JOHN HANNAH
President of the ALPB Board

13

Your Turn / A Times Pro Life Op Ed Today

« on: January 10, 2019, 06:53:32 AM »

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/09/opinion/abortion-pro-life.html

14

Your Turn / Funeral for President Bush

« on: December 05, 2018, 03:42:17 PM »

I watched the Bush funeral at the National Cathedral. My random thoughts about it:

o  Impressive military ceremonial precision. Good to see all those lower ranking military members excelling in such a prominent role. (Much to tell their girl friends or wives and grandchildren down the road.)
o  Excellent eulogies by all (Meachem, Simpson, Mulhaney, and Bush 43).
o  President Bush was clearly a great example for families and citizens in many, many ways and for many, many years.
o  Yet too much eulogy for a Christian funeral. Some content bordered on Pelagianism. (That may be necessary for such a state affair and for one so exemplary as Bush 41.)
o  Clear Christian witness in the liturgy, homily, hymnody, and even in each of the eulogies.
o  Followed the ordo of the Great Tradition but without a Eucharist.

I hope that the service of his Houston parish will likewise be broadcast. Likely it will not have that quircky church-state mix. (Anglicans seem comfortable with that while most Lutherans do not.)

I was more impressed with the funeral for Justice Scalia.

o  His priest son stressed in the homily that Jesus Christ was the hero we celebrate today.
o  There was a Eucharist, giving clear witness to that proclamation.
o  Less clergy in prominence.

Others who watched may have additional comments and opinions.   

Peace, JOHN

15

Your Turn / U.S. Immigration - Problems/Solutions

« on: June 18, 2018, 04:13:22 PM »

Rather than continue under "Misuse" I'll start a thread on immigration.

The problems seem intractable for a congress of elected representatives to solve. It seems to me that here the United States is an innocent victim of our huge success as a nation.

1.  We own a huge land mass.  That has allowed us to cultivate unprecedented prosperity but exposes a border many thousands of miles long and impossible to seal.

2.  We have the greatest freedom which attracts oppressed citizens of other nations. You don't see people fleeing to Iran.

3.  We have reasonable security which attracts citizens fearing violence. You don't seeing folks heading to Syria.

4.  We are very wealthy which attracts those in poverty.  You don't see them going to Venezuela.

What to do? Frequently I consider any and all proposals "bogus" and too simplistic because they will not be truly effective. I believe the wall is one of those simplistic and bogus solutions that will provide a (false) sense of security but will not actually seal the border.

Maybe if we had another economic depression, people would think twice before coming here. If it is actually the case that immigrants depress our economy then the problem will take care of itself and they will go back home and others will not follow them. But then the economy is quite strong now so that solution is a ways out in the future.

Peace, JOHN