Miscellaneous Questions

[peterm]

Any Boone's Farm lovers out there?   

I have a miscellaneous question, which I was going to post as a new thread but since there is a perfect place for such questions, here it goes. 

I have a parishioner who wants to learn more about Lutheran Theology/Doctrine/Practice/Biblical Interpretation and I told him I would prepare a kind of Top Ten reads for beginning introduction to deeper study of Lutheran Doctrine and Luther Study.  I have a few in mind, but I am sure there are many that aren't coming to mind.  So...What books would you recommend to a lay person wanting deeper Lutheran/Luther study?  (Introductory to Moderate level)

Where God Meets Man by Forde has always been well received by parishioners I have lent it out too.  Sometimes I even got it back 

[Weedon]

My new favorite is John Kleinig's *Grace Upon Grace:  Spirituality for Today* - simply stunning.  If I may express it so:  Schmemann for Lutherans.  It's accessible and yet profound.  I've been featuring quotes from it on my blog (see below) under "New Lutheran Quote of the Day."  Check it out and see if this is not a book that should be in our people's hands!

[Durkin_Park]

Pastor Wolfe,

An excellent primer, easy to read rather short, classic I would recommend would be "Getting into the Theology of Concord" by Robert Preus.  I can send it to you if you want to pay me back.  Or buy it here

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-into-theology-Concord-study/dp/B0006CT9X6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242951282&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/Getting-Theology-Concord-Robert-Preus/dp/0570037670/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242951282&sr=1-2

http://shop.cph.org/Product.pasp?txtCatalog=CPHProduct&txtProductID=122702

Of course if you want to get more serious:

Historical Introductions to the Book of Concord by Bente

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0570032628?tag=bradsbookshel-20&camp=14573&creative=329585&linkCode=am1&creativeASIN=0570032628&adid=0SW7DAZDCT8H39T5XNEC&

[frluther1517]

Mr. Durkin,

How would I know you of all people to mention Bente's Historical Introductions it would be you?  Glad to see you haven't changed, brother! 

How much is Preus' book?  I might be interested...

God's Blessings Brother! 

[racin_jason]

Did anyone else notice that in Sundays and Seasons prayers for Christ the King Sunday, that Christ was not mentioned as King, nor was any royal imagery used?

Maybe this is a non-issue --there are more important issues before us. But part of me wonders if this is related what the cover-story "The Lutheran" talks about this month, dismantling patriarchy, 

[Charles_Austin]

The "festival" is a relatively new institution, growing out of Roman Catholic Germany at a time when nationalism was on the rise and the Pope wanted to assert Christ's rule over that of the state. We could do without it. It was not in the Service Book and Hymnal.

[Brian Stoffregen]

The "festival" is a relatively new institution, growing out of Roman Catholic Germany at a time when nationalism was on the rise and the Pope wanted to assert Christ's rule over that of the state. We could do without it. It was not in the Service Book and Hymnal.

At least one report I read by Pfatteicher, part of the reason the Roman Church instituted it in 1925 (originally on the last Sunday in October) was to combat the popularity of the Lutheran's Reformation celebration. In 1969 it was moved to the Last Sunday of the Church year. Where it may have originally meant to be divisive, often the prayers of the day are about uniting all believers under the reign of Christ.

[Richard Johnson]

Did anyone else notice that in Sundays and Seasons prayers for Christ the King Sunday, that Christ was not mentioned as King, nor was any royal imagery used?

Maybe this is a non-issue --there are more important issues before us. But part of me wonders if this is related what the cover-story "The Lutheran" talks about this month, dismantling patriarchy, 

Well, at least they didn't call him "Queen." 

[Richard Johnson]

The "festival" is a relatively new institution, growing out of Roman Catholic Germany at a time when nationalism was on the rise and the Pope wanted to assert Christ's rule over that of the state. We could do without it. It was not in the Service Book and Hymnal.

I, for one, don't wish to do without it. I think it is a fabulous way to conclude the church year, and an almost seamless transition into the theme of Advent. We've taken to having the rite of confirmation on Christ the King, giving opportunity for all kinds of reflections on what it means--for these young people, for all of us--to acknowledge the reign of Christ in our lives and in the world.

Not to mention that it gives a regular liturgical occasion to sing "Crown Him with Many Crowns," the only hymn I know of that includes the word "potentate." 

[Paul L. Knudson]

I second my love of this festival ending the church year.  I am not sure our second lesson for the day is used for Christ the King but if it is not it should be:  Phiippians 2:5a-11... "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bend..." or from Romans:  "...Confess that Jesus is Lord."  There is something sovereign is there not about God being God?

[Weedon]

For us who celebrate the historic, one-year series, today was Last Sunday, and the Gospel was Matthew 25 - the wise and foolish virgins - and so the hymn of the day, that incomparable King of the Chorales:  "Wake!  Awake!"  For myself, I can't imagine the Church year ending without that Gospel and Nicolai's stunning text and tune.   

[J. Thomas Shelley]

During the Sunday School hour my wife led a themed teaching Hymn-Sing titled "Hymns fit for a King"; using hymns referring to Christ as King or to the Kingdom of God.  We included the Herbert Brokering hymn "Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise."

[Jeff-MN]

Isn't today now called "The Reign of Christ" Sunday in the ELCA?

[George Erdner]

Isn't today now called "The Reign of Christ" Sunday in the ELCA?

Only if you want to call it that. The ELCA respects the bound consciences of those who want to call it one thing, and also of those who want to call it something else.

[Richard Johnson]

Isn't today now called "The Reign of Christ" Sunday in the ELCA?

No doubt by some, but not in the ELW and not in Sundays and Seasons.

In my former life among the Methodists, they divided the season after Pentecost into two sections, one called "Pentecost" and one called "Kingdomtide." Not sure where they got that quirky practice.