This article reflects on the section of Luther’s Small Catechism dealing with the Sacrament of the Altar. Read the relevant portion online in contemporary English here. Christ's Body and Blood by Edward G. Kettner [caption id="attachment_13923" align="alignright" width="250"] The Sacrament of the Altar. Woodcut from the 1558 edition of Luther's Small Catechism.[/caption] The sixth chief part of the Small Catechism is titled “The Sacrament of the Altar.” Other names have been applied to it as well. It is often, and probably most popularly, called “The Lord’s Supper,” since it was instituted by Christ with His own words at the last meal He ate with ...
[caption id="attachment_13911" align="aligncenter" width="600"] The writers of the Formula of Concord (19th century illustration).[/caption] by Mathew Block The publication of the Augsburg Confession in 1530 may have solidified the Lutheran tradition, but the troubles for the Reformation did not end there. War seemed inevitable. Emperor Charles V had already tried diplomatic means at Augsburg to force the Lutheran princes to return to Roman faith and practice. The sword would undoubtedly be next. For this reason, the Schmalkaldic League was formed in February 1531. The League was envisioned as a defensive alliance for the Lutheran princes, protecting each other if the Emperor should attack one ...
by Thomas M. Winger The story is told of a wrestling match in the ancient Olympics between a wrestler from Ephesus and one from nearby Miletus. The little Ephesian was absolutely unbeatable, and so his Milesian opponent cried foul. On close examination the judges discovered that the Ephesian had six magic words written on a band around his ankle. When these “Ephesian letters” were removed, the Milesian threw him to the ground 30 times in a row! What was the power of these words? Acts 19 tells us that Ephesus was home to the great Temple of Artemis, thought to be ...
ONLINE - Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) has partnered with The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC) to develop a Bible reading plan entitled Reading the Word of God. "In order to encourage the people of our church bodies in the daily reading of Holy Scripture, we have compiled a three-year plan of daily Bible readings and a year-long series of weekly readings on Martin Luther’s approach to the Scriptures," an introduction to the reading plan explains. "The suggested readings are offered for one reason only—to enhance devotional life as an individual or a family daily examines, and ...
[caption id="attachment_13871" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Rev. Dr. Leonardo Neitzel baptizes his granddaughter.[/caption] by Leonardo Neitzel Another Christmas is soon approaching, and with it gifts to exchange. Each of us may have a story or experience about a gift—perhaps one received, perhaps one lost, one dreamed or wished for, or even a gift never received. Gifts come in all shapes and sizes. But the gift of holy baptism—water and the Word of God Father, Son and Holy Spirit—exceeds all. While material gifts are perishable, the gift of baptism is both for this life and for eternity, packed with abounding blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation. Nothing ...
WINNIPEG – More than 1200 people gathered at Saint James Lutheran Church in Winnipeg and around the world online Sunday, January 28, for the installation of Lutheran Church–Canada’s fourth president, Rev. Timothy Teuscher, Vice-president Rev. Thomas Kruesel (Campbell River, B.C.) and members of LCC’s Board of Directors.
Liturgists for the Vespers Service were Rev. Jim Schnarr, pastor of Saint James, and Rev. Marvin Bublitz, 1st Vice-president of LCC’s East District and pastor at First, Logan, Ont. and Redeemer, Monkton, Ont. who served his vicarage with Pastor Teuscher. The Lectors were clergy …
WINNIPEG- The president of Lutheran Church–Canada, Rev. Timothy Teuscher, joined 90 other Canadian religious leaders and faith-group representatives calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Government of Canada to “amend the Canada Summer Jobs guidelines and application process so that it does not compel agreement or belief, and allows religious organizations to stay true to their communal identity and beliefs.” Currently, applicants for the federal funding must attest to upholding Charter Rights including its “underlying values” such as reproductive rights (abortion) and LGBTQ2 rights.
The letter affirms that “the promise …
by Rev. Leonardo Neitzel
UKRAINE – The alliance between Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) and the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) since 1996 has been a blessing for our joint ministry and mission in that country.
Rev. Roland Syens and Rev. Keith Haberstock were commissioned as LCC’s first missionaries to Ukraine in 1993 and started the work which today shows its fruits for the Lord’s kingdom. Since the partnership began LCC — with support from generous donors, Concordia Lutheran Mission Society (CLMS), and Lutheran Women’s Missionary League-Canada (LWMLC) — has sponsored …
WINNIPEG – The Installation Service for Lutheran Church–Canada’s (LCC) fourth president, Rev. Timothy Teuscher, and newly-elected and continuing members of Synod’s Board of Directors (BOD) will be available to watch online. Beginning at 3 p.m. (CST} Sunday, January 28 viewers across Canada and around the world can watch the event at www.lcc2017.ca or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lutheranchurchcanada. All three previous LCC presidents, Rev. Dr.Edwin Lehman, Rev. Dr. Ralph Mayan, and Rev. Dr. Robert Bugbee will participate in the installation. Following the example set by Past President Bugbee, Rev. Teuscher will …
CHINANDEGA, Nicaragua – Pastors from all over Nicaragua gathered at Chinandega’s Mission Centre in mid-November arriving with open hearts and minds, and their Greek New Testaments. The goal of the week-long continuing education class was to dig deeper into God’s Word by studying the New Testament in its original language.
The daily classes covered Greek grammar, key biblical terms, and New Testament texts from the Church year. The instructor, Pastor Brian Dunlop from Faith Lutheran Church in Desboro, Ont., paid particular attention to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation. The classes …
UKRAINE – The education of a new class of pastors for the Synod of Evangelical Lutheran Churches in Ukraine (SELCU) at Concordia Seminary in Odessa-Usatowe, Ukraine continued in late 2017.
Pastoral students finished their studies of the Patristic Age, with a particular emphasis on the First Four Ecumenical Councils, their doctrinal decisions, and their influence on our churches today. Following that, students began a course on Sermon Preparation, building on studies Rev. Dr. Wilhelm Torgerson led during his first teaching stint at the Ukrainian seminary. Dr. Torgerson is a pastor of …