Category Archives: Worship

Why Do We Confess?

Okay, I admit it:  Lutheran worship can seem a little strange.  It’s too plain for the Orthodox, and too fancy for the Reformed.  Anglicans and Roman Catholics usually catch on quickly, but many other Christians may find themselves wondering just … Continue reading

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The Glorious Fourth

Yesterday, we celebrated Independence Day.  At many American churches, this is unremarkable.  But here in Romania — in a service where only a few of us were from the United States — it was a different event.  Or, rather, it … Continue reading

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Now With More Sermons!

I have added a couple of recent sermons to our main English Ministry website, and will add more as time allows. There’s a new link on the side of the page, or else you can click this link here. These … Continue reading

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Seeking Victory

After this they went home, and sung a song of thanksgiving, and praised the Lord in heaven: because it is good, because his mercy endureth forever. — I Maccabees, 4:24 After a great victory against their enemies, God’s people “went … Continue reading

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Godspeed

Ave atque vale, the Romans used to say:  Hail and farewell. On Pentecost, we said goodbye to some friends.  Charles and Jann were here on sabbatical, Rob and Marsha because of sports.  But seasons and semesters end, and it was … Continue reading

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Cluj Ministry Video

One of the things that Lutheran pastors do is get together, with each other and with laypeople, at an assembly every year.  We call it a synod, from the Greek words for “on the same road.”  Anyway, I have ben … Continue reading

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“God is My All-in-All”

On the Fifth Sunday of Easter, 2 May, Djeumessi Michael Romeo — or Mickey — was baptized at the Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Cluj.  Mickey is a citizen of Cameroon, who studies Computer Science at Babes-Bolyai University.  He has been coming … Continue reading

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Hristos a înviat

In the United States, the Great Vigil of Easter is celebrated faithfully, at least in the churches Terri and I have served.  Our Vigils are by turns solemn, prayerful and joyous.  They are also elaborate and often very beautiful. But, … Continue reading

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Holy Week Pageant in Cluj

On the Tuesday of Holy Week, we joined a procession through the streets of Cluj.  While it wasn’t exactly the traditional Stations of the Cross, it was a similar idea.  Actors playing Jesus, Pilate, the Roman soldiers and the Jerusalem … Continue reading

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“That They May All Be One”

Most of the churches in Cluj are celebrating the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.  We kicked it off last week with an English-language service (with some prayers and lessons in both Romanian and Hungarian).  Official visitors came from … Continue reading

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