Comments for Pietati http://englishministryromania.org/blog The Blog of the English Ministry of the Lutheran Church in Romania Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:20:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on The Advent Fast by PastorM http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419&cpage=1#comment-1219 PastorM Sat, 24 Dec 2011 22:20:48 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419#comment-1219 I'm not a wild-eyed utopian. There's no chance that all churches, or even all congregations of a single church body, would suddenly declare an annual winter return to the Middle Ages. None at all, and there are good reasons not to. (Plumbing, for one, although that isn't what I was getting at). But I do think that the liturgical and historical themes of Advent -- still alive in some parts of the world -- deserve more attention than they get. Used carefully, they are a tool that can prise open the door for churchgoers, and offer them something better than they usually get. As for the churches in and around Kingston, well, they are all pretty small. I do wonder whether one or two of them might not become the host church for a service that could be led by different pastors in different years, or even by all six pastors at once. (And then another one or two might agree to serve as the Easter Vigil hosts for the whole area). I’m not a wild-eyed utopian. There’s no chance that all churches, or even all congregations of a single church body, would suddenly declare an annual winter return to the Middle Ages. None at all, and there are good reasons not to. (Plumbing, for one, although that isn’t what I was getting at).

But I do think that the liturgical and historical themes of Advent — still alive in some parts of the world — deserve more attention than they get. Used carefully, they are a tool that can prise open the door for churchgoers, and offer them something better than they usually get.

As for the churches in and around Kingston, well, they are all pretty small. I do wonder whether one or two of them might not become the host church for a service that could be led by different pastors in different years, or even by all six pastors at once. (And then another one or two might agree to serve as the Easter Vigil hosts for the whole area).

]]> Comment on The Advent Fast by Mark Anderson http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419&cpage=1#comment-1215 Mark Anderson Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:07:18 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419#comment-1215 On reflection - maybe it is truly hopeless. I note that when Christmas does NOT fall on a Sunday (e.g. most years), of 6 ELCA churches in our immediate vicinity 5 have NO service on Christmas Day. Furthermore, NONE of their Christmas Eve services extend beyond midnight, On reflection – maybe it is truly hopeless. I note that when Christmas does NOT fall on a Sunday (e.g. most years), of 6 ELCA churches in our immediate vicinity 5 have NO service on Christmas Day. Furthermore, NONE of their Christmas Eve services extend beyond midnight,

]]> Comment on The Advent Fast by Mark Anderson http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419&cpage=1#comment-1214 Mark Anderson Thu, 22 Dec 2011 23:07:46 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419#comment-1214 The only realistic possibility would be for all churches in the west to seriously celebrate Advent and boycott the Thanksgiving to Christmas madness. Perhaps we should officially change the name of the season to Immanuel or Christ-With-Us and let the secular culture have their "Christmas" since they have already appropriated it. Then at the end of the "that" season, exchange gifts and greetings on Epiphany. Let's put it up to the council and then let the Bishop promote it to the Pope and other leaders. I see it now, a grass-roots movements of Christians opposed to Christmas. The only realistic possibility would be for all churches in the west to seriously celebrate Advent and boycott the Thanksgiving to Christmas madness. Perhaps we should officially change the name of the season to Immanuel or Christ-With-Us and let the secular culture have their “Christmas” since they have already appropriated it. Then at the end of the “that” season, exchange gifts and greetings on Epiphany. Let’s put it up to the council and then let the Bishop promote it to the Pope and other leaders. I see it now, a grass-roots movements of Christians opposed to Christmas.

]]> Comment on The Advent Fast by Pastor Joelle http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419&cpage=1#comment-1212 Pastor Joelle Thu, 22 Dec 2011 16:47:26 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=419#comment-1212 And now there's a movement to just furgittabout Advent altogther. Let's just all join the crowd and sing Christmas songs because everyone else is doing it. Why should the Church be out of step with the rest of the culture :-/ And now there’s a movement to just furgittabout Advent altogther. Let’s just all join the crowd and sing Christmas songs because everyone else is doing it. Why should the Church be out of step with the rest of the culture :-/

]]> Comment on Movie Night! by Luther: hero or heretic? « Clujul Evanghelic http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=407&cpage=1#comment-1051 Luther: hero or heretic? « Clujul Evanghelic Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:00:52 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=407#comment-1051 [...] englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=407 46.776306 23.604290 Spune ?i altora:FacebookTwitterEmailPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. from → default ← Adresa Alian?ei Evanghelice c?tre Primul Ministru legat de metodologia recens?mântului No comments yet [...] [...] englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=407 46.776306 23.604290 Spune ?i altora:FacebookTwitterEmailPrintLike this:LikeBe the first to like this post. from → default ← Adresa Alian?ei Evanghelice c?tre Primul Ministru legat de metodologia recens?mântului No comments yet [...]

]]> Comment on Built on a Rock by Mark Anderson http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=400&cpage=1#comment-662 Mark Anderson Fri, 19 Aug 2011 15:33:43 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=400#comment-662 LSB, 645, Stanza 4: Here stands the font before our eyes, Telling how God has received us. The altar recalls Christ's sacrifice And what his Supper here gives us. Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim Christ yesterday, today, the same, And evermore, our Redeemer. LSB, 645, Stanza 4:
Here stands the font before our eyes,
Telling how God has received us.
The altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice
And what his Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim
Christ yesterday, today, the same,
And evermore, our Redeemer.

]]> Comment on I Heart It Too, But Come On by PastorM http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-341 PastorM Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:31:11 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=391#comment-341 Aww, shucks, ma'am. War'n't nuthin. Give Eric and the kids our love! Aww, shucks, ma’am. War’n't nuthin. Give Eric and the kids our love!

]]> Comment on True Places by PastorM http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=387&cpage=1#comment-340 PastorM Sun, 19 Jun 2011 19:30:00 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=387#comment-340 James! Great to hear from you. Nothing we'd like to do more than visit Southern, although I can't think when. James! Great to hear from you. Nothing we’d like to do more than visit Southern, although I can’t think when.

]]> Comment on True Places by James Thomas http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=387&cpage=1#comment-286 James Thomas Tue, 31 May 2011 15:08:06 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=387#comment-286 Hi friends! It is a joy to hear about your ministry. Remembering out times in the Bronx! If you get to South Carolina, stop by and share with the Southern Seminary community. Hi friends! It is a joy to hear about your ministry. Remembering out times in the Bronx! If you get to South Carolina, stop by and share with the Southern Seminary community.

]]> Comment on I Heart It Too, But Come On by Rita Mathsen http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=391&cpage=1#comment-276 Rita Mathsen Sun, 29 May 2011 00:02:43 +0000 http://englishministryromania.org/blog/?p=391#comment-276 Hi Michel & Terri! Love the blog! Michael, you're such an engaging writer! I read all the back blogs, to, and enjoyed them! Stay well! Hi Michel & Terri! Love the blog! Michael, you’re such an engaging writer! I read all the back blogs, to, and enjoyed them! Stay well!

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