The Use of the Means of Grace, adopted by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America this past summer, is a document that probably could not have been written by Episcopalians, though not because we would disagree in large measure with anything in the paper. Almost all the particular ritual notes are familiar and unremarkable from […]
Welcome to Let’s Talk
We invite submission of papers and talks from members of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod of the ELCA, talks given to members of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod, or articles from other pastors and theologians, not limited to ELCA. Send submissions in Word docx. to fcsenn70@gmail.com.
Report on Lutheran-Episcopal Relations: Ecumenical Symposium at Loyola University
You invited Bill Roberts and myself, as the ecumenical officers of the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Metropolitan Chicago Synod respectively, to give a report on Lutheran-Episcopal Relationships. The invitation to address this symposium was extended before the votes were taken at our respective church assemblies this past summer. […]
Argument for a Lutheran Anamnesis of the Historical Episcopate
One of the issue editors of Let’s Talk invited me to respond to the failure of the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to approve the Concordat of Agreement by answering two questions: Is it desirable for The Episcopal Church to have full communion with The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America? If […]
Full Communion: ELCA and Others – A Sermon
This week I felt compelled to set aside all of the assigned texts before me–those for the “Festival of St. Bartholomew, Apostle” as well as for this “The 16th Sunday after Pentecost”, and reflect seriously upon events of last Sunday. Christians of all denominations convene assemblies–annually, bi-annually or tri-annually. They do so with varying degrees […]
Let’s Talk Mission Statement Contest
This is our final installment of mission statements submitted by congregations. We thank all who participated. We noted at the outset that the “winners” would be published, and we have published them all. In our next issue we will seek to address the use and abuse of congregational statements and examine our Synod’s new mission […]
Worship Bibliography
We gathered a list of worship resources. Here are some resources that have proved valuable to them in preparing the Liturgy and in adult education. Do you have resources you would recommend? Fax to me at 773-935-0414 or mail to Nicholas Zook, Concordia Lutheran Church, 3855 N. Seeley Ave., Chicago, IL 60618 Commentaries on Liturgy […]
A Statement that Leaves Us Wanting More
This August, the ELCA Assembly in Philadelphia will consider adopting the latest document on worship in the ELCA, The Use of the Means of Grace: a Proposed Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament. The Preamble states the purpose of the document: This statement seeks to root common sacramental practice in the Lutheran Confessions […]
A Place for the Means of Grace
Have you ever sat in your church building and day-dreamed about how you would redesign the layout, if money was no object? Okay; maybe you haven’t, but I have. The proposed statement on the practice of Word and Sacrament stirred my imagination sitting in church one day. I began to imagine what the house of […]
A Roman Catholic Resposne
I had the pleasure of serving Lutheran churches of different synods as a church musician for nearly a decade. I came to admire the centrality of the Word, baptism, and the eucharist in their individual and congregational lives. Roman Catholics easily find our eyes of faith distracted by less central features of the Christian landscape. […]
Associate in Ministry Responds to “The Use of the Means of Grace”
Along with my ordained colleagues, fellow Associates in Ministry, and many lay members of my congregation, I awaited the publication and revision of The Use of the Means of Grace: A Proposed Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament, with great anticipation. As Chair of the Metropolitan Chicago Synod Worship Committee, I was hoping […]
Who is the Most Lutheran of Us All?
“Mirror, mirror on the wall—who is the most Lutheran of us all?” That was the question raised at a recent Conference of Bishops gathering as we discussed worship practices among our congregations. Now we are presented with a document, The Use of the Means of Grace, that effectively gives us a standard to understand what […]
Recapturing the Importance of Sunday
In considering The Use of the Means of Grace: A Proposed Statement on the Practice of Word and Sacrament, the voting members of the 1997 Churchwide Assembly will do nothing less than consider the very essence of what it means to be the Church of Jesus Christ. [This issue of Let’s Talk was put together […]
Letters to the Editor – 2.2 Spirituality
Kudos for your excellent Epiphany 1997 edition of Let’s Talk! Read every word of it, which is saying a lot for someone often caught in a paper blizzard. As an ELCA deaconess serving as a counselor and spiritual director I especially appreciated Jack Finney’s excellent article, “Taking Time for the Soul.” In this time of […]
Frank Senn’s Warning – A Response
Since Frank Senn’s response, in Let’s Talk, Volume 2, Issue 1, to my previously published piece goes right to the heart of some crucial issues in our thinking about the ELCA, it is well worth a response and even further discussion. He raises two major issues: the theme of baptism and the question of the […]
In Memoriam: Joseph Cardinal Bernardin, Archbishop of Chicago, 1982-1996, Friend-Teacher-Brother in Christ
On Friday, August 30, 1996, I listened to the news conference at which Joseph Cardinal Bernardin shared with his Church, the public, and friends around the world that he was dying of pancreatic cancer and probably had less than a year to live. He said that he had placed himself in the hands of God […]
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