Saturday 9 May 2020
Reading: Introit for Easter 5 - Psalm 30:1-5
Hymn: Sing With All the Saints in Glory (LSB #671)
Saturday 2 May 2020
Reading: John 10:14-15; Psalm 95
Hymn: I Am Jesus' Little Lamb (LSB #740)
The Covid-19 Chronicles: Reflections in a Pandemic, Part 9
I'm a big fan of science. Having spent six years of my college and graduate education and the first seven of my vocational years in chemistry, science is in my intellectual DNA. As a pastor-theologian, the only chemistry I practice these days is in the kitchen and meticulously studying those fine-print sheets that accompany prescription medications. However, the recent Covid-19 crisis has reawakened my science brain. With hockey and baseball down for the season, I now spend my free time perusing abstracts from Cell, Nature, and JAMA, and watching scientists discuss real-time, collaborative science on a global scale. I may never return to sports. Who could have foreseen the day when Dr. Anthony Fauci of the NIH would have a bobblehead, a T-shirt, and a parody on Saturday Night Live? This is the revenge of the nerds.
The Covid-19 Chronicles : Reflections in a Pandemic, Part 8
"Our churches also teach that one holy church is to continue forever. This church is the assembly of saints in which the Gospel is taught purely and the sacraments are administered rightly." - Augsburg Confession VII
The Covid-19 crisis has catapulted the church into the internet age of live-stream, Zoom, and audio/video services - the virtual printing press of our time. Unable to gather in groups due to health concerns, congregations are resorting to virtual gatherings as a placeholder for corporate worship. It's the next best thing to being there. Or is it?
Saturday 25 April 2020
Reading: Psalm 133
Hymn: Where Charity and Love Prevail (LSB #845)
Readings: Acts 5:29-42; 1 Peter 1:3-9; John 20:19-31 Hymn: O Sons and Daughters of the King (LSB #471)
The Covid-19 Chronicles : Reflections in a Pandemic, Part 7
In my last essay, Eucharistic Fasting, I attempted to explain from Lutheran first principles the reasons for my congregation's abstaining from the Sacrament during this time of CoV-2 quarantine. It drew considerable discussion, both positively and negatively. Some of the criticism surprised me, coming from people with whom I normally agree. It was not my intention to pass judgment on the decisions of others nor to imply that I was "right" and others were "wrong." As I read and thought through the responses, I considered that our situation might profitably be viewed through the lens of ethics.
The Covid-19 Chronicles : Reflections in a Pandemic, Part 6
The Covid-19 pandemic has created something of a crisis of communion in the Church. The Orthodox churches have largely suspended communion where they cannot gather. So also have the Roman churches. For non-sacramental protestants, this is not as much of a problem because music, preaching, and Bible study can be live-streamed or recorded. But for the sacramental churches, quarantine at home measures pose a serious challenge to theology and practice. Many Lutheran churches have resorted to a variety of extraordinary measures, attempting to comply with local health directives and sanitary practices while offering the Sacrament to the faithful. These measures include serial small group communions, private communions, drive-in communions, and in a few cases, virtual communions over the internet.
Easter Monday
Reading: Luke 24:13-35
Hymn: Lord Jesus Christ, With Us Abide (LSB #585)
Readings: Jeremiah 31:1-6; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10 Hymn: Jesus Christ is Ris'n Today (LSB #457)