Out of the barn!

The Christmas issue of Gottesdient is on its way to the mailboxes of subscribers! Not on the list of Gottesdiensters? It's easy to fix that today.

Christmas issue is soon to go to the printers

The Christmas issue of Gottesdienst should be printed and in the mail within a few weeks. With a quick look at  the Contents page you can see what's in there. Now is the time to subscribe, or renew. 

Now is also the time to consider getting a gift for a friend (be sure to scroll down to the gift portion of the form): say, for Christmas.

Now is also the time to consider making a donation, In fact, remembering that we do depend on gifts for a large part of our support, we have just launched a fund drive, and we are pleased to announce that for a donation of $50 or more, we’d like to send you a free gift, your choice of either of two books. The first option is Every Day Will I Bless Thee: Meditations for the Daily Office.  This book, published in 1992, provides a Bible reading and a meditation for every day of the year plus Saints’ Days, with the year’s collects and an index (hardcover, 520 pp.). Or you may prefer The New Testament in His Blood: A Study of the Holy Liturgy, published in 2010, which delves into the significance and meaning of our New Testament liturgical worship (paperback, 117 pp). Just indicate your preference in the comments box.

Sanctoral Calendar for 2017

The new Gottesdienst sanctoral calendar for every Sunday of 2017 is out. It actually begins with Reformation 2016. This will be an insert in the next issue, but it is also available in living color at our web site.

Gottesdienst

. . . is out of the barn! Coming to a mailbox near you, unless you have not subscribed. In which case, here's how.

Why you should go to Oktoberfest

Why? Because it's

• Lutheran worship at its best; at St. Paul's in Kewanee, "where you know you've been to church"
• Lutheran theology at its best
• Lutheran preaching at its best
• Lutheran bratwurst at their best: Sheboygan style, prepared by a Sheboygan native
• a Lutheran banquet at its best
• Lutheran camaraderie at its best: plenty of opportunity to meet, chat, laugh, etc.
• a Lutheran seminar at its best: Dr. Ben Mayes on Gerhard and the Ministry
• unforgettable
• an education
• a reunion
• a venerable 21-year long tradition
• the "best party on the block"

Join us October 9-11 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kewanee, Illinois beginning with choral vespers at 5 p.m. on Sunday evening. Details are here. To register, send us an email.

Oktoberfest!

St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Kewanee, Illinois will be hosting the Twenty-first Annual Oktoberfest! and Gottesdienst Central from Sunday afternoon, October 9^th, until Tuesday, October 11^th.

The event begins Sunday October 9th with Vespers at 5 p.m. Following the service is our annual bratwurst banquet. When everyone has had their fill of brats and beer, featured guest Rev. Dr. Benjamin Mayes, Assistant Professor of Historical Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana will give a synopsis of his Monday seminar.

Following the banquet is the after-the-party party, at the home of Rev. Dr. Burnell Eckardt, the pastor at  St. Paul's.

On Monday, October 10th, Divine Service is at 9:00 a.m., with Rev. Michael Frese from Redeemer in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as special guest preacher. Following the service and a continental breakfast, Dr. Mayes will hold forth for the rest of the day, in two sessions running until about 2:45, followed by Vespers. 

Dr. Mayes will be speaking on 

“The Call and the Ministry according to Johann Gerhard.” 

Johann Gerhard has been called the “Arch-theologian of Lutheranism,” and was the most influential of seventeenth-century Lutheran theologians. He decisively influenced Protestant theologians to study the evangelical (i.e., Gospel-centered) character of pre-Reformation Christianity. Gerhard has been an area of particular interest for Dr. Mayes, who served until this fall as an editor of professional and academic books at Concordia Publishing House (CPH) in St. Louis. In particular he served as general editor for Gerhard’s Theological Commonplaces. Dr. Mayes still serves CPH as managing editor and co-general editor of Luther’s Works: American Edition.

On Tuesday, the conference will continue in the same format, with discussion of liturgical and theological ramifications of decisions made at this summer’s triannual convention of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, with Pastor Eckardt.

REGISTRATION: $50 per person, $70 per couple, students $25 — includes Sunday banquet and Monday continental; no charge for children with parents.  Send your name, address, and which days you plan to attend to b.f.eckardt@gmail.com, or call 309-852-2461. You may pay the registration fee when you arrive.

Recommended Lodging: 

AmericInn, 309-856-7200. Special rate $94.00 (mention Oktoberfest when you register, by September 12th); also Aunt Daisy’s B & B, 309-853-3300; Motel 6, 309-853-8800; Super 8 (Galva), 309-932-2841; Best Western (Annawan), 800-637-5958; Kewanee Motor Lodge, 309-853-4000.

Out of the barn!

The Michaelmas 2014 issue of Gottesdienst is heading to a mailbox near you (that is, if you're a subscriber; if not, click here). Here's what's inside:

Sermons

Trinity 21                              Burnell F. Eckardt Jr.

Trinity 26                              Benjamin T. Ball

Funeral Sermon                     Larry L. Beane II

The Ritual of the Body            Larry L. Beane II

   Liturgical Observer   Burnell F. Eckardt Jr.

Purpose of Gottesdienst       

Patience Pays Off

  Commentary on the War  David H. Petersen

How to Write Better Sermons

Part 2: Writing 

Taking Pains  Mark P. Braden

The Cope 

Poems

He Shall Give His Angels Charge Over You

Kathryn Ann Hill

Then Shall Arise Michael T. David Demarest

Musing on the Mysteries  Karl F. Fabrizius

The Earth Is Filled with Violence

Genesis 6:8-13 

Empty Barn!

The proverbial horse has bolted, and the barn is empty! That is, the current issue is at the Post Office, and coming soon to a mailbox near you.  Assuming, that is, that you are a subscriber.  (Yes, there is a print edition.  Subscribe now if you didn't know that, or if, for some other unfathomable reason, you aren't already).

In this issue: 

Sermons

Chad D. Kendall Eric R. Andrae and Bo H. Giertz Andrae and Giertz Larry L. Beane II David H. Peter sen

Commentary on the War David H. Petersen

 Learning from Chrysostom   

Liturgical Observer Burnell F. EckardtJr.

Pardon the Interruption        

Casual Sundays

Who Says the Our Father?

Homer Nods

Sabre of Boldness Jonathan E. Shaw

Justifying Sanctification       

Michael Brockman Is 2014 Sabre Bearer

Taking Pains Mark P. Braden

Rogation Days, Ember Days 

Poem

The Apostolic Faith   Kathryn Ann Hill

Musing on the Mysteries Karl F. Fabrizius
And He Died Genesis 5:5-27     

                            

Gottesdienst Chicago!

Coming up again this May!

A one-day conference: “Justification and the Sacrament”  — with special guest speaker Rev. Rolf Preus

Tuesday, May 20^th 

Gloria Dei Lutheran Church

5259 S. Major Ave

Chicago, IL 60638

Also featuring banter and discussion from among our editors:

Rev. Fr. Larry Beane, MDiv; Rev. Fr. Jason Braaten, MDiv; Rev. Fr. Mark Braden, STM; Rev. Fr. Burnell F. Eckardt Jr., STM, PhD; Rev. Fr. D. Richard Stuckwisch Jr., PhD; Rev. Fr. David H. Petersen, MDiv

Schedule:

8:30-9:00 am  Registration/Coffee, donuts/

Holy Absolution available

9:00 am  Matins

9:40 am  Welcome

9:45-10:45 am

Justification and the Sacrament,

part one  -- Rev. Preus

11:00 am  Holy Mass

12:15 pm  Lunch (provided)

1:30 – 2:30 pm

Justification and the Sacrament,

part two -- Rev. Preus

2:30 – 3:30 pm

Panel Discussion

Response from the editors

3:30 pm  Vespers

4:00 pm  Gemütlichkeit

Lodging on your own.  

Recommended:  Hampton Inn $169. 6540 S Cicero Ave, Bedford Park, IL. (708) 496-1900 ‎www.hamptoninn.hilton.com.  Chicago Marriott Midway $219.  6520 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL. (708) 594-5500 ‎www.marriott.com. Carlton Inn Midway $109. 4944 S Archer Ave, Chicago, IL. (773) 582-0900.www.carltoninnmidway.com. Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites $171. 6500 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL. (708) 458-0202. www.hiexpress.com. Hilton Garden Inn $239. 6530 S Cicero Ave, Bedford Park, IL. (708) 496-2700.www.hiltongardeninn.hilton.com. Courtyard $199. 6610 S Cicero Ave, Bedford Park, IL. (708) 563-0200.www.midwayhotelcenter.com. Sleep Inn $159. 6650 S Cicero Ave, Bedford Park, IL. (708) 594-0001 ‎www.sleepinn.com. Holiday Inn $180. 6624 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL. (708) 563-6490 ‎www.holidayinn.com.

Registration: $25 (Payable to Gottesdienst. Email the following info to  b.f.eckardt@gmail.com with “Gottesdienst Chicago” in  the subject line).  You may pay the registration fee when you arrive.

Registration info requested:

Your name

Your title

Your parish

Your address, city, state, ZIP

Your phone

Your email

Might Want to Check Your Mailbox

In case you haven't noticed by now, yes, Gottesdiesnt is out of the barn.  The Trinity issue began arriving in mailboxes already last week.

Nice cover pic of Zion in Detroit, courtesy of Jennifer Balaska, their professional photographer.  And yes, Fr. Curtis, there is a print edition.  Not a subscriber?  Fix that problem here, and we'll send you the latest issue.

The Snorting Horse

As a racehorse that snorts when the gate's latch is jangled by the jockey's aide as he fumbles with the lock, so the Christmas issue of Gottesdienst prepares itself to bolt onto the racetrack. The mailroom volunteers are like the horse's restless hooves: she can't wait to spring forth, and they can't wait to sort and carry the mailbags to the Post Office this week.

In this issue you will find the 2012 Gottesdienst Liturgical Calendar, and:

Two seasonal sermons
The Gospel in the Details
The Virtue of “Overstatement”
Two new poems
The Marcions Are Coming!
An Unfading Remembrance and Noble Heritage
The Best Preaching
Sixteen Years of Sabre-Bearers
GottesGuests at La Quinta January 17-20
Kneeling
In the Beginning: The Seventh Day

Not a subscriber yet? It's still very inexpensive ($15/year), so why not take care of that matter today.

Oktoberfest 2011 Schedule of Events

Schedule of Events for Oktoberfest and Gottesdienst Central

(Oct. 9-11, St. Paul's Kewanee, IL)

Featuring Dr. William Weinrich from Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Conference theme (for Sunday and Monday): Baptism in the Gospel of John

Sunday
5 p.m.: Autumn Choral Vespers
6 p.m.: Bratwurst Banquet (and partying into the night)

Monday
8:30 am: Registration
Private confession is available in the vestry from 8:30-9:15 am
9:30 am: Solemn Mass.
Fasting prior to mass is a laudable custom.
10:45 am: Brunch, in the cafeteria.
11:15 am: Dr. Weinrich
12:30 pm Office at Sext
12:45 pm Break. Snacks will be available.
1:10 pm: Dr. Weinrich, continued.
2:00 pm Break.
2:10 pm: Dr. Weinrich, continued.
3:00 pm: Office at Vespers
The late afternoon and evening is free. Weather permitting, a golf outing might be arranged.
Tuesday
9:00 am Low (spoken) Mass
9:45 – noon: Open seminar and workshop on the ceremonies of the Lutheran Mass: attention to the details that confess and magnify the Real Presence.
12 noon: Office at Sext
12:15 pm – lunch (on your own: we will attend a local restaurant)
1:30 pm – 3:15 pm: Seminar, continued.
3:15 Office at Vespers. Itinerarium

Sign up here.

Lodging info:

AmericInn, 4823 US Hwy 34. 800-634-3444
Super 8 Motel, 901 S Tenney (Rt 78). 309-853-8800
Aunt Daisy’s B&B, 223 W Central Blvd. 888-422-4148
Kewanee Motor Lodge, 400 S Main St. 309-853-4000
Days Inn, I-80 & Rt 40, Sheffield. 815-454-2361
Holiday Inn Express, I-80 & Rt 78, Annawan. 309-935-6565

Preaching to the Choir...

...or Why I Like Gottesdienst.  Check it out here.

Great Gift Idea:

Recently Published: The New Testament in His Blood
. A Gottesdienst book by Burnell F Eckardt Jr. 118 pages, paperback. Available at www.lulu.com for $18.00 + s&h. Order quickly to get it for Christmas.



The purpose of this manuscript is twofold: first, to present the Divine Liturgy in such a way as to highlight its beauty and dignity, and second, to show the liturgy's necessity by making the connection between Christ’s fulfillment of the entire Old Testament and the proclamation of this fulfillment by the liturgy. It is not accidental that the term “new testament” refers both to the canon of apostolic books arising after Christ’s ministry and to the Holy Sacrament of the Altar. There is an integral connection between word and worship, between faith and the reception of the incarnate Christ. And just as the written New Testament is the word of God, and therefore the ultimate norm and rule for all of Christian life, so the new testament as sacrament, in Christ’s blood, must be the heart of truly Christian worship, from which all other forms of devotion and piety flow.

Out of the Barn

The Trinity issue of Gottesdienst was sent out about a week ago, and since it goes to most people via bulk mail, it should be in the mailboxes of most subscribers within a week or two.

If you've been thinking of subcribing, now's the time. Put your name down here and we'll send you this superb issue.

The Surge of Gottesdienst

This year we've been experiencing a sudden and pleasant spike in the number of our print subscribers. There are at least two reasons for this.

1) we got the Motley Magpie subscriber list, sent them complimentary copies (those that weren't already Gottesdiensters), and invited them to subscribe. Many of them, seeing that the Gottesdienst borg has assimilated the Motley Magpie (that is, the Magpie itself is now a regular feature in Gottesdienst) have done so.

2) I'm at my second conference in less than a week (the first was a district conference), and personally manning our display. Right now I'm sitting at the annual Congress on the Lutheran Confessions, in Bloomington, Minnesota, catching up with old friends and acquaintances. Many of them are saying, "Oh, right, I think my subscription lapsed," and so they're resubscribing.

There is certainly a kindred spirit at work here between Gottesdiensters and the kind of people who regularly attend this conference.

The surge of Gottesdienst has begun in earnest. Join it. Subscribe here.

Names Please

Here's an incentive: If you are currently a subscriber to Gottesdienst who can send us five names, emails, and addresses of new potential subscribers, we'll give you a free year extension to your own subscription. That's worth fifteen bucks. Just send us an email.

Out of the Barn

The sleigh is loaded down, the reindeer are harnessed, and the bags of goodies are on their way: Gottesdienst is out of the barn, and coming to a mailbox near you. Ho, ho ho!

Unless, of course, you have not subscribed. To correct that error, click here, and Santa will be glad to drop by your house too.

Here's a recommendation: St. Nicholas' Day is December 6, so in honor of that, and as a treat to yourself (or a friend), as we suggested, click here.

Gottesdienst for Christmas

Count me as one who is not so quick to pile on the merchants for 'commercializing' Christmas and ruining the holy season for the rest of us. Listen, they're just doing their best to make an honest living, and everyone knows December can be make it or break it for some. So they advertise at the time of season when we are most likely to go out and buy stuff to put under the tree. Nothing wrong with that. And if the stores pipe in Christmas music, who am I to complain about occasionally hearing the blessed name of Jesus in the marketplace?

In fact, we at Gottesdienst are ourselves merchants, as it turns out. So herewith, we unabashedly advertise to all you Gottesdiensters out shopping about for gifts in Christmasland, saying:

Hark! Behold! Gottesdienst for Christmas!

Here's a great Christmas gift you don't even have to wrap: a two-year gift subscription to Gottesdienst. Just click here, scroll down and fill in the info we'll need (there's a place to fill in gift subscription information), and we'll send your recipient a letter advising of the great gift you're sending.

Do it now, and check another name off your shopping list!