Blogroll Additions and Changes, Part ∞
First of all, please update your blogrolls and bookmarks for Katie's Beer. TK left Blogger following a server crash and it looks like she landed on her feet at the home of Territorial Bloggings.

Two new blogs are now enrolled, one from a new blogger, the other from one who had been flying under my radar since before I quit just reading blogs and started writing one. It took discovery of Father Eckard's Gottesblog to realize that Father Beane had been blogging since 2004 as Father Hollywood.  ¶ 23:32 | 1 comments |

  Kretzmann Commentary Available
Pastor Joe Fremer, the Grateful Christian says, Popular Commentary Now Online. He points to an HTML site for Paul Kretzmann's commentary from the 1920s. He also notes a PDF file at Scholia with Kretzmann's Boyhood in a Parsonage.

Note: Corrected per the first comment.  ¶ 22:16 | 3 comments |

  Wittenblog Door Confessional Lutheran Association Nearer to Reality

With this brief comment, Poor Michael lets us know that the Wittenblog Door, as discussed on the Google group Confessional Lutheran Bloggers Conference, is closer to completion. In a related note, I'm waiting to hear from The Truth Laid Bear about setting up a confessional Lutheran TTLB community.  ¶ 00:21 | 2 comments |

  Down by One Beggar
While A Beggar at the Table and Beggars All continue to post regularly, Beggar's Corner hasn't had anything new since August. Thus, I'm shaking the dusty electrons off my sandals and bidding this blog farewell. If the Corner becomes active once again, I hope Chris lets me know so I can put him back in the blogroll. Please note, however, that the Klages family are having server problems, so Beggar at the Table and Kelly's Blog may not load for you until things get fixed.  ¶ 00:16 | 1 comments |

  Made Me Laugh
Thanks to the Moose Report, we find the answer to her question, What do I do when I'm sick with the flu?  ¶ 00:12 | 0 comments |

  Give Me That Old-Time Carny ... It's Good Enough for Me

The retro-styled Lutheran Carnival XX is up and running at the main blog. See what was cutting edge back when you could count the number of known confessional Lutheran bloggers on your digits and still keep one of your socks on.  ¶ 00:09 | 0 comments |

  The Annunciation 25 March, New Testament

Luke 1:26-38 tells us how the angel Gabriel announced to Mary of Nazareth that she had been chosen to be the mother of the Christ and her response. Mary, after her initial wonder, humbly accepted this sacred obligation: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word. (v. 38)" Nothing prevents us from supposing that Our Lord was conceived immediately after this. Since the Church from early days observed 25 March as the date of the Annunciation, the celebration of the Christ's Nativity is observed on 25 December, nine months later.

For centuies in vast parts of Europe, 25 March also marked the change to the new year. While it seems somewhat odd and abrupt to change years in the middle of a month, we can imagine that those accustomed to that calendar easily made the adjustment. Furthermore, they could take to heart the reminder that God's chosen time, that most special time when He sent His Son into human flesh, merited such a "strange" circumstance.

Even though the Visitation of Mary to her cousin Elizabeth took place six months later, as Elizabeth neared the end of her own pregnancy with the child who would grow to become John the Baptizer, Mary's song of celebration at that time is also appropriate to remember on the Feast of the Annunciation. In the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) the virgin mother of God celebrated God's gift to her, to Israel, and to all people.

Martin Luther wrote a commentary on this canticle. About verse 49, he said, "The 'great things' are nothing less than that she became the Mother of God, in which work so many and such great good things are bestowed upon her as pass man's understanding. For on this there follows all honor, all blessedness, and her unique place in the whole of mankind, among whom she has no equal, namely, that she had a child by the Father in Heaven, and such a child.

"She herself is unable to find a name for this work, it is too exceedingly great; all she can do is break out in the fervent cry: 'They are great things,' impossible to describe or define. Hence men have crowded all her glory into a single word, calling her the Mother of God.

"No one can say anything greater of her or to her, though he had as many tongues as there are leaves on the trees, or grass in the fields, or stars in the sky, or sand by the sea. It needs to be pondered in the heart, what it means to be the Mother of God."

Lection
Psalm 45
Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10c
Hebrews 10:5-10 or 1 Timothy 3:16
Luke 1:25-38

Collect
We implore You, O Lord, to pour forth Your grace on us that, as we have known the incarnation of Your Son Jesus Christ by the message of the angel, so by His cross and Passion we may be brought to the glory of His resurrection; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Luther quote from Luther's Works, Vol. 21, p. 326, ed. Jaroslav Pelikan, Concordia Publishing House © 1956.

Technorati Tags: Annunciation | Virgin Mary | Gabriel | mother of God | Luke 1:25-38 | life  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |

  Frankness about Concordia
After his previous comments on the clobbering given the first edition of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, Frank of Putting Out the Fire now offers A Modest Proposal for a New Book of Concord Translation. He asks some good questions about sources, textual criticism, and authoritative texts. I don't know that I'd agree with everything he proposes, but he certainly could stimulate some fresh thought among those who choose to give him a careful read.  ¶ 10:39 | 0 comments |

  Intercepts from the Death Star
You don't have to be a Sith Lord to attempt to darken the enlightening spread of the Gospel and its pure exposition in the Lutheran Confessions. A friend sent some companion source documentation to my previous post Concordia Discordia. The Rev. James Rogers sent out the following post and copy of a letter to the entire DayStar mailing list.

JesusFirst, the other Lutheran League of Liberals, attacked the book on the same passage.

COPY OF CORRESONDENCE FROM DAYSTAR E-MAIL NETWORK
Dear Stars,

Thanks to the eternal interim CEO of CPH Paul McCain, many of our congregations have received a free copy of CONCORDIA: The Lutheran Confessions (A Reader's Edition of the Book of Concord). If you recall recent history, Dave Benke has been maligned by many confessionalists. They have said that Dave says that Muslims worship the true God. Well, actually, Dave was merely quoting Martin Luther in the Large Catechism (Third Article, paragraph 66). Unfortunately, the confessionalists who are maligning Dave do not know the Confessions!

Would you believe that this Reader's Edition has actually changed the meaning of paragraph 66 and misrepresents what Luther said on this issue? Whether it was intentionally done in order to undermine the ministry of Dave Benke, we cannot judge. But the fact that the Reader's Edition got through Doctrinal Review with this change is unfortunate. The LCMS bylaws at 3.9.3.2.2 (2004 edition) state very clearly how "members of synod" (i.e. ministers of religion - ordained and ministers of religion - commissioned and congregations) can "challenge the doctrinal review certification of a published item." I am doing just that. The chairman of the Commission on Doctrinal Review is Dr. Wm. Schumacher of the St. Louis Sem (a fair-minded guy.) Others on the Commission are also fair-minded, and I think we will get a good review.

Here is where YOU come in, you who are "members of the synod." If you are willing to sign on to the letter that follows, you need to either email me directly at jrogers(at)lordoflifelcms.org or reply to this post and saying you want to do so. Please give your full name (as it appears on the roster in the Lutheran Annual) and where you serve or if you are emeritus, crm, or whatever.

Time is of the essence, since McCain is marketing this thing like there is no tomorrow. PLEASE respond within the next 36 hours if at all possible. I plan to personally deliver the letter and a list of those who have signed on to Dr. Schumacher this Friday.

Here is the letter.

June 29, 2005

Dr. William Schumacher, Chairman
LCMS Commission on Doctrinal Review
Concordia Seminary
1 Seminary Place
St. Louis MO 63105

Dear Dr. Schumacher,

When I was ordained as a pastor in the LCMS, I gladly and publicly subscribed to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. My subscription to the confessions was unashamedly quia rather than quatenus. With the constant help of the Holy Spirit, I believe I have lived up to those ordination vows.

I would wholeheartedly agree with a statement written by the sainted Dr. Robert Preus back in 1970: "A true Lutheran does not need to protest and avow continuously his loyalty to the Lutheran confessions. His ministry and teaching and personal confession will be a witness to his commitment to our confessions. However, there are times and circumstances when one must clearly enunciate his position toward the creeds and confessions of the church. To be silent would constitute a denial of meaningful commitment." ("Confessional Subscription: Faithful Confessional Life in the Church — from the Lutheran Congress, August 31 – September 2, 1970)

Dr Preus also wrote in the same article, "Confessional subscription . . . is a responsible public act of confession, done in fellowship and union with the Christian church and indicating that I share unconditionally the unanimous and correct understanding of the church which has steadfastly remained in the pure doctrine. The confessions do not belong to me, but to the church as the unanimously approved pattern of doctrine. They are above me or any individual."

Because I take my Confessional subscription seriously; because the confessions belong to the church and not to individuals; and because to be silent concerning the confessions would constitute "a denial of meaningful commitment," I cannot remain silent concerning a glaring addition to the confessions that has appeared in the recently released CONCORDIA: Readers Edition of the Book of Concord (CPH, 2005). This addition is doctrinally incorrect and changes the meaning of what Dr. Martin Luther stated in his Large Catechism. The unwarranted addition is in Luther's Large Catechism in the Third Article of the Creed, paragraph 66.

Here is the LATIN: "Quicumque enim extra christianitatem sunt, sive gentiles, sive Turcae, sive Judaei aut falsi etiam christiani et hypocritae, quamquam unum tantum et verum Deum esse credant et invocent . . ."

Here is the GERMAN: "Denn was auser der Christenheit ist, es seien Heiden, Turken, Juden oder falsche Christen und Heuchler, ob sie gleich nur einem wahrhaftigen Gott glauben und anbeten . . ."

Here is the BENTE-DAU English translation: "For all outside of Christianity, whether heather, Turks, Jews, or false Christians and hypocrites, even though they believe in and worship only the one true God . . ."

Here is the HENRY JACOB translation of 1908: "For all outside of Christianity, whether heathen, Turks, Jews, or false Christians and hypocrites, although they believe in and worship only one true God . . ."

Here is the TAPPERT translation of 1959: "All who are outside the Christian church, whether heathen Turks, Jews, or false Christians and hypocrites, even though they believe in and worship only the one, true God . . ."

Here is the KOLB-WENGERT translation of 2000: "All who are outside this Christian people, whether heathen, Turks, Jews, of false Christians and hypocrites — even though they believe in and worship only the one, true God . . ."

Please note that all four English versions above translate the German and the Latin quite accurately, saying that the heathen, Turks, Jews, false Christians and hypocrites believe in and worship only the one true God. All the versions also rightly go on to say that even though these people believe in and worship only the one true God, they nevertheless do not know what his attitude is toward them, cannot be confident of his love and blessing, and remain in eternal wrath and damnation.

This I believe; to this I have subscribed.

However, the recently released CONCORDIA Reader's Edition of the Book of Concord mistranslates thus: "Even if we were to concede that everyone outside Christianity ñ whether heathen, Turks, Jews, or false Christians and hypocrites — believe in and worship only one true God . . ."

By adding the words "Even if we were to concede" changes the meaning of what Luther wrote in his Large Catechism. I would hate to think that when seminary graduates stand in front of their District President and are asked to subscribe to the Book of Concord at their ordinations, they will have to ask "Which translation are we talking about?"

The CONCORDIA Reader's Edition has changed the meaning of Luther's words here. Has it also happened elsewhere?

I am using this letter in accordance with LCMS Bylaw 3.9.3.2.2 and I hereby challenge the doctrinal review certification of CONCORDIA: The Lutheran Confessions (CPH, 2005). The addition of the words "even if we were to concede" introduces a new and different and incorrect doctrine to Luther's Large Catechism.

Dr. Schumacher, this is not a trivial matter. CONCORDIA is being marketed as something "designed to serve the needs of those who may not be familiar with the Lutheran Confessions" and "is intended for use in homes, congregations, classrooms, parish halls." (Preface, page 7) The hope of the publisher is to make it widely available to and accepted by the pastors, teachers, and lay people of our Synod. But the book should not have passed doctrinal review. It introduces a false teaching.

In the work's Preface it is stated "The text of this edition is based on the English translation in the Concordia Triglotta by William H. T. Dau and Gerhard F. Bente." (page 7). But at paragraph 66 of the Large Catechism, the Dau-Bente translation has been significantly and incorrectly revised.

By changing the meaning of what Luther said in the Catechism to something that is neither Biblical nor Confessional is inexcusable. This change not only undermines what Luther said; it also undermines what Paul says about the natural man in Romans 1 and 2 and his approach to the Athenians in Acts 17. At best, this addition is an unwarranted, incorrect, misguided, and misleading editorial comment.

I call on the Commission on Doctrinal Review to revoke the doctrinal review certification of CONCORDIA and to withdraw the publication of CONCORDIA until this glaring error is corrected. Because the publication is being heavily marketed (a copy has already been mailed to every congregation in the Synod) I call on the Commission to act quickly in this matter. I would hope that the matter could be resolved no later than August 1, 2005.

Thank you,

Here endeth the intercept.  ¶ 16:20 | 5 comments |

  As I Suspected My nitpicking involves more than lice in my fur.

How grammatically correct are you? (Revised with answer key)

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Congratulations! If your mission in life is not already to preserve the English tongue, it should be. You can smell a grammatical inaccuracy from fifty yards. Your speech is revered by the underlings, though some may blaspheme and call you a snob. They're just jealous. Go out there and change the world.

Take this quiz!



Quizilla | Join | Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code

  ¶ 15:54 | 0 comments |

  Concordia Discordia
When Concordia Publishing House issued the new printing of the Book of Concord, Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, I'm sure that one of their goals was to get more people talking about our foundational documents. Sad to say, while many people are talking, not all of the talk is good.

Even though the Confessions are, themselves, used to judge doctrine in the Lutheran Church, The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod subjected this annotated translation to doctrinal review from Scripture and these self-same Confessions it translates — which it passed before going to press. However, some parties objected to certain words used in translation, since the passages in which they occur could be used to accuse certain members of the LCMS of syncretism, especially Atlantic District David Benke because of his participation in the post 9/11 service at Yankee Stadium. (Actually, this could happen even allowing alternate translations, but I digress.)

So who's saying what? A well-orchestrated campaign against Concordia emerged, evidently based in large part at the DayStar Network and greatly fueled by a negative review by Matthew Becker of Valparaiso University. Lest anyone think that only the LCMS's "vast right-wing conspiracy" thinks this way, consider this email sent to DayStar by the aforementioned President Benke.

Anyhow, the squeaking wheels got the grease and the original edition of Concordia got the axe. A cover letter [PDF] from the chairman of the LCMS Commission on Doctrinal Review doesn't say that the book contains false doctrine; it just doesn't like how it says what it says. Okay, I can buy that — at least in part. I personally was preparing to encourage a clearer distinction between the confessional content and the explanatory and historical notes. As it stands, it's hard to tell at a glance when transitions occur between 21st Century introductions and 16th Century texts. This, however, doesn't a doctrinal disaster make.

If you read the letter to the Synod from LCMS President Kieschnick and CPH chairman Robert Knox, they, likewise, carefully refrain from any accusations of false teaching. The same is true in the full report [PDF] from Doctrinal Review. While they demand that doctrinal review certification be "revoked because of numerous passages and features of the volume which are 'inadequate, misleading, ambiguous, or lacking in doctrinal clarity' (Bylaw 1.9.2.g)," they nowhere say that Concordia teaches false doctrine or deceives the reader. (NB: If you'd like to check up on the doctrinal review process, the constitution and bylaws are all available in the Handbook of the Missouri Synod [PDF].)

Contrast the nitpicking and a rather small group of disgruntled theological liberals and pragmatists with the many supportive letters, emails, and phone calls CPH received following the publication of Concordia and you have yet another indication that the Synod's doctrinal dog is being wagged by an agenda-driven tail. The following points, somewhat edited from an email I received, touch a few points I already made and add more to the discussion.

¶ C.F.W. Walther wrote, "The Book of Concord should be in every Lutheran home. For that reason our church should provide a good, inexpensive copy and pastors should see to it that every home has one" (Essays for the Church, Vol. II, p. 51). This remains the primary reason why Concordia Publishing House created Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions.

¶ In the first four months of publication, Concordia Publishing House sold more copies of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions than it had of the Triglotta, the Tappert, or the Kolb-Wengert editions of the Book of Concord in the past 27 years.

¶ In its first seven months of publication, Concordia Publishing House distributed 40,000 copies of Concordia. Currently, there is a back order list of over 15,000 copies.

¶ Congregations and individuals from The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America have purchased, and continue to purchase, numerous copies of Concordia.

¶ Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions received endorsements both within and without The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod from laypeople, pastors, LC-MS officials, several district presidents, and seminary, college, and university faculty members. Twenty-eight of these were made available on the CPH web site are also available in an online mirror.

¶ Concordia Publishing House received only a handful of letters or e-mails unhappy with Concordia. In contrast, it received hundreds of e-mails, letters, and telephone calls praising the book.

¶ Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions is the preferred version of the Book of Concord in the theological department of one of our LCMS universities.

¶ Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions underwent the Synod's doctrinal review process and was certified for publication (see 2004 Handbook, Bylaw 1.9, pp. 34-36). Neither the Tappert nor the Kolb/Wengert editions of the Book of Concord have gone through this process.

¶ A January, 2006 Concordia Journal article by two Concordia Seminary, St. Louis professors was highly critical of Concordia. The article held this lay-friendly version of the Book of Concord to a standard normally reserved for academic research. And in a seemingly major conflict of interest, the article also cast doubt on the authority of these confessional documents, while promoting the Kolb-Wengert version, for which the article's primary author had served as an editor!

¶ In reaching its decision to withdraw docrtinal certification from Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, doctrinal certification, the Commission on Doctrinal Review relied on a bylaw pertaining to pre-publication materials (2004 Handbook, Bylaw 1.9.2 (f), p. 35). For materials like Concordia that have already been published, another bylaw applies (2004 Handbook, "Appeals Following Publication," Bylaw 3.9.3.2.2, p. 173), but was ignored.

¶ Bylaw 3.9.2.2 specifically states that in cases like Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, where the material is already published, the Commission on Doctrinal Review is to declare whether or not the material is "in agreement with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions" (2004 Handbook, p. 173). The Commission did not find that Concordia disagreed with the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions. Nevertheless, the Commission revoked doctrinal review certification anyway, on the basis of pre-publication Bylaw 1.9.2 (f).

¶ While it expressed other areas of concern, the Commission on Doctrinal Review's primary complaint against Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions has to do with page layout and typography, not about doctrine. "The most important point in need of revision is the clear an unambiguous distinction of the actual texts of the confessional documents themselves and all other material" (Jan. 24, 2006 letter, Decision, p. 2).

¶ That Concordia passed the Synod's doctrinal review process was noted by Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, President of Synod, and Mr. Robert M. Knox, Chairman of CPH's board of directors (March 16, 2006 Memorandum to the Synod).

¶ The first edition of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions first edition may continue to be used. CPH will soon put out a supplement to assist for that very purpose (March 16, 2006 Memorandum).

¶ The Commission on Doctrinal Review has neither suggested nor requested that Concordia Publishing House recall Concordia, that the book's first edition be destroyed, or the book's second edition be used to replace the first. In fact, the Commission's desire for Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions is "to improve and strengthen an important book, which can and should be a lasting benefit to our church" (Jan. 24, 2006 Letter to Rev. Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick and Rev. Paul T. McCain, from Rev. Dr. William W. Schumacher, Chairman, Commission on Doctrinal Review, p. 1).

¶ How did questioning of the doctrinal status of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions begin? Two of the original three challenges (two challenges were identical) to the doctrinal status of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions were made by two clergymen associated with a left-leaning political group in The Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod, called DayStar.

¶ Both challengers violated the confidentially normally accorded the doctrinal review process (2004 Handbook, Bylaw 3.9.3.2.2 (c), p. 173) by making their names and their views know publicly prior to issuing their opinions to the Commission on Doctrinal Review. The Commission noted this in their cover letter (Jan. 24, 2006, p. 2).

¶ One challenger to Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions went so far as to solicit e-mails or letters against the book to the Commission on Doctrinal Review. Another challenger's "book review," substantially the same as his challenge later sent to the Commission, can still be viewed online.

¶ This same challenger to Concordia maintains that "the Bible is not and cannot be the sole source of Christian doctrine."

¶ Quite possibly, the end result of this process may be that the second and all future editions of Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, having passed the Synod's doctrinal review process plus having satisfied the concerns expressed by Commission on Doctrinal Review, may receive what can only be described as the Synod's "imprimatur."

¶ The Review Panel of the Commission on Doctrinal Review thoroughly examined Concordia in its entirety and did not determine that the book contained false doctrine. The Commission on Doctrinal Review revoked the doctrinal review certification of the book based on Bylaw 1.9.2 (f), which pertains to pre-publication materials.

¶ The LCMS Doctrinal Review site includes the Commission's full report and related letters.

This Aardvark's bottom line: It looks like the Commission on Doctrinal Review was manipulated for personal and political purposes.

Others blogging on the Concordia Discordia include Beggars All, What You Do, Do Quickly, Bunnie Diehl, Lutheran Jargon, LCMS News Spot (not an official site), Amor et Labor, Cyberstones, and Luthomas' Leanings. I imagine the throng will swell in days to come, so please leave me a comment that I might add pertinent links.

Added: Involved bloggers also include the following: watersblogged!, Territorial Bloggings, Putting Out the Fire, Cleveland Confessional Lutheranism, Nerd Heaven, Poor Michael's Almanac, Beckfest.

Also, the Alley now has the text of Pastor Rogers' DayStar letter that seemingly kicked the liberals resistance up a notch.

Technorati Tags: Concordia | Lutheran Confessions | Book of Concord | doctrinal review | LCMS  ¶ 00:28 | 5 comments |

  Truth Laid Bear Update
N.Z. Bear, he of The Truth Laid Bear (TTLB) recently announced changes in the TTLB Ecosystem. Bloggers who register will be able to claim their blogs (similar to how it's done at Technorati) and change account details, blog urls, and the like.

According to N.Z., the change "is just a small, small part of the goodies and enhancements coming down the pipeline. Stay tuned for much more!" The TTLB Ecosystem is one part of a number of suggestions I gave for kindred bloggers to raise their profiles and attract more readers to our varied ways of writing about theology, vocation, and life from a Christ-centered, confessionally faithful Lutheran blogs in the article Building a Lutheran Presence; Part 2. It appears that bloggers already listed can continue but new blogs must be entered by TTLB members.

As a reminder, if you try to add your blog and find out that it's already part of the Ecosystem, you can either write me for details for adding the code to your page or else follow the link in the middle of the red text when you check your blog stats. To find out if your blog is already listed, you can paste the following URL into your browser and substitute your blog for the "http://xxx.yyy.com" part of the link. Don't include a trailing slash "/" following the url. Here's the sample link:

     http://truthlaidbear.com/showdetails.php?host=http://xxx.yyy.com

Technorati Tags: TTLB | Truth Laid Bear | ecosystem | TTLB Ecosystem | Truth Laid Bear Ecosystem  ¶ 23:37 | 0 comments |

  Special Carnival Information
I'll remind you earlier than I usually do, since a few things are different for the milestone 20th rendition of the Lutheran Carnival.

Random Dan wants to go retro, so he's set the following one-time-only requirements in place:

1. All posts submitted to the carnival must be from no later than March 2005.


2. I am flipping the rules on their head. Even if your blog was around then, you cannot submit posts from your own blog. You have to submit posts from other blogs.


3. Because of the above requirement, you can submit an unlimited number of posts from any Confessional Lutheran blog around at the time.

So if you know who the old timers are (not I — your friendly neighborhood Aardvark started moving from static HTML to blogging in June of that year), start plowing through their archives to suggest submissions.  ¶ 18:42 | 0 comments |

  Project Wittenberg Update
Because its host organization disbanded and allowed its domain name to lapse, the main archives for Project Wittenberg were unavailable for a time. This has been remedied with the brand new main site for Project Wittenberg.

The Reverend Robert Smith, project director, sent the following email announcing the domain change and providing other valuable resources for scholars and curious Christians. I've gently edited it to make it more HTML friendly.

Dear Friends:

Project Wittenberg's main website has moved to a new server and now has its own domain name: www.ProjectWittenberg.org

International Christian Leadership, the organization that hosted Project Wittenberg's website since 1995, has disbanded and its domain name is no longer active. Concordia Theological Seminary now sponsors Project Wittenberg, has registered the new domain name and will maintain the Project on its website. Project Wittenberg joins Pro Bono Ecclesiae, Walther Library Libronix Books, and the digital imaging project, Saarinen's Village as an electronic collection provided by CTS' Walther Library.

The Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary is committed to keeping Project Wittenberg stable and the transition as painless as possible. The only change for ICLNet based Project Wittenberg URLs is the domain name....

I hope that Logos Bible Software users make special note of the available Libronix books mentioned above. They're free, easy to install, and certainly provide excellent supplemental materials to the for-purchase materials available from various Lutheran bodies and publishing houses.

Cross-posted at Luther Library.  ¶ 21:31 | 0 comments |

  + Patrick, Bishop and Missionary + 17 March AD 466

Patrick (Padraig), one of the best-known missionary saints, was born to a Christian family in southwest Britain around the year 389. While he was a teenager, raiders captured and took him to Ireland. There, he was forced to serve as a herdsman. After six years he escaped and found his way, home, and then traveled to a monastery community in France. Imagine the surprise of those who knew him — even by his own reckoning, he left Britain as one who cared little for God.

With his new trust in the Lord, Patrick threw himself wholeheartedly into monastic life. Ordained a bishop in 432, he made his way back to Ireland, where he spent the rest of his long life spreading the Gospel and organizing Christian communities. He staunchly defended the doctrine of the Holy Trinity during a time when it was not popular to do so. His writings include his autobiography, Confessio, and several prayers and hymns still used in the church today.

Patrick died around the year 466.

Lection
Psalm 97:1-2,7-12 or 96:1-7
1 Thessalonians 2:2b-12
Matthew 28:16-20

Collect
Almighty God, in Your providence You chose your servant Patrick to be the apostle of the Irish people, to bring those who wandered in darkness and error to the true light and knowledge of You; grant us so to walk in that light, that we may come at last to the light of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now forever.

The Lorica or Saint Patrick's Breastplate
I bind unto myself today
     the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
     the Three in One, and One in Three.

I bind this day to me forever,
     by power of faith, Christ's Incarnation;
his baptism in the Jordan river;
     his death on cross for my salvation;
his bursting from the spiced tomb;
     his riding up he heavenly way;
his coming at the day of doom:
     I bind unto myself today.

I bind unto myself the power
     of the great love of cherubim;
the sweet "Well done" in judgement hour;
     the service of the seraphim;
confessors' faith, apostles' word,
     the patriarchs' prayers, the prophets' scrolls;
all good deeds done unto the Lord,
     and purity of virgin souls.

I bind unto myself today
     the virtues of the starlit heaven,
the glorious sun's life-giving ray,
     the whiteness of the moon at even,
the flashing of the lightning free,
     the whirling wind's tempestuous shocks,
the stable earth, the deep salt sea,
     around the old eternal rocks.

I bind unto myself today
     the power of God to hold and lead,
his eye to watch, his might to stay,
     his ear to hearken to my need;
the wisdom of my God to teach,
     his hand to guide, his shield to ward;
the word of God to give me speech,
     his heavenly host to be my guard.

Against the demon snares of sin,
     the vice that gives temptation force,
the natural lusts that war within,
     the hostile men that mar my course;
of few or many, far or nigh,
     in every place, and in all hours
against their fierce hostility,
     I bind to me these holy powers.

Against all Satan's spells and wiles,
     against false words of heresy,
against the knowledge that defiles
     against the heart's idolatry,
against the wizard's evil craft,
     against the death-wound and the burning
the choking wave and poisoned shaft,
     protect me, Christ, till thy returning.

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
     Christ behind me, Christ before me,
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
     Christ to comfort and restore me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
     Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all that love me,
     Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

I bind unto myself the Name,
     the strong Name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
     the Three in One, and One in Three.
Of whom all nature hath creation,
     eternal Father, Spirit, Word:
praise to the Lord of my salvation,
     salvation is of Christ the Lord.

Translation by Cecil Francis Alexander  ¶ 16:16 | 1 comments |

  Aanother Installment of Aardies
Arbitrary, capricious, and totally merited, the AARDIE (Aardvark Aaward for Raillery, Doctrine, or Intellect in Exposition) doesn't even get a presentation program on local access cable. However, it does recognize bloggers who made yours truly laugh, learn, or grab another beer. Some posts actually accomplish this trifecta, although their authors still receive only one Aaward. (Of course, this doesn't prevent one from displaying multiple images upon his or her blog.)

Winners desiring to display the Aardie image on their own blogs are asked to please copy and upload it yourself rather than stealing bandwidth from Pastor Snyder, who hosts the graphics at his Xrysostom domain. Also, a link back to the Alley (the blog, this post, or the original announcement), although not required, would be nice. You may choose among the two sizes shown here.

And now, on to this installment's honorees:

‡ New blogger Pastor Paul Beisel of One Lutheran ... Ablog!™ tells us What to Look for in a Lutheran Congregation — and it ain't the post-service cup of coffee (although I hope whenever I visit a church that it's not bad). He tells how potential members should make sure that the marks of the church are visible and totally congruent with Scripture and Confessions.

‡ In a somewhat similar vein, The Rebellious Pastor's Wife examines The Confessional Consumer (The Consumer Confessional?), taking many shallow-minded "church shoppers" to task.

‡ I always seem to need more good laughs and gentle chuckles than the day provides. Thus, I'm doubly pleased to mention not one but two post from Yada Yada Yada that worked gentle good humor into the narrative. Ooo Ooo That Smell interleaves memories of church with the aroma of skunk while Boy Cashiers Are Okay proves that kids still say the darndest things.

‡ Original Sin? So What? asks the Old School Confessional. He makes good points about the Roman Church's current understanding of this Biblical teaching in light of the manner in which it dispensed so casually with the related (although false) teachings concerning Limbo.

‡ And wouldn't you know it, I found a post that touches upon aspects involving the previous two awardees: Devona at Love & Blunder ponders sickness, sin, and kids in Meditations on Sin and Children.

‡ Bibliolatry, the sin of placing the Bible above the Word Incarnate, finds thoughtful refutation in Lutheran Theology Translators ... Wouldn't That be Nice! at Cross Theology.

‡ Father Kaput of Theopilus' Inferno succinctly summarizes my personal reaction to the very question of video communion services and the decision of the LCMS's CTCR thereupon in This Is Just Disgusting.

‡ Few people understand and evaluate feminism as well as Deaconess Emily (Ste. Em) Carder. She accepts a challenge to examine the movement's inherent elitism in Michael's Tag.

‡ It's not theology, it's something really important — okay, I exaggerate ... a little: The Theology Geek waxes philosophical about reading, specifically in the not so sterile environs of his favorite bookseller, in Cup of Joe a.k.a. Cup of Smoke.

‡ Another blogger also provides a twofer. Caroline of Our Little House on the Prairie vents about the common practice of prominently labeling religious memorial gifts in I Must Confess. All of us pastors who are blessed with excellent wives and our noble spouses themselves should appreciate I Love My Man in Uniform. Even those who aren't in a Frau and Gown relationship can appreciate the love and commitment.

‡ Lest we forget our British brothers, John Halford, the Confessing Evangelical, uses the current penitential season to contrast Lutherans with "non-Augsburg evangelicals" in Lent for Evangelicals.

‡ Finally, the Designated Hitter of Line Drive Down the Right Side reminds us that We Are Children. As such, we act childishly (in the negative sense) when God does what is right for us by allowing trials and imposing crosses. In the process, she also reminded me to dredge up on of my all-time favorite parodies, Buttprints in the Sand.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled surfing. Winners may leave their acceptance speeches in the comments.  ¶ 00:07 | 6 comments |

  EZ-Start Confessional Lutheran Blogroll
Since I've received several requests for my entire blogroll, all of its confessional Lutheran components, and even the complete links list, I'll make a public offer. Anyone who'd like to use the Blogroll-o-Aardvark, drop me a comment or send an email to the burrow. Tell me if you want the entire list or just the confessional bloggers, and I'll send it to you with HTML formatting, including list codes, intact. It should work as-is for most programs except, perhaps, Live Journal. Then all you'll need to do is add new finds as they appear here or elsewhere. Of course, I'll welcome your suggestions as well as notifications about dormant or defunct sites.  ¶ 09:57 | 3 comments |

  Two Plus One
Confessional Lutheran bloggers are crawling out of the woodwork. One of the two new blogs I've found is The Fireside, written by Jule Martinez, former LCMS BoD member who resigned the board and left Synod because her conscience couldn't accept what she considered un-Lutheran, anticonfessional thinking and practice. The blog is part of The Lutheran Source, a site maintained by Julie and also featuring work from Pastors Jay Webber and Richard Bolland.

The other new site is LotzaStitches. Don't come here for deep theological insight; this homeschooling mom is too busy talking (and displaying) knitting. In other words, LotazStitches is one of those fine Lutheran lay people content in her vocation.

The "one" referred to in this post's title is Kelly's Blog — not a newbie but moved to a new url. Regular Kelly readers and those who've blogrolled her, remember to update your bookmarks and links.

Please, confessional Lutheran bloggers, remember to blogroll each other.  ¶ 18:00 | 2 comments |

  A Norwegian-Tinted Carnival Good job, confessional Lutheran bloggers and readers. You submitted better than thirty items to TK for inclusion in Lutheran Carnival XIX at Be Strong in the Grace.

As for TK, she did a great job of compiling and presenting the posts and included biographical material on an ELS (formerly the Norwegian Synod) founding pastor, Jakob Aall Ottesen.  ¶ 11:57 | 0 comments |

  Getting Back to 20-20
La Shawn Barber gives us a look inside her talent-filled head and her considerable thinking abilities as she considers her focus and direction as writer and blogger. The following paragraphs are my response to her LBC Retooling post.

Blogging is both vocational and avocational for me. However, personal letters (both electronic and snail-mail) can be neglected and other forms of writing — also other reasons for writing — may be lost. I've been a good writer and editor for years; high school and college publications, caring parents, dedicated teachers, and personal skills and inclinations all contributed.

However, a "Writing for the Church" workshop through Concordia Publishing House and the following opportunities to write sermons, prayers, and devotions for publication both sharpened my writing chops and made me more attentive to many of life's other details. Learning as an adult because I wanted to and then being given opportunity to put the skills into practice helped immensely.

The pages I need to fill involve family and congregation: I am husband, father, and pastor above all. But when writing enters the picture, I want it to be the best I have to offer.

You've reminded me and many others of the joy of vocation fulfilled and new or expanded vocations granted by our gracious God. The marvel is that when we approach any of our tasks with open eyes and thankful hearts, all of our skills learn and grow from the effort and from the God who blesses them.  ¶ 14:09 | 2 comments |

  Welcome Wagon
Yep, I dug up some more folks to add to the Alley's blogroll. Please welcome the Alliance of Evangelical Lutheran Laypeople, Line Drive Down the Right Side, and One Lutheran ... Ablog!™ to the confessional Lutheran list. Whilst there, remember to change your own blogroll and bookmarks to reflect the new URL for the Bulverist Online Chronicle. Finally, among my "other" blogs, you'll now find Another Faith Blog.

Please give 'em a hearty howdy and tell 'em that (like fleas), "I found you on the Vark!"  ¶ 22:43 | 1 comments |

  Early Carnival Deadline This Fortnight
Your hostess with the mostess for the next Lutheran Blog Carnival will be Katie's Beer. TK offers this reminder: Lutheran Carnival posts due by midnight this Thursday.  ¶ 10:48 | 0 comments |

  + Perpetua, Felicity, and Companions, Martyrs + 7 March AD 203

At the dawn of the Third Century, Roman emperor Septimus Severus banned conversions to Christianity. Among those disobeying that edict were Vibia Perpetua, a young noblewoman, and her maidservant Felicitas. Both were jailed at Carthage in North Africa along with three fellow Christians, Revocatus and Saturninus, and Saturus, their teacher.

Perpetua and at least some of the had not completed catechesis and weren't yet baptized when arrested. Evidently, they received Holy Baptism before being taken to prison. She was also a new mother and a fairly recent widow. Felicitas (or Felicity) was near the end of her own pregnancy when arrested.

During their imprisonment, Perpetua and Felicitas witnessed to their faith with such conviction that the officer in charge became a follower of Jesus. For some time, doubts remained about their fates, but Perpetua had a vision of a golden ladder guarded by a fierce dragon. She climbed it, stepping on the dragon's head to do so. At the top, she found a green meadow with many white-robed figures. In their midst stood a Shepherd, who welcomed her and gave her cheese from the sheep's milk. She awoke understanding that martyrdom was assured but that she would triumph.

Perpetua's father came to plead that she recant her confession of faith and renounce Jesus Christ. This she steadfastly refused.

Roman law forbade the execution of pregnant women and Felicitas feared that Perpetua and the men being held at the same time would face martyrdom but leave her behind. However, she gave birth two days before the scheduled execution and was allowed to join her companions in the arena on 7 March.

The women first made arrangements for the well-being of their children. This was possible because the imperial decree only concerned recent converts to Christianity (or Judaism). Since those entrusted with their children's care were believers of long standing, they were safe from persecution, at least for the time being.

The accounts say that the five were first scourged at the crowd's urging. Then the men faced a boar, a bear, and a leopard while a wild cow was set against the women. After they were all injured, Perpetua and Felicity exchanged the kiss of peace before the Romans put them to the sword. One tradition holds that Perpetua showed mercy to her captors by guiding the sword of a trembling young gladiator to her own heart because he could not bear to put her to death.

The martyrs were interred in Carthage in North Africa and the story spread throughout Christendom. Later, a basilica was erected over their tomb. The story of the martyrdom of Saint Perpetua, Saint Felicitas, and their faithful companions has served for centuries as encouragement to persecuted Christians.

Lection
Psalm 34:1-8 or 124
Hebrews 10:32-39
Matthew 24:9-14

Collect
O God the true Emperor of Your saints, who strengthened Your servants Perpetua and Felicitas and their companions to make a good confession, staunchly resisting, for the cause of Christ, the claims of human affection, and encouraging one another in their time of trial, grant that we who cherish their blessed memory may share their pure and steadfast faith, and win with them the palm of victory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Technorati Tags: Perpetua | Felicitas | Felicity | martyr | martyrdom | saint  ¶ 00:01 | 3 comments |

  ATP on Syncretism and Unionism
Ask the Pastor took on the topic of worshiping with different faiths in answering the question Should Christians Pray with Non-Christians?

Already, a pro-Mohammedan response illustrates some of the post's veracity, showing clearly that Christians don't believe and think the same way as do non-Christians.  ¶ 13:59 | 0 comments |

  Strangeness in the Study
Pastor Petersen tagged me to reveal the oddest thing in my office. I'll translate "office" to "study," since I think there's a semantic difference that makes a difference. It boils down to whether I act like a scholar and servant of the Word or a corporate executive.

Anyhow, I have a small study here in the burrow and a larger one at the church. Both have more than their share of clutter, part of it probably deserving the appellation of "odd," at least by some folks' reckoning. My Martin and Katy Luther bobbleheads are a bit different, as is the brass statue of a late-1800s duck hunter. I have various Southwestern, African, and American Indian art sitting around. Some guns I have locked away, including the large bore rolling block rifle, may also seem odd. Perhaps the strangest looking thing currently gathering dust is the large Kachina head welded out of various sizes of pipe and pieces of flat iron.

Anyone who wishes may take this meme and run with it. Please leave a backlink and drop a comment if you decide to respond.  ¶ 22:51 | 0 comments |

  A Four by Four to the Head Wherein the Aardvark Makes Overdue Response to a Tag

No, I haven't lifted my moratorium on tags; I promised this one to the Terrible Swede. I'm also going to do one other, but will leave it and this as memes rather than tagging others.

Four Jobs I Have Had (in chronological order):

Paper boy (my first out-of-the-burrow employment)
Retail (Walgreen agency pharmacy)
Mail Clerk and Messenger for a Bank
Bank Teller (thus ends high school; college, seminary, and the ministry swell the list)

Four Places I Have Lived (chronologically):

Springfield, IL
Denison, TX
Pittsburg, KS
Gallup, NM

Four of My Favorite Foods:
Grilled Lamb Chops
T-Bone Steak, Medium-rare
Johnsonville Spicy (Cajun-seasoned) Brats with Saurkraut
Almost Anything Peppery

TV Shows I Like to Watch:

Law and Order: Criminal Intent
Myth Busters
Scrubs
Law and Order: SVU

Four Movies I Could Watch Over and Over:

Casablanca
Harvey
The Fifth Element
A Night at the Opera

Four Places I Would Rather Be:

Heaven
Yellowstone Park
The Grand Canyon
Preaching or Leading a Bible Study

Four Websites I Visit:

The Lutheran Confessions
Xrysostom
Confess and Teach for Unity
The Open Directory Project

Four People I Would Like to Tag?

Link back and leave a comment and I'll fill in your name.
1.
2.
3.
4.  ¶ 22:11 | 1 comments |

  Aarcane Aardvarkiana

Tag from Indiana Jane while she still had her old blog.  ¶ 22:02 | 0 comments |

  A Few Blog Buttons to Share Please Steal the Buttons, not the Bandwidth

Here are buttons I created for some of my favorite sites and topics. If you use them, please copy to your own server, graphics host, or blog pictures directory. They will not remain in the same directory in order to prevent people from costing Pastor Snyder extra money for server bandwidth. Newer buttons include the Cyberbrethren and Cranach blogs, a "Pastor" button, the TTLB Ecosystem, and the Luther Library. While most of these are site-specific, feel free to link the Pastor button to the cleric of your choice.

• 


• 


• 


• 


• 


• 

  ¶ 00:03 | 2 comments |

  Just What Was I Saying?
Thanks to Deedle at Not Worthy, I've discovered Word Cloud, which automatically composes this neat graphic showing the relative popularity of various words I've been using on the Alley. It appears to take a snapshot of the current front page, but I'm still intrigued at how certain words pop up compared to others. They make their money by offering to sell you a t-shirt of the finished product.
  ¶ 23:35 | 1 comments |

  Blogroll Additions and Changes
Please welcome these most recent additions and alterations to the Alley's blogroll. If you've listed any that show changes, please make sure that your own blogroll reflects the updates.

Beefstew-inator's Blog — New
BlogWerks — Changed URL
Confessions of a Young Lutheran — Changed URL
Conversi ad Dominum — New
Free & Bound — Changed Title (was Out Standing in a Field)
Indiana Jane's Journal — Changed URL
Luther Library — New
Nerd Heaven — New
Not Worthy — New
The Rebellious Pastor's Wife — Changed URL
Stingray: A Blog for Salty Christians — New  ¶ 21:40 | 1 comments |

  + Saint Dewi of Mynyw + 1 March AD 601

St. Dewi (also Degui or David), Bishop and Confessor and patron of Wales, is usually represented standing on a little hill, with a dove on his shoulder. From ancient times, the Welsh have worn a leek on St. David's day, in memory of a battle against the Saxons, at which it is said they wore leeks in their hats, by St. David's advice, to distinguish them from their enemies. The Welsh honor him not only as their patron saint but as special evangelist of their land, just as Patrick holds that honor for Ireland.

The earliest mention of St. David is found in a tenth-century manuscript Of the Annales Cambriae, which assigns his death to AD 601. Many other writers, from Geoffrey of Monmouth down to Father Richard Stanton, hold that he died about 544; their opinion is based solely on data given in various late "lives" of St. David, and there seems no good reason for setting aside the definite statement of the Annales Cambriae, which is now generally accepted.

Speculation that he was born at Henvynyw (Vetus-Menevia) in Cardiganshire is not improbable. He was prominent at the Synod of Brevi (Llandewi Brefi in Cardiganshire). Dewi was active in refuting heresy in Wales and in promoting Nicene Christology and the orthodox Christian faith.

According to tradition, Saints Dubric and Daniel sought him out, calling him to the Synod of Brevi "against the Pelagians." Dewi was with difficulty persuaded to accompany them; preferring the quiet monastic life. However, once he arrived at the Synod, he preached so loudly and so eloquently that all the heretics were confounded. Shortly afterwards, in 569, he presided over another synod held at a place called Lucus Victoriae.

David is the only one of the four patron saints of the British Isles not to be represented on the British Union Jack flag. The Alley's biography for Saint Andrew touches upon each of these and their respective emblems.

Lection
Psalm 16:5-11 or 96:1-7
1 Thessalonians 2:2b-12
Mark 4:26-29

Collect
Almighty God, who called your servant Dewi to be a faithful and wise steward of your mysteries for the people of Wales, mercifully grant that, following his purity of life and zeal for the gospel of Christ, we may with him receive the crown of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Technorati Tags: Saint Dewi | Saint David | Wales | Mynyw | Dewi | David  ¶ 14:27 | 1 comments |

  Noted and Approved
The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), the anti-extortion Hobbs Act, and the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE) cannot be used to stop peaceful protests outside abortion clinics, according to the My Way News article Supreme Court Backs Abortion Protesters. HT: watersblogged!

Pastor Snyder recently treated two entirely different questions, both of which touch upon the theology of sinful human beings speaking on behalf of a holy God in words of condemning Law and saving Gospel. See Warning the Wicked and Confession and Forgiveness by God through Man for the specifics.

Technorati Tags: RICO | abortion | protests | Hobbs Act | Supreme Court | Law and Gospel  ¶ 10:55 | 0 comments |

  Ash Wednesday The Lenten Season Begins

All Christian life is a celebration of Christ's victorious Resurrection on Easter morning. The Church has traditionally prepared for this, the greatest Feast of our Lord, through the season of Lent.

From ancient times, Ash Wednesday has marked the first day of Lent. There are forty days from Ash Wednesday until Easter. Sundays are not counted because the Sundays in Lent are not fast days; rather, each is a celebration of the Resurrection. The forty days of Lent are reminiscent of the forty days in which rain fell during the Flood, our Lord's forty days and Israel's forty years in the wilderness, Christ's forty hours in the tomb, and related periods of judgment, testing, and completion of divine activities. The Gospel readings of Lent focus on the temptation and trials that Christ underwent on his way to His suffering and crucifixion.

Many people observe Lent by fasting. This can take place in many ways: Physically, we may deny ourselves various foods and pleasures; liturgically, we may omit parts of the Divine Liturgy, such as Alleluias and songs of praise. The Fast increases in depth and seriousness as we move from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week. During the Sundays following Ash Wednesday, we follow our Savior as he puts himself "in harm's way" and prepares for his passion and death. As we continue through the Church Calendar, it is then during Holy Week that we fully focus on his suffering and death.

Along with fasting, two other traditional activities of the early Church remain part of many people's Lenten observance. These are increased prayer and almsgiving. All three of these are mentioned together in the Sermon on the Mount. A portion of this discourse in Matthew is the appointed Gospel in the three-year Lectionary cycle.

Ash Wednesday receives its name from the ancient custom of rubbing oneself in ashes during a fast or period of penance as a sign of humility and sorrow. In Scripture, we observe this happening among people as varied as Job, the king of Ninevah and the rest of the city, Daniel, and Mordecai.

These days, most believers don't cover themselves in burlap and ashes; the ashes are placed on the foreheads of believers as their pastor says, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return." The ashes remind us that we still daily sin and that all our grand and glorious deeds are nothing in God's sight. This is especially illustrated when the ashes are taken from the burning of the previous year's branches used on Palm Sunday. The praises of the people, their "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord," have fallen silent and are consigned to the burn pile of good intentions not followed through.

However we observe Lent, we must take care to not assume a false piety by focusing on self. The believer keeps Lent Extra Nos (Lent outside of self), following the lead of Hebrews 12:2 and "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

Yes, Lent is a time of reflection and repentance. However, it's not intended to keep us looking within. Instead, upon viewing our sins, we then focus on the One who takes them away.

Along with readings and collect, I also include the Litany, a responsive prayer appropriate to days and seasons of penitence.

Lection
Psalm 51:1-13
Joel 2:12-19
2 Corinthians 5:19-6:2
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21

Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, You despise nothing You have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent. Create in us new and contrite hearts that, lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, we may receive from You full pardon and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Litany
God the Father, in heaven,
      have mercy.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
      have mercy.
God the Holy Spirit,
      have mercy.
Be gracious to us.
      Spare us, good Lord.
Be gracious to us.
      Help us, good Lord.
By the mystery of Your holy Incarnation;
   by Your holy Nativity;
   by Your Baptism, fasting, and temptation;
   by Your agony and bloody sweat;
   by Your Cross and Passion;
   by Your precious Death and Burial;
   by Your glorious Resurrection and Ascension;
   and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter:
      Help us, good Lord.
In all our time of tribulation;
   in all our time of prosperity;
   in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment:
      Help us, good Lord.
We poor sinners implore You
      to hear us, O Lord.
To prosper the preaching of Your Word;
   to bless our prayer and meditation;
   to strengthen and preserve us in the true faith;
   to give heart to our sorrow and strength to our repentance:
      We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To draw us to Yourself;
   to bless those who are instructed in the faith;
   to watch over and console the poor, the sick, the distressed,
   the lonely, the forsaken, the abandoned,
   and all who stand in need of our prayers;
to give abundant blessing to all our works of mercy;
   and to have mercy on us all:
      We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
To turn our hearts to You;
   to turn the hearts of our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers;
   and graciously to hear our prayers:
      We implore You to hear us, good Lord.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
      we implore you to hear us.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
      have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
      have mercy.
Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,
      grant us Your peace.
O Christ,
      hear us.
O Lord,
      have mercy.
O Christ,
      have mercy.
O Lord, have mercy.
      Amen.  ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments |