St. Matthias is an unusual apostle. He is never mentioned until he is chosen to fill the spot vacated by Judas. And then, having been “numbered with the eleven apostles,” Matthias is never heard from again. Some theologians are not certain that he should have been chosen at all. It was St. Peter’s idea, true,…
Every year, without fail, the approach of Septuagesima sees Lutheran blogs and social media filled with confusion and questioning. The author has had the dubious pleasure of witnessing these discussions for the last decade or so, and the questions always seem to be the same. What, if anything, changes or disappears during Septuagesima? Are the…
With the beginning of Lent, Ash Wednesday (feria quarta in capite jejunii for you Latinists) rapidly approaching, it seems only appropriate to offer some suggestions on the mass for the day, as well as a rite for the blessing of the ashes. American Lutherans have quite a diversity of practices for Ash Wednesday. The author,…
Quite a lot of Lutherans today are accustomed to having additional services in the middle of the week, generally Wednesdays, during Advent and Lent. Usually this takes the form of a theme that is carried over from week to week. You might have heard a sermon series during Lent on the Arma Christi, the instruments…