tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post4204686707282404753..comments2024-03-18T12:54:19.748-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: Members Go to Church on SundayPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-84145068294084513552011-03-21T22:50:33.815-05:002011-03-21T22:50:33.815-05:0030-40%? I would covet that. Our church, sad to s...30-40%? I would covet that. Our church, sad to say, is not even 20%. Hasn't been, even since before I arrived.Dan Bilesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-51819848763545999152011-03-21T17:54:56.041-05:002011-03-21T17:54:56.041-05:00As I tell the confirmands, and anybody else who wi...As I tell the confirmands, and anybody else who will listen, the reason you go to church:<br /><br />God is everywhere, but you aren't. You're bound by time and space. You go to hear Christ in His Word and receive Him in His Supper because that's when and where He breaks into time and space and comes to you.Rev. Kevin Jenningsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-43397109325422514082011-03-21T15:53:22.198-05:002011-03-21T15:53:22.198-05:00The alligator/heathen parishioner says: "You&...The alligator/heathen parishioner says: "You're the Pastor, we pay you to be here on Sundays" as they come three times a year (Christmas, Easter, and a Lenten supper.) <br /><br />I don't think this will hold up on the Last Day.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-22569182356898445632011-03-21T00:02:52.973-05:002011-03-21T00:02:52.973-05:00I used to love going to church, but it is so much ...I used to love going to church, but it is so much harder now. The sermon has become a pep talk, we don't use a lectionary, and we haven't sung a liturgy or hymns from the hymnal in years, just praise songs. There isn't a good alternative to my church within driving distance, and even if there were, I probably wouldn't go because this is my parish, and I belong here. Someday it might improve, but meanwhile I just go every week aching for even crumbs from the Word. I'm glad I no longer have small children, because I wouldn't want to raise them with this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-32304241437283819582011-03-20T23:08:02.840-05:002011-03-20T23:08:02.840-05:00This is outstanding! I intend to link to it on Fac...This is outstanding! I intend to link to it on Facebook and on my blog. Thanks! God bless!Mark Danielshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18205344762960756655noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-21358952968357568652011-03-20T16:34:23.808-05:002011-03-20T16:34:23.808-05:00Fr. Peters,
All I can say is thank you. I know you...Fr. Peters,<br />All I can say is thank you. I know you must be aware that this caused somewhat of a frackas over on FB but what you say is very true. Going to church on Sunday morning is simply what Christians need to do and whether through law or gospel will do. <br /><br />We went this morning and Jesus was there in Word and Sacrament. Why we went is unimportant, that we went and received the blessings Jesus has for us is important. <br /><br />All aside, it seems to me that going to church is just being obedient to the first commandment and John 15.<br /><br />A blessed layman (and family),<br />SteveStevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02977465696758179388noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-31225922004211795092011-03-20T16:13:08.635-05:002011-03-20T16:13:08.635-05:00When I was growing up, the only absence from churc...When I was growing up, the only absence from church was if you were sick. We even went to church on vacations, in whatever town we were in. It bothers me now that so many other things are scheduled on Sundays. I've lost out on jobs because I refuse to agree to Sunday work. The times, they are a changin'.<br />And not for the better.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-8183155355845327122011-03-20T15:08:25.728-05:002011-03-20T15:08:25.728-05:00When I got married 20+ years ago, I joined my husb...When I got married 20+ years ago, I joined my husband's ELCA church. I really tried to go and participate, but often I just couldn't make myself go. After things got bad enough, he decided to move to the LCMS. Things have been much better. I truly look forward to going and feel like we are walking together far more than I ever did before.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-52945206782828973932011-03-20T12:24:02.530-05:002011-03-20T12:24:02.530-05:00Well, Peter, I did not preach on this and because ...Well, Peter, I did not preach on this and because of exactly what you said, I try not to preach this too the folks who are here...Pastor Petershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-58979418965548128022011-03-20T10:20:59.902-05:002011-03-20T10:20:59.902-05:00@Anonymous:
I disagree. You don't bring peop...@Anonymous:<br /><br />I disagree. You don't bring people into the church with the Gospel, because if they are not in the church, they are de facto unrepentant sinners. They NEED the law to be preached to them so that in repentance they can be turned to God's promises from font and table in the Gospel. If you bring people into the church with the Gospel, there is no repentance, no fundamental change. If you start with the Gospel, then the only way that you can move in is the law, and THAT is a truly fundamental error. It is law and then Gospel.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-40732783334037880782011-03-20T09:04:05.051-05:002011-03-20T09:04:05.051-05:00My aunt took Saturday Evening Post
magazine covers...My aunt took Saturday Evening Post<br />magazine covers of Norman Rockwell<br />and made it into wallpaper in her<br />family room over 40 years ago.<br /><br />The cover you chose for your blog<br />is one of them she used. It is<br />interesting that the father is <br />portrayed as the devil with hair<br />shaped as horns and a red robe as<br />he reads the Sunday newspaper.<br /><br />I always felt this picture showed<br />the mother's spiritual grit as she<br />led the children to church and<br />set an example for the father and<br />husband who seems embarrassed by<br />the Sunday parade to church. Her<br />example is still relevant today.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-69974274262165719452011-03-20T08:47:55.704-05:002011-03-20T08:47:55.704-05:00Our motivation to worship every
Sunday is Gospel-...Our motivation to worship every <br />Sunday is Gospel-centered. We go<br />because we love the Lord. We love<br />Him because He first loved us. We<br />go to worship because we want to, <br />not because we have to. We got to<br />worship to receive God's means of<br />grace, Word and Sacrament.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-59567179983783763932011-03-20T08:25:03.002-05:002011-03-20T08:25:03.002-05:00Pretty clever of you to post this in your blog tha...Pretty clever of you to post this in your blog that pops up on Sunday than to preach about it on Sunday morning to the people who don't need to hear it.Peter Reillyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01473701483727808782noreply@blogger.com