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Renewing Worship
FREDERICK J. GAISER
(see full text of essay under “Editorial”)
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Finally, of course,
only God can renew worship, which should give us pause as we in the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America consider a “project” that
will get this job done. Since the purpose of our renewed worship is that
worship might renew us, we will need to think clearly about the source of
renewal.
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Articles
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Sent and Gathered: A Musical Metaphor for Missional Liturgy
CLAYTON J. SCHMIT
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The service of God does not end with the formal ending
of a particular service of worship, which means that the liturgy must make
clear that God’s people are not dismissed only to gather
next week but are sent to perform God’s
mission in the world.
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Disrupting Worship
DIRK G. LANGE
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Worship is not for some pragmatic or utilitarian
purpose. Nor do we offer something in worship in order to receive something
in return. Worship is to remember the Christ event, to allow Christ to become
“for us” as the gathered Christian assembly.
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“I will tell you what God has done for me” (Psalm
66:16): A Place
for “Testimony” in Lutheran Worship?
FREDERICK J.
GAISER
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To see and hear what God has done inevitably compels
the believer to go and tell. The believer’s witness or testimony is properly
brought into communal worship where it will point to Christ and illuminate
the gospel.
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What Is Essential in Lutheran Worship?
STEVEN D.
PAULSON
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Martin Luther’s simple definition of worship remains
valid: “nothing else” need ever happen “except that our dear Lord himself may
speak to us through his holy Word and we respond to him through prayer and praise.”
The essential moments of public worship are reading, preaching (including the
presence and proclamation of Christ in the sacraments), and prayer.
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Viewing “Renewing Worship” Broadly
PAUL WESTERMEYER
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The ELCA’s Renewing Worship
materials represent a responsible, constructive, and comprehensive attempt to
help the church renew its worship. While not perfect, they deserve to be
welcomed gratefully.
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Renewing Worship: The Beginning or the End?
LORRAINE S. BRUGH
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The Renewing Worship project of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church
in America
will provide worship leaders and congregations a great variety of resources.
Renewal itself will depend upon the skill and commitment of leaders and
congregations as they employ these resources in the service of the gospel.
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The Rhetoric of Martin Luther’s Hymns: Hymnody
Then and Now
GRACIA GRINDAL
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Martin Luther’s hymns preached the gospel. Their rhetorical device was
downward, from God to us. Changing liturgical emphases have altered the
direction in many contemporary communion hymns in which we now address God.
The change is not without major theological significance.
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Authenticating Novelty
ALLEN G. JORGENSON
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Authentic novelty comes in the seemingly mundane practice of word and
sacrament, where it is given through Christ, who makes all things new. Much
of the innovation that rustles about is mere fad.
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Resources
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Bonhoeffer
and Musical Metaphor
ROBERT O. SMITH
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With this article, Word
& World continues its commemoration of the centennial of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s birth. Bonhoeffer
used concepts from music theory as metaphors to shape and describe his
theological insights. Understanding these metaphors provides an entry into Bonhoeffer’s thought and his contribution to theology and
church.
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Texts in Context: The Need
and the Art of Biblical Preaching
DAVID J. LOSE
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Only preaching that is truly biblical can reacquaint
Christians with their book of faith and bring them an encounter with the word
of God that gives life to the dead, healing to the ill, and hope to the
despairing.
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Face to Face: The Christian Story as Fantasy?
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Yes! Do Not Domesticate
the Gospel
DAVID J. LOSE
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No! Do Not “Potter”
with the Gospel
FREDERICK J. GAISER
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Reviews
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Does the Bible Justify Violence? by John Collins
ALAN L. CHAN
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The Gift of Grace: The Future of Lutheran Theology, ed. by Niels Henrik Gregersen, Bo Holm, Ted Peters,
and Peter Widman
PAUL E. LUTTER
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Do No Harm: Social Sin and Christian Responsibility, by Stephen G. Ray Jr.
HANS C. DAHL
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The Substance of Things Seen: Art, Faith, and the
Christian Community, by Robin M.
Jensen
ROBERT BRUSIC
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Preaching Paul, by Brad R. Braxton
JUSTIN LIND-AYRES
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Churches That Make a Difference: Reaching Your
Community with Good News and Good Works, by Ronald J. Sider, Philip N. Olson, and
Heidi Rolland Unruh
CRAIG VAN GELDER
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