Adding Something Up for Lent

Facebook was a-buzz yesterday and today with people's Lenten traditions. Some of them were clever. My favorite in that category came as a result of Pope Benedict XVI's resignation announcement: "You're giving up what for Lent?"  And some were more serious: giving up Facebook or this food or that drink. But as you can tell by now, I haven't given up blogging for Lent.

It's not that I'm against giving anything up for Lent. That is, of course, unless it's done for the wrong reason: self-righteousness. And our Old Adam is a professional when it comes to finding new ways to take God's good blessings and turn them into idols and addictions. Fasting is a good practice. It's a Biblical practice. And it's not exclusively a Lenten practice either. During Lent the fasting is heightened, or I guess you could say, lowered, intensified, and often brought closer to home. Why? Not to glorify ourselves, but to focus ourselves on Christ. But not in the WWJD manner. Nor in the "well, Jesus gave up something so now you have to also in order to show your love for him" kind of way. That's self-righteous rubbish.

In fact historically, the Christian fast during Lent was always a preparation for the Easter feast, the great and joyous festival of the resurrection. There's no better way to silence the joy - even during Lent there is joy - than to focus on ourselves and our giving up this or that and so on. Rather, this time of fasting is intended to be replaced with something else, such as praying the Litany, as President Matthew Harrison has suggested, or reading the Psalms or other parts of Scripture, attending the midweek Lenten services, a Bible study you've never been to before, or some increase of daily devotions and meditation on God's Word.

It may appear that the season of Lent feels like the journey of Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring; we enter the dark caverns of the Mines of Moria without much hope of coming out on the other side to the light of day. But here's the good news about Lent - the reason there is joy even in repentance, why there is hope even in the midst of dust and death - Christ has already gone through his own Lent for you. He has already entered the mines of death on your behalf. He's the greater Gandalf who goes before you with the light of the resurrection, for he is the Light of the World, a light when all others go out. And he leads you through the Lenten abyss of sin and death by his own death, by taking upon himself your sin and by coming out on the other side of the mountain safely. He falls into the depths for you and smites the ruin of hell's Balrog, the devil. And he rises again in radiant white. I've always loved that scene in the Lord of the Rings movie. It may only be a glimpse of the resurrection. But even a glimpse of Christ's glory is enough to know that Lent doesn't end in the tomb where Jesus is buried. That's where your sins go. But you go with Jesus. Out of the mines. Into his resurrected light. And with him for all eternity. To a resurrection promised and sealed in Holy Baptism. To the Lord's Table where he feeds you this Lenten journey with something better than Lembas. Even in Lent, we're reminded that we await the return of the King when we'll be gathered with our Crucified, Risen and Ascended Lord around the throne of the Lamb forever.

So, this Lent, instead of giving something up (or in place of whatever you may be fasting from) consider adding something up for Lent.

Sermon for Transfiguration Sunday: "Mountains, Clouds, and Jesus"

+ Transfiguration Sunday – February 10^th, 2013 +
Series C: Deut. 34:1-12; Psalm 99; Hebrews 3:1-6; Luke 9:28-36

 In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

             Mountains and clouds. Seems like wherever a mountain and a cloud are together in Scripture, God is up to something.

            On Mt. Sinai YHWH gave the Law and the cloud brought thunder and lightning and caused terror in the hearts of sinful Israel. They had good reason to be afraid. But even there they had Moses, a mediator and type of Christ.
            On Mt. Zion sat the temple, where YHWH dwelled with his people and his glory filled the holy of holies with a cloud. There YHWH provided the sacrifices for sinners to approach his unapproachable holiness in safety and blessing. Those sacrifices pointing to Christ’s sacrifice to come.
            Mt. Calvary was also covered with clouds and deep darkness from noon to three on the Good Friday. And YHWH was there too, in the cloud, on the mountain, present with his people and for his people.
            Even the throne of Christ in heaven - the everlasting Mt. Zion - is surrounded by clouds of thick smoke and incense.

             Today is Transfiguration Sunday as the season of Epiphany ends and Lent begins. Jesus sets his face toward Jerusalem, towards the cross.

            Jesus’ Transfiguration is both a manifestation of his divine glory and a spotlight on his glorious death and resurrection. It’s a visual reminder that this Jesus was certainly man but He was no ordinary man. He was also God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God. And that the Son of God must die.     
                  Luke 9 is a confluence of many saving events – Jesus predicts his death and resurrection twice; the Father speaks from a cloud; Jesus is identified both as the one who speaks for God and is God; Moses and Elijah are there, pointing to Jesus’ glory, talking about his crucifixion.  Like a wardrobe into a secret world, there’s more to Jesus’ transfiguration what we see.  And it all takes place on a mountain surrounded by a cloud.
            Only here – on this mountain, at Jesus’ transfiguration – God comes not with the terror and threats of Sinai. Christ’s manifestation of his glory – this epiphany – isn’t to strike terror and fear upon the disciples, but for their comfort and benefit, and for ours.  Jesus both God and man. And his transfiguration shows that in this man, all the fullness of the deity is pleased to dwell.

A Mountain and Jesus – God in human flesh. God is up to something again.

            And while they were praying, Jesus’ face changed - every cell of His humanity began to glow with divine radiance. No one ever shined this way. Moses was only a moon, reflecting YHWH’s glory after he came down from Mt. Sinai. Moses’ glory was temporary. Jesus’ glory is eternal. He is the Source, God in the Flesh. Peter, James, and John get to see a sneak preview of Jesus’ glory before his death, resurrection, and ascension.  

             But Jesus’ glory wasn’t all they saw. Moses and Elijah were also there talking with Jesus. Why are these two OT Hall of Famers called out of retirement? “Moses is the Law and Elijah the Prophets and both testify to Me,” Jesus says. Both saw the glory of YHWH and were hidden in the hollow of a rock. Both men pointed forward to Christ. Both men’s words are fulfilled in Christ.

            And only Luke tells us, “They were talking with Jesus about his “departure” which he was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.” It’s a euphemism for death. But the Greek word is far better: exodus – what a loaded word.  And who better to talk about “exodus” than Moses? This new exodus will happen in Jerusalem in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension.

            Moses led Israel’s exodus from slavery to freedom. Jesus’ exodus brings the cosmos and our humanity from slavery to sin, death, and the devil to life and eternal freedom.
            The first exodus had slavery. A slaughtered lamb. Bloody doorposts. A holy meal. Death passed over.  The people fled Egypt. Israel delivered through water. Then the holy mountain and YHWH’s cloud. The same cloud that dwelled with them in the tabernacle.

            It’s no coincidence that YHWH’s great saving, redeeming act event of the OT is at the center of this transfiguration summit about the great saving, redeeming acts of Jesus in the NT, indeed in all of history.

            For we were enslaved to sin. But there’s only one lamb to be slain this time, the Lamb of God is led to the slaughter to take away the sins of the world, your sin. His blood is shed. Death passes over you and onto Jesus. We flee from death by Jesus’ death. We too are delivered through water. We too eat a holy meal. And in all these things Christ is greater than Moses and Elijah.

             But how do Jesus’ disciples react? They’re asleep. Moses and Elijah, two OT biggies, and Jesus shining brighter than the California sun…and they can’t stay awake. Whether it’s a mountain or the Garden of Gethsemane, the disciples have trouble staying awake when Jesus is out saving the world. The spirit is willing but the flesh, weighed down with sin, is weak. Droopy eyes, heavy with unbelief. 
            Our old Adam is lazy, complacent in sin, content to cuddle up with the world and sleep in the arms of death. On their own they would sleep their way to hell, as we would. It takes a shining Jesus to wake us up, to raise us from our sleep, to open our eyes to see Him for who He is.
            And if our old sinful nature isn’t busy being lazy; we’re busy being busy – busy building our own idols and kingdoms. We avoid heaven on earth: Divine Service and God’s Word in study, prayer and devotion. We move heaven and earth to attend to our pet gods’ every demands: the cash-god, the bed-god, the emotion-god, the house-god, the retirement god, the fun and games-god, the sports-god.
            Peter had that same tendency. Let’s stay on the mountain. Build our kingdom here. It’s good to be here, Jesus. Three tents. Glory. There’s no need to go to Jerusalem.  But if Jesus stays on the mountain…that’s right…no cross, no salvation. No death, no resurrection.

            Luke was right. Peter didn’t know what he was saying.

            Peter’s temptation is still with us. Build the tent. Stay on the mountain. Ignore the cross. Avoid the scandal of Christ crucified – it sells better, is more popular in the media, more attractive to the world. We need something more than Jesus’ Word. Something better. Something glorious and glitzy. Some kind of bait to catch the unbelievers’ eyes. That’s an easy way, broad road to follow – many churches have.  There is a way which seemeth right unto man, but it leads to death (Proverbs 14:12).

             So there’s the mountain, the cloud, God’s presence. The disciples are afraid. Wouldn’t you be? The stage is set for another Sinai. All the ingredients are there for another Law-throw-down of thunder and lightning that’ll scare the hell out of us sinners.
             But then a voice comes from the cloud, “This is my Son, my Chosen One, hear him.” The same words from Jesus’ Baptism. Not judgment, terror and zapping down sinners. No, rather mercy. Grace. A word of hope and promise. Jesus is Chosen by the Father to deal once and for all with your sin. 
            For God is angry about sin. And serious about it too, dead serious. That’s why Jesus had to be transfigured. To show us exactly who was going to die for Peter, James, and John and you on the cross.
            Jesus is God’s only-begotten. God’s chosen one. The One elect from all eternity to save humanity. There’s no one else like Jesus. Moses was great, but Moses cannot save you. His commandments are great, all ten of them. And you should try to keep them. But they cannot save you. Elijah was great, the father of the prophets. But Elijah can’t save you. They only point you to Jesus.
            Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Jesus words alone open heaven for us. Jesus’ forgiveness alone takes away your sin. Jesus alone has the power to raise you from the dead.

            The light of Jesus’ transfiguration illuminates the His cross.  And once again there’s a mountain, YHWH’s presence in human flesh and a cloud. The glory of Jesus’ transfiguration is hidden, buried under the glory of his cross. Darkness not light. Weakness, not power. Silence from heaven. Abandonment, isolation, darkness, death. The same Jesus who shined so gloriously on His mountain, hangs in utter desolation on a cross, and this is His hour of glory.

            And the glory of Jesus’ cross becomes the glory of his Resurrection! His exodus is accomplished: death, resurrection and ascension. So that one day we’ll see with our own eyes what Peter, John, and James saw with theirs, and you also will appear with Moses and Elijah and all the saints in the endless Day of Jesus’ glory.
            So when the devil tries to throw your sins in your face, Hear Him!  When you’re tempted to listen to other voices, Hear Him!             When your family is in distress or your neighbor needs a word of comfort and hope, Hear Him!  When you’re in Divine Service, Bible study or devotions, Hear Him!  
            Hear him who hides his glorious, crucified and resurrected body in bread and wine for you.
            Hear him who brings you into His exodus from death to life through the waters of your Baptism.
   
            A blessed transfiguration day and a happy Lent to you all…

 In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

So God Made Vocation

Overall the commercials at his year's Super Bowl (er, excuse me, Big Game) were about as good as the Niners in the first half. At one point I was actually hoping that a similar power outage would have taken place at my local CBS station so as to avoid any more painfully gross Go Daddy commercials, gack!  Of course there were a few honorable mentions, the Volkswagen bit was clever, although it was no Darth Vader of a few years ago. And the talking E-Trade baby always gets a snicker or two. But the winner in my playbook was the Dodge Ram commercial featuring the late Paul Harvey giving his famous speech, So God Made a Farmer.  Here's the text below in case anyone missed it. You can also check out the video here.

And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, "I need a caretaker." So God made a farmer.
God said, "I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board." So God made a farmer.
"I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife's done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon -- and mean it." So God made a farmer.
God said, "I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, 'Maybe next year.' I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain'n from 'tractor back,' put in another seventy-two hours." So God made a farmer.
God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor's place. So God made a farmer.
God said, "I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who'd plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week's work with a five-mile drive to church.
"Somebody who'd bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his son says he wants to spend his life 'doing what dad does.'" So God made a farmer.

And now for the rest of the story...

²⁶ Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” ²⁷ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. ²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
²⁹ And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. ³⁰ Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so. ³¹ Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

Of course, we know from Genesis 1-3 that God didn't actually say any of the things Paul Harvey quotes in his speech. But that's not the point. Without ever using the word (perhaps even without even knowing it at all), Paul Harvey spoke truthfully about God's gift of vocation, a gift that began even before the Fall into sin. And a gift which continues after the Fall into sin as well, whether you're a farmer, a truck-driver, a teacher, pastor, law enforcement officer, mother, father, sibling, gardener, and the like. The farmer, you see, is a mask of God. Because of the vocation of farmer - and countless others - we are able to sit around our dinner table and not only thank God for our daily bread, but eat it and enjoy it as a gift. Above all, that's what vocation is, gift, given to us without any merit or worthiness in us, out of pure Fatherly, divine goodness. Truth be told, God could snap his fingers - zap! poof! wizbang! - and your refrigerator and table would be be graced with more abundance than all the Big Game parties combined, a veritable smorgasbord of First Article gifts. And, it's worth noting, that He could do the same with miraculous healing as well. We read of countless examples of Christ's immediate work throughout the Scriptures. But mostly, he works mediately, that is to say, through means. For healing he uses doctors and nurses. He uses medicine and technology. And the same is true for every facet of earthly life. God uses means. And it's no less miraculous when He uses ordinary means to hide his work behind for our benefit. In fact, if Luther is right (and I think he is here) it is precisely in the ordinary that God continues to work his hidden holiness for our well being and the good of the neighbor.

And it's not just the farmer and the myriads of other masks God uses to serve us, it's also in the seed, the seed of God's Word. Not only does Christ make farmers. He himself is the archetype farmer, the Sower in human flesh and blood. So it should be no surprise that He also uses the means of His creation to bless, preserve and save us. He plants His Word in the mouth of sinners - and it is no less miraculous than when he says it himself. Pastors are mouthpieces, hands, heralds, and helpers. He waters that planted Word by water, Word and Spirit. And our faith in Christ grows by the same breath of life that hovered over the waters of creation and filled Adam's lungs with life. That's the Holy Spirit's vocation, to show you Jesus. You are fed with the finest of foods and the richest of wines, Christ's very body and blood. And all of this through means. That's good news. Because the best part about it all is, it's free - not an over-paid, sensationalistic advertisement in sight.  Your vocation is a gift because Christ is crucified and risen for you. And you are a living sacrifice for your neighbor.


So God made vocation...on the 6th day and every day since then. And he made it for you. Behold, it is very good.

Funeral Sermon: In Memoriam - Robert Yohr

+ In Memoriam – Robert Yohr – February 1^st, 2013 +

August 26, 1924 – January 25, 2013
Redeemer Lutheran, HB
Psalm 91, Psalm 103, 1 Corinthians 15:1-26, John 14:1-12

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

            It's remarkable how much of our lives are spent traveling. Errands. Work. School. Sports. Play. Wake up the next day and repeat. Even when you vacation, you escape your day-to-day traveling by traveling.

            From Wisconsin to the Ardennes and back again, from Santa Barbara to Texas to Huntington Beach, from Kansas back to California – Bob was familiar with traveling. Much of it he enjoyed. And much of it was hard fought: back and forth to therapy. Hospital. Rehab and finally, home. Some days, Bob’s life felt less like a journey and more like a march from one battlefield to another.

            Jesus was familiar with this way of life. Even before he was born he travelled to Bethlehem. Then Egypt and home again. He journeyed through Galilee and Judea healing, preaching the Gospel.

            Yes, Jesus was on a journey too. But he didn’t travel for pleasure or enjoyment. He marched to war. He had one destination in sight: Jerusalem.

            That’s where Jesus was when he spoke those words, on that Thursday night before Good Friday.

            That’s where Jesus was going. To Jerusalem. To the trial. To the whip. To the nails. To the Calvary. To the cross. To death. To the grave. For Bob, for you, for the world.

            But Jesus’ journey didn’t end in the grave and because he rose, Bob’s life and yours doesn’t end there either. Even as Jesus prepares to die, he points his disciples – and us – to his resurrection.  He rose. Ascended to the right hand of the Father. But even there he’s restlessly working for you, hearing your prayers, pleading before the Father for you, and preparing to bring you home.

            That’s what we need to hear today: That Jesus has something better in store for us and Bob.

“Let not your hearts be troubled…believe in God; believe in me. In my father’s house there are many rooms. “I go to prepare a place for you…and if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again to take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

            That’s why we weep today. Not for Bob, for we know he’s with Christ. We weep for our friends and family, for our children and grand-children and for all who still march from one battlefield to another in need of rescue.

            Bob was familiar with the battlefield too, whether it was the Battle of the Bulge or Celia’s battle with cancer, his own invading illness or the daily struggle with his sinful flesh. He faced countless skirmishes on multiple fronts, but it was always the same enemy…

“For the last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

            Funerals, unlike any other event, slap our face with the sting of death and the reality of sin. The Law stares us straight in the face and says: “the wages of sin is death.”

            This was also Bob’s confession. “I a poor miserable sinner…”  He knew he was a stubborn, ornery old sinner. And as much as we don’t want to admit, we are too. St. Paul speaks truthfully…in Adam, all die.

            But that’s not the whole truth. 

Bob also knew what St. Paul proclaims today, that there is something – or rather someone - greater than death.  Yes, in Adam all die. But in Christ all are made alive. Bob knew that no matter how sinful he was, Christ’s humble, sacrificial death on the cross was greater than his sin.

He knew that the blood of Christ covers our sin and He removes our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west. Bob knew that Christ went to Jerusalem to fight death to the death for him and for you.

St. Paul simply tells it like it is - something I am sure Bob appreciated. After all, anyone who knew Bob knows that he had “no filter.” St. Paul tells us exactly what’s on his mind: “I delivered to you what I received – Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried and on the third day he rose again…and this was seen by over 500 eyewitnesses.”

Your faith – and Bob’s – is not a fairy tale believed in vain.  It is founded on fact.

            Christ rose from the dead. The grave couldn’t hold him in. And because Christ rose from the dead, so will Bob…and so will you and all who are in Christ. But each in his own order. Christ the firstfruits and then at his coming, those who belong to Christ.

            Today, it may appear that death wins. But the grave doesn’t get the last laugh. Death doesn’t have the final word, Christ does. He is the master and commander of the grave. Death has been swallowed up in victory…for Bob and for you.  Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.

            That’s our hope and comfort this day just as it was for Bob throughout his earthly life. “I go to prepare a place for you…and I will come again and I will take you to myself that where I am there you may be also.” Bob died the way he lived…always in the care of Christ his Savior.

            As Bob walked the deserted fields of Western Europe pondering if there was a god, Christ was there delivering him from death and destruction. When cancer invaded Celia’s body, Christ was there fighting back their grief and sorrow with his Word of comfort and hope. When Bob fought the frailty of his own flesh, Christ was there again, caring for him through the loving hands of his daughter-in-law, Monte and the compassion of his family and friends with every visit and phone call.

            For Bob was always a man of the uniform. But the most important uniform Bob wore wasn’t the one given him by the United States government; it was the one Christ clothed him in at Baptism. 

            For beneath the surface of that calm baptismal water a battle raged in the font; life and death contended; but Christ spoke the decisive word: “I baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

            Amen. The old man gone. The new had risen. The battle was over, at least from Christ’s perspective. Freedom. Life. Salvation. Bob belonged and still belongs to Jesus. And Christ’s victory belonged to Bob. And Christ never leaves a man behind. Christ fights with us…and better yet, fights for us.

            For Christ is the kind of Savior and Captain most people would find rather strange.

He secures victory by losing his life. He gives us eternal life by dying in our place. He wins the battle, not by a glorious feat of arms, but by laying down his arms in weakness and humility on the cross. He throws himself into the breach; falls on death’s grenade and lays down his life; and by his death our greatest enemy is defeated.

            Let not your hearts be troubled. Though life is a struggle, there is also great joy and blessing. Our Lord richly blessed Bob and his family in more ways than he could count – and for Bob the business-minded man, not being able to count those blessings says something. So, Bob shared this abundant joy with others: his church, friends, children and grand-children. God’s earthly gifts - even the simple delights in life, like chocolate – pointed Bob to the greater and everlasting joy in Christ’s kingdom which has no end.

            That’s what gave Bob such hope and confidence in his last days. Many of you may not know, but Bob was supposed to have left for Kansas on January 26^th, the day after he died. When anyone would ask about the upcoming trip, he’d simply reply, “we’ll see.”  In a way, Bob was right. “We’ll see” – those are words of hope. Thy will be done he prayed.

            Bob found solace during his last hours in those words of the Lord’s Prayer. And one word in particular silenced the tumultuous waves of Bob’s storm-tossed hospice bed: Amen.

            That was Bob’s final word– Amen – this is most certainly true. It was the same word spoken at his Baptism. The same word spoken as he received absolution. The same word spoken as he received Christ’s body and blood. It is a word of faith and trust in Christ. A Word that Christ planted upon Bob’s lips and ours both now and in for eternity. In Christ, the battle is over. You are free. Forgiven and alive in Christ…but the journey is just beginning.

For one day, we will see – Bob and Celia and all the saints in heaven in the flesh.

            We’ll see…the new creation along with our resurrected bodies, free from illness, sin, and death forever, clothed in white by the blood of the Lamb.

            We’ll see Christ face to face as we join Bob in confessing that same little word of hope and faith for all eternity: Amen.

            In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Redeemer Lutheran Funeral Pall

Below is a brief catechism style bulletin insert I've prepared for our new funeral pall here at Redeemer, HB in preparation for the rite of blessing on Sunday February 10th. If you'd like a WORD file or PDF designed for a 1 sheet, 2 sided insert, simply post your email in the comments or send me an email.  

What is a funeral pall?

The funeral pall is a sacred parament which covers the casket at a Christian funeral. It is typically made with a combination of fine linens and embroidered Christian symbols, similar to those adorning the Altar, Lectern, and Pulpit. Sizes may vary, however, Redeemer’s new funeral pall was custom made to fit any size casket.

How is the funeral pall used in the Christian funeral service?

The pall is placed over the casket at the beginning of the funeral service, before processing into the nave of the church. As the casket is being covered, Romans 6:3-5 is read, proclaiming that in through Baptism we are united with Christ’s death and resurrection. The pall is then removed in the narthex at the end of the service.

Why use a funeral pall in the Christian funeral service?

As the casket enters the church those who mourn are reminded that we also enter Christ’s body, the Church, through Baptism where he declares us his own dear children, born again by water and the Spirit (John 3).

And like all church paraments, the funeral pall adorns the service with reverence and directs the focus of worship to Christ and his gifts; it communicates the faith through a visual sermon; and above all, it points those who mourn to Jesus’ saving death and resurrection on our behalf.

What do the symbols on the funeral pall indicate?

The pall itself reminds us that those “who were baptized into Christ are clothed with Christ” (Galatians 3:27) and covered by His righteous garments (Isaiah 61:10).

The white linen reminds us that though our sins were as scarlet, they are white as snow (Isaiah 1:18), just as the countless saints in Christ have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14).

A golden cross spans the length and width of the pall pointing us to Christ Crucified who destroyed death by dying for us (1 Corinthians 15). Additionally, an embroidered cross marks each of its four corners. Together, these five crosses symbolize the five wounds of Christ, His hands, feet and side, for by His wounds we are healed (Isaiah 53:5).

Finally, at the intersection of the cross stands the Agnus Dei, a symbol of Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). His head is adorned with a golden nimbus and he holds a victorious banner, for he reigns triumphant over death and life forever (1 Corinthians 15, Colossians 1, Revelation 5-7). And upon the vesica, stands the Lamb arrayed by a background of blue Dupioni silk, pointing to the color of the tranquil sea before His heavenly throne (Rev. 4).

These Biblical images point us to Christ’s salvation and bring the joyous light and comfort of his death and resurrection to those who dwell in the shadow of death.

Special thanks to the families who made memorial gifts to the Altar Guild for the purchase of this funeral pall.

Also, thank you to Dennis and Carol Gladieux of “Shepherds’ Threads LLC,” for their care and craftsmanship on this beautiful work of sacred art. Their labor of love has provided Redeemer with a funeral pall that will serve for generations to come.

The Gospel for Those Broken by the Church by Dr. Rosenbladt

"Wherever Christ builds his Church, the devil builds a chapel." This often quoted Luther saying still bears true today. Each and every generation must fight for the truth, confess the saving Gospel and proclaim with Luther, "Here I stand; I can do no other." We proclaim this in the liturgy, from the altar, the pulpit, the Bible class, the fellowship hall, and in the hands of mercy. Every generation of Christians must learn anew what the Lutheran confession of faith is, what we believe and why we believe it. For every age of the Church will also have to contend with the wily ways of the old evil foe. We've seen his tricks - and the best ones are played upon God's Word, just like he did in the wilderness. The church has (and still struggles ) with the clever shell-game of the historical critical method, the siren's song of the church growth movement and its panoply of pragmatic solutions, the lunacy of liberalism in the church and its manifold and the list could go one. In the end, of course, the gates of hell cannot and will not prevail against the Church nor her Lord, the Bridegroom himself who holds the keys of the office as well as the keys to death and Hades in his crucified and risen hands. Thus for the Baptized, we are the Church, the body of Christ, built on the foundation he laid in his own body and blood; we are built on that rock, even when steeples and church theologians and hope are falling.

My point here is not to offer a proper diagnosis. Others have done (and are doing) a fine job of that. Recently, Michael Horton's Christless Christianity has exposed the absolute Christological vacuum in American Evangelicalism. And Jonathan Fisk's book Broken addresses similar issues while offering orthodox doctrine and practice as the panacea. My point here is to offer another treatment, a balm and salve that has served many who have been broken by the Church, whether it was moralism, mysticism, rationalism or any other "ism." My good friend, Dr. Rod Rosenbladt has provided such a medicine for those whom he calls the "sad" and the "mad." Perhaps you've encountered folks who fit either description. I know I have. And I've handed out this little PDF booklet more times than I can remember. Another good friend of mine reads this essay several times a year. As well should we.
Apologetics is also for those inside the church, for confidence and hope in what we believe and why. This was impressed upon me the moment I sat in on my first Rod Rosenbladt class at Concordia Irvine not too many years ago. Now, I never was one who was broken by the Church as his fine essay and presentation is titled. And the catechesis and church I grew up in taught me a lot. But it wasn't until I took every class Dr. Rosenbladt taught at CU Irvine, that I really began to understand what it meant to be a Lutheran and why that was a confession worth living and dying for, as we say at our confirmation.

Sadly, defending the faith must also occur within the walls and membership of the Church. After all, we're sinners. This should be no surprise. Thankfully, Dr. Rosenbladt has an answer for dealing with tough questions from those who have fell prey to church membership in the devil's chapel. There are too many vicitms of fifth-column Christianity. So, here's something with which to arm yourselves, a trusty shield and weapon: The Gospel for Those Broken by the Church. Special thanks to New Reformation Press, Southern Orange County Outreach (SOCO), and Faith Lutheran Church, Capistrano Beach, CA for making this outstanding presentation of the Gospel available for free online. Below, I've embedded the video for your viewing here. And I've included the link if you want a PDF version for your own reading, church information cart, or to hand to a friend who has been broken by the church.

And make sure to take the time to visit the website of New Reformation Press. You'll find a host of resources for use in declaring and defending the faith once and for all delivered to the saints (Jude 3).

To go to the website for New Reformation Press , click here.

To access the PDF of The Gospel for Those Broken by the Church, click here.


To access the video from Faith Lutheran Church's Vimeo page, click here.

Family Vocation: A Sacred Calling

The following outline forms the basic structure / outline I used for a presentation at Redeemer's recent "Family Preschool Night." The motivation behind this event is three-fold: 1) Encourage and educate families on how to spend time together with activities such as games, cooking, playtime, etc. by means of doing the "hands-on" activities together in the same room, 2) Supporting families in our church, preschool, and community by being a safe haven where families can come and know they are cared for in our midst and receive resources for both the physical and spiritual nurturing of their family, and 3) Catechesis on aspects of Christian faith and life that can be used in the church and at home with family devotions.

This year I chose to use "Family Vocation" by Mary Moerbe and Gene Veith as the basis for our study together. Having read the book, written a brief review in the past, and now used it for a study with families, I am encouraged each time I go back to the book. Below, I've posted the brief outline I used for our discussion and reflection time together last Thursday evening. Feel free and use it if you find it a helpful resource. And if you haven't picked up this book yet, do it today. You won't regret it.

Family Vocation: A Sacred Calling

“To God, to parents, and to teachers we can never offer enough thanks and compensation”

– Martin Luther, Large Catechism, 4^th Commandment.

I.                   Vocation and family – begins and continues as gift and gift giving from the Gift Giver, Christ.

II.                Vocation – God’s Masks, God’s Means, God’s Mercy. 1 Corinthians 7:17.

III.             Christian life is divided into three “realms” or “estates”: Home, Church, and Government.

IV.              God created us to be in relationship / family – Genesis 1-3.

V.                 Family is the most basic and essential vocation in culture / society.

VI.              Family is a “holy order” – built and given by God’s authority for our well being.

VII.           A different kind of book for a challenging day such as ours -  Family Vocation: Marriage, Parenting and Childhood.

VIII.        The key to thriving families and family renewal is the doctrine of Vocation.

IX.              The key to the doctrine of vocation is justification - that we are saved by grace through faith in Christ’s free forgiveness won for us by his death on the cross.  Matthew 20:28. 1 John 4:10-11. Romans 5. Hebrews 7. John 3.

X.                 By his death on the cross and through His Word and Sacrament, Christ makes us his children.  Galatians 4. Romans 8. Ephesians 2:14-22

A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all.  

– Martin Luther, Treatise on Christian Liberty