Theology of Christian Worship Conference
Liturgical Issues Confronting Lutherans Today
Sunday, June 22 - Monday, June 23, 2008

DOWNLOADABLE REGISTRATION FORM

at Luther Seminary
Olson Campus Center
1490 Fulham Street
St. Paul, Minnesota

ATTEND TO:

• Discover how a worship service & a hymnal shape individual faith.
• Hear how a hymnal affects your congregation’s witness.
• Learn the difference our theology and history makes as we plan our worship services.

 

Lay persons, pastors, & musicians are all invited to attend.

Keynote Speakers

Sunday Evening
Frank C . Senn            “Orthodoxia and the Name of God”
ELCA Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran, Evanstan, Ill., and Senior of Society of the Holy Trinity

These propostions will be unpacked: God has given us his name so that we can call on him in prayer, praise, and thanksgiving. Our worship is right (orthodoxia) only if it is directed to the right God. We designate the right God by naming him.

Monday
John T. Pless            “Can We Particpate in the Atonement?”
LCMS Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind.
                

Participating in Christ’s death thru the eucharist is a theological perspective that is being pushed by recent books of worship. Pless will examine recent Lutheran hymnals to see how this new understanding has crept in and threatens the scriptural notion that Christ died once for all.

 

Walter Sundberg            “Does a Theology of Worship Matter?”
ELCA Professor of Church History, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.

Recent Lutheran liturgical scholars have dismissed Luther’s theology of worship as uninformed. Are Luther’s insights still valid and helpful? What difference does our theology and history make to us as we plan our services?

 

Musicians

Doug Norquist,     ELCA pastor, Buxton, N.D.;    Composer of ReClaim’s second liturgical setting.

Sharon Follingstad is an associate organist/chancel choir accompanist at Centennial United Methodist Church in Roseville. She is also an assistant organist at Norwegian Memorial Lutheran Church in South Minneapolis. Sharon serves as church music consultant for ReClaim Resources.

Workshops

by keynote presenters and:

Lutheran Hymnody and the ReClaim Hymnal
     Gracia Grindal,     Luther Seminary,    St. Paul, Minnesota

Reclaiming the Lutheran Liturgical Heritage
     Oliver K. Olson     ELCA, scholar of the Reformation,    Minneapolis, Minnesota

Description: Olson explores the influences that have shaped recent hymnals like the Service Book and Hymnal, the Lutheran Book of Worship, and, now, Evangelical Lutheran Worship. With increasing emphasis, each succeeding hymnal has appealed to ecumenical authority which, Olson argues, has turned out to be a departure from Lutheran teaching. Olson follows Martin Luther’s reform and makes the case for why the Lutheran Church should reclaim its confessional liturgical heritage.

What's Real in the Real Presence?
    Paul Strawn,    LCMS pastor, Prince of Peace Luthern Church,   Spring Lake Park, Minnesota

Description: The introduction, history, and present understanding of the real presence within Lutheranism will be assessed. Post WWII Lutheranism has witnessed a shift in the understanding of the meaning of the term “real presence.” What does the term actually mean? When was it coined and to what does it actually refer? There are many possibilities: The person of Christ, his divine nature, his human nature, his Spirit. Perhaps it refers not so much to Christ as to some sort of personal action of the Holy Spirit which in some way makes Christ available to us.

Sharing ReClaim Your Congregation
    Craig & Janine Rew-Werling,    ELCA pastors, American Luthern Church,   Milbank, South Dakota

Description: Equips participants to raise and discuss hymnal issues in their congregational setting in light of ReClaim as an option. The goal is to encourage worship and music leaders to reach thoughtful and informed decisions by examining worship related issues and the hymnal choices available to them, including ReClaim.

Downloadable Registration Brochure and form

 

Downloadable Registration Form and Brochure

Early bird Registration $40
Deadline: Monday, June 1

Registration after June 1 is $55
Registration for Seminarians is free

SCHEDULE

Sunday, June 22
      4:00 p.m. Registration
      6:00 - 6:15 Welcome & Devotions
      6:15 - 7:15 Keynote: Frank Senn
            Topic: Orthodoxia and the Name of God
      7:15 Break
      7:45 - 8:30 Workshops
      8:45 - 9:00 Devotions
     
Monday, June 23
      7:30 a.m. Registration
      8:30 - 9:00 Devotions
      9:00 - 10:00 Keynote: John Pless
            Title: Can We Participate in the Atonement?
      10:00 Announcements, Hymn
      10:10 Update: State of ReClaim and its hymnal
      10:25 - 10:45 Break
      10:45 - 11:30 Workshops
      11:45 Lunch
      12:45 p.m. Devotions
      1:00 - 2:00 Keynote: Walter Sundberg
            Title: Does a Theology of Worship Matter?
      2:15 – 3:00 Workshops
      3:15 Hymn, Q & A
      3:30 Announcements, Closing Remarks, Hymn & Prayer
      3:45 Adjourn
     

Seminary Location

     

For written directions to Luther Seminary, go online to
www.luthersem.edu/campus/driving_directions.asp

Lodging

                             

                             

Bulletin Announcement:

A PDF VERSION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT WILL BE AVAILABLE SOON

ReClaim Resources for Lutherans, developer of the Lutheran Hymnal for Church and Home invites you to attend its conference, “ReClaim Lutheran Worship,” June 22-23 at Luther Seminary, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Keynote speakers are: Frank C. Senn, John T. Pless, and Walter Sundberg. Enjoy the music, fellowship, and informative workshops. Learn how ReClaim is equipping congregations and homes for worship and devotions. Discover what’s at stake in choosing a hymnal and how ReClaim can either supplement existing worship resources or be a primary worship resource. Description, schedule, and registration details at www.ReclaimLutheranWorship.org, or call 800-590-6001. All are welcome.

 

Press Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Group Continues Movement to Bring Lutheran Worship into 21st Century

MORRIS, MINN (March 18, 2008) On June 22-23, 2008, creators of the innovative Lutheran Hymnal for Church and Home will host the conference, Theology of Christian Worship: Liturgical Issues Confronting Lutherans Today. This year’s event will be at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota.

ReClaim’s work was begun in 2004 by a group of scholars, pastors, and lay persons with backgrounds in the ELCA as a positive response to that denomination’s proposals for a new hymnal. In 2006 ReClaim Resources released its introductory edition of Lutheran Hymnal for Church and Home. ReClaim educates about worship matters and publishes provisional worship & devotional materials as it works toward publication of a complete hymnal in print and electronic formats that can be used on its own or as a supplement to current hymnals.

While most Lutheran hymnals are designed as service books for use on Sunday mornings, ReClaim’s Lutheran Hymnal for Church and Home is designed for use both in Sunday services and home devotions. It draws from the Lutheran Reformation to create services and devotional tools that build faith, bring meaning, and aid in church growth.

Keynote speakers at the conference include Frank C. Senn who will speak on Orthodoxia and the Name of God. Senn is an ELCA Pastor at Immanuel Lutheran, Evanston, Ill., and Senior of Society of the Holy Trinity. John T. Pless will speak on Can We Participate in the Atonement? Pless is a Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod Professor of Pastoral Ministry and Missions, Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana. Walter Sundberg will speak on Does a Theology of Worship Matter? Sundberg is an ELCA Professor of Church History, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn.

A conference high point will be the presentation of ReClaim’s setting of the liturgy by composer Doug Norquist. Workshops are designed to equip laity and clergy for thoughtful and informed discussions about hymnals and faith.

Reformation scholar Oliver K. Olson, will sign copies of his book Reclaiming the Lutheran Liturgical Heritage. The book follows Martin Luther’s reform, analyzes how it fares in today’s worship service climate, and makes the case for why the Lutheran church should reclaim its confessional liturgical understanding in light of developments in recent hymnals.

ReClaim Lutheran Worship Conference will be held June 22-23 at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. For more details and to register for the conference, visit www.ReclaimLutheranWorship.org

About ReClaim Resources

ReClaim Resources is a Minnesota-based, independent, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that publishes confessional, Christ-centered works for Lutheran churches and homes.

Media Contact:

Sarah Johnson info@ReclaimLutheranWorship.org
Tel. 320-589-9971
Toll free 800-590-6001