Lutheran Essentials meets in the undercroft of the church on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. You can reach the undercroft by going around to the back parking lot of the church and descending the staircase to the kitchen. Knock on the door if it is closed and some one will let you in. Our current study is on “The Fire and the Staff” by Klemet Preus and the Historic Liturgy. If you do not have a copy of the “The Fire and the Staff” or the Book of Concord we are providing them for free.
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 53. The Small Catechism lesson is the Second Part of Baptism.
The first half of the class we will be reading through “The Fire and the Staff”. We will begin reading Chapter 7: The Fire is Doused (pg. 213-241). We will begin talking about the origins of American Evangelicalism and how it has infected the Lutheran Church. Specifically we will look at the history of Revivalism, Pentecostalism, Charismaticism, and Methodism. We will then talk about the synergism promulgated by these heterodox beliefs and practices is harmful to the Christian.
For the second half of the class we will continue our study of the Divine Service Setting III in Lutheran Service Book with a discussion about the Prayer of the Church (LSB 193). We will talk about prayer, what we prayer for, and why we pray. We will also talk about the sharing of the peace as it relates to the Service of the Sacrament. We will finish by singing “To God the Holy Spirit Let Us Pray” (LSB 768).
We will also discuss the Preface (LSB 194). We will talk about how the Preface brings us in to the Service of the Sacrament and begins to prepare us for the Lord’s Supper. We will also talk about the Eucharist, namely the giving of thanks that surrounds the Sacrament. We will close by singing “Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread” (LSB 625).
As always new people are always welcome to this study at any point during the class. Please talk to the Pastor, Elders or Paul Edmon if you have any questions.
