Hi all,
I have posted some new links for those who want to do their own Bible studies on-line and in their own time. 2 links are for introductory level Bible studies in the Old and New Testaments, one is a link to resources for more advanced Bible study. These resources may be very helpful to you in your faith development, and are promoted on the Southeastern Synod website, but remember that not everything is to be found at just one or two websites! Hopefully these resources will be sufficient for the needs of the average parishioner. So, explore, have fun, learn, and grow.
Peace to all,
Pr. J
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Easter origins
Hi all,
Steve has contributed some things about the origins of Easter for the blog. I'll pass them on to you. Happy reading.
Peace,
Pr. J
Christian Origins
Easter is the annual festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the principal feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25 and is therfore called a moveable feast. The dates of several other festivals, extending over a period between Septuagesima Sunday (the ninth Sunday before Easter) and the first Sunday of Advent, are fixed in relation to the date of Easter.
Connected with the observance of Easter are the 40-day penitential season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding at midnight on Holy Saturday, the day before easter Sunday. Holy Week, commencing on Palm Sunday, including Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion, and terminating with Holy Saturday and the Octave of Easter, extending from Easter Sunday through the following Sunday. During the Octave of Easter in early Christian times, the newly baptized wore white garments, white being the liturgical color of Easter and signifying light, purity, and joy.
The Christian festival of Easter probably ambodies a number of converging traditions; most scholars emphasize the original relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, from which is derived Pasch, another name for Easter. The early Christians, mahy of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.
Pagan Origins
Easter, a Christian festival, embodies many pre-Christoan traditions. The origin of the name is unknown. Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe it probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colorled Easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter egg rolling contests or given as gifts.
Such festivals, and the stories and legends that explain their origin, were common in ancient religions. A Greek legend tells of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day; her return symbolized to the ancient Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter. Many ancient peoples shared similart legends. The Phrygians believed that their omnipotent diety went to sleep at the time of the winter solstice, and the performed ceremonies with music and dancing at the spring equinox to awaken him.
The Christian festival of Easter probably embodies a number of converging traditions; most scholars emphasize the original relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, from which is derived Pasch, another name for easter. The early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.
Steve has contributed some things about the origins of Easter for the blog. I'll pass them on to you. Happy reading.
Peace,
Pr. J
Christian Origins
Easter is the annual festival commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the principal feast of the Christian year. It is celebrated on a Sunday on varying dates between March 22 and April 25 and is therfore called a moveable feast. The dates of several other festivals, extending over a period between Septuagesima Sunday (the ninth Sunday before Easter) and the first Sunday of Advent, are fixed in relation to the date of Easter.
Connected with the observance of Easter are the 40-day penitential season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday and concluding at midnight on Holy Saturday, the day before easter Sunday. Holy Week, commencing on Palm Sunday, including Good Friday, the day of the crucifixion, and terminating with Holy Saturday and the Octave of Easter, extending from Easter Sunday through the following Sunday. During the Octave of Easter in early Christian times, the newly baptized wore white garments, white being the liturgical color of Easter and signifying light, purity, and joy.
The Christian festival of Easter probably ambodies a number of converging traditions; most scholars emphasize the original relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, from which is derived Pasch, another name for Easter. The early Christians, mahy of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.
Pagan Origins
Easter, a Christian festival, embodies many pre-Christoan traditions. The origin of the name is unknown. Scholars, however, accepting the derivation proposed by the 8th-century English scholar St. Bede, believe it probably comes from Eastre, the Anglo-Saxon name of a Teutonic goddess of spring and fertility, to whom was dedicated a month corresponding to April. Her festival was celebrated on the day of the vernal equinox; traditions associated with the festival survive in the Easter rabbit, a symbol of fertility, and in colorled Easter eggs, originally painted with bright colors to represent the sunlight of spring, and used in Easter egg rolling contests or given as gifts.
Such festivals, and the stories and legends that explain their origin, were common in ancient religions. A Greek legend tells of the return of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, goddess of the earth, from the underworld to the light of day; her return symbolized to the ancient Greeks the resurrection of life in the spring after the desolation of winter. Many ancient peoples shared similart legends. The Phrygians believed that their omnipotent diety went to sleep at the time of the winter solstice, and the performed ceremonies with music and dancing at the spring equinox to awaken him.
The Christian festival of Easter probably embodies a number of converging traditions; most scholars emphasize the original relation of Easter to the Jewish festival of Passover, or Pesach, from which is derived Pasch, another name for easter. The early Christians, many of whom were of Jewish origin, were brought up in the Hebrew tradition and regarded Easter as a new feature of the Passover festival, a commemoration of the advent of the Messiah as foretold by the prophets.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
New sermon posted
Hi all,
I just posted tomorrow's sermon over on the semron blog. Use the link for Pastor's Sermons on the left side of this page to get there.
Pr. J
I just posted tomorrow's sermon over on the semron blog. Use the link for Pastor's Sermons on the left side of this page to get there.
Pr. J
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Some updates and Lenten trivia
Hi all,
First of all, an announcement about our upcoming Seder Service:
If you have not heard, we are asking that people sign up for the Maundy Thursday Seder Service so that we know how many to prepare for. The deadline is Palm Sunday. This is especially important since the Seder involves certain specific types of food used in the ritual, and we need to know how much to provide. Otherwise, bring your own dish to share. The actual Passover meal can be as simple as the soup and sandwich Lenten dinners we're having on Wednesday nights. And be prepared to go through the bulk of the Seder service BEFORE we eat, and to finish the Seder service AFTER we eat. Once the Seder is concluded we will go upstairs for the formal stripping of the altar.
Our Seder service will be a little abridged and adapted for use by a Christian gathering. The traditional Seder can last quite a long time, with guidelines for its length and actual enactment set forth in Jewish Law, the Halakha. We don't want to spend all night at the Seder, so we are abridging it somewhat.
We may serve wine or grape juice, either is appropriate for the three ritual cups that we will drink during the service; we may even serve both.
Next, an announcement about the Cub Scouts:
The Salem Church Council decided to let the Scouts use Salem's facility through the end of this year at least. So we are happy to announce that the Cub Scouts will start meeting at Salem today, and will meet every Thursday night at 6:30 pm, pending changes in Salem's schedule. Let's welcome the Scouts as our partners in mission in Parrottsville!
And finally, here's some Lenten trivia for you about the 4th Sunday in Lent:
The fourth and middle Sunday in Lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday. For those who feel the pronunciation is important, that's Laetare as in "LIE - tar - ay." That's "lie" as in telling one, "tar" which goes with feathers, and "ay" as in day (or as in "good day, ay! if you're Canadian). I'm sure my Classical Latin bias is showing here; I can tell you all about Latin diphthongs and the antepenultimate rule if you really have to know more about the pronunciation and the accent on the first syllable. In some circles the name is pronounced a little differently, either because people are using "Church Latin" (which all of us with a Classical bias detest!) or they are using one or another "English" pronunciation of the word. I'll stick to "LIE-tar-ay."
Laetare means "to rejoice" in Latin. The name comes from the first words of the introit (entrance psalm) for this Sunday in the old Latin mass, "Laetare Ierusalem," "Rejoice, O Jerusalem..." Its earliest documented use is the year 714.
Traditionally, Laetare Sunday has had other names, such as the Sunday of the Five Loaves, and Rose Sunday. This was becuase of the traditional Gospel reading for the day, in which Jesus took five loaves of bread and fed a multitude, and because this Sunday was the day on which the Pope would bless golden roses sent to European monarchs.
In the Anglican tradition Laetare Sunday also came to be called Mothering Sunday since it was the Sunday on which people sent their offerings to the local Cathedral, or "Mother Church." More recently it became known as Refreshment Sunday, indicating a break from one's Lenten fast is appropriate on this day.
We Lutherans no longer use the traditional lectionary - we use the Common Lectionary, nor do we bless golden roses to send to world leaders, nor do we send offerings to a "Mother Church," nor do we seem to have any awareness that we can take a break from our Lenten fast (and we aren't even sure we should have a Lenten fast), so all the names and uses for this Sunday have pretty much been forgotten by Lutherans - except at my old intern church where they hang on to everything liturgical.
So, even though Laetare is still a major part of the Roman Catholic and Anglican worship tradition, for most Lutherans the use of the word has fallen by the way side, one exception being my old intern church, St. Luke in Chicago.
Even so, it helps us to remember our roots in the greater church, and to be in touch with our tradition and history which has shaped us and made us what we are today.
One may find out more about Laetare at these websites or just enter the word laetare into your search engine:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08737c.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-LaetareSunday.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,757379,00.html
http://www.fisheaters.com/customslent7.html
http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/Laetare_Sunday.htm
Peace be with you always,
Pr. J
First of all, an announcement about our upcoming Seder Service:
If you have not heard, we are asking that people sign up for the Maundy Thursday Seder Service so that we know how many to prepare for. The deadline is Palm Sunday. This is especially important since the Seder involves certain specific types of food used in the ritual, and we need to know how much to provide. Otherwise, bring your own dish to share. The actual Passover meal can be as simple as the soup and sandwich Lenten dinners we're having on Wednesday nights. And be prepared to go through the bulk of the Seder service BEFORE we eat, and to finish the Seder service AFTER we eat. Once the Seder is concluded we will go upstairs for the formal stripping of the altar.
Our Seder service will be a little abridged and adapted for use by a Christian gathering. The traditional Seder can last quite a long time, with guidelines for its length and actual enactment set forth in Jewish Law, the Halakha. We don't want to spend all night at the Seder, so we are abridging it somewhat.
We may serve wine or grape juice, either is appropriate for the three ritual cups that we will drink during the service; we may even serve both.
Next, an announcement about the Cub Scouts:
The Salem Church Council decided to let the Scouts use Salem's facility through the end of this year at least. So we are happy to announce that the Cub Scouts will start meeting at Salem today, and will meet every Thursday night at 6:30 pm, pending changes in Salem's schedule. Let's welcome the Scouts as our partners in mission in Parrottsville!
And finally, here's some Lenten trivia for you about the 4th Sunday in Lent:
The fourth and middle Sunday in Lent is traditionally known as Laetare Sunday. For those who feel the pronunciation is important, that's Laetare as in "LIE - tar - ay." That's "lie" as in telling one, "tar" which goes with feathers, and "ay" as in day (or as in "good day, ay! if you're Canadian). I'm sure my Classical Latin bias is showing here; I can tell you all about Latin diphthongs and the antepenultimate rule if you really have to know more about the pronunciation and the accent on the first syllable. In some circles the name is pronounced a little differently, either because people are using "Church Latin" (which all of us with a Classical bias detest!) or they are using one or another "English" pronunciation of the word. I'll stick to "LIE-tar-ay."
Laetare means "to rejoice" in Latin. The name comes from the first words of the introit (entrance psalm) for this Sunday in the old Latin mass, "Laetare Ierusalem," "Rejoice, O Jerusalem..." Its earliest documented use is the year 714.
Traditionally, Laetare Sunday has had other names, such as the Sunday of the Five Loaves, and Rose Sunday. This was becuase of the traditional Gospel reading for the day, in which Jesus took five loaves of bread and fed a multitude, and because this Sunday was the day on which the Pope would bless golden roses sent to European monarchs.
In the Anglican tradition Laetare Sunday also came to be called Mothering Sunday since it was the Sunday on which people sent their offerings to the local Cathedral, or "Mother Church." More recently it became known as Refreshment Sunday, indicating a break from one's Lenten fast is appropriate on this day.
We Lutherans no longer use the traditional lectionary - we use the Common Lectionary, nor do we bless golden roses to send to world leaders, nor do we send offerings to a "Mother Church," nor do we seem to have any awareness that we can take a break from our Lenten fast (and we aren't even sure we should have a Lenten fast), so all the names and uses for this Sunday have pretty much been forgotten by Lutherans - except at my old intern church where they hang on to everything liturgical.
So, even though Laetare is still a major part of the Roman Catholic and Anglican worship tradition, for most Lutherans the use of the word has fallen by the way side, one exception being my old intern church, St. Luke in Chicago.
Even so, it helps us to remember our roots in the greater church, and to be in touch with our tradition and history which has shaped us and made us what we are today.
One may find out more about Laetare at these websites or just enter the word laetare into your search engine:
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08737c.htm
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-LaetareSunday.html
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,757379,00.html
http://www.fisheaters.com/customslent7.html
http://catholicism.about.com/od/holydaysandholidays/f/Laetare_Sunday.htm
Peace be with you always,
Pr. J
Thursday, March 12, 2009
New link
Hi all,
I just added a new link for sermons and sermon notes: http://prjsermons.blogspot.com/. It should now appear on the left side of this page as Pastor's sermons.
I also added a few notes for last Sunday's sermons that deal with the name of God, Yahweh. Be warned! It was necessary to dive into a couple of details about the ancient Hebrew language.
I'll add more links in the coming days. I need a solid block of time to set aside to do some work for the blog.
Peace be with you,
Pr. J
I just added a new link for sermons and sermon notes: http://prjsermons.blogspot.com/. It should now appear on the left side of this page as Pastor's sermons.
I also added a few notes for last Sunday's sermons that deal with the name of God, Yahweh. Be warned! It was necessary to dive into a couple of details about the ancient Hebrew language.
I'll add more links in the coming days. I need a solid block of time to set aside to do some work for the blog.
Peace be with you,
Pr. J
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Links problem solved!
I just solved the problem with links and will be posting links later this week!
Adios,
Pr. J
Adios,
Pr. J
Mid-week Lenten worship
As long as we are not crowded I think I'll just keep the Mid-week worship at Salem Church downstairs in the fellowship hall after the meal if that's alright with everyone. That helps keep things simple. Otherwise, if there are too many of us, we will have to move upstairs.
Peace be with you,
Pr. J
Peace be with you,
Pr. J
New sermons blog and blog update
Hi all,
I have just created a new sermons-only blog and copied posts onto it from the main blog. You will find it here: http://prjsermons.blogspot.com/. You will also find it if you go to the main Salem blog and look for the link to Pastor's Sermons in the sidebar.
I have been having trouble creating links for the Luther Memorial blog. I think this has something to do with limitations Blogspot has placed on user accounts, something to the effect that you get one blog that can have links and the others don't. I may need to start a new user account and move the Luther Memorial blog there so it can have all the features that the Salem blog has. I also noticed that Blogspot has not notified me when people have posted comments, even though I thought I had enabled that feature. I'll work on it. Stay tuned.
Go in peace,
Pr. J
I have just created a new sermons-only blog and copied posts onto it from the main blog. You will find it here: http://prjsermons.blogspot.com/. You will also find it if you go to the main Salem blog and look for the link to Pastor's Sermons in the sidebar.
I have been having trouble creating links for the Luther Memorial blog. I think this has something to do with limitations Blogspot has placed on user accounts, something to the effect that you get one blog that can have links and the others don't. I may need to start a new user account and move the Luther Memorial blog there so it can have all the features that the Salem blog has. I also noticed that Blogspot has not notified me when people have posted comments, even though I thought I had enabled that feature. I'll work on it. Stay tuned.
Go in peace,
Pr. J
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