a missional approach to Forming Lutheran Disciples
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A Ritual Journey: Formation in Enlightenment
This post, focusing on formation in the Period of Enlightenment and Purification, will be the last in this series on the ritual journey through that period of the catechumenate. Formation in this period is in a pronounced way liturgical. That means that the liturgical experience through the various rites that we have discussed over the […]
A Ritual Journey: Holy Saturday Rites (Part 2)
Holy Saturday, in addition to the Choosing of a Baptismal Name and Anointing with the Oil of the Catechumens, contains two additional, optional rites theEphphetha RiteRecitation (Return) of the CreedThe Recitation or Return of the Creed allows the elect to profess their faith and demonstrate that they have taken the Creed to heart. Normally, this […]
A Ritual Journey: Holy Saturday Rites
The period of purification and enlightenment (intense preparation) concludes with final preparation for the rites of initiation at the Easter Vigil, including several rites designated for Holy Saturday. Ideally Saturday before the Vigil is spent, as the RCIA indicates, “in prayer and reflection, and, as far as they can, observe a fast” (185). Guide for […]
A Ritual Journey: The Presentation of the Lord’s Prayer
In our current liturgical journey we have crossed the threshold of the Triduum into the Great Week of Weeks, the Easter Season. The neophytes’ attention now turns to mystagogical interpretation of their initiatory experience. But we must finish our ritual journey in this blog. Finishing that journey takes us back to the Fifth Week in […]
What people say about FormingLutherans.org
The church knows ritual shapes its life. Yet, ongoing changes in worship compel us to better understand how. Forming Lutherans provides answers through ethnographic and qualitative research, testing the power of ritual in real-life congregations, leaders, and individuals.
The research, reflection, speaking, and writing of Drs. Schuler and Burreson provide keen insights and practical applications to pastors and congregations as they seek to teach the baptized to hold fast to all our Heavenly Father has given us through, Jesus, the Word of Truth (John 17:17).
The thorough catechetical process advocated by FormingLutherans is absolutely necessary for making disciples who are prepared to answer the challenges that the modern culture presents. This FormingLutherans project has proven invaluable in assisting our congregation, Grace Lutheran, St. Petersburg, FL, in accomplishing that all important task.
Forming Lutherans holistically focuses on evangelization, catechesis, baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. It will help your congregation to be both ancient and postmodern as all the baptized are involved in forming disciples for Jesus Christ by joining them to Christ and his life.
Because effective catechesis shapes a person’s total being, I heartily endorse “Forming Lutherans.” We do believe the Spirit is at work wherever the Gospel is present, don’t we?
All those who are to be baptized, both men and women, sit closely around the bishop … beginning with Genesis he goes through the whole Scripture … [teaching] not only about the Resurrection but also concerning the body of faith. This is called catechetics.
I knew well that visual testimony [of your baptism] is more trustworthy than mere hearsay and therefore I awaited this chance of finding you more amenable to my words, so that out of your personal experience I could lead you into the brighter and more fragrant meadow of Paradise of earth.
