INFORMATION AND EVENTS

 

 

The December issue considers family traditions and church tradition in light of Advent and Christmas.

Features:

Departments: 

From the editor:

These memories are written deeply on many of our hearts: Lighting the candles on an evergreen wreath as the weather got colder and Christmas approached. The sparkling lights from the Christmas tree making the sanctuary festive as we sung the familiar carols, the sanctuary warm with light against the cold darkness outside. A closet full of fraying cassocks, robes, halo headbands and rope belts, donned while nervously practicing a memory verse one last time. The familiar readings on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The palpable excitement and joy forever associated with the coming of Christ. 

For those raised with faithful, Christ-centered traditions that rightly confess God’s Word, these things are a great blessing — foundational, core memories, images, words and songs that shape our hearts and affections, pointing them toward our Savior. Those raised in other traditions, however, do not have that blessing. They may have had to forsake the false and yet dear traditions of another religion in which they were raised. The hymns and songs that have an irreplaceable childhood familiarity to them may be doctrinally vapid or even completely false. We can all relate to an extent, amid a consumerist culture that has leeched some beloved and yet distracting traditions into our church’s own holy seasons. Even Christian parents raised in the church may find themselves having to sort out the wheat from the chaff in passing on Christmas and Easter traditions to their children. 

Traditions have great power. They “anchor us,” as William Weedon writes in this issue (p. 8), providing us with a solid foundation that can last even after our senses and reason fail us. They help us to organize our life together and can promote unity in the church, even with those who are far away in both space and time. But, as Hans Fiene notes, the extent to which a tradition is old and established does not necessarily correspond to its truth or faithfulness (p. 10). Because of tradition’s power, the church must continually evaluate her traditions, ensuring that they are grounded in God’s Word and point people to Christ. She must also teach those connections to God’s Word to each new generation. 

And even faithful traditions must be kept in perspective. “The righteousness of faith is not a righteousness bound to certain traditions” (Ap VII and VIII 31). As Jonathan Conner writes, the church must make sure that it is making the Word of God “the thing around which everything else must move” rather than anything else, including beloved traditions and customs. This may mean letting go of congregational traditions and entrenched practices for the sake of the proclamation of the Word, as when two or more congregations partner together to carry on ministry in that place. 

We must handle with reverence and care those good traditions that have been handed down to us by the church. However, we should keep in mind always that our traditions and customs “are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Col. 2:16–17). 

In Him, 

Stacey Eising
Managing Editor, The Lutheran Witness

Offering and Signing of the Friendship Register

Members and visitors, each Sunday please take a moment to 
sign the Record of Fellowship register found in each pew with these simple steps: 

1. Print your name (first and last) and complete the form. Adults complete for small children if necessary.
2. Pass the pad on, and when it reaches the end of the pew, pass it back: noting the names of others.
3. After worship, greet your fellow worshipers by name, and introduce yourself if they are not familiar with you.   

 

Become a Supporting Congregation of Luther Classical College

Why now? Conservative Lutherans have been asking for a classical Lutheran college for decades. And though classical colleges have popped up all around the country and have been very successful, not one has been Lutheran.

As American culture continues to slide, we need a college that purposefully emphasizes and instills Christian culture throughout its curriculum.

Given the political climate in our country, we need a college that does not depend on federal funds and which is still affordable for our youth.

Why congregations? Luther Classical College exists to educate young men and women for congregational life, so that they graduate eager to support their local congregations and raise their families in the church.

We believe direct congregational support and involvement will help keep the college Lutheran and focused on its goal, which is to strengthen our congregations with committed Lutheran families.

Visit https://www.lutherclassical.org/promote/ for more information.



At Christ the King there are many ways you can joyfully serve, grow in grace, and make new friends in Christ! 
Opportunities for Ushers, Choir, Altar Guild 
and Welcome Committee are all available. 

CALENDAR OF SERVICES AND EVENTS

Pages