Tonight marked the half-way point of our journey through Lutheran Catechesis (Bender's 24 week series), using LSB's Service of Prayer and Preaching. Tonight we finished up with the Apostles' Creed, and we celebrated by a Chief Parts Party - there were three kinds of meat, three kinds of dessert, etc. Tonight provided the opportunity to note the changes in the service that indicate that we've entered into a season of penitence, prayer, and fasting - Holy Advent.
This week we'll be reciting the entire third article of the Creed and also Acts 2:38,39 twice a day. Amazing how fast that fastens these verses down into the memory!
I know many are skeptical of how well this manner of catechesis works, but to the skeptics I say: give it a try and then we'll talk. We continue to have lively discussions (often led by the children). Now that we are half way through it, I'm sold on it more than ever!
I can find no evidence that Luther ever had a "confirmation class" as we have experienced it. He had catechetical services that involved the entire household. The Reformed took the catechism out of the church and put it into the classroom.
ReplyDeleteOh, he must have. It's in the old black and white movie, remember? ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm finally taking the time to watch your first catechetical service.
ReplyDeleteAmazing!
Brother Cwirla is right on. Catechesis is different in a churchly context.
So, is it like ALPHA only with a German accent?
ReplyDelete"...Celebrated by a Chief Parts Party"? Church-nerd alert! Church-nerd alert! :)
ReplyDeleteDP,
ReplyDeleteI am not really familiar with Alpha, but I'd be willing to bet it's quite a bit different. I'd encourage you to check out, though, the Bender material. Google Lutheran Catechesis Bender and that should do it. GREAT stuff.
Christopher,
LOL. Well, at least *I* didn't come up with it - our wonder Julie Johnson did. What a hoot! It does provide a chance for those who sit together week after week for the service to get to know one another over some goodies.
Charlie,
The setting in the nave makes a huge difference.
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ReplyDeleteI'm all for narrative catechesis, so long as it is not done at the expense of teaching the people how to explain Christian doctrine under its proper headings (loci) and support it with sedes doctrinae. Both are needed, in my opinion.
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ReplyDeletePr. Lehmann,
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get a video of that Catechism Service?
Floyd Bass, SSP
Floyd,
ReplyDeleteI used my phenomenal cosmic X-Vicar powers and e-mailed the folks who do the video stuff at Saint Paul's.
If it's alright with Fr. Weedon, I could try to figure out how to YouTube it.