Years ago, Pr. Klem Preus made the observation that Americans like to worship their work, work at their play, and play at their worship. At Higher Things the motto has been that when we worship, we worship; when we work, we work; when we play, we play. It's been a liberating and guiding principle.Just having gotten back from Sola - San Antonio, let me offer the following random reflections:
* The worship - WOW. Just WOW. Wonderful, graceful, reverent liturgists. Loemker on the organ, the special music provided by the young people, the young folk belting out the hymns, the reverence during the services, and last but not least, the clarity of Gospel proclamation. Wow, wow, wow! Dare to be Lutheran indeed!
* The heat - WOW. Just WOW. We've decided that San Antonio - wonderful place that it is - is located right next door to hell and someone left the door open. I think it topped out at 106 on Thursday under a bright, sunny sky. I think we all just got used to smelling.
* The teaching opportunities - WOW. Just WOW. I was amazed at the variety of sectionals and break-aways presented and how frustrating not to be able to catch more of them!
* The organization - WOW. Just WOW. How on earth do the Higher Things folk pull this off? Prs. Borghardt, Cwirla, Buetow, Kuhlmann, Deaconess Ostapowich, Gina and her crew, Jon and Stan - you folks are pros! Down to the last detail, thought through and well planned and executed.
* The commitment - WOW. Just WOW. I felt downright guilty that I had NOT been a leader in organizing and getting my own parish youth to attend. Pastor after pastor had given up a week for the sake of letting their youth experience what a wonderful thing our Lutheran faith is and how we can celebrate and rejoice in it. Hold me to this, folks, but I am inspired and committed. Next summer I will be at GIVEN. And I'll be bringing some youth along with me. I can't wait!!!
More later, I'm sure...
Two notes of interest.
ReplyDeleteI met Pr. Cwirla and Borghardt at the Fort Wayne Symposia. They were hosting a Higher Things conference to encourage participation and inform congregations of their purpose.
Since I was already a strong advocate of Higher Things, I returned to my congregation and began recruiting for the Grand Rapids conference. I even managed to secure funding from our Church Council to defray some of the costs. Swelling up with pride, I was confident we could send nearly all eligible teenagers (and any college age members). Imagine my disappointment when I met with the host Pastor and he informed me the event was sold out - booked solid by the first week in May!
Now, getting a Michigander to go to Texas in July ain't gonna happen. My advice - if the conference is nearby (or in the northern regions during summer) - reserve early before the Nebraska and Missouri people close you out.
Secondly, our church presented a resolution commending Higher Things to our Michigan District Convention. Our District rejected the resolution because HT is not a "recognized service organization." Apparently, worshipping, working and playing as Lutherans is insufficient to be honored by the LC-MS. Oh well, at least you've done a commendable effort at informing all readers of your blog.
We were pleased to hear from you Pr. Weedon. You delivered some serious solus Christus and we were blessed. Given to, one might say.
ReplyDeleteI can't recall a conference in which the speaker stood up and burst out in the Te Deum IN LATIN!! (The homeschoolers thank you.)
Soli Deo Gloria!
Dennis: Set your sights on Logan, Utah or Memphis, TN for "Given!"
ReplyDeleteDaring to be Lutheran in Mormon country! Oh yes.
(Pr. Weedon - sorry about the shameless plug, I won't do it again until next time.)
Thanks for the kind words, and for all your hard work in bringing these conferences about.
ReplyDeleteBut you are misremembering! I burst out in the Gloria in Excelsis in Latin - for that's where the Solus Christus comes from (always starts with the liturgy!):
Tu solus sanctus
Tu solus Dominus
Tu solus altissimus
Iesu Christe
The Te Deum DID get cited, but in English. :) But how could you NOT use Latin when the conference name was all Latin???
Did I tell you that I had a fellow who stopped me to ask what "sola" stood for. He thought it was an acronym. It was a joy to witness to the Gospel to a student at Trinity because hundreds of Lutheran students were walking around plastered in Solas!!!
Forgot to post the URL: http://higherthings.org/conferences/given2010.html
ReplyDeleteEnd of commercial announcement.
But you are misremembering!
ReplyDeleteI'm so busted for not listening!
Thanks, again.
Alas, I could not be there, for I was moving. I wish I could've come. Although, considering my situation, does a youth group have to all come together, or can people register individually?
ReplyDeleteAnd btw Pastor Weedon-
106, hot? Ha! The other day it was over 120 here in AZ. And you think San Antonio is nextdoor to hell... lol
"Although, considering my situation, does a youth group have to all come together, or can people register individually?"
ReplyDeleteAdults may register individually. Many conferences offer day passes for pastors and youth leaders to come and see. We encourage it.
Kids need to be attached to an adult chaperone. Our youth group adopted two kids from other churches.
Anybody burst out in This Is The Feast?
ReplyDeleteAnybody burst out in This Is The Feast?
ReplyDeleteI didn't hear anyone, but I can't vouch for what is sung in the dorms late at night.
At the Divine Service we sang that great Latin hymn "At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing" (LSB 633).
No "This is the Feast" in sight at this conference, Terry. DS 3 was the order for Eucharist. Matins began the day; Vespers in the afternoon; Evening Prayer later; Compline to close the day. I never made it to Compline - I'm in bed before then!!!
ReplyDeleteDidn't think so, but that's my point.
ReplyDeleteAdvocacy of these higher things is compromised when one could have a different conference, ignore them altogether, use contemporary substitutes instead, and never leave the covers of the same synod approved book.
"The heat - WOW. Just WOW. We've decided that San Antonio - wonderful place that it is - is located right next door to hell and someone left the door open."
ReplyDeletePr. Weedon,
I laughed out loud in reading that. Having lived in West Texas for a number of years I know what you mean. And I know where the "door to hell" is located... Abilene. I mean no offense to those who live in Abilene, but sure enough that place has to be ground zero for hades itself!
;-)
You are right about some of the "flexibility" in LSB, Past Elder, but I doubt you'll find any Lutheran hymnal at all at the "RSO NYG"
ReplyDeleteHelen
Advocacy of these higher things is compromised when one could have a different conference, ignore them altogether, use contemporary substitutes instead...
ReplyDeleteTo my knowledge, there are no plans to use Luther's 1526 Deutsche Messe at a conference.
Probably not, when we use a rehash of Rome's 1970 New Order of Mass.
ReplyDeleteJust as a matter of public information, while Klem is the one who popularized the let worship be worship, play be play and work be work talk, it was originally coined by Matt Harrison in the 1990s when he was doing confirmation retreats in Eastern Iowa.
ReplyDeleteTodd
Jim,
ReplyDeleteLOL! I would love to explore Texas in that direction a bit - get out of the 35 corridor.
Todd,
I didn't know that! Thanks for setting the record straight.
Pastor Cwirla-
ReplyDeletethank you for answering my question. It is greatly appreciated.
At the Divine Service we sang that great Latin hymn "At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing"
ReplyDeleteThat in and of itself makes me wish I had been there!
Christine
Tu solus sanctus
ReplyDeleteTu solus Dominus
Tu solus altissimus
Iesu Christe
Another reason to be there!
Christine
Loved your post! My 2 homeschooled girls are looking forward to Grand Rapids where they can follow the HT motto of when we worship, we worship; when we work, we work; when we play, we play. Rock on HT!
ReplyDelete