Category: Columns

December 23, 2024

Then With Shepherds Let Us Go

by Timothy Teuscher In the familiar account of the nativity of our Lord from St. Luke’s Gospel, we come across a number of individuals. First and foremost, of course, is the “Babe lying in a manger” (Luke 2:7), our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Then…

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December 18, 2024

Do You Have a “Cookie God”?

by Marvin Bublitz It’s that time of year when many homes are filled with the aromas of the season. I remember being a child when both our house and Grandma Schmidt’s house were filled with the wonderful aroma of baking. Mom would usually include us…

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December 11, 2024

So Great a Cloud of Witnesses

by Robert Mohns The West Region of Lutheran Church–Canada is composed of 115 congregations, with roughly 30 (about 25 percent) vacant. About half of those are in the process of calling a pastor; the other half are, for various reasons, not calling.  In an average…

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December 6, 2024

Last Things First

by Mathew Block In the weeks leading up to Christmas, the church observes Advent. In this season, we remember the waiting of God’s people in anticipation of the first coming of the Son of God in His incarnation. And we also look forward with hope…

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November 20, 2024

Joker: Folie à Deux: “A Clown with His Pants Falling Down”

by Ted Giese Imprisoned in Gotham’s dismal Arkham Asylum for the criminally insane, Arthur Fleck awaits trial for multiple counts of murder. There, in a music program in the minimum security wing, Fleck meets Harleen ‘Lee’ Quinzel. The disturbed Fleck and psychotic Quinzel fall into…

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November 6, 2024

What is Your Holy Calling?

by Timothy Teuscher In the first section of the Small Catechism, which contains the familiar six chief parts of Christian doctrine, we read these words: “Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness from…

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