LIFE The Incarnational Life - p.6 Rituals and the Enactment of the Gospel - p.8 Born and Born Again - p.10 Kramer Chapel—The Jewel of the Seminary - p.12 In The Field - p.14 WORLD of the For the June 1998. Volume Two, Number Two JUNE 1998 F E A T U R E S 3 2 From the President 4 Letters to the Editor 6 The Incarnational Life by Rev. Dr. Arthur Just Jr. Professor Exegetical Theology Concordia Theological Seminary Fort Wayne, Ind. Our life in the church is incarnational, for it brings us into communion with Jesus Christ so that we might delight in Him. 8 Rituals and the Enactment of the Gospel by Rev. Dr. John W. Kleinig Lecturer at Lutheran Campus, North Adelaide, Australia Rituals are important for Christians because the Triune God uses them to establish, sustain and extend the church on earth. 10 Born and Born Again by Debra L. Grime, MD St. Louis, Mo. At our physical birth, we receive a name. At our spiritual birth, God writes His name on us as we are baptized, “In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” 12 Kramer Chapel— The Jewel of the Seminary by Pam Knepper Managing Editor For the Life of the World Kramer Chapel continues to represent the center of life at the seminary. For in this house of worship, students, staff and faculty gather as a community to receive God’s gifts in His Word and Sacraments. By gathering for worship, the seminary demonstrates the incarnational character of the Body of Christ—His Church. 14 In The Field by Pam Knepper Managing Editor For the Life of the World Features the Rev. Rick Milas, Campus Pastor at University Lutheran Church at the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign. For theLIFE WORLDofthe PRESIDENT Rev. Dr. Dean Wenthe PUBLISHER Rev. Scott Klemsz MANAGING EDITOR Pam Knepper ART DIRECTOR Steve Blakey For the Life of the World is published quarterly by Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 6600 North Clinton Street, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46825. No portion of this pub- lication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher of For the Life of the World. Copyright 1998. Printed in the United States. Postage paid at Fort Wayne, Indiana. To be added to our mailing list please call 219/452-2150 or e-mail Rev. Scott Klemsz at CTSNews. For the Life of the World is mailed to all pastors and congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in the United States and Canada and to anyone interested in the work of Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind. CONTENTS page 10page 12 page 8 page 6 12 I t is no mistake that when the current campus of Concordia Theological Seminary (CTS) was built in the 1950s, its chapel—Kramer Chapel, was placed at the center. Rising far above all the other buildings, the chapel received the most attention in the design stage as it was intended to represent the central focus of the seminary. Today, that focus remains the same. For in this house of wor- ship, students, staff, and faculty continually gather as a communi- ty to receive God’s gifts in His Word and Sacraments. By gather- ing for worship, the seminary demonstrates the incarnational char- acter of the Body of Christ—His Church. “Christ is present on our campus in exactly the ways that He promises to be—His Word and Sacraments. These gifts are abundant in our life together at CTS,” explained Rev. Richard Resch, Kantor at CTS. “Students, faculty and staff are blessed with several opportunities daily to gather in Kramer Chapel to receive this heavenly food. This prayer life is the center of our life together, everything else flows from this.” Throughout the day, multi- ple opportunities exist to wor- ship. Beginning at 7:30 in the morning, the chapel bells invite the community to Matins, followed a few hours later with Morning Prayer, and again in the afternoon for Vespers. On two evenings each week, Compline and Evening Prayer are also offered. “At each service the seminary community is fed by the daily lectionary readings that reinforce the theological substance of the For the Life of the World TheJewelof the KRAMER CHAPEL ”Even as the tabernacle and temple were the loci of God's gracious presence for the Old Testament faithful, so the church from its inception has set aside sacred space or sanctuaries to receive Christ's presence through His holy means of Word and Sacrament. Kramer Chapel is the heartbeat of the seminary as Christ here bestows His full and abundant life." Dr. Dean O. Wenthe, President Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne previous Sunday’s Gospel,” explained Rev. Daniel Reuning, Dean of the Chapel at CTS. “And for those who are unable to attend each service, the schedule for all service readings is published in our Semi- nary Prayer Book with the encouragement and hope that they will be read at home or in the dormitory. Thus, the whole semi- nary community has available to them a rich nourishment of God’s wholesome, sustaining Word.” In the course of daily worship, the seminary community prays for those who have sorrows and concerns as well as those who are rejoicing over a good gift. “We pray for church, synod, districts (on a rotat- ing basis), all our leaders, families, those who are ill, and for our- selves,” explained Kantor Resch. “One of the many benefits these daily prayers offer is the increased opportunity to pray for many people and many needs in the church.” Along with worship opportunities, Confession and Absolution is also offered on a daily basis. “I am delighted that private Confession and Absolution is a v a i l a b l e , ” explainedDaryl Biberdorf, CTS Semina r i an . “When my sins begin to trouble me greatly, my Confessor graciously pro- nounces the words of life, ‘I therefore for- give you all your sins.’ It is difficult to describe the relief and comfort which accompany these words.” Often referred to as the “jewel” of the campus, Kramer Chapel and its worship life has, for many students, been a strong and positive factor in the decision to come to the Fort Wayne seminary. “The worship of Christ is the most fun- damental aspect of pastoral formation. As the Scripture says, ‘Faith comes by hear- ing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.’ (Romans 10:17),” said Lance O’Donnell, CTS Seminarian. “Thus, worship in Kramer Chapel, in the midst of CTS’ rigorous academic program, not only builds one spiritually but serves as a constant reminder that Christ Himself is both the content and the purpose of theolog- ical study.” Along with providing spiritual renewal, the wor- ship life at Kramer Chapel also provides lessons for members of its community. “I have learned the value of rep- etition as a catechetical and memory aid. My need for the liturgy sections in the hymnal has decreased substantially and I have memorized many of the canticles telling of our supreme Lord Jesus Christ. It has demonstrated to me that the repeated use of standard liturgical forms catechizes in a painless fash- ion,” explained Daryl Biber- dorf. “The fact that many of these forms are quite old has also given me a sense of unity with the saints who have gone before. The Church is one throughout time. It is more than a simple gathering of believers; it is the actual body of Christ Himself. To change our voices, the liturgical forms, is for the hand to fight with the body.” 13 Worship in Kramer Chapel, in the midst of CTS’ rigorous academic pro- gram, not only builds one spiritually but serves as a constant reminder that Christ Himself is both the content and the purpose of theological study. JUNE 1998 By Pam Knepper theSeminaryT