# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2004_S150 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) DISTRICT AND CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES 151 (Adapted) from the worship theses of Concordia Univer- sity-Wisconsin Christ Sioux Falls, SD 2-20 To Encourage Lay Involvement in Worship WHEREAS, Talented, Spirit-filled laypersons can be a powerful resource to help in the observance of worship services within our ’ congregations; the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers rec- ognizes the right and duty of laypersons to assist pastors in wor- ship; and laypersons can be greatly spiritually enriched by such worship service leadership; therefore be it Resolved, That we affirm and encourage laypersons in their ministry of reading Scripture, assisting in the distribution of Holy Communion, and in additional ways, which are right and proper; and be it further Resolved, That the English District memorialize the 2004 LCMS convention to encourage the same. English District 2-21 To Commend Efforts in Launching Lutheran Worship on National Satellite TV Wuereas, The Synod was invited to telecast LCMS worship services coast to coast on DirecTV’s new Church Channel, which was launched January 15, 2001; and WHEREAS, The Synod was offered the prime spot of Sundays at 12 noon Pacific Time (2:00 P.M. Central); and Wuereas, LCMS worship on national TV was the dream of the founding Lutheran Hour speaker, Dr. Walter A. Maier, and many of our media-minded pastors after him; and WHEREAS, The Board for Communication Services ventured forth in faith and authorized its executive director, the Rev. J. Thomas Lapacka, to sign a contract with The Church Channel to telecast the weekly worship program called Point of Truth, which premiered Jan. 20, 2002; and WHEREAS, The leadership of The Church Channel has been un- usually magnanimous with the Synod, telecasting Point of Truth four additional times a week without charge; and Wuereas, More than 70 half-hour Point of Truth programs have now been aired, featuring some of the finest preachers and worship services in the Synod; and WuerEAs, Point of Truth is produced by volunteers under the umbrella of Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Santa Monica, CA, and funded largely by the congregations which appear on its programs; therefore be it Resolved, That the Synod, in convention, commend Pilgrim Lutheran Church and all the congregations and pastors who have accepted the challenge to present the Gospel nationwide on Point of Truth, and be it further Resolved, That the Synod also commend all those who oversee and participate in the production of “Point of Truth,” particularly the Board for Communication Services, Rev. J. Thomas Lapacka (Point of Truth’s executive director), Dr. Charles Manske (its host/executive producer), Dr. Ardon Albrecht (its producer/direc- tor), and the many lay volunteers who serve so ably. Board for Communication Services 2-22 To Mark 400th Anniversary of Paul Gerhardt Wrereas, God gifted the Lutheran Church with the 133 hymns of Paul Gerhardt; and WHEREAS, Gerhardt’s hymns direct us to Jesus Christ, who was crucified for us, as a painting in his last church in Lubben, Ger- many, shows; and | WHEREAS, For hundreds of years these hymns were cherished by Lutherans and others for their Gospel content, despite attacks by Rationalism to silence them; and WHEREAS, It was a hymn of Paul Gerhardt (“Commit Whatever Grieves Thee”) which was sung at the laying of the comerstone of the first Lutheran church in the United States, in Philadelphia on May 2, 1743; and WHEREAS, It was the hymns of Paul Gerhardt, among others, that encouraged poets to begin writing hymns in English; and WHEREAS, It was the hymns of Paul Gerhardt in the hearts of people of the Missouri Synod which often gave them comfort and hope in Christ in their times of need; and WHEREAS, In recent years he and his hymns have sadly been forgotten in our church; and WHEREAS, March 12, 2007, is the 400th anniversary of his birth; therefore be it Resolved, That the Commission on Worship and Concordia Publishing House be encouraged to provide resources to congrega- tions to become reacquainted with Paul Gerhardt and his hymns and to celebrate this festive year; and be it further Resolved, That the LCMS, in convention, give thanks to God for the hymnody of Paul Gerhardt and the legacy of Lutheran song which directs us to Christ, crucified for us; and be it finally Resolved, That we rise and sing the following verses of Ger- hardt’s hymn, “If God Himself Be for Me” (TLH 528): 1. If God Himself be for me, I may a host defy; For when I pray, before me My foes, confounded, fly. If Christ my Head and Master, Befriend me from above, What foe or what disaster Can drive me from His love. 2. This I believe, yea, rather, Of this I make my boast, That God is my dear Father, The Friend who loves me most, And that, whate’er betide me, My Savior is at hand Thro’ stormy seas to guide me And bring me safe to land. 15. My heart for joy is springing And can no more be sad, ’Tis full of mirth and singing, Sees naught but sunshine glad. The Sun that cheers my spirit Is Jesus Christ, my King; The heaven I shall inherit Makes me rejoice and sing. Benediction Milwaukee, WI 2-23 To Develop Online, Interactive Sunday School WHEREAS, Many congregations and LCMS families find it dif- ficult to maintain Sunday school education, either because of iso- lation or because of financial restraints; and WHEREAS, Advances in communication technologies make it possible for the LCMS to reach isolated congregations and indi- viduals with the Word of God; therefore be it Resolved, That the Board for District and Congregational Ser- vices be encouraged, during this triennium, to develop an online Sunday school. Our Redeemer Columbia Falls, MT 2-24 To Encourage Preaching and Teaching Creation WHEREAS, The Scriptures teach that God is the creator of all that exists and is therefore the Author and Giver of Life; and Wuereas, The theory of evolution undercuts this support for the honoring of life as a gift of God; and