LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 27

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MINUTES
Opening Worship Service
Saturday, July 20, 2019

[The entire text of Rev. Esget’s sermon is printed
elsewhere in these 2019 Convention Proceedings.]

Opening Divine Service with Holy Communion

After Matins, the assembled convention took a group
photo and watched a video highlighting the work of the
Synod publication, Lutherans Engage the World.

The opening worship service of the 67th Regular
Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
(LCMS) was held in the Tampa Convention Center at the
bayfront in Tampa, Florida, under the theme, “Joy:fully
Lutheran: Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks.” Presiding was the Rev.
Keith Lingsch, pastor of Grace Lutheran Church, Naples, Fla.,
which hosted the communion service. The Rev. Dr. Matthew
C. Harrison, Synod President, preached on Neh. 8:1–12 and
Luke 15:11–32, as well as the convention’s “theme chapter,” 1
Thessalonians 5. The Council of Presidents and various
pastors of the Synod assisted with distribution of the
Sacrament. Accompaniment and special music was provided
by Kantor Kevin Hildebrand, of Concordia Theological
Seminary, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Ms. Hannah Engwall,
organists; instrumentalists Greg Dunn and Alan Stegeman,
Max Bygrave, Glenn Lenhard, John Geisler, Bob McCormick,
Peter Slayton, and Amy Collins; and a choir composed of
members of Synod congregations located in Florida: Bethel
Lutheran Church, Clearwater; Christ the King Lutheran
Ministries, Largo; Christ Lutheran Church, Brooksville; Faith
Lutheran Church, Dunedin; Grace Lutheran Church, St.
Petersburg; Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, South Tampa;
Hope Lutheran Church, Hudson; Lutheran Church of the
Cross, Punta Gorda; St. John Lutheran Church, Ocala and St.
Paul Lutheran Church, Lakeland. The Rev. Thomas Schlund
interpreted the service for the Deaf.

Convention Opening and Presentation of Gavel
President Matthew C. Harrison called the assembly to
order and called on Rev. Dr. Daniel Harmelink, Executive
Director of Concordia Historical Institute, to present the
historic gavel used, since 1911, by the chair to call Synod
conventions officially to order. In presenting the gavel, Dr.
Harmelink spoke of the unique history and inscriptions on
the gavel, which is ordinarily on display at the Institute’s
Lutheran History Museum in the LCMS International
Center. Having received the gavel, the chairman opened the
67th Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
Committee 13: Registration, Credentials, and Elections
President Harrison called upon the Rev. Scott Sailer,
President of the South Dakota District and chairman of
Committee 13 (Registration, Credentials, and Elections), to
introduce the electronic voting system provided by Padgett
Communications.
Having done so, Chairman Sailer proceeded to present
the initial registration report, noting that a total of 1,094

President Harrison’s sermon introduced the convention
theme, “Joy:fully Lutheran,” noting on the basis of the texts
that “the path to joy always leads through repentance” and
concluding with the admonition and blessing of 1 Thess.
5:12–28.
[The entire text of President Harrison’s sermon is printed
elsewhere in these 2019 Convention Proceedings.]

Session 1
Sunday a.m., July 21, 2019
Matins
The Rev. Christopher S. Esget, LCMS Sixth Vice-President
(East-Southeast Region), served as preacher and Chaplain
William Weedon, as liturgist, in the Office of Matins, with
Luke 10:38–42 as the text. Cantor Phillip Magness, Cantor
and Director of Sanctuary Worship at Concordia Lutheran
Church, Kirkwood, Mo.; soloists Bianca Wilke and Jenna
Cast; and guitarist Logan Cast provided accompaniment and
special music.
Minutes

Secretary John Sias
PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2019 (67TH) LCMS CONVENTION | 27