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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2004, Page 150

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

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