Observations

[gquaresma]

Hello,

I have an experience I would like to share, and would like whatever advice/suggestion those on this forum might recommend. First, I have been a LCMS Lutheran for about 10 years. Got married in the church, children baptized, etc, etc. After becoming Lutheran, I would say that I am pretty much "traditional/conservative" in my liturgical outlook. I was stationed out in California, and attended a great church there, and then was stationed in SE Pa, and again was blessed with a great church and Pastor, both liturgical, and conservative. I recently moved to Maryland, Ft Meade to be exact, and currently in the process of becoming a Police Officer in Washington DC. I am having a really hard time finding a church, and today took the cake. We went to a Lutheran Praise service, and with the band up front, they started to have a jam session playing "Stairway to Heaven" by Led Zeppelin. In addition, the Pastor in the sermon made a comparison between Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" speech, to Paul's sermon on Pentecost. He also stated some head scratching comments like
"We need to accept different points of view and take them in faith" and "God is giving his people new visions"

While I will not be returning to this church, the other four churches I attended were similar in its service and message as this one. Sermons big on law, finding your purpose with God, and low on the imputed righteousness of Christ. I understand that having an open mind can be good, and maybe that is what I need, but I just cant help not being critical about the churches I have visited. Thanks for any help in advance.

 

[seajoy]

Have you checked out the WELS churches in your area? This may be an option for you. I would be upset with what you have seen as of late. No way I could handle that on a weekly basis. And it also sounds like Pastor Led Z, needs a talking to from his district pres. He ought to be reported to someone anyway.

 

[JTornado1]

WOW! I've visited a number of churches and a variety of denominations, but none of them ever played Led Zeppelin music! My own LCMS church pretty much sticks with the hymnal.

I would keep looking. There must be a conservative liturgical Lutheran church somewhere in Washington, DC. I definitley wouldn't return to that Led Zeppelin church.

 

[gquaresma]

Thanks for the replies. Just want to clarify, the Led Zeppelin was acoustic, and the sermon was on Jacob's Ladder, so hence the tie in. But anything that attempts to be cool and hip in that manner in church really turns me off.

 

[seajoy]

But anything that attempts to be cool and hip in that manner in church really turns me off.

as it should.

 

[seajoy]

I just have to say that this thread is rather upsetting to me, and I'm surprised that folks haven't responded to it more. This makes me sick about the services that were mentioned here. I spent my little years learning about Jesus in an LCMS country school. I never thought I would see the day when such junk was being preached in that synod's churches. Ok, I've said my piece.

 

[QuiltAngel]

If you are looking for an LCMS church, go to lcms.org and go to the directories. Look for churches in the communities you are will to go to for worship. Either call them and ask what type of services they have or look on their web sites. I was hoping that someone on here with more familiarity of the D.C. would come on and make a recommendation.

The one you attended does sound like an extreme in Praise Worships. I sure hope so.

You do not have a narrow mind at all. If the Pastors are preaching heavy law, then there is a problem. I really hope you and your family are able to find a church which is liturgical and knows the proper distinction of Law/Gospel.

 

[jonathan1971]

Hello,
I understand that having an open mind can be good, and maybe that is what I need, but I just cant help not being critical about the churches I have visited. Thanks for any help in advance.

Having an open mind lead my last church into the arms of the Federal Vision. I don't think your being too critical at all.

I didn't come up with any hits for an ELS church close to you. The closest one I found was in MA but I did come up with a hit for WELS in the DC area.

divinepeace dot org

chekum out and see if that meets your needs.

 

[gquaresma]

I just want to make it clear that I in know way am trying to bash any particular congregation. Its just that I have never experienced this in a Lutheran Church before, and not just one, but the other ones I visited as well. I did find a church I located on the Lutheran Liturgical Congregation website. Its in Baltimore, but appears to be faithful to a strong Lutheran liturgy.

 

[Studeclunker]

Lead Zepplin in a Lutheran church? LOL, oh my! Are you sure they weren't training for Barnum and Bailey's? This group of clowns sounds like a splinter group from the Redding (CA) LCMS congregation!

Sadly, the Ablaze movement is a legacy that will poison the LCMS for some time. Hopefully, they recover from it. The Missouri Synod has a lot going for it and I hope and pray that the new President is able to steer it back on course.

In the meantime, RUN don't walk from those congregations! It really doesn't surprise me at all that the D.C. area would be rife with this kind of thing. I mean, look at those who predominate our government.

 

[DaRev]

How close are you to Baltimore and how far are you willing to drive to church? There are three congregations in Balitmore that are Confessional liturgical: Martini Lutheran, St James Lutheran and St. Thomas Lutheran.

 

[Studeclunker]

Martini Lutheran? LOL, I'd love to hear the story behind that name! LOL, only Lutherans...

 

[Tangible]

Interestingly enough, there was a recent Issues Etc. episode about moralism that used Stairway to Heaven as bumper music. Totally appropriate for a radio program. Totally inappropriate for the Divine Service.

Hmm. Maybe I should stop complaining so much about my church's 1970s-Methodoid-Liturgy-Lite service every other week and the theology of glory negro spiritual musical solos. Apparently things can be a lot worse than that.

 

[QuiltAngel]

Martini Lutheran? LOL, I'd love to hear the story behind that name! LOL, only Lutherans...

There is one near Ft. Wayne Indiana too.

 

[gquaresma]

How close are you to Baltimore and how far are you willing to drive to church? There are three congregations in Balitmore that are Confessional liturgical: Martini Lutheran, St James Lutheran and St. Thomas Lutheran.

I am actually visiting Martini Lutheran this weekend, it is only 20 minutes from home. St James and St Thomas are a little farther. I am pretty sure Martini will be the one given what I have read about it online. Thanks again.

 

[Aibrean]

I am SO happy the church we go to is fully liturgical

 

[gquaresma]

Well I went to one of the churches DaRev suggested, and I think I am good to go. Thanks everyone.

 

[Flipper]

Thanks for the replies. Just want to clarify, the Led Zeppelin was acoustic, and the sermon was on Jacob's Ladder, so hence the tie in. But anything that attempts to be cool and hip in that manner in church really turns me off.

We have contemporary music at my church, but it sticks to jazzing/rocking up hymns, or contemporary songs that glorify God. Our former music director wrote a lot of the songs and music, and they were straight out of the Bible - I miss him.

I did hear Stairway once...but it was well after the service, from my pastor on his guitar as everyone was cleaning up.

 

[DaRev]

Thanks for the replies. Just want to clarify, the Led Zeppelin was acoustic, and the sermon was on Jacob's Ladder, so hence the tie in. But anything that attempts to be cool and hip in that manner in church really turns me off.

You should probably very quietly hang one of these signs in that church sanctuary:

 

[BigNorsk]

f you are going contemporary, Long Black Train would be more my preferred style.