autism

A comment by Roger on another post leads to this topic worthy of its own discussion.

We have a handful of people in our congregation who are allergic to gluten (which seems to be on the rise today). Therefore, we switched to a gluten-free bread. Does this make for genuine communion bread? What if you were allergic to the skins of grapes used in wine and juice? Does Jesus know your heart or are you forever shunned by Him and the church? What if you were a recovering alcoholic and had put your trust in Christ above your trust in booze. It seems like it would only be wise to steer clear of ANY type of alcohol.

One of my daughters, of a seven-year-old set of twins, has been on a gluten-free diet which seems to benefit her. The diet has been quite the adjustment to the rest of our lives, as we watch what we eat around her so that she doesn’t want what she can’t have.

One day, most likely long before the traditional (how did that happen?) LCMS age of thirteen or fourteen, they will be able to examine themselves as directed by Scripture and be received into the congregation as full members through our Rite of Confirmation. No, Roger, the Rite of Confirmation is not mandated by the Bible, but it is a gift of the church to ensure a person doesn’t harm themselves in the Sacrament of Holy Communion.

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In an assent to Dawn K’s award-winning post on contemporary worship, here are some reasons the LCMS should keep liturgical worship.

First, an object lesson from Mr. Miyagi:

The point, of course, was that Daniel-san was learning karate through practice, even before he knew he was learning karate.

Liturgical worship is the practice of the recitation of the faith, by confessing and singing.

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The girls had their first day of Sunday School at Zion. Twin #1 handled it beautifully.

Twin #2 came to church to go to church! So she was upset about having to go to Sunday School. We tried reading books in the room, playing music, doing puzzles, and nothing quieted her.  “Walk to Zion, walk to Zion!”

“All right, then, let’s walk to Zion.” We walked upstairs to the sanctuary. She began to calm down. I took her up to the chancel, where she correctly identified the baptismal font, the cross, and the altar set for Holy Communion. I then showed her the stained glass windows which depicted the life of Jesus on one side of the sanctuary and the symbols of the Church down the other side.

Nice and calm, we went back to see what Big Sis was doing. Things were much better this time. She didn’t make the book her sister did, but she stayed in the room, sometimes reading a book, sometimes paying attention to the class.

Next week should be better, as Sunday School will kick off with “junior choir.” I need to get with the organist to see what they sing.

Twin #1 had her moment today, too. During the children’s sermon, Pastor discussed the fish symbol, which #1 correctly identified as the ΙΧΘΥΣ. I can’t take credit for that one — she learned the name at Methodist music camp. Pastor then went on to explain the Greek acrostic.