Congregation at Prayer

Pray for Your Pastor — This week we begin eleven weeks of meditation upon the Biblical texts in the Table of Duties concerning Christian vocation.  The first set of texts concerns those who are called to preach the Word of God: To Bishops, Pastors, and Preachers.  These are not three different offices, but one office.  Each word describes an aspect of their work.  A bishop is an overseer.  He is to supervise the doctrine and life of the congregation, along with the administration of the Sacraments so that everything is taught and done according to God’s Word.  Pastor means shepherd.  The Pastor “shepherds” the flock by calling to repentance, admonishing the erring, and bestowing forgiveness for Jesus’ sake to the penitent.  The word “preacher” gets at the heart of the minister’s work: proclamation of the Word of God.  “He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.”  This section of the Table of Duties not only teaches us concerning the qualifications of our ministers, but it also encourages us all to “pray for our pastors” that they might remain faithful in the work God has called them to do.

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Catechesis Notes for the Week — Why Are Guests Asked to Speak with the Pastor before Communing?—There are two reasons why guests are asked to speak with the Pastor before going to the Lord’s Supper. First, it is the responsibility of the pastor to examine the confession of faith of those who come to the Altar. Our concern is that they know their sin, they trust in Christ alone for salvation, and they believe that He is giving them His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins in the Sacrament. “Worthy reception” of the Sacrament requires such faith. Second, the Lord’s Supper is not merely an individual Christian in communion with his Lord, it is also the declaration that the communicant believes and confesses the faith with the church in that place. The external teaching and confession of the church that we belong to is important, because it is the external Word and sacraments that nurture and sustain that saving faith.

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