A fairy tale with a twist: pastoral counseling with adoptive families

Adoption counseling often focuses primarily on the enigmatic issues faced by adoptees. Very little attention, however, is pointed in the direction of the adoptive parents and their unique struggles. This article begins by providing some current information on adoption in the United States and ensuing implications for pastoral caregiving. Some of the unique challenges associated with the adoption experience are delineated, primarily focusing on systemic and personal issues faced by many adoptive families. Several practical interventions are suggested for pastoral caregivers working with adoptive families. Finally, the entire adoption experience is framed within a theological perspective offering hope to adoptive parents and adoptees.     

Orthodox Worship

Abstract

This article attempts to convey both the riches of the experience of Orthodox Christian worship and the wealth of materials used in the liturgical celebration. There will be a discussion of the setting, the temple, and the modes of participation in the worship experience. The place of the senses in the experience will be noted, along with a sampling of the texts used. The article also contains a full discussion of the many liturgical texts required. An annotated bibliography of books and list of websites, together with a select glossary, are included.     

The Missional Shape of Worship in Evangelical Lutheran Worship

Abstract : Mission stands out as an orienting concept in ELW unlike its predecessors. ELW has a missional theological framework as well as a practical missional orientation, a situation in which worship and mission are understood and practiced in relation to one another. It is possible that ELW will help congregations claim the missional character of worship.     

Of community,organs and obligations: Routine salvage with a twist

This paper makes the assumption that organ transplantation is, under some conditions at least, a proper use of communal medical resources. Proceeding from this assumption, the author: (1) sketches the history of the problem; (2) briefly examines the prevalent models of communal structure and offers an alternate version; (3) discusses notions of justice and obligation derived from these different models; (4) applies these to the practice of harvesting organs for transplantation; and then (5) offers a different process for harvesting organs from the newly dead. If community is viewed as united by a set of shred goals and common values among which the value of community itself is important, then certain reciprocal obligations among members obtain. I suggest that routine salvage of organs from the newly dead be instituted but that it be routine salvage “with a twist”: rather early in life all members of the community are given the opportunity to refuse but their refusal carries the reciprocal condition that they cannot later become the recipients of that which they refuse to others.     

Finding a Language for Faith: Liturgy and Worship

The sacramental and liturgical texts in The Annotated Luther series (volumes 1 and 3) reflect Luther's ongoing concern for the faith life of the people. They also give us an insight into Luther's own struggle to find words (and, of course, practices) that reflect the fundamental insight of the Reformation: justification by faith alone. Luther refused to abandon ritual or a strict liturgical order even though it can so easily become, in the minds and hearts of believers, a work they must do. The freedom of the gospel does not dispense us from a liturgical order or from participation; in fact, for Luther, that freedom compels us to worship! This tension can be found within these writings as Luther searches for new words and redefines and/or reorients other words to express a spirituality of justification.     

信神疑鬼酿灾祸

2004年2月15日下午2时15分,浙江省海宁市黄湾镇五丰村发生一起因群众自发迷信活动引发的特大火灾,40人命丧黄泉。 因从事迷信活动酿成特大火灾,竟然夺走40条人命,堪称迷信活动危害之最了。海宁特大火灾事故的发生深深震撼了我的心灵,促使我提笔撷取了几起近年来发生于我国各地因愚昧迷信酿成灾祸的例子,以期提高人民群众对封建迷信危害性的认识,提高警惕性,防患于未然。     

维吾尔族的灶崇拜

食物是人类生存的首要条件之一。在维吾尔族民间,炉灶总是安置在显眼的位置。灶神崇拜不是一般的社会信仰观念,其历史久远,影响深刻。     

Intergenerational Living and Worship:

There are several conceptual and relational shifts requircd when "intergenerational," the dynamics of intentional community and liturgy, as the work of the people, are brought together. The Caring Community Project is a training resource to assist congregations in forming intentional, intergenerational communities. Shared power, authority, and responsibility expressed through the discipline of the steps of the liturgy, as described briefly in this paper, unfold a dynamic transforming process of change. Older persons are key advocates for this ministry and major beneficiaries of its care and development.