Presentation by Rev. Jeff Hendrix, given at the 2023 Family Altar Conference: For Altar and For Hearth, by Return to Wittenberg at Faith Lutheran Church, Oregon, WI, May 20, 2023.
Classical Hybrid School / Co-Op in the Works at Faith
For the past three-quarters of a year, a committee has been hard at work exploring the idea of opening a classical school at Faith. To this point, the committee has settled on the idea of a “Hybrid School.” For a great overview of what a Hybrid School is, as well as the “Hybrid School revolution,” listen to this podcast.
Ideally we will be recommending to the Voters Assembly of Faith that a teacher be called eventually, on at least a part-time base to manage curriculum and to teach. We’ve been the grateful recipients of some generous gifts already, including from another ELS congregation, but to make sure we have enough to sustain a teacher, we will need more start-up funds. Consider being a donor or patron for this school!
In the near-term, we will be operating as a Co-Op this coming Fall (2023) with a young grammar-age cohort. We’ll meet at Faith two days a week, begin with Matins (morning prayer service), Pastor will teach religion and a language (beginning Latin or Greek), and parents will fill-in other areas of study in the quadrivium.
A fuller overview of our goals and timeline is available in our Prospectus.
If you’d like more information about joining this Fall, or if you have thoughts or comments on the idea of a Co-Op, Classical School, Hybrid School, curriculum, etc., please contact Pastor Hendrix!
Family Altar Conference
Faith Lutheran Church is excited to again partner with Return to Wittenberg to host a family workshop on May 20.
This will be an encouraging workshop helping families of all types, sizes (even singles!) orient their life around the most important things. Learn how a few simple and fundamental things can lift burdens, lift minds, and lift hearts.
Dr. Arthur Eggert, author of “The Lutheran Family Altar,” will be a keynote presenter at the conference!
Other speakers will be announced soon.
After attending this conference, you will . . .
- Have a greater understanding of the vocational responsibilities inherent in the Fourth Commandment.
- Learn how the Lutheran concept of the “Family Altar” is central to a holistic Christian life.
- Recognize the Catechism as more than a tool for confirmation class–it is a blueprint of cosmic reality.
- Identify the Christian life as a cycle of oratio, meditatio, tentatio with meaningful connection to catechesis and education.
- Have a greater appreciation of the ways that classical education closely conforms with Christian reality.
The Christian family is a microcosm of God’s benevolent will for the order of the cosmos. All legitimate power in the Church and in the State is derived from God’s created order for humanity, which is contained in the fourth commandment and cosmically perfected in Christ and His Church. In short, the Family Altar is at the crossroads of reality, encompassing the spiritual and physical realms. The Family Altar is the way that Christians in their every-day lives sanctify themselves and their worlds with prayer (oratio) and the Word of God (meditatio) in the face of the struggles and discipline (tentatio) of their daily lives.
In addition to theoretical concepts, the workshop will provide practical examples and resources for the Family Altar. Practical tips will be offered for how to pray the Divine Office as a family and incorporating children into both corporate and private worship.
Additional topics on classical education and liberal arts will be offered. Faith Lutheran Church is in the process of opening a new hybrid classical school here in Oregon: Sursum Corda Classical School, with the express purpose to allow children to “lift up their hearts.”
Saturday, May 20 Conference Schedule
Saturday, May 20
1pm-3pm: Welcome & Presentations
3pm-4pm: Practical Activity: The Divine Office in the Home
4pm: Closing Vespers
Conference Fee: Adults: $15 / Students: $8
Registering is important to make sure we have enough materials for everyone!
Extra Events in addition to the Conference:
Thursday, May 18
5:30pm: Meal hosted by Faith Church Council
6:30pm: Ascension Service with Return to Wittenberg
8pm: Meet-up at Headquarters Bar & Grill
DIY Compline at ??
Saturday, May 20 – Morning
10am: Lauds Prayer Service
Saturday, May 20 – Evening
Bethany Lutheran College Choir Concert at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Madison.
5:30pm: Heavy hors d’oeuvres & refreshments – at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Madison.
7:00pm: Choral Concert featuring works by Parry, Christiansen, Mendelssohn, Brahms and others – at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Madison.
Sunday, May 21
8:00am: Matins
9:00am: Chief Divine Service for Exaudi Sunday
10:15am: Catechesis
Our Great Heritage Conference
Join us from October 7th-9th for “Our Great Heritage,” a weekend conference sponsored by Return to Wittenberg.
Return to Wittenberg is a conference aimed at providing encouragement, instruction and community on the basis of a shared love for Christ and the teachings of the Lutheran Confessions. The conference will celebrate the 500th anniversary of the translation of the New Testament into German by Martin Luther.
Presentations in this free-conference format will be given by ELS, WELS, and LCMS theologians on three areas of our great heritage: Scripture, Catechesis, and Hymnody.
Presenting will be Dr. Adam Koontz of Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, with two unique topics: ‘Our Heritage of Christian Liberty: On the Christian Conscience in its Being Bound Only to the Word of God’ and ‘Our Heritage of God’s Gifts: On the Family and Children as the Primary Earthly Gifts the Lord Gives.’
We will also hear a presentation from Pr. Dagan Siepert, titled, ‘Glorious Now We Press Toward Glory: A Summary of The Bible In View of Glorification and Sanctification.’ Kantor Daniel Baker will be applying our heritage of hymnody.
Finally, after a brief presentation on our heritage of Bible Translations, commemorating the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s German Bible, the Rev. Edward Frey, Licensed Professional Counselor, Christian Family Solutions, Mankato, MN, will discuss a Lutheran approach to counseling.
Uplifting and reverent Daily Offices and a Sunday Divine Service will be offered by Faith Lutheran Church (ELS) and led by ordained ELS and WELS clergy. Those who are confirmed members of ELS or WELS congregations in good standing will be welcome to come to the Lord’s Table.
You are guaranteed an enjoyable time learning with fellow Lutherans. Please visit the R2W website www.returntowittenberg.org to register for the conference.
Long Range Plan Adopted: Classical School, Active & Engaged Church are Two Main Goals
On Sunday, July, 17 the congregation of Faith Lutheran Church in assembly voted to adopt a long-range plan we have been developing with the help of our Synod’s evangelism and mission counselor.
Part of this plan involves the goal of opening a small classical school within three years, beginning with a cohort of K-2.
We pray that God would bless our congregation in the pursuit of these goals, according to His good and gracious will.
