2008 Convocation
The 2008 Catechism Convocation went wonderfully and was a blessing to many. Approximately 200 people from 20 congregations attended its first meeting at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Gradually, as resources become available, audio as well as text from the convocation will be available for those who were unable to attend or those who wish to listen or read again for their own enrichment.
Below are pictures from the 2008 convocation. If anyone would like individual or full sized pictures please contact the webmaster at admin@chytraeus.com or by phone.
Sermon from Matins by Pastor Jones — Coming soon.
Pastor Cwirla
Title: "These are the Holy Ten Commands - What does God say about all
these commandments? "
Summary: What does God say concerning His commandments? How do they
apply to our daily lives as the baptized children of God? This presentation
will consider the Ten Commandments in overview, providing a comprehensive framework
for understanding and applying all the commandments with the first commandment at
the heart and center. The various ways in which the Law of God impacts our
life, both as commandment and gift, will be discussed as well the Law's ultimate
fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
Biography: Pr. William M. Cwirla is the pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
in Hacienda Heights, CA. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago (BS
- Chemistry), the University of California-Berkeley (MS - Chemistry), and Concordia
Seminary in St. Louis (MDiv, STM). He serves on the board of directors for
Higher Things, a Lutheran youth organization specializing in youth conferences and
retreats, and is its vice president. Pr. Cwirla served on the liturgy committee
of the Lutheran Service Book. As a conference speaker, Pr. Cwirla has spoken
on a variety of topics including biblical hermeneutics, the art and craft of preaching,
sexual ethics and the Christian, science and the Christian faith, the holy sacraments,
and the divine liturgy. He lives in Hacienda Heights with his wife Karen.
1st Presentation by Pastor Cwirla — download here ( 31.40 MB )
Pastor Payne
Title: "The Commandments as Vocation"
Summary: We know that we are not saved by the Commandments and that Christ has fulfilled
them for us, so just what are we to do with them? This presentation explores the
Commandments as vocation - the life that God has called us to as His children. We
are called to be in the world, but not of the world. We are called to live humble
lives of service. But how do we do that? What do the Commandments teach us about
our life in Christ?
Biography: Pr. Matthew A. Payne has been in parish ministry for 18 years, having graduated from Concordia Theological Seminary in 1989. His undergraduate work was in Speech/Communication Studies. He has served as a campus pastor, an adjunct professor of theology at Concordia Irvine, and recently as a presenter at a campus ministry Fall Study Weekend at the University of Minnesota. He is currently the pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Covina. He will be speaking on: “The Commandments as Vocation.”
2nd Presentation by Pastor Payne — download
here ( 32.33
MB )
Pastor Rhode
Title: “Rediscovering The Greatest Treasure: How The Church Lost The Ten Commandments
And Found Them Again.”
Summary: Many Christians are unaware of the fascinating historical circumstances
that have shaped the Church’s understanding and use of the Ten Commandments. In
the ancient church, the Ten Commandments were foundational for Christian catechesis
and theologians had to fight vigorously to maintain a proper Christian understanding
of them. Centuries later, the Commandments would come to be eclipsed by the moral
system of Gregory the Great, known commonly as “The Seven Deadly Sins”. It was not
until the advent of Martin Luther that the church was able to fully rediscover the
Christian use of those Ten Commandments that Luther himself calls “the greatest
treasure God has given us.” This presentation will explore the historical forces
that brought the Commandments into Luther’s catechisms and, subsequently, back into
the lives of Christians.
Biography: Pastor Jeremy Rhode previously served Faith Lutheran Church of Capistrano
Beach, CA as a Vicar and now serves Faith as a Pastor. He is a graduate of the University
of Colorado (BA-Psych) and a recent graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary –
Fort Wayne (M-Div). Pastor Rhode currently has the distinguished honor of serving
as an LWML Zone Counselor. A sampling of his sermons and other Gospel presentations
can be found at www.faith-lcms.org
He currently resides in San Clemente, CA and is engaged to Julianna West.
3rd Presentation by Pastor Rhode — download here ( 32.61 MB )
Q&A session with the presenters — download here ( 22.43 MB )
Sermon from the Divine Service by Pastor Smith — download here ( 55.20 kB )