April 16-18, 2012

Bless Us and These Your Gifts: Practicing Life in the Promise of God

“Everything that has received blessing becomes a constant reminder that Christ and the Church accompany us in our journey through life.” (Anscar Chupungco)

At the heart of our eucharistic prayer we call upon God’s blessing on the gathered assembly and on the gifts of the meal. This year’s Institute of Liturgical Studies begins here, at the meal, to see how we speak about God and blessing. “Bless us and these your gifts” we pray, but also, “Blessed are you, O God of the universe.” This prayer at the table turns in several directions: from God and toward God, toward people and bread and wine. This leads us to explore the many ways blessing takes shape in our worship beyond the table: around the font, over oil, at the fire, among ministries, within marriages and relationships, in homes. From these ritual acts of blessing, we take up our lives of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving as we grow into the fullness of Christ.

At a time when our churches are raising many questions around blessing, this Institute will engage some of those questions.  Our liturgies will offer eucharistic and other forms of blessings, through prayer, movement, art, and song. Through plenary talks, seminars, and workshops, we hope to engage in lively exchange, while respecting various perspectives on blessing.

Matters we hope to discuss include:

• What is the meaning and power of blessing?
• How is eucharistic blessing different from all others?
• What is the relationship between the languages of blessing, dedication, and consecration?
• What does it mean to bless relationships?

We invite you to join us for these days of worship, conversation, engagement, and renewal: practicing life in the promise of God.

FUTURE DATES

April 8-10, 2013

April 28-30, 2014

Christus Rex Award

The Christus Rex award annually recognizes an individual who has made significant contributions to Lutheran liturgical scholarship and renewal.  The Institute's advisory council began this award in 2009.  Previous recipients were Mark P. Bangert in 2009, and Philip Gehring in 2010.  The 2011 awardee is George W. Hoyer.  Please click here to view photographs of George Hoyer receiving the Christus Rex Award.

Preachers' Retreat

The Advisory Council held the first annual Preachers' Retreat at the conclusion of the 2008 Institute, April 3-4, 2008. The event was designed to encourage and support preachers in their weekly preaching task and offered small groups, facilitators and mentors, worship and reflection in a retreat setting. Gifts from the Valparaiso Project on the Education and Formation of People in Faith and Martin E. Marty provided support for this first venture.  More...

Financial support provided by Indiana Dunes Tourism