Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, will host its fall Lay Bible Institute from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Wednesday evenings, Oct. 6, 13, 20 and 27, 2004, in Sieck Hall on the Seminary campus. The class, “Incense Rising and Screens Descending: How Do We Worship God in the 21st Century?”, will be presented by Dr. Kent J. Burreson, assistant professor of systematic theology at Concordia Seminary. Participants will explore issues in the contemporary landscape of Christian worship and deepen their personal worship and devotional life.

“Incense Rising and Screens Descending: How Do We Worship God in the 21st Century?” will enable participants to explore issues in the contemporary landscape of Christian worship and to deepen their personal worship and devotional life. The four Wednesdays will focus upon different themes all interconnected with the general theme of worship in the 21st century. The first Wednesday will focus on sketching the issues and trends in 21st-century worship. The following Wednesday will address the contours of a biblical view of worship. The third Wednesday will seek to enhance personal worship and devotion in light of the biblical view and current trends. The last Wednesday will encapsulate the entire institute by framing the previous themes in terms of the corporate worship of the church. The institute will expand the horizons of one’s personal worship life and will enrich one’s participation in the worship of the Body of Christ.

Burreson has served on the Seminary faculty since 2002. Prior to that, he served as instructor at Concordia Seminary (2000-02) and as assistant pastor (1999-2000) and assistant to the pastor (1996-99) at St. Peter Lutheran Church in Mishawaka, Ind. He also has served as instructor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. (1997-98). He received the Ph.D. degree (2002) and M.A. degree (1997) from the University of Notre Dame; the S.T.M. degree (1994) and M.Div. degree (1992) from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, Mo., and the B.A. degree from Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, Ind., in 1988.

To register for the Lay Bible Institute classes or for more information, call the Office of Continuing Education and Parish Services at (314) 505-7123. The cost is $25 per person and includes course handouts and refreshments. Concordia Seminary is located at 801 DeMun Avenue in Clayton, Mo.