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Showing posts from November, 2024

On Habit and Heart: Alternative Liturgical Services and Traditionalism in the Church

- November 19, 2024

After the final hymn echoed through the church, Pastor Neil stood by the door for the traditional Sunday handshake. But not everyone was leaving the Church; a member who stayed behind for some minutes approached the pastor and said, "Pastor, can I share something? The service today—it felt a bit… off," he began timidly. Pastor Neil nodded, inviting him to elaborate. "Of course. What do you mean?" "Well," the member replied, "it didn’t feel as uplifting as usual. It’s like it lacked… connection or relevance. I’m not sure everyone really felt moved." Pastor Neil smiled thoughtfully. "That’s an interesting observation. Did we have the Word? The Sacraments?" "Yes, of course," the member answered. "But I think people expect something more engaging, something that speaks to where they are. It’s important for the service to feel relevant "Well, here we entering and interesting conversation about worship life of the Church.

On Habit and Heart - Tradition and Traditionalism in the Church

- November 12, 2024

After the final hymn, the congregation began to move towards the front door. Pastor John stood in the Narthex, shaking hands and greeting the members. One churchgoer, a long-time member, approached him with a concerned look on his face. "Pastor, I noticed something wrong in the service today," he said. "Really? What was that?" Pastor John asked with a curious smile. "Right after the Gloria Patri and the Kyrie, we didn’t have the Gloria in Excelsis." Pastor John replied, "You are right—we didn’t. What did we have there instead?" The member paused for a moment. "I think it was a hymn, if I remember correctly." "Yes, it was a hymn that performs the same function," the Pastor replied. "But it wasn’t the Gloria in Excelsis," the member insisted. "I think we must follow tradition, otherwise we would be wrong." "You are right, it wasn't," Pastor John acknowledged. "But you know, this reminds us

Bio

I am a Canadian-Brazilian pastor living in Port Coquitlam BC, Canada. Graduating from Concordia Seminary in São Leopoldo, Brazil, in 1998, I was ordained by my father, Rev. Curt Albrecht, in Curitiba, Brazil, in January 1999. My first call was to serve at Peace Lutheran Church in Campo Bom, RS, Brazil, from 1999–2004. Preaching, Divine Worship and Music, Youth, Member Visiting and Missionary Work were some of the highlights of that period. I started my work at Ulbra (The Lutheran University of Brazil) in 2004, where I served in different Calls: Canoas Campus Chaplain and church-planter of the Campus outpost of St. Paul's Lutheran Church(2004 to 2007). By late 2007, the new congregation called a full-time pastor. In 2004, I joined Ulbra (The Lutheran University of Brazil) in various capacities: 2004-2007: Chaplain and church planter for the Canoas campus outpost of St. Paul's Lutheran Church. By late 2007, the congregation appointed a full-time pastor. 2008-2011: Resumed campus ministry with a focus on communications, especially the “Toque de Vida” (Touch of Life) Project. This initiative began with a daily TV program and expanded to email devotionals in Portuguese, Spanish, and English; a blog; a radio program; and, in 2014, Toque de Vida Lutheran Church in Canoas. 2012-2015: Head Chaplain for Ulbra Canoas and nationally. During this time, I continued my roles with Toque de Vida, served as assistant pastor at Celsp (2012-2014), volunteered in ministry (2014-2015), and taught high school religion. 2016: Became a professor at Ulbra’s Theology School and Campus Pastor in Canoas, while serving as a volunteer pastor at Toque de Vida Lutheran Church. I was called to serve as Ulbra's Head Chaplain - Canoas and nationwide(2012-2015 term), leading a team of 30 chaplains and 25 teachers and Professors of the Ulbra System in Brazil. During the period, I accumulated the activities of the Toque de Vida Project, Celsp's assistant pastor (2012-2014), Toque de Vida volunteer ministry (2014-2015) and High School teacher (2014). In the year of 2016 I was called as Professor of Ulbra's Theology School and Campus Pastor in Canoas. while also accepting the Call to be one of the "Toque de Vida" Lutheran Church volunteer Pastors in Canoas. In November, 2016 I accepted the call to be Associate Pastor at Mount Olive Lutheran, in Regina, Canada, being installed in February 2017. Teaching and Preaching, Music, Member Visiting, Youth, and Online Ministry are some of the highlights of this period. In August 2023, I accepted the Call to serve at Hope Lutheran Church in Port Coquitlam, BC, where I am serving since October, 2023, working with both Church(Active in Love, Growing in Christ) and School (Equipping each child to impact the world for Christ's glory). Educationally, I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Communications-Journalism in 2011, focusing on "The Lutheran Sermon from the Receiver’s Viewpoint." In 2014, I completed a Specialist degree in Human Resources, with a dissertation on "Institutional Values in Hiring in a Confessional Lutheran Institution." My second diploma in Theology from Ulbra came in 2015, alongside a Master’s in Theology from Concordia Seminary, São Leopoldo, with a dissertation titled, “Preaching for Everyone and for No One,” which explored the history and production of the Toque de Vida TV program. In the same year I finished the Masters in Theology at The Concordia Seminary, Sao Leopoldo. The dissertation, "Preaching for everyone and for no one" researched History and production process of the TV Program Toque de Vida. I am currently a student of the Doctor of Ministry Program of the Concordia Seminary St. Louis, USA. I was born in 1975 in Naviraí, MS, Brazil, to Rev. Curt and Ligia Madalena Albrecht, the fourth of nine siblings. I have been married to Djenane Hans since 1997, and we have two children, Charles and Rachel Sophie. My interests include family time, music, leadership, communication, digital ministry, and cooking.