Family Altar: 2023

• 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. There will also be information and resources available regarding classical education. Faith Lutheran Church, our host congregation, is hoping to start a classical Lutheran school in the Oregon, WI area, so this will be an opportunity for them to showcase what that looks like as well. Even for single people or those without children, the classical model provides a bedrock of western civilization that has implications beyond childhood and interconnections with the Christian life.

We hope you will attend this conference! Please note that although childcare will not be provided, children-oriented content will be provided commensurate with registrations.