The affliction with which Lutheranism has been afflicted for the last 50 years is the error that every Christian is supposed to be a missionary. That it is the duty of every believer in Christ to attempt to open religious dialogue with people whenever and wherever possible. This is nicely encapsulated in the sign that dons the exit gate of many church parking lots: You are...

A Retake On John 15:1-8April 26, 2018by: Rev. Dean Kavouras John 15:1-8 "I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the ...

We know that liturgy is Scripture, but do we also realize that Scripture is liturgy. Sometimes Scripture is liturgy in that it is lectionary: God's narrative spoken in the presence of men. But sometimes it appears to be liturgical form as well. This is what I think we encounter in Sunday's epistle lesson 1 John 3:16-24. An indicator that we are reading actual liturgical fo...

Beloved in Christ, By means of this post I would like to inform you that your pastor has been nominated for the Office of President of the Ohio District. The election will take place in June at the District Convention. The Ohio District covers all LCMS congregations in Ohio, the northern part of Kentucky and WV. In the event that I am elected I will remain pastor of Chr...

BIOGRAPHY -REV. DEAN KAVOURAS Rev. Dean Kavouras, born June 1, 1950, graduated from Concordia Seminary St. Louis in 1978 with a Master of Divinity degree. He served parishes in Ohio and Wisconsin, and has been serving Christ Lutheran, Cleveland since 1999, first as Assistant Pastor, then as Pastor. Pastor Kavouras also serves as a chaplain for Cleveland's police, fir...

Lutheran pastors are not always mindful of who they are, or what their calling is. One way this is made evident is the way they dress. Some, it seems, take a certain pride in dressing like businessmen, golf pros, hikers, bikers or hobo's, rather than clergymen. But poor choice of outfit is more the symptom, than the problem. May the pastor remember who he is. He is Christ...