One building stands out on the campus of Concordia Theological Seminary: Kramer Chapel. Rising over one hundred feet above the Upper Plaza, Kramer Chapel is the physical and spiritual center of the campus. Theological formation begins in the chapel and is centered there. Every weekday the seminary community gathers in the chapel to receive the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation, pray, sing and make music to the Lord. It is in the chapel that the seminarian is shaped as a child of God, and it is where future pastors learn to worship, lead the liturgy, sing and preach.

The Liturgical Life at Kramer Chapel

The seminary's liturgical life revolves around the weekly celebration of the Lord's Supper. The Divine Service offers the gifts of Christ's presence in hearing the Gospel read and proclaimed, and in receiving the very body and blood of Christ.

The chapel offers a rhythm of readings and prayer in the Daily Offices. These offices reflect the normal practice of the early church and the consistent practice of the Church through the Reformation era until this very day. These services at Kramer Chapel introduce seminarians to the wealth of liturgical and hymnic resources available in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's new worship resource Lutheran Service Book (2006).

The daily services provide opportunities for students to conduct the liturgies and observe their professors acting as models of the Gospel in the preaching and leading of the liturgy. This shapes a liturgical and devotional life that is centered in Holy Scripture, in the historic liturgy as it is reflected in our worship books, and in the rich texts of the church's hymnody, both ancient and modern. Psalms also will be prayed daily and the entire Psalter will be used annually several times. Prayer requests are received daily at the chapel office at 452-2143 or by the chapel staff. Private confession is heard by a pastor in the prayer chapel in the undercroft of Kramer Chapel on days when Holy Communion is celebrated.

All of this provides some of the most important learning that future pastors receive while at the seminary. The seminary offers the following services:

Summer
07:00 a.m.	Matins [07:30 a.m. during Session I]
08:00 - 09:00 a.m.	Private Confession [Communion Days]
09:35 a.m.	Morning Offices [Communion on Tue. or Wed.]
03:35 p.m.	Vespers

Fall, Winter, & Spring
07:30 a.m.	Matins
08:30 a.m.	Private Confession [Communion Days]
10:00 a.m.	Morning Prayer and other offices [Communion on Tue. or Wed.]
04:00 p.m.	Vespers
09:30 p.m.	Evening Prayer or Compline [Tuesday and Thursday]

Music as a Servant of the Word

Music as a good gift of God is, according to Luther, "the handmaiden of theology and second only to theology." As such, music in the church serves God's Word by appropriately carrying truths to the hearts and minds of the church. Such music is a well-ordered discipline that truly helps the church "breathe the air of heaven" (Athanasius), by actually lifting her to that which is holy, "separate." Music then becomes an integral part of the confession of the faith through hymns, liturgical music, and choral music -- all proclaiming Christ by means of this good gift.

This glorious realm of sacred music is very much in evidence and a part of every day life at Concordia Theological Seminary. The public is invited to join us for Choral Vespers, as the Seminary Choirs lead us in special Christmas, Epiphany, Passion and Easter commemorations. The finest in sacred instrumental and choral music from every period of music history is offered regularly in Kramer Chapel services. The Schola Cantorum, the Chapel Choir, and the Seminary Kantorei offer the Lutheran heritage of music as proclamation in chapel services and in Choral Vespers services throughout the year. A typical year includes works by Bach, Praetorious, Reger, Distler, Proulx, Hillert; also everything from handbell choirs to brass choirs, from guest children's choirs to guest international organists. Our Seminary Kantorei has commissioned new works almost every year of its 30 year history. In fact, this well-known and well-traveled choir has perhaps commissioned more twentieth century music than any other synodical school.

The Seminary's Kramer Chapel is an acoustically extraordinary space for making music. The student body and faculty are very much aware of this great blessing daily as they gather to sing the unaccompanied and accompanied offices. Concordia Theological Seminary is happy to be able to offer to its students, to the community, and to the church-at-large this on-going feast of outstanding church music where music is indeed servant and Christ is proclaimed.

The Three Choirs of Kramer Chapel:

All other times Kramer Chapel is used for worship instruction, classes and workshops, and choral and organ practice sessions. For scheduled times of private confession with a local pastor and for your personal devotions, there is a small prayer chapel (the Chapel of the Transfiguration) located below the Narthex. This is open when Kramer Chapel is open and is available to all who would like to use it.

We invite you to worship with the seminary community at Kramer Chapel. Attendance at chapel services is encouraged but not required. Preparing for the Holy Ministry is as individual as it is corporate. Your attendance at the chapel is an opportunity to be formed each academic year by Christ's presence through his Word and Sacrament, and through his ongoing presence at daily Matins, Morning Prayer, Vespers and Compline.

The Staff of Kramer Chapel

Dr. Arthur A. Just Jr., Dean of the Chapel
Study:    452-2138    Room F-2
Home:    471-2258
 
Prof. Richard C. Resch, Kantor
Study:    452-2199    Room F-4
Home:    484-2125
 
Kevin Hildebrand, Associate Kantor
Study:    452-2193    Room F-3
 

If we can be of assistance, please ask us. Our studies are generally open. The Lord be with you as you prepare for your important future work.

Ever in Christ,