The Lutheran Order of Service for the first Sunday after Christmas is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s Word from the first epistle of St. John in the first chapter verses 1-4. This sermon was written by missionary Rev. Kurt-Günther Tiedemann (Tarmstedt, Germany) in isiZulu (wz1606151227 1. n. Weihnachten) and translated as usual by my dear father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN) into seTswana (wt1606151227 Sontaga wa 1 morago ga botsalo).

The readings for this first Sunday after Christmas are:

• Old Testament: Isaiah 49:13-16
• The Epistle: 1.John 1:1-4
• The Gospel: St. Luke 2:22-40
• Psalm: 93:1; 96:6; 93:2.5

The liturgical colour is white.

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Christmas season: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (Joh.1:14 KJV)

And we pray with a collect for this Holiday: O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit one God now and forever. Amen.

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, wisdom, knowledge and insight – and the true words and pictures to preach his holy will faithfully according to his most precious revelation of his will and promises in both the Old and New Testament! However if you are not preaching, but listening – then listen as if God is talking to you + His precious gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)

We thank the Lutheran Heritage Foundation for supporting the distribution of hard-copies of these orders of worship and sermons throughout Southern Africa. If you also want a copy please do not hesitate to subscribe by writing to EAWWeber@bundunet.co.za.