Rejoice, He’s coming soon!

Posted on December 17, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

God’s holy Word for the fourth Sunday in Advent:

Watchword: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Phillipians 4:4-5)

From the 102nd Psalm for this Sunday in Advent:

Thou shalt arise, and have mercy upon Zion: for the time to favour her, yea, the set time, is come. So the heathen shall fear the name of the Lord, and all the kings of the earth thy glory. For he hath looked down from the height of his sanctuary; from heaven did the Lord behold the earth; To hear the groaning of the prisoner; to loose those that are appointed to death. (Verses 13.15.19f)

The Old Testament reading from his prophet Isaiah 52:

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion.

Break forth into joy, sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the Lord hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.

The Lord hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God. (Verses 7-10)

The holy Epistle from the apostle Saint Paul to the Philippians in the 4th chapter

Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.

Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Verses 4-7)

The holy Gospel accourding to the evangelist St. Luke the 1st chapter:

(And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias, and saluted Elisabeth. And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb. And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy. And blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord.)

And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

He hath helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy;

As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

(And Mary abode with her about three months, and returned to her own house.) Verses (39-45) 46-55 (56)

Sermon text is from the evangelist Saint Luke the 1st chapter:

And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women. And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

(Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren. For with God nothing shall be impossible.)

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

Here is a link to Bach’s version of the Magnificat in D major.

And a translation of Luther’s exegesis and sermon on the Magnificat.

The liturgical colour is violet. (Or blue!)

Together with the holy Christian Church we pray with this collect: Lord, purify our hearts that they may be worthy to become your dwelling place. Let us never fail to find room for you, but come and abide with us that we also may abide in you, for you were born into the world for us and now live and reign, King of kings and Lord of lords, for evermore. Amen.

And with the Lutheran Church we sing:

Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high,
Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai’s height
In ancient times gave holy law,
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come O Rod of Jesse’s stem,
From ev’ry foe deliver them
That trust your mighty pow’r to save;
Bring them in vict’ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav’nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high,
And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease,
And be yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to you, O Israel!

Hymn # 31 from Lutheran Worship
Author: French Processional
Tune: Veni Emmanuel
1st Published in: 1854

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)

 

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3rd Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 10, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

God’s holy Word for the third Sunday in Advent:

Watchword: “Prepare ye the way of the Lord, for behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand.” (Isaiah 40:3.10)

The 85th Psalm for this 3rd Sunday in Advent: Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. Wilt thou be angry with us forever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation. I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. Yea, the Lord shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

The Old Testament reading is from his prophet Isaiah 40:1-8 (9-11)

Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.

Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the Lord bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

O Zion, that bringest good tidings, get thee up into the high mountain; O Jerusalem, that bringest good tidings, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God!

Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.

The holy Epistle is from the apostle Saint Paul  in the 4th chapter 1-5 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man’s judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

The holy Gospel accoording to the evangelist St. Matthew chapter 11:2-6 (7-10) Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Sermon text is from the evangelist Saint Luke the 3rd chapter: Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene, Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins; As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Then said he to the multitude that came forth to be baptized of him, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: every tree therefore which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

And the people asked him, saying, What shall we do then? He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise. Then came also publicans to be baptized, and said unto him, Master, what shall we do? And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you. And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

The liturgical colour is violet. (Or blue!)

Together with the holy Christian Church we pray with this collect: LORD Jesus, our Light and our Salvation, you alone are the one who was to come to save us. We thank you for your coming and for your will to perform in us again your saving work. Rule us by your Holy Spirit, that henceforth we may wait for none other and put our trust in nothing in heaven or earth except you alone, our Lord, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever one God, world without end. 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)

 

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Posted on December 5, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Warum willst du draußen stehen,
du Gesegneter des Herrn?
Laß dir bei mir einzugehen
wohlgefallen, du mein Stern!
Du mein Jesus, meine Freud,
Helfer in der rechten Zeit,
hilf, o Heiland, meinem Herzen,
von den Wunden, die mich schmerzen.

Will ich denn mein Elend lindern
und erleichtern meine Not
bei der Welt und ihren Kindern,
fall ich nur in neue Not:
da ist Trost, der mich betrübt,
Freude, die mein Unglück liebt,
Helfer, die mir Herzleid machen,
gute Freunde, die mein lachen.

In der Welt ist alles nichtig,
nichts ist, das nicht kraftlos wär.
Hab ich Hoheit, die ist flüchtig;
Hab ich Reichtum, was ists mehr
als ein Stücklein armer Erd?
Hab ich Lust, was ist sie wert?
was ists, das mich heut erfreuet,
das mich morgen nicht gereuet?

Aller Trost und alle Freude
ruht in dir, Herr Jesus Christ:
dein Erfreuen ist die Weide,
da man immer fröhlich ist.
Leuchte mir, o Freudenlicht,
ehe mir mein Herze bricht,
laß mich, Herr, an dir erquicken,
Jesus, komm, laß dich erblicken.

Freu dich, Herz, du bist erhöret,
jetzo zeucht er bei dir ein;
sein Gang ist zu dir gekehret,
heiß ihn nur willkommen fein
und bereite dich ihm zu,
gib dich ganz zu seiner Ruh,
öffne dein Gemüt und Seele,
klag ihm, was dich drück und quäle.

Was du Böses hast begangen,
das ist alles abgeschafft;
Gottes Liebe nimmt gefangen
deiner Sünden Macht und Kraft.
Christi Sieg behält das Feld,
und was Böses in der Welt
sich will wider dich erregen,
wird zu lauter Glück und Segen.

Alles dient zu deinem Frommen,
was dir bös und schädlich scheint,
weil dich Christus angenommen
und es treulich mit dir meint.
Bleibst du dem nur wieder treu,
ists gewiß und bleibt dabei,
daß du mit den Engeln droben
ihn dort ewig werdest loben.

Paul Gerhardt 1653

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Ihr lieben Christen, freut Euch nun…

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber
1. Ihr lieben Christen, freut euch nun,
bald wird erscheinen Gottes Sohn,
der unser Bruder worden ist,
das ist der lieb Herr Jesus Christ.

2. Der Jüngste Tag ist nun nicht fern.
Komm, Jesu Christe, lieber Herr!
Kein Tag vergeht, wir warten dein
und wollten gern bald bei dir sein.

3. Du treuer Heiland Jesu Christ,
dieweil die Zeit erfüllet ist,
die uns verkündet Daniel,
so komm, lieber Immanuel.

4. Der Teufel brächt uns gern zu Fall
und wollt uns gern verschlingen all;
er tracht’ nach Leib, Seel, Gut und Ehr,
Herr Christ, dem alten Drachen wehr!

5. Ach lieber Herr, eil zum Gericht.
Lass sehn dein herrlich Angesicht,
das Wesen der Dreifaltigkeit.
Das helf uns Gott in Ewigkeit.


(Endzeitlied, Autor: Erasmus Alber (1500 – 1553))

Und hier eine Fassung von Dietrich Buxtehude: Ihr lieben Christen freut Euch nun… 

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Second Sunday in Advent

Posted on December 2, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

God’s holy Word for the Second Sunday in Advent:

Watchword: “Stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luk 21:28 NIV)

From Psalm 80 verses 2-3.18-19: Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth… stir up thy strength, and come and save us. Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved … quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. Turn us again, O Lord God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

 The Old Testament reading from God’s holy prophet Isaiah 63:15-64:3

15 Look down from heaven and see,
from your holy and beautiful[a] habitation.
Where are your zeal and your might?
The stirring of your inner parts and your compassion
are held back from me.
16 For you are our Father,
though Abraham does not know us,
and Israel does not acknowledge us;
you, O Lord, are our Father,
our Redeemer from of old is your name.
17 O Lord, why do you make us wander from your ways
and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?
Return for the sake of your servants,
the tribes of your heritage.
18 Your holy people held possession for a little while;[b]
our adversaries have trampled down your sanctuary.
19 We have become like those over whom you have never ruled,
like those who are not called by your name.

64 Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,
that the mountains might quake at your presence—
2 [c] as when fire kindles brushwood
and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
and that the nations might tremble at your presence!
3 When you did awesome things that we did not look for,
you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

The holy Epistle is by the holy apostle St.James the 5th chapter verses 7-8

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

The holy Gospel accourding to the holy evangelist St. Luke chapter 21:25-33

25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;

26 Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.

27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

29 And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;

30 When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.

31 So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

32 Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.

33 Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.

The liturgical colour is violet (or blue).

Together with the holy Christian Church we pray with this collect: LORD Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way before thee; Grant that the ministers and stewards of thy mysteries may likewise so pre pare and make ready thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, that at thy second coming to judge the world we may be found an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever one God, world without end. 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)

 

 

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Maria durch einen Dornenwald ging…

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

Hier ist das bewegende Adventsliedchen nach eingängiger Volksweise mit alten Instrumenten.

Maria durch ein’ Dornwald ging.
Kyrieleison!
Maria durch ein’ Dornwald ging,
der hatte in sieben Jahr’n kein Laub getragen!
Jesus und Maria.

Was trug Maria unterm Herzen?
Kyrieleison!
Ein kleines Kindlein ohne Schmerzen,
das trug Maria unter ihrem Herzen.
Jesus und Maria.

Da haben die Dornen Rosen getrag’n;
Kyrieleison!
Als das Kindlein durch den Wald getragen,
da haben die Dornen Rosen getragen!
Jesus und Maria.

Wie soll dem Kind sein Name sein?
Kyrieleison!
Der Name, der soll Christus sein,
das war von Anfang der Name sein!
Jesus und Maria.

Wer soll dem Kind sein Täufer sein?
Kyrieleison!
Das soll der Sankt Johannes sein,
der soll dem Kind sein Täufer sein!
Jesus und Maria.

Was kriegt das Kind zum Patengeld?
Kyrieleison!
Den Himmel und die ganze Welt,
das kriegt das Kind zum Patengeld!
Jesus und Maria.

Wer hat erlöst die Welt allein?
Kyrieleison.
Das hat getan das Christkindlein,
das hat erlöst die Welt allein!
Jesus und Maria.

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Nun kommt der Heiden Heiland…

Posted on November 27, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

1

  

Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland,
Der Jungfrauen Kind erkannt!
Dass sich wunder alle Welt,
Gott solch’ Geburt ihm bestellt.

  

Now come, Saviour of the gentiles,
recognised as the child of the Virgin,
so that all the world is amazed
God ordained such a birth for him.

2

  

Nicht von Manns Blut noch von Fleisch, allein von dem Heil’gen Geist Ist Gotts Wort worden ein Mensch Und blüht ein’ Frucht Weibes Fleisch.

  

Not from man’s flesh and blood
but only from the Holy Spirit
has God’s Word became man
and flourishes as the fruit of a woman’s body.

3

  

Der Jungfrau Leib schwanger ward,
Doch blieb Keuschheit rein bewahrt, Leucht hervor manch’ Tugend schön, Gott da war in seinem Thron.

  

The virgin’s body was pregnant,
but her chastity remained pure,
in this way her many virtues shine clearly,
God was there on his throne.

4

  

Er ging aus der Kammer sein,
Dem kön’glichen Saal so rein,
Gott von Art und Mensch ein Held,
Sein’ Weg er zu laufen eilt.

  

He went forth from his chamber,
from the royal palace so pure,
by nature God and man, a hero,
he hastens to run his way.

5

  

Sein Lauf kam vom Vater her
Und kehrt wieder zum Vater,
Fuhr hinunter zu der Höll
Und wieder zu Gottes Stuhl.

  

His course came from the Father
and leads back to the Father,
he went down to Hell
and back to God’s throne.

6

  

“Der du bist dem Vater gleich,
Führ hinaus den Sieg im Fleisch,
Dass dein ewig Gottsgewalt
In uns das krank Fleisch erhalt.

  

You who are equal to the Father,
be victorious in the flesh
so that your eternal divine power
may support our weak flesh.

7

  

Dein Krippe glänzt hell und klar,
Die Nacht gibt ein neu Licht dar,
Dunkel muß nicht kommen drein,
Der Glaub bleibt immer im Schein.”

  

Your crib shines bright and clear,
in the night there is a new light,
darkness must not overpower it,
faith remains always radiant.

8

  

Lob sei Gott dem Vater gtan,
Lob sei Gott sein’m eingen Sohn,
Lob sei Gott dem Heilgen Geist
Immer und in Ewigkeit.

  

Praise be given to God the Father,
praise be to God his only Son;
praise be to god the Holy Ghost
for ever and always.

Hymnus des Bischofs Ambrosius von Mailand + 397 (Veni redemptor gentium), deutsch von Martin Luther 1524.

Hier ist die Bach Kantate (BWV 36) zu diesem Adventslied gesungen vom Thomanerchor (Leipzig) mit  einer Übersicht und hier noch eine Alternative BWV 62 mit entsprechendem Kommentar. 

 

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1st Sunday in Advent: 27.November 2016

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

The watchword for this first Sunday in Advent: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; He is just and having salvation, Lowly and riding on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.“ (Zechariah 9:9 KJV)

The Psalm for this Sunday is 24:7-10

  • Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 
  • Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
  • Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
  • Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.

The readings for the first Sunday in Advent are God’s holy Word from the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah 23:5-8

5 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,

    “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,

a King who will reign wisely

    and do what is just and right in the land.

6 In his days Judah will be saved

    and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called:

    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

7 “So then, the days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’ 8 but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”

The Epistle ist from the apostle St. Paul’s letter to the Romans 13:8-12: 8 Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. 9 The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. 11 And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

The holy Gospel written by the evangelist St. Matthew 21:1-9: And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, 2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. 3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. 4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, 5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass. 6 And the disciples went, and did as Jesus commanded them, 7 And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon. 8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way. 9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.

The liturgical colour is violet (Or blue!)

Together with the Christian Church we pray this collect: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening prevails of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father 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 – the Jews first, but also the pagans.” (Rom 1:16 NIV)

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LTS News 2016,4: Summer update!

Posted on November 24, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber
LTS in Tshwane (Pretoria, South Africa)
Zambian students at LTS in 2016
Rev. M.J. Nkambule

Dear friends of the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane! As our brothers and sisters in the USA celebrate “Thanksgiving”, we here too have lots of reason to sing God’s praises and celebrate his miracles and wonders of grace, peace and mercy for us and our salvation. Most of our Seminarians are now back home and having a well deserved rest from the hard labours of this past academic year 2016. Attached please find the latest LTS News for this year and please do give thanks for all our good Lord and triune God has done for us here at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane. We rest assured, that he will still help in days to come as he has always done in the past and in many new ways too! Here is the LTS News 2016,4: 20164-lts-news-dina4 and here is the link  in Dropbox.

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Sunday of the Fulfilment

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Wilhelm Weber

 

Watchword for the Sunday of Fulfilment is from Luke 12:35: Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning…

God’s holy Word from the prophet Isaiah 65:17-19.23-25 “Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in it no more. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them…  Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.  The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD.

The epistle from Revelation 21:1-7  Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”  He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

The holy Gospel according to the evangelist St. Matthew 25:1-13  “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise.  The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.  “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’  “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’  “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.  “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’  “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’  “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.”

Prayer of the Church for the Sunday of the Fulfilment

O Almighty God, merciful Father, in this present life of sin and suffering, Your holy Church longs for the return of Christ and for the fulfillment of all things in Him. Give us grace to make a good confession, to stand firm in the faith, and to be ever watchful for His coming in power and glory.

Bestow strength and steadfastness on the pastors, evangelists, teachers and missionaries of Your Church, that in these gray and latter days Your little flock, O Lord, may not be abandoned, but nurtured and built up in You so that we may declare the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.

O King of glory, Lord of hosts, in humility Your only-begotten Son stood before governors and kings and was accused unjustly for our sake. Defend the cause of the weak and those who have no voice in our society, particularly the unborn, the poor, and the homeless. Give the government of our nation and our leaders the fortitude to strive for fairness and justice in our land.

O God, with all creation we look in eager expectation for our final redemption, the revelation of Your Son, and the joys of Your heavenly kingdom. Until that time, look in mercy on all who live under the cross. Give patience and hope to the hopeless. Give healing and help to the sick in body, mind, or spirit. Draw near to the dying, hold them in the arms of Your love, and defend them against the final assaults of the evil one. Comfort those who mourn  with the hope of the resurrection of the body to eternal life. Give us faith to see in our crosses that You work all things for our good and that nothing in this world can separate us from Your love that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gracious Father, in the Supper of Your Son You give us a foretaste of the feast of heaven. May all who approach Your Table this day be worthy and well prepared. Give us the food of our Lord’s body and blood, that we may be sustained on our journey through this troubled life until the veil of this present age is lifted and we see You face to face.

We give You most hearty thanks, O Lord, for all the mercies You have shown Your saints on their pilgrimage in this life and who now enjoy the splendor of Your glory. Keep us faithful to the end that one day we may with them come to the fullness of Your heavenly kingdom; where You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign ever one God, world without end. Amen.

 

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