Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on April 30, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Joch ist leicht

The Lutheran Order of Service for Cantate (Fourth Sunday after Easter) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana too. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s Word from the Holy Gospel of St. Matthew in the 11 chapter the verses 25-30 written by my brother Rev. Peter C. Weber in isiZulu (wz1526150503Kantate) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1526150503 Kantate) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for Cantate are:

  • Old Testament:       Isaiah 12:1-6
  • The Epistle:            Colossians 3:12-17
  • The Gospel:            St. Matthew 11:25-30
  • Psalm:                    98:1b-4

The liturgical colour is white

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this fourth Sunday after Easter called Cantate: O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things (Psa 98:1 KJV)

A collect for Cantate: O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found;  through the same Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. (LSB Altar Book Pg.895)

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.

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 24th April 2015

Posted on April 24, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. (2Ch 16:9 KJV) I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience. (Rev 2:2 KJV)

Now that’s like watching the news full-time, but not some partisan channel. This is the real thing – world news live 24 hours, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Nothing slips by his attentive eyes. He hears and perceives all and everything – and he never tires of this watching either. Yet it’s not just a passive consuming of the universal proceedings, but he takes an active part in this too. Shewing (showing!) himself strong on behalf of his people, fighting evil and building up his kingdom worldwide.

Reading the verse carefully however shows that he’s biased to those, whose “heart is perfect towards him.” If we remember the other biblical verses, where it mentions God looking down from the heavens and seeing that evil had multiplied excessively on earth and when evaluating all people the realization strikes home, that there is no one, not even one who is righteous, but that they have all sinned and fall short of the glory – perfection, holiness, righteousness and goodness – then this passage is rather disturbing too. That was in the days of Noah, that was the case with Sodom and Gomorrah (not even 10 righteous in that entire city) or even in the case of Ninive. This latter example from the prophet Jonah points us in the other and new direction of the new testament in the sense of the new covenant as we know it from Jeremiah 31:31ff.

Here and according to this new covenant the ever-watchful God – Father, Son and Holy Ghost – forgives the past iniquity and does not count the imperfections against his people, but creates a new heart and grants a new Spirit so his people so that they would trust him alone for their salvation – and not depend on their own holiness, which is able to carry them anywhere anyway. That’s why he forgives Ninive – all its people – and even has mercy on those many animals there too! God not condemning the godless, but rather forgiving, redeeming and accepting him into his very own family and heavenly fatherland. This new covenant and testament is new in comparison with the ancient way of the fathers, which was always the way of the law, do-et-des, do and reap the due reward – the way of all human religions and traditional ways of civil religion and political correctness, earning ones own justification and good standing by doing what is right and forsaking, what is wrong. Roman catholicism and charismatic pentecostalism are still very much caught up in this paradigm – depending on our own sanctity and holiness, achieved by being righteous and doing what is good in the sight of the law.

The new way of godly justification however puts vicarious satisfaction and imputed righteousness in its place. It’s no longer, what I am or what I have done, but rather what Jesus Christ did for me and how he has adopted me and made me his very own – incorporated me into his just and pure life and perfect being, so that it’s no longer me whose alive, but Christ in me. I’m dead to the the old ways, but revitalized in Christ’s new creation and being through faith. It’s not visible, but feasible through God’s very own doing through his means of grace – Word and Sacrament. Through the work of the Holy Spirit he has done this: Calling, enlightening, forgiving and thus keeping in and with Christ our Lord and Saviour. That salvation and sanctification and new creation in the faith is his work and labour. With never ending patience he has carried it through and will bring it to perfection and completion in his own time and according to his own good will.

For Christ’s sake God looks on mankind with favour and mercy. No longer aiming at wiping out humanity, but rather to save and deliver them from evil through the forgiveness of sins and the rich and unfailing deposit of his grace, mercy and peace. Come and taste, how friendly the Lord is. Nobody is put to shame, who trusts in him. Amen.

Scatter the darkness, break the gloom; Sun, reveal an empty tomb Shining with joy for all our sorrows, Hope and peace for all tomorrows, Life uneclipsed by doubt and dread: Christ has risen from the dead!

Bearing the standard from on high As the Lamb of God to die; He who for us, so cruelly treated, Lives again – our foes defeated! Where is your sting, O death and grave? Christ has shown his strength to save!

Banners of triumph, be unfurled! Trumpets, sound throughout the world! Crying and sighs give way to singing; Life from death, our Lord is bringing! Let there begin the jubilee – Christ has gained the victory!                (Hymn by Stephen P. Starke *1955)

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Lutheran Order of service for Jubilate in isiZulu, seTswana and English

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

IX Weinstock

The Lutheran Order of Service for Jubilate (Third Sunday after Easter) is available here in isiZulu, seTswana and English too. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s Word from the Holy Gospel of St. John in the 15 chapter the verses 1-8 in English (we1525150426 Jubilate) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1525150425 Jubilate) and isiZulu (wz1525150425 Jubilate) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for the Sunday of Jubilate are:

  • Old Testament:       Genesis 1:1-4a.26-31a.2,1-4a
  • The Epistle:            1st Letter from St John 5:1-4
  • The Gospel:            St. John 15:1-8
  • Psalm:                    66:5.7-9

The liturgical colour is white

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this week of Jubilate: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2Co 5:17 KJV)

A collect for Jubilate: Almighty God, You show those in error the light of Your truth so that they may return to the way of righteousness. Grant faithfulness to all who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s Church that they may avoid whatever is contrary to their confession and follow all such things as are pleasing to You;  through the same Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. (LSB Altar Book Pg.895)

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.

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Herrenhuter readings for Thursday, the 23rd April 2015

Posted on April 23, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

“The days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isa 60:20 KJV) and “Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.” (Jud 1:21 KJV)

That really is good news and its trustworthy too. Not just a pie in the sky or some utopian speculation, because that’s God’s promise to his people: “The days of thy mourning shall be ended.” (Isa 60:20 KJV)

Now if God did not say that, if that was just a pious dream of some looney guru out in the wilds with the motto: “Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt!” – well, then St. Paul would have been quite right in his evaluation: We would be the most miserable and pitiable of all people. (cf 1.Cor.15:19) Instead the nihilists would be correct in their evaluation that it’s all meaningless, absurd and vain. We could then just follow the ancient ideology of the sophists and just eat and drink, party and be merry for tomorrow we’ll be dead anyway and all will be past and forgotten. Try to tick off your bucket list as fast as you can for time is fleeting and you better make the best of this short life – hurried along and haunted even on the most starry nights by the ever nearing grim reaper.

Now – perhaps you’ve not gone all the way as consequential nihilism – but perhaps you’re very much like those, who lost their loved wife, sister and daughter yesterday and when a friend wanted to pray with them, they refused saying: “Why should be pray? Don’t you know, what happened to her?” Just as the rich man is easily coaxed into forgetting the living God and the coming Judgement, so too poverty, suffering, grief and pain tempts some to give up on God and the faith, that he’s in control and will finally end all mourning, evil and hurt – even if its only in the life to come! – and they despair in disbelief and doubt. Both are evil and we pray the living God would keep us in the true faith and not let us fall into such terrible affliction and desperation of unbelief, doubt and other great shame and vice. “Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory” (Luther’s explanation of the 6th petition of the “Our Father”)

That is why affliction, persecution and wars are so detrimental and terrible. They make it very difficult – yes downright impossible to believe in the goodness of the Lord and our God. As a matter of fact, we even believe that in the best of days “we cannot believe!” In really serious calamity, people can’t just fabricate a sense of meaning and find a way of salvation – otherwise the calamity wouldn’t be so serious. Rather it’s only by God’s goodness and mercy that he calls us and brings us to trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord all the days of our life and even in the deepest misery and hardship. Still this miracle and wonder of our conversion from disbelief, doubt and other great shame and vice to the living and only saving faith in Christ’s salvation from sin, death and devil happens – and we praise God, the only source and fount of hope and trust, for it. He himself through his most holy gospel lets us know, who Jesus Christ came to save sinners, disbelievers and godless people – and bring them back home and to the Father. He does this even today and across the whole world. Even there, where we have given up hope, he plants and grants hope, trust, faith, love and peace.

He has had mercy on us and has indeed loved us so much, that he has actually gone out to find us in the most unlikely places – like he found that castrated African treasurer on the deserted road to Gaza – reading the most holy Word of God in the book of the great prophet Isaiah and had him taught and baptized by the evangelist Philip – so that in the end he went his way joyful and glad: “God’s own child, I gladly say it…” (LSB 594)  Yet it’s not only in the desert, but also in trouble and persecution, where he’s there and keeps the flame of faith burning in his people. Just think of Daniel in exile in Mesopotamia (Iraq/Iran) being flung into the lion’s den. God kept his faith going right there in that most desperate of places. Or think of Joseph being sold as slave and being held captive and as a prisoner in Egypt’s dungeons. Or Jeremiah in the pit being helped by that Africa Ebed Melech. But even in our days the examples are countless – by the very grace, love and mercy of God – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

It is a miracle and wonder that the triune God keeps his congregation and church of poor, miserable sinners in the true faith despite and in the midst of all trouble, suffering, poverty, hardship, death and dying + It’s a great miracle and it’s a great wonder! Faith is and remains a gift from the living God. It’s impossible for us to create, work or even hold on to it. Yet God does this very wonder day in day out through his gospel and most precious sacraments. He promises forgiveness of sins, life and salvation for Christ’s sake and people like you and me believe him. We trust that he’s true and faithful and that he will surely do it. That is why we don’t despair, but hold on to him and his promises, cling to them like a briar stuck in the sheeps fleece: “He will surely do it!” – and finally let us see, what he has for so long promised and preached to us through apostles and prophets of old and finally even through his only begotten Son our beloved Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. He will end the miserable days of our mourning and he will give and grant us eternal life and blessed salvation in his grace and mercy. Amen.

Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad by Paul Gerhardt

Rejoice, my heart, by glad and sing,
A cheerful trust maintain;
For God, the source of everything,
Your portion shall remain.

He is your treasure, he your joy,
Your life and light and Lord,
Your counselor when doubts annoy,
Your shield and great reward.

Why spend the day in blank despair,
In restless thought the night?
And did he not in threatening hour
Turn dreaded ills away?

He only will with patience chide,
His rod falls gently down,
And all your sins he casts aside;
In ocean depth they drown.

His wisdom never plans in vain
Nor falters nor mistakes
All that his counsels may ordain
A happy ending makes.

Upon your lips, then, lay your hand
And trust his guiding love;
Then like a rock your peace shall stand
Here and in heaven above.

Hymn # 424  Lutheran Worship Author: Johann B. Konig
Tune: Ich Singe Dir1st Published in: 1653

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Confessional address by Professor Nordling

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

This morning Professor Dr John Nordling (CTS Ft.Wayne) preached on Saint John’s gospel the 20th chapter during the Confessional service at the Chapel of Saint Timothy (Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane). Here it is for your convenience and edification: John21.15-19. Pastor Mntambo led the liturgy and absolved the congregation, whilst student Nkoskhona  Mkhabela read from the lectionary for today: Exodus 34-35.

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Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 22nd April 2015

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

moses_red_sea

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. (Exodus 14:21 NIV) It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. (Galatians 5:1 NIV)

God does great miracles and wonders. He does this through very earthly means in time and space and with “all people that on earth do dwell”. That’s why its so easy to explain and describe things “as if God was not there” – in a secular and so-called scientific and physical way. Obviously God can do things immediately – without props – and ex nihilo (out of nothing), but we have great difficulty in realising and noticing that, never mind recording and penning it down for prosperity. Most of the time however he works through his creation as useful tools and instruments.

How many attempts have been made to illustrate plausibly the wonderful escape of Israel from the clutches of Pharao? I’m not going to try to mention even but a few. Let’s stick to the account as today’s watchword from Herrenhut. Here the one living God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – lets us know: “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land.”

There you see Moses stretching out his arms as he would be doing time and again in times of trouble and when the living God wanted to save and bless his special, elected and called people, whom he dearly loved, but who were still – or was it not because of their special standing with God?! – under great pressure, in trouble and hard times all the way. Moses lifts his arms over the Rea Sea – as he would do over the battlefield, where Israel was combating the Moabites – and as a pastor even lifts his hands up above the congregation of the faithful believers towards the end of the divine service and sending them out into the world with the mighty and effective mission mandate of the Holy and most Blessed Trinity: “The Lord bless and keep you + The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious unto you + The Lord lift up his countenance upon you + give you peace”

Well, Israel is between a rock and a hard place. The Red Sea is before them and the charging hordes of Pharao are catching up mighty fast from behind. And here is Moses standing hands in the air – not as a sign of giving up, not pulling out his hair either – but rather stretches them out over the deep and roaring seas as if he was inviting us all to give attention: “Just you watch this!” The Lord is going to do great miracles and wonders.

It is as if he is pointing us to him, who can help and calming down the gathered church and congregation, the people of God, placing on them as a blanket and protective balm of divine goodness, mercy and care – the peace of God, which passes all understanding. This peace that calm the chaotic and uncontrollable seas. This peace that can stop the Egyptians in their track. This peace that can protect, keep and guide the Israelites out of greatest danger through the most desolate and forlorn desert right into the promised land. This peace that holds and protects us even in and through the most troubled waters and dire straits, which bears us home even through the most tortuous suffering and temporal death and dying. Well, here the Israelites were not going to die. Here they were to escape, go free and walk tall right through the dry sea-bed. This was written for our benefit. So that we too would realize God’s miracles and wonders. His creative powers by which he like at the very beginning bids the chaos floods to recede and make way for dry land and hospitable abode for men and beast, so he here too bids the waters to make way so that the Israelite people – young and old, men and women, healthy and ill – can pass through unhindered and make their escape from captivity. God made use of the blowing winds by which he can beat up a storm in no time. The stormy blasts do his bidding. Here they don’t wreck havoc and don’t leave a trail of destruction. No, here they practically lay out the red carpet for the Israelites, that they can walk with dry feet across the sea and pass into the safe haven of the lands ahead – into the divine sanctuary God has prepared in the wilderness + for them and their salvation.

And God set them free. That’s his great work of salvation at the beginning of Israel’s history. It’s the pattern of liberation he follows with each of his loved ones, when he rescues us from the clutches of sin, shackles of death and the tortuous prison and slavery of the devil and leads us into the land of the living, where righteousness and holiness abound. He did that with us also – there in Holy Baptism. The chaos floods are domesticated by God’s grace, mercy and favour. They are used to wash us of all sin and iniquity and we are carried through to the other side – the good and pleasant side of God’s people, where peace, justice and freedom reign. Yes, this does happen through suffering and letting go, through death and dying. The old Adam in us drowns for sure – daily – yet the new creation – Christ in us – lives and reigns and brings us to the promised land of everlasting salvation and eternal blessedness – where God’s people live in perfect freedom. Amen.

He’s Risen, He’s Risen by: C. Ferdinand Walther

He’s risen, he’s risen, Christ Jesus, the Lord;
Death’s prison he opened, incarnate, true Word.
Break forth, hosts of heaven, in jubilant song
While earth, sea, and mountain the praises prolong.

The foe was triumphant when on Calvary
The Lord of creation was nailed to the tree.
In Satan’s domain his hosts shouted and jeered,
For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones feared.

But short was their triumph, the Savior arose,
And death, hell, and Satan he vanquished, his foes;
The conquering Lord lifts his banner on high.
He lives, yes, he lives, and will nevermore die.

Oh, where is your sting, death? We fear you no more;
Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden’s door.
For all our transgressions his blood does atone;
Redeemed and forgiven, we now are his own.

Then sing your hosannas and raise your glad voice;
Proclaim the blest tidings that all may rejoice.
Laud, honor, and praise to the Lamb that was slain;
In glory he reigns, yes, and ever shall reign.

Hymn # 138 from Lutheran Worship Author: C. Ferdinand Walther Tune: Walther 1st Published in: 1890

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SELK-INFO: “Martin Luther- Friedensbringer oder Unruhestifter?”

Posted on April 22, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Martin_Luther

“Martin Luther- Friedensbringer oder Unruhestifter?”
SELK: 18. Brunsbrocker Abend

Kirchlinteln-Brunsbrock, 21.4.2015 – selk – Im Hinblick auf das Reformationsgedenken im Jahr 2017 war am 14. April Prof. Dr. Christoph Barnbrock, Dozent an der Lutherischen Theologischen Hochschule Oberursel der Selbständigen Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (SELK), zu einem Vortragsabend unter dem Titel “Martin Luther – Friedensbringer oder Unruhestifter?” zu Gast im Müllerhaus in Kirchlinteln-Brunsbrock eingeladen. Rund 40 Besucherinnen und Besucher nahmen an diesem 18. Brunsbrocker Abend der örtlichen St. Matthäus-Gemeinde der SELK teil.

In seinem Vortrag, an den sich eine von SELK-Ortspfarrer Andreas Otto geleitete lebendige Aussprache anschloss, beleuchtete Barnbrock sowohl problematische Aspekte im Werk und Wirken Martin Luthers als auch dasjenige, was sich an bedeutsamen Weichenstellungen bis heute zu berücksichtigen lohnt.

Nach einer Überlegung, ob 2017 ein “Reformationsjubiläum” oder ein “Reformationsgedenken” zu feiern sei, begann der Referent mit einem Überblick über Luthers Leben. Er betonte, dass der Reformator zu allen Zeiten sehr unterschiedlich wahrgenommen worden sei und dass dies bis heute so geblieben sei. Dabei sei es Luther nie darum gegangen, eine neue Kirche zu gründen.

Sehr polemisch konnte Luther werden mit Worten wie “Antichrist” für den Papst. Er hatte keine Toleranz für Andersgläubige wie die “Wiedertäufer”. Aber letztlich sei er sich auch dessen bewusst gewesen, dass “solch elende Leute, nicht ermordet, sondern einen jeglichen glauben lassen, was er wollte; er würde schon die Strafe in Gottes Gericht bekommen.” Eine Aussage Luthers, die verdeutlichen soll, dass es letztlich nicht menschliche Sache ist zu richten, sondern dass Gott das Urteil spricht. Barnbrock betonte dabei, dass diese harten Äußerungen Luthers auch einer anderen Diskussionskultur geschuldet seien, da man im 16. Jahrhundert anders debattiert habe, als heute. Immer war es für Luther wichtig, dass Christus und sein Wort im Mittelpunkt standen.

Sodann schnitt Barnbrock einige konfliktträchtige Themen aus der Zeit Luthers an. Gerade dessen Aussagen in Bezug auf die Bauernkriege des 16. Jahrhunderts oder aber das Verhältnis zum Judentum stellen den Reformator immer wieder in ein schlechtes Licht. Barnbrock versuchte dabei nicht, Martin Luther zu verteidigen, zeigte aber immer wieder auf, was ihn damals in seiner Meinung bewegt habe und machte so die Denkweise Luthers verständlich.

So verdeutlichte der Referent beispielsweise im Zusammenhang der Bauernkriege, dass Luther vor allem von der Sorge bewegt gewesen sei, dass das Wort Gottes nicht weitergetragen werden würde, wenn die Situation zwischen den Freiheitskämpfern um Thomas Müntzer, die den Machtmissbrauch der Fürsten kritisierten, und den politischen Herrschern zu eskalieren drohte. Das war der Grund für Luther, die Fürsten zur Niederschlagung des Konflikts aufzufordern, dessen blutigen Ausgang und Ende er so auch nicht habe gutheißen können.

Meinungen, nach denen Luther auch dem Antisemitismus des Naziterrors den Weg bereitet hätte, erklärte Barnbrock eine klare Absage. Es sei dem Reformator stets um religiöse Konflikte und nicht um die “Rasse-Konflikte” gegangen. Das werde unter anderem dadurch deutlich, dass Luther davon rede, dass “Jesus ein geborener Jude” sei. Jüdische Gelehrte halfen ihm bei der Übersetzung des Alten Testamentes. Immer habe Luther dabei das Ziel im Blick gehabt, dass sich die Juden für eine reformatorische Kirche gewinnen lassen würden. Als das allerdings nicht geschehen sei, habe er auch aus Wut eine zunehmend antijudaistische Position bezogen, allerdings keine antisemitische.

Zum Schluss spannte Barnbrock einen Bogen zur heutigen Zeit und stellte die Frage, ob und inwiefern die Fragen Luthers auch heute noch aktuell seien. Dass die Hauptfrage Luthers nach einem gnädigen Gott heute kaum noch gestellt werde, höre man immer wieder, so der Praktische Theologe. Heute frage man sich eher: “Wie stehe ich vor anderen da? Ich will nicht gerecht werden, sondern mich nicht schämen müssen!” Dennoch tauche die Frage nach Schuld und Verantwortung immer wieder auf. Als aktuelles Beispiel verwies er auf den Absturz der German-Wings-Maschine in den französischen Alpen. Dort werde keineswegs gesagt “Sowas passiert eben”, sondern es werde nach Schuld und nach Schuldigen gesucht. Der Gedanke, dass jeder sich für seine Taten einmal werde verantworten müssen, komme heute noch genauso auf wie schon zu Zeiten Luthers.

Dabei könne es allerdings nicht darum gehen, Luther als Denkmal oder als Museum statisch zu betrachten, sondern vielmehr das zu tun, was ihm selbst am Herzen lag: Seine Thesen auch heute ins Gespräch zu bringen.

Die Vergebung und Liebe Gottes sei Luthers Herzensanliegen gewesen und müsse auch heute verkündet werden. Dabei seien Kirche und Gesellschaft aber nicht zwei voneinander unabhängige Größen, sondern bedingten einander. Der Christ lebe seinen Glauben auch im Alltag und trage hier seine Verantwortung, in einem jeden “Be-Ruf”, in den er von Gott gestellt sei. Dies sei Luther sehr wichtig gewesen, sodass er einmal festgehalten habe: “Windelwechseln ist frommer als Mönchsein.”

“Brunsbrocker Abende” gibt es als öffentliche Veranstaltungen der örtlichen
SELK-Gemeinde seit 2009. “Die Abende im Müllerhaus sollen Raum geben, um
über brennende Fragen in Kirche und Gesellschaft ins Gespräch zu kommen und
neue Ideen zu bekommen, was Christsein eigentlich ausmacht und wie der
Glaube mein öffentliches Handeln prägen kann”, heißt es in einer Darstellung
der Gemeinde.

Es war der 18. Brunsbrocker Abend insgesamt und zugleich der zweite Abend zum Thema “Luther”. Nach der Sommerpause soll die Reihe fortgesetzt werden und Themen aus der Reformationszeit näher beleuchtet werden.
——————–
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selk_news werden herausgegeben von der Kirchenleitung
der Selbständigen Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (SELK),
Schopenhauerstraße 7, 30625 Hannover,
Tel. +49-511-557808 – Fax +49-511-551588,
E-Mail selk@selk.de
—> Informationen aus Kirche und Gemeinden in Wort und Bild
auch unter “SELK-Aktuell” auf http://www.selk.de

© SELK 2015
Um den Newsletter zu verlassen, schreiben Sie eine Mail an:
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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 21st April 2015

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus stills the storm

Then Job answered the LORD: “I am unworthy– how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.” (Job 40:3-4 NIV) and “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luk 11:1 NIV)

Reading post-graduate student Eric Gboto’s account of the recent killing of Mozambican Sithole left me speechless. The horrific calamity of cold-blooded murder in broad daylight and getting away with it, leaves me shell-shocked. Similarly the stories floating in the net over the weekend of those Christian migrants, who while hoping to make it to the promised other side of the Mediterranean get thrown out of the boat by their muslim counterparts to drown desperately. Their dreams cut short just as they were about to realize them. Similar stories chase each other on the web – one worse than the other – and I’ve hardly time to digest one before the other is piled on. Calamity upon calamity and an end to this terrible sequence is nowhere in sight. On the contrary, it seems as if terrorists and other extremist populists are aiming at just that – spreading terror, horror and dread to prevent peaceful and grateful life in which we can joyfully join in the theme of this week: “Misericordias Domini plena est terra!” (The earth is full of God’s goodness, mercy and kindness!)

This stunned silence is not so different from that, which overwhelms us when loved ones suffer and die, when we bury young mothers and stand at their open graves with grieving husbands and desolate children. Job went through the darkest affliction himself. Losing children, livelihood, good health and so much more. His friends blamed him for all that. His wife advised to forsake God and die. Dire straits for sure. Yet instead of blaming God, he did not forget, who God was and what he was in the sight of God. Although he complained, argued and even accused God, he reprimanded himself saying: “I am unworthy– how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth.” There are lots of things to say, but who are we to judge God? It’s just not right. We can ask questions. We can lament. We can cry out in despair. Yet, God as God is above reproach. He is righteous and just and he will finally judge and adjudicate rightly. At that time all we see him in his glory and all knees will bow before him – even those, who here cursed him and persecuted and martyred his very own – and all tongues will confess that he is Lord of Lords and King of kings – the one true God of all.

In face of all unrighteousness and hideous evil in these dark latter days, we want to shout out in anger, revulsion or despair. Yet following Job’s lead it might be most conducive if we shut our mouth and learn to be quiet. Or and that is the cue of today’s teaching text we could approach our Lord and ask him to give us the right words and things to think and say in these desperate situations: “Lord, teach us to pray!”

The Psalms of lament give us words to say the unspeakable. The Church pleads regularly: Kyrie eleison + Christe eleison + Kyrie eleison + Dear Father in heaven … deliver us from all evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen!

And our Lord has made the wonderful promise that he will hear us in all our need. He will rescue and save us. He will help and heal us. He will finally bring us home and let us live with him in blessed peace and quietness even – for ever and ever. Even if we can’t see it now. Even if we think, it’s all over and out. He lives and reigns in eternity. This is most certainly true.

That hope and sure conviction teaches us to not despair even in the sight of death, sin and all evil in this world – and speak out about God’s goodness and mercy, which fills all the earth and makes our cup overflow. So we sing even at the open graves. Songs of victory and overcoming – hymns, carols and spiritual songs. The Church has a whole treasure trove full of them. Words with which the Holy Spirit empowered the militant, suffering and struggling Church to articulate its tormenting experience here on earth. Just think of Paul Gerhard’s treasury. Those songs were penned down in the wars devastating and destroying German lands and people for more than 30 years. Hymns and words, which still teach us to pray even today. Taught by the Holy Spirit and instructed by His comfort and the true faith Christians can even bless those, who curse and persecute them, they can give up retaliation and even thoughts of revenge and retribution for they know and believe and trust that God is judge and he will make everything serve to our best. He does not deal with us as we deserve, but rather according to his goodness and mercy forgiving sins and healing our diseases.

Let us pray for this continent and all its people, that they might come to salvation through faith in the triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – and be brought to the knowledge of truth, that was brought to light by Jesus Christ our Lord and saviour through the gospel of his suffering and dying on the cross, furthermore through his victorious resurrection from the dead and his overcoming sin, death and devil once and for all: Lord have mercy and grant us your peace that is higher than all understanding. Amen.

O God, forsake me not!

Your gracious presence lend me;
Oh, lead your helpless child;
Your Holy Spirit send me
That I my course may run.
Be you my light, my lot,
My staff, my rock, my shield.
O God, forsake me not!

O God, forsake me not!
Take not your Spirit from me;
Do not allow the night
Of sin to overcome me.
Increase my feeble faith,
Which you yourself have wrought.
Be you my strength and power.
O God, forsake me not!

O God, forsake me not!
Lord, hear my supplication!
In every evil hour
Help me resist temptation;
And when the prince of hell
My conscience seeks to blot,
Be then not far from me.
O God, forsake me not!

O God, forsake me not!
My heart your grace addressing,
O Father, God of love,
Grant me your heavenly blessing
To do when duty calls
Whatever you allot,
To do what pleased you.
O God, forsake me not!

O God, forsake me not!
Lord, I am your forever.
The true faith grant to me;
Grant that I leave you never.
Grant me a blessed end
When my good fight is fought;
Help me in life and death.
O God, forsake me not!

Hymn # 372 from Lutheran Worship Author: Solomon Franck

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Misericordias Domini plena est terra

Posted on April 21, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Here’s yesterday’s sermon preached in the LTS chapel of St.Timothy: 2015.4.20 Matins Misericordias Domini plena est terra

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Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 18th April 2015

Posted on April 18, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

minor prophets

The Lord said to Moses: “Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.” (Exodus 4:12)

But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: And ye also shall bear witness, because ye have been with me from the beginning. (John 15:26-27)

It’s remarkable that both Moses and St. Paul were not adept speakers in their own evaluation and that of their hearers. Still the living God called them and made them into the most eloquent witnesses of his will and doing. Moses becomes the greatest of all prophets before Jesus and St. Paul the most published apostle and missionary after Jesus. Both have had the most remarkable impact and influence on the Church – even as they themselves confess that their speech and presence is far from convincing. The effective cause of this is God himself is with the “mouth of Moses” and he himself  “teaches him, what to say!” Just as our Lord Jesus Christ empowers this servant St. Paul through his revelation at his conversion and calling on the road to Damascus. So the entire Church is built on the testimony and witness of the apostles and prophets, where Jesus Christ is the one and only corner-stone.

That’s God’s doing. He calls his people and makes them speak his message and be his faithful witnesses. So most importantly is the actual faithfulness to the original message and the truthfulness of the witness. Not innovation firstly nor the entertainment factor, not so much rhetorics, but rather reliability, stability, facticity and veracity of the apostolic and prophetic message – just as the Schaliach institue would have us expect from those, who are ambassadors, messengers and witnesses of their Lord and God, Jesus Christ, who also expects his Church to make disciples of all nations by teaching them “all that I have entrusted to you” (cf. Mt.28:18ff) For this reason Jesus can say: “Whoever hears you, hears me – and who despises you, despises me and him, who sent me…” And that is why somebody, who comes to a Lutheran Church or attends a Lutheran divine service should be able to expect to hear and experience, what is indeed Lutheran – and not some  kind of obscure or strange message. God’s word should indeed be that – and not some compilation of ideology, philosophy and popular culture. Just as his sacraments should  indeed be in accord with his original instution or else they would loose all relevance and authenticity – and have no divine cause and salvific effect whatsoever.

That is why Wilhelm Loehe stresses the point, that God has entrusted his Church with his saving message of divine truth and life giving treasures from the very beginning. There are not big surprises or new revelations to be expected. Nothing out of the ordinary or unheard of. Nothing like papal infallibility or mariological sinlessness or cooperation in salvation. Nothing like the “Toronto Blessing” (horribile dictu!) or “Prosperity Christianity” (even more dreadful fallacy and terrible delusion!) either. Rather the Holy Spirit and Comforter of God’s people throughout the Ages does the one thing – namely pointing us to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, reminding us of everything he has taught and endeared to us, confirming the divine promises and strengthening our hope and trust in the triune God’s faithfulness. Through this gracious action of our God he calls, keeps and ties us to Jesus Christ, so that we remain in him and he in us. So much so that we sing his praises, testify his truth and are his witnesses where and when it pleases him in exactly that place and service to which he has called us by his omniscient and omnipotent goodness and mercy.

It’s what we together with all ecumenical Christendom do with the triune Creed – the Apostolic Creed, the Nicene Creed and also the Athanasian Creed. It’s what we do, when we read and confess the gospel truth with the readings from the Bible, both the Old and the New Testament declaring, preaching, confessing and teaching publically and for all the world to hear, what our God wants and what he has done for us and our salvation. Or as St. John writes: “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (20:30-31). We should expect that Christ’s witnesses are indeed sharing his testimony and message faithfully and not something else.

Obviously that is written only summarizes God’s doing and is by now means exhaustive. Yet you have to start somewhere. That is why it’s good to start with the 10 commandments or with the “Our Father” as the Christian Catechism teaches us and our children the main parts of the holy and only saving faith like it did our fathers and their fathers. It – like all theology, scripture and godly truth – is but emphasizing God’s will and promise in unison even though in different parts, times and spaces, yet all in great harmony of the one big story which is then also enacted and made real in the practice of the Order of the Divine Service in word and sacrament, in admonition and forgiveness, in prayer, song and worship too. Even after a long and fulfilled life of Christian living, we will have all reason to confess with Luther, that we remain beggars after all, but that our Lord continues to fill our hands and mouths, our hearts and lives with his most abundant grace and goodness so that we lack nothing at all. Our cup truly overflows and we’ll stay in the house of the Lord always. For he is good and his mercy remains for ever. Amen.

1.Thy strong Word did cleave the darkness;
At thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank Thee
While thine ordered seasons run
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia without end!

2. Lo, on those who dwelt in darkness,
Dark as night and deep as death,
Broke the light of thy salvation,
Breathed thine own life-giving breath.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia without end!

3. Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous;
Bright with thine own holiness,
Glorious now, we press toward glory,
And our lives our hopes confess.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise to thee who light dost send!
Alleluia without end!

4. Give us lips to sing thy glory,
Tongues thy mercy to proclaim,
Throats to shout the hope that fills us,
Mouths to speak thy holy name.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
May the light which thou dost send,
Fill our songs with alleluias,
Alleluias without end!

5. God the Father, light-creator,
To Thee laud and honor be.
To Thee, Light from Light begotten,
Praise be sung eternally.
Holy Spirit, light-revealer,
Glory, glory be to Thee.
Mortals, angels, now and ever
Praise the Holy Trinity!

Martin H. Franzmann (1907-1976)

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