Herrenhuter readings for Thursday, the 19th February 2015

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Ruth and Boaz

The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust. (Rut 2:12 KJV)

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Eph 2:19 KJV)

In our family the name Ruth is common and very highly respected, favoured and esteemed. Aunts, sisters, nieces bear this honourable name. It stands for faithfulness, loyalty, deep friendship and love.  There are many women, who have shared this name and in their own way bore lifelong witness to the remarkable story about that first Ruth I know way back in the Old Testament of whom Boas gives this memorable testimonial: You have come under the wings of the LORD God of Israel, whom thou hast come to trust.

Ruth – getting married to a refugee, who has fled famine and looked for a better life among foreign people – in exile practically. This included being away from the centre of faith and the temple of the most holy one – the Lord God of Israel. Her husband dies, but Ruth accompanies her mother-in-law back to her homeland, when the time was ripe. I think this does not only speak volumes about Naomi, but also about the deceased husband. Whether he was Mahlon or Chilion – I don’t know – both had gotten married to Orpa and Ruth respectively. Both had died and Ruth, herself a widow as Elimelech had passed away in exile was now left with 2 daughters-in-law. Well, I think that this family must have been great not only at accommodating themselves into the harsh circumstances of fleeing famine and seeking to establish a new home and life far away amongst other people and in new and daunting circumstances, but also in making good friends and getting excellent wives like Orpa and Ruth. The last and most crucial issue however was in my view, that they gave such a compelling witness to the living God of Israel, that Ruth on her part was willing to follow Naomi, leave behind her familiar comfort zone and go live amongst the people of Jehova – trusting his care, providence and good will more than all else she had know so far.

Ruth is not disappointed. She finds a new home, a new husband and becomes by the grace of God and his inscrutable ways – one of the matriarchs and foremothers of our Lord Jesus Christ – one of the great saints of our Church. A women, who was not a Jew, just another poor refugee, but taken good care of by the Father of all and the one, who calls and gathers his children from the ends of the world like a hen calling her chicks to find refuge, comfort and peace under her very wings. God does not forsake those, who trust in him and even if we lose faith, he remains faithful and does, what he has come to do – namely to seek and to find the lost and bring them home – out of exile into the promised land of heaven and paradise. All those, who are baptised and believe in the triune God are “therefore no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God”. That’s how God builds his kingdom, his one holy Christian Church consisting of Jews and those from the heathen nations – calling all and everybody to come in to see and taste, how friendly he – the living God of Israel and the world is. Hallelujah. Amen.

Hail, O Source of Every Blessing by: Basil Woodd (1760-1831)

Hail, O Source of every blessing,
Father of all humankind!
Gentiles now, your grace possessing,
In your courts admission find.
Grateful now we fall before you,
In your Church obtain a place,
See your glory and adore you;
Praise your truth and laud your grace.

Once far off but now invited,
We approach your sacred throne;
In your covenant united,
Reconciled, redeemed, made one.
Now revealed to eastern sages,
See the Star of Mercy shine;
Mystery hid in former ages,
Mystery great of love divine.

Hail, O all inviting Savior!
Gentiles now their offerings bring;
In your temples seek your favor,
Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
May we, body, soul, and spirit,
Live devoted to your praise,
Glorious realms of bliss inherit,
Grateful anthems ever raise!

Hymn # 84 from Lutheran Worship Author: Neues geistreiches Gesangbuch
Tune: O Durchbrecher aller Banden … 1st Published in: 1704

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Ash Wednesday Sermon

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Fastenzeit

This morning Prof. Dr. Werner Klaen (LTH Oberursel i.T.) teaching at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria, South Africa) these weeks also preached on Joel 2:12-19. Here is the sermon in pdf-format: LTSConfession and Absolution_Ash Wednesday_Klaen

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Herrenhuter readings for Ash Wednesday, the 18th February 2015

Posted on February 18, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

cross ashes

Zechariah 4:10 “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”

Matthew 17:22 When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.”

Today is Ash Wednesday. The beginning of lent. Our Lord Jesus Christ instructed his disciples about the course of coming events.  They were filled with grief. They were only looking at the beginning and not at the glorious ending. Who can blame them? Talking about being killed normally ends all our stories and there’s usually nothing after that. No wonder the disciples didn’t hear the last part about the resurrection really. That was news. That was extra-ordinary. That was unheard of.

God’s history could and should have taught them differently than to just look at what was at hand and what we are used to. God’s history of creation and salvation has revealed his knack for doing things out of nothing and way beyond our expectations. The new start after the deluge. The fish rescuing Jona. The wonderful passage through the Red Sea, through the desert and all the way into the promised land. God found means and ways for his people to overcome deportation, exile and creating new beginnings were all hope had vanished and people were ready to despair.

Our Lord Jesus Christ had revealed more of the same. He had proven himself as the one, who could grant life and salvation out in the desert – by preaching, teaching and doing miracles and wonders. He had rescued, healed and brought to life those, that had been written off by common sense and general experience. Now he himself was going to provide the final bit to the divine story of salvation from all oppression and bondage, from evil powers, the craftiness of the devil and even the clutches of death. He would do it vicariously for us and for all mankind. Providing the ancient remedy and antidote for sin and condemnation by giving himself willingly as immaculate, effective and holy redemptive sacrifice once and for all.

“Jesus Christ, true God … and also true man, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death” (Martin Luther: Explanation of the 2nd Article of the Christian Creed in the Small Catechism, LSB 322f)

1 Lord! Who throughout these forty days,
For us didst fast and pray,
Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins,
And close by Thee to stay.

2 As Thou with Satan didst contend,
And didst the victory win,
Oh, give us strength in Thee to fight,
In Thee to conquer sin.

3 As Thou didst hunger bear and thirst,
So teach us, gracious Lord,
To die to self, and chiefly live
By Thy most holy Word.

4 And through these days of penitence,
And through Thy Passion-tide,
Yea, evermore, in life and death,
Jesu! with us abide.

5 Abide with us, that so, this life
Of suffering overpast,
An Easter of unending joy
We may attain at last!

Amen.

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SELK Info: Akademische Aufgaben und “Apartheid”-Aufarbeitung

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Werner Klaen

Prof. Dr. Werner Klän (Photo archive) is expected to arrive this weekend to go about his many duties and tasks in church, mission and training in and around the capital of South Africa. The Read here, what the SELK Info shared about his upcoming visit: Akademische Aufgaben und “Apartheid”-Aufarbeitung – SELK: Werner Klän in Südafrika

Oberursel, 11.2.2015 – selk – Vom 14. bis zum 28. Februar wird Prof. Dr. Werner Klän, Lehrstuhlinhaber für Systematische Theologie an der Lutherischen Theologischen Hochschule Oberursel der Selbständigen Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (SELK) und Außerordentlicher Professor für Kirchengeschichte an der University of Pretoria, dienstlich in Südafrika sein. Er tritt damit in Aufgaben am Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane/Pretoria wieder ein, die er bereits seit 2008 wahrgenommen hat. Hier wird ein Intensivkurs zum Thema “Kirche – Gemeinde – Amt” stattfinden. An der Universität wird er über den Stand der bei ihm anhängigen Doktorarbeiten berichten und die Entwicklung weiterer Perspektiven besprechen.

Im Rahmen des Südafrikaaufenthaltes wird auch eine Sitzung der trilateralen Arbeitsgruppe zum Thema “Apartheid” stattfinden, die von der Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA), der Freien Evangelisch-Lutherischen Synode in Südafrika (FELSISA) und der Lutherischen Kirchenmission der SELK einberufen wurde. Dabei werden erste Zwischenergebnisse der seit drei Jahren laufenden Forschungen und die Planung der weiteren Arbeit besprochen werden. “Auf die Auffrischung der Kontakte und die Vertiefung der bestehenden Verbindungen freue ich mich schon sehr”, so Klän.
——————–
Eine Meldung von selk_news /
Redaktion: SELK – Gesamtkirche /
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 Friday, the 13th February 2015

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus

Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. (1Ch 16:31 KJV)

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Mat 6:13 KJV)

After last nights calamity at the State of the nations address it became clear that there are people out there, who are not happy with the current reign of the president. No question. It’s not just the men and women in red overalls, but rather some in stiff suits and traditional garb too. Opposition is one of the those things, which make any democracy vibrant and autocracies have always tended to become tyrannical and despotic. Dissidents land up in dungeons and other dark and barren places, but that doesn’t really win them over either. Rather their resolve for opposition and revolt becomes even more virulent and catches on throughout the land. It’s happened before and I’m sure it could happen again.

In our bible reading for today the psalmist encourages the cosmos – all creation visible and invisible to rejoice in the rule and reign of the living God: “Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth.” (1Ch 16:31 KJV) It is he, who created heaven and earth, who sustains and preserves his very good creation, so that we would have a safe and peaceful abode, where righteousness thrives and justice flourishes. Although opposition came up in heaven too – the devil is a fallen angel after all – and even Adam and Eve did not wait long to cast doubt on their perfect and immaculate relationship with their God and maker – the triune God still did not destroy the world as he had threatened to do, if they would transgress his holy command and doubt his good intent. Rather out of pure goodness and fatherly mercy and favour, he keeps and sustains us, grants us his only begotten Son and reopens paradise for us and our salvation.

He, who is God of all and who has all authority in heaven and on earth, rules for our benefit. He lets all and everything work out to our best – even in suffering, strive and conflict.  Now Jesus Christ our Lord, who “ascended into heaven, is sitting at the right hand of God in order to rule and reign forever over all creatures, so that through the Holy Spirit he may make holy, purify, strengthen, and comfort all who believe in him, also distribute to them life and various gifts and benefits, and shield and protect them against the devil and sin.” (CA III,40)

To this we say wholeheartedly “Amen”. We don’t put our trust in princes or any other man, women or creation, but rather only in the living God, who alone is worthy of wholehearted praise and worship. Him we obey, adore and believe in. That is why we invite all to join with us to sing to the true king and Lord: Oh, Worship the King

Oh, worship the King, all glorious above.
Oh, gratefully sing his power and his love;
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days,
Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.

Oh, tell of his might; oh, sing of his grace,
Whose robe is the light, whose canopy space;
His chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
And dark is his path on the wings of the storm.

The earth with its store of wonders untold,
Almighty, your power has founded of old,
Established it fast by a changeless decree,
And round it has cast, like a mantle, the sea.

Your bountiful care what tongue can recite?
It breathes in the air, it shines in the light,
It streams from the hills, it descends to the plain
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain.

Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail,
In you do we trust, nor find you to fail;
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end,
Our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend!

O measureless Might, ineffable Love,
While angels delight to hymn you above.
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays,
With true adoration shall sing to your praise.

Author: Robert Grant (1779-1838)

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Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

jesus jerusalem

The Lutheran Order of Service for Estomihi (Sunday before Lent) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s word from the gospel of St. Mark in the  eight chapter the verses 31-38 written by Pastor Sibongisele E. Sithole (Thekweni, KZN) in isiZulu (wz1514150215 Estomihi) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1514150222 Estomihi) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for Estomihi are:

  • Old Testament:       Amos 5:21-24
  • The Epistle:            1.Corinthians 13:1-13
  • The Gospel:            St. Mark 8:31-38
  • Psalm:                    31:2.6.8-9

The liturgical colour is green.

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for this week of Estomihi: Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. (Luk 18:31 KJV)

A collect for Estomihi: O God, mercifully hear our prayers and having set us free from the bonds of our sins deliver us from every evil;  through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. (LSB Altar Book 865)

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, enthusiasm and 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 12th February 2015

Posted on February 12, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus Baptized by John the Baptist in the River Jordan

Know ye that the LORD he is God (Psa 100:3 KJV)

And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true. (1Jo 5:20 KJV)

That is the first commandment, that we should love, fear and trust God above all things. And there is no nation on this world that is so deplorable, that it has no god. Yet, the crucial thing is that you have the right God and call the living God God and not just any idol or makeshift effigy. That’s the most important issue of our lives. That’s why our Lord Jesus Christ became man, to give this vital understanding of the truth.

In the days of old the prophets proclaimed this living Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They elaborately illustrated, who he was, is and would be. Images of kings, shepherds, priests and high priests, physician, mother, lover, suffering servant, saviour and deliverer abound. The depictions became more and more vivid until the word became flesh in Jesus Christ there in Bethlehem. Then the glory of the Father became visible in this vivid image of the living God: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!” Throughout his life he revealed the Father, so that whoever saw him, saw the Father himself. Since then, we know what God is like. That’s why Jesus has been proclaimed throughout the nations and to the ends of the world, because he alone is the truth, the life and the only way to the Father.  Nobody can come to the Father than through Jesus Christ alone. However whoever believes in him, has the Father and will not die forever, but will live eternally even though he might die temporarily.

That is why even today everywhere on this world the Church is teaching, preaching, instructing and sharing all that Jesus Christ himself taught and revealed to her. Meticulously she sticks to his institutions and carries out his mandates, because they share his truth and life.  His revelation is the foundation of our hope, trust and joyful confidence now and forever. Amen.

  1. Christ our Lord to the Jordan came,
    For thus His Father willed it,
    John’s baptism for Himself to claim,
    And thus the Son fulfilled it.
    Thereby He drew for us a bath,
    To wash us of transgression,
    And drowned He also bitter death,
    Through His own blood and passion;
    A new life thus availeth.
  2. So mark ye well and all perceive
    What God Himself calls Baptism,
    And what a Christian should believe
    Lest heresy deceive him.
    Though lowly water, plain and clear,
    Is His good will and pleasure,
    His holy Word is also here,
    His Spirit without measure;
    He does Himself baptize us.
  3. Such hath He made clear as can be,
    With signs both shown and spoken.
    The Father’s voice was openly
    Heard loud upon the Jordan.
    He said: This Man is My dear Son
    In whom I am delighted.
    I now command you, every one,
    That ye, through Him invited,
    Should follow all His teachings.
  4. The Son of God Himself here stands
    In tender human nature;
    The Holy Ghost on Him descends,
    Clad in a dove’s fair vesture.
    We therefore should not doubt at all,
    When to the font we’re wending,
    That all three Persons us do call,
    To earth in grace descending,
    With us to make their dwelling.
  5. To His disciples spake the Christ:
    Go hence, the whole world teaching,
    The lost, for whom I’ve paid the price,
    Repenting through your preaching.
    He who believes and is baptized
    Shall be thereby most blessèd
    And born anew in heav’nly wise,
    No more by death oppressèd;
    He shall inherit heaven.
  6. He who rejects this gen’rous grace,
    Sin still his soul possesses.
    He is condemned t’eternal death
    Deep in hell’s dark recesses.
    No help is his own holiness,
    His deeds have not availed him,
    Turned by that sin to worthlessness
    Which from his birth assailed him;
    He can’t himself deliver.
  7. The eye doth naught but water see,
    Plain men the water pouring;
    But from this blindness faith is free,
    Christ Jesus’ blood adoring.
    It is for faith a flood of red,
    By Christ’s own blood thus tinted,
    For all our sin and weakness shed
    Which Adam has transmitted,
    And we too have committed.

Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam
Martin Luther, 1541
Tr. composite

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Herrenhuter readings for Wednesday, the 11th February 2015

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

Kathe Kollowitz_1897_The March of the Weavers in Berlin_214x297

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed,
shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126,5-6)

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6,9 )

Being a child and suffering mishap is often a great calamity. It seems as if the trouble is just here to stay and all is going wrong and there’s just no help in sight. Weeping and wailing seems the only thing left to do. Growing older we realise that tears will give way to laughter once again, just as fun and jest alternate with sorrow and being down now and again. It’s the way of life and of growing up learning that.

If however the trouble is just too bad and takes too long, we grow ah so weary and tired of all. Our reserves are running on empty and we are about to give up, faint and pass out and away. I think pastor Paul Gerhard knew something about this. 30 years of ongoing war, gruesome destruction and a degree of desolation and degradation that is hardly imaginable. Losing one wife after the other, burying your own children and even being sent into clerical exile, banished from your pulpit and having to vacate your post. Well, God’s people know hardship that’s for sure. The bible tells one story after the other about this. Something like slavery in Egypt or 40 years migration through the desert lands. It’s not just in modern times, where a life-time behind the iron curtain or even in N.Korean tyranny or some concentration camp (Gulag) has become the most frightening lot of all. Sometimes individuals go through one calamity after the other like the proverbial Job. That’s just so tough and can get anyone to give up hope and despair. Those are such hard times, that people are tempted to just forget about God and doing good. They’re trying to survive by hook or by crook. They are tempted to believe that it’s all up to themselves, that they are left solely to their own devices and that there’s seemingly nothing and nobody out there, caring for them.

Into this situation the Psalmist sings his comforting encouragement and hopeful hymnody: They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126,5-6) It happens again and again. The walls come crashing down. The people escape and are free. The tyrant does die eventually and the despotism finally has and end. The promised land does open up and the people enter in. For God is alive and does reign and finally gives a good ending.  Therefore there is always hope. Relief is on its way. Christ the Lord is coming to judge the living and the end. He is going to make an end to all hardship, suffering, death and dying. He’s going to wipe away all tears and let his people rejoice with gladness and in eternal bliss. His time is coming. Therefore take courage and look up, your salvation is drawing near. Amen.

“If God Himself Be for Me” by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

1. If God Himself be for me,
I may a host defy;
For when I pray, before me
My foes, confounded, fly.
If Christ, my Head and Master,
Befriend me from above,
What foe or what disaster
Can drive me from His love?

2. This I believe, yea, rather,
Of this I make my boast,
That God is my dear Father,
The Friend who loves me most,
And that, whate’er betide me,
My Savior is at hand
Through stormy seas to guide me
And bring me safe to land.

3. I build on this foundation,
That Jesus and His blood
Alone are my salvation,
The true, eternal good.
Without Him all that pleases
Is valueless on earth;
The gifts I owe to Jesus
Alone my love are worth.

4. My Jesus is my Splendor,
My Sun, my Light, alone;
Were He not my Defender
Before God’s awe-full throne,
I never should find favor
And mercy in His sight,
But be destroyed forever
As darkness by the light.

5. He canceled my offenses,
Delivered me from death;
He is the Lord who cleanses
My soul from sin through faith.
In Him I can be cheerful,
Bold, and undaunted aye;
In Him I am not fearful
Of God’s great Judgment Day.

6. Naught, naught, can now condemn me
Nor set my hope aside;
Now hell no more can claim me,
Its fury I deride.
No sentence e’er reproves me,
No ill destroys my peace;
For Christ, my Savior, loves me
And shields me with His grace.

7. His Spirit in me dwelleth,
And o’er my mind He reigns.
All sorrow He dispelleth
And soothes away all pains.
He crowns His work with blessing
And helpeth me to cry,
“My Father!” without ceasing,
To Him who dwells on high.

8. And when my soul is lying
Weak, trembling, and opprest,
He pleads with groans and sighing
That cannot be exprest;
But God’s quick eye discerns them,
Although they give no sound,
And into language turns them
E’en in the heart’s deep ground.

9. To mine His Spirit speaketh
Sweet word of holy cheer,
How God to him that seeketh
For rest is always near
And how He hath erected
A city fair and new,
Where what our faith expected
We evermore shall view.

10. In yonder home doth flourish
My heritage, my lot;
Though here I die and perish,
My heaven shall fail me not.
Though care my life oft saddens
And causeth tears to flow,
The light of Jesus gladdens
And sweetens every woe.

11. Who clings with resolution
To Him whom Satan hates
Must look for persecution;
For him the burden waits
Of mockery, shame, and losses,
Heaped on his blameless head;
A thousand plagues and crosses
Will be his daily bread.

12. From me this is not hidden,
Yet I am not afraid;
I leave my cares, as bidden,
To whom my vows were paid.
Though life and limb it cost me
And everything I won,
Unshaken shall I trust Thee
And cleave to Thee alone.

13. Though earth be rent asunder,
Thou’rt mine eternally;
Not fire nor sword nor thunder
Shall sever me from Thee;
Not hunger, thirst, nor danger,
Not pain nor poverty
Nor mighty princes’ anger
Shall ever hinder me.

14. No angel and no gladness,
No throne, no pomp, no show,
No love, no hate, no sadness,
No pain, no depth of woe,
No scheme of man’s contrivance,
However small or great,
Shall draw me from Thy guidance
Nor from Thee separate.

15. My heart for joy is springing
And can no more be sad,
‘Tis full of mirth and singing,
Sees naught but sunshine glad.
The Sun that cheers my spirit
Is Jesus Christ, my King;
That which I shall inherit
Makes me rejoice and sing.

Hymn #528  The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Rom. 8:31-39 Author: Paul Gerhardt
Translated by Richard Massie, 1857 Titled: Ist Gott fuer mich, so trete
Composer: Melckior Teschner, 1613 Tune: Valet will ich dir geben

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LTS Newsletter

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

LTS Badge

The Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane is out with its first newsletter for 2015.

Read more about our more than ten new students starting with the beginners course this year and student Ashenafi Desta Gonemo’s trip with long-standing director of the Seminary Mr Michael Grosse to the USA this month.

Then there’s two views on vicar Enoch Macben’s shadowing Professor Dr. John Nordling’s Greek Grammar class in CTS Ft.Wayne last fall quarter, a recent Facebook posting by an LTS old boy and also an introduction to one of the new lecturers at LTS: Rev. Karl Boehmer.

Finally there are some building plans in the pipeline and we pray that they’ll be put into action rather sooner than later. Our kind and gracious supporters and faithful friends across the globe are acknowledged and you’ll find some useful links to connect to our Seminary here in Pretoria and ways to even support it actively yourself.

 

Please read and find out more about the LTS in Tshwane here in DIN A4 format: 2015,1 LTS News DINA4 and here also in letter format (USA): 2015,1 LTS News US Letter

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 10th February 2015

Posted on February 10, 2015 by Wilhelm Weber

St. Mary singing Magnificat

I know that the Lord will maintain
The cause of the afflicted,
And justice for the poor. (Psalm 140,13)

Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? (James 2,5)

In a world after the French Revolution, where liberty, equality and fraternity supposedly reign supreme, this might not sound as exiting as I’m sure it did in those days, when poor people had no voice, were exploited beyond measure even unto death and no respite was in sight ever. Into this unfair world of inequality and serfdom, slavery and discrimination God let’s his people know, that he will maintain the cause of the afflicted and grant justice for the poor.

Some of us may be quite disillusioned with the revolutionary realities of our world. Loud proclamations of liberty, equality and fraternity sound from the rooftops, yet bondages of some seem greater than ever before. Real existing socialism was probably the grandest social experiment carried out with the greatest expectations and costing just too much freedom, blood and lives ending up as the greatest failure at least on most counts – one big disappointment and disillusionment leaving even its most staunchest supporters standing ashamed and at a loss. All went wrong and not only in N.Korea, but China, Russia, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Greece. The list just goes on and on.  Yet today even worse perverse fantasies of exploitation, suppression and ruthless tyranny  are hailed as the next level of emancipation. Eat and you will be like God! Inject and you’ll have extra-terrestrial experiences, psychedelic and blue! What blatant perversion of truth and reality! The exact opposite is the case. In the end the revolution gobbles up its own children. The guillotine razes off Robespierre’s crazy head too. The adicts land in rehab at best or in an early grave. Disillusionment all around.

Yet our God and Lord does not make empty promises. He grants deliverance and salvation.  He gives us a wake-up call and invites us to listen closely: “Listen, my beloved brethren” writes St. James and continues to ask rhetorically: “Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?” (James 2,5) The poor Jacob – with just a stone as rest for his head, when he flees empty handed and destitute to work as a migrant worker with his uncle Laban, only to return finally out of exile a wealthy man. The slave Joseph is elevated higher than princes and second only to Pharaoh.

Well, yes – Zacharias sings the Benedictus, Simon and Hannah hold the Messiah in their arms and he sings the lovely Nunc dimittis, while the blessed Virgin and mother of God sings the Magnificat praising the Lord’s doing to her and all the world – especially the poor and downtrodden:

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior; For He has regarded the lowliness of His handmaiden. For behold, from this dayall generations will call me blessed. For the Mighty One has done great things to me,and holy is His name; And His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty away. He has helped his servant Israel in remembrance of his mercy as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.

Jesus Christ preaches the gospel to the poor. They too are heirs of heaven. They are given access to the kingdom of God and the awesome treasures of God, which can’t be stolen, never rust and can’t be eaten by moths either. No bank crash, inflation or tax-man can reduce this treasure ever. It’s paradise regained. The shepherds in Bethlehem beheld it first, but Jesus continued throughout his life granting divine abundance and a foretaste of the great banquet, which will never end. And access is granted by grace through the forgiveness of sins – even to that poor bugger on the cross, who had by worldly standards lost all. In the end he’s promised: “Today you will be with me in paradise!” Amen.

One thing’s needful; Lord, this treasure
Teach me highly to regard;
All else, though it first give pleasure,
Is a yoke that pressed hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving,
No true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
The gain of this one thing all loss can requite,
Can teach me in all things to find true delight.

If you seek this one thing needful,
Turn from all created things.
Turn to Jesus and be heedful
Of the peace and joy he brings.
For where God and man both in one are united,
With love and forgiveness the heart is delighted;
There, there is the worthiest lot and the best,
Where Jesus alone is your joy and your rest.

How were Mary’s thoughts devoted
Her eternal joy to find
As intent each word she noted
At her Savior’s feet reclined!
How kindled her heart, how devout was its feeling
While hearing the wisdom that Christ was revealing!
For Jesus all earthly concerns she forgot
In love and devotion to what Jesus taught.

So my longings, upward tending,
Jesus, rest alone on you.
All my life on you depending,
Teach me what to will and do
Although all the world should forsake and forget you,
In love I would follow, I’ll never desert you.
The words of your teaching, O Lord, are my life,
My joy and my peace in this vain world of strife.

Wisdom’s highest, noblest treasure,
Jesus, is revealed in you
Let me find in you my pleasure,
Make my will and actions true,
Humility there and simplicity reigning.
In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine,
The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.

Therefore you alone, my Savior,
Shall be all in all to me;
Search my heart and my behavior,
Root out all hypocrisy.
Through all my life’s pilgrimage, guard and uphold me,
In loving forgiveness, O Jesus, enfold me.
This one thing is needful, all others are vain;
I count all but loss that I Christ may obtain!

Hymn # 277 from Lutheran Worship “Eins ist Not ach Herr, dies eine...”  by Johann Heinrich Schroeder, 1667-1699 translated by Frances E. Cox, 1812-1897.

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