Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Codex_Aureus_-_Healing_Of_The_ParalyticThe Lutheran Order of Service for this years 19th Sunday after the high holiday of the most holy Trinity is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on God’s holy word from the gospel of the apostle St. John in the 5th chapter verses 1-16 by in isiZulu (wt1349131006 n Tr 19) by Rev. J.T. Nkambule (LC Ncotshane, MP)and another one by  Rev. Mkhabela (LC Gamalakhe, KZN) translated as usual into seTswana (wt1349131006 n Tr 19) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

The readings for this Sunday are:

Old Testament:       Exodus 34, 4-10

The Epistle:            Ephesians 4, 22-32

The Gospel:            Mark 2, 1-12

The liturgical colour is green.

The collect: O almighty and most merciful God, of Thy bountiful goodness keep us, we beseech Thee, from all things that may hurt us, that we, being ready, both in body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish those things that Thou wouldst have done; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Spirit now and forever. Amen. (The Lutheran Hymnal Pg. 80)

May you have a very blessed weekend and have time to meditate on the watchword for the Sunday: Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved (Jer 17:14 NIV) – and 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 purely and his promises faithfully! 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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Löhe on 1.Corinthians 1:8

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

last-judgement-giotto-di-bondoneHe will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 1:8 NIV)

The Church in Corinth was rich in spiritual gifts and blessings. Their joy was to be complete and fulfilled at the return of their Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Could this joyful anticipation be lost? Or is our spiritual condition such, that we face no danger of loss or disruption of such hopeful expectation? Is not even our most ardent hope in danger of withering like the green pastures that receive no rain or invigorating dew? Off course these are just rhetorical questions. That is why even the most blessed and happy Christian takes good care to confirm and solidify his gracious calling. Everybody who has not reached the final destination can fall victim to fear and anxiety, despair and loss of faith. That is why we seek further and look for the wonderful gift of permanence and endurance. This coincides entirely with the endurance of our ongoing repentance, faith and sanctification and therefore on our spiritual condition by God’s grace and calling. As we look forward to his glorious coming, we also focus on him as the author and perfector of our faith – throughout the various stages of our life as we move closer and closer to him and our final destination – meeting him face to face. On his behalf and in his stead the holy Apostle St. Paul comforts and strengthens us and our Christian faith and hope: The triune God will keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Oh merciful Lord, our heavenly God and Father, we humbly pray in the name of our most gracious savior Jesus Christ: Strengthen and keep our weak faith, prevent our hope from fading and strengthen our love for you and all people as we wait for your glorious return to judge the living and the dead. Grant in your goodness that we will be found faithful.  Amen. (Arper-Zillessen)

Preserve your Word, O Savior, To us this latter day, And let your kingdom flourish; Enlarge your Church, we pray. Oh, keep our faith from failing; Keep hope’s bright star aglow. Let nothing from truth turn us While living here below.

Preserve your Word and preaching. The truth that makes us whole, The mirror of your glory, The power that saves the soul. Oh, may this living water, This dew of heavenly grace, Sustain us while here living Until we see your face. (Andreas Gryphius, 1616-1664 tr William J. Schaefer, 1891-1976)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the eighteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 346 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Friday, the 4th October 2013

Posted on October 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Peace makersThose who promote peace have joy. (Pro 12:20 NIV)

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. (Heb 12:14 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Corinthians 1:7

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

ascension 1Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. (1Co 1:7 NIV)

Wherever God’s grace rules, where his Word sounds clearly, his light shines and enlightens and his divine conviction dwells in hearts, minds and lives of people – there you have all the conditions for a prosperous and flourishing life. Even if the holy Apostle does not at this place enumerate or mention the spiritual gifts in detail, he still shows us the way, how this wealth and richness can be achieved. We just need to find grace, word, enlightenment and confirmation. We may well ask if the blessed and well-off Corinthians did not have anything more to wish for. If these Christians are so blessed with spiritual gifts, do they still miss something or desire even more? Yes, there is still something outstanding and that is only to be had in the future. It is not there to grab and enjoy. Without doubt this future will bring to the children of God glory and gratification that will by far outstrip their keenest expectations: as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. (1Co 1:7 NIV) The glorious, triumphant exultation of our Lord at the culmination of all history, time and space is the goal of all apostolic desire and hope. That is the Christian hope as such. This fulfillment is still outstanding. That’s why the Church is still waiting and she still endures tension. Without this the Church would probably slack down and become complacent and downright lazy.  Spiritual wealth and richness without such vitalizing hope and focus can’t keep people quite happy on their own.

Lord and God, our merciful savior Jesus Christ: We are comforted in your blessed promise that you will come soon and bring us sojourners safely home. We are looking forward to seeing you. Bring us from fear to peace and from this ongoing struggle to experience your victory and triumph with you in eternity – for your eternal faithfulness sake.  Amen. (Arper-Zillessen)

Oh, how blest are they whose toils are ended, Who through death have unto God ascended! They have arisen From the cares which keep us still in prison.

Come, 0 Christ, and loose the chains that bind us; Lead us forth and cast this world behind us. With You, th’Anointed, Finds the soul its joy and rest appointed. (LSB 679: Simon Dach, 1605-1659 tr Henry W. Longfellow, 1807-1892)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the eighteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 345 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Thursday, the 3rd October 2013

Posted on October 3, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

tugelaBut let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amo 5:24 NIV)

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Rom 12:21 NIV)

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Das Luther-Zitat aus VELKD-INFO

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Luther - jung„Es gibt aber drei verschiedene Stufen und alle führen zum Himmel … Die erste ist, nicht zu wandeln im Rat der Gottlosen, d. h. kräftigen Widerstand zu leisten, zurückzufliehen und in den Rat der Frommen zu
gehen […] Die zweite Stufe heißt: nicht auf den Weg der Sünder zu treten, d. h. sich nicht seine eigene Gerechtigkeit zu schaffen, sich nicht zu entschuldigen, sich nicht zu rechtfertigen, sich nicht selbst etwas
zuzuschreiben. Sondern vielmehr sich der Gerechtigkeit Gottes zu stellen und sich ihr zu unterwerfen, ein Bekenntnis abzulegen: grundsätzlich sich selbst anzuklagen, sich selbst zu richten, Gott zu rechtfertigen, Dank zu sagen, bereit zu sein zu hören und stille zu sein, der Meinung und der Mahnung anderer nachzugeben. Das heißt auf dem
Wege der Heiligen stehen. Die Heiligen „stehen“ nämlich, weil sie sich auf Demut und Bekenntnis stützen. Die dritte Stufe besteht darin, nicht Böses zu lehren (d. h. nach Kräften gute Dinge zu lehren).“
Das Zitat bezieht sich auf Psalm 1, 6: „Denn der Herr kennt den Weg der
Gerechten, aber der Gottlosen Werk vergeht.“ und ist entnommen aus: Martin Luther: Erste Vorlesungen über die Psalmen (1513/1515). Gesammelte Werke, hrsg. von Kurt Aland, S. 297-298. Vandenhoeck und Ruprecht, Göttingen,
und Directmedia Publishing.
• Martin Luther schreibt seine Auslegung zum Psalm 1 im Jahre 1513. Dies ist einer der frühen zusammenhängenden Texte, die uns vom Reformator
überliefert sind, und in diesem Jahr genau 500 Jahre zurückliegt. Damit legt es sich auch nahe, seine Auslegung zu Psalm 1 in einen Zusammenhang mit der Dekade „Luther 2017 – 500 Jahre Reformation“ zu bringen.
• Die drei Stufen zum Himmel entsprechen drei Aspekten ein- und derselben Bewegung: Sie negieren gängige Schemata des Glaubens und Verhaltens und eröffnen damit einen zunächst unvermessenen Bereich alternativer Möglichkeiten. Die Deutung Luthers nimmt die Logik eines
Entweder-oder des Palms auf.
• Als erste Stufe empfiehlt Luther unter anderem „Widerstand zu leisten“. Darin spiegelt sich ein Verhalten in der Wendung nach außen, ein Schritt gegen die Vereinnahmung oder eine leichtfüßige Stromlinienförmigkeit.
Der erste Schritt dient der Positionierung des eigenen Lebens.
• In der zweiten Stufe stellt Luther die eigene, menschliche Gerechtigkeit gegen die Gerechtigkeit Gottes. Von dorther sind Werke oder Leistungen des Menschen im Hinblick auf seinen Wert vor Gott ausgeschlossen. Der Glaubende ist Glaubender allein durch Gottes Gerechtigkeit. Er deutet
die Weisung in Richtung einer „mystischen“ Bereitschaft zum „Lassen“ und beschreibt damit die Haltung gegenüber Gott.
• Die dritte Stufe schließlich beschreibt die Grundeinstellung gegenüber dem Anderen und kann mit der Auslegung Luthers zum achten Gebot resümiert werden: „Wir sollen Gott fürchten und lieben, dass wir unsern Nächsten nicht belügen, verraten, verleumden oder seinen Ruf verderben, sondern sollen ihn entschuldigen, Gutes von ihm reden und alles zum Besten kehren.“
Dr. Eberhard Blanke (Pressesprecher der VELKD)

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VELKD Update

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

VELKDThe latest VELKD update: http://www.velkd.de/downloads/VELKD-Informationen-Nr_141_download.pdf

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Löhe on 1.Corinthians 1:6

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

fireworksGod is thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. (1Co 1:6 NIV)

Our thoughts and ideas fly to and fro. There is hardly anything fixed or constant in them. The argumentation for this one are the reasons against for the other. Even those things that seemed quite stable and permanent for a while, begin to shake and move after just a short reprieve. In this constant fluctuation and uncertain foundations our soul is constantly endangered to loose all grounding and firm footing. That is why the word is so true: For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace (Heb 13:9 KJV). This is the best we can hope for our friends – that their hearts be established on the firm foundation of God’s truth and conviction of the biblical revelation. If we have the Word of Jesus Christ and still not come to peace and quiet, it is like a hidden bug gnawing away at our heart and causing us radical distress. We won’t find joyful peace until our heart is firmly anchored in Jesus Christ and his blessed salvation. Through faith in him all fear of calamity and death dissipate and all weakness parts. We look into the future, which might look bleak and glum, but his promises assure us of the coming bliss and deliverance. That is the strong confidence the Corinthians share with all Christians. The testimony about Christ resided mightily amongst them just like a firm rock in the gushing sea. This word granted them insight, but also inexpressible joy and the firm conviction that they were well taken care of and that their eternal salvation was in good hands with Jesus Christ – their Lord and God. That is why the apostle St. Paul was so happy and grateful for this gracious blessings amongst his people.

We bow our knees before you oh Lord and God. We bring before you all our sin, care and anxiety, but also our innermost desires and passions. Forgive us all our transgressions and iniquities. Forgive us our sins of haste and oversight. Forgive us were we did not listen to you and our ears were blocked for your gentle admonitions. Remove all guilt and shame from us and our souls as we seek your grace and peace. We thrust all our burdens onto you. Pacify our hearts. Bring to rest our thoughts and wondering ideas. You know what is good for us. You know how to keep us from collapsing and despairing. As our thoughts are in conflict, battling it out in excuses and accusations, while ever at a loss to understand and ground themselves, we plead you to grant us the one thing that is crucial. Give us the fullness of your peace, that the world doesn’t know and can’t give.  Amen. (Arper-Zillessen)

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, it is well, With my soul, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, Let this blest assurance control, That Christ has regarded my helpless estate, And hath she’d His own blood for my soul. Refrain: It is well, it is well, With my soul, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought! My sin, not in part but the whole, It was nailed trough his cross, and I bear it no more, Bless the Lord, bless the Lord, O my soul! Refrain: It is well, it is well, With my soul, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul.

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the eighteenth Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 344 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 2nd October 2013

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

good samaritan3It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. (Pro 14:21 NIV)

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luk 6:36 NIV)

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Löhe on 1.Cor.1:5

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Word-&-sac-poster-edges-copFor in him you have been enriched in every way– with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge– (1Co 1:5 NIV)

Here we witness the spiritual prosperity of this Corinthian congregation and church with which the almighty Lord wanted to surpass the glory and opulence of that famous trading metropolis in the Mediterranean. More than anything else the Corinthians received God’s holy word and with that the doctrine and teaching concerning all vital aspects of the eternal and temporal life. This word granted insight and wisdom and truth. It did not just pass over them like some noise passing while asleep during Church or following some other ideas while switching off during the worship service. No – this word reached the hearts of the hearers. It brought light and insight to their hearts. The divine wisdom brought along Christian wisdom, so that there was ample light, advice and judgment concerning all things in that congregation and church. The Corinthians were not so poor with regards to the Word of God as many of our congregations are today. The devil did not succeed in robbing the good seed of the Word planted with godly sermons, rather the Corinthians were enlightened and filled with the Holy Spirit. That is why the Apostle St. Paul is thanking and praising God. For us on the contrary many find the word of God burdensome and a bit of a plague. Sermons and Christian teachings are endured as tiresome and somewhat of a bother too. On the other hand a lot of idle, vain and worldly chatter and banter are viewed as entertaining and so delightful. The divine Word however is experienced as joyless and cheap. What do we give for the revelation and insight into the divine matters? It’s regarded as useless and even as a handicap for a prosperous and flourishing life in this world. Let us therefore learn from the holy apostle what is truly a more precious treasure than all gold and silver of this world – the Word and knowledge of the Lord, our God.

Almighty, eternal God and Father! You have blessed us so richly and handsomely with all sorts of wholesome and goodly gifts of salvation and eternal life. We plead your gracious goodness and mercy, awake in us gratitude and joy over your fatherly love and preserve for us the truthful use of your holy Word so that it may keep and nurture us in this life in true faith until the coming of your dear Son in glory. Amen. 

God’s Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure. Throughout all generations. (Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig, 1783-1872 tr Ole G. Belsheim, 1861-1925)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Tuesday after the eighteenth  Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 343 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.

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