LÖHE ON 1. PETER 4,9-10

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Abraham and SaraOffer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. (1Pe 4:9-10 NIV)

All I have is to serve your praise – o Lord my God! Your gifts I return with the plea that you may lead and guide me to employ them according to your will and liking and thus to your honor and glory. Since everything comes from you and is also destined to return to you – order and regulate its passage according to your omniscient wisdom.  I am not worthy of any of your plenteous gifts – and yet you have called and placed me as your steward of good, beautiful and pleasing talents in this world and age. Grant me, o Lord my God, the strong will, but also wisdom and strength to do with yours as you deem right, meet and salutary. Let me willingly go about my daily chores and practice as a pleasing sacrifice to your goodness and mercy. If I go about serving my brothers and sisters amongst your people with the good gifts you have bestowed so richly amongst us let me do it as your priest and servant, who loves your people as yourself. And if I go about washing the feet of your beloved pilgrims and offer hospitality to your wandering, migrating and fleeing people here on earth let me go about it without grumbling, but rather as if I was hosting you – o my beloved Lord and master. Let me do it as a pleasing sacrifice magnifying your grace, love and mercy, which has set us truly free. If I cover up the shortcomings, faults and wounds of your people with love for your sake and if I reveal them solely to my brother while concealing them from others then let me do it all as a praise song and glorification of the unique and all efficient sacrifice you made on the cross to cover all our iniquities and to forgive all our sins once and for all. If I give up all excessive desire and chose rather to live temperate, modest and sober finding pleasure in prayer and worship, then let it be acceptable in your sight and help me to dedicate myself entirely to those things, that please you and serve those, who need this service most. Oh my God, grant me to live a life pleasing in your sight. Let me be yours entirely with all I am and have. That makes me both quite poor, yet very rich – as I have given you all, but have received far more with you. I yours – you mine! O Lord, what a wonderful mystery of our lives – what a world of hidden glory and eternal sweetness.

All my life is yours and without you I’m dead. All my joy is in you, without you its just emptiness. All my peace is with you and without you there’s just strife. All my love is yours for without you nothing stays.  

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after the 6th Sunday after Easter: Exaudi. It is found on Pg. 202 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 Monday, the 13th May 2013

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

god is faithfulCorrect me, LORD, but only with justice– not in your anger, lest you reduce me to nothing. (Jeremiah 10:24 NIV)

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.  (1.Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

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LÖHE ON 1. PETER 4,7.11

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

glorified ChristTherefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God…so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. (1Pe 4:7.11 NIV)

All and everything was created to glorify you, o my God. Therefore all creation owes you praise, honor and glory o my Lord. Whoever does not do this, is no better than a thorn bush, which doesn’t bear fruit for him, who created it and continues to preserve him graciously with rain and sunshine.  All creatures were created to honor you their creator. Their being, essence and life is fulfilled in worshipping God as source and goal of all. Therefore all that is in me, praise the Lord my God. My soul praise the Lord, who saved me and has called me to eternal life so that I am already blessed and at peace in you, o my Lord and my God. My body praise you my Lord, who will lay me to rest in the ground to return to dust and ashes, but will also awaken me from the dead at his time and bidding. He will bring me to the glorious completion in the final consummation on his last day. All my members are to serve the Lord and praise him with their doings. My tongue shall sing praises to you o Lord, my God and to do this rightly let me speak such words as are instructed by your most holy word and will. Yes, let all I say be spoken as taught by you – o my teacher, instructor and master Jesus Christ.

God Himself is present: Let us now adore Him And with awe appear before Him. God is in His temple; All within keep silence; Humbly kneel in deepest rev’rence. He alone On His throne Is our God and Saviour; Praise His Name forever!

God himself is present: Hear the harps resounding; See the hosts the throne surrounding. “Holy, Holy, Holy!” Hear the hymn ascending, Songs of saints and angels blending. Bow Your ear To us here: Hear, O Christ, the praises That Your church now raises.

Fount of every blessing, Purify my spirit, Trusting only in Your merit. Like the holy angels, Worshiping before You, May I ceaselessly adore You. Let Your will Ever still Rule Your Church terrestrial As the hosts celestial. (Gerhard Tersteegen 1697-1769 tr Frederick W. Foster 1760-1835)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the 6th Sunday after Easter: Exaudi. It is found on Pg. 201 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 on Sunday, the 12th May 2013

Posted on May 12, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

calvaryHe (the suffering servant) made intercession for the transgressors. (Isaiah 53:12 NIV)

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:33-34 NIV)

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LÖHE ON ZEPHANIAH 3:17

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

christ-the-vine-adjThe LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  (Zep 3:17 NIV)

Fix your eyes on the goal and your hope on the final day of our salvation. The holy saints that have been called and saved by our gracious Lord are brought to victory. We too will receive the joy of eternal fulfillment – even if only after struggle and strive. Therefore let us not give up or tire beforehand. There’s only a little to hold out. Time is running out and our dearly beloved Lord will surely keep us through this little stretch ahead of us still by his enduring patience and mercy. Already the peaceful air from yonder is refreshing us, the joyful hope form beyond is motivating us without fail, the outlook on Christ’s completion and sure help is strengthening and keeping us constantly and vigilantly. Our Lord himself is holding us up as we serve with loving care wherever he has called and appointed us to hold out and persevere. He is the God of hope and peace. He fills us with these his wonderful gifts so that we remain faithful and joyful in the encouragement of the Holy Spirit himself.

Praise and adoration to you, who lives eternally. We praise and thank you for the life you gave us in this our body, mind and soul. We praise and thank you, who was crucified for us and for all you achieved by this vicarious sacrifice and eternal redemption. We praise and thank you Holy Spirit for your gracious gifts, miracles and wonders. Blessed are those, who are called to taste the grace, peace and mercy of our triune God. Amen.

O blessed spring, where Word and sign  Embrace us into Christ the Vine: Here Christ enjoins each one to be A branch of this life-giving Tree.

Through summer heat of youthful years, Uncertain faith, rebellious tears, Sustained by Christ’s infusing rain, The boughs will shout for joy again.

When autumn cools and youth is cold, When limbs their heavy harvest hold, Then through us, warm, the Christ will move With gifts of beauty, wisdom, love.

As winter comes, as winters must, We breathe our last, return to dust; Still held in Christ, our souls take wing And trust the promise of the spring.

Christ, holy Vine, Christ, living Tree, Be praised for this blest mystery: That Word and water thus revive And join us to your Tree of Life. (Susan Palo Cherwien 1993 Augsburg Fortress 1993)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the holiday of Ascension. It is found on Pg. 200 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 Saturday, the 11th May 2013

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

GlockeO land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD! (Jeremiah 22:29 NIV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. (Col 3:16 NIV)

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Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

covenant ark“Jesus Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!” The Lutheran Order of Service for the 6th Sunday after Easter (Exaudi) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon on John 14,15-19 written by brother Rev. Orapeleng Shuping (LC Tsetse, NW) in seTswana (wt1328130512 Eksaudi) and translated by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD into isiZulu (wz1328130512 Eksawudi).

I pray you have a very blessed Sunday and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Sunday before Pentecost. Our Lord Jesus Christ says: “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” (Joh 12:32 NIV)

The liturgical colour is white and the Church continues to rejoices with Hallelujahs, the Magnificat and the Gloria in exelsis.

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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Prayer for Seminary

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Ranaka LC 2011Dear Lord Jesus Christ, after your resurrection you gloriously ascended to the right hand of God to rule victoriously over heaven and earth and to reign forever over all creatures, so that through the Holy Spirit you may make holy, purify, strengthen, and comfort all who believe in you, also distributing to us and all your people life and various gifts and benefits, and shield and protect us together with the whole Church against the devil and sin. We thank and praise you for your gracious reign worldwide and especially for what you have done and continue to do in the Lutheran Church of Southern Africa.

As we celebrate your glorious ascension today, we remember your last mandate and testament you gave to your disciples and your entire Church preceding your coronation and enthronization in heavenly majesty and splendor. You gave to us the ongoing mission mandate to make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

Grant to us that we don’t tire in this enduring mission endeavor, but that we concentrate our will-power, energy and dedication on doing your will faithfully and effectively as good stewards of those wonderful gifts, that you have so richly endowed unto us.  We commit to you and your gracious mercy and love the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria), where over the past decades numerous students from all over the African continent have been nurtured and uplifted in good, practical and meaningful teaching of your holy word and the Lutheran confessions to become Lutheran pastors and lately also deaconesses. You have blessed this undertaking in South Africa to serve small, but growing Lutheran Churches throughout the continent who don’t own Seminaries with excellent programs and dedicated Lutheran teachers. Over a hundred students have been trained here and are now active as pastors throughout the Lutheran Church in Africa. We thank you for these faithful men and also for the open doors and golden opportunities for Lutheran missions in Africa that you have given to your one holy Christian Church. We are so grateful that through friends and supporters of the Seminary you have provided richly, daily and graciously the necessary means, facility and capability to accommodate up to 50 students at a  time with serious academic tuition, solid theological literature, faithful worship, nutritious meals, basic accommodation and sustenance, good company and even travelling allowances.  You have even given us the opportunity of a official partnership with the university of Pretoria to enable our theology students to enroll in accredited programs up to the highest academic levels. We thank and praise you for this wonderful development of our Churches training program and also for those men, who have already achieved their masters degree in this way.

Lord heavenly father, the harvest is great and plentiful, but the workers remain few. Grant in your mercy the necessary means and financial capacity to grant bursaries and scholarships for willing, but needy and poor students from across Africa to be trained as Lutheran pastors and deaconesses. Give enough willing and capable manpower to get the work done, that is needed to keep such an institution up and running in administration, housekeeping, repairs besides the regular teaching, preaching and pastoral care.  Make people willing to serve as short-term volunteers and long-term missionaries to help consolidate, expand and promote your work at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane (Pretoria).

Lord heavenly father we ask you humbly to continue to make people willing to support this your long-term work of training, nurturing, uplifting and empowering students of your Lutheran Church in Africa for the urgent and vital work of pastoral care, preaching and mission outreach in a significant and meaningful way.

Grant us the help of your grace, that as you promised to be with us until the end of the world we will never loose faith in you and your eternal kingdom, where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

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LÖHE ON MARK 16:16

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

baptismWhoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. (Mar 16:16 NIV)

What did the Lord Jesus Christ leave those, whom he left behind when he ascended into heaven? According to the gospel of Saint Mark, we can answer this question as follows: He left them holy Baptism and also gifts of miracles and wonders. That’s his coat – much richer and more potent than the coat of Elijah ever was. Holy Baptism can cover the entire world with God’s peace and blessing. It is wide and big enough and also has a very great promise that it will not cease nor stop granting fountains of living water just as little as all the oceans, rivers and fountains of this world will stop to pour forth precious fluid. They will remain doing so until the end comes.

And the miracles and wonders? They all have this one commonality that they strive to overcome and remove the evil disturbing the godly creation. So the talking in many languages is nothing else than overcoming the evil of Babylonian confusion. All the detrimental consequences and outgrowths of sin and evil must finally disappear and be eradicated by the power of salvation and the blessed cure of holy Baptism. This holy Baptism is the blessed beginning and sanctified start while the miracles and wonders point us to the end, the finalization and completion of all in Jesus Christ. Beginning and end, way and goal, means and purpose are all given and present in him, who has ascended gloriously into the highest heaven and received gifts and graces for his people.

Heavenly Father! You have testified that we are yours in and through holy Baptism. You have also testified that we are to receive your most precious gifts. Therefore we thank and praise you here and eternally. Help us now to spend our lives not only in selfish ways, but rather as befits the disciples and followers of your Son Jesus Christ gifted by your most Holy Spirit. Let us serve you and your Son all of our lives. Amen. (Church Book of Württemberg 1931)

God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ! He, because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price. Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any That brought me salvation free Lasting to eternity!

Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ! I have comfort even stronger: Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice. Should a guilty conscience seize me Since my Baptism did release me In a dear forgiving flood, Sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood!

Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ! Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed. Now that to the font I’ve traveled, All your might has come unraveled, And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!

Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ! When I die, I leave all sadness To inherit paradise! Though I lie in dust and ashes Faith’s assurance brightly flashes: Baptism has the strength divine To make life immortal mine.

There is nothing worth comparing To this lifelong comfort sure! Open-eyed my grave is staring: Even there I’ll sleep secure. Though my flesh awaits its raising, Still my soul continues praising: I am baptized into Christ; I’m a child of paradise! (Erdmann Neumeister 1671-1756 tr Robert E. Voelker 1957)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the holiday of Ascension. It is found on Pg. 199 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 10th May 2013

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

die_gaben_des_geistesGod made the earth by his power; he founded the world by his wisdom and stretched out the heavens by his understanding. (Jeremiah 10:12 NIV)

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3 NIV)

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