Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 21st April 2013

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

field-of-lily-travelizationThe LORD remembers us and will bless us. (Psalm 115:12 NIV)

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! (Luke 12:28 NIV)

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LÖHE ON 1. PETER 2:25

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

sheepFor you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1Pe 2:25 NIV)
One soul after the other closes its ears to the voice of the hireling and listens more and more to that of the good shepherd. Who of us is still absent from the obedient herd, whose virtue consists in listening and obeying divine instructions? One after the other hears the call of the good shepherd: “I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (Joh 10:14 NIV) and answers with blessed confidence: “My friend is mine and I am his.” When will we have this confidence and good conscience to answer Jesus’ words: “My sheep know me” with blissful joy of the loving bride?
The Church is becoming more and more complete. The number of elect is being fulfilled and is about to be complete. The predestined flock is gathering in fullness around the throne of the lamb. How long will it still take until that crowd that St. John saw standing in awesome wonder will be as God has ordained? Are we going to be part of that or are we going to be missing? Are we going to belong to the enemy, who has been overcome by Christ – and excluded from the heavenly throng never to see the face of Jesus Christ, the good shepherd in eternity although he died for us also? That is a fear that gives way to peace, confidence, joy and bliss only by the grace of the good shepherd himself.
Oh Lord Jesus Christ, merciful saviour, who has said: “You did not choose me, but I chose you!”, convert us, then we are converted. Heal us, then we are healed. Help, then we are indeed helped. Amen.
We did not elect you, but you counted us as your own according to your holy and gracious will. Our strength is weak and failing and nobody is able to do the work if not empowered by you o Lord. Therefore break our futile will and grant insight that poverty is heavenly gain. Whoever despairs in himself puts his trust in you and thus bears your shame in glory. (Albert Knapp, 1798-1864)
This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the second Sunday after Easter: Misericordias Domini. It is found on Pg. 179 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 20th April 2013

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

miracle-sunday-of-the-blind-man-sixth-sunday-of-pascha-03God does great things beyond our understanding. (Job 37:5 NIV)

Jesus said: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me. (Luke 7:22-23 NIV)

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Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Monreale_creation_Eva (1)“Jesus Christ is risen. He is risen indeed!” The Lutheran Order of Service for the third Sunday after Easter (Jubilate) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon written by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN) based on Genesis chapter 1 verses 1-4a.26-31a; 2,1-4a in both isiZulu (wz1324130421 Jubilate) & seTswana (wt1324130421 Jubilate).

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.

I pray you have a very blessed Eastertide and have time to meditate on the watchword for this Sunday Jubilate recorded in the second Epistle of St. Paul in the 5th chapter: If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! (2Co 5:17 NIV)

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

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LCMS publishes study: Immigrants among us

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

immigrantsRead what Dr. Joel Lehenbauer writes about this new publication: “I am pleased to inform you that a new report titled Immigrants Among Us: A Lutheran Framework for Addressing Immigration Issue has recently been issued by The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s Commission on Theology and Church Relations (CTCR).

This report explores theological and practical concerns individual Christian citizens, pastors, church workers, and congregations ought to consider with regard to immigration. The report includes case studies for reflection and discussion and some brief guidelines that provide general parameters for the church’s work.

The report, published in both English and Spanish, is available online at www.lcms.org/ctcr and may be downloaded at no cost or hard copies may be purchased from Concordia Publishing House at www.cph.org or            800-325-3040      ; order #09-2624 (English); order #09-2625 (Spanish). Upon request, our office would be happy to send you a complimentary copy of this report in English, Spanish, or both.

The Commission hopes that this report will be of use to you in some way as you carry out your important ministry in the service of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Sincerely,

Dr. Joel Lehenbauer

Executive Director

Commission on Theology & Church Relations

The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

1333 S. Kirkwood Road

St. Louis, Missouri 63122-7199

Phone:             314-996-1432      

E-mail: Joel.Lehenbauer@lcms.org

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SELK sister seminary starts summer semester 2013

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

LTHHere is what the SELK reports on the opening of its summer semester: Ereignisreiches Sommersemester.

SELK-Hochschule eröffnet Semester-Lehrbetrieb

Oberursel, 18.4.2013 – selk – Mit einem Gottesdienst hat die Lutherische Theologische Hochschule (LThH) der Selbständigen Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (SELK) in Oberursel am Dienstag den Lehrbetrieb für das Sommersemester 2013 aufgenommen. Das akademische Angebot der Fakultät wird durch zahlreiche Lehrbeauftragte bereichert, darunter der bisherige Assistent der LThH, Pfarrer Daniel Schmidt (Oberursel | Praktische Theologie), Jacob Corzine (Oberursel | Systematische Theologie), Rektor Pfarrer Stefan Süß (Guben | Diakonik) und Pfarrer Dr. Peter Söllner (Celle | Neues Testament). Erstmals ergänzt auch die neue Dozentin für Hebräisch, Dr. Walburga Zumboich (Frankfurt am Main), die Stundentafel der LThH, unter anderem mit einer Einführung in das Judentum.

Studierende und Lehrende blicken auf ein ereignisreiches Sommersemester voraus. So wird die LThH mit einem eigenen Stand auf dem 34. Deutschen Evangelischen Kirchentag vom 1. bis zum 5. Mai in Hamburg vertreten sein. Am 7. und 8. Juni lädt Deutschlands kleinste Hochschule interessierte Schülerinnen und Schüler zu einem „Schnupperwochenende Theologie“ ein und am 30. Juni wird die LThH ihr diesjähriges Hochschulfest als „Tag der offenen Tür“ gestalten, zu dem alle Interessierten auf dem Campus im Taunus willkommen sind.

Während an den Universitäten derzeit über Platzmangel in Hörsälen und überlastete Dozenten geklagt wird, herrschen an der LThH weiterhin ideale Studienbedingungen mit einem (fast) sicheren Platz im Studentenwohnheim.

Die LThH ist die theologische Ausbildungsstätte der SELK. Sie bietet den Studiengang Evangelische Theologie an und ist Mitglied im Deutschen Evangelischen Fakultätentag und in der Hochschulrektorenkonferenz.
——————–
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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

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LÖHE ON JOHN 10:16

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

good shepherdJesus says: “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.” (Joh 10:16 NIV)

There is only one shepherd and one flock, but not all sheep are his nor will all become his either. The Lord proclaims the separation of his sheep from the others too loud and clear that we could miss it. Sadly its not even going to be the majority that will be his as the Lord warns: But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Mat 7:14 NIV) See, that is the reason, why we should know, how to become a part of Christ’s flock and also to remain in that blessed herd. It is necessary, yes vital even that we know how to be counted amongst the elected crowd with eternal promise. Our Lord himself answers this so friendly and lovingly that we are baffled that still the road to destruction is so broad and that so many are found on it. He says: I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. How does this one herd come about and how does the good shepherd lead the newly won sheep to the others? They too will listen to my voice! The Shepherd calls and the sheep hear. He talks, they listen. He tells the story of what he has done for us and our salvation. How he gave his live for his sheep and how he gained heaven and eternal life for them, how he reigns now and forever for us and for our salvation. That’s what his story is about. That’s what his sheep hear and believe. His servants repeat this message, they preach and teach the same until they die, but the message continues to ring out, it is immortal and the Lord’s voice is heard throughout the ages until the very end of time. And those who hear and follow his voice, have life. Life depends on this hearing, listening, obeying, trusting, believing. Whoever hears, shall receive life in abundance. Oh, therefore listen to him, follow his guidance and be counted amongst his very own.

Lord Jesus Christ, you have given us your holy word so that we may hear it. Grant that we listen to your voice and obey you and thus be counted amongst your elected herd, that nobody and nothing will snatch from your caring hands. Amen.

Bring those outside in to be part of your small herd; preserve those that are therein and strengthen them by your holy word so that you and yours are united forever in blessed salvation and joy. (Eberhard Ludwig Fischer, 1695-1773)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Friday after the second Sunday after Easter: Misericordias Domini. It is found on Pg. 178 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 19th April 2013

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

blind‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD. (Leviticus 19:14 NIV)

For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. (1. Thessalonians 4:7-8 NIV)

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Missionfestival

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

missionGod willing the Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (LCSA) together with the Mission of Lutheran Churches (MLC) is hosting a mission festival at the Aula of the University of Pretoria on the  4th Sunday after Easter – Cantate (28th April) starting at 9h30.

Directions to the Aula (17) are to be found on this map: Plan_ Hatfieldkampus.20.08.12_1

Entry to the University Campus is by the main entrance in Roper Street only and there is parking freely available at the parking areas marked as H6 and H7 on the map attached.

All guests will be assisted at the main entrance on request.

The preacher of the day is Rev. Christoph Weber (MLC). Please bring along your Lutheran Hymnals to join the singing in English, Zulu, Tswana, German and Afrikaans.

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LÖHE ON MATTHEW 10:38

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Take_Up_Your_CrossAnyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:38 NIV)

We’re living in those forty days that commemorate those joyful forty days when our risen Lord showed himself alive and well to his own. In those forty days our Lord gathered the lost sheep and put his flock together again. There is no picture more fitting of this joyful Easter tide than that of the good Shepherd amongst his own flock in all the glory of his resurrection. Christ and his flock, Christ and the gathering and regrouping of his apostles, Christ the shepherd amongst the slaves. Could we dare say that this Lord Jesus Christ is not ours? That’s insufferable. Could you persist on your own – living on the edges over the precipice of hell? Can you hear the risen Lord call you: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Mat 11:28 NIV) Don’t these words awaken the willingness and even desire to follow our Lord through suffering and cross? Our Lord says to Isaiah: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And he said, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa 6:8 NIV) Today he asks something far lighter and easier: “Whom shall I call?” “Who will follow me?” Who would not answer: “Lead me o my Shepherd, I will follow you, pastor of my soul, have mercy on me and be patient with me! Lead me your way. Guide my on your path. Take me by the hand and lead me on. Wherever I don’t want to go, pull me there. Where I can’t go, carry me on to get me to your destination for me. O would these words burn in our hearts and allow us to live in love and following of our beloved Lord and God.

Mighty helper in the skies: Help us to joyfully live together in your flock, that are with you and grant us the strength to endure the pain, if straying sheep don’t follow your merciful and gracious call. Amen. 

Are we not elect too? Does he not grant all our need and fulfils all our shortcomings? Yes he has called us into his loving care, where we praise him in peace that passes all understanding.

O faithful shepherd and caregiver of your flock – let us never lack your gracious gifts – the treasures of our salvation and sanctification. Lead us on to your green pastures until we see you return in glory and we see your salvation. (Christian Gottlob Barth, 1799-1862)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Thursday after the second Sunday after Easter: Misericordias Domini. It is found on Pg. 177 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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