Herrenhuter readings for Tuesday, the 5th February 2013

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus heals mute and deafI will sing of the LORD’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations. (Psalm 89:1 NIV)

“He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” (Mark 7:37 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Bischof Voigt (SELK) eröffnet Bausteinsammlung 2013

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

BleckmarSammeln für „geistliche Beregnungsanlage“
SELK: Bausteinsammlung 2013 in Bleckmar eröffnet

Bergen-Bleckmar, 4.2.2013 – selk – „Wir sammeln hier für eine ‚geistliche Beregnungsanlage’“, so Bischof Hans-Jörg Voigt (Hannover) in seiner Predigt im Eröffnungsgottesdienst der diesjährigen Bausteinsammlung der Selbständigen Evangelisch-Lutherischen Kirche (SELK) am gestrigen Sonntag in Bleckmar (Kreis Celle). Mit diesem Bild nahm der leitende Geistliche der SELK die Verheißung Gottes aus dem Predigttext zum Sonntag auf: „Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt … und feuchtet die Erde und macht sie fruchtbar …, so soll das Wort, das aus meinem Mund geht, auch sein.“ Deutschland gleiche weithin einem von Regen und Schnee gesättigten Land in Winterstarre, wenn der christliche Glaube immer weniger bezeugt werde. Dabei gebe es „trockene Regionen im Land und im Herzen“: Wenn man etwa die persischen Flüchtlinge ansehe, dann erkenne man in ihren Augen, wie lebenswichtig das Wort Gottes sei. Da habe das Bleckmarer Missionshaus der Lutherischen Kirchenmission (LKM) der SELK als Ausgangspunkt für „geistlichen Regen“ eine unverzichtbare Aufgabe für die Verkündigung des Evangeliums in Deutschland und der Welt.

Der Gottesdienst war Höhepunkt der Eröffnung der diesjährigen Bausteinsammlung, die dem Bleckmarer Missionshaus zugute kommt. Dort sollen die Kapelle und der Gebäudetrakt aus den 20er Jahren des vergangenen Jahrhunderts eine umfassende Wärmedämmung erhalten.

Bei einem Rundgang durch das Haus und über das Gelände erläuterte Missionsdirektor Roger Zieger den zahlreichen Gästen die geplanten Maßnahmen. Bei einem Empfang im Missionshaus hatte zuvor Bischof Voigt die Beauftragte für die Bausteinsammlung der SELK, Gudrun Dammann (Hannover), über ihr Engagement für diese kirchliche Aufgabe interviewt. Die Beauftragte stellte den Wandteppich vor, den sie selbst angefertigt hat und auf dem alle bisherigen Bausteinsammlungen auf je einem „Baustein“ eingetragen sind. In diesem Jahr ist nun ein neuer Eintrag dazugekommen. Außerdem überreichte sie den „Currywurst- Wanderpokal“ aus Berlin: einen Berliner Bären, der eine – für die Bundeshauptstadt so typische – Currywurst auf einem Tablett trägt. Der Hintergrund dieses Geschenks der Wilmersdorfer Gemeinde, für die die Bausteinsammlung 2012 gesammelt worden war, an die LKM ist folgender: Für viele Gäste des Missionshauses, besonders Vikare und Pfarrer, die längere Zeit hier verbrachten, war es Tradition, in Hellbergs Gasthaus zum Currywurstessen einzukehren. Die Erinnerung daran ist noch sehr lebendig, obwohl das Gasthaus inzwischen geschlossen ist. Neben dem Berliner Pokal reichte Gudrun Dammann auch den „Wanderbaustein“ weiter: einen Steinbrocken aus dem Heiligen Land, der an den Ursprung des christlichen Glaubens erinnern soll.

Missionsdirektor Zieger stellte die Mitmach-Aktion der LKM zur Bausteinsammlung vor: „Mission 2030“. Gemeindekreise sollen dabei ihre Ideen einreichen, welche „Bausteine“ zur Mission der Zukunft gehören. Es winken drei Hauptpreise.

„Bausteine“ aus Papier können in jeder Gemeinde der SELK erworben oder direkt bei der LKM bestellt werden. Es gibt sie von in den Werten von 1 bis 20 Euro.
——————–
Ein Bericht 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

Posted in Lutheran World, SELK News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

LÖHE ON 2.CORINTHIANS 11:23

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber
St. Paul - the apostle and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

St. Paul – the apostle and servant of the Lord Jesus Christ

Are they servants of Christ? (I am out of my mind to talk like this.) I am more.  (2Co 11:23a NIV)

The apostle St. Paul compares himself with his enemies, the false teachers in Corinth: “Are they servants of Christ? he asks and then continues with the verdict: “I am out of my mind to talk like this,” because they do not deserve to be called that. However for himself he reckons: “I am more.” To staff this judgement he refers his readers back to the sufferings he has had to endure in the holy ministry of his apostleship and divine calling to carry out God’s mission. Considering the long list of sufferings attentively, the variety, severity and magnitude of these sufferings are striking and one can be surprised  that these stories were not taken into the Acts of the Apostles, but are only penned down by the apostle Paul himself in his own letter to the Corinthians, which was written approximately a decade before this great endurer’s death and he would be in the position to state: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race.” (2Ti 4:7 NIV) Thus St. Paul appears to us as a man of exceptional faithfulness, who has earned the honourable title of servant of Christ before God and men. Therefore he challenges the false teachers from Corinth to prove their ministry and service, their seriousness and faithfulness with similar testimonies as he is able to do. Yes, the Corinthians are challenged to compare them themselves and in the face of such faithfulness, they ought to be ashamed to have given any credence to these detractors, who are just big talk and therein pull them away from their Father of their faith in the Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.

Lord God, heavenly Father! You distribute your gifts graciously amongst us and you desire, that we recognize your goodness, laud and praise you and with them serve our neighbour. Sadly we often praise these gifts as our own and do not serve our neighbour with them as faithfully as we should. Forgive us for Christ’s sake, make us humble and faithful in service, so that your grace will be magnified in us. Go with us into this day and into the night and let us dwell and rest in peace to serve you faithfully now and forever. Amen.

It’s just a little time, then it’s done! Then the strife is over and we can enjoy God’s goodness from the very fount of love, peace and life being together with Jesus Christ in blissful eternity. (Soren Kierkegaard 1819-1855 wrote this inscription for his gravestone. The translation is a paraphrase and neither poetic nor hymnal)

(Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Monday after Sunday Sexagesimae (2nd Sunday before Lent) as found on Pg. 104 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and puplished in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.)

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Monday, the 4th February 2013

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber
The Wartburg in Eisenach, Germany

The Wartburg in Eisenach, Germany

O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in time of distress!  (Jeremiah 16:19a NIV)

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” (Luke 8:46 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

+ St. Ansgar (865)

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

ansgar preaching Ansgar st ansgar statue ansgarSaint Ansgar, Anskar or Oscar, was an Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. The see of Hamburg was designated a “Mission to bring Christianity to the North”, and Ansgar became known as the “Apostle of the North”.Wikipedia

Posted in Histories, biographies and other stories | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

LÖHE ON 2.CORINTHIANS 11:19-21

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

sowerYou gladly put up with fools since you are so wise! In fact, you even put up with anyone who enslaves you or exploits you or takes advantage of you or pushes himself forward or slaps you in the face. To my shame I admit that we were too weak for that! What anyone else dares to boast about–I am speaking as a fool–I also dare to boast about. (2Co 11:19-21 NIV)

Today’s gospel on the fourfold soil is very serious. The apostolic epistle is worthy to stand right next to this word of our Lord Jesus Christ. It shows the holy apostle St. Paul, this diligent sower of the Lord, as he goes about his wide flung mission field sowing good seed all along. Truly he goes about this with tearful sorrow and trouble. His is not an easy task. Severely challenged by the ungratefulness of the Corinthians and by most impudent lies and false allegations from false apostles. Yet St. Paul opens his mouth even as he is tempted to keep it shut. He even gives us a summary of his apostolic story as conclusively as nobody else would have been able to instead. That is how we hear his inside story, things that are not recorded in the Acts of the Apostles nor in any other letters. It appears as a true reflection of today’s gospel. Telling us about the troublesome labour of this valiant sower, who goes about in autumn and sows seed in the hope of coming spring trusting in God’s faithfulness even as the people amongst whom he is working and sowing, give so little reason for being hopeful in this time or the coming season.

Merciful  and eternally gracious Father! We thank you for the faithful witnesses of your word through whom you have talked to us. You have made us heirs of the rich heritage of our fathers and you have entrusted us with the great treasure of your truth. We thank you for this from the bottom of our heart. Grant us the ongoing liberty in which we are now living and which enables us to confess it fearlessly. Awake many more faithful witnesses of your truth, whose walk and talk reflect your authority and grant them free access to people and nations. Please prevent us, who enjoy your word and sacraments in fullness, to be bored and wearied by these precious gifts of yours. Let us continue to follow those, who have followed your son in this life faithfully.   Amen.  (P. Wurster)

Grant your shepherds strength and a rich measure of your Holy Spirit to live in pure doctrine and holy lives. Your word is the divine pasture, which feeds your congregation well. Let all hearers be doers and keep us from hypocrisy, but let us live in the strength and patience of faith in your promises and everlasting presence. (Heinrich Cornelius Hecker, 1699-1743. The translation is rather literal and neither poetic nor hymnal)

(Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for the Sunday Sexagesimae (2nd Sunday before Lent) as found on Pg. 103 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and puplished in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.)

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Sunday, the 3rd February 2013

Posted on February 3, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

ravensWho provides food for the raven when its young cry out to God and wander about for lack of food? (Job 38:41 NIV)
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. (Matthew 6:26 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Lutheran Order of service in isiZulu/seTswana

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Lk 8The Lutheran Order of Service for Sexagesimae (2nd Sunday before Lent) is available here in isiZulu and seTswana. Today it comes with a sermon based on the prophet Isaiah 55,6-12a by our brother Rev. I. Ngwenya (Limehill LC, KZN) in isiZulu (wz1312130203 Seksageime) and translated as usual into seTswana (wt1312130203 Seksagesime) by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

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 Sunday and have time to meditate on the watchword from Hebrews: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts”  (Heb 3:15 NIV) The liturgical colour is green and the Hallelujah verse is omitted.

Posted in Lutheran Order of service | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

LÖHE ON JOHN 12:26

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

candle lightMy Father will honor the one who serves me. (Joh 12:26 NIV)

If somebody obeys God faithfully and does not seek his own, but strives to serve God and be his loyal instrument, then this tool is honored and God in heaven glorifies this servant.

Whoever wants to serve this Lord in great things needs to persevere, be patient in good works and take the long view towards the final goal ahead. Step by step he needs to walk the walk of faith towards the ultimate destination, where his soul’s desire will find rest and satisfaction.

Our Lord and God seeks heroic people in the Church, who do not just care for sanctification as a pastime or once in a while, but rather strive for excellence in good and God-pleasing works full-time, who thus excel in life and in death.

In the Church such heroic excellence shines like diamonds and most precious jewels and treasures. However even if rubies and pearls have a special appeal, the repentant soul’s tears and sorrow over sins outshines them by far. For in the end it remains the final verdict, that those who are saved eventually to eternal life are saved by grace alone through the forgiveness of all their sins of commission and omission, of being and doing in thought, word and deed.

Almighty God, merciful Father! Grant to your servants faithfully to do, what we recognize as your good and holy will and that we will desire what you chose and prefer, so that we will continually be refined, enlightened and ignited by the glowing and kindling passion of your Holy Spirit to follow in the footsteps of your son Jesus Christ.  And now as night is breaking and another week lies behind us, let us find rest in the peace of your gracious forgiveness and help us, that on the morrow we will hear your holy Word for our edification and receive your merciful blessing. We praise you, o Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as God of all goodness and our true sanctuary. Praise and thanks to you now and evermore! Amen.

A light that wants to shine will be consumed itself.  Granting comfort, light and warmth it diminishes itself – hardly even noticed (by others). A shining light can only accomplish that appropriately, where and when the master deigns it meet, right and salutary.  

A light that wants to shine accepts that it’s not appreciated for itself, but rather for the light it gives. A light that shines will be content to give comfort and strength to others, while loosing all itself.

A light that wants to shine will not question whether its light is for many or for one. A Light that shines will carry rays of light to wherever its needed and there it leaves its wholesome mark.

A light that wants to shine in the hands of the master is but a reflection of the eternal light that mirrors his light in the darkness and illuminates those in the shadow of death with the promise of life everlasting in Him. (Hedwig von Redern *1866. The translation is rather literal and neither poetic nor hymnal)

(Translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Saturday after the Sunday Septuagesiame as found on Pg. 102 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and puplished in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.)

Posted in Meditations by P.Wilhelm Löhe (Translation) | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Herrenhuter readings for Saturday, the 2. February 2013

Posted on February 2, 2013 by Wilhelm Weber

Jesus Christ risen from the deadMultitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2 NIV)

He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive. (Luke 20:38 NIV)

Posted in Losung & Lehrtext | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment