ILC world conference:4th day

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

Another day has approached.
Like always breakfast was a good time to visit with friends and brothers.
President Egon Kopereck of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brazil is giving a presentation on the workings in his Church. Fascinating how this Church has grown from strength to strength in the past decades. Very impressive is not only his confidence, but also enthusiasm for missions and outreach with the Christian gospel.
The morning devotion was led by Rev Franklin Hays from the AALC (?), while Dr Bugbee played the piano like the true virtuoso he is. His stories of pastors, presidents and other teachers and scribes trying to make bricks was very impressive – and unforgettable his episode on the marines in dilemma right in the EA conflict in Vietnam: “my ammo is running out” and “I am coming”. The chapel really does put Mother Mary in your face, but there was a crucifix and many other biblical images.
Now it is Rev. Genivaldo Agner from Portugal giving the area report on his mission field in Lisbon. Very enthusiastic and moving too. These Portugese people have a friendly and very sympathetic way of doing things. Very encouraging.
Just now we are going to drive out with busses into the country side along lake Ontario. This is a day long story and afterwards, we’re to meet with some friends to talk on the way forward for them in partnership with LTS. Let’s see, where that takes us.

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Losung und Lehrtext für Mittwoch, den 19. September 2012

Posted on September 19, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

Losung und Lehrtext für Mittwoch, den 19. September 2012

Ich bin der HERR. Was ich rede, das soll geschehen. Hesekiel 12,25

Der Hauptmann sprach zu Jesus: Herr, sprich nur ein Wort, so wird mein Knecht gesund. Matthäus 8,8

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Another day in Niagara

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

Prof. Dr. habil. Werner Klaen from the LTH in Oberursel i.T.

Last night the Germans still sat up until midnight working out more details of the “Lutheran Chair” at the University of Pretoria. Bishop Voigt and Prof. Klaen were trying to help me fill in the gaps in the long list of issues that need to be thought about, when such a big step of moving from Oberursel to Pretoria is planned – and time is pressing. That move is scheduled for October. The refurbishing of Dube House are going on, the office at UP is ready and now Prof. Klaen just needs to come and fill the vacancy. Still there are issues to be taken care of and Rome was not built in a single day.

Earlier on Prof. Klaen had given a report on the Lutheran-Roman Catholic dialogue going on in Germany and the resolution that this be authorized and carried on officially at ILC level was tabled and discussed. Fascinating prospects! May God give fruitful course to his truth and holy will +

Archbishop Walter Obare from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya

In the afternoon we had our area discussion with Bishops Obare, Ekong, Reinstorf and myself working in the Africa group. Dr. Ralph Mayan joined us later and we addressed issues of confessional Lutheran dialog with the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and also the Roman Catholic Church at regional and national levels, but also the budget and plans for a full time executive secretary for the ILC.   Bishop Christian Ekong then presented the regional report to the assembly in session and asked me to add on my report on the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Tshwane and its attempts to provide confessional training to students from Lutheran Churches that can not afford to own a Seminary of their own. Due to the help and support of its friends and supporters world-wide the LTS in Tshwane provides this opportunity to students from more than 10 such Lutheran Churches across the continent. The plea was made to see this more and more of a global effort of the ILC – and not so much one of our Churches down in Southern Africa. Hopefully this plea will bear good fruit and bring about more and more support – and not in the too distant future.

We heard two further reports from the Lutheran Church in Chile and the Philippines – and we thank God for the ongoing mission of his holy word throughout the world.

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Losung und Lehrtext für Dienstag, den 18. September 2012

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

Losung und Lehrtext für Dienstag, den 18. September 2012

Lasst uns mit Danken vor sein Angesicht kommen und mit Psalmen ihm jauchzen! Denn der HERR ist ein großer Gott. Psalm 95,2-3

Jesus sprach: Gebt Gott, was Gottes ist!  Markus 12,17

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Sermon on praising God in speech, music and dance

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

Here is yesterday’s sermon as preached at Resurrection Lutheran Church in St.Catherines: Speak rightly 16th SaP 15nT 2012 Canada ILC

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New Release in English

Posted on September 17, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

Just look at this fabulous book, which is now also available in English and is going to be launched in Namibia this week: Cover Besten Lessing – Cluster

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Losung und Lehrtext für Samstag, den 15. September 2012

Posted on September 15, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

Losung und Lehrtext für Samstag, den 15. September 2012

Der HERR lebt! Gelobt sei mein Fels! Psalm 18,47

Kommt zu Jesus Christus als zu dem lebendigen Stein, der von den Menschen verworfen ist, aber bei Gott auserwählt und kostbar. 1.Petrus 2,4

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Lutheran Order of Worship for the 15th Sunday after Trinity

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” (Mat 6:28-29 NIV)

The watchword for this coming Sunday is the very comforting exhortation from the first epistle by the apostle St.Peter in the fifth chapter:  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (1Pe 5:7 NIV) and the Hallelujah verse is from Psalm 34: “Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” (Psa 34:8 NIV)

The readings for this Sunday are the following: Gn.2,4b-9(10-14)15; 1Petr 5,5c-11; Mt.6,25-24. The main hymn is the beautiful hymn “Auf meinen lieben Gott trau ich in Angst und Not…” (EG 345) , which is translated, but I don’t know by whom.

1. In God, my faithful God, I trust when dark my road; Though many woes o’ertake me, Yet He will not forsake me. His love it is doth send them And, when ’tis best, will end them.

2. My sins assail me sore, But I despair no more. I build on Christ, who loves me; From this Rock nothing moves me. To Him I all surrender, To Him, my soul’s Defender.

 3. If death my portion be, Then death is gain to me And Christ my Life forever, From whom death cannot sever. Come when it may, He’ll shield me, To Him I wholly yield me.

4. O Jesus Christ, my Lord, So meek in deed and word, Thou once didst die to save us Because Thy love would have us Be heirs of heavenly gladness When ends this life of sadness.
5. “So be it,” then, I say With all my heart each day. We, too, dear Lord, adore Thee. We sing for joy before Thee. Guide us while here we wander Until we praise Thee yonder.

The order of service is available here in isiZulu (wz1245120916 n Tr 15) and seTswana (wt1245120916 n Tr 15) together with a sermon on Galatians 5,25-26 and 6,1-3.7-10 written by Rev.Eliot Sithole (Durban, KZN) and translated as usual by my father Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD (Welbedacht, KZN).

We are grateful for the support from the Lutheran Heritage Foundation, which supports the distribution of these sermons as hardcopies throughout Southern Africa.

May the triune God bless and keep you by his grace and mercy. Peace be with you +

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ILC meeting in Canada

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

The 24th conference of the International Lutheran Council is meeting in  the Mt. Carmel Spiritual Retreat Center (Niagara Falls, Canada) in the next weed: 16-21st September under the chairmanship of Bishop Hans-Joerg Voigt from the SELK (Germany). The topic of the meeting is “How do the Scriptures speak to crisis facing Confessional Lutherans today”. The opening worship service is on Sunday and will be broadcast live at 15h00 local time in Canada: www.lutheranchurch.ca/video .

Attached find the program as distributed by the organizers: REVISED MORNING TIMES ILC Conference Schedule 09122012

There will be opportunity to hear from the various world areas e.g. Archbishop Christian Ekong from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Nigeria will present the report on Africa on Monday evening.

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+ Bishop Cyprian in Carthage (N.Africa) was martyred in 258

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Wilhelm Weber

St. Cyprian + 258

Read more about the Bishop and theologian of the early Christian Church from Africa under: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyprian

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