Wilhelm's space

Die Erde ist voll der Güte des HERRN. Psalm 33,5

Ihr kennt die Gnade unseres Herrn Jesus Christus: obwohl er reich ist, wurde er doch arm um euretwillen, damit ihr durch seine Armut reich würdet. 2.Korinther 8,9

Ich will das steinerne Herz wegnehmen aus ihrem Leibe und ihnen ein fleischernes Herz geben, damit sie in meinen Geboten wandeln und meine Ordnungen halten und danach tun. Hesekiel 11,19.20

Im Gehorsam gegenüber der Wahrheit habt ihr eure Seelen rein gemacht, frei für die Liebe unter Brüdern und Schwestern, die keine Verstellung kennt; so liebt denn einander aus reinem Herzen, ohne nachzulassen! 1.Petrus 1,22

Ich will dir danken in großer Gemeinde; unter vielem Volk will ich dich rühmen. Psalm 35,18
Lasst euer Licht leuchten vor den Leuten, damit sie eure guten Werke sehen und euren Vater im Himmel preisen.  Matthäus 5,16

This illustration for Ps. 145,15 is from the Ismar David Electronic Archive

The 13th Sunday after Trinity (2nd September 2012) is this year celebrated as Thanksgiving in the LCSA congregations and therefore it Psalm 145,15: “The eyes of all look to you, o Lord, and you give them their food at the proper time.”

The Lutheran order of worship plus a sermon by Rev. E.A.W.Weber DD for the day on the 4th and 5th verse in the fourth chapter of St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy: “For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer”  is available here in both isiZulu (wz1243120902 ngomkhosi wokubonga ukuvuna) and seTswana (wt1243120902 moletlo wa go lebogela thobo). We are grateful for these translations and also for the ongoing support by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

May this Sunday be a great blessing to you +

Thank God for this good news early in the morning and every day anew: Das Volk, das im Finstern wandelt, sieht ein großes Licht, und über denen, die da wohnen im finstern Lande, scheint es hell. Jesaja 9,1

Ihr wart früher Finsternis; nun aber seid ihr Licht in dem Herrn. Lebt als Kinder des Lichts. Epheser 5,8

(ENInews)–The World Council of Churches’ (WCC) Central Committee on 30 August approved the first ecumenical affirmation of mission since 1982, invoking a new understanding of mission and evangelism in a changing world and ecclesial landscape. The statement draws on insights from Protestant, Evangelical, Orthodox and Roman Catholic mission theologies, and will be presented at the WCC 10th Assembly in Busan, South Korea in 2013, according to a WCC news release. [ENI-12-0513, 464 words]

Here is the latest rector’s report as compiled for the Open Day of our Seminary coming Saturday: RR Open day 2012

Ach HERR, strafe mich nicht in deinem Zorn und züchtige mich nicht in deinem Grimm! Psalm 6,2
Christus ist darum für alle gestorben, damit, die da leben, hinfort nicht sich selbst leben, sondern dem, der für sie gestorben und auferstanden ist. 2.Korinther 5,15

The old seminary for mission studies in Hermannsburg, (Lower Saxony, Germany) has been closed down and with that an era ends. New ideas have come up which are to invigorate the old structures and make them more relevant. May the triune God, who is the origin of Christian missions, the driving force behind them even today and finally also the goal of all missions bless these new beginnings and grant renewed impulses for the revitalization of Christian missions throughout the world.

In the posting  by friends of Hermannsburg you will again see the picture of the 2nd course that completed its mission studies in Hermannsburg in 1860 – amongst them also the great-grandfather of my father: Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Weber.

Read more about this issue in this post: Hermannsburg Update

In a country where nearly half of the population lives off grants and governmental help, basic foodstuffs are vital and determine their general well-being. The rapid rise in food-prices is a reason for serious concern, because it has the very real potential for unrest and destabilization.

Obviously the lack of support for farmers and the uncertainty about land ownership paired with the resulting jeopardy of future and long-term investments has to carry its fair share of the blame for this trouble. There are no short-term fixes for the locals woes in agriculture and the farming sector – and that does not fit in well with the haphazard and populistic politics of the day which are concerned mostly about re-election and not serious nation-building and general prosperity and flourishing of all the countries people.

This is aggravated by the unsatisfactory services and lacking implementation of good governance in general as becomes clear from the strikes on the mines right now. In my view troublesome times are lying ahead for most of us here!

Read more about the growing shortage of food supply here: Global demand for local grain to put consumers under stress – Business News | IOL Business | IOL.co.za.