Rev. David P. Tswaedi DD

Response Speech to the Signing of the Agreement between UP and LTS-Tshwane, Pretoria, June 8^th 2011.

Distinguished guests, delegates of representatives of various institutions present here, the individuals who did the much of the hard with the sweat of their brains during long hours on intense concentration, to craft a Protocol Document that would respond to the needs and the mission of both our institutions, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!

It’s surely an honour to be asked to respond to this signing on behalf of the LTS-Tshwane and its Shareholders.

First and foremost we wish to express our deepest gratitude to the University of Pretoria for being so magnanimous and willing to listen to our story. It has been our desire as well as those before us to have a tertiary institution as a neighbour, not merely geographically but importantly academically.

The journey of our seminary has been long to get here, it began in the former E-Transvaal, now Mpumalanga, moved to the former Natal, now KZN, to its present locations down Arcadia street.

Though we are a small institution and UP being a giant that it is, we nevertheless do not underestimate the contribution we will bring into this relationship in line with a Setswana sage that says, “a big river needs rivulets to flow”. LTS-Tshwane impacts the lives of many future pastors and leaders on the African continent with its pastoral formation course and others, from West African to the horn of the Mother land. Our contribution might not be evident initially but surely will in time.

The areas covered by the Agreement will certainly challenge our institution to strive for excellence in its theological training, as well as in assisting our students to position their studies meaningfully in the lives of their people later, and finally to continue the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ, viz., bringing individuals and peoples to Him.

May the spirit and the letter of this document continue to inspire us to search for more ways of co-operation in the future.

Thank you.

Tswaedi D.P.

Come Holy Spirit and teach us to know the Father and the Son and You, from both as Three in one that we your name may ever bless and in our lives the truth confess.

Dear friends of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God our Father, who sent his Holy Spirit, so that we would believe and trust in him alone now and forever! 

On this day the one holy Christian and Apostolic Church celebrates its own birthday. Together with Christians all over the world, together with Angels and Archangels, with Saints and Martyrs of days gone by we are praising the living God for all he has done for us and our salvation throughout the Ages through this his very own institution, Christ’s living body and most effective instrument: The holy Christian Church from all nations and throughout all Ages.

Oh yes, the Church was there from the very beginning. The triune God spoke to his people since the times of Adam and Eve. He spoke his holy word in Law and Gospel from the very beginning – and we know that Jesus Christ is that word, which became flesh and lived amongst us on Christmas, but was there one with God before all time and space. Since those very early days long gone by the triune God has called people from all parts of the world to trust and believe in him – and we know that the Holy Spirit is the one, who does these miracles and wonders amongst his folks, that they repent, that they are converted and that they believe and trust and love Jesus Christ as their only true Lord and Saviour. Oh yes, this has been the divine activity from the very beginning – gathering, collecting, joining together, unifying, strengthening, building and edifying the Church from all ends of the world. That was his business on Pentecost and that is his business even today. Wherever the living and most gracious God uncovers sin to forgive it by his grace, wherever he proclaims his own goodness and mercy with sinners, wherever he feeds hungry people, heals ill and sick, frees captives and those in bondage, makes foreigners and migrants be at home even in strange places and allows the poor and needy to hear his good news – that’s where his Church is right amongst us in this very world. God did his church business in the time of the apostles amongst the nations in the Middle East, reaching out from Jerusalem [the centre of the world] to people in Asia and Africa and Europe: Parthians, Medes, Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,  Phrygia , Pamphylia, Egypt and parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and Rome,  both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians. What an international, global event Pentecost has always been! That’s where the living God himself made up for the mischief of that idolatrous tower of Babel. Now by his forgiving grace these different cultures, languages and traditions are no longer doomed to live separated in fear, hatred, envy and strive with each other, unable to understand each other, unable to sympathize with one another and just banned to worshipping their family deities, village spirits and tribal idols or national ideologies  By God’s grace and forgiving mercy the most diverse people are brought together by the Holy Spirit into one body, one Church so that they can hear the miracles and wonders of the one and only God of this universe and together with one voice give him his due praises as one big happy family as it was meant to be from the beginning. Here at Pentecost the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob grants his own Church to witness the starting realization of his final Church version for the entire globe encompassing all nations and continents. His beloved Apostle and Bishop of the seven Churches St. John saw it on Patmos and we too are looking forward to seeing this vision with our own eyes and to hear this beautiful song with our two ears and joining in with our humble voices too. St. John describes the  “great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,  and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” [Rev. 7,9f]

This Pentecost message is especially comforting to those in the Church, who in this life and time experience the discrimination, isolation and persecution in the world. However there is comfort, because it is the living God’s promise that his Church will not be overcome but will remain to the very end. Not even a thousand or more devils nor any evil or anything else can stop him from taking his Church to its final destination – the glorious perfection of his honorable bride. You can build on that. You can trust him on that because he is faithful and will surely do as he promised. Already his great works are proclaimed beyond Africa, Europe and Asia in the Americas, Australia and even Oceania. That is another good reason to rejoice and thank God today. He alone can take credit for all this goodness for it is done “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” [Zech. 4,6 Watchword for Pentecost] This is so true everywhere, but especially in the Church. Look how it was with Moses. [OT Reading Nm.11, 11f.14-17.24f]. God gave him 70 elders to help him carry his burden. For God it is easy to help in this or that way. Nothing is impossible for him. Look how it is with me. I can’t even talk or write in isiZulu, but my father has translated this sermon and so you can hear of God’s miracles and wonders anyway. We are never alone in the Church, but rather we are joined to various members and limbs under the one head Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit joins us together with a common faith, love and hope so that we become more and more what God has envisioned for us – one, holy Christian and Apostolic Church proclaiming his miracles and wonders in this world and even amongst those, who don’t yet believe. God has established his Church worldwide and we are part of it, because he is good, gracious and merciful.  Therefore let us continue in his word and remain at home where his glory dwells. He will continue to teach and guide us with his holy word and thus keep us in all truth despite all affliction and temptation. [Gospel Joh.14, 23ff] To him be all the glory now and forever. Amen. The peace of Christ be with you always+

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh! (Joe 2:28 ESV)

Komm, Heiliger Geist, erfüll die Herzen deiner Gläubigen und entzünd in ihnen das Feur‘ deiner göttlichen Liebe, der du durch Mannigfaltigkeit der Zungen die Völker der ganzen Welt versammelt hast in Einigkeit des Glaubens. Halleluja! Halleluja! [altkirchlich LKG 180]

Komm, Heiliger Geist, Herre Gott, Erfüll mit deiner Gnaden Gut Deiner Gläub’gen Herz, Mut und Sinn. Dein brünstig Lieb entzünd in ihn’. O Herr, durch deines Lichtes Glast Zu dem Glauben versammelt hast Das Volk aus aller Welt Zungen; Das sei dir Herr, zu Lob gesungen! Halleluja! Halleluja! [Martin Luther 1524 LKG 182,1]

Veni, Sancte Spiritus, reple tuorum corda fidelium, et tui amoris in eis ignem accende. Qui per diversitatem linguarum cunctarum Gentes in unitate fidei congregasti! Halleluja! Halleluja!

Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord, With all Your graces now outpoured On each believers mind and heart; Your fervent love to them impart. Lord, by the brightness of Your light In holy faith Your Church unite; From ev’ry land and ev’ry tongue This to Your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung: Alleluia, alleluia! [LSB 497,1]

Der Herr fuhr auf gen Himmel ...

WIzintshumayelo zokuSebenzelana ekuZwaneni

Intshumayelo ngomkhosi wokukhumbula ukwenyuka kweNkosi, ka 02. 06. 2011                            31/2011

Egameni likaNkulunkulu onguYise, neNdodana, noMoya oNgcwele

1.             Iculo 127/108

2.             Umkhuleko: Jesu Kristu owenyukele ezulwini ukuhlala ngakwesokunene sikaYihlo phezu kwemibuso yonke, namandla nezilimi zonke, yebo phezu kwakho konke okungaphawulwa emhlabeni lowo nasekozayo, siyabonga, ngokuba waqeda ukuboshwa kwethu, wabeka zonke izitha zethu phansi kwezinyawo zakho, sesiyacela, sithi: Mawusimele kuYihlo njalo, uvikele ikerike lakho, uliduduze, ube nathi ngezinsuku zonke ngezwi namasakramente akho, uze ubonakaliswe kithi ngosuku lenkazimulo yakho, mawusamukele embusweni wakho ongapheliyo, wena ophilayo, wabusa kanye noYihlo noMoya oNgcwele kuze kube phakade. Amen.

3.             Iphistola ngohlelo lwesibili lilotshiwe kuzo izEnzo 1:1-11;

Ivangeli ngohlelo lokuqala lilotshiwe kuLuka 24:44-53.

4. Isivumo senkolo: Ngiyakholwa nguNkulunkulu uYise …                                                                                                                                                                                                          5.Iculo 126/107

6.                                                                                                                                                            Umkhuleko wakhe ofundayo intshumayelo             7. Izwi lentshumayelo ngohlelo 3 lilotshiwe

ku-1 amaKhosi 8:22-24.26-28, lithi: “USolomoni wema phambi kwealtare likaJehova ebusweni balo lonke ibandla lakwaIsrayeli, welulela izandla zakhe ngasezulwini, wathi: Jehova Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, akakho unkulunkulu onjengawe phezulu ezulwini nasemhlabeni phansi, ogcina isivumelwano nomusa nezinceku zakho ezihamba phambi kwakho ngayo yonke inhliziyo yazo, ogciné nenceku yakho uDavide ubaba lokho owakusho kuyo; yebo, owakukhuluma ngomlomo wakho ukugcwalisile ngesandla sakho njengokuba kunjalo namuhla. … Ngalokho, Nkulunkulu kaIsrayeli, maliqiniseke izwi lakho owalikhuluma encekwini yakho uDavide ubaba. Kepha uNkulunkulu uyakuhlala impela emhlabeni na? Bheka, izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukwanela; pho, kakhulu kangakanani lendlu encane engiyakhileyo na? Mawubheke umkhuleko wenceku yakho nokunxusa kwayo, Jehova Nkulunkulu wami, uzwe ukukhala nokukhuleka inceku yakho ekukhuleka phambi kwakho namuhla.”Amen.

8. Intshumayelo: Bandla elithandekayo yeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, maqondana nokwenyuka kweNkosi uJesu Kristu isivumo sabaphostoli sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, uhlezi ngakwesokunene sikaNkulunkulu, uYise uMninimandla onke;” esaseNikeya sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, uhlezi ngakwesokunene sikaYise;” nesika-Athanasiyu sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, uhlezi ngakwesokunene sikaYise;” nesaseAugsburg sithi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, ukuba ahlale ngakwesokunene sikaYise, abe-nobukhosi njalonjalo, abuse phezu kwezidalwa zonke, angcwelise bona abakholwa nguye.”

Izwi leNtshumayleo yanamuhla liyasisiza ukuba siqiniswe ekukholweni nasesivumeni sethu maqondana nokwenyuka kweNkosi uJesu Kristu ukuba singaphuthi kanye namaKristu abaningi abadukisiwe ngencazo yezidukisi ethi: UJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu wakhushulelwa ezulwini ukuba amukelwe yizulu kangaka ukuba ubuntu bakhe buvalelwe ezulwini, imbumbano yobuNkulunkulu nobuntu bakhe ahlanganisiwe ngayo oqotsheni lunye  ihlukaniswe. Ngenxa yalesisidukiso ikerike likaKristu lagcizelela iqiniso ukuba livume ukuthi njalo lapho ubuNkulunkulu bukaJesu bukhona nobuntu bakhe bukhona kakhulu ngokufundisa iqiniso lesidlo seNkosi, ngokuba lesiyasidukiso sibonakala ngendlela embi, uma kufundiswa ukuthi esidlweni seNkosi siyadla isinkwa kuphela, nokuphuza iwayini kuphela, nokuthi ikholwa lizozihlanganisa nomzimba kaKristu, negazi lakhe kuphela uma umoya wakhe wenyuselwa ezulwini ukuhlangana khona ngokomoya nakho okobuntu bukaJesu.  Ngakho lokhu ngithi: Izwi lentshumayelo yanamuhla lingasisiza ukuqonda ukuwenyuka kweNkosi yethu kahle, ngokuba izwi leyo lithi: Bheka, izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakukwanela. Usolomoni, inkosi yaseJerusalema, wakhuluma neNkosi emkhulekweni wakhe. Okusho ukuthi izulu nezulu lamazulu alinakuyanela iNkosi uJesu Kristu eyakhushulelwa ezulwini. Khona ezulwini wamukelwa nguYise nokuphiwa isihlalo sobukhosi khona. Kwakungahlukaniswa khona ubuntu nobuNkulunkulu, ubuntu bakhe babungaboshelwa khona ukuba ubuntu bakhe buhlale khona, bungabi khona lapho ubuNkulunkulu bukhona, kube ubuNkulunkulu bakhe kuphela obunenkululeko ukuhlangana nmakholwa akhe ezindaweni zonke nasemhlabeni. Qha-ke, iNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu isithembisele ukuthi ukuthi, noma singabathathu noma ababili kuphela esihlangana egameni lakhe, enguye uNkulunkulu uqobo, nomuntu futhi uqobo. Masingadukiswa yizidukisi, kodwa sikholwe ngethemba eliqinileyo ukuthi siyamukela umzimba wakhe ngokudla umzimba wakhe esinkweni esibusisiwe, negazi lakhe elithululelwe kube ngukuthethelelwa kwezono, uma siliphuza ngewayini elibusisiwe esidlweni sakhe. Ake sikholwe, sivume ngalawaya mazwi esivumo saseAugsburg, ukuthi yena-ke onguNkulunkulu uqobo ozelwe nguYise phambi kwezikhathi zonke, nomuntu futhi uqobo ozelwe nguMariya intombi, nowake wabethelwa esiphambanweni, nokufa, nokuvuka, ukuthi nguye oyiNkosi yethu ehlezi enkazimulweni yayo ngakwesokunene sikaYisa ukubusa izidalwa zonke.

Kanti nguye osagcwalisa izithembiso nokuprofetha kwakhe. Masingakhohlwa isithembiso sakhe avalelisa abafundi bakhe ngaso ngosuku lokwenyuka kwakhe esithi: “Bhekani, mina nginani izinsuku zonke kuze kube-sekupheleni kwezwe.” Ezwini lentshumayelo yanamuhla uSolomoni uyakhuluma ngesithembiso iNkosi eyakhuluma ngaso ngaphambili ukusithembisa uDavide uyise ukuthi indodana yakhe izophumelela ukumakhela uNkulunkulu indlu yokumkhonza, ngisho ithempeli. Mhla uSolomoni wakhuleka umkhuleko wokuvula ithempeli, lesisithembiso sikaNkulunkulu sasisegcwalisiwe yiNkosi yamakhosi uNkulunkulu. USolomoni wayesephiwa ukwakha lelithempeli elihle elavulwa ngalesosikhathi. Futhi uSolomoni wathinta isithembiso esamenyezelelwe uyise nguNkulunkulu ngomprofethi uNathane esithi: “Akuyikunqunywa-muntu kuwe emehlweni ami ukuhlala esihlalweni sobukhosi sakwaIsrayeli.” Wacela ukuba lelizwi lesithembiso uNkulunkulu owalikhuluma kuye inceku yakhe uDavide uyise ligcinwe, ligcwaliswe. UNkulunkulu wezwa umkhuleko lowo kaSolomoni. Lesisithembiso sagcinwa, sagcwaliswa ngokwenyuka kweNkosi, indodana kaDavide eyiNkosi yakhe futhi njengokusho kweHubo 110, nangezwi elilotshiwe kuMath. 22:41-45. UJesu Kristu uyiyo indodana kaDavide eyakhushulelwe ezulwini ngosuku 40 emva kokuvuka kwakhe, izinsuku ezingu-10 phambi kokuthululelwa kukaMoya oNgcwele kubafundi bakhe ngomkhosi wePhentkoste.

Unguye esivuma ngaye ngamazwi esivumo saseAugsburg athi: “Wenyukela ezulwini, ukuba ahlale ngakwesokunene sikaYise, abe-nobukhosi njalonjalo, abuse phezu kwezidalwa zonke, angcwelise bona abakholwa nguye ngokuthumela uMoya oNgcwele ezinhliziyweni zabo, obabusayo, abaduduze, abaphilise, abavikele kuSathane nakuwo amandla esono.” Ngalawomazwi sekuthintiwe esikuzwayo ezwini lentshumayelo yanamuhla ukuthi wagcwalisa izithembiso zakhe, ngokuba wasilungisela izindawo emhlabeni lapho etholakala khona nasezinsukwini zanamuhla, noma ekhushulelwe ezulwini. Sesizwile ukuthi ukubo abahlangana egameni lakhe, nokuthi unabo abamukele umyalo wakhe ukwenza izizwe zonke abafundi bakhe ngokubabhapathiza egameni likaNkulunkulu onguYise neNdodana noMoya oNgcwele, nangokufundisa abantu bezizwe zonke ukugcina uJesu akuyalé ngakho.  Ngokwempela uJesu Kristu iNkosi yethu ovukile kwabafileyo wathembisa abafundi bakhe ukuthi uma bethethelela isoni esikhalela izono zaso egameni likaNkulunkulu onguYise neNdodana noMoya oNgcwele uyakuba othethelelwe impela. Wamisela abafundi bakhe isidlo somzimba negazi lakhe elingcwele ukuba badle umzimba wakhe esinkweni, baphuze igazi lakhe ewayinini ukuba babe nokuthethelelwa kwezono. Wayethembisa bonke abakhuleka kuYise egameni lakhe ukuthi bayakwamukela abakucelayo, nokuvulelwa, mhla bengqongqotha.

Ake simethembe, sikholwe, singangabazi ukuthi uJesu uzogcwalisa akuthembisayo, njengalokhu zonke izithembiso zaphambili sezigcwalisiwe nguNkulukulu. Ake simele iqiniso elihle elikhulu elithi: Nezithembiso ezingakagcwaliswa kuze kube namuhla, zizogcwaliswa ngesikhathi sazo, kakhulu leso esakhulunywa ngosuku lokwenyuka kwakhe yizingelosi esithi: “Madoda aseGalile, nimeleni nibheka ezulwini na? UJesu lo, osuswé kini enyuselwa ezulwini, uyakuza kanjalo, njengalokhu nimbonile eya ezulwini.” Uzobuya uzokwahlulela abasahambayo nabafileyo. Impela lesisithembiso siyakugcwaliswa, njengaso sokuthululela uMoya oNgcwele phezu kwabafundi esagcaliswa ngomkhosi wePhentekoste waseJerusalema.

Ngakho lokhu umkhosi wokwenyuka kweNkosi ungumkhosi othanda ukuvuselela amakholwa kaJesu Kristu ukuba bathokozele insindiso awayilungiselwe yiNkosi, nezithembiso zayo zokuthi usezwa imikhuleko yethu, nokuthi usavuselela abashumayeli ukuba bashumayele intethelelo yezono egameni likaJesu, bameme abangakabhapathizwa ukuba bazinikele ukubhapathizwa, abahlubukileyo babuyele embhapathizweni wabo, amakholwa onke asondele njalo esibikweni nasesidlweni seNkosi. Yikho iNkosi uJesu ethanda ukuba kwenzeke, ize ibuye ngosuku lokugcina, isamela amakholwa ayo kuYise. Yebo, kuqinisile, yenyukele ezulwini, kodwa isekithi ngezwi namasakramente ayo. Ake sithokozele izithembiso zeNkosi yethu uJesu Kristu, ezisegcwalisiwe, ezigcwaliswa namuhla, nazo ezisayakugcwaliswa esikhathini esiayo! Amen.

9.             Umkhuleko: Nkosi Jesu Kristu, Ndodana kaNkulunkulu wawuhlupheka ebumpofwini obukhulu usahamba lapha emhlabeni, kodwa manje usesihlalweni sobukhosi ngakwesokunene sikaYihlo, uyiNkosi ekongamela konke okusezulwini nasemhlabeni, futhi nguwe ophilisa konke, nokukubusa phezu kwakho konke. Siyakhuleka kuwe, siyacela sithi: Mawusithumele uMoya wakho oNgcwele, uthumele izisebenzi eziqotho ekerikeni, uzihlakanisphise, uqinise izwi lakho, umelane noSathane namakhosi amabi, ulondoloze umbuso wakho ngamandla, zonke izitha zakho zibekwe phansi kwezinyawo zakho, thina sinqobe ngawe isono, ukufa, nakho konke okubi. Mawusizwe ngenxa yothando lwakho olukhulu. Amen.

Umkhuleko weNkosi: Baba wethu osezulwini …

10.           Iculo 128/109

Ukuthula kukaNkulunkulu odlula ukuqonda konke makulondoloze izinhliziyo zethu nemicabango yethu kuKristu  Jesu, iNkosi noMsindisi wethu. Amen.

Lentshumayelo ilotshiwe ngomnyaka ka-2011 ngu-E. A. W. Weber

Ukucindezelwa nokuthunywa kwalezintshumayelo kuyasekelwa yinhlangno ethiwa: Lutheran Heritage Foundation

Dithero tsa Tirelano mo Kutlwanong

Der Herr fuhr auf gen Himmel ...

Thero ka moletlo wa go gopola tlhatlogo ya Morena, e le ka 02. 06. 2011      31/2011

Mo leineng la Modimo o e leng Rara le Morwa le Mowa o o Boitshepo!

 1.         Sefela sa 143 – 126/130

2.         Thapelo: Morena Jesu Keresete, yo o tlhatlogetseng kwa legodimong go nna mo letsogong le letona la ga Rrago godimo ga magosi, le dithata le dipuo tsotlhe le godimo ga tsotlhe tse di bolelwang mo lefatsheng leno le mo go le le tlang, re a go leboga, ka o khutlisitse kgolego ya rona, wa baya dira tsotlhe tsa rona fa tlase ga dinao tsa gago, re a go rapela, re re: A o ko o re emele fa pele ga Rrago ka gale, go femela, le go gomotsa Kereke ya gago, o bo o nnele ruri mo go rona ka malatsi otlhe ka Lefoko le disakaramente tsa gago, go tsamaya o iponatse go rona ka letsatsi la kgalalelo ya gago, o re amogele mo pusong e e sa khutleng, wena yo o tshelang, wa busa mmogo le Rara le Mowa o o Boitshepo ka bosenabokhutlo. Amen.

3.         Epistolo ka fa thulaganyong ya 2 e kwadilwe mo Ditirong tsa baapostolo 1:3-11;

Efangele ka fa thulaganyong ya 1 e kwadilwe mo go Luka 24:44-53.

4.                                                                                                           A go ipolelwe tumelo ya bokeresete! 5. Sefela sa 145 – 128/-

6.                                                                                                                        Thapelo ya mmadi wa thero.             7. Lefoko ka fa thulaganyong ya 3 le kwadilwe mo go

1 Dikgosi 8:22-24.26-28, le re: “Ke fa Salomo a ema fa pele ga aletare ya MORENA, phuthego yotlhe ya Iseraele e mo lebile, a tsholeletsa mabogo kwa legodimong a re: ‘MORENA, Modimo wa Iseraele, kwa godimo mo legodimong le fa fatshe mo lefatsheng ga go na modimo ope o o tshwanang nao. Wena o bolokela batlhanka ba gago kgolagano le bopelotlhomogi fa ba sepela fa pele ga gago ka pelo yotlhe. Wena o diretse motlhanka wa gago Dafita rre, tse o di mo solofeditseng. Ruri, o ne o di buile ka molomo wa gago, mme jaanong o di dirafaditse ka seatla sa gago jaaka go ntse kajeno. … Jaanong he, Modimo wa Iseraele, ka thapelo, a lefoko la gago le o le solofeditseng motlhanka wa gago Dafita rre le direlwe nnete. Mme a ruri Modimo o ka aga mono lefatsheng? Kana legodimo le legodimo le le godimodimo ga le go lekane. Jaanong Ntlo e ke e agileng yona e tlhaela bogolo jang! MORENA, Modimo wa me, ngoka thapelo ya motlhanka wa gago le mokokotlelo wa gagwe gore o utlwe go goelela le go rapela mo motlhanka wa gago a go rapelang fa pele ga gago kajeno.” Amen.

8. Thero: Phuthego e e rategang ya Morena wa rona Jesu Keresete, malebana le tlhatlogo ya Morena Jesu Keresete Boipolelo jwa Baapostolo jwa re: “A tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, o ntse ka fa letsogong le le jang la Modimo Rara, Mong-wa-thatha-yotlhe.” Jwa kwa Nitsea jwa re: “E bile o tlhatlogetse kwa magodimong, o ntse ka fa letsogong le le jang la ga Rara.” Jwa ga Athanasio jwa re: “A tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, o ntse ka fa letsogong le letona la Modimo Rara Mong-wa-thata-yotlhe.” Jwa kwa Augsburg jwa re: “A tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, a nna fa letsogong le letona la ga Rara gore a buse a laole dibopiwa tsotlhe ka bosenabokhutlo, a itshepise ba ba dumelang mo go ene.”

Lefoko la thero ya kajeno le a re thusa gore re tiisiwe mo tumelong le mo boipolelong jwa rona malebana le tlhatlogo ya Morena Jesu Keresete gore re se fose mmogo le bakeresete ba le bantsi ba ba timeditsweng ka tlhaloso ya batimetsi e e reng: Morena Jesu Keresete o tlhatloseditswe kwa legodimong gore a tsholwe ke legodimo mo go kalo gore botho jwa gagwe bo tswalelwe mo legodimong, momagano e Bomodimo le botho jwa gagwe bo momagantsweng ka yona  mo personeng e le ngwe fela e kgaoganngwe, gore kereke ya bokeresete e rute, e ipolele ka metlha gore kwa boModimo jwa ga Jesu ba leng teng le botho jwa gagwe bo teng. Timetso eo e bonala ka botlhoko ka thuto ya bone ba ba reng: Mo selalelong sa Morena re ja senkgwe fela, le go nwa weine fela, ka ntlha ya timetso ya bone e e reng: Mmele a ga Jesu o tswaletswe mo legodimong, fela jaaka madi a gagwe. Modumedi o ka kopana le mmele le madi a ga Keresete fela, fa mowa wa gagwe o tlhatlogela mo legodimong go kopana teng le tsa botho jwa ga Keresete. Ke moo ke re: Lefoko la thero ya kajeno le ka re thusa go tlhatloganya tlhatlogo ya Morena sentle, gonne Lefoko leo le re: Kana legodimo le legodimo le le godimodimo ga le go lekane. Salomo kgosi ya kwa Jerusalema o bua le Morena mo thapelong ya gagwe. Ke gore Legodimo la legodimo le le godimodimo ga le lekane Morena Jesu Keresete yo o neng a tlhatloseditswe kwa legodimong. Teng koo o amogetswe ke Rraagwe, le go fiwa setulo sa bogosi teng, ga a ka a kgaoganngwa teng gore botho jwa gagwe bo nne ko, boModimo fela bo nne bo kgololesegile go kopana le badumedi ba gagwe kwa le kwa. Nyaya, Morena Jesu o re solofeditse gore o fa gare ga ba le babedi, le ba le bararo ba ba kopanang mo leineng la gagwe, e le ene Modimo ruri, le motho ruri. A re se ka ra timediwa ke batimetsi, mme re ikanye gore re amogela mmele wa gagwe mo senkgweng, le madi a gagwe a re a tshologeletsweng mo weineng mo selalelong sa Morena gore re nne le boitshwarelo jwa dibe. Re ikanye ka fa mafokong ale a boipolelo jwa kwa Augsburg, fa e le ene yo e leng Modimo ruri yo o tsetsweng ke Rara ka bosenatshimologo, le motho ruri yo o tsetsweng ke Maria wa lekgarebe go nna Morena wa rona, a nne mo bogosing ka fa letsogong le letona la ga Rara go busa dibopiwa tsotlhe.

Kana ke ene yo o sa ntseng a dirafatsa ditsholofetso le dipolelelo-pele tsotlhe tsa gagwe. A re se ka ra lebala tsholofetso ya gagwe e a sadisitseng barutwa ba gagwe pila ka yona ka letsatsi la tlhatlogo ya gagwe, e e reng: “Mme itseng, nna ke na le lona ka malatsi otlhe go ya bokhutlong jwa lefatshe.”  Mo Lefokong la thero ya kajeno Salomo o bua ka ga tse Morena a di boleletseng pele go solofetsa Dafita rraagwe, fa morwae a tla kgona go agela Modimo ntlo ya kobamelo, e bong tempele. Fa Salomo a ne a rapela thapelo ya go bula tempele polelelo-pele ele e ne e setse e dirafaditswe ke Modimo. Salomo o ne a fiwa go aga tempele e ntle eo. Salomo o umaka le tsholofetso, gongwe polelelo-pele e e boleletsweng rraagwe ke Modimo ka moporofeti Nathan, e e reng: Ga o kitla o tlhoka monna fa pele ga me yo o dutseng mo sedulong sa bogosi sa Iseraele. Salomo o ne a kopa gore Lefoko leo la tsholofetso le Modimo o le solofeditseng motlhanka wa ona Dafita rraagwe le direlwe nnete, le dirafadiwe. Modimo o utlwile thapelo eo ya ga Salomo. Tsholofetso eo e dirafaditswe ka tlhatlogo ya Morena, morwa Dafita yo e bileng e le Morena wa ga Dafita ka fa Pesalomeng 110, le Math. 22:41-45. Ke ene Jesu Keresete, Morwa Dafita, yo o tlhaloseditsweng kwa legodimong ka letsatsi la 40, ya re a sena go tsoga mo baswing, letsatsi la 10 pele a ise a goromeletse Mowa o o Boitshepo mo barutwang ba gagwe ka moletlo wa Pentekoste.

Ke ene yo re mo ipolelang ka mafoko a Boipolelo jwa kwa Augsburg a a reng: Keresete o ne a tlhatlogela kwa legodimong, a nna fa letsogong le letona la ga Rara gore a buse a laole dibopiwa tsotlhe ka bosenabokhutlo, a itshepise ba ba dumelang mo go ene ka go romela Mowa o o Boitsehpo mo dipelong tsa bone, o o ba tlhapisang, o ba tiisa, o ba gomotsa, o ba tshedisa, o ba abela dimpho tsa mefutafuta le masego, o ba femela mo go Satane le mo thateng ya boleo. Ka mafoko ao go setse go amilwe tse re di utlwang mo Lefokong la thero ya kajeno, fa a dirafatsa ditsholofetso tsa gagwe, gonne o re baakanyeditse manno mo lefatsheng kwa a ka bonwang teng, le kajeno, le fa a tlhatlogetse kwa legodimong. Re setse re utlwile, fa a le fa gare ga bone ba ba kopanang mo leineng la gagwe, fa a le le bona ba ba utlwileng taolo ya gagwe go dira merafe yotlhe go nna barutwa ba gagwe ka go ba kolobetsa mo leineng la Modimo o e leng Rara le Morwa le Mowa o o Boitshepo, le ka go ruta batho ba merafe yotlhe go tlhokomela le go boloka tse di laetsweng ke Jesu. Tota-tota Morena Jesu Keresete yo o tsogileng mo baswing o ne a solofetsa barutwa gagwe gore fa ba itshwarela moleofi yo o ikwatlhaelang maleo a gagwe mo leineng la Modimo o e leng Rara le Morwa le Mowa o o Boitsheop o tla ba a itshwarestwe. O tlhomamiseditse badumedi ba gagwe selalelo sa mmele le madi a a boitshepo a gagwe gore ba je mmele wa gagwe mo senkgweng, ba nwe madi a gagwe mo weineng go itshwarelwa maleo. O solofeditse botlhe ba ba rapelang mo go Rraagwe mo leineng la gagwe gore ba tla amogela se ba se kopang, le go bulelwa, fa ba konyakonya.

A re ikanyeng, re se ka ra belaela ka gope, fa Jesu a tla dirafatsa tse a di solofeditseng, jaaka ditsholofetso le dipolelelo-pele tsotlhe tsa pele di dirafaditswe ke Modimo. Re emela boammaaruri jo bogolo jwa gore le ditsholofetso, le dipolelelo-ple tse di iseng di dirafadiwe di tla dirafadiwa ka nako ya tsona, bogolo yona e e boletsweng ka letsatsi la tlhatllogo ya gagwe ke baengele e e reng: “Lona banna ba Galelea, lo emetseng lo leletse kwa legodimong? Jesu yole yo o tsholeleditsweng kwa legodimong, a tswa mo go lona, o tla boa a tla, fela jaaka lo mmonye a ya kwa legodimong.” O tla bowa go atlholela batshedi le baswi ka letsatsi la bofelo. Tota tsholofetso eo e tla dirafadiwa, jaaka yona tshologo ya Mowa o o Boitshepo mo godimo ga barutwa e dirafaditswe ka moletlo wa Pentekoste wa kwa Jerusalema.

Ka moo moletlo wa tlhatlogo ya Morena ke moletlo o o ratang go tsoseletsa badumedi ba ga Jesu Keresete gore ba itumelele pholoso e ba e baakanyeditsweng ke Morena, le ditsholofetso tsa gagwe, fa a sa ntse a utlwa dithapelo tsa rona, fa a sa ntse a tsoseletsa bareri gore ba rere boitshwarelo jwa dibe mo leineng la ga Jesu, ba laletsa ba ba iseng ba kolobediwe gore ba ineele go kolobediwa, baikepi ba boele mo kolobetsong ya bone, badumedi botlhe ba atamele ka metlha mo boipobolong le mo selalelong sa Morena. Ke tsona tse Morena Jesu a ratang gore di dirafale, go ya a boe ka letsatsi la bofelo, a ntse a emela badumedi ba gagwe mo go Rraagwe. Ee, ke nnete o tlhatlogile mo legodimong, mme o ntse a le mo go rona ka Lefoko le disakaramente tsa gagwe. A re itumeleleng ditsholofetso tsa gagwe! Amen.

9.         Thapelo: Morena Jesu Keresete, Morwa Modimo, o ne o le mo khumanegong le mo ditlalelong mo lefatsheng, mme jaanong o ntse mo letsogong le le jang la ga Rrago, o le Morena yo o okameng tsotlhe tse di mo legodimong le mo lefatsheng, e bile ke wena, yo o di tshedisang, le go di busa. Re a go rapela, re re: A o ko o re romele Mowa o o Boitshepo wa gago, o romele badiri ba ba boifang Modimo mo kerekeng, o ba tlhalefise, o tiise Lefoko la gago, o ganetse Satane le barena ba ba bosula, o boloke puso ya gago ka thata, go ya baba botlhe ba gago ba latlhelwe ka fa tlase ga dinao tsa gago, mme rona re fenye ka wena boleo, loso, le tsotlhe tse di bosula. O re utlwe ka ntlha ya lorato lo logolo lwa gago. Amen.

Thapelo ya Morena: Rara wa rona yo o mo legodimong …

10.       Sefela sa 144 – 127/131

A kagiso ya Modimo e e fetang tlhaloganyo yotlhe e boloke dipelo tsa rona le maikutlo a rona mo go Keresete Jesu, Morena, Morepholosi. Amen.

Thero eno e kwadilwe ke E. A. W. Weber, ka ngwaga wa 2011

Kgatiso le go rongwa ga dithero tseo go tshegediwa ke kopano e e bidiwang The Lutheran Heritage Foundation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joachim_Neander

1. Lobe den Herren,  Den mächtigen König der Ehren! Meine geliebete Seele, Das ist mein Begehren. Kommet zu Hauf. Psalter und Harfe wacht auf, Lasset den Lobgesang hören!

2. Lobe den Herren, Der alles so herrlich regieret, Der dich auf Adelers Fittichen sicher geführet, Der dich erhält, Wie es dir selber gefällt; Hast du nicht dieses verspüret?

3. Lobe den Herren, Der künstlich und fein dich bereitet, Der dir Gesundheit Verliehen, dich freundlich geleitet. In wieviel Not Hat nicht der gnädige Gott Über dir Flügel gebreitet.

4. Lobe den Herren, Der deinen Stand sichtbar gesegnet, Der aus dem Himmel Mit Strömen der Liebe geregnet. Denke daran, Was der Allmächtige kann, Der dir mit Liebe begegnet.

5. Lobe den Herren; Was in mir ist, lobe den Namen. Alles was Odem hat, Lobe mit Abrahams Samen. Er ist dein Licht; Seele, vergiß es ja nicht; Lob ihn und schließe mit Amen!

Joachim Neander 1650-80

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Mt. 9,38

Watchword: “Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. (Isa 45:22 ESV)

Old Testament: ¹⁹ O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.  ²⁰ Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!”  ²¹ “Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.” (Jer 16:19-21 ESV)

Epistle: ¹² I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,  ¹³ so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.  ¹⁴ And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¹⁵ Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.  ¹⁶ The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  ¹⁷ The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.  ¹⁸ What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,  ¹⁹ for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,  ²⁰ as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.  ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (Phi 1:12-21)

Gospel: ¹⁸ And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  ¹⁹ Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  (Mat 28:18-1)

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

A Mission festival in Salem is special because it like every mission festival it:

v  brings back good memories about God’s mission in the past

v  celebrates God’s mission with God’s people today – right here and right now.

v  wakes and strengthens hope in God’s mission in the future too +

Through the same prophet Isaiah the living and most jealous God grants us more insight into his good will and mission mind. In today’s OT reading we hear the him professing his faith in God and also his trust and confidence in God’s successful mission. The prophet confides:

O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: “Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit. Can man make for himself gods? Such are not gods!

You see – the people will be brought to God from the ends of the earth. They will come because their gods and the gods of their fathers/ancestors are mere idols, disappointing and hopeless. No renaissance or rebirth is to be expected from this traditional source. Therefore all people ought to come to the living, faithful and trustworthy God. He invites them to find forgiveness, divine life and eternal salvation. That’s the ultimate and perfect destiny as God himself meant it to be. That’s the beautiful world made in heaven! And the Lord our God underlines this wonderful mission invitation: “Therefore, behold, I will make them [i.e. the nations] know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the LORD.” (Jer 16:19-21) God himself stands behind his mission. He advertises it by his messengers and witnesses. It is he who lets us and all people know his power and might, authority and office. It is he, who shows us and all people that he is the Lord our God. He is the very source, goal and even means of true missions. Just as we learnt in our childhood from Luther’s precious catechism:

I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord or come to him, but instead the Holy Spirit has called me through the gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens, and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.”

It is the Holy Spirit himself who calls, gathers, enlightens and makes holy the whole Christian church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one common, true faith.

In the holy gospel we hear how the triune God makes true his promise of salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord. He is the one, who fulfills God’s promises and is the savior of the world starting amongst the people of Israel, moving out to Samaria and then to the ends of the world. The triune God did his wonderful and most blessed mission work by sending Jesus Christ into our world born of the virgin Mary to grow up obediently in Nazareth as a carpenters son until he would finally fulfill his godly mission through suffering and dying vicariously on the cross of Golgotha for the sins of the world only to rise again victoriously Easter and to be the firstborn of the new creation. That’s the core Christian teaching as we confess it with the Apostolic and Nicene creeds. Jesus Christ’s entire life’s mission was dedicated to comply with the most gracious will of the heavenly Father for us and our salvation. We know that he successfully satisfied God’s highest expectations by fulfilling the divine law perfectly to the very last letter. His life is the flawless example of absolute compliance. It was entirely pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (1Ti 2:3-4). This divine mission of God was carried out by Jesus Christ in a most loving, caring and sympathetic fashion.  Not only did he look upon us poor miserable sinners with the most compassionate eyes and the most loving heart. Caringly and lovingly he demonstrates how much God cares for all people, but especially for those, who are alone, poor, helpless, sick, suffering, discriminated and without hope. That’s what St. Matthews writes about in the 9^th chapter:

“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Mat 9:35f)

Do you hear, what our Lord Jesus Christ is doing? He goes to the high and low places, into urban and rural areas, celebrating at weddings like Cana or drinking water at a lonely well along the way in Samaria, teaching in places of most advanced learning, being at home in the holy temple, but also among the people at fishing places like those at the sea of Genesaret. He’s found at the Jordan river, he’s active at the pool of Bethesda, meets people in tax booths like Matthews, doesn’t miss those hiding up in trees like Zacheus, even the dead don’t escape his compassion, mercy and loving care – rather they hear his powerful and creative voice and rise from the dead like Lazarus. He’s found partying at weddings like that one in Cana, rides a donkey into Jerusalem, sits down with people at fancy and less fancy eating places, draws crowds even in the desert and everywhere he’s preaching the good news of God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy, healing people suffering from all sorts of diseases/illnesses and every sort of affliction, suffering, hardship and malady. Yes, those low down, those on the edges and outside, those left out and sidetracked, people who have lost out, who’ve missed the boat, who don’t know how to cope with their past, present or their future, who are overwhelmed by their sin and self-seeking selfishness – that’s the people he joins up with. He helps them. He saves them. He heals them and forgives them. He brings God back into their lives and brings them back into the family of God. There is nobody, who is a hopeless case with Jesus. Its rather that our frustrations grant him opportunity to demonstrate his divine authority and power to create great miracles and wonders out of nothing – for our benefit and to his glorification. And he wants to help and he does help. See, helping, healing, saving, forgiving – that his business, that’s his mission, that’s what he’s about and that’s what his church is about too. He does that especially with those, who have no other help, who are harassed no end, who are helpless because they just can’t take care of themselves in their plight. Jesus comes to them as the ultimate savior. He’s their good shepherd, he’s their top physician, he’s their best friend and helper, their Lord and their God + That’s why they sing loud praises: Hallelujah, Hallelujah praise be to him the son of David, the king of the Jews, the Messiah of all mankind, our Lord and God of all + He is the way, the truth and the light. They believe in him. They put their faith in him. They trust him. First only a few like Mary Magdalene confessing: “Rabuni” or Thomas: “My Lord and my God” or Peter: “Lord, you know all things, you know that I love you!”, but then 3,000 are baptized on Pentecost, then 5,000 come to faith and finally it will be that crowd so big that nobody can count it, a crowd from all nations, tribes, languages and people and they will all sing the praises of the lamb on the throne: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” And together with all the angels, the elders, the prophets of old and the holy martyrs and the apostles, they will fall on their faces before the throne and worship God, saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” (Rev 7:10-12)

You hear? At a mission festival we remember the great miracles and wonders of our Lord Jesus Christ, the greatest of which is his salvation of sinful mankind. He saved me a poor, miserable sinner, who deserves nothing but God’s temporal and eternal punishment. By his boundless mercy and for the sake of his holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death he has forgiven us our guilt and falsehood, our self-centeredness and godlessness, our idolatry, lack of faith and hopelessness – and thus we are saved through Jesus Christ our savior. That’s why the heavenly Father sent his only beloved son Jesus Christ into this world so that he was to seek and to find the lost and to bring them back home into his blessed sanctuary –his holy Christian Church – the earthly Jerusalem, which is the gate to the heavenly Jerusalem, to paradise, eternal bliss and salvation. He does this through his means of grace – through his holy word and through his holy sacraments: Baptism, Absolution and his holy Supper. That’s his mission and that’s what we are celebrating today.

Now you might ask: “Well, what is so special about that? That’s what my pastor does every Sunday in the Church. It’s always about Jesus and its always about what he has done to save me and his people on this earth.” Spot on! You are 100% right – and God bless you that you have a pastor, who does that conscientiously, in good and bad times, Sunday for Sunday. That’s exactly what happens in the Church and you know why? Because Jesus said to his 12 apostles, his very special and closest disciples: “Receive the Holy Spirit. Like my father sent me, I send you. Whomever you forgive their sins, they are forgiven and to whom you retain them, they are retained.” [Joh.20,21]. That is why Christians hold that

we cannot obtain forgiveness of sin and righteousness before God through our merit, work, or satisfactions, but that we receive forgiveness of sin and become righteous before God out of grace for Christ’s sake through faith when we believe that Christ has suffered for us and that for his sake our sin is forgiven and righteousness and eternal life are given to us. For God will regard and reckon this faith as righteousness in his sight, as St. Paul says in Romans 3+4.  To obtain such faith God instituted the office of preaching, giving the gospel and the sacraments. Through these, as through means, he gives the Holy Spirit who produces faith, where and when he wills, in those who hear the gospel. It teaches that we have a gracious God, not through our merit but through Christ’s merit, when we so believe.

Through the office of the ministry/service of pastors, evangelists and missionaries God builds his kingdom in this world and to the benefit of many, many people. That’s why the Church trains, evaluates, ordains, calls and installs pastors – that’s their calling, their ministry – service.  Just like old Israel taught their children and children’s children about God’s miracles and wonders, how he had saved them out of Egypt and then carried them through those long days, months and years in the desert, so faithful Christians throughout the ages teach their children, but also their young adults, their grownups and old people about all and everything that Jesus Christ did and said. That’s what the “Diragelo” is all about. That’s why Lutherans concentrate on education, training, schooling. It’s all about edification and building up of the true Christian faith and they do it, because that’s our Lord’s last, precious will. He says:

All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Mt 28:18-1)

It is all these true stories of Jesus Christ and his mission, the remembrance of his last will and the faith in his promises that moved Christian missionaries throughout the Ages to go to the ends of the world to proclaim Jesus Christ as the Lord of all. The Christian church has supported Christian missions throughout the Ages, and in its heydays – its best days where when it was open to the calling and sending, the vocation and mission of her Lord and Savior to move beyond its borders in true faith to challenge disbelief, ignorance, idolatry and just plain heathendom rampant on all 6 continents – because this is not only far away, but also in the secular, materialistic and faithless neighborhood and even family. Call it paganism, animism, traditional religions, atheism, human ideologies like materialism, individualism or secularism. The word of truth as revealed by the grace of God in the Holy Scriptures by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and recorded by his apostles and prophets of old addresses all these human philosophies, myths and fairy tales.

Allow me to quote just a few names of famous missionaries in the ages gone by: St. Paul – the obvious number one, St. Thomas to India, St. Augustin of Canterbury to Britain, St. Bonifatius to old Europe, Hudson Taylor to China, Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg to India, Otto Kayser to New Guinea, but also Johann Ludwig Krapf to E.Africa, Robert Moffat to Kuruman in S.Africa and his son-in-law  Robert Livingstone to central Africa. In that time i.e. in the mid-19^th century the Hermannsburg missionaries arrived in SA – in Zululand and also amongst the Batswana in NW province. These are our fathers in the faith. The list of missionaries is endless and the results of their missionary efforts are 30, 60 and 100-fold by the grace of the living God – even if they didn’t see anything of it. It is as St. Paul writes in the first letter to the Corinthians:

So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building. (1Co 3:7-9)

Today we praise God for this his mission and the growth he has granted his Church over the years. We thank him, for calling us also into his Church together with Christians throughout the ages and throughout the world. We thank him for the Lutheran Church in Germany [Hermannsburg/Bleckmar – SELK/MLC], through which our Church came into being in the past century. We thank him for the missionaries, pastors, evangelists, their wives and children, who served in this part of the world answering his call – especially superintendent Christoph Johannes [uMbogojwane], who succeeded his father [uMboza] as pastor of this congregation in Salem [inducted into this congregation on the 1^st January 1908 – and under whose decade-long ministry this congregation experienced its first love and the growth of the early days both in numbers, but also in substance of faith, love, grace and peace. This congregation was not only a big congregation with many outstations, but it was also the centre of the missions at that time and also the home of our Seminary for some years.

We also remember specifically bafundisi Mazwimabi Salomon Nyandeni noJoseph uMkhaliphi – who were ordained on Ascension Day 13^th May 1920 i.e. 92 years ago. Many of you remember them even. Their faithful service is still an extraordinary example to us today and their graves are with us to this day. The list of pastors, evangelists and students connected to Salem is not short: Simelane, Karl Meister, UMose Thwala, uAsser Mdluli, Titus Lenkwe, uHendrik Molefe, uSimon Zikhali, uAndreas Xaba, uAmos Mdluli, uJohannes Khumalo, uEfraim Mthembu, uStefan Zikhali, Georg Schulz, Johannes Junker, Gottfried Stallmann, Peter Rehr, uSamuel Ndwalane, uAson Thwala, noJohannes Nene [Salem]; uJohan Dlamini wase TsehniLejuba; uSamuel Nkosi waseNhlanhleni, uLukas Lefete waseRoodepoort/eGoli; noJohannes Mokone and David Ramekwa wase Bothabelo. Mose Mbatha abaseSalem;  uJosafat Vilakazi; Amos Mtunwgwa; Samuel Dlamini, Mose Gamede, Jakob Jali, Daniel Mkhaliphi; Elias Thanjekwayo; umnumzane Absalom Sibiya; nomfundisi Petros Nkosi, nomevangeli uW. Thabete, uGustav Shandu, Isaac Khumalo; We thank God for the Mission of Lutheran Churches [MLC] and its support even today. We thank him also for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, which is helping us addressing numerous and sometimes overwhelming challenges even today. God has made his promises true in Jesus Christ. He has spread out his kingdom of grace and mercy to the ends of the world. That was his mission throughout the Ages – that has left us with piles of good memories. Praise God for those.

Sharing and nurturing good memories of God’s mission – that’s what MF is about. However it’s not just about the past.  It’s also about today and tomorrow. Remembering the great and good days of Salem, we might be tempted to forget the hard work we face today, we might be tempted to give up and think – we are so few, small and weak, what can we really do? You know, the God, who has built his church in the past is still with us today. He, who sent back most of the armed forces of Joshua until he only had a small band left; he, who was deserted by all his disciples in the night on which he was betrayed; he, who suffered and died, but also rose victoriously on his own  – he is the one, who says even today: Don’t be afraid – have faith – remember: “All authority/power/might and creativity, strategy and planning, means, money and all things are mine – I will surely do it!” This God, the father almighty and his Son Jesus Christ, the head of the Church is with us even  today – and also the Holy Spirit – the maker and giver of life! He does his miracles and wonders even today – his miracle and wonder of making disciples of all nations by baptism and by good theology/teaching of everything he has taught us. That’s it. That was his master plan in the past, that’s how he converted millions through the Ages, that’s how he’s doing it even today. And us? What about us? We are called to be faithful to his mission, faithful to his institutions, to think, say and practice what he taught, commanded and showed us in faithful orthodoxy. Nothing fancy, nothing exotic, nothing unheard of, but rather just as he commanded, taught and showed us. Now if you have 10, 5 or only 1 talent – don’t be shy, don’t shrink back, don’t run away from your task and duty, to which your Lord has called you as a Lutheran in Southern Africa.

There remains a lot to do:

1. Here in Mpumalanga: with the vacant congregation of Salem [Wetterau, Bakenkop, Sandbank etc], but also in Nhlangano, Swaziland and the new congregation opening up in KwaNgema opposite Driefontein otherside of Heyshope Dam. The many schools here, which have a Lutheran history and even many Lutheran teachers today – like principal Nkosi at Etshondo or vice-principal Christoph Nkambule here in Salem – they are great mission opportunities. There are also huge needs of rehabilitation and other vital works of mercy required. Dean Vilakazi knows all about that working with the Mkonda Rehabilitation Centre.
2. Up in Botswana: In the vacant congregation of Kanye [with Ramathea and its vocational school RAVOS and Ludabo] and the widespread Baralong area in the South without any pastors, at the cattleposts amongst the San / Basarwa or in the areas of their resettlement like Otse, the refugee camp in  Dukwi in Eastern Botswana or in the metropolitan area of Gaborone or up North in the Caprivi amongst the Lutheran refugees there.
3.  Just over the border from Botswana and in the NW province we have our dear Lutheran brothers and sisters, who were once called the “mission of happiness and joy”, because they received the gospel of Jesus Christ with such fervor and enthusiasm. Well, even today there is lots of good Church work going on in NW and the opportunities are growing even bigger – in Potchefstroom, in Mafeking, Rustenburg this prosperous province so busy in agriculture, mining and industry attracts people from all over SADC. A wonderful mission opportunity!
4. And off course in Gauteng too: Outreach in Cosmo City; Student ministries at the many universities in this urban hub, our Seminary and the deaconess school. There are still more people living in Soweto than in the entire country of Botswana. Lots remains to be done – and there are but few workers!
5. Last, but not least allow me to point you at KwaZulu – Umsinga is the poorest district in SA. We have our traditional centre of Enhlanhleni right there, but we’re also concentrated on the fastest growing area in SA: Thekweni and the coastal areas N and S of that city: Nthshongweni, Umlazi, Phoenix, Chatsworth, Port Shepstone, Ohlangeni etc. A number of towns are still without Lutheran congregations: Escourt, Ladysmith, Ulundi, Richardsbay. Lots of people, lots of non-christians, lots of work still to be done. The fields are white for harvest! The time for missions is not over – not by a long shot.

When Jesus saw the crowds, the people like these in Southern Africa he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few;  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”  Let us look at these many opportunities before us with the compassionate eyes of your Lord and Jesus Christ. Let us not give up, but rather pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest – not tourists, not adventurers or treasure-seekers, but laborers, workers, servants, people, who will be hands-on, supporters and helpers, serving and doing,  always awake and praying everywhere and at all places and for all people, folding hands and praying for the Church, its pastors and bishops, its teachers and evangelists, its deaconesses and helpers so that they will not tire, but do what needs to be done to get the harvest of our Lord into his barns and sheds, sanctuaries and churches. Praying for the government and all its people, so that they will serve the people in their constituency well and as is pleasing to God. Praying for the Seminary and its teachers, but also for its students and even for more students and means and ways to support them. Ora et labora – work as if all the praying doesn’t work and pray as if all the work doesn’t help. Both need to be done in the Church: Praying and working! It’s his work, it’s his mission and we are following his calling, there where he has placed and situated us, because we love him. Serving him by serving his people, who need our help and with the services we are gifted to do with the gifts/charisma he has granted us. He has promised to be with us all the days until the ends of the world. Therefore take courage. He will not let you down. He is our all and our everything – now and forever. Praise be to him – God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit + Hallelujah. Amen.

And the peace of our Lord, which surpasses all understanding, bless and keep you + Amen.