Monday, May 10, 2010

Time in the Word - Easter 7


Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter: 0 King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
May 13, 2010 - which just so happens to be Ascension Day - will mark the 200th Anniversary of the birth of FCD Wyneken. Wyneken is well known as the father of American home missions. He came to the American frontier as an evangelist, preacher and church planter. He was instrumental in the formation of our Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and the Ft. Wayne seminary serving as Synod’s second president from Zion Friedheim congregation from 1850 -1864 at the height of the Civil War.

Soon after arriving from Germany in Baltimore in 1838, Wyneken took over the pastoral duties of our congregation when the founding pastor Jesse Hoover became ill and subsequently died. He became a traveling missionary for the Pennsylvania Ministerium, spreading the Gospel through Ohio, Indiana and Michigan. He held numerous pastorates in Fort Wayne and in Adams County before being called to Baltimore in 1845. Five years later he was called to Trinity Lutheran Church, Saint Louis. His final parish was Trinity Lutheran Church, Cleveland, from 1864 to 1875.

Wyneken is the author of Die Noth der deutschen Lutheraner in Nordamerika (1841), a call to German Lutherans to send pastors to serve scattered Lutheran immigrants on the America frontier. The tract led Pastor Wilhelm Loehe, Neuendettelsau, Bavaria, to seek funds and volunteers for service in America. Men trained by Loehe formed the largest number of founding pastors of the Missouri Synod. Wyneken's "Notruf" has been published in English as The Distress of the German Lutherans in North America, ed. R. F. Rehmer, trans. S. Edgar Schmidt (Fort Wayne: Concordia Theological Seminary Press, 1982).
Time in the Word the Seventh Sunday of Easter

The Bicentennial of the birth of FCD Wyneken - May 13, 1810

The Church of the Future” is the theme for this coming week. In the first lesson Acts 1:12-26 – The Spirit calls to a new work. In the epistle lesson, Revelation 22:1-6, 12- 20 - the believer is reminded that Christ will return to the earth on the last great day. In the Gospel lesson, John 17: 20-26 - Jesus prays for future disciples. The sermon hymn LSB #730 What is the world to Me points the believer heavenward as we anticipate leaving this broken world for a future home in heaven. All this is made possible because our Lord has Ascended into glory and has gone to prepare a place for us. When He is ready He will receive us into His glory. A glorious future awaits us because our life is in Him.

Monday, 10 May 2010Psalm 61:3, 5-8; antiphon, Psalm 61:1— In next Sunday’s introit the psalmist makes his plea for the Lord to answer his prayer. The reason he appeals to God – the Lord has never failed him as a refuge. No matter what the issue the Lord has been a source of hope and strength amidst many great and present dangers. The petition for the king’s long life has been interpreted by many Jewish scholars as referring to the coming Messiah. If this interpretation is so they are fulfilled in Jesus Christ, David’s great Son.

Tuesday, 11 May 2010Psalm 133—Sunday’s psalm is a Psalm of brother love, and life forevermore. In verse2: At the high point in his consecration ceremony the high priest was anointed with oil (see Exodus 29:7) In verse3 - The dew is seen as a symbol of blessing. Mt. Mermon has an exceptionally heavy dew fall, which meant greater fertility there than elsewhere in the days before piped water and mechanical sprinklers. This should move us to pray, Lord God, You have poured into our hearts the precious oil of Your Spirit of love. Make us of one heart and of one will, so that we may be true members of the body of Jesus Christ, united as He has commanded us; and to You be the glory now and forever. Amen

Wednesday, 12 May 2010Acts 1:12-26 – In the first lesson we have the account of Matthias chosen to replace Judas. There were certain qualifications for this office. Apparently several met the requirements but the believers were selecting someone who had ministered publicly and was an eye-witness of Jesus’ resurrection. By casting lots they were able to all God the right of choice. The use of rocks or sticks to designate the choice was common see 1 Chronicles 26:13-16

Thursday, 13 May 2010Revelation22:1-6, 12-20— Today is Ascension Day. As a church we need to celebrate this important feast day. Jesus is now in glory with the Father. So what? What does the Ascension mean for daily life here and now? Like the disciples, we are content to gaze into heaven? As the two men brought the disciples back to reality, we need to get to the business of life. According to this coming week’s epistle we have hope for Christ’s’ return to earth. The church prays for His coming soon that through His coming there may be a new heaven and a new earth. Our ascended Lord has promised to return on the last great day. When will that happen? When the last pagan is converted. Thus we are always mission minded. May the Lord continue to send us men like FCD Wyneken who championed the gospel of Christ.

Friday, 14 May 2010John 17:20-26— In the gospel Jesus prays for those He will leave on earth to further His work. Consider the situation: the church is deserted by her leader; the disciples are on their own in a hostile world with an impossible task to win the world. Jesus apparently realizes the disciples’ need for help. What Jesus prays for indicates what Christians today need. It is important to not that in vs. 20; Jesus says He prays for the Christians of the future, for you today. What do we Christians need: better church programs? More money to finance church programs? More wisdom? More members? Jesus prays for us to be one in God, for us to be one with each other and for us to be one with the Savior in heaven.

Saturday, 15 April 20101 John 2: 15-17 The Hymn of the Day, What is the world to Me (LSB #730). When John refers to the world he does not mean the world of people (see John 3:16) or the created world (see John 17:24) but the world, or realm of sin which is controlled by Satan and organized against God and righteousness. It is this world which we leave. It is Christ which faith clings to.

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