st john’s northbridge st john’s northbridge c c ontact ontact lutheran church of australia celebrating and sharing the love of god December 2011 - January 2012 Volume 44 No 6 What Would Tear the Heavens & Come Down . . . 1 Confirmation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Marlene’s Musical Interlude . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Friendship Group. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 People of St John’s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Our Northbridge Neighbours . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Book Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 German Carols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Longest Lutheran Lunch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Biscuits for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Pastor Greg’s WA Distric Travels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 What Is Evangelism? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Transformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Rosters for December - January Worship Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Ministry Roster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Printed and Published on behalf of St. John’s Lutheran Church Perth WA Print Post Approved PP602669/00269 CHRISTMAS SERVICES Sunday 11 December 6.30pm Children’s Christmas Service Tuesday 20 December 7:00 pm Danish Christmas Service Friday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 4:00pm German Children’s Service 5:30pm German Service 7:00pm Lessons and Carols – Organ & Choir 8:30pm Lessons and Carols - Instrumentalists 11:00pm Slovac Service Saturday 25 December 8:30am Holy Communion – Band & Choir 10:10am Holy Communion - Organ OH, THAT YOU WOULD TEAR THE HEAVENS AND COME DOWN. (ISAIAH 64:1A) Like the prophet Isaiah we often wonder why God seems to be hiding when we need him the most. How often do we cry out to God to help us in our distress and all we hear is silence? But isn’t that the way with God? First we experience his harshness then comes his mercy. He gives us over to sin before he forgives us. Before resurrection we see death. Before birth there is pain. Isaiah was troubled by this and so are we. Many have tried to find answers to the question of God’s apparent inaction in the face of pain and I have to say that at the end of the day none of them are very satisfying. The answer that the Footprints in the Sand story gives is as good as any ie it is when we are going through our worst difficulties that God is carrying us and that’s why we only see one pair of footprints. But let’s imagine for a moment that God could tear open the heavens and come down to wipe out all the causes of misery in the world. Where would he start? If we’re honest we have to say that you and I have been the cause of some misery in our time so what would stop God from wiping us out? This is where we begin to see the magnitude of God’s love because he did come down. And he came down much lower than Isaiah expected. Not as a vengeful God with a sword in his hand but as a babe in the manger to be one of us and one with us. He came down as the God who breathes and bleeds and sweats and dies. The heavens were torn open and the Spirit descended on him when Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan. Similarly, the Jerusalem Temple curtain was torn from top to bottom when Jesus hung in desolation on the cross. There, he not only carried us but suffered for us so that God would no longer count our sins against us. Now, baptised into Christ, our heavenly Father delights in us as much as he delights in his own Son Jesus! What a sweet exchange this is. As we celebrate the first coming of Christ this Christmas we can also anticipate his second coming with great excitement. Why? because then he will come down once again to save us from a life that is all to often unfair and painful and raise us up to a new life that is characterised not by distress and divine silence, but by ceaseless praise, peace and divine union. Amen, come Lord Jesus. The blessings of the holy season to you all. Pastor Greg.
Printed and Published on behalf of St. John’s Lutheran Church Perth WA Print Post Approved PP602669/00269
CHRISTMAS SERVICESSunday 11 December 6.30pm Children’s Christmas ServiceTuesday 20 December 7:00 pm Danish Christmas Service
Friday 24 December (Christmas Eve) 4:00pm German Children’s Service 5:30pm German Service 7:00pm Lessons and Carols – Organ & Choir 8:30pm Lessons and Carols - Instrumentalists 11:00pm Slovac ServiceSaturday 25 December 8:30am Holy Communion – Band & Choir 10:10am Holy Communion - Organ
OH, THAT YOU WOULD TEAR THE HEAVENS AND COME DOWN. (ISAIAH 64:1A)Like the prophet Isaiah we often wonder why God seems to be hiding when we need him the most. How often do we cry out to God to help us in our distress and all we hear is silence? But isn’t that the way with God? First we experience his harshness then comes his mercy. He gives us over to sin before he forgives us. Before resurrection we see death. Before birth there is pain. Isaiah was troubled by this and so are we. Many have tried to find answers to the question of God’s apparent inaction in the face of pain and I have to say that at the end of the day none of them are very satisfying. The answer that the Footprints in the Sand story gives is as good as any ie it is when we are going through our worst difficulties that God is carrying us and that’s why we only see one pair of footprints. But let’s imagine for a moment that God could tear open the heavens and come down to wipe out all the causes of misery in the world. Where would he start? If we’re honest we have to say that you and I have been the cause of some misery in our time so what would stop God from wiping us out? This is where we begin to see the magnitude of God’s love because he did come down. And he came down much lower than Isaiah expected. Not as a vengeful God with a sword in his hand but as a babe in the manger to be one of us and one with us. He came down as the God who breathes and bleeds and sweats and dies. The heavens were torn open and the Spirit descended on him when Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan. Similarly, the Jerusalem Temple curtain was torn from top to bottom when Jesus hung in desolation on the cross. There, he not only carried us but suffered for us so that God would no longer count our sins against us. Now, baptised into Christ, our heavenly Father delights in us as much as he delights in his own Son Jesus! What a sweet exchange this is. As we celebrate the first coming of Christ this Christmas we can also anticipate his second coming with great excitement. Why? because then he will come down once again to save us from a life that is all to often unfair and painful and raise us up to a new life that is characterised not by distress and divine silence, but by ceaseless praise, peace and divine union. Amen, come Lord Jesus.The blessings of the holy season to you all. Pastor Greg.
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 2
on Sunday the 23 October, St Johns held one of it’s largest Confirmation services in recent memory.Everyone was dressed in their finest. Even Derek Denby, who spent the day and night before travelling from a
soccer tournament in England – without any sleep – managed to arrive looking fresh.They processed into the church carrying candles which symbolised their baptism:Simone Brandsch, Lowenna Clemence, Hannah Davidson, Derek Denby, Amy (You Mu) Ge, Socrates Ge, Ruth Hunduma, Arne Kuehn, Phoebe Lawes, Luke Nickolai, Steven Pocock, Ben Schuler, Carolin Scriba, Will Siebert, Yeva Tamba, Grace Theodorsen, Charlene Thomas, Jack Wilson. All of the Confirmees participated in the service, including the readings and responses, prayers and explanations of Baptism and Holy Communion.On the overhead screen, Megan Rohde showed a presentation of photos of the Confirmees with sentences from their Faith Statements.After the service, everyone enjoyed a cake baked by Heather Mithen, before heading to their respective family gatherings.
yesterday, our family celebrated Hannah Davidson and Steven Pocock's confirmation day. There
were 18 young teenagers confirming their faith ... so the church was overflowing. What a blessing for all the families to see and witness, the special service. Following the service we all met at Michael and Sonja's home at Mt Hawthorn in Perth and shared lunch together. The younger ones really enjoyed the pool there too. This is one of the rare occasions when the entire family was caught on film together. I thank God for them all. Rosemary Davidson
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 3
MARLENE'S MUSICAL INTERLUDE NO.2
in the evening of Saturday the 8th of October, Marlene & Michael Crone, Matthew Koo and Jeremy Huynh delighted the 76 strong audience at St John’s with a varied selection of classical, up tempo and original musical items. Marlene
demonstrated a number of intricate examples of the amazing array of music which the violin can produce. Michael accompanied Marlene on the organ and the piano, as well as solo performances on the piano of Bach's Prelude & Fugue and Brahms' Rhapsody. Matthew proved his talent as a composer by playing three of his original compositions - two accompanied by Marlene and the third included Jeremy. Matthew was inspired to write You and I inspired by his girlfriend ...who was present and applauded. Jeremy, who has previously accompanied
Marlene, played the cello, harmonising beautifully. To conclude the evening, Matthew's composition of Your Love, was presented in four parts by the Chamber Choir conducted by Katina Bay. Jin Betterman wrote new English words as Matthew's original song was written in Korean. The Interlude evening was a resounding success enjoyed by many visitors to St John’s as well as members. These wonderful, talented musicians helped contribute $800.00 for the Faith For the Future. On behalf of the community of St John’s, I sincerely thank each one of them for their generosity in sharing their God given talents. Marlene has returned to Mainz in Germany to continue her studies in Bachelor of Music and we wish her every success as we keep her in our prayers. P.S. Videos from the concert can be now viewed on Marlene's Youtube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/violinemc2 Marlene Crone & Alex Naisbitt
FRIENDSHIP GROUP NEWS
when I returned home from Friendship Group today I felt very blessed. In the absence of both Pastors Greg and Andre who were at Parkwood in conference with the other pastors of the WA District Kay Robinson led us in an
inspirational study on the theme of Forgiveness. She chose the letter from St Paul to a fellow believer and slave owner Philemon and his appeal to Philemon to forgive his slave Onesimus for running away and also that he Paul would pay back any debts that Onesimus had incurred. Similarly Jesus has forgiven us our debt of sin with his death on the cross and resurrection. We thank you Kay for your enthusiastic, loving presentation.
Also we were privileged to welcome Cathy Sudharsana (daughter of June Westhoff) who lives in Ubud Bali with her family and has built up the school started by her father in law in the 1950's. Cathy shared her passion of education being the way out of poverty for the Balinese. Currently there are over 1,000 students, 300 in the junior high and 800 in the senior high school. She spoke of the difficulties facing a growing number of students who due to the cancellation of promised government assistance are unable to pay the fees for the 3 years of senior school where they are trained in vocational skills relating to hospitality ( $1,000 for 3 years). If any reader would like to sponsor a student for all or part of the cost please contact Cathy by email ([email protected]). More information on the web site www.klubkokos.com
During the coming weeks we will be planning our annual celebration of Advent which will be on Wednesday 14 December at 11am with HC in the church and afterwards we will enjoy a feast in the hall. The offering on that day will be shared between ALWS and Cathy's school in Bali.
The first meeting in 2012 will be Wednesday 8 February at 11am.“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Philemon verse 25 Jennie Edwards
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 4
people of st john’sBAPTISM and WEDDING
many Katanning Kowalds were at St Johns on Nov 20th to celebrate the baptism of baby Archie Schell,
son of Connie and Steven. Big brother Jack (3) was page boy at Auntie Amanda Kowald’s marriage to Matt Gilfellon on 7 October, also at St John’s.
michael Crone, our youngest organist and violinist, is travelling to the USA on Dec 2nd as a member of
the Hale School Jazz Orchestra. Michael writes: We’ll be going to New York where we’ll go to various Jazz Clubs (e.g. Village Vanguard and Birdland Jazz Club) and have a workshop and rehearsal with the Standard Youth Orchestra and Julliard School of Music. We’ll also be having rehearsals with other schools such as Riverdale Country School and then will transfer to New Haven, Connecticut, where we’ll have workshops with people such as Noah Baerman (Jazz Professor at Weslyan University). We’ll then travel to Boston to perform with Foxboro School.
ronald Feierabend is looking forward to his dreams coming true with the hope of purchasing and farming
a cane farm in Queensland previously owned by an uncle.Ronald, we will miss you!
at St Lukes’ Parkwood
Longest Lutheran Lunch, members celebrated the engagement of Pastor Paul Hannola and Karen Martin when dessert was rolled out -- the 'icing on the cake' of the lunch. Karen is the Ministry Coordinator with Lutheran Youth of Queensland.
joe and Pauline Mills , former members of St John’s and now living in the tropical Queensland city of
Cairns, hosted family and friends from all over Australia, England and Italy for the recent wedding of daughter Finola. In true Mills' style they hosted family and friends from all over Australia, England and Italy, as they celebrated the marriage at St Mary’s by the Sea of Finola and Jason Hall. Finola’s sister Sarah, husband Adam and baby Amir Janali flew over from Perth and were joined by a group of St John’s close friends - Leanora Hotker, Rob & Ronda Rohrlach and Pam Vassi. The bride is a grand-daughter of our former pastor and much- loved James and Margaret Pietsch. st John’s people were involved in various ways when
CHOGM was in town. Not sure if they met the Queen or the various Presidents & PM’s, but people like Jennie Edwards, Lovena and Exi Misama, as well as John Yates carried the prayer flag and the Commonwealth flags as well, praying for peace and progress through CHOGM. Pastor Greg led the meditation sessions each morning and a Taize service at Wesley Church in the City. Maya Kraj-Krajewski was seconded from her usual position at the WA Police Academy to work in the Communications Department.
stefan Solmundson ( Yr.10) has got on his bike and is crossing the Nullabor as we write ! Not running
/ riding away from home – but joining schoolmates and staff on a fundraiser to help their school build and create a solar-powered car ! Who says Generation XYZ haven’t got go-go-go in them?
SPECIAL BIRTHDAYS
there were a few special ‘o’ birthdays in the last two months, namely Ian Schurmann, Ian Schupelius,
Marie-Luise Schmidt, Glenn Baxter and Sarah Klahn.The slightly less important birthdays ending with a ‘5’ were celebrated by Shirley Kahlfeld, Ann Hopfmuller, Alex Naisbitt and Jill Wright.We hope you all enjoyed very happy celebrations!
PEOPLE NEWS
flying on a jet plane in early January is Allison Bessert who arrived in Perth nearly a year ago, got a job as
an au pair and within days was our newest Breath of Fresh Air in music at St Johns. Alison both sang and keyboarded for us all year, as well as contributing greatly to the warm and lively spirit among our young muso’s at St.John’s. Allison is returning to complete her studies in Early Childhood Education. God bless you dear Allison as you rejoin family and friends back at Wisconsin, USA
matthew Koo is also flying off on a jet plane in January. Matthew has been a regular Sat night
musician and many of our Contact readers will remember his brilliant compositions when performed at the St Johns Musical Evening in October. Matthew will spend time with family in Korea before returning to work and study in Perth in March.
also missing from St Johns will be Dale Offszanka, Verity and baby Lukas. Dale , another fine muso
who plays drums and guitar, is moving with family to Geraldton where he’ll be working. Verity and Lukas have been regulars at Coffee-time Mums and they will be sorely missed.
and especially at this festive and musical time of year, to all our musicians at St Johns, we say (in the words
of Abba ) :
“ Thank you for the music, the songs we're singing Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing…. ”
Congratulations
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 5
OUR NORTHBRIDGE NEIGHBOURS!
the Contact presents it’s readers with some samples of St John’s people’s comings and goings in our own front yard around Aberdeen St and a closer look at who our Northbridge neighbours are.
John Hyde MLA for Perth and Allanah McTiernan, Mayor of Vincent are both supporters of the Spirit of the Streets Choir and have been invited to be “X Factor judges” at the S.O.S. Christmas Party in St John’s Hall on 13 December. John was one of our Friday Forum guest speakers this year too.
St John’s Dreaming is the name of a new enthusiastic St John’s group, wanting to sit down with indigenous families just sharing, talking, listening and getting to know each other, with everybody wanting to do something to try to bridge the gap. Gatherings will be advertised in the St John’s weekend Bulletin.
Seen at the State Library Scene in Northbridge:
Several of our St John’s members seen at Hugh Mackay’s Book Launch of his best-seller and Friday Forum series: “What makes us Tick”. Pastors & others at the State Library Theatre attending “The Dream and the Dreaming” about Lutheran Missionaries in Central Australia. John Bruin ( our resilient St John’s lawn-guardian) working on photographic research in the State Library upper echelons.
John Yates continues to be a constant presence as a Northbridge prayer leader and encourager. There are Christians, scripture-students and Jesus followers from a number of churches around the Northbridge streets who meet and pray – and a strong Christian presence at the Overflow Café ( cnr Newcastle & Lake Sts). John encourages people to attend the Friday after noon prayer sessions at St John’s Church. He also organises a breakfast in St John’s hall every couple of months. A group of people who conduct ministry in Northbridge meet to share and learn about each other’s ministries.
TAFE Aboriginal Studies Support staff, Cherie and Alisha were guests at our Naidoc Day celebrations in St John’s courtyard. Very supportive’—’in a very practical way -- of any efforts we make to help, befriend and begin to understand our indigenous Northbridge neighbours.
Jennie Edwards and her ESL students came to look, listen and learn from our CHOGM display in the Hall. The students, mainly from Asian countries, took particular interest in the displays about the many Commonwealth countries in their home region. Jennie’s students have also been welcome guests at our Friday Forum sessions, and have sometimes joined in song with our Spirit of the Streets choir people ( who gather at our Hall every Tuesday – to sing and socialise).
Wei You ian, a regular and active member of our St John’s community (who speaks Chinese) is a businessman who’s also vice-president and general-secretary of ACMF — Association of Chinese Mainlanders & Friends. He was the organiser of a spectacular event recently at the Perth Convention Centre highlighting the Year of Chinese Culture. Several St John’s regular members were gobsmacked at the business and cultural contributions of our Northbridge Chinese friends and neighbours. Charles (as we also call him) and his wife Shuling have the delightful Endless Delights Chinese restaurant on Newcastle Street, behind the church.
Mike Lauer (and some associates) are still combing the streets of Northbridge on Friday and Saturday nights as Street Chaplains. Wonderful work they do, assisting, encouraging and supporting those in any kind of trouble on the streets.
Friday Forum people at St Johns during 2011 have learned much from many guest speakers from Northbridge: Abuatika (Perth Mosque), Katina (Drug Arm), Sam (Passages in Palmerston St), Colin (Salvation Army services),
John (Aboriginal Wartime Service Graves), Alex Bainbridge (Social Justice activist), Ramdas OAM (Multicultural Centre WA ) .
We look forward to any readers’ contributions to Our Northbridge Neighbours Harry Mithen
BOOK REVIEW - “PRISON TO PRAISE” by Merlin Corothers (Cost $9.95)This is an exciting and inspiring true short story. Once you start reading it you can’t put it down! Since 1972 it has been translated into many different languages and ten million copies have been sold worldwide. In the book, Merlin describes how his life was transformed through Jesus Christ and he shares many of his own experiences as an army Chaplain. He emphasizes the power of praising and thanking God in and for ALL circumstances and the difference this made in his life and in the lives of those he ministered to. This book is a powerful tool to help us outreach to others. I highly recommend it to every one. Lyn Wicks
DEUTSCHE WEIHNACHTSLIEDER BEI KERZENLICHTGerman Carols by Candlelight on Sunday the 11 December from 6pm onwardsat Lake Jualbup in Shenton ParkBYO picnic, rug or chairs, singing voices and Christmas spirit!For more information contact Christa Loos 9457 5007
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 6
on Sunday 30 October, about 100 members and friends of
St John’s sat at a lunch table, with Lutheran Congregations that stretched from WA to New Zealand, to enjoy good food, fellowship and perfect weather at the Longest Lutheran Lunch. Many thanks to the organisers and the large group of enthusiastic people who set up, cooked, served and cleaned up afterwards – and to everyone who attended. All proceeds ($505) were donated to ALWS for the African food crisis. Check out what other congregations got up to at their Longest Lutheran Lunch: www.lca.org.
BISCUITS FOR CHILDREN AT CHRISTMAS.
if you are able to bake some biscuits to be handed out to the children after the Christmas services, please bring them into the church by Sunday 18 December. Also, if you’re able to help package the biscuits on that day,
please let Conny Scriba (9408 0219) know.
LONGEST LUTHERAN LUNCH
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012
EVELYN KOWALD 1941-2011We were all saddened at news of Evelyn’s fairly sudden death in Royal Perth Hospital last month, where she had seemingly been recovering from surgery and treatment. Her husband Garth was with her in hospital for the last few weeks of her illness, and she’d been surrounded by family and friends in the days before she died. Evelyn, Garth and their extended family were well-known and much-loved by their local communities.
Evelyn Lorraine Kowald was born in Narrogin, WA on 3 March 1941, the eldest of five daughters of Herbert and Gwendolyn Lange.
Evelyn grew up on the family farm at Wickepin, a good grounding for her life as a farmer’s wife after she married Garth Kowald in January 1962. The marriage was blessed by the arrival of four children, Julianne, Catherine, Alayne and Murray. Sadly Catherine died as a baby, and Julianne was taken tragically as a young woman, leaving a young son Matthew to whom Evelyn has been a very special grandmother.
Evelyn was a wonderful support to Garth on the farm taking part in all aspects of farm life, but still found time to become an expert in floral art, gardening, and cake decorating, as well as being on many church and community committees.
Evelyn will be remembered with love by her family and many who knew her in the church and wider community.
LYDIA GERSCHLydia Gersch, a pioneer member of St John’s has passed on to eternal rest, at the age of 97.Born Lydia Meyer, she grew up in Perth and was baptised and confirmed at St John’s. Her parents were very active members, father Paul being on the building committee when the church was built.Following her marriage to accomplished musician Paul Gersch, Lydia spent the rest of her life in Victoria and Queensland.She died in Toowoomba in November.
WOLFGANG HABLITZEL:Born in Stuttgart in 1941, Wolfgang Hablitzel arrived in Australia from South Africa in 1981 with his wife Heidi and sons Wolfram and Joachim, and very soon purchased a home in Coolbellup and joined the Rhein-Donau Club he where became a champion in the Table tennis club.
He is remembered by his family and friends for being a very special character; hospitable, helpful, a talented worker in the engineering business that he joined in 1983 and very sociable. Wolfgang was very proud of his Swabian heritage and his German education, and he used his gifts to set up his own engineering company with his sons.
He is mourned by his wife Heidi, Wolfram, Joachimn and many friends.
“If one part suffers, every part suffers with it.” (St. Paul)
part of my work in the WA District involves making time for pastoral visits to the
various Lutheran congregations in our rather wide-spread District. These visits are for the purpose of caring for the pastors and their families and listening to the parishoners, praying with them and offering them help from the District where ever possible. In recent times there have been some rather urgent needs amongst our sister congregations with pastors Paul Hannola and Adrian Kitson’s imminent departure, and quite a lot of sickness especially amongst the pastors and their wives. While on these visits I also get to do some fun things that a city slicker like me rarely gets to do. While in Esperance recently I got to drive a brand new header, even harvesting a paddock of peas and loading them into the bin. The owner, Mark Wandel, said in church next morning that I got him praying very fervently as he saw me almost back into the silo! Praise God there was no
damage. Also, I’ve learned the secret of getting a whole row to yourself on the flight back to Perth. It’s simple,
just visit the Hoffrichter’s pig farm just before you board the plane. Apparently the staff at Sky West could smell me coming. But hey, isn’t the piglet cute! Then last weekend, after leading an Advent evening service at Katanning I spent the early hours of Monday morning in a tiny two seater Skyranger airplane, assembled and piloted by pastor Heath Pukallus. What an exhilirating experience that was! I recommend it to anyone who is mad enough to accept an invitation! But seriously, Please pray for our sister congregations and their pastors, especially for those who are facing times without a pastor through the Call system or Rest and Refreshment leave. Pray that solutions to inadequate finances will be found. Also pray that all marriages will be
strengthened and remain strong and that those who are unwell will be brought back into good health very soon. We are all in this together and we all need each other.
OBITUARIES
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 8
WHAT IS EVANGELISM? By Dr John Yates.
introductionThe word “evangelism” is scary for many Christians,
and “evangelist” can conjure up images of fiery preachers in Hay St Mall or American televangelists distorting the message of Jesus. This is very unfortunate, as the practice of evangelism is presented in a wonderful positive light in the New Testament. The simplest way to clear up the many popular confusions about evangelism is to look at how the key words are used in scripture. The Biblical VocabularyStrictly speaking the word “evangelism” does not appear in the Bible at all, but our English term comes from three closely related words. The most common of these means “the good news” (euangelion 72x), the rarest means “someone who brings the good news” i.e. the evangelist (euangelistes 3x), and the key term for our topic means “to announce good news” (euangelisomai 52x). This vocabulary was very familiar to the people of Jesus’ time. The Old Testament speaks in various places of a messenger who brings the good news of God’s victory over evil powers, e.g. “the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”” (Isa 52:9). Similarly in the Roman Empire the herald would bring “good news” from the imperial court, such as the birth of an heir, or an important military victory. All of these examples involve a verbal pronouncement. This use likewise dominates the Gospels; Jesus in fact is the great Evangelist. “Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:14-15). We see from this text that there are four primary elements to do with evangelism 1. Proclamation of the 2. Gospel message, involving a call to 3. Repentance and 4. Faith. Like Jesus, the apostles preached the gospel of the kingdom of God and commanded their hearers to turn from their sins and totally trust in God (Acts 2:36-40; 14:7 16:10 etc.). Importantly, wherever the word “gospel” is used in the New Testament it is always used with words of speaking (preach/teach/speak/persuade) and hearing (heard/received). In other words, evangelism essentially involves the communication of a verbal message.
What About Good Deeds?
The New Testament is full of exhortations to model a good and godly life in this world (Matt 5:16-17; Phil 2:15; 1 Pet 2:12 etc.) None of these urgings however are coupled with the language of evangelism. This does not mean there is no connection between good deeds and evangelism. Acts of kindness and care create an environment whereby people in the community beyond the church become open to the message of the gospel brought by the evangelist. What distinguishes “evangelism” from broader concepts such as “mission” is that evangelism always involves the use of language1. Actions in themselves speak
louder than words, but without words actions are always ambiguous. The New Testament understanding is that only the verbal presentation of the gospel of Jesus can bring people into the kingdom of God and of Christ. The evangelist has the one great aim of seeing men and women come to love and worship the one true and living God revealed in Christ (1 Thess 1:9-10).Guilt or Grace? Many sincere Christians feel great guilt about their failure to evangelise. The teaching of Jesus in Luke 15 goes a long way towards resolving this problem. To explain his own passion in reaching out to “tax collectors and sinners” Jesus told three parables, about a lost sheep, a lost coin and a lost son. In each case the return of what was lost issues in a spontaneous outbreak of joy that cannot be restrained, “‘Rejoice with me, for I have found...” (15:6, 9, 32). God’s joy in bringing the lost back to himself is the power which motivates us to proclaim the gospel (1 Thess 1:6). Wherever spiritual joy abounds it always inspires vangelism (John 4:29). Such a joy grows from the personal revelation that God enjoys us! To 2 try share the good news of Jesus when we are motivated by the bad feelings of guilt is a contradiction in terms. Thankfully joy is a gift and the person who communicates this wonderful divine joy to us is the Holy Spirit (Rom 14:17). The Role of the Holy Spirit
Christ made some tremendous promises about the impact the Spirit of God would have on his Church, “you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses ... to the end of the earth.”” (Acts 1:8); “God did not give us a Spirit of fear, but of love and of power...” (2 Tim 1:9). The key to bold and effective evangelism lies in being empowered by the Spirit of Jesus. This is something we are encouraged to pray for, “13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”” (Luke 11:13).Conclusion
“Evangelism” has enjoyed a bad press in the wider Australian community and caused much confusion in the Church when it has been divorced from the joyous news about Jesus himself. Every Christian who communicates the wonderful words of the gospel to their family, friends, neighbours or workmates is an evangelist. The role of the evangelist is neither to get people to church nor to convince folk against their will to believe what we do. All that God asks us to do is to share how much Jesus means to us, not in our own strength or wisdom but in the power of the Holy Spirit. “But how can they call to him for help if they have not believed? And how can they believe if they have not heard the message? And how can they hear if the message is not proclaimed?15 And how can the message be proclaimed if the messengers are not sent out? As the scripture says, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””(Rom 10:14-15)
1 For the LCA’s Statement on Mission please see: http://www.lca.org.au/resources/cticr/dsto2revi1.pdf
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 9
it is generally considered that the Lutheran Reformation began when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses to
the church door in Wittenberg on the 31st October 1517. These Theses were aimed against the sale of indulgences that the powerful Church at that time had instituted and Luther was calling for reform of this practice. However when Luther did this he was doing so as his regular work as a university researcher. Nowadays researchers publish their findings in international journals and/or deliver papers at conferences so that their contemporaries may critique them. Luther was doing this by inviting discussion on the Theses when he nailed them to the door. However, rather than getting discussion amongst theologians (many of whom immediately discredited them as they saw them as a threat to their elevated positions of importance), the Theses were published and widely distributed and discussed by the lay people throughout the land.
It wasn’t until 1519 while Luther was wrestling, yet again, with St Paul’s letter to the Romans that he became the great Reformer. Until that time Luther hated the term righteousness of God which until that that time, as taught by the Church, was accepted as meaning that righteousness by which God is righteous and by which he punishes sinners and the unrighteous. “Isn’t it enough,” he said, “that we miserable sinners, lost for all eternity because of original sin, are oppressed by every kind of calamity through the Ten Commandments? Why does God heap sorrow upon sorrow through the Gospel and through the Gospel threaten us with his righteousness and his wrath? … I meditated night and day on those words until at last, by the mercy of God, I paid attention to their context: The righteousness of God is revealed in it, as it is written: ‘The righteous person lives by faith.’ I began to understand that in this verse the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous person lives by a gift of God, that is by faith. I began to understand that this verse means that the righteousness of God is revealed through the Gospel, but it is a passive righteousness, i.e. that which the merciful God gives us by faith, as it is written: ‘The righteous person lives by faith.’ All at once I felt that I had been born again and entered into paradise itself through open gates. Immediately I saw the whole of Scriptures in a different light.” This episode of Luther’s life is known as his Tower Experience. This victorious revelation empowered Luther to carry through his work of reforming the Church.
As the Reformation movement grew Luther gained both enemies and friends. His enemies were those who did not want any changes to be made to the way the church operated as it was basically governed by Canonical Law (that is, following the traditions and decrees passed at various councils of the Roman church throughout the ages) and the Papacy (popes, cardinals and bishops). (Note: the Roman Catholic Church has since undergone various counter reformations amending some of their practises and confirming others.) His friends were those
who welcomed the fresh insights that Luther brought into interpreting the Scriptures. However there were also those who thought that Luther did not go far enough with his reform agenda.
Following the Tower Experience, Luther was empowered to oppose the power of the Roman church. At the Diet of Worms (a general assembly of the estates of the Holy Roman Empire that took place in Worms, a town on the River Rhine in 1521) and at which Luther uttered those well-known words: “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason---I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other---my conscience is captive to the Word of God. I cannot and I will not recant anything, for to go against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I cannot do otherwise. God help me, Amen." Following this Diet and for his own safety Luther was taken to Wartburg Castle where he stayed for a number on months and during which he translated the New Testament into the German language.
Many people misinterpreted Luther’s reforms. When he told them that they were free from the impositions placed upon them by church authorities they took it to mean that they could do whatever they wished. Consequently while Luther spent time in Wartburg Castle the people of Wittenberg began to destroy church property. Luther had to return to that troubled town where he preached a series of sermons to the people in order to curb their behaviour. Basically he told them that they were not put right with God by keeping the Law (obeying the Ten Commandments) but by Faith alone, a free gift of God. However, as Christians they were now under a new law, the law of love, in which they were to love and respect God and their neighbour (Matthew 22:37). They were to do their best to keep the Ten Commandments, not in order to obtain God’s forgiveness (salvation) but because they had been forgiven by faith alone in Christ alone. Consequently such behaviour as they had shown was completely out of character with Christian behaviour.
For a Christian, spiritual life is one of constant growth. As St Paul writes in I Corinthians 13:11,12: “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.” I believe, along with the Lutheran Church, that the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Scriptures are the “divinely inspired, written and inerrant Word of God”. We many misinterpret some passages but we dare not exclude any of them for if we do, where does one stop? Instead of ending up with a Holy Bible will have a holey Bible. We must wrestle with obscure passages and allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to reveal their meaning to us.May God be with you as you meditate upon His Word. Peter Hueppauff.
TRANSFORMATION
Saturday 10 December 6:00 pm Greg Pfeiffer Worship
Sunday 11 December 8:30 am Greg Pfeiffer Advent 3 Organ Worship
10:10 am Greg Pfeiffer Band Holy CommunionChildren’s Christmas Service6:30 pm
Saturday 17 December 6:00 pm André Meyer Holy Communion
Sunday 18 December 8:30 am André Meyer Advent 4 Band Holy Communion
10:10 am André Meyer Organ Worship
Saturday 24 December 4:00 pm German Children’s Service
5:30 pm German Service
7:00 pm Greg Pfeiffer Lessons & Carols Organ and Choir
Sunday 25 December 8:30 am André Meyer Christmas Band/Choir Holy Communion
10:10 am André Meyer Organ Holy Communion
Saturday 7 January 6:00 pm André Meyer Holy Communion
Sunday 8 January 8:30 am André Meyer Epiphany 1 Organ Worship
10:10 am André Meyer Band Holy Communion
Saturday 14 January 6:00 pm André Meyer Worship
Sunday 15 January 8:30 am André Meyer Epiphany 2 Band Holy Communion
10:10 am André Meyer Organ Worship
Saturday 21 January 6:00 pm Greg Pfeiffer Holy Communion
Sunday 22 January 8:30 am Greg Pfeiffer Epiphany 3Australia Day
Band Worship
10:10 am Greg Pfeiffer Organ Holy Communion
Saturday 28 January 6:00 pm Greg Pfeiffer Taize
Sunday 29 January 8:30 am Greg Pfeiffer Epiphany 4 Organ Holy Communion
10:10 am Greg Pfeiffer Band Holy Communion
Saturday 4 February 6:00 pm André Meyer Holy Communion
Sunday 5 February 8:30 am André Meyer Epiphany 5 Organ Holy Communion
10:10 am André Meyer Band Worship
worship roster december - january 2012 Communion services are held on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month at 8:30 am and on the 2nd and 4th Sunday at 10:10 am. Also on the 1st and 3rd Saturday evenings. Sometimes the Organ service is at 8:30 am, some-times at 10:10 am. The general pattern of services is two Band services in a row at each time, followed by two Organ services.
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 10
Saturday 3 December 6:00 pm André Meyer Holy Communion
Sunday 4 December 8:30 am André Meyer Advent 2 Organ Holy Communion
10:10 am André Meyer Band Worship
Saturday 31 December 6:00 pm Greg Pfeiffer Taize
Sunday 1 January 8:30 am Greg Pfeiffe Christmas 1 Organ Holy Communion
10:10 am Greg Pfeiffer Band Worship
RO
STER
S FO
R D
ECEM
BER
- J
AN
UA
RY
2012
St John’s Contact December 2011 - January 2012 Page 11
Date
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72If
you
are
unab
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read
as
rost
ered
, ple
ase
DO
NO
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ap. L
et P
am k
now
, so
that
Bib
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can
be s
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n.
All o
ther
rost
ers:
Ple
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find
som
eone
to s
wap
with
. Do
not l
eave
vac
ant!
Man
y th
anks
DONATIONS to cover costs for the production of the CONTACT are always welcome. They can be made at the Church Office or posted to the below address.
Please find enclosed the sum of $...................:........ , being my donation to help defray the costs of the St John’s Contact.
.............................................................................. Postcode: .................................St John’s Lutheran Church
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