Reformation from Novokuznetsk Russia

Reformation Bulletin
Novokuznetsk, Siberia, Russia

Early Sunday morning (around 4 AM), we drove from Novosibirsk, Siberia, to Novokuznetsk, Siberia to celebrate the feast of Reformation. The drive took about 5 or 6 hours on fairly decent roads (by Siberian standards). We arrived at a church made from a  converted apartment flat in Novokuznetsk. Although not a enormous space, the church was packed full. The day was extra special because a deacon who had successfully finished his seminary education was ordained as a pastor. The service followed the regular liturgy. We sang two Martin Luther hymns, "Lord Keep Us Steadfast in Thy Word," and "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." After the service, there was a great celebration. It was a great day.

Procession

Bishop Lytkin Presiding

Congregation Full of People

Food and Celebration Afterwards

Newly Ordained Pastor Dimitri and Family

Bishop Lytkin, Quill, Lehenbauer, Collver

Reformation and 95 Thesis

95 Theses in Bronze 

The first these of the 95 Theses is the most important and most relevant for today, " When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, “Repent” [Matt. 4:17], he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance." Every Reformation begins with repentance. President Pfotenhauer in his sermon, "God's Word and Grace Are a Passing Rain Shower," reminds us to repent when we see troubles in the world:

"These are warnings that the weather will change and change suddenly. Behind the clouds of grace, unthankfulness and disdain are beginning to blow. Oh, let us then earnestly tremble, heartily repent, and admonish one another; so as long as it is day, God’s Word and grace shall not become for us a passing rain shower which does not return. Let us buy, because the market is gathered at the gate of the city. The sun is shining and the weather is good. Let us make use of God’s grace and Word because we have them! Let us grab hold of them and keep them!" (At Home in the House of My Fathers, Harrison, 798)

When we were in Wittenberg last week, Rev. Dr. Wilhelm Torgeson gave a walking tour through Wittenberg (photos below). He also spoke about the 95 Theses while we stood outside the Castle Door. (It was a cold day.) The video of his presentation is below... for a portion of the video it turns side-ways but it ends up right side up. Enjoy.

Here is a pictorial tour of Wittenberg.

President Harrison's Autumn Greeting

Autumn Greeting from LCMS President Harrison from VimeoLCMS on Vimeo.

Here is President Harrison's Autumn Greeting based on 1 Peter 5, cast your cares on him. Another thing I like about this video is the Witness, Mercy, Life Together animated graphics.

Russia Update

The LCMS group met with the Bishop and representatives of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Ingria in St Petersburg.




Outside the Cathedral of the Spilled Blood.




Arrived in Novosibirsk early this morning. Now at the Lutheran Center in the Akademgorodok. Greeting many friends.

Location:бул. Молодежи,Novosibirsk,Russia

Treuenbrietzen Birthplace of Martin Chemnitz

Son of Our City, Dr. Martin Chemntiz
1522 - 1586
"He fought for Luther's teaching."

Portrait of Martin Chemnitz

While driving from Berlin to Wittenberg this afternoon, we stopped in a town called Treuenbrietzen, the birthplace of Martin Chemnitz. He was born 9 November 1522 and lived in Treuenbrietzen until he was old enough to go to school in Magdeburg. Martin's father, Paul, died when he was eleven years old. In 1545, Martin Chemnitz studied in Wittenberg under Melanchton and Martin Luther. After Luther's death, Chemnitz matriculated to several universities until he returned to the University of Wittenberg to lecture on Melanthon's Loci Communes in January 1554. By November 1554, Chemnitz was ordained into the Holy Ministry. In 1567, Chemnitz became the superintendent of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel, where he remained the rest of his life. He was one of the primary drafters of the Formula of Concord. Martin Chemnitz is known as Alter Martinus, the "Second Martin": Si Martinus non fuisset, Martinus vix stetisset ("If Martin [Chemnitz] had not come along, Martin [Luther] would hardly have survived"). It was a great joy to stop in the town where Martin Chemnitz was born and baptized. President Harrison gives a brief video overview below.

Marienkirche (St. Mary's Church)
Place Chemnitz was Baptized

Another view of Marienkirche

Parsonage for Marienkirche

Oldest Residence in Treuenbrietzen
Martin Chemnitz probably lived in a building like this

Walking down the streets of Treuenbrietzen, the wooden houses reminded me of the wooden homes found in Tomsk, Siberia, Russia. Tomsk was settled in the 17th century by Lutheran Germans; it isn't surprising that there are some similarities between the buildings.

Worship et al in Berlin

Bishop Schöne, President Harrison, Bishop Voigt in
St. Mariengemeinde in Zehlendorf (Berlin) -- Rev. Dr. Gottfried Martens Pastor

The Divine Service at St. Mariengemeinde in Zehlendorf, an area of Berlin, was a joy. The sanctuary was packed full. The service began with corporate confession and absolution; now this was not done in the typical Missouri Synod fashion (is there a typical Missouri Synod fashion? I haven't been to many congregations that use the Order for Corporate Confession and Absolution found in the hymnal.). In any case, after the general confession, the congregation was invited to the kneeling rail to receive absolution. Bishop Schöne and Pastor Martens then laid hands on every person's head and said, "Dir sind deine Sünden vergeben." ("Your sins are forgiven you.")

During the service, President Matthew Harrison preached on the text, "Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect." (My brief summary follows...) He began by saying that the New Testament isn't primarily about morality or ethics. The purpose of the Sermon on the Mount is not to teach ethics or morals. In fact, the ethical values found in the Sermon on the Mount are not much different from the ethics and morals taught in other religions. The purpose, he said, is to increase the law upon us. If you hate another person, you have murdered them. It is an increasing of the law. After expounding upon how heavy the law is from the Sermon on the Mount, he directed us to see Jesus. Jesus was perfect as his Father in heaven was perfect. The perfect Jesus sought out the imperfect. He healed the lepers. He sought out the sinner. The perfection of the Law is fulfilled when Jesus cried, "It is finished." There the perfect One redeemed imperfect people. Jesus only came for sinners. He came to save sinners and He has saved people like you and me.

President Harrison Presenting in the Fellowship Hall

After the conclusion of the service, there was a Russian style lunch and a presentation by President Harrison about the Missouri Synod. Just as many people in the Missouri Synod are not familiar with their brothers and sister in Christ in the SELK (Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church) in Germany, many people in the SELK are not familiar with the LCMS. One very noteworthy point President Harrison made was that the confession and theology of SELK gave birth to the Missouri Synod. You can read more about SELK here (the German page about SELK has much more information).

Bishop Voigt Presents President Harrison with a Gift
The history of the SELK

Bishop Voigt presented President Harrison with Quellen zur Geschichte selbstständiger evangelisch-lutherischer Kirchen in Deutschland (Sources on the History of the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church in Germany). This book gives the history of the independent Lutheran Church in Germany since the Prussian Union of 1817. It looks like a great book. You can read more about this book on the publisher's page here.

Closing hymn, "Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ"
(Lord Jesus Christ Will You Not Stay)

The afternoon came to a close with the singing of Lord Jesus Christ Will You Not Stay. This was the favorite hymn of Hermann Sasse.

Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ

Nikolaus Selnecker et al., 1611.

1. Ach bleib bei uns, Herr Jesu Christ,

Weil es nun Abend worden ist;

Dein göttlich Wort, das heile Licht,

Laß ja bei uns auslöschen nicht!

2. In dieser, letzt'n, betrübten Zeit

Verleih uns, Herr, Beständigkeit,

Daß wir dein Wort und Sakrament

Rein b'halten bis an unser End'!

3. Herr Jesu, hilf, dein' Kirch' erhalt,

Wir sind gar silcher, faul und kalt!

Gib Glück und Heil zu deinem Wort,

Damit es schall' an allem Ort!

4. Erhalt uns nur bei deinem Wort

Und wehr des Teufels Trug und Mord!

Gib deiner Kirche Gnad' und Huld,

Fried', Einigkeit, Mut und Geduld!

5. Ach Gott, es geht gar übel zu,

Auf dieser Erd' ist keine Ruh',

Viel Sekten und viel Schwärmerei

Auf einen Haufen kommt herbei.

6. Den stolzen Geistern wehre doch,

Die sich mit G'walt erheben hoch

Und bringen stets was Neues her,

Zu fälschen deine rechte Lehr'.

7. Die Sach' und Ehr', Herr Jesu Christ,

Nicht unser, sondern dein ja ist;

Darum so steh du denen bei,

Die sich auf dich verlaßen frei!

8. Dein Wort ist unsers Herzens Trutz

Und deiner Kirche wahrer Schutz;

Dabei erhalt uns, lieber Herr,

Daß wir nichts anders suchen mehr!

9. Gib, daß wir leb'n in deinem Wort

Und darauf ferner fahren fort

Von hinnen aus dem Jammertal

Zu dir in deinen Himmelssaal!

Wittenberg ILSW

We spent the day in Wittenberg for the ILSW meeting. It was great to return to Wittenberg. We return to Wittenberg Monday evening, perhaps then there will be more opportunity to post.