THE LUTHERAN April 2019

N A TIO N A L M A G A ZIN E O F THE L U THE R A N C HU RC H O F A U STRA LIA

APRIL 2019

VOL 53 NO3

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LUTHERAN

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EDITORIAL

Corinna Schimak, left, who is a member of St Luke’s Lutheran Church at Nambour in Queensland along with her parents Lydia and Santo Gangemi, was part of a special homecoming for her mum in Bayreuth, Germany. Lydia, third from left, who migrated to Australia more than 60 years ago, was baptised and confirmed at the pictured St Johannes church there. Also in the photo are Lydia’s cousin, Bavarian local Helga Roseneck, second from left, and husband Santo. The photo was taken by Helga’s husband Erwin.

Editor Lisa McIntosh p 08 8267 7300 m 0409 281 703 e lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au Executive Editor Linda Macqueen p 08 8339 5178 e linda.macqueen@lca.org.au

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The Lutheran also provides a forum for a range of opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the policies of the Lutheran Church of Australia.

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APRIL

Special features

EDITOR'S

Letter

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As I write this, we are in Lent, a key Christian season of reflection and repentance. More than ever we are aware of our need for forgiveness and salvation, as we acknowledge our sinfulness and contemplate Christ’s suffering in the lead-up to the defining festival of our faith: Easter.

Lent is traditionally a time of self-denial. Did you give something up during Lent? Chocolate? Alcohol? TV? But do 'sacrifices' as trivial as these, or even more substantial, really mean anything unless we focus on and are motivated by Jesus and his tremendous sacrifice for us?

There are alternatives for a Lenten fast, as I learnt during an Ash Wednesday devotion. Suggestions inspired by the late American bishop Arthur Lichtenberger (see http://seashellseller. org/2005/02/06/ash-wednesday) include: ‘Fast from judgement; feast on compassion. Fast from greed; feast on sharing. Fast from fear; feast on peace. Fast from gossip; feast on praise. Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude. Fast from hatred; feast on love.’

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Lent is indeed a time for reflection and repentance. After Lent comes Easter with its message of new life. The third of the ‘three Rs’ is renewal.

We’re highlighting the subject of renewal in this issue. It’s a topic that induces contrasting emotions. For some it stirs up excitement and hope, evoking elements of God’s being and presence which sometimes are pushed into a back seat. Renewal means being aware of, open to, and immersed in the work, fruit and gifts of the Holy Spirit.

For others, the concept of renewal generates fear, mistrust and the ringing of alarms, especially when it comes to teachings about baptism and those mysterious spiritual gifts.

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But what is ‘renewal’ really? Is it something we facilitate, or is it something that God, the Holy Spirit, is doing in his baptised children every day? Aren't we all actually already part of God’s Renewal Movement as we welcome the Holy Spirit's working in us through word and sacraments?

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In addition, we visit Oberammergau in Germany ahead of the 2020 season of the world-renowned Passion Play. We also find out what motivates members of our Lutheran family to take on the Australian Lutheran World Service’s Walk My Way fundraiser.

I hope and pray that you will find challenging and uplifting messages here as you continue your Lenten-Easter journey of reflection, repentance and renewal.

Lisa

PS. Just prior to The Lutheran going to print, we were shocked and saddened by the tragic terror attacks at mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand. I commend to you the Heartland eNews issued by LCNZ's Bishop Mark Whitfield and LCA's Bishop John Henderson, which calls for prayer, peace and love. See www.lca.org.au/heartland-enewschristchurch-mosque-attacks/

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Spirit of renewal

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Walking the talk

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A passion for divine drama

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Regulars

Looks easy enough, but is it? I fail each day. That’s why each day I need to be reminded that, because Jesus suffered and died for my sins, I’m forgiven, saved, loved and free.

We asked Rev Dr Noel Due, the LCA’s Pastor for New and Renewing Churches, to delve into this topic. We also look at the official position of the church and feature a Bible study on renewal.

What does renewal look like?

Heartland

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Dwelling in God’s word

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Going GREYT!

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#youngSAVEDfree

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Go and Grow

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Reel Life

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The inside story

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Notices

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Directory

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Your voice

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Coffeebreak

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22 STOP PR ES S

Support for Christchurch As Lutherans we can show our support to the people of Christchurch in the wake of the appalling murders there through prayer and expressions of solidarity and love. If you wish to donate to the New Zealand fundraising effort, please go to the LCNZ website for more details at www.lutheran.org.nz #StandingWithChristchurch

#thisisnotus

Our cover: iStock.com

JES U S I S G OD'S LOVE. HE G IVES U S NE W HE ARTS TO L AY AS IDE O UR OL D WAYS, TO B EL IE VE AND FOL LOW HIM, TO L IVE WI T H HIM E VERY DAY.

heartland

REV JOHN HENDERSON

Bishop Lutheran Church of Australia

FAITH G UARDS AG AINST TEMP TATION ‘Blessed is anyone who endures temptation … No-one, when tempted, should say, “I am being tempted by God” … But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it’ (James 1:12–14 NRSV).

It’s ironic, and perhaps tragic, that we find time and resources for our internal debates, and even run the risk of dividing our church over them, while the world into which God has sent us cries out for his love.

Such temptation does not come from God. It tries to draw us away from God, to forget the basis of faith.

Yes, we are sinners, and God accepts sinners into his kingdom. That’s the astounding grace we receive, and which we extend to each other. We can’t stop God from loving us. We can’t stop loving each other, especially those who are not like us or have different viewpoints to ours – even on things In FAITH we we regard as precious.

Last month I wrote that my congregation is without an ordained pastor. Either visiting pastors or layreaders lead our services. Last Sunday’s lay-reading sermon was on the temptation of Jesus. The short, punchy message hit home with a few truths about what temptation is and how we respond to it.

We have plenty of reasons to be thankful for God’s blessings. For are people of most of us, although not all, our In faith we are people of courage, daily life has never been better. not of fear. We will not let COURAGE, not of Yet, without being unduly negative, temptation draw us away from fear. We will not let we need to recognise that there is Jesus. I have that confidence still plenty of temptation about. It and I hope you do, too. Standing temptation draw us feeds off the very blessings that together, we will love the world for away from Jesus. make our lives good. Take your which Christ died. The Scriptures pick: materialism, cynicism, anxiety, show this love plainly for everyone despair, fear, envy, violence, selfto see. Soon, in Holy Week, the indulgence, substance abuse – we week of Christ’s passion, we will can choose from all of these and more. The more we see the Tempter come back to Jesus for one last have, it seems, the more temptation opens itself up. attempt to derail him from his saving work. We will The sermon made a useful point about that.

Temptation doesn’t draw us towards something, it draws us away from something. Temptation draws us away from God into an empty void that strips life of its meaning and purpose.

This affects us as a church. Surely, God fills our hearts with faith and lavishes us with gifts, including the Holy Spirit. We use these gifts in mission and service. Why then, on certain points, do we chase each other around the proverbial mulberry bush?

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see how Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus. We will see how Jesus responded, and we will learn how our Saviour’s response to temptation was to willingly serve his Father and give up his life for all sinners.

Seeing these things, the core of our faith, we will again discover that we really do belong together, united in Christ, steeped in his forgiveness and chock-full of resurrection life. God gives us everything we need to reach out into the world with his love.

Photos: Noel Due

What does

renewal

look like?

In an era of declining attendances in mainstream denominations in Australia and New Zealand, it’s easy to be discouraged by the cry that the church is dying. Some in the LCA say we must hold firm to our traditions in order to survive; others believe change is critical.

There is a call for renewal. But is renewal something we instigate or is it what God and his Spirit do in his church? And what does it really mean? As we reflect through Lent in the lead-up to the ultimate story of renewal – the resurrection, Pastor Noel Due explores what renewal means for the future of the church. And he finds it in a vineyard.

by NOEL DUE My forebears started growing grapes in the Barossa Valley in South Australia about 170 years ago.

Nearly 200 years into winemaking in Australia, we’ve learned a bit. If my long-dead relatives could return, they’d be flabbergasted at the mechanised, industrialised, and drip-irrigated world our vineyards have become.

The basics are still the same. Ploughing, planting, pruning and picking are still essential. And of course the other things: weed and pest control; frost and fungus protection; and an experienced eye to read the vines and the weather.

But, even after the harvest, there’s still more.

Not that any of that is bad. I reckon my grandfather would be pretty envious.

Crushing and fermenting, filtering and fining, ageing and bottling. Then selling to all parts of the globe.

But moving from hand, horse and homestead to motors, machinery and multinationals as the means of production hasn’t changed what’s actually happening.

There’s no point in growing premium Barossa shiraz or cabernet unless you do those things. And no return on your investment.

Vines and vineyards are long-standing biblical images.

Yet, when you look at it, the emphasis is not on the vine or the vineyard as things in themselves. The Owner is always the main one in the picture.

It is God who plants his vineyard. God who prunes his vine. God who promises a harvest. God who sends showers of rain. And God who uproots, displaces and grafts in new stock.

Nothing in the vineyard imagery lets us settle back in comfort and ease.

From the vine’s point of view, it’s all pretty tough.

Some vines have to be cut back to the roots, so infected have they become with fungal dieback. Some vineyards are totally ripped up, to be replanted with more vibrant stock, or a different grape variety. The vines are cut into. Grafts are inserted.

Pruning is not an optional extra, it’s a necessity.

And who’d want to be a bunch of grapes at the end of it all? You only get to look good for a few weeks until it all goes to mush. Stripped from the vine, crushed, and torn to shreds. Death is never pretty. But the wine is amazing!

Why all this? Because that’s what renewal looks like.

It looks like that wherever you encounter it in the Bible, and it looks like that wherever you encounter it in church history.

Every year – vintage upon vintage – we witness an enacted parable of the way God deals with his people, for the sake of the world.

It’s not for nothing that the Holy Spirit is associated with very elemental forces: fire, wind and water chief among them.

The Holy Spirit is ‘the Lord, the Giver of Life’. As Lord, he’s not under our control. As the Giver of Life, he does everything in conjunction with the Father and the Son to bring life to the world. To bring life to the church, for the sake of the world.

God loves the world so much he will persist in lopping his church until he’s done. The harvest is GUARANTEED. It’s just that we can’t get there without the ploughing, pruning, weeding and crushing.

We have to be honest. Things are pretty dire in the LCA vineyard.

Whichever set of statistics you look at, we’re in what some would call terminal decline. We still carry a recognised brand name – Lutheran schools; Lutheran aged care; Lutheran Community Care or Lutheran Services, for example – but at a congregational and parish level it appears that we’re heading over a cliff.

Much of my work with congregations and pastors highlights the sense of desperation. How do we keep the doors open? How do we get our missing generations back? How to get more people to join us? What program can we run? Where can we find people to run it? Where will we find a pastor? What if we can’t get one? Or afford one?

Try anything. Try everything! Something has to work.

But what if God has us here precisely because this is where we need to be? What if he doesn’t want us to fix it, because he’s got something else in mind?

What if he is not so interested in keeping the doors open, as to blow us all out of doors into the world?

What if his presence is not a cosy fire to warm ourselves, but a blaze to consume the chaff that’s clogging our gears? What if he’s not so interested in sending showers of blessing on us, but intends to baptise the world in the love of his Son? Is there any gospel here?

Plenty.

The first part is this: God loves the world so much he will persist in lopping his church until he’s done. The harvest is guaranteed. It’s just that we can’t get there without the ploughing, pruning, weeding and crushing that produces the wine we enjoy at every Holy Communion.

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Vines and vineyards are long-standing biblical images. All vines need to be pruned as an essential part of the grape-growing process.

Some need to be grafted, others may need to be uprooted and burnt off, all in the name of having a healthy plant and producing the best grapes and, ultimately, the best wine.

The second part is this: God loves the Church so much that the endpoint is far more glorious, satisfying and joyful than anything we could put in its place.

Our security, peace and contentment don’t often lie in the places we expect. God has a greater good and a preferred future for us that transcends the twigs and straw we clutch at in the tempest.

The third part is this: Jesus is the Vine. Not us. ‘I am the Vine, my Father is the Vinedresser’. Yes, we are the branches of that Vine, but the pruning takes place in Jesus. That means that as the shears bite into us, Jesus carries us through. The axe is laid to his root, on the Cross, for our sakes; that we might bear fruit that remains. And that fruit is for the sake of the world he loves.

The fourth part is this: God loves us more than we love him. Where we have become dull of hearing, slow of speech, or heard of heart, he loves us enough to break through. He allows circumstances that confound us, so that we might learn to trust him, rather than trusting our ability to fix things. And, as that happens, he opens us up to the fullness of his love we could otherwise never have known.

And the fifth part is this: this world is not yet heaven.

So much of our anxiety arises because we feel it ought to be, and strive to make it so. But the gospel is a Way. Jesus is the Way … to the Father. That is, God has never intended for us to be settled and secure here because this world is not yet heaven. To change the picture: every boat needs to have the barnacles scraped off so it can still make good headway. God loves us enough to do that.

He’s in the business of renewing his people for the sake of the world. We can be sure of that.

Do we trust him?

Rev Dr Noel Due is the LCA’s Pastor for New and Renewing Churches.

What Martin Luther had to say on John 15 I am the true Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser

(Paraphrased from Luther’s Works, American Edition, Volume 24, page 194)

The vine sees the vinedresser, or gardener, coming with his pruning shears and other tools to work around it and says: ‘What are you doing?

That hurts, don’t you know that? Now I must wither and decay, for you are removing the soil from around my roots and are tearing away at my branches with those iron teeth. You are tearing and pinching me everywhere, and I will have to stand in the ground bare and seared. You are treating me worse than any tree or plant.’

And the gardener would then reply: ‘You are a fool and do not understand. For even if I do cut a branch from you, it is a totally useless branch; it takes away your strength and your sap. Then the other branches, which should bear fruit, must suffer. Away with it! This is for your own good.’

Then the vine would say: ‘But you do not understand! I have a different feeling about it!’

The gardener declares: ‘But I understand it well.

I am doing this for your welfare, to keep the foreign and wild branches from sucking out the strength and the sap of the others. Now you will be able to yield more and better fruit and produce good wine.’

The same thing is true when the gardener applies the cow manure to the root of the vine; this, too he does for the benefit of the vine even though the vine might complain and say: ‘What in the world are you doing? Isn’t it bad enough for you to hack and cut at me all day long, trimming this cutting off that branch? Why now are you putting that foul-smelling stuff at my roots?! I am a vine, to yield delicious grapes to make wonderful wine, and you are putting that terrible-smelling stuff near me. It will destroy me!’

HOLY SPIRIT RESOURCES Spirit Filled: Normal Christian Living A new book and associated video resources by Rev Dr Noel Due and Rev Dr Steen Olsen, for group and congregational work, are due to be released shortly after Easter 2019.

From one of the external reviewers: ‘A worthy sequel to New Life: New Love by Noel Due, this book follows the same format as its predecessor making it suitable for both private study and group discussion … Each of the 12 chapters discusses an aspect of the person and work of the Holy Spirit followed by a section called “Spirit Filled Gathering”; this contains suggestions for group reading, discussion and prayer …

One cannot always recommend a book without reservations; this one I can … I fervently hope that church leaders will pick up this book and promote it for use in congregations and study groups.’ – Dr Vic Pfitzner There are also two associated video series designed for group use.

The first, Who is the Holy Spirit? by Pastor Due, was recorded with a live audience at St Petri Lutheran Church at Nuriootpa in South Australia’s Barossa Valley in the latter part of 2018. The second, Going and Growing in the Spirit by Pastor Due and Pastor Olsen, is being recorded during Lent 2019 over a series of five weeks, again with a live audience at St Petri.

The book and the two video series are each standalone. You can use the book by itself, or each video series by itself, or the three in conjunction with one another. The first set of videos is available at https://stpetri.org.au/holy-spirit/, complete with a ‘How to use these studies’ guide.

‘As pastor of a local church in mission, I highly recommend this series to you and encourage you to use it as best suits your people. They will be encouraged.’ – Pastor Adrian Kitson, St Petri Lutheran Church, Barossa Valley, South Australia

Spirit of renewal What does the LCA say?

The following is an excerpt from the statement ‘The Lutheran Church of Australia and Lutheran charismatic renewal’ prepared by the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations. It was adopted by the LCA’s General Church Council in 1977. For the full statement, see www.lca.org.au/ departments/commissions/cticr/ and go to Volume 1, section G

LUTHERANS AND SPIRITUAL RENEWAL God’s word calls for the renewal of the individual (Colossians 3:10; Romans 12:2) as well as for the constant renewal of the whole church. But the basic and fundamental renewal which is God’s original work in us through his Holy Spirit has taken place in our baptism (Titus 3:5). And so any further renewal is a daily process – ‘The inner nature is being renewed every day’ (2 Corinthians 4:16). This is still the work of God through his Spirit. The classical statement on spiritual renewal in the Lutheran Confessions reminds us that ‘our sinful self, with all its evil deeds and desires, should be drowned through All Lutherans daily repentance; and that day after day a will surely agree new self should arise to live with God in that the church righteousness and purity for ever’ (Small Catechism on Baptism). continually needs

the RENEWING POWER of the Holy Spirit if it is to be the church that the Lord wants it to be.

The church thanks God and his Spirit for all signs of spiritual life. All believers have received the grace (charis) of God in Christ through the work of the Spirit; the gifts (charismata) of the Spirit are also to be seen throughout the church. In this sense we can speak of all Christians as charismatics, for every believer has a gift. However, the term ‘charismatic’ has come to be used especially for those who believe they have, or still seek, a special filling of the Spirit and his gifts. Our purpose is not to question the sincerity or the conviction of those who believe that they have been filled with the Spirit in a special way. The church praises God for all evidence of evangelical zeal, of a renewed desire to hear and study God’s word, and to use the gifts of the Spirit in the service of the Lord. … All Lutherans will surely agree that the church continually needs the renewing power of the Holy Spirit if it is to be the church that the Lord wants it to be.

Dwelling in God’s word: A STUD

Y ON

N E E WED R G N I BE What is renewal and is it optional to the Christian life?

No! It’s not optional. It’s the life of Christ at work in our life. It’s baptism in action; daily dying to our shadowy old nature and rising up to new life in Christ, each day. God for us and in us. God loving us entirely, saint and sinner, successes and failures.

Consider and share whether you think renewal of your being is too hard or not for you.

If that’s the case, why do you feel that way?

Consider and share whether you are trying to renew yourself.

Consider whether you feel unworthy of such a generous outpouring of God’s love into you. Are those feelings God’s truth or have you believed the devil’s lies and now feel useless, worthless or unworthy of God’s abundant grace for you, his child? Share your responses.

Task No.1: Say ‘yes’ to renewal.

It’s our Heavenly Father’s desire for you.

Prayer is a conversation, a union with another. With Jesus then, quietly and slowly converse with our Father about Romans 8. Then, after proper consideration, let him answer the question in verse 31. Hear what our Father’s quiet encouraging voice says to you, dear one. Ignore the other voices, they are liars.

by PASTOR DAV ID SCHU PPA N

grounded in audacious faith, limitless hope and abundant love.

‘Be transformed’ is a command for all of us! It is a command to the devil, the sinful world and our old dead flesh to get out of his way, so that our new self can arise, today. Stand aside! Jesus is coming through in the power of the Spirit!

Read Luke 4:14 – consider what is contained in the verse and share your reflections.

Task No.2: With Jesus, converse with our Father about John 12:32.

It is interesting to note that the expression ‘all people’, which appears in this text in many English translations, doesn’t appear in the New Testament Greek. Jesus is ‘dragging all things to himself at the cross’; reclaiming territory lost to the devil at Eden. He put a stake in the ground and planted himself on it, so that we and all creation could be renewed in the power of his Holy Spirit.

Consider and share: How do you think you may be getting in the way of your inner healing and renewal?

Consider and share: Do you want to be truly free from your personal darkness? If so, then get your old, dead self out of Jesus’ way and keep questioning and conversing with our Father.

Remember daily rising is done one day at a time.

Persistence is the key.

Read Romans 12:2.

What are the key points here about renewal?

So say ‘yes’ to renewal and get out of the Spirit’s way, allowing him to work complete transformation in you.

Transformation is ‘metamorphosis’ in the Greek. This is no mere makeover that Christ is doing in us, rather he is creating something brand new – from dead hearts and souls to fully alive in Christ; from empty to filled; faithless, hopeless and loveless to relationships

As well as being a parish pastor, David Schuppan is chair of the Queensland Department for Mission and Ministry. He also writes about faith in life, with renewal as a natural part of that, in his blog https://soakintheriver.wordpress.com/ The Lutheran APRIL 2019

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