Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Advent. Show all posts

Dec 2, 2021

The beginning of wisdom and Advent

Opening service.

We give thanks to God for beginning the season of Advent with our preschool in operation. The initial announce was for the opening of schools on October 11, but then the date was changed to October 25. The preschool was open on a limited basis from late October through most of November, with the children divided into four groups attending at different hours on different days.

Games in the street.

The ball really got rolling on Monday, November 23, with a prayer service for preschool students and their families. The first reading was from Psalm 111:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who obey His commandments have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!”

The first words of this verse constitute the motto of the University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela, and our educational center as well. In the Small Catechism of Doctor Martin Luther, the explanation of each of the 10 Commandments begins like this: "We must fear and love God ..." Why should we fear God? First, by the power of him. Natural forces such as hurricanes, earthquakes or volcanoes are beyond our control, yet God is more powerful than them. Only by his Word, God destroyed the world by flood, but by the same Word, he created heaven and earth. We sinners too must fear God for his perfect justice by whose standard we are condemned.

Blowing up balloons.

Why should we love God? Moses in the book of Deuteronomy 6: 5 and our Lord Jesus Christ affirmed it in Matthew 22:37 and Mark 12:30, that the fulfillment of the first table of the Law, God's will for us to live as his children, is "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength." This is the main commandment, and the second is similar: You shall love your neighbor as yourself " (Leviticus 19:18).

The second lesson was Ephesians 6:1-4.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother (this is the first commandment with a promise), that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land. Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Work of art.

The second table of the Law, which governs our relationships with other human beings begins with our vocation as children and then as parents. In the family it is the formation of our attitude towards the authorities. The first authority figures in our lives are our parents. Our relationship with them determines our relationships with teachers at school, high school, and university; with the civil government; and finally not only with God's representatives in this world, but also with God himself. Therefore, children should learn the 10 Commandments, the moral law, at home and at school. Because education is not only knowledge, but also the formation of values and character.

Batter up!

The Gospel lesson was Luke 18:15-17.

And they also brought the children to him to touch them; but when the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. But Jesus, calling them, said: "Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a child, will not enter it."

The fulfillment of the moral law is the love of God and our neighbor, but, in truth, only one fulfilled this law perfectly, our Lord Jesus Christ. Not only in his innocent life, but also in his death on the cross he paid the debt of our sins. In Christ, God the almighty Father loved us first, and because of this perfect love and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we can love God and our neighbor. In holy baptism the Spirit turns us into redeemed children of God. So, we do not know God as an angry Judge, but as our heavenly Father and we can pray the Our Father, the prayer that the Lord taught his disciples (Matthew 6: 9-13; Luke 11: 2-4) And when Jesus He told them, "He who does not receive the kingdom of God as a child will not enter it", it is not only an argument for the baptism of children, also for adults, in baptism and later, not to trust their own understanding, but submit to the will of God and seek the welfare of others. We confess the Apostolic Creed to reaffirm our baptismal faith, in the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

The prayer service was followed by games in the street.

First candle of Advent.

A crown of candles, not thorns

On November 28, the first Sunday of Advent, we put out the blue paraments and lit the first candle of the Advent wreath. The reason for the season of Advent is preparing to celebrate the birth of the Christ. For many years, Advent was thought of as a time for repentance, fasting and prayer, much like Lent, but in anticipation of the Incarnation, rather than the Resurrection. So often churches use purple as the liturgical color of both Advent and Lent. Purple was a royal color in antiquity and, as part of their mockery, the Roman soldiers clothed Jesus in a purple or scarlet (reddish-purple) cloak and crowned him with thorns (Matthew 27:28-29; Mark 15:17; John 19:2).

Blue also is a royal color, especially the deep, rich shade known as “royal blue” which is very close on the spectrum to purple. The use of blue as an alternative liturgical color for Advent has its roots in Sweden, England and Spain. Advent blue is thought of as the color of the sky just before the first rays of dawn appear on the horizon.

Advent wreath.

The Advent wreath is called “la corona de Adviento” or “Advent crown” in Spanish, which reminds one of the crown of thorns. But the wreath or crown of Advent, since its origins in Germany, always been a circle of evergreen branches and candles. The circle also recalls the infinite mercy of the triune God that has no beginning and no end. The green branches signify the new life in Jesus Christ. The four candles represent the four Sundays of Advent. One of the candles is lit on the first Sunday of Advent, then a new candle every Sunday until the last Sunday with all of them lit. Many times the color of the third candle is pink, because its Sunday is the midpoint of the season. A white candle inside the circle that is lit on Christmas Eve to symbolize the light of Christ in this world.

And, of course, we set out the Nativity scene, or pesebre, as it is known in Venezuela. In the 13th Century, Francis of Asissi put together what we would call today a living Nativity scene. People began making models of this scene for their homes with figures of wood or clay. This custom spread from Italy throughout Europe, but particularly gained a foothold in Spain. From there it spread to Spain’s colonies in the Americas. We follow the Venezuelan practice of not placing the Christ Child in the scene until Christmas Eve.

Pray for Venezuela

We also give thanks that on November 21, nationwide gubernatorial and municipal elections were carried out with no violent repercussions. Only the results of the governor’s race in our state of Barinas were disputed. Meanwhile, according to a United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) report, Venezuela is second only to Haiti as the Latin American country with the highest percentage of hungry people. Haiti and other French-speaking nations of the Caribbean are considered part of Latin America because French, like Spanish and Portuguese (spoken in Brazil) are Romance (“Romanish”) languages derived from Latin dialects.

Lord God, make Advent a blessing to us as we prepare our hearts to welcome the Christ Child anew. Amen.

Dec 1, 2020

Crown of light, crown of life

Corona de Adviento


"Blessed is the man that endures temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." James 1:12

Anyi lights the wreath.We lit the first candle of the Advent wreath on Sunday, November 29, 2020. The wreath (in Spanish they call it a corona or crown) is set up in the chapel, and so is the manger scene. Following Venezuelan custom, we have not placed the Christ Child in the manger yet, because we are anticipating and preparing for the celebration of His birth.

In past years, for many people, “Christmas” meant the beginning of a long vacation period, usually starting December 15 and lasting until January 6 (Epiphany). It was a time for getaways to Venezuela’s towering mountains or hundreds of miles of Caribbean shoreline, or perhaps just staying at home to eat and drink with family and friends. This year is different, although COVID-19 travel restrictions may be lifted this month. Still, because of the hyperinflationary economy, there are many families who cannot afford the traditional Christmas meal of hallaca, pan de jamón and chicken salad. To a gringo, the hallaca looks much like a tamale, but whatever you do, do not call it a tamale. Pan de jamón is holiday bread filled with ham and olives. The chicken salad is chicken salad, although there is a history behind it as a Christmas treat. Even during the best years, however, for those who had forgotten the reason for the season, the good times and good feelings were only a short respite from days of toil and trouble without hope. Now they may not have even that. But for those of us for whom the light of Christ shines throughout the year, this season is both a time to remember why we have the sure promise of eternal life and to look forward to the fulfillment of that promise despite the trials and troubles of this life.

Still no COVID-19 in La Caramuca

Speaking of trials, we give thanks be to God that it has been nearly eight months and no COVID-19 cases have been recorded in La Caramuca. I was reflecting on that after being reminded that at this time in 2014, everyone in La Caramuca, including Luz Maria and myself, had come down with chikungunya at least once and sometimes twice. Chikungunya is a tropical disease that first appeared in India and islands in the Indian Ocean in 2005/2006 and spread to the Caribbean basin by 2013. It caused quite a few deaths throughout Latin America and there still is no vaccine or cure for it. There also are no vaccines or cures for dengue fever or the zika virus, both of which still are present in Venezuela, too. Dengue, zika and chikungunya all are spread by the same species of tropical mosquito, which does not survive and reproduce any place frostier than Florida. I am at a loss to explain why COVID-19 has had so little direct impact on us, except to say the Lord has had mercy on us. Although the “national quarantine” has severely restricted travel even in and around Barinas, we nevertheless are not completely isolated from the rest of the country or the world.

Danelle Putnam

Online courses continue

Together with Pastor Eliezer Mendoza of Barquisimeto, who is director of the Juan de Frias Theological Institute, Luz Maria is reviewing and evaluating the final coursework in the first stage of online training of deaconesses in Venezuela. The program began September 25, 2020, with 41 women enrolled. Weekly online sessions were conducted via Zoom software with presentations by Deaconess Danelle Putnam, coordinator of deaconess education for Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic, and Dr. Roberto Bustamente, theological educator at the Dominican seminary. Also in November, the Lutheran Church of Venezuela conducted its first online national assembly via Zoom videoconferencing. Our preschool students, as well as students in the elementary schools have continued coursework online for the first trimester of the 2020/2021 school year. All of this despite continued power outages and lapses in Internet service.

Pastor Eduardo Flores.

Because of advances in and widespread adoption of videoconferencing technology, we feel confident in inviting congregations, societies and groups that support our work in La Caramuca, or would just like to know more about us to arrange a Zoom conference at the most convenient date. Please let us know!

Medicine for Venezuela Project completes third year of operation

According to James and Lisa Tino of Global Lutheran Outreach, “Thousands of people have benefited from this incredible project of mercy over the last three years. Currently we are packing and preparing to send about 60,000 pills which will be distributed to people in desperate need via our 21 sister congregations throughout Venezuela.” Here we look forward to receiving more of this necessary assistance. The Tinos have more to say about how Global Lutheran Outreach helps Venezuelan immigrants in Chile.

Pray for Venezuela and the world

Let us remember in prayer:

The victims of Hurricane Eta in Central America and of storms and earthquakes throughout the world.

Families affected by heavy rains and floods throughout northwestern Venezuela.

The calming of political unreast in Peru and Chile, as well as other countries.

For persecuted Christians in China, Nigeria, North Korea and elsewhere, and continued religious liberty for all.


Lo! the hosts of evil round us

Scorn the Christ, assail His ways!

From the fears that long have bound us

Free our hearts to faith and praise.

Grant us wisdom, grant us courage

For the living of these days,

For the living of these days.


LSB 850

Text: God of Grace and God of Glory

Author: Harry Emerson Fosdick, 1878-1969

Tune: CWM RHONDDA

Arranger: Henry V. Gerike, b. 1848

Composer: John Hughes, 1873-1932




Jan 7, 2020

Baptisms and confirmations from Advent to Epiphany


Advent wreath.
One challenge to Advent observance is convincing people that it is not yet the season to be jolly. In principle, Advent is supposed to parallel Lent as a season of reflection and repentance. In one case, we prepare ourselves to, in humility and gratitude, celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, in the other, the mystery of the Resurrection. But the world wants to party and so it does.

Sandro, Samantha and Sandro Dionel.In the cultural context of Venezuela, everyone is given time off for most of December and the first week of January. In the past, most have used this free time for vacations in the mountains or the beaches, or for visits with family members (even if these are relatives that they see every other day of the year anyway). Because of the current economic cristis, much of this activity has been scaled way back. But still too many have forgotten the real reason to celebrate in due time.

The long national holiday includes the closing of all schools, which is a rule that we must live by. So during the first week in December, we had our Christmas party for the preschool children and their parents. This was an opportunity to present the true message of Christmas as well as share food and gifts. One couple, Samantha and Sandro, parents of our preschool student, Juan Diego, portrayed Mary and Joseph. Their newborn son, Sandro Dionel, stood in for the Christ Child.
Baptism of Eduardo Garrido.

The following Sunday, December 8, Eduardo Garrido, a former preschool student and recipient of a scholarship for Christian education from the LeadaChild mission society, received the gift of eternal life in Christ through holy Baptism. The appointed text was Luke 21:25-26, and as I said in the sermon, the promise of the new covenant in Christ is for all nations. The hallmark of this new covenant is not circumcision as in the old covenant, but the baptism that Eduardo Garrido will receive today. No matter our race or tribe, we are Abraham's heirs in the water linked to the Word of God. Therefore, our hope is not only for Christmas next year, but for the day when Christ comes again in glory. Because in baptism we are also heirs of eternal life that Christ won for us on the cross. He was punished for our sins on the cross, but let us share in his resurrection from death because of baptism. Christmas points to Holy Week. Jesus was born in this world to suffer and die on the cross. He began his way to the cross with His baptism in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. Like the baptism of Jesus, the Father's voice spoke from the heavens and the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, in each Christian baptism, the Father and the Son send the Holy Spirit to live in us.
Baptism of Juan Diego.
Baptism of Sandro Dionel. 
The following Sunday, December 15, Juan Diego and Sandro Dionel were baptized. The appointed text was Matthew 11:2-10. As I said in the sermon, "He who is least in the kingdom of heaven" means any believer in the new covenant in the blood of Jesus Christ. John did not baptize with the Holy Spirit, but Jesus Christ did. The same Holy Spirit who descended upon Jesus at his baptism was poured out on the church on the day of Pentecost. Today Sandro Dionel Pérez and Juan Diego Rodriguez will receive new life in Christ through baptism. I am not John the Baptist, but I baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit with the same authority as the apostles. In addition, according to the old covenant, only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place once a year to sacrifice the blood of animals for the sins of the people. But Christ sacrificed Himself once forever and now every Christian can enter the Most Holy Place, that is, the presence of God, at any time by the blood of Christ. Because of His baptism, every Christian has more power and authority than the high priest in the Temple of Jerusalem. The priests are not only the descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses, but all consecrated in the baptism of Jesus are heirs of the priests, prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament. According to the old covenant, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year to sacrifice the blood of animals for the sins of the people. But Christ sacrificed himself once forever and now every Christian can enter the Holy of Holies, that is, the presence of God, at any time by the blood of Christ. Because of his baptism, every Christian has more power and authority than the high priest in the Temple of Jerusalem. Priests are not only the descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses, but all consecrated in the baptism of Jesus are heirs of the priests, prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament. The miracle of baptism that will occur today is greater than thunder and lightning on Mount Sinai, larger than the division of the waters of the Red Sea. In baptism we have the promise of eternal life and in that the peace that surpasses all understanding. Amen.

A rude awakening

Vacation Bible schoo.
We celebrated Christmas on Christmas Eve and the following Sunday, December 29. On the evening of December 31, we celebrated the circumcision and naming of Jesus. The service went well, but at 3 a.m., January 1, Luz Maria and I were awakened by the cries of our neighbors. There was a fire in the church! A ventilation fan had been left on, and it short-circuited and burst into flame. One fellow jumped on his motorcycle and went throughout the neighborhood alerting everyone of the fire. Thanks to everyone’s help, we were able to put it out before there was irreparable damage (except to the fan). But all the smoke had left a layer of stickly soot over everything but the altar (which was covered by a plastic sheet. We do that to prevent damage to the altar cloths from flying insects and birds). Fortunately, we were able to clean it all and repaint the walls before Sunday. 
Fishers of men.

At the same time that volunteers were cleaning and repainting the chapel, Luz Maria and I led a vacation Bible school on the work and mission of the church and the means of grace. There were perhaps as many adults as children in attendance. 

First communion on Epiphany

We celebrated the Epiphany on January 5, and also the third anniversary of the dedication of our chapel. Karla Valeria Frías Torrealba received her first communion that Sunday. Her mother, Yudy Torreabla, who joined our congregation by affirmation of faith, was by her side.

I included in the reading of the story of the Magi the account of the massacre of the Holy Innocents of Bethlehem. The visit of the Magi signifies that the promise of salvation is by grace (or gift) for believers of all nations. But the confirmation vow reminds that we must, with the help of the Holy Spirit, persever in our confession of faith, even under pain of death. We remembered in prayer the persecuted Christians of Nigeria, China and other parts of the globe.

First communion for Karla Frias.
Lord God, revealed in the Christ as the One whose foolishness is wiser than men and whose weakness is stronger than men, help those who suffer for the sake of truth to find Your strength in their weakness, to see your glory in what is despised, and to feel Your presence in what is desolate. Help them to understand that in Your gentleness there is power, that in Your grace there is strength, and that in Your forgiveness there is life. Relieve them from torture and pain, from strain of the emotions, and from temptation, danger and agony of soul. Use their suffering for the conversion of those who torment them, for the strengthening of those who love them, and for the welfare of Your people everywhere. Keep them in your steadfast love in Christ, our Lord, for His sake. Amen.

Lutheran Book of Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, 1970.

Dec 7, 2018

How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?

With Graciela.
With Señora Graciela in the hospital.
Days before our departure on a fact-finding tour of Ecuador and Peru, we received word that Graciela Perez de Brito has been hospitalized with a respiratory infection. She had been a faithful member of Corpus Christi Lutheran Church, our “mother congregation” in the nearby city of Barinas.

Corpus Christi was founded in the 1980s after people there heard broadcasts of “Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones” (the Spanish Lutheran Hour). Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod missionaries in Caracas were contacted and a church was planted. But the congregation has had a troubled history and more than once came close to closing its doors. At one time, Luz Maria; her mother, Carmen; sister, Rosaura; and brothers, Moises and Robert, all were members of Corpus Christi. Because of an early schism, her mother, Rosaura and Robert joined a Baptist church in Barinas.
Graciela and great-granddaughter.
Graciela Perez and her great-granddaughter.

Corpus Christi has been in its present location in Barrio Cambio, Barinas, for nearly 20 years. Besides our mission, the nearest confessional Lutheran churches are located in the city of Barquisimeto, about three hours northeast of Barinas by car or bus. Beyond Barquisimeto, the nearest congregations of our confession are found in Maracay and Caracas, about seven to eight hours overland to the east. Corpus Christi was served by LCMS missionaries until the synod withdrew its missionaries from Venezuela in the early 2000s. The congregation has never given up hope of calling its own full-time pastor, but due to the lack of national pastors and the remote location, has not yet succeeded. I have heard there is a call in the works, but nothing definite yet.

At any rate, I visited the Señora Graciela in Luis Razetti Hospital and offered her the sacrament of Holy Communion for what proved to be the last time, for she died a few days later. Before we left on our trip, I was able to say a few words and pray over her coffin before it was to be moved from the family’s house to the place of burial.
Dr. Nancy Coromoto Telleria
Dr. Nancy Coromoto Telleria

At the same time, we received news of the passing of Dr. Nancy Coromoto Telleria, herself a physician and member of Fountain of Life Lutheran Church in Puerto Ordaz, a two-day journey from Barinas by car or bus. Like Luz Maria, Dr. Nancy had been active in, and a president of the Sociedad Luterana de Damas Venezolanas (SOLUDAVE), the Lutheran women’s organization.

The purpose of our journey was to investigate the material and spiritual needs of members of our mission and other Venezuelans who have fled deteriorating conditions in their own land. According to the United Nations, the number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela has risen to 3 million worldwide, with 2.4 million Venezuelan refugees and migrants in Latin America and the Caribbean regions. Colombia has the highest number of refugees and migrants from Venezuela, with over 1 million. Peru is next with over 500,000. Ecuador has over 220,000, Argentina 130,000, Chile over 100,000, Panama 94,000, and Brazil 85,000.

Our first stop was Quito, Ecuador, where we stayed at the home of Luz Maria’s daughter, Charli Santana. With her husband, Juan Carlos Leal, and son, Jhoan Andrés, Charli has lived in Ecuador for about two years. She works there as a preschool teacher, while Juan Carlos, after a series of menial jobs, has finally found work as a civil engineer, the field for which he was trained. This is a common experience for Venezuelan expatriates, many of whom were of the professional class in Venezuela. Nevertheless, they often find themselves on the bottom rung of the socioeconomic ladder in other countries and to a degree, resented by native-born citizens because of job competition.
Christ the King Sunday in Quito.
Christ the King Sunday in Quito.

We also met Yexi Vanesa Vargas, who had been a member of Corpus Christi; Luz Maria’s brother, Robert; and a number of other Venezuelans. I led the Divine Service in Charli’s patio on November 25, 2018, the last Sunday of the church year. This verse from the Old Testament reading, Isaiah 35:3-10, was very appropriate: “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

As far as I have been able to tell, there is no confessional Lutheran presence in Ecuador. We hope and pray that this situation will be rectified in the future.

Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church.
Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church.
From Ecuador, it was on to Lima, Peru, where there are LCMS mission congregations. One, Castillo Fuerte (Mighty Fortress) Lutheran Church is located in the La Victoria district of Lima. One of the most populous districts in the city, La Victoria borders downtown Lima on the northwest, the district of Lince on the west, San Isidro on the southwest, San Borja on the south, San Luis on the east, and El Agustino on the northeast. Luz Maria and I helped with the church’s afterschool tutoring program during the week, and on Saturday, December 1, I preached at the first Advent service of the season, by invitation of Pastor Martin Osmel Soliz. He and his wife, Yolanda, are natives of Bolivia, and Pastor Osmel is one of the first graduates of Concordia El Reformador Seminary in the Dominican Republic, a joint project on Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and LCMS World Missions.

Los Olivos Mission.
Los Olivos Mission.
On Sunday, December 2, I preached at a still unnamed mission in Los Olivos, a municipality in the Cono Norte region of Lima. It was there that we met a large number of Venezuelan expatriates, including Luz Maria’s daughter, Yepci Santana, and her children, Aaron, Oriana and Elias; Denys Cortez and Sonia Salazar from the Cagua Mission in Maracay; and Yajaira Castro of Christ the King Lutheran Church, Maturin, Venezuela.

Dinner with the Brinks.
Pastor Osmel and Yolanda; Paul and Barbara Brink.
On December 3, we had dinner with Pastor Paul Brink and his wife, Barbara. I was grateful for the opportunity to have talked with Pastor Paul Brink about the condition of Venezuelans in Peru. Pastor Brink had worked for many years as a missionary in Venezuela, among Latin American immigrants in the USA, and now is serving in Peru. I met him for the first time in 2005 in Maracay, Venezuela, but he and his wife, Barbara, have known Luz Maria longer than I have.

Finally, in Lima I crossed an item off my “bucket list” by visiting the pre-Columbian ruins known as Huaca Mateo Salado. The site is named after the "Lutheran hermit" who lived there in the 16th Century.

Huaca Mateo Salado.
Huaca Mateo Salado.
Born Matheus Salade in France, Mateo Salado moved to Spain and became part of the Lutheran community of Seville, Spain. The Reformation took root there, only to be uprooted by the Spanish Inquisition. Those who remained faithful were killed or driven into exile. Salado fled to the other side of the world in 1561, only to find that the Inquisition had branch offices in the Americas (Lima, Mexico City and Cartagena, Colombia). He found refuge amid these sprawling ruins (at one time a city of 27,000 people). He spoke publicly against the dogmas and privileges of the Roman church. Finally, he was captured and burned at the stake in 1573 as the first, but not the last, victim of the Inquisition in Lima. He is considered the patriarch of evangelical Christianity in Peru.

During our journey, Luz Maria and I reflected a lot on Psalm 137, the lament of the captive Jews in Bablylon.

“By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the Lord's song in a strange land?”

Their deepest grief and mourning was not for the loss of their earthly goods so much as the joyous songs of the Lord’s house, the Temple of Jerusalem. Their captors had heard of the wonderful hymns of the Jews and demanded to hear them. But the resentment and the bitterness of the captives kept them from complying with the request. The homesickness and spiritual hunger of Venezuelans in exile is much like that of the captive Jews. But as Christianity spread through the Roman Empire when the Jews and first Christians were driven from Jerusalem by persecution, might not the Venezuelan diaspora provide a seedbed for evangelism throughout Latin America?

Jan 5, 2017

Baptism now saves you (1 Peter 3:21)



Baptismal font in the chapel.
During the season of Advent, many of our appointed texts focus on John the Baptist: How he prepared the way for the first coming of Christ, and how the baptism of John differed from the baptism of Jesus.

For example, in the Gospel reading for the fourth Sunday of Advent, John 1:19-28, the Pharisees ask John, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.”

Celebrating the hope of new life.
John already had quoted the prophet Isaiah in response to the Pharisees' demand to know who he was. “A voice cries in the wilderness, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” (Isaiah 40:3). By calling the people of Israel to repentance and a ritual bath as a sign of repentance, John prepared the way for Israel's promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. Through the water of baptism he confirmed and sealed his preaching unto repentance. He admonished the people of Israel that they were in need of a cleansing from sins. Those that were baptized by John confessed their sins.

But still the baptism of John only pointed forward to the fulfillment of the redemption in Christ. And the Messiah was even then in the world, He was living in the midst of the Jewish people, though as yet unknown to them. John was the last and greatest prophet of the old covenant, preaching the Law so that it might touch the people's hearts and convince them of their need for a Savior. The Law still serves to convict us of our sin, but in Christian baptism, we have the Gospel, the good news of salvation in Jesus, made tangible for us in the water and the Word. Because Christ died in our place on the cross and rose again on the third day, baptism is death to sin and the beginning of new life (Romans 6:3-5). Jesus' death and resurrection were made possible by His birth, so Christmas is a celebration of His birth, yet also a celebration of our new birth.

We began the new year by remembering the holy Child's circumcision and naming. According to the Jewish law, male babies were circumcised on the eighth day of their birth to signify that through them the seed of Abraham would continue until the birth of one particular descendant of Abraham, the Messiah. By being circumsized Himself, the Messiah fulfilled all the law of Moses in our place, then by being baptized Himself by John, Jesus assured all who believe in Him that baptism with water seals them as part of His people. Not by circumcision of the male line, but by the direct spiritual regeneration of all who receive the sacrament, regardless of racial/ethnic background, sex or social class (Gálatas 3:23-29).

So it is fitting that in 2017, the 500th anniversary of the renewal of the church, the culmination of the Christmas and Epiphany seasons will be the dedication of our new chapel on January 8, the Sunday on which we celebrate the baptism of Jesus. Three children will be baptized that day and five young people take take their first communion. May God grant that the work of the Holy Spirit continue in the lives of these, His children, throughout this new year and for all the days to come. Amen.

Dec 15, 2015

Rejoicing in the mysteries of God

The baptism of Maria Rosales.


The third Sunday in Advent is called "Gaudete Sunday". The introit quotes Philippian 4:4, "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, rejoice". The Latin words are "Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete." We lit a reddish-pink candle on our Advent wreath in addition to two blue ones.
Lighting three candles.

The basis of this tradition is that while the Scripture readings for the first two Sundays in Advent are rather grim lessons about Christ's purpose for being born in Bethlehem (to suffer and die on the cross) and His second coming in glory and judgment, in keeping with the idea of Advent as a season of repentance and reflection, on Gaudete Sunday the mood shifts more toward joy and hope as the celebration of the Nativity draws near.

We certainly had cause to rejoice on December 13, 2015, as Maria Gabriela Rosales was baptized, and Elias Montoya and Yaneth Torres were confirmed and received their first communion. My sermon text was the epistle, 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, which speaks of the ministers of the church as "servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God." What are the "mysteries of God" but the sacraments of baptism and the Lord's Supper, which we recognize, along with the preaching of the Word, as being central to our worship. You may read the complete English text of my sermon here.

Truly we rejoice in these young people and pray for them: Dearest Lord, we thank You that in the sacrament of baptism you bring new birth and life, making us members of Your holy family. We recall with gratitude our own baptisms, and pray that you would preserve Maria and us in Your baptismal grace. Help us to live in this world as Your redeemed children, serving You and our neighbors in love and devotion.
First communion for Elias and Yaneth.

As You have made us all Your children in holy baptism, You have brought Elias and Yaneth through study of Your holy Word to know the meaning of their baptisms, and confess Your name as the only true God in Whom we have life eternal.

Always renew the strength of these young people that they shall rise up with wings like eagles. Grant them the faith of young Isaac; the vision of young Joseph; the obedience of young Samuel; the vigor of young David; the tenderness of young Jonathan; the wisdom of young Solomon; the courage of young Daniel; and the zeal of young Timothy. Deliver them from the temptations of youth, from unbelief, from forgetting their baptism, and losing the gift of Your Holy Spirit. Hear us for the sake of Your Son, Who redeemed us by His grace. Amén.

(Adapted from the "Lutheran Book of Prayer", Concordia Publishing House, 1970.)

Nov 30, 2015

Nations shall come to your light

Advent wreath
"For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." (ESV)

 While I read from Isaiah 60:2-3, José Ignacio Garrido lit the first candle in our Advent wreath on November 29, the first Sunday in Advent 2015. The words are addressed to the people of God, who were the children of Israel in Isaiah's day, but now the verses speakto the Church of the New Testament.  They announce the opening of the Messianic period. In Jesus the glory of the Lord has arisen upon the Church, like the sun in all its splendor and majesty. While the earth as a whole still is covered by the darkness of sin and iniquity, the light of Christ upon the Church, which shone upon those who awaited the Messiah, arose and shone during all the long centuries since the Gospel first was proclaimed. This light will shine through the Church into the darkness and draw the nations to it, as light of a heavenly chorus drew the shepherds and later the miraculous star drew the Magi to Bethlehem.

This is the first years that we have used an Advent wreath during this season in our worship at Epiphany Lutheran Mission of La Caramuca. The candlestand was built by ironworker Ciro Mendoza, and was decorated by Luz Maria and her daughter, Angi Santana. As I explained, the circle of candles appears to be adorned with pine branches, but the spines really represent the crown of thorns on the Lord's head as He made His journey to the cross for us. 

That is why our first Gospel reading for Advent was Matthew 21:1-9. This is Matthew's account of the Lord's last entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. We remember it as we begin our preparation for the celebration of His birth, because His Incarnation also was a joyous entry into this world, at which time He was hailed and adored. But it also was the beginning of His road to the cross, because He was born into this world to suffer and die for us. 

We closed the old church year amid news of disasters, terrorist attacks, an international refugee crisis and the possibility of another global war. There were Venezuelans who, with people of other nations, died in the terrorist actions in Paris and Mali. Closer to home, starting on November 7, the neighboring state of Mérida, Venezuela, was struck with a series of earthquakes measuring as high as 5.3 in magnitude, and resulting in death, injuries and damages to homes and public buildings. Our preschool, as well as other schools, was ordered to close early for the year, as critical national elections have been scheduled for December 6. Many hope these elections will bring about changes in a country that has for years been plagued by runaway inflation, shortages of foodstuffs and medicines, and one of the world's highest rates of violent crime. Unfortunately, fears for public safety during this politically tense period proved valid as one candidate, Luis Manuel Diaz, was assassinated on the campaign trail.

Of course, the Scripture readings for the last three Sundays of the church year deal with the end times, the trials to come and the ultimate victory of Christ. We have been able to take comfort in such passages as Matthew 24:6-13, "And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you dare not be alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 

“Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (ESV)
Nailu La Cruz and Walther Suarez

Due to the early closing of the preschool, we held a Christmas party for the children and their parents on November 26, as we may not see some of them again until January. All the children received presents and they sang their favorite Christmas songs, such as "Campanas Por Doquier" which sound like "Jingle Bells", but really is about the Nativity). On November 18, the preschool children exchanged Christmas greetings with the preschoolers of St. Michael's Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Minnesota, by way of an Internet videoconference. We only recently have had the bandwidth to try something like that.

We ask you to remember Venezuela in your prayers in the days to come, and especially to ask for a peaceful solution to the country's problems and a brighter future in 2016.



El Amor de Dios/Campanas Por Doquier from David Ernst on Vimeo.

Dec 16, 2014

God's gift of life

Light of Advent
As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the Christ Child, it is well to remember that every baby born is a blessing and a gift from God (Psalm127:3). Every child, regardlessof of the circumstances of its birth, is God's creation, and has value and purpose in His eyes.

In Venezuela, a licensed health professional may perform an abortion to save the mother's life, with the written permission of the woman, her husband or a legal representative. In emergencies, the approval of a second physician may suffice. Abortions performed by anyone else, for any other reason, merit a prison sentence, ranging from six months to three years, depending on the circumstances. No one in their right mind would want to spend any amount of time in a Venezuelan prison, where prisoners often have to try and catch rats for food.
Nevertheless, non-abortifacient contraceptives are readily available. You can buy condoms off the rack at most pharmacies and supermarkets and obtaining oral contraceptives is not a problem, either. According to the CIA World Fact Book, the annual birth rate in Venezuela today is equal to that of the United States in 1965. That was, of course, when the use of contraceptives, particularly oral contraceptives, had become widespread in the United States, but the Supreme Court had not yet swept away all existing abortion legislation with the Roe vs. Wade decision.


But there is an important difference between Venezuela in 2014 and the United States in 1965:The number of children born out of wedlock to women between 15 and 19 years of age, and sometimes to girls under 15. Venezuela has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Latin American, a region of the world which itself is second only to Africa in its number of teen pregnancies. This serves to perpetuate a cycle of poverty, since 80 percent of these teenage mothers drop out of school. Not only do they fail to gain a basic formal education (we deal with quite a few illiterate adults) or marketable skills, they also lack the parenting skills necessary to raise their children. This is because their mothers, and even their grandmothers, became pregnant as teenagers and never had good role models. Many of the children in our community do not receive nutritionally balanced meals, not just because of their family's limited means, but because the adults who have charge of them do not have basic nutritional knowledge. Nutritionally related health problems are very common. For example, Venezuela has the highest incidence of uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes mellitus in Latin America.

 Most of the households in our surrounding community have a single parental figure, usually a woman who is mother or grandmother to the rest. Children often grow up with many brothers and sisters, all of whom have different biological fathers. The lack of responsible males in these homes means the boys do not learn how to be responsible,  caring men, which contributes the perpetuation of the cycle of poverty. Consumption of alcohol and other drugs is high, and so is the incidence of emotional, physical and sexual abuse of children.

The availability of contraceptives has not proved a remedy for this situation because those most at risk from early pregnancies do not have the maturity or the motivation to use contraceptives. There is a cultural dynamic that teaches girls that their sexuality is their only means of empowerment; that they only gain worth as individuals by their ability to attract men and bear children. Nor does the availability of contraceptives mean anything to boys who become men without learning respect for women and any sense of responsibility for any children they may bring into the world.

We do not believe the killing of the unborn would solve this problem, either. First of all, the Holy Scriptures teach us that life begins at conception (Isaiah 44:2, 49:1; Jeremiah 1:5). Indeed, we read in Luke1:39-56 that John the Baptist leaped in his mother's womb at the approach of Mary, because of the baby that she bore (""Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of they womb"). But we also interpret the Fifth Commandment to mean not just that we should avoid actively seeking to harm our neighbor, but to help him maintain and improve his life as well. So it is not our objective to advocate the extermination of the poor, but to help them.

In the second place, the legalization of abortion would not break the cycle of poverty,any more than the availability of contraception. It would not give the people the means or the motivation to change their lives. That is what we hope to do, with the help of God, through our mission.  To teach them needed skills and pursue continued education, instill Christian values regarding marriage and child-bearing, and above all, by preaching the Gospel of God's love in Christ,to give them the hope and confidence necessary to break free of the oppression of false beliefs as well as poverty. We are pleased that some of the young people involved with our mission have become the first in their families to graduate from high school, and that some adults are learning to read. But we are even more pleased that they have come to believe that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, and, by His resurrection, gained for them the promise of eternal life.

Dec 9, 2014

Preparing for the end of all things

Valeria Sanchez
Valeria Sanchez, born April 16, 2012
Eight of the children enrolled in our preschool were born in 2012, the year the world was supposed to end. In case you have forgotten, the whole Y2K crisis was a big dud. Civilization did not collapse in the year 2000 because of computer malfunctions, so many people in the early 2000s convinced themselves that the end would come in 2012 because of an alleged Mayan prophecy.

The ancient Mayans were good at mathematics and astronomy, and developed an elaborate calendar system. Just as our Gregorian calendar begins a new annual cycle every January 1, and a new cycle of 10 centuries every 1,000 years, one "great cycle" of the Mayan calendar ended on the day that corresponded to December 21, 2012 (the winter solstice) on our calendar. For the ancient Mayans, that date only signified the beginning of a new "great cycle", as indicated the oldest-known representation of the Mayan calendar which calculates the movements of heavenly bodies millions of years past 2012.

But the idea that the supposed Mayan end-times prophecy would be fulfilled just before Christmas 2012 became so popular that a Hollywood blockbuster movie, simply titled "2012", was based on it. But the 2012 movie, released in 2009 and starring John Cusac and Thandie Newton, was directed by Roland Emmerich, the New York City).
Nahir Alexandra Mederos
Nahir Alexandra Mederos,
born November 1, 2012
same fellow who brought us "Independence Day" (extraterrestrial invaders nearly destroy the earth, but are thwarted by an Apple MacIntosh), "The Day After Tomorrow" (a new Ice Age sends North Americans fleeing over the Rio Grande into Mexico, ha! ha!) and "Godzilla 1998" (a giant iguana rips up

In fact, the world did not end on December 21, 2012. However, the end of the world is something that Christians should think about every years as Christmas draws near. The appointed lessons for the last three Sundays of every church year (in 2014 these Sundays were November 9, 16 and 23) deal with the Day of Judgment, the church triumphant, and Christ's second coming in glory as King of king and Judge of the nations. The church's calendar begins with the first Sunday in Advent (November 30 in 2014). The Scripture lessons for the second Sunday in Advent continue this theme.

According to the book of Malachi, chapter 4:  "For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.  But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.  And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts."

Some may recognize this verse as the inspiration for a stanza of Charles Wesley's Christmas hymn, "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing":
Decorating the Christmas tree
Decorating the Christmas tree.

Hail! the heav'n born Prince of peace!
Hail! the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die:
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King!"

For this verse from Malachi is both a prophecy of the Christ coming first in humility and mercy, and a second time in glory and judgment. The season of Advent should be a season of preparation for Christmas, the Incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity as a babe in Bethlehem and also for His second coming as King of Kings.

Likewise, in last Sunday's Gospel lesson (Luke 21:21-36), we read: "And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;  men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.  And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."

Of course, our Gospel reading for November 23, the last Sunday of the church year (Matthew 26:1-13), warned: “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
So why does the Lord Jesus speak of signs in the sun, the moon, the stars and on the earth? These signs are not given to establish a time-table until the world's end, but rather to establish that, despite all the uncertainty and apparent disorder that we live with in this world, all is under God's control and history is unfolding according to His will. We do not have to know all the details of this plan, for we know that God already has won the victory for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. The world will end, as our lives in this world will end, but neither will end in chaos and darkness, but in the light and hope of Christ.

For this Gospel reading highlights the difference between how believers and unbelievers view the end of the world. Unbelievers are obsessed with the end, both of the world and their own earthly lives, because they fear what will come next. They want to know how much time they have left to realize the maximum amount of happiness possible in this life before it's all over. They do not want to think about the end, yet they can't help thinking about it, thus the popularity of worthless end-time prophecies.

Christians, however, look to the future, however, with the expectation that "our salvation is nearer than when we first believed" (Romans 13:11-14). We know that our own deaths, or the death of the world, will only mean the fulfillment of our Lord's last promise: that when our lives here are done, we will live with Him forever in eternal joy.

During Advent, we prepare to celebrate the Lord's first coming, His continuing presence among us, and anticipate His second coming in glory. But that is what our entire lives are about anyway.
Sofia Silvera
We wish everyone a blessed and merry Christmas.