Open for the King of glory!

In our afternoon Bible study on November 24, we explained that we had concluded another year according the calendar of the church. The next Sunday we would start another cycle with the first Sunday of Advent, a season of preparation for the Christmas celebration. The church calendar, a useful teaching tool, covers during its first half, all the significant events in our Lord`s earthly life and ministry, from His birth to the Ascension. The second half takes us from Pentecost to the current moment, as the church carries out its mission to gather and care for the lost sheep until the Lord returns in glory. It is part of the great countdown that helps us remain alert until that day.

On Sunday, December 1, Karla Frias, one of our youth, lit the first candle of our Advent wreath during the opening hymn, “Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel”. We sang the first two stanzas in the new Spanish hymnal. Unlike earlier hymnals,

Himnario Luterano contains all seven of the original stanzas, so we can sing two for each of the four Sundays of Advent (the first and last stanzas for the fourth Sunday).

“Oh come, Oh come, Emmanuel” is based on the seven “O Antiphons”, a series of prayers based on Bible passages that are, according to tradition, recited or chanted before the Magnificat in Vespers services from December 17 to 23. Each O Antiphon highlights a title for the Messiah. This is the first:

O Wisdom, who issued forth from the lips of the Most High, encompassing all things from one end to the other, and ordering all things with firmness and gentleness: Come and show us the path of salvation. (Isaiah 11:2-3; 28:29; 1 Corinthians 1:24-30; Colossians 2:1-3)

According to the Old Testament writers, wisdom in its absolute sense is an attribute of God. Isaiah identifies “the Spirit of the Lord” as “the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord”, and that this Spirit will rest on the Messiah. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians brings out the foolishness of this world's wisdom when compared with the wisdom of God, embodied in Jesus and especially in His death on the cross. In Colossians, the apostle writes that there is no counsel of God for the salvation of the world which does not find its fulfillment in Christ.

In the Gospel reading for the first Sunday in Advent (Matthew 21:1-9), the multitude gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover recognized the fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah 62:11 and so they shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”

They recognized the man seated on the donkey as the promised Messiah, who our Old Testament lesson (Jeremiah 23:5-8) says will be named “Jehovah, our righteousness”. Likewise, in the Psalm of the day, we repeated the liturgical dialogue of the faithful who wished to enter the Temple of Jerusalem. “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in” (Psalm 24:7). Then the gatekeepers of the Temple would ask, “Who is this King of glory?” and the people would respond, “Jehovah, strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle!” (Psalm 24:8). The people would enter the gates of the Lord`s house, not by their own righteousness, but by the righteous of God`s Anointed One. The name given the Messiah is the proper name of the God of Israel.

So the Messiah is true God, but some wanted His human name. To which others replied, “Jesus the prophet of Nazareth in Galilee.” These texts along with those that identify Jesus as the divine Wisdom are good for this season when, right on schedule, the Jehovah`s Witnesses are going door to door to deny that the Son is of the same substance as the Father.

"The Lord has kept me alive..."

Two years ago at this time I was hospitalized for what I can best describe (without going into excruciating detail) a stroke caused by kidney infection among other factors. Since then I have paid more attention to diet and exercise, and I seem to be in excellent condition for a 66-year-old man. I can say with Caleb, "And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive..." (Joshua 14:10).

We were able to weather the medical emergency financially thanks to health insurance provided by Global Lutheran Outreach (GLO). But now we face a different challenge. Donations to Epiphany Lutheran Mission have declined substantially over the past year and we will not be able to afford the same level of health coverage for the upcoming year. But that is not the only consequence of the drop in donations. We have plans for building back preschool program and more. But without additional support, we can only struggle to maintain the ministry that we have now. We are not in personal crisis, but Venezuela remains in national crisis. Inflation continues, and, although food, medicine and other necessities are available, many people do not have enough money to sustain a decent standard of living. Power outages still occur daily, interruptions in Internet and telephone service are frequent, and travel is laden with unnecessary risks. We are grateful to God and all of our donors for being able to serve our community and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ for 21 years. If you can renew your partnership with us, or convince someone else to help, our online donation page may be found at https://globallutheranoutreach.com/support-ernst.html.

Also, feelings of isolation are an occupational hazard for cross-cultural missionaries. Here is an easy way to let us and other GLO missionaries know that we are not forgotten, and make a small donation to Global Lutheran Outreach for each birthday wish (you can set the minimum donation per wish). Please head over to wishwell.ai/GLO to choose the missionaries that you would like to greet on their special day. Once you have made your selections, place your order via secure credit card or ACH payment. Remember also to pray for your missionary on their birthday!

Crown of light, crown of life

"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

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.

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.

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

Nations shall come to your light

"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)

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.