9am. Sunday. Late February.
“Lehr, Lehr” The voice of the senior minister announces over the colony P.A. system. I’m already wearing my hat and jacket, and was waiting for the call. I meander up to the colony church in a manner that is fitting for such a beautiful bright Sunday Morning (Takin her easy, enjoying the sunshine). Birds are chirping at the top of their little bird lungs. It always seems especially loud on Sunday.. probably because all else on the colony is perfectly silent. As i make my way to the church i’m thinking it should be an interesting service today. Theres a Senior minister from another colony here, and he is quite an acclaimed preacher.
I seat myself among the other boys on my bench. Good Mornings are exchanged. I offer both of them on either side of my a pinch of some ‘stay awake’ snuff. Wintergreen flavor (for church only).
The church quickly fills itself as men in their black ‘yankers’ and women in bright sunday dresses and ‘vaniks’ shuffle in. When everybody is seated the first minister begins the service with a song “Hoert Christen, diesen Lehr trifft euch” (Hearken Christians, this church hits you) :D. He says the tune in which it is to be sung and immediately the powerful shrill voices of the ladies fill the chapel like singing eagles. The men on the opposite side follow suit. The minister announces the next line of the hymn and in succession voices are raised again. Seems that everybody is singing this morning. There are no slouchers. Must be the sunshine…
After several verses of the song, the visiting Senior Minister stands to the pulpit, a wooden desk. Complete silence ensues for a moment as he pauses before beginning. Everybody is eagerly awaiting.
“Liebn Bruder und Schwestern” he begins, addressing the congregation. In a perfectly clear voice, he continues in high german “We are gathered here today for one singular objective, and that is to serve the Allmighty God. We will study from the Holy Word in order to better serve our Lord. As we have often read in John 1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning… So my brethren, let us continue in studying the Word, and in doing so, Studying God.”
And so he continues with his beautiful ‘vorred’ or preface. “Brothers and Sisters, before we cointinue in our teaching let us kneel to do our duty in worshipping God” The congregation kneels and ministers leads in prayer. “O Lord Almighty, all-merciful, and eternal…” He prays a prays a prayer of praise, thankfulness, and pleading for continued protection and service. He prays for the sick, widowed, and the orphans. He prays for the poor and weak in spirit, that they would be strengthened. He prays for the lost sinners that they come to know God’s mercy. He prays that the congregation is protected from the devil, who lurks around the house of the righteous as a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Amen.
The congregation is seated. The minister stands and introduces the text. Everbody stands while it is read. The text is from Matthew 6. It speaks of giving alms to the needy, but to do it in secret. When everyone is seated He begins the sermon, explaining the text line by line.
“Be Careful not do your acts of righteousness before men”. He explains: “When you do ‘almosen’ you must do them in secret. In this context almosen is not only monetary donations to the poor, but it is service. The Lord asks us to serve the poor, to feed the hungry, to clothe naked, and visit the sick. What better way to serve our fellow man than in the fellowhip of community.” I chuckle at how he worked in his ‘plug’ to community life. “We are to serve each other in community and Godly fellowhip just as Jesus has gone before us and shown us. Yes it was Jesus who began communal living. Many mistakenly believe Jakob Hutter was responsible. But no my brethren, it was at the first Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon the apostels when community began. Hutter was only responsible for reviving it.” with much emotion he continues “Hutter believed so strongly in living in true community that he laid down his life to be burned at the stake rather than to leave the true communal fellowship. Brethren would we do the same today?, Would I do the same?” The audience is visibly moved as looks of distress cross their face. I notice that this minister certainly does know how to use the art of captivation. He has made the audience somewhat vulnerable and has made them question themselves.
He is seated and the second minister continues reading from the text and explaining it in much the same manner. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
After a blessing is given and a few more verses of the hymn are sung, the service is brought to a close.
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The service is followed by Sunday Lunch. This is a meal we look forward to all week, a favorite of noodle soup and duck is served. After the big meal mittogshun ensues. And then of course… USA vs. CANADA hockey 🙂
Schenk Andacht's Weihrauch 