Dear friends in Christ,
We continue our survey of Church History from the book by Professor E.A.W. Krauss of our St. Louis seminary of a century ago.
This month we continue our look at the life and work of Pastor F.K.D Wyneken as he worked bringing the Gospel to scattered groupings of German speaking settlers. This month we find him at work in a congregation in Ft. Wayne and traipsing through the wilds of Northeast Indiana.
45.1 [part 4]—Friedrich Konrad Dietrich Wyneken
The missions committee of the Pennsylvania Synod did, in fact, grant him his request and released him from their service and allowed him to serve the congregations in and around Ft. Wayne as a called pastor; but it also required that “they must allow him from time to time to visit the scattered members of our church in the area, even if they lived 40 or 50 miles away.” Such a condition was not necessary for Wyneken. He remained, as he was before, a missionary but now he was freed from the obligation of having to travel around.
In Ft. Wayne there was neither a church nor a parsonage. The miller, Rudisill, took the pastor in as a guest in his house whenever he came and furnished him with his own room. The heroic man, who is now long dead, did this for two years.
At that time, Wyneken would sometimes preach here and at times there, as one or the other was willing to house the assembly. Of course, Wyneken also instructed his confirmands. Often they gathered around him even though he did not know exactly where he would find a place to meet with them. His little room at Rudisill’s was much too small and otherwise unsuitable for it. Sometimes he stood with his children on the street and then when it rained he tried to find a dry spot. Other times kind neighbors, who didn’t have to be asked first, invited him to come into their house.
After a while father Buuck furnished the missionary with his own house. Although the parsonage doesn’t exist anymore, having disappeared long ago, this writer this had seen it and its happy resident had described to him several times the furnishings it had at that time.
It was a log house about 16 feet long and eight or ten feet wide. The cracks between the logs were filled with moss, and the floor, made of cut tree trunks, was rough and uneven. There was no window which meant that the doors had to remain open whenever the pastor wanted to study, read or write.
And now the inner furnishings! In the one corner stood a crudely built bedframe with a straw sack and some bedding on it. There was one table and one chair of similar style. They had been sawn from two trunks—the table from a taller and fatter one, and the chair from a smaller rounder log without any shaping and decoration. There was no thought about a luxury like a mirror. If Wyneken wanted to shave, he had to look at the door or at best into a bowl full of clear water.
The dear man spent truly happy hours in this house and yet he was only there because his call required him to go through field and forest to seek out the German settlements and to bring the Gospel to the scattered children of his people. At that time it was an extremely difficult and tiring assignment because there were not even any beginnings of good roads. The settlers had only one concern until then: obtaining their daily bread.
He often travelled at night, lost his way and had to leave it up to his horse to find people again. He would also have to spend the night in the woods. It wasn’t a hardship. He gladly endured it because it came with his call to missions.
Once when he was on a mission trip, he lost his way in the woods. It became night and he could not recognize anything anymore so he left it up completely to his horse. Suddenly it stood still. He pushed it on but the otherwise obedient horse did not take one step forward. He became convinced that the animal had come upon an obstacle which prevented him from continuing on the path, but he could not tell what kind it was. In the hope that there might still be people living nearby, he began to call out loud. After several minutes he heard a door opening somewhat nearby and a light appeared. He then saw that he was on the shore of a mill stream and one more step of the horse would have thrown him into the currents! The man one carrying the light called out asking what he needed and when Wyneken had told him everything, the man untied a boat, rowed over and received the lost man while his horse had to swim alongside. He spent the night in the mill and the next morning the miller showed him the way.
One time he went out on foot. It got dark but he kept thinking that he was headed in the right direction. Unexpectedly he stood on a flooded plain, but there were logs in the water. Certain he was going in the right direction, he hoped to be able to reach his destination by jumping from log to log. He tried it and it worked for a while but he soon became convinced that the logs were not lying on the ground but instead were floating. He did not want to go back even though it was now night. Then nearby he saw a rather thick log and another next to it which would again lead him to dry ground. He tried to jump and sure enough he stood on the large log. But the jolt started the log moving and as Wyneken looked around he realized he couldn’t reach any other log. He decided he had to hold on to it until help came. So he wouldn’t be plunged into the river, he laid with his stomach on the log and allowing his arms and legs to hang down on the side. Since he was very tired, he soon fell asleep and the first light of dawn awoke him. He was then successful in escaping the swamp and reaching his travel destination.
When the settlers who knew him saw him coming from a distance, they greeted him with joy, quickly gathered around him, and eagerly listened to his clear, heart-felt, lively sermon. If time allowed, several hours were also devoted to conversation, where possible in the Low German dialect. He was a master at being able to speak with old and young, with men and women, about cows and pigs, about sweet corn and potatoes and still seasoned the conversation with salt. He dealt with the people in the most simple and jovial way, and yet always remained the pastor.
Even the children liked him because he dealt with them in a child-like way. Once he preached in old Fuelling’s house. He stood in front of the table that had to serve as the altar, turned his back to it and eagerly announced the grace of God to the Fuellings and their neighbors. Unknown to him, a little girl climbed on the chair and from the chair onto the table and all at once put her little arms around the neck of the preacher and nestled against him. The parents noticed that the child had climbed onto the table but they did not know what she wanted to do and did not want to interrupt.
Wyneken tried to keep a decent black suit for use in worship. But it showed many signs of increasing age and life in the wilderness. He wore exactly the same thing on his trips, color and fashion did not matter. In rainy weather he came dressed as follows: a large cloak of green cloth or fleecy woolen cloth covered the upper part of his body and his legs were inside yellow pants.
He came upon these yellow pants in the following manner. In the neighboring village of Decatur, Indiana he went into a shop of a Catholic man, who was a drunkard, in order to buy various items. He was measuring out for someone else a piece of strong yellow fabric, so called “English leather.” Wyneken, whose pants at that time looked quite terrible, looked on and perhaps his eyes betrayed his thought: pants made out of that material would also do well for me. The merchant suddenly asked him, “Would you also like to have a piece?” Wyneken said, “No, I don’t have any money!” “Now, what if I would give you the pants?” “I don’t want anything you would give me.” “Well, why not?” “Because then my mouth would be silenced and I could no longer rebuke your drinking.” “Really? Ha! Is that it? Now, here is your fabric; and rebuke whatever you want!”
Wyneken received the gift as a blessing from God to Whom he had already lamented his poverty. He brought the fabric home and had a pair of pants made from it. But when his elders saw the new article of clothing they asked him in astonishment: “Wherever in the world, did our pastor get the yellow pants?” They soon got it out of him; but they did not want that that Catholic drunkard would be able to boast of having given their pastor something. Together they loaded a cart full of corn. One of them brought it to the merchant’s door and unloaded it there. The merchant was shocked by that. “What are you doing?” he asked in astonishment. “I didn’t buy your corn.” The man unloading it said, “There you have your money for our pastor’s pants! You—scoundrel, cannot say that you have to support our pastor for us!”—
Wyneken later remember these times with a hearty joy and called them “the most beautiful of his life.” At that time he was poor, very poor, because the first thing he did was to away gave all the support he got to those who were even poorer, yet he was content and had a cheerful disposition. He ate what God, through the poor settlers, gave him; he slept wherever someone made up a bed for him—hay and straw was just as sweet as a bed which was occasionally offered and frequently under the most unusual circumstances.
When he again returned home tired and weak, drenched by rain or completely frozen, he always saw to it first that he placed his horse in its stall; he ate and drank what he happened upon, usually only bread and cold, black coffee and was content with this and delighted in his God, wishing for nothing else and better.
So far Professor Krauss
Our LWML Zone Rally is Saturday, 30 September from 10-2 at Trinity, Ithaca. It promises to be a good time of fellowship. Plan now to join us.
We have our ladies day out luncheon coming up on Oct. 9th. We hope we have a great turnout.
AN ANNIVERSARY DATE IN LUTHERAN HISTORY: 04 June 1536, Pope Paul III [left] issued a formal decree for a general council to be held in Mantua, Italy beginning 23 May 1537. Although Luther encouraged the Lutheran rulers to attend to confess the faith, they dragged their heels. In anticipation of this meeting, Luther was commissioned to prepare a statement of faith on what articles of faith we as Lutherans cannot give up. What Luther wrote became known as the Smalcald Articles, which are part of our Lutheran Confessions. So what’s the anniversary? On 23 September 1536 Pope Paul III made clear the purpose of the council was “the utter extirpation of the poisonous, pestilential Lutheran heresy.” The council, though, was never held.
BEING A CHRISTIAN ALSO INCLUDES SHARING YOUR FAITH IN DEED AND WORD: This is the great distinction Christians have through Christ. In the first place, Christ has called and chosen them through His Word to be His beloved branches and to have everything He gained for them, victory and dominion against sin, death, and the power of the devil. In the second place, we are also to be His servants and lend a hand in spreading His kingdom, to do much good. [Luther, AE, XXIV, 263]
A LABOR DAY DEVOTION
render[…] service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, Eph 6:7 (ESV)
A person packs the briefcase and drives to work. The person is a Christian. He does it for his/ her Lord. Can this really be said? The person works for his/ her employer and works so that the rent can be paid and the family can have food on the table to eat.
For the Lord we sing hymns in church and give our offerings. But for Him we don’t go to work?! “Hold on!” says St. Paul. All Christians are servants of Christ [Eph 6.6] and when we don’t just “do a job” but go to our work “with a good will”, our heavenly Father rejoices over that. A person is not just a Christian in the church pew. A person is a Christian also at the work table, at the desk, in the office or behind the steering wheel of a delivery vehicle. God grant that we do our work with our whole heart. Each Christian serves the Lord also by faithfulness at work.
God cares about the outward order in our world. He needs faithful workers and responsible people who maintain this order. Each Christian can help at the place where God has placed him/her. To be sure world in this world is bound up with toil and effort. The Christian is not spared this but the one who knows his/ her work takes place not only for the boss, but is a service for the Lord, finds that it goes easier.
Thus when the next grey Monday morning comes in which you can only get yourself out of bed with great effort, then do not forget for Whom you are also doing your work: for your Lord and Savior, who for your sake was burdened much more.
My Savior, let me recognize how I can serve You also in my calling by good and faithful work. Give me by it always new joy in my tasks. Amen.
[Pr. Michael Mueller in God Is For Us 01 March 2014]
THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS—14 SEPTEMBER
Remember to make the sign of the cross—not only is it a confession of faith, it annoys the demons.
Luther recommends that we make the sign of the cross as part of our daily devotions. St. Cyril of Jerusalem [Catechetical Lectures 13.36] comments: “The cross is the sign of the faithful, and the dread of demons. For [Jesus] put them to open shame, by triumphing over them [Col. 2.15]. When they see the cross they are reminded of the Crucified. They are afraid of Him, who “broke the heads of sea monsters [Psalm 74.13]. Despise not this seal, because of the freeness of the gift. Rather honor your Benefactor for it….”
And St. Cyril [Catechetical Lectures 13.3] also writes: “If anyone disbelieves the power of the Crucified, let him ask the demons. If anyone does not believe words, let him believe what he sees. Many have been crucified throughout the world, but none of these make the demons afraid; when they see even the sign of the cross of Christ, who was crucified for us, they shudder. For those men died for their own sins, but Christ for the sins of others.” [Quotes from: A Year With The Church Fathers, Scott R. Murray, Concordia Publishing House, 2011, pg. 168-170]
OUR FINAL SUMMER SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY ON ROUGH TOPICS IN OUR WINESSING IS ON 03 SEPTEMBER. CONFIRMATION INSTRUCTION STARTS ON 10 SEPTEMBER.
THE ANSWERS TO LAST MONTH’S REFORMATION HISTORY QUIZ!
FROM THE WISCONSIN SYNOD, OUR FORMER PARTNERS IN THE SYNODICAL CONFERENCE
- Luther was born and died in the same city. Which city?
- Eisleben
- Which of these statements is true about Pope Julius II?
- He dedicated the cornerstone for the rebuilding of St. Peter’s in Rome on April 18, 1506.
- He was called the “Warrior Pope.”
- He and the popes after him raised money by selling indulgences to rebuild St. Peter’s.
- All of the above.
- Luther left the Wartburg with a rough draft of the New Testament in German. Who helped him with it when he returned to Wittenberg? b. Philip Melanchton
- Where in Luther’s writings can you find this quote: “A Christian is a perfectly free lord of all, subject to none. A Christian is a perfectly dutiful servant of all, subject to all” [LW, Vol. 31, p. 344]?
- The Freedom of a Christian
- While Melanchton and the others were in Augsburg in 1530, Luther remained behind in the safety of which castle? a. Coburg
- While at the Wartburg, Luther translated the New Testament into German. Which of these statements is correct? c. He translated from the Greek Testament Erasmus published in 1516
- Where in Luther’s writing can you find this quote: “The temporal authority is under obligation to protect the innocent and prevent injustice, as Paul teaches in Romans 13 [LW, Vol. 44, p.157]?
- To the Christian Nobility
- Luther was married to Katherine von Bora. Which of these statements is true?
- Katherine was a former nun.
- They were married on June 13, 1525
- Two daughters died before they reached adulthood.
- All of the above.
- Where in Luther’s writing can you find this quote: “A Christian…does everything gladly and willingly….He simply serves God with no thought of reward, content that his service pleases God” [LW, Vol. 44, p. 27]? b. Treatise on Good Works
- Luther’s Small Catechism and Large Catechism were published in which year? b. 1529
- Melanchton wrote the first Lutheran doctrine textbook. What was its title?
- Loci Communes or Common Places
- Lutherans became the first Protestants when…
- Lutheran princes protested an imperial order to return to Roman Catholic practices and doctrine
- Henry VIII, King of England…
- Defended the Roman Catholic sacraments and opposed Luther
- Was married to Catherine, a relative of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
- Left the Roman Catholic Church and became head of the English church
- All of the above
- Where in Luther’s writing can you find this quote: “But whatever is without warrant of the Scriptures is most hazardous and should by no means be urged upon anyone, much less established as a common and public mode of life” [LW, Vol. 36, p. 76]?
- The Babylonian Captivity of the Church
EQUIPPING THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS...Issues, Etc. is a radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. This week's subjects include: International Religious Freedom, Is the Reformation to Blame for Secularism?, The Lord's Prayer, Taking Up Your Cross & Following Jesus, Responding to Teenagers' Questions about Christianity, The Wisdom of Solomon and more. You can listen on-demand at www.issuesetc.org and on the Lutheran Public Radio mobile app.
PERHAPS YOU HAVE NOTICED A BLACK RIBBON ON THE U.S. FLAG IN THE NARTHEX. THIS IS CALLED A “MOURNING RIBBON” AND IS USED IF A FLAG, LIKE OURS, CANNOT BE LOWERED TO HALF-STAFF. WE HAVE PLACED THE MOURNING RIBBON ON THE FLAG TO HONOR AND MOURN THE 3000 BABIES THAT ARE ABORTED IN OUR NATION EACH DAY.
IF YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN FLAG DISPLAYED AT YOUR HOME, WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO HONOR THE 3000 PRE-BORN BABIES ABORTED EACH DAY IN OUR NATION BY LOWERING YOUR FLAG TO HALF STAFF OR BY PLACING A MOURNING RIBBON ON YOUR FLAG. THIS IS A SIMPLE AND VISIBLE PRO-LIFE STATEMENT. IT WILL REMIND YOU TO PRAY FOR THE UNBORN AND THEIR MOTHERS AND GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE YOUR PRO-LIFE VIEW WITH THOSE WHO ASK. HOPEFULLY THIS WILL BECOME A POPULAR NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT THAT WILL SPREAD THE PRO-LIFE MESSAGE AND SHOW AT LEAST SOME HONOR TO THOSE VICTIMS OF ABORTION.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: http://lovewillendabortion.com/flags-half-staff/
Is there anything illegal, disrespectful, or inappropriate about this action?
Not at all. This is the most common question about this action by far and it is easily answered. Visit Click here to read the 2008 Congressional Report The United States Flag: Federal Law Relating to Display and Associated Questions which includes verbatim, the United States “Flag Code” as found in Title 4 of the United States Code.
The report clearly answers any debate about whether private individuals and organizations can appropriately decide to lower the American flag to half-staff.
CRS-11 states: “…the provisions of the Flag Code on flying the flag at half-staff are, like all the Code’s provisions, a guide only. They do not apply, as a matter of law, to the display of the flag at half-staff by private individuals and organizations. No federal restrictions or court decisions are known that limit such an individual’s lowering his own flag or that make such a display alone a form of desecration.”
Furthermore, in the initial pages of the report, under the heading of “Background,” the spirit of the Code is made manifest, stating:
“The Federal Flag Code does not purport to cover all possible situations. Although the Code empowers the President of the United States to alter, modify, repeal, or prescribe additional rules regarding the flag, no federal agency has the authority to issue ‘official’ rulings legally binding on civilians or civilian groups. Consequently, different interpretations of various provisions of the Code may continue to be made. The Flag Code itself, however, suggests a general rule by which practices involving the flag may be fairly tested: ‘No disrespect should be shown to the flag of the United States of America.’ Therefore, actions not specifically included in the Code may be deemed acceptable as long as proper respect is shown.”
In light of these findings, it is absolutely clear that private individuals and organizations have the authority to lower the American flag to half-staff for the loss of human life as they see fit, in keeping with a patriotic spirit and without any disrespect to the flag or to the nation. In fact, it is good citizenship and patriotism that encourages us to fly the flag honestly for the poorest of the poor and the very least among us: our pre-born brothers and sisters who are being directly killed by the thousands via abortion every day in our nation.
Top 10 Reasons To Lower Flags To Half-Staff For The 3000 Daily Pre-born Victims of Abortion [From our friends at: lovewillendabortion.com]
1. It is a right response to reality.
When 3,000 innocent humans beings are killed in the U.S., we are right to call it a national tragedy and lower our flags to half-staff in response.
2. The dead victims deserve to be acknowledged.
The thousands of pre-born children killed each day because of legalized abortion in the U.S. are sadly treated as if they do not matter. Each and every one of these children matters. The action of lowering our flags to half-staff shows that we will not allow them to die unacknowledged and ignored.
3. It shines a light on the lie at the core of legalized pre-born child killing.
Lie: Pre-born children are merely things that can be ethically killed and thrown away like garbage. Truth: Pre-born humans are of equal value to born humans and we must treat them accordingly. We respond to the national tragedy of 9/11/2001 by lowering our flags to half-staff, it is consistent to do the same every day for the innocent pre-born victims who are killed by legalized abortion.
4. It will begin a national conversation and conversion.
This will get people talking and, when the core lie is brought to the light and discussed, reasonable people will see the foolishness of legalized abortion rather quickly. See An Essential Insight for Ending Abortion as Soon as Possible and Making it Unthinkable.
5. It will help us to better see and respond to the authentic value of all human beings.
Acknowledging and rightly responding to the true value of pre-born humanity will help us to acknowledge and rightly respond to the true value of all humanity.
6. It will remind us to pray for the end of abortion.
Even many pro-life Christians forget to pray frequently for the end of abortion. “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak (Mt. 26:41; Mk. 14:38).” We need reminders. Flags at half-staff would help us to never forget.
7. It will remind us to work for the end of abortion.
Just like #6, with the reality of abortion more top of mind, the result will be more participation in pro-life activities and many more new and effective non-violent ideas to be implemented to end legalized pre-born child killing as soon as possible.
8. It will hasten the end of abortion in the U.S.
For all the above reasons, we will much more quickly reach the day when the right to life for all pre-born children will be enshrined into federal law and when pre-born child killing will become an unthinkable option in American society. Where we are as culture toward slavery, is where we will be as a culture toward abortion (a human atrocity that was once legal and commonplace, then became illegal, and finally, rightly ended up an unthinkable option).
9. It will help usher in a new era of respect for all human life.
As a strong leader on the world stage, when the U.S. makes strides to rightly see and treat all human life with the inherent dignity it deserves, the entire world makes strides in this area as well.
10. It will literally save lives and prevent deep brokenness.
Ultimately, if this action catches on, countless innocent human lives will be literally saved from being killed, and countless others will be spared the deep brokenness of participating in abortion. Yet keep in mind, even if only you take this action, and it leads to only one person changing their mind; if it protects only one life from death and spares only one mother from the deep wound of abortion – isn’t it well worth it?
FROM OUR SYNOD’S STEWARDSHIP DEPARTMENT:
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccl. 9:10).
God bids us to be faithful in the tasks He calls us to do. He calls us to be members of a family (husbands and wives; fathers and mothers; sons and daughters). He calls us to be members of society (those who govern and those who are governed). And He calls us to be members of His family, the Church (those who preach and teach and those who hear and learn). Each of these callings from God places a duty on us.
As members of a family, husbands are given the duty to die for their wives as Christ gave His life for His bride, the Church; while wives are given the duty to respect their husbands and submit themselves to them as the Church does to Christ. Fathers and mothers are to raise their children in the fear and admonition of the Lord, teaching them the Ten Commandments, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Scriptures concerning Baptism, Confession, the Office of the Keys, and the Lord’s Supper. Children are to honor their parents throughout their lives, and even when their parents are no longer alive, serving and obeying them, loving and cherishing them, and speaking well of them.
As members of society, God calls those who govern to bear the sword, that is, to punish those who do evil—those who live contrary to God’s will—and to reward those who do good—those whose lives are lived in conformity with God’s will. Those who are governed are to obey their leaders as to the Lord Himself, for their leaders bear the sword of God’s temporal justice for a purpose.
As members of God’s own family, the Church, He calls those who preach and teach to do so in faithfulness to His holy Word. To preach and teach the Law of God to convict the hearts of hearers of their sin and to encourage, admonish, and exhort them to do good works in accordance with God’s will. They are to preach and teach the Gospel, the full forgiveness of their sins accomplished by Christ and received through faith, not by works. They are to administer the means of grace in accordance with the Gospel and the Word of God. They do all this for the young and old alike, for those who are near and far off. Those who hear and learn are to submit themselves to their preachers and teachers. They are to support them by their prayers and their gifts.
Each of these callings from God places a duty on us. They make a claim on our presence, our prayers, and on our time, talents, and treasures. So, “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might” (Eccl 9:10). Pray for your family, for your government, and your church. Give of yourself by means of your time, your talents, and your treasures to your family, your government, and your Church. That is what it means to be faithful in the tasks that God has given us. That is what it means to do it with all your might.
www.lcmsfoundation.org 800-325-7912 Ext 1684
September 2017 The Impact of Charitable Planning
It might seem difficult to quantify the impact of charitable planning, but when you think about generosity there are many benefits that come about when people seek to make the world better by giving of their blessings to benefit others.
Without charitable planning, hospitals wouldn’t be able to continue their quest for healing by making use of the best technology or latest research. Without the gifts of generous people, the social service apparatus of our democratic society would leave untold numbers of people destitute and unable to receive sustaining care.
Without generous people who plan their gifts, Christian churches across the nation and the world would be less effective in proclaiming the good news of eternal life in Jesus. If there were no proclamation of the Gospel, people would live without hope.
How is the benefit of charitable planning measured? The impact of charitable planning is equivalent to the hand of God moving across the void to create a universe beyond comprehension. This is evidence that the true God has equipped the ‘crown of His creation’ to function as the very ‘hands of God’ within the world.
Charitable gifts, especially those planned to ministry organizations, boost the spread and power of the Word of God in an increasingly godless world. Such gifts overflow from God’s Spirit residing in the giver’s heart.
Not only will generosity make the world better, but charitable plans will forge redemptive history planned from eternity to immortality as all things are made new.
Have you thought about the spiritual impact of your own Lifetime Plan for Giving? The LCMS Foundation can help! For more information, contact Robert Wirth, LCMS Foundation Gift Planner @ robert.wirth@lfnd.org or 716-863-4427.
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