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Evangelical Lutheran Congregation Kempton Park - Bonaero Park, Gauteng Province,(No street deliveries)
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Welcome to Evangelical Lutheran Congregation Kempton Park
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<b>P.O.Box 7178, 1622 Bonaero Park<br>26 Geldenhuys Avenue, c/o Nelson Rd<br>Bonaero Park, Gauteng Province, (No street deliveries) 1622<br>
SOUTH AFRICA<br>+ 27 11 973 3182<br></center>
</b><br><hr><h2>Staff / Leaders</h2>
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<TR><TD><b>Pastor</b> </TD><TD><b>Andreas Wernecke</b><br> </TD><TD><A HREF="mailto:ajwernecke@gmail.com"> Send an Email...</A><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b>Evangelism and Communication</b> </TD><TD><b>Heidi Meyer</b><br> </TD><TD><A HREF="mailto:heidm@telkomsa.net"> Send an Email...</A><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b>Treasurer</b> </TD><TD><b>Michael Paul</b><br> </TD><TD><A HREF="mailto:kemptonpark@elksant.co.za"> Send an Email...</A><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b>Secretary- Wed. and Frid am only</b> </TD><TD><b>Liesel Lilje</b><br> </TD><TD><A HREF="mailto:kemptonpark@elksant.co.za"> Send an Email...</A><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b> Secretary (Mondays) am only</b> </TD><TD><b> Helga Tobler (on leave)</b><br> </TD><TD><A HREF="mailto: kemptonpark@elksant.co.za"> Send an Email...</A><br></TD></TR>
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Weekly Schedule</h2>
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<TR><TD><b>Next Service Sundayb 5.7.09</b> </TD><TD><b>8.30am WorshipServic</b><br></TD></tr>
<TR><TD><b>Sonntag 5.7.2009 3nTrinitatis</b> </TD><TD><b> 10:00 Gottesdienst</b><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b>Sunday School/Kindergottesdien</b> </TD><TD><b>8:30 am + 10:00Uhr</b><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b> Next Council meeting Wednesda</b> </TD><TD><b>8th July 09 6:30pm</b><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b> Confirmands Holidays</b> </TD><TD><b>Tuesday 21+28. 7.</b><br></TD></TR>
<TR><TD><b> Gartenfest 2009 starts 11am</b> </TD><TD><b> 29th August 2009</b><br></TD></TR>
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2 after TRINITY SUNDAY 28t June 2009</h3>
Grace and peace to you from our Lord ad Saviour, Jesus Christ the risen Lord. Amen--------
Text: Luke 15; 1 - 3 + 11 – 32
Introduction.
It is a common error by public speakers not to know when to stop. It seems that Jesus was guilty of such an error in chapter 15 of Luke. Here we have His longest parable, the Prodigal Son! We are going to hear it just now. The parable in a nutshell goes like this: SICK OF HOME! - HOMESICK!- HOME!
The story basically revolves around father's reception of his runaway son.
How does he react on his return? How would you react? Would you say: " You made your own bed, now lie and die in it! Don't come runnng back to me when you are down and out! Wait a minute, sugar daddy doesn't live here anymore."
The father reacts totally contrary to what I said at the outset, he runs to meet him. (He demeanors himself - lifting up his dress, showing legs - that was not done). A fatted calf is killed. A party is prepared! All is well that ends well.
And this is where Jesus blew his speach. as possibly we sometimes do. Jesus could have ended the story right here, but no, he goes on to say: "Now the elder son was in the field." Who cares? He is a party pooper! Talk about being anti - social. What a wet rag. Jesus could have really shortened this parable, couldn't he? A positive story with a negative ending.
Generally, the brother comes off second best in this story. No where do we read that he, the elder, might have missed his younger brother, or that he went to find him.
All that we read, is that he is upset with his father, because father still shows love towards this failure, "my younger brother". And we read how aware he is of all that he did for his dad, he kept a record of his hard work. He is totally "out of step with the father's highs and lows.
He doesn't share his father's sadness when the younger brother goes away. He doesn't share the father's joy when the brother returns home. He cannot support his father, because his spirit is not with him. At the end of the parable, the older son is a sulking prude. He is angered by the party, he is angered by the lovely music. He could not go along to get along!
Song
We have 2 prodigal sons here. Although the elder brother was close physically to his father on the farm, in the house, he was as far away spiritually as the younger son.
Some feel one should not come to hard on the elder son, for after all he was faithful in staying home. He was not a "playboy", he was taken for granted, while the other son lived it up, and blew it all. And the one, who blew it, he is the guest of honour at the party. Do you call that fair? Can you blame the elder for reacting like that? (what do you say?)
Current examples.
As I age I am becoming more like the elder brother myself. I am not sure whether I like it or whether it is right, but it is true.
I am sick and tired of all the anti-heroes that are being glamorised today. Just look into politics, or the sportsmen and other individuals of today who have fallen for whatever reason. They make millions from it. Think of Michael Jackson who just passed away. “He the King of Rock” Look at the high profile people who in this economic crisis have put their hands into the cookie jar, caught red-handed and still get pay-offs of millions of Rands.,
I think there is more to my elder brother syndrome than my age. But let the defence attorney speak on behalf of the brother. He was no drain on anyone!
I don´t know how old the father was. I do know he was worried sick about his younger son. Perhaps he wasn't able to do much work on the farm. Consequently the elder brother spent longer hours in the fields and the barns. Without that son's hard work perhaps the young prodigal would have had no home to come back to.
It is the elder brother of this world who holds society together, while the prodigals are enjoying their fling. It is hard in any congregation when the few have to carry the many. How many friends of the congregation don't have the discipline to worship, work and witness in the church, rationalising it all by saying: " I am just as good as all those hypocrites."
A colleague of mine, says, he found himself becoming jealous of his 2 sons. Because they will be leaving home soon. He says: " I worry about the gaps in relationship. Yet with loud music blaring in the house and my sons' heroes being this rock group or another, I genuinely fear that they idealise life as being on stage, a rave, with crowds screaming at every move. I am grieving, my people!" he says: "I am an elder brother, I really am".
Does anyone appreciate mothers and fathers who pull themselves out of bed and work every day.?
The elder brother syndrome haunts me at church. I am employed by all of you. Most of you only see me in this sterile setting - white robe, pulpit and at the altar, maybe in the church hall.
To many of you that may seem a salutary set-up for the one day a week that you see me work.
Around Easter and Christmas I always hear people saying to me: "Pastor , this is your busy time, isn’t it?" They say it as if I am in some far country the rest of the year.
Rally around your elder brothers of this world! Let's hear it for farmers who farm, for teachers who teach, for sales people who sell, for builder who build. In short, let's hear it for workers who work!
The parable of the Prodigal Son is a story about religion. It was as a representative of religion - and only in that role - that the elder brother was wrong. His life-style and his work ethic are not being censured here, anymore than the life style and work ethic of the prodigal are being praised.
It helps to realise that Jesus told this parable because of the Scribes and the Pharisees, those prim and proper, unctious and upright religionists of his day.
Just hear the introduction again: " One day when many tax collectors and other outcasts came to listen to Jesus, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law started grumbling, ' This man welcomes outcasts and even eats with them.' So Jesus told them this parable."
The point of the story is simple, but very saving. God, as the Father in the parable, welcomes his children no matter where they have been or what they have done. That is radical GRACE, unmerited love.
The blunt truth is that the more decent and upright we are, the harder it is for us to understand and receive grace.
So the church, in essence, becomes the elder brother. We keep saying "grace" , but the world keeps hearing "law". We claim to be in the church as recipients of grace, but we defend our membership on the strength of some moral record. We not only have a problem receiving grace, but we resent it being given to others who, we feel, are less deserving or different.
Then we become not so much moral as moralistic, and there is a difference. Elder brothers wear stuffed shirts. It is not enough to be good. In fact, we can become so self-righteous that we isolate others and insulate ourselves from them. So when God chooses to welcome a prodigal home, we stay outside and begrudge his grace. We're jealous of his lavish love for sinners.
Moralistic persons forget that they are far from perfect themselves. They fail to make the distinction between acceptance and approval. Crucially, we easily forget that we all are in need of the grace of God. When we approach outsiders, especially inactive members, as elder brothers, our witness is counterproductive to say the least. Rather we are to go as forgiven sinners and not as righteous prigs.
Yes there are 2 prodigals in the story. Our Lord is addressing you! If he missed you in the first part, he meets you in the second. The good news in the story is that the father went out to both sons. - as God seeks all of us. The father ran to the prodigal when he saw him edging up the road. Running towards the prodigal is a beautiful visible image of God's lavish love. When the father heard about the elder one not coming to the party, he also went out to him.
Wherever you have been in your life, and wherever you are right now, the grace of God the father is yours. Stop complaining about what others may be receiving. Join in the fathers celebration and listen to his words: My son/daughter, you are always here with me, and everything I have is yours. Amen!
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We Lutherans live with the following Motto for the year 2009, taken from Luke´s Gospel, chapter 18 verse 27 " WHAT IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH HUMAN BEINGS IS POSSIBLE WITH GOD."----------
Watchword: The Son of Man came to seek and save what was lost. Luke 19; 10
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We pray for all our members and friends who are presently enjoying hopefully a relaxed holiday. For those still at school or work. God give you strength and joy in what you are doing and learning.
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