Pastor Roggelin's Newsletter at Zion Church of Baltimore

O Welt, sieh hier dein Leben

am Stamm des Kreuzes schweben,

dein Heil sinkt in den Tod.

Der große Fürst der Ehren

läßt willig sich beschweren

mit Schlägen, Hohn und großem Spott.

Upon the cross extended,
See, world, thy Lord suspended.
Thy Savior yields His breath.
The Prince of Life from Heaven
Himself hath freely given
To shame and blows and bitter death.

Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676) 1647 (EG 84), translated by John Kelly (1867)

Dear members and friends of Zion,

Our recent discussion regarding the future of the Luther picture in our church (see more later in this newsletter) showed again that the cross for many of us is the central visual symbol of our Christian faith. And rightly so, as Paul says: May it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14) – and Luther himself would have said the same.

For Martin Luther the cross always is at the center of the Christian faith, and that’s why he describes faith as “coming to the cross”. Coming to the cross is a dynamic, twofold process: it means realizing our own needs and shortcomings and at the same time realizing the gift of life and reconciliation in Christ. It is not a onetime thing, but a lifelong pilgrimage.

Creating a specific cross-centered piety (or as some today would prefer: spirituality) is perhaps the greatest gift of Lutheranism to the wider church. As we enter Lent, we open up this gift as much as we give up things. In traditional Lutheran churches like Zion, we unlock a rich heritage in prayers and music during the “Passionszeit”. Lutheranism added to traditional Lenten discipline (prayer, almsgiving and fasting) a specific culture of Christ-centered mystical meditation. One of those who shaped this culture was Paul Gerhardt, the hymn-writer, whose passion chorale “O Haupt voll Blut und Wunden”/“O sacred head now wounded”, is the classic example – and the Lutheran transformation of a medieval meditation. In this year’s Lenten course we will explore and celebrate Gerhardt’s contribution to shaping and expressing our faith, marking the 400^th anniversary of his birth (March 12, 1607).

In this day and age and in the culture we live in, a focus on the cross is almost counter-cultural. Many of our more contemporary minded sisters and brothers find it hard to focus on an instrument of execution, a symbol of pain and sorrows and torture. And even more find it hard to see ourselves as part of the picture. Can we still join in Gerhardt’s words: “I caused Thy grief and sighing / By evils multiplying / As countless as the sands”?

Yet we are invited to travel this road less traveled. It is a road leading up to Jerusalem, leading up to the hill of the cross, yet not ending there, but going on to Easter, the celebration of the resurrection. On that way, we pause again and again to reflect on Christ’s path leading up to the cross. The cross and the one we see “upon the cross extended” invite us to receive and accept with gratitude what God did for us and what he gave us in his Son. It is also a public reminder, that pain and death are part of our lives, and that brokenness is a sign of humanity. Daring to look and to ponder on the cross helps us not to forget this part and our share in it, and to find redemption in our brokenness by placing it before the cross. Praying before the cross, placing their needs and fears and pains into the pierced, outstretched arms of our savior has given people reassurance and hope from generation to generation.

This season of Lent is inviting all of us just to do this: come to the cross again, see what God did for you, meditate on it, place your needs here and receive what is good news indeed:

Du setzest dich zum Bürgen,
ja lässest dich gar würgen
für mich und meine Schuld;
mir lässest du dich krönen
mit Dornen, die dich höhnen,
und leidest alles mit Geduld.

A crown of thorns Thou wearest,
My shame and scorn Thou bearest,
That I might ransomed be.
My Bondsman, ever willing,
My place with patience filling,
From sin and guilt hast made me free.

Have a blessed Lent! / Eine gesegnete Passionszeit wünscht Ihnen

Pastor Dr Holger Roggelin

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SUNDAY NAMES IN LENT almost all relate to the beginning of the introit antiphon, the refrain of the entrance psalm for each Sunday:

Invocavit	Er ruft mich, darum will ich ihn erhören. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him. (Psalm 91, 15)
Reminiscere	Gedenke, Herr, an deine Barmherzigkeit! Remember, O Lord, thy tender mercies and thy loving kindnesses. (Psalm 25, 6)
Oculi	Meine Augen sehen stets auf den Herrn. Mine eyes are ever toward the Lord. (Psalm 25, 15)
Laetare	Freuet euch mit Jerusalem! Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad with her. (Jesaja 66, 10)
Judica	Gott, schaffe mir Recht! Judge me, O God. (Psalm 43, 1)
Palmarum	[Sonntag] der Palmen /[Sunday] of the Palms = Palmsonntag/Palm Sunday

There is an old „Merkspruch“ in German to help confirmands memorize the names:
In rechter Ordnung lerne Jesu Passion.
(Invocavit - Reminiscere - Oculi - Laetare - Judica - Palmarum)

A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR ROBERT LEAVERTON

Dear People of Zion Church,

I thank you for all the generous support, kindness, prayers, and love you have offered to me on my journey through seminary. I was deeply touched by your caring affection that you conveyed to me and my family, friends and fellow pastors at my ordination. I offer thanks to Pastor Roggelin for his kindness, guidance, support, and care that he offered to me not only during seminary but I am especially grateful for his time and effort in helping plan and prepare my service of ordination.

I want to thank all the Zion people who participated in my ordination service. Steve Brown faithfully followed in his son’s footsteps and was an excellent crucifer; Phoebe and Matthew Bennett-Hassaine were our faithful torchbearers; Simonne Cruz was the Gospel bearer and offered her gift of expressive reading of the first lesson. I thank our assisting minsters Bernie Penner and Richard Hershberger for their gifts at the altar during communion, Richard’s offering of prayer, and Bernie’s reading of the epistle. I thank Susanne Ridenour and Bonnie Brobst for assisting with communion. I want to especially thank Zion’s faithful ushers for their gracious expression of hospitality and service: David Tabler, Bruno Niemann, Lewis Bringman, and Frank Hobbs. I also am grateful for the fruits of their labor of Bishop H. Gerard Knoche and Pastor William Gohl preacher, who provided us with the Word. A special thanks to Ellen Solomon and the women of Zion who helped her present such a wonderful reception. The people of Zion can be proud of the beautiful presentation of delicious food and the generous hospitality we offer to friends and guests.

I am thankful that Zion has been my home congregation, the church that brought me back to my faith and shed light on the path that led me to be a Lutheran pastor. I am thankful for the saints both here and departed who have been fellow pilgrims with me on this faith journey. You all have helped in my formation of who I am today and I am grateful and thankful for all that you have imparted to me. I will take many experiences and memories with me as I begin my service to the people of Immanuel Lutheran Church of Absarokee, Montana. Thank you for sharing the journey with me. All the best to the people of Zion Church of the City of Baltimore.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Robert

Pastor Robert Leaverton,
Immanuel Lutheran Church

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