Author: Rev. Johann Caauwe

I am a Lutheran pastor in Wood Lake, MN.

Call

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I realized yesterday that some of you may have not have heard the news.

Large_211217Pastor Janke has decided to decline nomination as district president at this summer’s district convention. Since I was originally assigned to St. Peter as a pastoral assistant to the district president, obviously, it means change for us.  Since that news was announced, Pastor Janke also received a call to serve at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Jefferson, WI.

So while I know that things will change around here, I have no idea how. It’s possible that we might both continue to serve here. One of us might take a call elsewhere. Both of us could take a call. In any case, it will mean change.

But I don’t even attempt to know which path would be better or which I would prefer. At this point in time, I have one Call, and that is to serve as pastor at St. Peter. And since that is the case, there is nothing else I would rather do. Ever since I have been here, I have understood that things would likely not stay the same for very long. Until that point, all I will do is to continue to serve as faithfully as possible in this vocation.

For several years, I have found this prayer to be helpful to me in so many situations. This is no exception. I have the german prayer framed by the door to my study. It’s from a lecture by C.F.W. Walther, given to future pastors, and recorded in the book The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel. Roughly translated… (I don’t have the translation with me. I think the quote is around page 70 of the English.)

O, my dear Lord Jesus, you are mine, therefore I wish to be yours. Everything that I do and have, my body and soul, my abilities and gifts, my entire life should be consecrated to you, to you alone. Lay upon me whatever you wish, and I will gladly bear it. Lead me always, through pain or joy, through fortune or misfortune, lead me through shame or honor, through people’s favor or their disfavor, lead me through a long life, or should I die an early death: I will rejoice in it all. Only go before me, I will follow you!

Seminary Chorus

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I’ve received a number of comments on the recording of the Seminary men singing the Agnus Dei. One of the reasons I posted that clip was to give a preview of what we’re going to have here on Easter Sunday, when the Seminary Chorus is going to be in Modesto for Easter Sunday. They will be here as a part of their tour of Nevada and California.

Some people have commented that this was just what they needed—especially on a busy Wednesday in Lent. It brought me back to those lenten Wednesdays at Sem when I lived up in Kewaskum, about a 40 minute drive from school. Classes went from 7:30am to 12:30pm, when we would quickly eat lunch in the cafeteria. I would then drive up to West Bend to work until about 4:00, then rush home so that I could teach catechism to a couple 6th graders at St. Lucas. As soon as that was done I had to get back in the car and drive down to some church in the Milwaukee where the Seminary Chorus was singing for a 7:00 service. When I finally got home around 9:00 it was time to get started on preparing for another day of classes.

Chorus2Those were long days, but I remember how much I appreciated being able to sing with that group. The songs we sang were, I assume, encouraging and edifying to the people of those congregations. But the message of Scripture carried by those songs was encouraging and edifying to me, and it was just what I needed on those long days of Lent.

The first time I heard the Seminary Chorus was in high school. The year was 1995. That spring was also the last time the choir toured California, but they also made a stop in Minnesota at my home congregation. As a sophomore in high school I was already on track towards the pastoral ministry. I was in my second year of Latin and knew exactly what I needed to be ready for MLC. But hearing the Seminary Chorus in concert solidified my desires and made me look forward to wearing those blue robes.

Humanly speaking, the Seminary Chorus had a large part in my becoming a pastor. It sparked the interest in a curious high schooler, encouraged a busy seminarian, and I’m looking forward to next Sunday when I pray they will again encourage a Californian congregation as they celebrate the resurrection of our Lord.

#7 — My loved ones, rest securely (CW 587)

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Hannah has been sick the past several days. Friday night Hannah and Andrew were both sick. Andrew seems to have bounced back quickly, but Hannah has taken a little longer.

Just a few minutes ago I tucked her into bed and sang to her a few stanzas that I commonly use at bedtime. I remember learning these two stanzas in 1st grade. I remember Mrs. Kraus putting the words on the overhead projector. I remember trying to find this hymn in the hymnal at home. It was difficult because we didn’t learn the first stanza.

Here are stanzas we sing at bedtime. Notice that the first stanza appeals to Jesus’ love as the reason he should watch over us. Jesus’ love is an objective truth that we already know. It gives us confidence to ask for his care and protection. The last stanza seems to be directed to those loves ones who are about to go to sleep. We pray that Jesus’ love, protection, and care rest on them as they "rest beneath night’s shadow" (st. 1).

Dvc00082Lord Jesus, since you love me,

Oh, spread your wings above me
And shield me from alarm.
Though Satan would assail me,
Your mercy will not fail me;
I rest in your protecting arm.

My loved ones, rest securely,
For God this night will surely
From peril guard your heads.
Sweet slumbers may he send you
And bid his hosts attend you
And through the night watch o’er your beds.

The picture here is Hannah when she was a baby.

Agnus Dei

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Sempodcast
One fond memory I have from the Seminary is the daily chapel services. In particular, I remember singing the Agnus Dei once a week during Lent. We sang it in Latin, usually in four parts. Very often the organist stopped playing so that the student body sings acapella.

The chapel services at the Seminary are now available by podcast. I downloaded a recent service in which they sang the Agnus Dei, and cropped it out for you.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world, grant us peace. Amen.

WLS Daily Chapel Podcast

Passionspredigten

Rev. Johann Caauwe5 Comments

This Lent I have been reading a book of Lenten sermons in my devotions. It is a collection of 18 sermons on the Passion History of our Lord. Actually, it’s just the first half. There must be a second volume. The sermons are by George Stöckhardt (1842–1913), a Lutheran pastor and professor who is often considered the greatest exegete in American Lutheranism. These sermons, much like so many of Stöckhardt’s sermons, are magnificent. I’m just amazed at the depth of insight and careful consideration of each word of the text. With 18 sermons on just half of the Passion History, each sermon is focused on just a sliver of the history, each just considers one aspect of the account. The one I’m reading right now is on Jesus’ prayer in the garden of Gethsemane. [The image below is from the cover of the book.]

Let me share with you part of the introduction to this series. This is a very rough translation (the book is in German and I don’t have a dictionary with me). [The image to the right is from the cover of the book.]

Passionpredigten"The Passion History makes the best Passion sermon. The entire Gospel is a preaching of the
crucified Christ, the Word of Atonement. In particular, the history of the suffering and death of Jesus Christ, as the Holy Spirit has given it to the holy Evangelists, the great Word of Atonement, is the core and substance of the gospel. And they are great, serious, powerful and at the same time highly comforting words, which are reported in this history. These words are clear and concise and they impress themselves on the heart and conscience. Whoever sees in them the calling of the Holy Spirit to his eyes, his soul, receives and enjoys the fruit of the passion of Jesus. Because these words are so great, so rich and deep, we approach them with care and correctness when we aim to preach and interpret them. We will get the right benefit from this interpretation, when we pay close attention to each individual phrase of the holy evangelists, and search out their sense and content. So we want to slowly, step by step, follow in the way of suffering marked out for our Lord and Savior in the passion history.

And on each step of the way of suffering, at each section of the passion history we want to mainly observe the following eight points."

Then he continues to list these eight points he says are critical to all "Christian preaching, and therefore all passion-preaching." Such preaching must also be a preaching of

  1. repentance
  2. faith
  3. sanctification
  4. love
  5. patience
  6. wisdom
  7. power
  8. comfort (for our life, suffering, and death)

Interspersed in this list he quotes several hymn stanzas, from some of the same hymns we sing today.

Reading these sermons have been terrifically helpful to me for my personal devotion this Lenten season. How about yours? What helps you the most to set the love of your Savior before your eyes and your heart during the Lenten season? If you wish, share your thoughts in the comments.

Strange

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Tonight Sara noticed there were a bunch of strange posts connected to the weblog feed. Somehow my Feedburner feed was pointing to these posts from another blog. I have no idea how that happened. Leave me a comment or send an email if you saw those–those of you who read this in a reader or in an email. It really is weird. If it continues to happen, I’ll make sure to find out why and get it to stop.

Jesus, Refuge of the Weary

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Here is a recording of our choir singing this morning. (If you are reading this in a reader or an email, click to go to the web site to listen to the audio.)

Jesus, Refuge of the weary,
Blest Redeemer whom we love, 
Fountain in life’s desert dreary,
Savior from the world above, 
Oh, how oft Thine eyes, offended,
Gaze upon the sinner’s fall! 
Yet upon the cross extended.
Thou didst bear the pain of all. 

Jesus, may our hearts be burning
With more fervent love for Thee! 
May our eyes be ever turning
To Thy cross of agony 
Till in glory parted never
From the blessed Savior’s side, 
Graven in our hearts forever,
Dwell the Cross, the Crucified.

Spring?

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Blossoms
Originally uploaded by revjwc

I know that many of my friends and family in the midwest are still experiencing real winter weather, but I still thought I would share this shot I took yesterday. It’s a close-up of one of the trees at church. I got a few minutes to go outside and take a few pictures at recess and a few more in the classrooms.

Walking

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Walking
Originally uploaded by revjwc

Isaiah has been walking (sort of) for about a month now. But just in the past few days he has become more steady on his feet and more comfortable taking more steps. In this pictures he’s taking a few steps in the back yard.

The weather has been very nice lately and pictures like this make me things about how much fun the kids (including Isaiah this year) will be able to have this summer.

Lenten Hymns Part 2

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I’ve noticed that Lenten hymns, more than those of other seasons of the year, refer to the new life of faith on the part of the Christian who has realized what great cost was spent on his behalf. Notice that all these references are at the end of the hymns. It shows that living a life to serve the Savior is always a response to the message that the Savior born the penalty for sin.

Grant that I your passion view
With repentant grieving.
Let me not bring shame to you
By unholy living.
How could I refuse to shun
Ev’ry sinful pleasure
Since for me God’s only Son
Suffered without measure? (CW 98, st. 5)

From morn till eve, in all I do,
I’ll praise you, Christ, my treasure.
To sacrifice myself for you
Shall be my aim and pleasure. (CW 100 st. 4)

What language shall I borrow
To thank you, dearest Friend,
For this, your dying sorrow,
Your pity without end?
Oh, make me yours forever,
And keep me strong and true;
Lord, let me never, never
Outlive my live for you. (CW 105, st. 5)

Your cords of love, my Savior,
Bind me to you forever;
I am no longer mine.
You you I gladly tender
All that my life can render
And all I have to you resign. (CW 113, st. 5)

I’ll think upon your mercy without ceasing,
That earth’s vain joys to me no more be pleasing;
To do your will shall be my sole endeavor
Henceforth forever. (CW 117, st. 6)

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a tribute far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all. (CW 125, st. 4)

What can I for such love divine
To you, Lord Jesus, render?
No merit has this heart of mine;
Yet while I live I’ll tender
Myself alone
And all I own
In love to serve before you.
Then when time’s past,
Take me at last;
In heav’n I shall adore you.(CW 126, st. 5)

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away—
’Tis all that I can do. (CW 129 st. 5)