THE SERMON OF PASTOR JEREMIA E. ISSANGYA

TO THE C.L.C CONGREGATIONS

IN UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

JUNE TO JULY 2008

LUKE 4:18-19 (FROM REVISED STANDARD VERSION BIBLE)

THE SPIRIT of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach

good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and

recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to

proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

First of all I want to thank God in the name of Jesus Christ that I

have succeeded in visiting your Church. There was a lot of inconvenience for

the other days when I tried to visit the CLC before, without success.

Second, on behalf of the CLC Members in East Africa, I convey my

message of thanks and many greetings from our Church.

Third, I thank the CLC for the assistance we have been receiving

from you for transport funds, the books, iron sheets for church roofing, etc.

Fourth, our thanks for accepting us into fellowship with the CLC, so

that we now work as brothers and sisters in Christ.

Fifth, for the visit we get every year from the missionaries from the

CLC especially, Pastor Koenig, who has done a very good work. We are

pleased that now he will be represented by Pastor Mayhew, whom we know

since he visited us last year.

Sixth – for accepting my visit to your church.

For all this I say let God bless the CLC and those who give their

contributions for the mission work, I pray for them that God will give them

more. St. Paul declared:

"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must

support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said,

'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" -- Acts 20:35

Now – regarding my sermon its concerning the following points:

First to preach Good news to the poor. In the world there is poor

people who needs help. Christ need those who have to help those who have

not. For example in East Africa. There are many people who are poor,

because of Draught because most them depend on rain so if it doest rain there

will be no food.

The second group of poor people are those who have civil war in

their country – because they stay in refugee camps and they became poor

despite of having their properties. To help to those people is to pray for them

and to give them their physical needs. It is the work of the Church to pray

that God will end this tribalism and political crisis, which is the main cause

of war in our countries.

This and more has happened in Kenya and Uganda.

My work among the Maasai people. The Maasai are a tribal people

who are scattered over a large area in Tanzania and Kenya.

First the culture of the Maasai people. They are a conservative

people who do not like change or other cultures. The Maasai fear strangers

or new people because they think they will take their cows. They think they

will interfere with their environment. Such as cultivating the land which they

use as pasture for their cattle.

They also fear that new people will interrupt their beliefs. The

Maasai believe in a god called “Engai.” The Maasai believe that god is in

the volcanic mountains. They also believe that god is in the big trees.

The Maasai worship Engai by taking some food, like fresh milk from

a healthy cow to pour onto the ground under the tree. Once a year they

slaughter a healthy calf at the holy mountain. They pour the blood and put

the meat at a special place around the mountain. And they believe that if an

animal comes to eat the meat that the animal was sent by Engai to eat that

meat. And if they return after two days and the meat has not been eaten, they

think that Engai has not accepted their prayer. If it has been eaten, then they

are happy.

They will also make a special sacrifice for a special case. For

instance if there is disease among the people or animals or if there is drought

and no pasture or water for their cattle then they will slaughter another calf to

please Engai.

How do I go among the Maasai to give the message of Jesus Christ.

As their neighbor I make friendship with them. I visit them wearing

their coverings. Just as Paul said, “to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I

might win Jews.” (1 Corinthians 9:20) I take my bananas for cooking and

give them to the Maasai as a gift. I also take my corn flour to give to them.

Then I tell them that worshiping God is right, but there is God

through Jesus Christ who is over all religions. And before they answer me I

read to them from the Bible. I give them an appointment when I will return

for a seminar about God through Jesus Christ.

I find a friend among them before I return for the seminar. After the

seminar I start a worship station under the tree. Then I start a kindergarten

school for their children. Then I build a worshiping place so the church has

started.

We currently have 20 worship stations among the Maasai.

Our Church work in EAST AFRICA is facing the following

problems: (A) In Tanzania COAST - There is the problem of Islamic

influence. The Muslims are trying to convert Christians to became Muslims,

even as we are also trying to convert Muslims to became Christians, so we

work hard to preach for our Christians to be faithful. It’s a work which needs

more commitment and that is where we need to educate our pastors so that

they can overcome the opposition. What we do is that we start our young

children’s school (Kindergarten). Even if they have started somewhere we

start another one also. So that we teach the Gospel to those children to save

them from being taken by Muslims. We do that even with other projects, and

that has helped us very much.

(B) In Kenya – the work of Christ was also affected by the ongoing

political crisis, which caused even one church to be burned with people

worshiping inside, and one Catholic priest was killed. We should pray for

peace and we should also try to bring reconciliation to restore peace.

We thank God that in Kenya there is peace now but there is a lot of

work to be done to help those who were affected. We must know that one of

the works that Jesus would have us do is to help the needy.

It is time also to pray for our national leaders, so that they will seek

peace as one of their first priorities. Also, we must let everybody know that

the biggest wealth is to inherit eternal life to be with Jesus, and that we shall

leave everything we have here in the world. We came with nothing and we

shall go with nothing of our own – only the grace God gives us in Christ.

The Gospel and other help needed in Uganda. Uganda was

affected by Civil war during the time of dictator Idi Amin, and the northern

area still now is suffering from civil war. Our target is to preach the Gospel

which can bring peace because where there are people there is always a way

to help the people.

In Uganda people were affected by

1. Civil war

2. Many people dying of AIDS

3. Political Crisis which brought Civil war

We thank CLC for the transport fund they have been giving us and it

has helped me to go and preach the Gospel there.

Satan is using his power to make people of one nation to fight and

flee their home. Only Jesus can defeat Satan, and as you know, Satan does

not have tribe or nation. He may be in Africa and he also is at work to

America.

Another action which we have planned is that despite of preaching

the Gospel in Uganda we shall be needed to give support or open the

Orphanage centers, which goes with the Church center. We need help from

our brothers and sisters who can support that.

(D) Contradiction of many denominations. In East Africa many

people are coming from every corner of the world to preach in name of Jesus,

though others are not preaching the real Gospel but are rather causing

confusion. Others are not even Christians but they use the name of Christ to

mislead people. By using books from the CLC we teach people to follow the

real Gospel. We use Martin Luther’s Catechism and other brooks brought by

the CLC to help people understand the real Gospel.

WE ARE ONE IN CHRIST

We Christians we should go to others who have not received Christ

to preach to them. It is not good to put our opinions in the Gospel work. We

must remain faithful only to God’s Word. Christ commands us to go into all

the world. Those of you who are supporting the church work financially are

preaching this Gospel, too. When we have let us also think about others who

have not.

When Jesus was talking about the coming of the holy Spirit – Jews

were only asking about the Restoration of Jerusalem “Therefore, when they

had come together, they asked Him, saying, "Lord, will You at this time

restore the kingdom to Israel?" Acts 1:6.

Jesus did not limit His Gospel to Jerusalem. No, He told His

disciples that they would be his witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to

the ends of the earth.

Question: Where is your Jerusalem of today, and where else have

you gone to preach the Gospel? We should know that we are one in Christ.

Africans, Indians, Europeans, and all the people of the world need this

Gospel of Christ crucified.

This Gospel is needed for everyone, but we need to put more efforts

into reaching those who have not known Christ.

Jesus gave his disciples power and authority. We don’t have to select

where to go because Jesus was crucified for all. It does not matter about the

language differences because the Holy Spirit can work with us, and we can

overcame.

With God’s blessing, tribalism and national differences can end

when people believe the Gospel of Jesus in their heart. We should show that

we are Brothers and sisters of Christ, because after people have seen

Christian love they will come to join us.

God’s blessings to you all!

From: Pastor Jeremiah Elias Issangya

CLCE.A P.O. BOX 583

USA RIVER TANZANIA

armema@yahoo.com JUNE 2008

Scripture Readings and Sunday Bulletin for June 8, 2008

^NKJ 2 Chronicles 6:17-21, 27a "And now, O LORD God of Israel, let Your word come true, which You have spoken to Your servant David. ¹⁸ ¶ " But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built! ¹⁹ "Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You: ²⁰ "that Your eyes may be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your name, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant prays toward this place. ²¹ "And may You hear the supplications of Your servant and of Your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and when You hear, forgive the sin of Your servants, Your people Israel, that You may teach them the good way in which they should walk."

^NKJ John 17:20-26 "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; ²¹ "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ "I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. ²⁴ "Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. ²⁵ "O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. ²⁶ "And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."

^NKJ Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, ¹⁹ to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

2510 E. Divide Ave.

Bismarck, ND 58501 (701) 223-4885 Cell: (701) 425-5483

www.bismarcklutheran.org

Mr. Mark Johnson, President (222-1855) Mrs. Eileen McEnroe, Organist

Michael Roehl, Pastor mjroehl@bis.midco.net

Confirmation Sunday – June 8, 2008

The Opening Prayer by the Pastor

The Opening Hymn ‑412- (Red Hymnal)

"May We Thy Precepts Lord Fulfill"

The Order of Morning Service – Brown Hymnal page 12.

The Scripture Lessons: (Printed on the back page of this bulletin)

The Old Testament Lesson: (2 Chronicles 6:17-21, 27a) As the Lord once promised to visit His people in the temple built by Solomon, now through His Spirit and His Holy Word He has promised to reside in our hearts. We pray on this Confirmation Sunday that our God would reside in the hearts of each one of us, especially the Church's youth.

Psalm 91 (Supplement page 33) (Brown Hymnal)

The Gospel Lesson: (John 17:20-26) What a comfort to know that Jesus prayed for us, as we hear in the words of this lesson. As we hear our Confirmand affirm the vows made at her baptism, we also have confidence that our God will continue to preserve each of his children, young and old.

The Confession of Faith – Apostles' Creed (Supplement page 15)

The Pre‑Sermon Hymn ‑429- (Verses 1-2) (Red Hymnal)

"Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart"

The Sermon – Text: Luke 4:18-19 (Printed on the back of this bulletin)

Guest Speaker - Pastor Jeremiah Issangya

"Create In Me" (The Offertory) – Brown Hymnal page 16 insert

The Pre‑Sermon Hymn ‑429- (Verse 3) (Red Hymnal)

"Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart"

The Offering, followed by the Prayers

Confirmation Hymn -785- (Verses 1-2) "Children of the Heavenly Father"

The Confirmation of Emily Baker

The Reaffirmation of Vows by the Congregation (See Bulletin Insert)

Confirmation Hymn -785- (Vv. 3-4) "Children of the Heavenly Father"

The Preparation for Holy Communion (Brown Hymnal page 17)

The Distribution -Hymn #315- (Red Hymnal)

The Nunc Dimittis and Thanksgiving (Brown Hymnal page 20)

The Benediction

The Closing Hymn ‑#800- (Brown Hymnal)

"Go, My Children, with My Blessing"

Silent Prayer

Attendance ‑ Last Sunday (38) 2008 Average (52)

This Week at St. Paul:

Today -10:00 a.m. – Worship Service w/ Holy Communion

-11:30 a.m. – Fellowship Meal

-12:30 p.m. – Presentation by Pastor Jeremiah

Next Sunday -10:00 a.m. – Sunday Worship Service

-11:00 a.m. – Fellowship Hour

Guest Speaker – This morning we are privileged to hear the Word of God from Pastor Jeremiah Issangya of Tanzania. Pastor Jeremiah is the head of the CLC in East Africa (CLCEA) and is currently on a tour of CLC congregations in the United States. He plans to attend our Synod's convention in Eau Claire later this month. We extend the hand of welcome and fellowship to Pastor Jeremiah.

Confirmation Sunday – Our congratulations to our Confirmand this year, Emily Baker. May the Lord bless and keep her as she begins her walk as a communicant member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Fellowship Meal and Presentation – As part of our celebration this morning, a fellowship meal has been planned. All are welcome. Following the meal, Pastor Jeremiah will conduct a PowerPoint presentation of some of the work that is being carried out by our brothers in the faith in East Africa.

Convention – Plans call for Pastor Roehl to attend the CLC Convention in Eau Claire next week (June 16-20). The trip is scheduled to include the marriage of Shannon Roehl and Aaron Gullerud on June 20^th.