Many Christians believe that worship is what happens when the church gathers to praise, give thanks, and glorify God - because of faith that grasps the gifts of God in Jesus Christ. But Lutherans do not see worship like that as this makes worship primarily our service & sacrifice to God.
Rather, Lutherans understand that worship is God serving us; That in worship, as we receive the gifts of Jesus which are hidden in the simple means of water & Word, bread & wine, heaven comes to earth through the bodily presence of our Saviour. Humans sometimes think of heaven abstractly as somewhere “up there”, but heaven is wherever Jesus is and because Jesus is present among us in the gifts of Word & Sacrament, then heaven itself is present amongst us. It is the world of “angels, archangels and all the company of heaven.”
In the liturgy God is at work “for the life of the world”. God serves His people with gifts that come from the gracious presence of His Son. Christ comes not as a leader, but as a servant at a table He prepares in the midst of His enemies. Nothing new is made when Jesus visits His creation, but all things are made new. He takes what is broken and makes it whole; He frees the captives, gives sight to the blind, releases those who are oppressed, and forgives the sins of all. Jesus was sent into this world by the Father. His sacrificial death gave up His life for the life of the world. The Son’s liturgy is to free the world – to take into His flesh our sin, our sickness, and our death, so that when He was lifted up on that cross, the new creation He brought meant the end of bondage and beginning of a new, liberated cosmos that waits for full release at the Second Coming.
Adapted from - Heaven on Earth: A Just, CPH; 2008, p. 16 & 22.
Mark Hampel is an enthusiastic communicator of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was ordained in 1988 and has served in churches and schools in 3 states. He currently lives in Chinchilla, Qld. His passion is building up the faith of God’s people and working with them so that all will come to know Christ as their joy and salvation.
Mark is happily married to Veronica and they have 4 children and 4 grandsons. He is also a farmer of sorts, having spent the last decade establishing a date plantation in Western Queensland. Other hobbies include Australian history, travel, film & literature and of course, family.
St John’s Downfall Creek, has been a centre of Christian faith and life in the area for over 100 years. They operated a Christian school for twenty-two years (1940 – 62).
This faith community is a warm-hearted bunch, who love to share their hospitality with the district. They enjoy many a pot luck dinner and host ‘Easter Dawn Service & Breakfast’, ‘Christmas Eve’ & ‘Advent Tea’’ and ‘Games Nights’ for the community.
Home Groups are an important part of life in the Downfall. Discussion and exploration of the faith are encouraged.
Religious Education at the nearby Guluguba Primary School is provided by St John’s.
Redeemer Miles, is a dedicated group who know the love of Christ and are keen to share it. They meet regularly in various homes throughout the district for intergenerational worship and home groups.
Religious Education at nearby Drillham State Primary School is provided by Redeemer.
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