Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Sunday, January 13, 2013

More Christmas Greetings from Colombia



Hello, brothers, sisters and friends in Christ,

Your brother and servant Raul, Colombian seminary student, greets you with deep affection in Christ Jesus. For many people, Christmas is a time of joy because they find themselves with family whom they haven't seen for a long time, or for similar reasons. By the saving grace of God, for believers, this is one of the most important dates, not for such reasons, but rather because we remember that on a day like this, the most important person of all, Jesus, was born. Being God, he came from heaven and became man in order to save us from the dominion of the devil and from the terrible punishment that we deserved to pay in hell for our sins. We remember how Mary praised God for such great grace that he granted her:

Mary said:
“My soul glorifies the Lord
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant.
From now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me—
holy is his name.
His mercy extends to those who fear him,
from generation to generation.
-- Luke 1:46-50

May the marvelous news of the birth of the Savior, and of the marvelous and perfect saving work which he accomplished for all humanity, continue to overfill us with joy and gratitude to God. May he keep us strong, correctly using the means of grace, while we wait for the second coming of the Savior. Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in Christ Jesus. Amen.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Hola hermanos, hermanas y amigos en Cristo, 


Les saluda con entrañable afecto en Cristo Jesús  su hermano y servidor Raul, Colombiano,  para muchos las navidad es una fecha de regocijo, porque se encontraran con familiares que hace mucho tiempo no veían  o por motivos similares a ese,  Por la gracia salvadora de Dios, para los creyentes, esta es una de las fechas mas importantes, no por tales motivos, si no porque recordamos  que en una fecha como esta  nació el ser   más importante de todos, Jesús, el cual siendo Dios  vino desde el cielo haciéndose hombre , para salvarnos, del  dominio  del diablo, y del terrible castigo que merecíamos pagar en el infierno por nuestros pecados. Recordamos la alabanza de Maria a Dios, por tan grande gracia que le concedió:


Entonces María dijo:
Engrandece mi alma al Señor;
Y mi espíritu se regocija en Dios mi Salvador.
Porque ha mirado la bajeza de su sierva; 
Pues he aquí, desde ahora me dirán bienaventurada todas las generaciones. 
Porque me ha hecho grandes cosas el Poderoso; 
Santo es su nombre, 
Y su misericordia es de generación en generación 
A los que le temen. 
-- Lucas 1.46-50

Que la maravillosa noticia del nacimiento del salvador y de la maravillosa y perfecta obra salvadora que realizo por la humanidad, nos siga colmando de gozo, y de gratitud, para con Dios, y nos mantenga firmes y haciendo uso correcto de los medios de gracias mientras esperamos la segunda venida del salvador. Feliz navidad y prospero año nuevo en Cristo Jesús. Amen.

Photo Credit

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Christmas Greetings from Haiti



My family and I wish you peace, comfort and 
eternal hope in our Savior. Merry Christmas!

************************************************
Mi familia y yo les deseamos paz, consuelo, y 
siempre esperanza en nuestro Salvador. 
¡Feliz Navidad!
-- Pastor Rona

Thursday, January 3, 2013

More Christmas Greetings from Mexico



From Mexico:

Pastor Alejandro sends greetings and a strong hug to all of the brothers and sisters in the USA. In these days, may the Savior of the world, our Lord Jesus, be born and grow in your hearts. In the company of your loved ones, may you receive all the blessings of love and mercy from our Lord.

In Christ, Pastor Alejandro,

<><><><><><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

Desde Mexico:

Pastor Alejandro envia un saludo y fuerte abrazo a todos los hermanos en EEUU. que en estos dias tambien nazca y crezca en sus corazones el Salvador del mundo, nuestro Señor Jesus, en compañia de sus seres queridos reciban todas las bendiciones de amor y misericordia de parte de nuestro Señor. 

En Cristo, Alejandro 

Photo Credit

Sunday, December 30, 2012

Christmas Greetings from Bolivia



To all our brothers and sisters who confess their faith in Christ:

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
-- Luke 2:10-12

Christmas, understood correctly, is a sign of joy for us sinners and sad mortals who,  deserving of no other destiny than eternal condemnation, today can jump for joy because of this great salvation which has been put before us -- a child wrapped in swaddling clothes who will finish everything we could not finish and will pay for our guilt: the Lamb who was slain from the beginning of the world (Revelation 13:8).

Let us celebrate together such great and wonderful news! Our salvation has been paid! Let us celebrate in Christ, God, the Son, our Redeemer!

With high regards,
Your confessional brothers and sisters from Bolivia

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A todos lo hermanos confesantes de la fe de Cristo: 

"Pero el ángel les dijo: No temáis; porque he aquí os doy nuevas de gran gozo, que será para todo el pueblo: que os ha nacido hoy, en la ciudad de David, un Salvador, que es CRISTO el Señor. Esto os servirá de señal: Hallaréis al niño envuelto en pañales, acostado en un pesebre." 
-- Lucas 2:10-12

La navidad bien entendida es una señal de gozo para nosotros pecadores y tristes mortales que sin más destino que la condenación eterna hoy podemos saltar de gozo ante tan gran salvación puesta delante de nosotros, un niño envuelto en pañales que cumplirá todo lo que no cumplimos y pagará por nuestras culpas: el Cordero que fue inmolado desde el principio del mundo (Apocalipsis 13:8) ¡Celebremos juntos tan grandes y buenas noticias! ¡Nuestra salvación ya fue pagada, regocijemonos en Cristo, Dios, El hijo, nuestro Redentor.

Con aprecio,
Los hermanos confesionales de Bolivia 

Photo Credit

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas Greetings from Mexico



Greetings, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. With all my heart I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a New Year full of many blessings. We will be praying for you that God continue to use you in the expansion of his work and that you may be a blessing for other brothers and sisters. May the peace of God be with you.

Saludos mis hermanos en Cristo, les deseo de todo corazón que pasen una feliz Navidad y un año nuevo lleno de muchas bendiciones, estaremos orando por ustedes para que Dios los siga utilizando en el crecimiento de su obra y sean de bendición para otros hermanos. Que la paz de Dios sea con ustedes. 
 -- Seminarian Dan

Friday, December 21, 2012

Christmas Greetings from Colombia


 
Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God. 
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for,
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double for all her sins.  
                                            -- Isaiah 40:1–2

Sus hermanos desde Colombia los animan en esta Navidad para que tengamos vivo este sentimiento de consuelo, de alegría por el perdón de los pecados que nuestro Redentor nos ha dado y además porque pronto vendrá nuestro Señor Jesucristo por segunda vez. 

FELIZ NAVIDAD LES DESEA 
LA IGLESIA LUTERANA CONFESIONAL DE COLOMBIA.WELS

Your brothers and sisters from Colombia encourage you this Christmas to keep this sentiment of comfort alive, this sentiment of joy for the forgiveness of sins that our Redeemer has given us, and also because soon our Lord Jesus Christ will come again.

THE CONFESSIONAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF COLOMBIA-WELS 
WISHES YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS
-- Pastor Henry

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Christmas in México


Between the flashing Christmas lights and piñatas, you can find nacimientos - nativities on display here in México during the Christmas season. 

In México, many families participate in a posada - commonly a re-enactment of Mary & Joseph looking for an inn in Bethlehem.  Each family in a neighborhood will schedule a night to host the posada during a 9-day period, leading up to December 24th.  Each night, the group of pereginos - pilgrims wander from house to house with lit candles, looking for a place to stay.  They make their request through a special song.  Then they are turned away, until they reach the home of the host, where they pray the Rosary and sing hymns of praise in front of the nativity.  Then the children are blindfolded and try to break open a piñata with a stick.  The piñata is often full of candies, fruit, and peanuts usually accompanied by a regional hot ponche - punch for the adults.


This year, our mission, Cristo Resuscitado, offered special activities during this joyous Christmas season. The events included decorating the church, a Christmas for Kids night, and a fellowship potluck with a piñata for the children (and adults). In preparation for these activities, several of our prospects introduced some Christmas traditions to us. We discovered that children enjoy little wrapped candies and mandarin oranges along with freshly cut sugar cane as a special gift in addition to our homemade cookies. 


Regarding decorations, we found out the nativity scenes can become quite detailed including ponds made out of foil to house ducks surrounded by paper palm trees. Much work is put into setting up the nativity, but baby Jesus isn't placed in the manger until midnight.  This is connected to the family custom of rocking baby Jesus late Christmas Eve after a special meal. 

It is a challenge to distinguish between family traditions and religious customs.  As a mission, we are slowly developing our own congregational Christian traditions with input from the members and prospects focused on Jesus Christ our Savior.

We were delighted to almost have standing room only for our special Noche Buena - Christmas Eve Service and 21 for our Sunday morning Christmas Day service.

May God continue to bless the efforts of telling the story of Jesus around the world!

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Christmas Greetings from LATTE



¡Feliz Navidad!  Feliz Natal! Merry Christmas!

Christmas greetings from our hearts to yours as we celebrate our Savior's birth!

Noche de paz, noche de amor,
Todo duerme en derredor.
Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz
Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús
Brilla la estrella de paz
Brilla la estrella de paz.

Noite de paz! Noite de amor!
Dormem todos em redor.
Em Belém Jesus nasceu,
Rei de paz, da terra e céu.
Nosso Salvador é Jesus, Senhor.

Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon virgin mother and child.
Holy infant so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Christmas -- Dourados, Brazil

When considering Christmas customs in Brazil, you have to realize that it is a big country, with many very distinct regions. Food and customs are different by region. They are also different among the many ethnic groups, nationalities and religions that live in Brazil. But there seem to be three things that all regions have in common, perhaps excepting the Amazonian Indians.


Christmas presents are a must in Brazil. Everyone gives presents to as many people as they feel necessary. So right now, two weeks before Christmas, shopping is the big activity - in all parts of Brazil.

The second common custom is family visits. This is similar to the United States, except that here in the southern hemisphere summer vacation has just begun, so the visits can be prolonged. Many companies give collective holidays from the week before Christmas to the week after New Year's Day. City government also closes down for that period, and health posts are left with very few doctors, which is the down side of the custom. What a wonderful time to either visit or receive visitors! (But not a good time to get sick.)

Family

The third common custom is food, but here it is restricted to the Christmas Eve supper. A hold-over from the Catholic midnight mass, all people seem to think that the Christmas Eve supper should happen after midnight, no matter what their religious beliefs. What happens then is that the whole night is taken up, first by the supper and then by night long visiting. The weather is warm, the doors and windows are open, and in many neighborhoods people are in and out of each others' homes all night.

Public Market

In our congregation we try to have several Christmas services over a two week period, to give everyone a chance to worship the Savior at least one.

Youth Group Practicing Christmas Musical

Feliz Natal!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

¡Viva México!

September 16th is Independence Day in México!  Last year, Mexico celebrated its 200th anniversary.  Every year, many proud Mexicans celebrate their independence with family and friends with food, decoration, and fun!


Green - Hope, White - Unity, & Red - Blood of National Heroes

A few fun facts on how they celebrate .... 

The preparations
The planning can begin with handing out party invitations 2 weeks in advance. Other preparations include purchasing food and beverages, cooking, and setting up decorations along with tables and chairs.  

The decorations
Cardboard horns, hats, toys, streamers, balloons, flags are hung everywhere displaying green, white, and red. Costumes can range from charros (cowboys), indios (indians), adelitas (female soldiers from the Mexican Revolution) or chinas poblanas (a tradition dress of the Mexican Revolution era).  Accessories may include sombreros de paja (straw hats), paliacates (bandanas) or rebozos (shawls).

The meal
The meal can offer nachos, guacamole, refried beans, traditional sweets-mazapanes, cocadas (coconut sweets), and glorias (caramels with pecans) as appetizers followed by enchiladas, flautas, tostadas, and tacos.

The drinks
Beverages can include aguas frescas with tamarindo, jamaica, horchata or limón (lemon) in addition to some traditional drinks of tequila - margaritas, palomas (tequila and sour), and banderas (tequila, sangrita, & lemon juice). Micheladas are also popular. 

The music
Live music can often be heard from some marimberos (marimbas), drums, or mariachi.  A collection of ranchera, cumbias and corridos are common along with karaoke.

The games
Lotería, a game similar to bingo, is often played by all in addition to the traditional piñata full of candy.  Throughout the night, week, even month, fireworks will fill the sky.

Every year, the President of the United States of Mexico repeats the traditional cry for independence from the National Palace in the zócalo of Mexico City, around 11 pm on the eve (15th).  After shouting the names of independence heroes and the words, "Viva México" (Long live Mexico), he rings the bell, then waves the Mexican flag, and then sings the national anthem with a live audience of over a half a million people and many viewers watching it live on television or over the Internet. Many attend similar celebrations locally as their mayor or governor participates in the same tradition in the main plaza of many cities and towns throughout México.

The national symbols
Mexico's first flag was created in 1821 and has changed 8 times.  The current flag for Mexico was adopted in 1968 and made official in 1984. The seal has always been the same-the image of an eagle sitting on a nopal (a type of cactus) devouring a snake, which is from an aztec legend.  This signal lead them to establish the city of Tenochtitlan (present-day Mexico City). The national anthem was writtten in 1853 by González Bocanegra and the music by Jaime Nunó. It was officially released in 1854.
 

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Easter in Brazil

Differences in Dourados

Weather
  • It is fall in the southern hemisphere
  • Including a cold front with wind, a hard rain, & a 20 degree drop in temperature
Traditional Holy Week and Easter
  • Good Friday is a national holiday
  • Everything is closed
  • Maundy Thursday is a national holiday – (1 of 2 independence days)
  • Many people take a mini-vacations over the long weekend
  • Easter Sunday
  • Service is held at 5 in the afternoon
  • Includes the people from the morning and evening service
Fellowship Meal
  • Potluck doesn't work because everyone thinks they have to have some of EVERY dish that is served
  1. Church council plans a fellowship day
    • Passes date & time of service to the ladies' group
  2. Ladies group decides what to serve & makes up a list of needed ingredients
  3. This list is placed at the back of the church
    • At least a month before the event
  4. People sign up to bring what they can afford
    • This year the ladies decided to make a huge chocolate cake (enough for 80 people) and each family brought a 2-liter bottle of soda to the service.  Along with the cake and soda after the service, and there was plenty of time for fellowship.
Same Savior
 

Better even than the chocolate cake was the Easter service itself, the singing, the pre-service music by the bell choir, and the full house. The Easter message was "Where is Jesus?", and we were all strengthened by the sermon and the Bible readings.


There were quite a few visitors in the service.

One young mother who comes regularly with her two boys, but is not yet a member, brought her neighbor, who was instantly recognized by one of our older members who has lived on this side of town all her life. She seems to know everybody! So the lady guest could feel right at home.

Around ten students from the Monday evening kids class came and were super well behaved during the service and afterwards. Many of the older ones participated, singing, and joining in the responsive prayers.
 
Dear fellow believers, we saw you at the foot of the cross and at the empty tomb! How many tears did we shed over our sin, and how many Alleluia's did we all sing in the joy of our resurrection! May that joy stay with us always!

Retired Missionary Charlie and Beth continue to serve Igreja Luterana Brasileira – The Brazilian Lutheran Church as active volunteers, residing in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul.

Friday, April 22, 2011

Easter Greetings

The LATTE team wishes all our Latin American seminary students, their families, the congregations they serve, and our Christian brothers and sisters around the world a reflective journey to the cross and joyous victory at the empty tomb, exclaiming "Christ is risen, He is risen indeed!"

Domingo de Ramos - Palm Sunday
"The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!" - Matthew 21:9

Jueves Santo - Quinta-Feira Santa - Maundy Thursday
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." - John 13:34

Viernes Santo - Sexta-Feira Santa - Good Friday
"Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.  But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all." - Isaiah 53:4-6

Domingo de Pascua - Domingo da Páscoa - Easter
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him." - 1 Corinthians 15:20-23


Friday, December 24, 2010

Feliz Natal! ¡Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noël!

Christmas greetings from Brazil, Bolivia, the Caribbean, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Haiti, & Mexico!

"But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord." - Luke 2:10-11 (NIV © 2010)

God's richest blessings to you throughout this joyous season and in 2011!

The LATTE Team


- Larry & Kay 
- Larry & Marlene 
- Phil & Kathy 
- Natán & Julia

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Giving Thanks

As members of the LATTE team, we are thankful for the gifts of:

T echnology–communicating to students in countries where a professor isn’t on-site

H ealth- for both professors and students

A bility–of students to study and work in local congregations

N etwork–of fellow pastors and shared resources

K nowledge -of the truth found in Scripture alone

S avior- whose life, death, and resurrection gives us life eternal with his unconditional love