The Quarterly Newsletter of Wittenberg Academy
The Ninety-Sixth Thesis
Chaplain's Corner- p. 8 Why all These Church Services? Rev. David M. Juhl
Scholars' Spotlight - P. 32-33
Contents
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle
Timeless Essay- Heritage Vs. Tradition -P. 20-21 - Featured Missionary Family and Teacher -P. 24-25 -On the Road with Wittenberg Academy- p. 26 Poetry- p. 27 Jordan- George Herbert
From Our Teachers p. 10-18 ~The Birth of Christ Revealed to the Nations: Select Epiphany Hymns ~ Epiphany: Christmas for the Gentiles - Fighting against the Takeover with He Who Has Overcome the World
Blessings on the hand of women! Angels guard its strength and grace, In the palace, cottage, hovel, Oh, no matter where the place; Would that never storms assailed it, Rainbows ever gently curled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world. Infancy's the tender fountain, Power may with beauty flow, Mother's first to guide the streamlets, From them souls unresting grow— Grow on for the good or evil, Sunshine streamed or evil hurled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world. Woman, how divine your mission Here upon our natal sod! Keep, oh, keep the young heart open Always to the breath of God! All true trophies of the ages Are from mother-love impearled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world. Blessings on the hand of women! Fathers, sons, and daughters cry, And the sacred song is mingled With the worship in the sky— Mingles where no tempest darkens, Rainbows evermore are hurled; For the hand that rocks the cradle Is the hand that rules the world. The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1865) by William Ross Wallace The family is under attack. This should not come as a surprise to anyone as it is not a new reality. God’s Law, which protects the good God gives, first and foremost protects our relationship with God (Himself, His name, His Word). Commandments Four through Ten protect the good gifts God gives in our neighbor. The Fourth and Sixth Commandments in particular protect family and the vocations involved in family, as we learn from the Table of Duties. When we fail to keep God’s Law, which we do without fail, we break the hedge of protection God puts around the good He gives. (LC I:206) All authority derives from the family. The authority of the government exists to serve the family, not the other way around. Hilaire Belloc, a friend of G.K. Chesterton, said it this way in his book The Way Out: “The family is the true unit of the state, and is more important than the state. The state exists for the family, not the family for the state.” G.K Chesterton himself says thus in What’s Wrong with the World: “It may be said that this institution of the home is the one anarchist institution. That is to say, it is older than law, and stands outside the State. By its nature it is refreshed or corrupted by indefinable forces of custom or kinship. This is not to be understood as meaning that the State has no authority over families; that State authority is invoked and ought to be invoked in many abnormal cases. But in most normal cases of family joys and sorrows, the State has no mode of entry. It is not so much that the law should not interfere, as that the law cannot. ” This precious unit, the family, is given by God as a good. We confess this in the Creed and pray for it in The Lord’s Prayer. When we confess that God is our Father, we confess that God has given us house and home, wife and children. When we pray give us this day our daily bread, we are asking for everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, including a devout husband or wife and devout children. Fathers and mothers may not be warned in a dream to protect their families as was Joseph, but through His Law, through the Prayer taught by our Lord, and by the Creed made ours through Baptism, we are given to know that the family must be protected at all costs and thus it is a prime target for the attack of the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh. The hand that rocks the cradle, the hand of mothers and fathers, does indeed determine the rise and fall of empires and societies, for as goes the family, so also goes society. Where husbands and wives abandon their vocations as husband, wife, or parent, where children refuse to honor, obey, love, and cherish their parents, so also will society crumble. A look throughout all of time reveals this, not just in modern times, but in all of time. Lord have mercy. + JCB Mrs. Jocelyn C. Benson serves as Wittenberg Academy's Head Teacher.
From the Head Teacher's Desk- p. 3 The Hand That Rocks the Cradle Mrs. Jocelyn C. Benson
2019 Witttenberg Academy Family Retreat- P. 31
In our previous edition of "DIE ZEITSCHRIFT VON WALTHER", we talked about the importance of teaching our children the Church Year. Mrs. Benson wrote about how we can rule our daily lives using the Church Year, and Pastor Beane encouraged us to observe Advent in its fullness. We also included some practical tips and aids in ordering our days with the Church Year. You may follow this link to view the last edition of Die Zeithschrift von WALTHER." If you are interested in receiving "DIE ZEITSCHRIFT VON WALTHER," please subscribe through this link.
DIE Zeitschrift Von WALTHER A magazine for our Grammar School families
I often tell my workout partner (a Roman Catholic priest in the Order of St. Viator) that our workout is not a sprint, but a marathon. Father Jason moves through every element of our workout at what seems to be the speed of a world class sprinter running a 100 meter dash. I tend to move at a stately pace, trying to conserve energy to finish strong. The seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany seem like a marathon. There are midweek Advent services to attend. Some of our congregations have Divine Service every day of the Twelve Days of Christmas. Other congregations at least honor the birth of Jesus Christ according to the flesh on December 24th and December 25th. Then there's the Circumcision of our Lord on either New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Epiphany falls on a Sunday this church year so we get a reprieve from another Divine Service during the week. By the time January 7th appears on our calendar, we think we've probably had enough of church! Don't fall into the trap of breaking the Third Commandment by thinking you've had enough of church. Take a moment to consider why we attend so many church services from the beginning of Advent through Epiphany. Let's not sprint through this marathon; let's take a leisurely stroll through this time of year and consider why we have so many services to attend. Advent prepares us to welcome our Savior according to the flesh. The preaching of John the Baptist rings in our ears: REPENT! Be turned away from the works of darkness and be turned toward the Light of the coming Christ Child. The prophecies of Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Malachi point to Messiah's appearance to redeem His people. By faith in Messiah we Gentiles are included in those prophecies. During the Christmas season we can't help but sing our joy that Jesus Christ, the Son of the Most High God, has become our Brother. He takes on flesh to live the perfect life we ought to live but cannot live due to sin. He takes on flesh to suffer the punishment we deserve for our sin. He takes on flesh to rise from the dead triumphant over death and Satan. Don't rush through the Twelve Days of Christmas. Savor each day like dinner at a three-star Michelin restaurant. Take the time to celebrate the Feast Days of Saint Stephen, the Holy Innocents, and Saint John. Christ begins to keep the Law for us as He is circumcised and named Jesus, "The Lord saves". Add your first name to the end of that sentence, for Jesus saves especially you. Before you know it, we finish strong on January 6th as we celebrate our Lord's Epiphany to the Magi. The Boy Jesus welcomes visitors from afar led by a star to His home. As Jesus lives for the Jews, He also lives for Gentiles like you and me; grafted into the Vine of Righteousness. Like a marathon runner, we pace ourselves to enjoy every moment of these holy seasons. Now is not the time to rush through the seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany. Slow down. Bask in our Savior's work of salvation for you. Let Him feed you in His Word and Sacrament. Pay close attention to the readings. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that you may have life in His name. Jesus gives you a front row seat for all the action. + DMJ Rev. David M. Juhl serves as Chaplain of Wittenberg Academy. Additionally, his vocations include husband of Rebecca, father of five children, and pastor of Our Savior Evangelical Lutheran Church in Momence, Illinois.
Why All These Church Services?
Jesus was born to save man from sin. On Christmas this was revealed to select folks from Judea. Later (many months later) Christ’s birth was revealed to the Magi, wise men from distant and Gentile lands. Salvation was revealed to be not only for Jews but also for Gentiles. The Church sings of this salvation in the many countries of the earth. Lutherans have a deep history of writing and singing Epiphany hymns. Chief among these hymns is O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright (LSB 395) by Pastor Philipp Nicolai, who wrote both text and tune. The two hymns of Nicolai earned such fame as to be called The King of Chorales (Wake! Awake, for Night Is Flying) and The Queen of Chorales (O Morning Star…). Nicolai’s Epiphany hymn proclaims Jesus as the Morning Star (Rev. 22:16), the Son of David, and the Lord Who has won us – and that is only part of the first stanza. This hymn is a proclamation of God’s great love revealed in Christ; it declares our joy at salvation and eternal life with Him. One can learn much by studying the text of this hymn of comfort with a Bible handy to see all the references to Christ and His work. Martin Opitz is considered to be the Father of German Poetry. One of the tasks he set for himself was paraphrasing Psalms and other Bible passages. His paraphrase of Isaiah 60 is Arise and Shine in Splendor (LSB 396). Christ, the Light of the world, has broken the sinful darkness covering the world. What takes place as Christ’s Gospel is proclaimed through the Church is described (stanza 4): Lift up your eyes in wonder— See, nations gather yonder From sin to be set free. The world has heard Your story; Her sons come to Your glory; Her daughters haste Your light to see. Elisabeth Cruciger was the wife of one of Martin Luther’s most beloved students, Pastor Caspar Cruciger. She wrote many hymns, but we only have one extant hymn, The Only Son from Heaven (LSB 402). This Christ Whose manifestation we celebrate is One with the Father but also in human flesh, born of the virgin Mary. Thus, He is not confined as mortal man is. As we keep the feast we pray that God would bring forth more love and faith in Christ. We pray that God’s love would move us to prove our faith in works to our neighbor, bringing His Light to those who don’t know Him, until in heaven we reap the fullness of His Epiphany. Holy Baptism historically has been linked to Epiphany as Baptism brings the Light into darkened souls. In recent years many churches keep The Baptism of Our Lord on the Sunday after Epiphany. We see and sing one of Martin Luther’s greatest hymns, To Jordan Came the Christ, Our Lord (LSB 406 has his energetic tune; 407 is a modern tune). This hymn preaches Christ’s Baptism as cleansing all water for use to cleanse sinners in the Font, the Womb of the Church. Lest we doubt that water can work such great things we have Luther’s closing stanza: All that the mortal eye beholds Is water as we pour it. Before the eye of faith unfolds The pow’r of Jesus’ merit. For here it sees the crimson flood To all our ills bring healing; The wonders of His precious blood The love of God revealing, Assuring His own pardon. Forgiven sinners in Christ’s blood, rejoice that Christ came for you, revealing Himself in Word and water. Rejoice in your Light Who has shattered your sinful darkness by Holy Baptism. Rejoice and sing for He came to bring life and to open heaven for you! +TEL Kantor Thomas Lock serves as Music instructor for Wittenberg Academy. He also serves as church Kantor for Trinity Lutheran Church in Denver, Colorado.
The Birth of Christ Revealed to the Nations: Select Epiphany Hymns
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Before Christmas, we celebrate the season of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus which means coming or arrival. After Christmas, we celebrate the season of Epiphany. Epiphany comes from the Greek word ἐπιφάνεια (epipháneia) which means illumination, shining, manifestation, and/or appearing. In Epiphany, we rejoice in the shining forth and manifestation of God in the flesh. St. Paul writes, For the grace of God has appeared [ἐπιφαίνω (epiphainō)], bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing [ἐπιφάνεια (epiphaneia)] of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11–14, ESV) And again, St. Paul writes, But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared [ἐπιφαίνω (epiphainō)], he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4–7, ESV) Notice that in these two references the Apostle Paul connects the theme of epiphany with both the appearing of God for the salvation of all people and the appearing of God in the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, that is, holy baptism. Jesus sent the apostles out to baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Paul’s two-fold emphasis on the theme of epiphany helps us to understand the two different complimentary views that have been handed down from eastern and western Christianity. The first known record of the feast of Epiphany comes from the late second century AD by the hand of Clement. He was bishop in Alexandria, Egypt. From ancient times, the eastern church commemorated January 6 as the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. They called it the Theophany. On that date, the manifestation of the Blessed Holy Trinity was observed. The heavens were opened. While Jesus stood in the waters of the Jordan River, the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove, and the voice of the Father spoke, “This is My Beloved Son.” On the other hand, the western church commemorated January 6 as the Feast of the Three Kings (the Wise Men). This date comes after the completion of the twelve days of Christmas. It is seen as the Gentile Christmas. In the west, the focus was placed upon the appearing of Christ as the Savior of the Nations The themes of the Epiphany of our Lord are rooted in the book of Isaiah who describes the coming Messianic Age with the conversion of the Gentiles with the water, the Word, the Voice of the Father, the Vision of the Incarnate Son, and the pouring out of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah writes, “With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” (Isaiah 12:3, ESV) “They shall see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.” (Isaiah 35:2, ESV) “For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert;” (Isaiah 35:6, ESV) “For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.” (Isaiah 44:3, ESV) “Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.” (Isaiah 42:1, ESV) “Listen to me, O coastlands, and give attention, you peoples from afar. The LORD called me from the womb, from the body of my mother he named my name.” (Isaiah 49:1, ESV) “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:1–3, ESV) In the season of Epiphany, we celebrate the revelation of the Blessed Holy Trinity at the baptism of Jesus, the manifestation of Jesus as the Savior of the nations, and the realization of our new identity given to us in the waters of holy baptism. We have been called out of darkness to walk in His marvelous light. +BLK Rev. Brian L. Kachelmeier serves as the Paideia I Theology instructor at Wittenberg Academy. He also serves as pastor at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in Los Alamos, New Mexico.
Epiphany: Christmas for the Gentiles
Fighting Against the Takeover with He Who has Overcome the World
Merry Christmas. Happy Hannukah. Joyous Kwanzaa. Happy Festivus. There seem to be as numerous of politically correct ways to wish someone a festive wintertime holiday as there are ways to cook chicken these days. “Happy Holidays,” is often the default holiday greeting on the part of retailers and clerks, not wishing to offend anyone of a differing tradition than Christianity (or, perhaps more likely, not wishing to be sued by a group who claims offense). Furthermore, people of different faiths (and of no faith at all) often interject their own claims upon Christmas into our culture. Christians can have their holiday, but other faiths previously shunted to the side must have their place at the table now. Businesses must give equal representation to those who celebrate holidays other than those who have dominated Western culture up until recently. At the family level, those who formerly identified as Christian often anticipate the holiday as one of warmth, family, and love, but pushing that old ceramic nativity scene off of the family piano in favor of family photos celebrating the latest progressive family trends. Many Christians, though they wish to be well intentioned, often claim that the best way to combat the plethora of holiday wishes and traditions is to proclaim boldly that all stores (before millennials came along) at one time wished customers a Merry Christmas, and that true Christians will ‘like’ and ‘share’ posts on social media testifying to that fact. Or, perhaps, to boycott coffee companies whose Christmas themed cups do not reflect well enough the ‘Christmas Spirit.’ Well, perhaps. We can’t discount the fact that historic, traditional Christianity is less popular than ever in many areas, and that the impact of social media and progressive trends is more powerful than ever. But is the best course of action to shout ‘Keep Christ in Christmas’ from the rooftops (or their keyboards)? Many Christians combat the ‘Happy Holidays’ trend by pleading with the world to remember that little baby born and laid in an animal trough, doted upon by his mother and some shepherds and some wise men (who, of course, were not actually at his birth). Or, perhaps, some Christians may become defensive at the suggestion to change Christmas traditions, citing the ‘War on Christmas’ and begging us to keep singing and humming ‘Silent Night’ on Christmas Eve service - as if such traditions, somehow, are the true mark of the church. But, let’s be honest - how much more attractive is remembering the love of a little baby and some barn animals really more attractive than embracing what the world says to love? Do we win this ‘War on Christmas’ by shouting ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS’ over the cashier who says ‘Happy Holidays?’ Do we pitch fits over changes to a Christmas service when a pastor might suggest that Jesus was not born in the winter snow, in bleak midwinter, or any number of Anglican-influenced ideas? How do we keep Christ in Christmas? By keeping the mass in Christmas. As long as we do not uphold the sanctity of the Divine Service and its gifts to us in Word and Sacrament, we cannot simply chant ‘keep Christ in Christmas,’ without being hypocritical. Are we wanting to keep Christ in Christmas as the little child who was laid in a clean, hay strewn manger, aside a mother who has near-perfect hair, and shepherds and wise men who are humming ‘Silent Night?’ Or are we wanting to keep Christ - the crucified, buried, and risen Christ who gives Himself to us in our very mouths for our forgiveness - upheld as He promises to be with us? Jesus was born in a manger so that He could die and be raised again for us. He gives us His body and His blood for us because we have not kept Christmas as we ought. He gives Himself to us because we are dead in our transgressions. He was born an infant so that we may receive as infants the saving name of God upon us in baptism. As long as the conversation remains one of baby Jesus, the nativity scene, and ‘Merry Christmas’ vs. the world, the world will always win. Christianity has endured far worse than the secularization of our country, and the gates of Hell itself will not overcome the confession of Christ as Lord. As long as we focus on mere traditions being adjusted by the world (such as the wishing of a Happy Holiday instead of a Merry Christmas at the craft stores), the message of the world will become louder, more attractive, and more popular. Many fear that secularization will overtake the world, and that Christianity rests on the survival of the singing of certain hymns or reading Luke 2 exclusively in the King James version. But what if we turned our devotion to the One who has overcome the world? Now that’s a Merry Christmas. +ESC Mrs. Emily Cockran serves as a Paideia and Philosophy instructor at Wittenberg Academy. She lives in Tucson, Arizona with her husband and two children.
This time of year, with Thanksgiving, Advent, and Christmas, we spend a lot of time talking about tradition. We always have Advent soup suppers on Wednesdays. We never have Advent soup suppers, why would we do something like that? The tree is always set up in a certain spot in the chancel. The Sunday School Christmas program is always on a certain day. The lights are always dimmed during Silent Night and don’t even think about having a trumpet play during that hymn- you might wake the baby Jesus! What about families? From Handel’s Messiah to a tender Tennessee Christmas and everything in between, music has a deep-rooted place in family traditions. Perhaps certain foods are eaten at certain times. Perhaps decorations are arranged on a certain day. Perhaps Luke 2 is read while the family gathers round. The list of traditions could go on and on. But what happens when traditions collide? Since all of our churches are full of perfect pastors and parishioners, this never happens, so let us deal in hypotheticals. What happens when Betty’s family remembers the church being decorated one way and Lucille’s family remembers the church being decorated another way? Heaven forbid some young pastor come in and suggest starting a new tradition- is there even such a thing as a new tradition? After all, the way we have always done things is our heritage! Really? How did we get from tradition to heritage? One of my favorite websites these days is http://1828.mshaffer.com. Here you can search and find definitions from Webster’s 1828 Dictionary. A search for “tradition” reveals “delivery” as the meaning of tradition. Specifically, 1. Delivery; the act of delivering into the hands of another. 2. The delivery of opinions,doctrines, practices,rites and customs from father to son, or from ancestors to posterity; the transmission of any opinions or practice from forefathers to descendants by oral communication, without written memorials. Thus children derive their vernacular language chiefly from tradition. Most of our early notions are received by tradition from our parents. 3. That which is handed down from age to age by oral communication. The Jews pay great regard to tradition in matters of religion, as do the Romanists. Protestants reject the authority of tradition in sacred things, and rely only on the written word. Traditions may be good or bad, true or false. A search for “heritage” reveals “inheritance” as the definition: 1. Inheritance; an estate that passes from an ancestor to an heir by descent or course of law; that which is inherited. In Scot's law, it sometimes signifies immovable estate, in distinction from movable. 2. In Scripture, the saints or people of God are called his heritage, as being claimed by him, and the objects of his special care. 1 Pet.5. Now, as your brain struggles through whether there is in fact a difference between tradition and heritage, let us turn to Scripture. A quick look in the concordance of The Lutheran Study Bible reveals, with a couple of exceptions, two different tones associated with each word. Generally, the word tradition is used in reference to the actions of the Pharisees. Time after time, Jesus showed us that more than tradition, God’s Word, when correctly applied, must have precedence. Conversely, the word heritage generally has a positive tone, referring not to actions, but to people, or something of God, not man. Is this to say tradition is bad and heritage is good? Certainly not! Far be it from me to interpret Scripture as the interpretation of Scripture should be left to Scripture alone. I draw these comparisons simply to show that there is a difference between the words and we should ponder carefully before using them interchangeably. What has this to do with education and/or Wittenberg Academy? Much! As Lutherans, our tendency toward tradition many times spills over into Lutheran education. We sometimes do things simply because that is the way they have always been done, or at least the way we think they have always been done. If we believe Mr. Webster, tradition is something that is delivered. It seems a relatively straightforward (thought certainly not always simple) endeavor to deliver something from parent to child, from teacher to student, from pastor to parishioner. Yet what of our heritage? What is is we want to leave behind? Hopefully as you ponder that question, your thoughts hearken back to our pondering of the purpose of Lutheran education. The purpose of Lutheran education is to educate children for life in two kingdoms- the earthly kingdom and the heavenly kingdom. As LSB #582 states: God’s Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever; To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor. Through life it guides our way, In death it is our stay. Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure Throughout all generations It is my prayer for Wittenberg Academy, as long as God allows her to serve families around the world, that we would always focus on our heritage lest our traditions blind us and cause us to go astray from that which is our heritage, God’s Word. +JCB This article was originally run in the November 2012 edition of the Ninety-Sixth Thesis.
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Timeless Essay- "Heritage VS. Tradition"
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At Wittenberg Academy, we pursue the good, the true, and the beautiful because we value those things which endure. In keeping with this philosophy, we highly recommend that students use printed books and readings as much as possible. Our instructors supply information so that families may purchase necessary books or print off copies of readings. At the same time, we recognize the financial sacrifices that many families already make to provide an excellent education for their children. For this reason, we also offer options for using web or other electronic copies of readings, most of which are available free of charge. Since the choice to use print, electronic, or combined means for readings will not limit a student’s participation in classes, each family may utilize the option deemed best-suited for them.
A Statement from Our Board of Directors
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Missionary Family Feature
Mr. Jeremy Staub
Rev. Eric and Johanna Stinnett serve the Lord as missionaries through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) in Ethiopia. Eric accepted the call from the LCMS’ Office of International Mission (OIM) to teach at Mekane Yesus Seminary in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This seminary is dedicated to training faithful Lutheran pastors and other church workers to serve in Ethiopia. Eric and Johanna have three beautiful children – Rachael, Naomi and Luke – who join them on the mission field.
the Stinnett Family
Featured Teacher
Mr. Staub grew up in Woodburn, Indiana. He graduated from Concordia University in Seward Nebraska. He currently teaches at Emmanuel-St. Michael Lutheran School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In December of 2010, he was married to his wife Becky. They have three children: Leah, Nathanael, and Andrew. In his spare time he enjoys being active outdoors, whether it is landscaping, hiking, surfing, snorkeling or anything else. He also enjoys following Cubs baseball, playing games, reading books and watching movies.
Jordan By George Herbert Who says that fictions only and false hair Become a verse? Is there in truth no beauty? Is all good structure in a winding stair? May no lines pass, except they do their duty Not to a true, but painted chair? Is it no verse, except enchanted groves And sudden arbours shadow coarse-spun lines? Must purling streams refresh a lover's loves? Must all be veiled, while he that reads divines, Catching the sense at two removes? Shepherds are honest people: let them sing: Riddle who list, for me, and pull for prime: I envy no man's nightingale or spring; Nor let them punish me with loss of rhyme, Who plainly say, My God, My King.
On the Road with Wittenberg Academy Recent and upcoming travels Wittenberg Academy Family Retreat April 25-27, 2019 Milford. IA Camp Okoboji
Our Art Foundations II students were recently given the assignment to complete a gilded relief depicting a Bible story after reading about the commissioning of the bronze doors for the Baptistery of San Giovani in Florence in the early Renaissance. These are the finished products!
Scholars' Spotlight
Cosette, a 9th grader at Wittenberg Academy, chose Daniel and the lions' den for the subject of her gilded relief.
Grace, a recent graduate auditing the class, chose the baptism of Jesus for the subject of her gilded relief.
Publications from Kloria Publishing
These publications are available for order on Amazon.com.
A point of confession
Take note...
2018-19 Academic Year Dates Michaelmas term: September 4, 2018- November 21, 2018 Christmas term: November 26, 2018 - March 1, 2019 (Thanksgiving Break November 22 - 25, Christmas Break December 22 - January 6) Easter term: March 4, 2019 - May 24, 2019 (Easter Break April 18-22) Trinity term: June 3, 2019 - August 23, 2019 (No class Independence Day - July 4)
"For if we wish to have excellent and able persons both for civil and Church leadership. we must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and education our children, so that they may serve God and the world. We must not think only about how we may amass money and possessions for them. God can indeed support and make them rich without us, as He daily does. But for this purpose He has given us children and issued ths command: we should train and govern them according to His will. Otherwise, He would have no purpose for a father and a mother.Therefore, let everyone know that it is his duty, on peril of losing the divine favor, to bring up his children in the fear and knowledge of God above all things (Proverbs 1:7). And if the children are talented, have them learn and study something. Then they ma be hired for whatever need there is." ~ The Large Catechism, Part I: The Fourth Commandment, 172-174
We look forward to next year's retreat on April 25-27, 2019 with speaker Dr. Thomas Korcok. We hope you can join us!
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Wittenberg Academy's 3rd Annual Family Retreat
Wittenberg Academy held their 3rd Annual Family Retreat on April 26-28, 2018. Many good conversations were had and memories made. Our plenary speaker, Mr. Aaron Wolf, spoke on natural law. Many families were able to make connections with other homeschool families and exchange thoughts and ideas.
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