English-Speaking

United Methodist Church of Vienna July/Aug 2017

Solus Christus – the Methodist movement as ‘grandchild’ of the Reformation By Bishop Dr. Patrick Ph. Streiff Editor’s Note: This issue’s front page article is an excerpt from Bishop Dr. Patrick Streiff’s every four year Episcopal Address from the Central and Southern European Central Conference in March 2017. “Solus Christus” (Christ alone) is one of the famous slogans of the Reformation – alongside “scripture alone”, (by) “grace alone” and (through) “faith alone”. 500 years have passed since the Reformation. Let us not forget during this quincentenary year 2017 that the global communions of Lutherans, Catholics and Methodists have reached a consensus in basic truths of this teaching in their joint declaration on the doctrine of justification: “The doctrine of justification… is an indispensable criterion which constantly serves to orient all the teaching and practice of our churches to Christ” (paragraph 18). The Methodist movement is, so to speak, a ‘grandchild’ of the Reformation. Between the era of the first Reformers – including their direct successors in the 16th century – and the rise of the Methodist renewal movement in the Church of England in the 18th century, there had already been a succession of renewal movements in England and on the continent. Puritanism and Pietism were therefore, as it were, ‘children’ of the Reformation. They in turn had an impact on the emerging Methodist renewal movement. So the influence of the Reformation on the Methodist movement was through a conflux of various channels: partly from the Reformers themselves, and partly from the first ‘children’ of the Reformation. Accordingly, the Methodist movement is in this sense a ‘grandchild’ of the Reformation. However, John and Charles Wesley also had recourse to epochs long before the Reformation, as they also drew inspiration from the early Greek Church Fathers. These influences and basic themes manifest themselves in Wesley’s sermons (cf. Patrick Ph. Streiff, John Wesley: Le prédicateur et sa pensée théologique d’après ses sermons, published currently only in French). The target had already been set in the early sermons of 1738: to live a

sanctified life, that is, Christian Perfection in the sense of perfect love. This aim in life, influenced by the heritage of the Early Church, remained unchanged all his life. The assurance of faith that he found in 1738 then led to a special emphasis on the heritage of the Reformation with the imprint of the next generation, its Pietist ‘children’. It set the times before and after his conversion in sharp and radical contrast to each other. But Wesley assured himself – by reference to the Church of England’s standard sermons (in its Book of Homilies) in which the Reformer generation had their say – that his own church was founded in the bedrock of the Reformation. The Reformation legacy of justification by faith alone remained, on the one hand, the keystone throughout the period of continuing development in the 1760s and 1770s. Wesley characterized it as ‘scriptural Christianity’. In his later sermons, on the other hand, he drew more fully, once again, on the thinking of the Early Church. Models of faith and living preceding the experience of justification were no longer depreciated, but rather integrated positively as stages on the pathway of growth in the love of God and fellow human beings. So here, too, in the sermons, just as in The Character of a Methodist, his paramount concern was the transforming power of God’s love as the deepest grounds and goal of Christian faith.

Bishop Dr. Patrick Ph. Streiff

Bishop Dr. Patrick Ph. Streiff is the episcopal leader of The United

Methodist Church in central and southern Europe including Austria. His entire address can be found at www.umc-europe.org.

Looking Back Last Month

It‘s a Boy! Congratulations to Joy and Roy Llyods on the birth of their son Zion Dumaka on Wednesday, June 21st. Both mother and baby are home and in good health.

Welcome New Members ESUMC welcomed Martin Schulzer and John Mikulski as professing members on Sunday, May 28th. We officially welcome them into our church and look forward to sharing in ministry together.

Sunday School Teachers Recognized With the close of Sunday School on June 26th, Pastor Matthew and ESUMC thanked Sunday School teachers for their hard work and dedication. 2016-2017 teachers were Diana Mangan, Andy Tompkins, Yvie Acknownu, Noussi Zahramann, Sarah Brustmann, Shelley Mangan, Sarah Kudaya, Deborah Koll-Petty, Jackalie Blue, and Oscar van Rooy. The Sunday School program is coordinated by Tinu Agunga-Williams. We are deeply grateful for the hard work and dedication of our teachers and coordinator!

Over 100 Attend Long Night of

Churches Program Over 100 neighbors attended our Long Night of Churches program on Friday, June 9th. The same evening 180 churches were open across Vienna to welcome neighbors, share their minis-tries, inspire and challenge, and be a place of welcome and hospitality. ESUMC and its sister Fuenfhaus Gemeinde joint-ly organized the program.

A sextet from the African Singers and Drummers began the program with 30 minutes of African music. Pastor Matthew and Pastor Stefan shared brief reflections about Methodism. Later, the group ‘Crescendo’ performed while members of the Fuenfhaus Gemeinde read passages from the works of German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. At 21:00 an international food buffet was organized by Deborah Koll-Petty and Christa Murtinger. The evening closed with service of Charles Wesley hymns and John Wesley writings; the Wesley brothers were founders of the Methodism movement.

A special thanks to all the people from the two congregations who helped organize a wonderful evening!

Above: ASAD members

Olivia Gassie, Ophelia

Ampia-Addison, and

Benny Osifo singing

during the Long Night

of Churches. Right: A

new welcome beach

flag outside the church

to greet people to the

Long Night of

Churches. Photos by

Bernhard Poell.

Thank You from Hospitality Coordinators Deborah Koll-Petty and Diana Mangan A big THANK YOU to all coffee fellowship hosts, who throughtout the year, have prepared coffee, tea, and food, plus clean-up afterwards for the fellowship time after worship services each Sunday. You have blessed us with your service in this ministry! Also a big THANK YOU to those who provided food and/or helped with set-up, clean-up for the Long Night of Churches on June 9th, the reception after the funeral for Joel Osamwonyi on June 14th, Men's Service on June 18th, late but not forgotten the men for Women's Service on May 14th. May God continue to stir your spirits to the "call" in such ministry, and please know that your time and efforts are greatly appreciated!

If there is anyone who isn't a part of this ministry but would like to participate in hosting for fellowship , please either call or email Deborah or Diana or the church office. July and August are not appointed times and one may sign-up on the list by the entrance to the kitchen. Thank you!

Gospel Choir Goes On Break The Vienna International Gospel Choir is on summer break for July and August. They will resume their normal rehearsal schedule on Friday, September 8. They rehearse on Friday evenings during their normal season. Contact Sigrid Anusie for more info about the choir.

Looking Ahead in July and Beyond

In celebration of the 500th anniversary Protestant jubilee, a special festival is planned on Saturday, September 30th from 12:00-22:00 at the Vienna Rathausplatz. The event is

jointly sponsored the Methodist, Lutheran, and Reformed churches in Austria.

Three stages will be constructed for music, videos, inter-views, and Scripture readings on the three themes of peace,

justice, and perseveration of creation.

Nobel Peace Prize recipient Leyman Gbowee from Liberia will speak about how non-violence protests led to a more just and free Liberia. Additionally director and actor Karl

Markovics accompanies the evening under the title “Sound of Heaven”.

For more information visit www.fest500.at.

Reformationsfest Planned for September 30

Registration Open for VBS The 2017 Vacation Bible School program is now open for registration. The program will run daily from Monday, August 14 through Friday, August 18 from 09:00-16:00.

This year’s theme is “Hero Central: Discovering Your Strength in God!” The theme Bible verse is "Do good! Seek peace and go after it!"—Psalm 34:14b, CEB.

There will be games, science projects, music classes, craft time, Bible stories, and much learning about strength which comes from God.

VBS is open to children ages 4-15.

Lunch and snacks will be provided. VBS is free.

To register go online at www.esumc.at/vbs2017. Contact Diana Mangan to volunteer at office@esumc.at.

Nobel Peace Prize recipient Leymah Gwobwee

will speak at the Reformationsfest

English-Speaking United Methodist Church of Vienna

Sechshauser Strasse 56, 1150 Wien • office[at]esumc.at • +43 1 895 81 75 • www.esumc.at

Reverend Matthew A. Laferty • +43 664 466 94 75 mobile • matthew.laferty[at]emk.at

Donations accepted at www.esumc.at/donate • IBAN: AT23 1200 0006 2016 1208/BIC Code: BKAUATWW

Austrian-wide Kinderwoche in August The Austrian-wide Methodist children’s camp is 20-26 August in Hinterstoder. The camp is organized by the Austrian Methodist children’s

and youth work office.

During the week-long camp children ages 7-12 go hiking, play games, create artwork, play musical instruments, engage in sporting activities, and much more. The group spends

time reading Scripture, praying and worshiping, and discussing Christian faith.

In the past several children from ESUMC have attended the camp.

The camp is open to children ages 7-12.

The price is 160 Euros for one child, 250 Euros for two siblings. ESUMC has scholarship monies available to help support attending the camp.

Registration closes 7 July. Please see Pastor Matthew for registration information and scholarship assistance.

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