Update from Tom Krahling
Grace and Peace from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!
I thank God for all of your prayers and support, and your continued labour in the Gospel. It has been my great joy this month to enjoy the fruits of the Inaugural Synodical Assembly of Lutheran Mission – Australia, which recognised the bond of fellowship which Jesus Christ has established between LM-A and the Lutheran Church Canada. My first two weeks in Canada were mostly spent getting to know the area along with the other students, visiting local attractions, including Niagara Glen and the Falls.
During the first week, we had a writing workshop, where we studied Luther’s defense of the Real Presence in the Lord’s Supper. In my paper, I focussed on Luther’s pastoral use of derision. Luther laughs off false teachers, because, no matter how they attack the Word of God, 'the Word still stands firm.' Yes, they threaten to undermine the faith of their hearers, but those whose refuge is the Word of God do not need to be afraid of them. At the end of our writing workshop, we had a student faculty retreat at the Mt Carmel Monastery in Niagara Falls. Students led worship services while the faculty presented lectures on our theme verse, 1 Peter 2:4-5.
A few weeks into classes, there was a plumbing accident which caused water to leak into the seminary library’s old book collection. Most of the damaged books were around 200 years old. It would be impossible to dry all the books before mould began to grow, and so the students were enlisted to help dry off the surface moisture with paper towels and seal the books in zip-lock bags to be stored in the freezer, where they could be defrosted, dried and restored one-by-one at a later date. We were able to save most of the books this way, although unfortunately, some were beyond saving.
Classes have been extremely busy. I am taking courses in Ethics, Catechetics, Preaching, Church History and Pastoral Ministry, as well as a weekly exegetical tutorial with the seminary president. I am learning so much that this month has felt like six! Right now, I am preparing for mid-terms.
I have been placed at Resurrection Lutheran Church, a local congregation which meets in the Seminary chapel, where I am been attending bible studies, helping with the liturgy and getting to know some of our Canadian brothers and sisters.
Your brother in Christ
Tom Krahling
Tom is studying at Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary St Catharine’s in Ontario, Canada. He will complete his studies in December.
The campus of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary St Catharine’s.
Book rescue was an unexpected part of student life so far.
