News & Messages

Ask a Theologian: Through Christ

Dear Theologian,

Why do the liturgical prayers of the Church typically end with the words “through Jesus Christ our Lord”? What does this mean, anyway?

Faithful Church-goer


Dear Church-goer,

Your question points to the fundamental dynamic of Christian faith life. It is only Christians who address God in this peculiar way. To ask why they do this is to be drawn more deeply into the mystery of Jesus the Christ. This is a matter of every-day spirituality for all believers, not merely a question of liturgical correctness.

From the very beginnings of Christianity, believers have had to consider how Jesus the Crucified and Risen One was involved in their relationship with God.

The Church’s liturgical way of praying “through Jesus Christ our Lord” expresses clearly the mediating function of Christ. We find the same pattern in nearly every Collect prayer. It is expressed most powerfully in the climactic words of the Great Thanksgiving in the celebration of the Eucharist: “By him, and with him, and in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father, now and for ever. Amen.”

This way of praying establishes the pattern not only for our “asking” but for our very existence in relationship to God.

Our faith in Jesus as “the Christ” or “the Lord” does not terminate in him; rather it leads us through and with him into his eternal relationship to the Father in the unity of the Spirit.

Jesus recognized as the Christ brings people to the Father, so that they become intimate sons and daughters of the living God. In this relationship of utter intimacy there is no place for fear or shame, as we cry out to God with the same word that Jesus used, “Abba! Father!” (Gal 4:6, Rom 8:15-16)

Notice the consequences of this truth for everyday faith-living. We have confident “access” (Eph 3:12) to the unspeakable mystery of God because we are baptized into a permanent union with Jesus our brother, a fellow human being who is like us in all things except sin, but whose humanity is united inseparably with the eternal Word.

It is by God’s sheer graciousness that we have been brought into this “family relationship.” When the celebrant of the Eucharist introduces the Lord’s Prayer, we are reminded that it is an act of staggering audacity to address the eternal Mystery with the intimate family word, “Father.” It is only because we have been made one with Jesus the Son that we dare to do this. “And now, as our Savior Christ has taught us, we are bold to say ... Our Father.” [1]

All this is implied in the simple liturgical formula, “through Jesus Christ our Lord.” To become aware of it is to enter more deeply into our day-to-day living of the great mystery of our baptism.

To let this influence our thinking may help to resolve some of the nagging uncertainties that sometimes trouble our minds. Instead of asking, “where is Jesus in my relationship with God,” we may wind up asking, “where am I in that identification with Jesus which makes my relationship with God intimate and saving?”

Faithfully,

The Theologian

The Rev. Dr. Wayne L. Fehr wrote a column for a previous version of the diocesan newsletter called Ask a Theologian. He answered questions from ordinary Christians trying to make sense of their faith. Now he's back with a monthly column once again. You can find and purchase his book on Tracing the Contours of Faith: Christian Theology for Questioners here. 

[1] BCP, p. 363.

Diocesan Staff Title Changes

We want to let you know about two title changes for our diocesan staff members. During their recent performance reviews, Bishop Jeff Lee decided to change their job titles to better reflect the work that they perform in service to the diocese.

Firstly, Caroline Senn is now the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the diocese. She was hired as the financial controller in December 2021. Since then, her responsibilities in the area of finance have evolved and expanded. At her performance review, it became evident that the job title of financial controller no longer fit the expanded job she was performing. This title change to Chief Financial Officer better reflects the work she does to oversee the financials for the diocese and the role that she performs in the Trialogue discussion with the other two dioceses in Wisconsin.

The Rev. Canon Scott Leannah’s title has also changed to Canon to the Ordinary. He was hired as the Canon for Ministries in July 2021. Canon to the Ordinary is a title used in The Episcopal Church for “assistant to the bishop” (the bishop is the “ordinary” of a diocese). As Fr. Scott has been performing the duties a Canon to the Ordinary typically does – offering assistance and support to the bishop in a variety of leadership and organizational capacities, focusing on congregational development, leading worship at parishes across the diocese on Sundays, and overseeing clergy deployment – this title matches his role and, because it aligns with a role people expect, it matches how many in the diocese were already referring to him. 

Companion Diocese of Newala: Progress on St Mary’s Newala Pre and Primary School

Here is the new sign for the school that was reported in the Diomil ENews last December. In brief summary, the CMM Sisters have had a daycare since 1982. That has expanded to a middle and upper preschool. Then came the Standard One class and the Standard Five class which will open this spring. They plan on expanding through Standard Seven in 2025. Please refer to our report in the December 1 newsletter to review the school’s record and success.

So the expansion construction continues as pictured above. Much has been accomplished and much needs to be done. To support projects in our Companion Diocese of Newala, you can send checks to the diocese with “Newala ” in the notation line or you can donate online with the diocesan website by clicking on the donate button and choosing “Newala” from the drop-down menu.

The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
804 East Juneau
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Neil Radtke
The Rev. Oswald Bwechwa
Companion Diocese Committee Members

P.S. Are you looking for a “small” Newala project? The Sisters CMM lost their cow due to stomach cancer. Cows are a much-needed commodity. Much work has been done investigating the best breed. Some of the best milkers don’t survive the local diseases and pests. It is a work in progress.

A cow would cost about $1,200.00. Any amount toward this would be appreciated.

The Freed Slave Settlement at Masasi by R.M. Heanley, 1888

 
The following is the Black History of the Diocese of Masasi/Newala. Remember that the Newala diocese, founded in 2009 is the eastern half of the original Diocese of Masasi. Masasi was founded by the work of Bishop Edward Steere, 55 freed slaves, and a working traveling crew. The slaves had been freed in Zanzibar in 1876.

Freed Slave Settlement at Masasi, Chapter XII

 
Christ Church, pictured above, is located at the old slave market. According to Wikipedia, “The altar is said to be in the exact place where the main 'whipping post' of the market used to be." This is also pictured above. Both pictures taken by me in 1968.

Neil Radtke