Do You Know Latin?

Where was Pastor yesterday?  The pictures were a couple of shots taken inside The Old Latin School located in the heart of old Wittenberg next to St. Mary's Town Church which is often referred to at the "Mother Church of the Reformation."  One of the first uses of this building back in the 16th Century was to teach Latin to children, therefore the name Old Latin school.

One of the pictures of this building showed a library and common meeting room.  The other picture was of the Concordia Publishing House bookstore housed near the entrace of this historic building.  A Lutheran Pastor from South Africa has been living here in Wittenberg overseeing the bookstore.

The Old Latin school was originally constructed in 1564.  Back in 2007, a partnership developed between the Independent Evangelical Luthern Church in Germany, the Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod and Concordia Publishing House.  These three, working together formed the International Lutheran Society of Wittenberg.  This organization received funds from these three for the purpose of repairing and restoring the Latin school.  

On May 3, 2015, the International Lutheran Center at the Old Latin School was formally dedicated. The day was marked with worship and celebration throughout the whole city of Wittenberg.  People from all over the world came to attend this historic event.  

This was the building I was planning to stay in following my two weeks as the Wittenberg English Ministry pastor. However, the rooms in the building have been and continue to be used to house Ukranian refugees who have lost their homes.  Yesterday, I met a Ukrainian university professor who has come to teach the children who are living here in the Old Latin School.  

We also hold our "stammtisch" here once a week.  This is a social gathering around German beer, wine and tea for those living in Wittenberg who want to brush up on their English.  Some have been attending for a couple of decades.  And just who do they speak English with?  My wife and me, the deputy directors, and the pastor who oversee the Concorida Publishing House bookstore are among those who's primary language is English.  For many pastors, this is a once in a lifetime experience.  I've been blessed with a second opportunity.  Enjoy.

Where's Pastor? 

Luther Quote of the Day

"We cannot give God anything; for everything is already His, and all we have comes from Him."