Presentation 1

The Our Father: Christ’s Prayer for All Seasons

Like all of God’s Holy Word, the Our Father (Lord’s Prayer) is ever timely and ever applicable – whatever the circumstance. This presentation will consider the various contexts in which the individual believer and the corporate Church pray this prayer given us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As we see how the context shapes our understanding of these blessed petitions, we will grow in our understanding that the Our Father is truly Christ’s Prayer for All Seasons.

Pastor Don Wiley has served St. John Evangelical Lutheran Church, Colton, CA since 1998. Born in Columbia City, IN, Pr. Wiley received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1980 and worked in defense electronics-countermeasures until entering Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne in 1987, receiving his Master of Divinity in 1992. His unusual two-year vicarage was in the Republic of Panama – where he learned Spanish and the family's second son was born shortly after the invasion to oust Noriega. After completing course work for a Master of Sacred Theology and serving as Graduate Assistant in the Exegetical Department (1992-1993), he returned to Panama (1994-1997) as a called missionary in the Colón sector. There he served eight congregations (including one English-speaking) and provided theological education for future Panamanian pastors as well as training for preschool teachers. His unexpected departure from the field brought him and his family to the Riverside, CA area and by God’s design connected him to the then-vacant St. John congregation. He received his Master of Sacred Theology degree in 2009. Pastor Wiley is married to his wife of 26 blessed years and has two adult sons.