Daily Readings for June 2 - June 7

Monday:
Luke 14:15-24
Acts 15:1-41

Tuesday:
Matthew 4:12-25
Acts 16:1-40

Wednesday:
Matthew 5:1-12
Acts 17:1-15

Thursday:
Matthew 5:13-20
Acts 18:1-28

Friday:
Matthew 5:21-26
Acts 19:1-41

Saturday:
1 Peter 5:6-11
Luke 15:1-10

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Trinity II (June 1)

Confession: What is the Office of the Keys?
The Office of the Keys is that special authority which Christ has given to His church on earth to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to withhold forgiveness from the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Trinity II (June 1)

“This is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.” (1 John 3:23)

The Medicine of Immortality

Note: originally published in Tidings, the newsletter of Immanuel

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Frequently heard in churches that faithfully observe the Lord's Supper is reference to that Sacrament as "the medicine of immortality." These words are a quotation from a letter written by St. Ignatius (30-107 AD), a disciple of St. John the evangelist. Because he is in the generation of pastors immediately after the Apostles, writings such as those of Ignatius provide a detailed look at the life and practice of the earliest Christians. The following is Chapter 20 in "The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians." Note the Trinitarian language (God the Father, Jesus Christ His Son, and the Comforter), the emphasis on unity in the congregation under the bishop, and the benefit of the breaking of bread (i.e., holy communion) - the antidote against death!

Stand fast, brethren, in the faith of Jesus Christ, and in His love, in His passion, and in His resurrection. Do ye all come together in common, and individually, through grace, in one faith of God the Father, and of Jesus Christ His only-begotten Son, and "the first-born of every creature," but of the seed of David according to the flesh, being under the guidance of the Comforter, in obedience to the bishop and the presbytery with an undivided mind, breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality, and the antidote which prevents us from dying, but a cleansing remedy driving away evil, that we should live in God through Jesus Christ.

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Trinity I (May 25)

Confession: “Which are these [sins that we should confess]?”

Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: Are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm?

Daily Readings for May 26 - 31

Monday:
Acts 9:1-43
Joshua 10:1-15

Tuesday:
Luke 16:19-31
Acts 10:1-33

Wednesday:
Exodus 23:20—24:8
Acts 11:1-30

Thursday:
Matthew 3:13-17
Acts 12:1-25

Friday:
Matthew 4:1-11
Acts 13:1—14:28

Saturday:
1 John 3:13-18
Luke 14:15-24

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Trinity I (May 25)

“This commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.”
(1 John 4:21)

Looking Forward: Trinity I (May 25)

May 25: Trinity I- From this point until Advent, all the Sundays are counted as "Sundays after Trinity." The first half of the Christian Year centered around the birth, manifestation, suffering, death, resurrection and Ascension of Jesus, culminating in His gift of the Spirit on Pentecost. Now, the focus of the remainder of the year is on the teachings of Jesus and how we live as His disciples. The color switches to green, representing our growth as children of God. On this first Sunday after Trinity, we hear the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, inviting us to reflect on how we treat the poor in our midst, and also where our hope lies. Lazarus the beggar is carried to Abraham's bosom (heaven), while the rich man, appearing to be godly, is sent to hell. Kyrie, eleison!

Originally published in Tidings, the Newsletter of Immanuel

Daily Readings for May 19 - 24

Monday:
John 3:1-17
Acts 3:1-21

Tuesday:
Exodus 18:1-27
Acts 4:1-37

Wednesday:
Exodus 18:1-27
Acts 5:1-42

Thursday:
Exodus 19:1-25
Acts 6:1-15

Friday:
Exodus 20:1-24
Acts 7:1—8:40

Saturday:
1 John 4:16-21
Luke 16:19-31

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Holy Trinity (May 18)

Confession: What sins should we confess?
Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord’s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess only those sins which we know and feel in our hearts.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Holy Trinity (May 18)

“Most assuredly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6)

Aquinas: Short Prayer after Communion

Sweetest Jesus,
Body and Blood most holy,
be the delight and pleasure of my soul,
my strength and salvation

in all temptations,

my joy and peace

in every trial,

my light and guide

in every word and deed,

and my final protection in death.

Amen.

Looking Forward: Trinity Sunday (May 18)

May 18: Trinity- "Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided Unity. Let us give glory to Him because He has shown His mercy to us." Trinity Sunday is one of the latest festivals to come into the church year. Not universally celebrated until the fourteenth century, it began to be observed in various places in the Western Church to combat the spread of Arianism, a heresy that denies the divinity of Jesus. This is the one Sunday devoted to a doctrine: that God has revealed Himself to us as One God in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. To reinforce this teaching, on this day the church confesses the Athanasian Creed (which is the third ecumenical creed, along with the Apostles' and Nicene).

Originally published in Tidings, the Newsletter of Imamanuel

Daily Readings for May 12 - 17

Monday:
Acts 10:42-48
John 3:16-21

Tuesday:
Acts 8:14-17
John 10:1-10

Wednesday:
Acts 1:12-26
John 14:1-22

Thursday:
Acts 2:1-21
John 15:1-25

Friday:
Acts 2:22-47
John 16:31—17:26

Saturday:
Romans 11:33-36
John 3:1-17

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Pentecost (May 11)

Confession: What is Confession?
Confession has two parts. First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Pentecost (May 11)

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Another radio interview with Mollie Hemingway

Immanuel member Mollie Hemingway is interviewed on the radio program "Way of the Master" regarding the Issues, Etc. debacle. You can listen to it here. (Mollie's part starts about 3/4 of the way through.)

Looking Forward: Pentecost (May 11)

May 11: Pentecost- Pentecost is, together with Epiphany and Easter, one of the three great festivals of the Christian year. Fortunately, it has not been coopted by Hallmark and the shopping malls! On this day we rejoice in God's gift of the Spirit to the Church. To the Third Person of the Trinity our hymn is addressed: "Teach us to know the Father, Son, / And You, from both, as Three in One / That we Your name may ever bless / And in our lives the truth confess."

Originally published in Tidings, the Newsletter of Immanuel

Daily Readings for May 5 - 10

Monday:
Exodus 12:31-42
John 10:17-21

Tuesday:
Exodus 13:17—14:9
John 10:22-31

Wednesday:
Exodus 14:10-31
John 10:32-42

Thursday:
Exodus 15:1-19
John 11:1-27

Friday:
Exodus 16:1-35
John 11:28-57

Saturday:
Acts 2:1-21
John 14:23-31

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Exaudi (May 4)

Baptism: Where is this written?
St. Paul writes in Romans chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” (Romans 6:4)

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Exaudi (May 4)

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins.’” (1 Peter 4:7-8)