Tuesday, April 29, 2008

June Book Club selection: The Hammer of God

Our next Book Club meeting will be June 1 (please see church bulletin for location). We will be discussing The Hammer of God, by Bo Giertz. An inexpensive copy is available from Amazon by clicking here. Please read the book, and join us for good discussion!

Monday, April 28, 2008

Looking Forward: Exaudi (May 4)

May 4: Exaudi- This Sunday is an "in-between" time - it's the one and only Sunday after Ascension, the last Sunday of Easter, and the Sunday before Pentecost. Because of its position in anticipating Pentecost, it is sometimes called the "Sunday of Expectation," as we await the celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit. The name of this day reflects this theme perfectly: Exaudi means "hear," from the Introit, "Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud" (Ps. 27.7). On this day we hear the promise of Jesus to send the "Helper," the Holy Spirit.

Originally published in Tidings, the newsletter of Immanuel

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Daily Readings for April 28 - May 3

Monday:
John 16:23-33
John 10:1-5

Tuesday:
John 21:1-14
John 10:6-10

Wednesday:
John 21:15-25
Matthew 28:16-20

Thursday:
Acts 1:1-14
Acts 1:1-11

Friday:
Matthew 28:16-20
Luke 24:50-53

Saturday:
1 Peter 4:7-14
John 15:26—16:4

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Rogate (April 27)

Baptism: What does such baptizing with water indicate?
It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Rogate (April 27)

“Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24)

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Daily Readings for April 21 - 26

Monday:
Exodus 6:28—7:25
John 8:12-20

Tuesday:
Exodus 8:1-4, 13-25, 32; 9:1-4, 7-35; 10:3-6, 20-29
John 8:21-29

Wednesday:
Exodus 11:1-10
John 8:30-45

Thursday:
Exodus 12:1-14
John 9:1-13

Friday:
Exodus 12:21-30
John 9:14-34

Saturday:
James 1:22–27
John 16:23–33

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Cantate (April 20)

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism: How can baptism do such great things?

Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three:

"He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5-8)

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Cantate (April 20)

“Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20)

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Tulip bed at Immanuel

I think Mary Techau planted these tulips, but I could be wrong about that. I was struck by their beauty yesterday while walking back up to the church after teaching Latin. I snapped these pictures on my camera phone, and was surprised by how nicely they turned out.



Sunday, April 13, 2008

Daily Readings for April 14 - 19

Monday:
Exodus 2:11-25
John 6:60-71

Tuesday:
Exodus 3:1-17
John 7:1-13

Wednesday:
Exodus 4:1-31
John 7:14-24

Thursday:
Exodus 5:1-23
John 7:25-36

Friday:
Exodus 6:1-13
John 7:37-53

Saturday:
James 1:16–21
John 16:5–15

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Jubilate (April 13)

Baptism: Which are these words and promises of God?
Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Jubilate (April 13)

“It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” (Lamentations 3:26)

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Daily Readings for April 7 - 12

Monday:
John 10:11-16
John 5:1-17

Tuesday:
Genesis 47:27—48:21
John 5:18-30

Wednesday:
Genesis 49:1, 28—50:14
John 5:31-47

Thursday:
Genesis 50:15-26
John 6:16-29

Friday:
Exodus 1:1—2:10
John 6:30-59

Saturday:
1 Peter 2:21–25
John 10:11–16

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Misericordias Domini (April 6)

Baptism: What benefits does Baptism give?
It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Misericordias Domini (April 6)

[Jesus said:] “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” (John 10:11)

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Parishioner interviewed by "White Horse Inn" radio host

Parishioner Mollie Ziegler Hemingway was recently interviewed by Dr. Michael Horton of the White Horse Inn radio program. You can listen to it by pressing the play-indicator below:

Looking Forward: Sunday in April

As published in the April, 2008 issue of Tidings, the newsletter of Immanuel.

April 6: Misericordias Domini - The name for the third Sunday of Easter means "The compassion of the Lord," from Psalm 33. Popularly called "Good Shepherd Sunday," on this day John 10 is read as we rejoice in Jesus our Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep, and took it up again in the resurrection. We also see the ongoing work the Lord does through His Church: "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd."

April 13: Jubilate- "Shout for joy to God, all the earth, Alleluia!" This is the first of four successive Sundays where passages from the "Upper Room Discourse" (John 14-16) are read. Jesus tells His disciples that He will be gone a "little while," and that He will see His disciples again, causing their hearts to rejoice. For the Twelve, the first "little while" was the time between the crucifixion and the resurrection; we are comforted knowing that it is only a "little while" until He returns, and our hearts already rejoice!

April 20: Cantate- "Sing to the LORD a new song, Alleluia!" Cantate Sunday (not to be confused with "Cantata," a piece of music made of several "songs") urges us to sing, because in Christ, "the ruler of this world is judged" (Gospel, John 16.11). As we start looking toward Pentecost, we hear Jesus' promise that the Spirit of Truth will come, and guide the Church into all truth.

April 27: Rogate- The name of the sixth Sunday of Easter, the last Sunday before the Ascension, means "Pray" or "Ask." We are invited to ask the Father in the name of Jesus. "Ask, and you will receive," our Lord says, "that your joy may be full." The church is urging us to ask for the Holy Spirit, that we may live new lives as disciples of Jesus.