Daily Readings for June 23 - 28

Monday:
Romans 4:1-25
1 Samuel 17:1-58

Tuesday:
Romans 5:1—6:2
1 Samuel 18:1-21

Wednesday:
Romans 6:12-18
1 Samuel 19:1-24

Thursday:
Romans 7:1-25
1 Samuel 20:1-42

Friday:
Romans 8:1-39
1 Samuel 22:1-23

Saturday:
Romans 13:1-7
1 Samuel 24:1-22

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Trinity V (June 22)

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?
It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ Himself for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Trinity V (June 22)

“Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD!” (Psalm 27:14)

Immanuel Calls Rev. Todd Peperkorn to be Associate Pastor

On Wednesday, June 11, the Festival of St. Barnabas, Immanuel called Rev. Todd Peperkorn of Messiah Lutheran Church in Kenosha, Wisconsin to serve as Associate Pastor and principal of our K-8 classical Lutheran school. We are thrilled at the prospect of Pr. Peperkorn's service among us, and ask your prayers that the Lord's will would be done, that He would guide and care for the Peperkorn family, and do what is best for His whole Church.

Daily Readings for June 16 - 21

Monday:
Acts 27:1-44
1 Samuel 9:1-27

Tuesday:
Acts 28:1-31
1 Samuel 10:1-27

Wednesday:
Romans 1:1-15
1 Samuel 12:1-25

Thursday:
Romans 1:16-32
1 Samuel 13:1-14

Friday:
Romans 2:1-29
1 Samuel 15:1-35

Saturday:
Romans 3:1-31
1 Samuel 16:1-23

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Trinity IV (June 15)

Confession: What do you believe according to these words (from John 20:22-23 concerning the Office of the Keys)?

I believe that when the called ministers of Christ deal with us by His divine command, in particular when they exclude openly unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to do better, this is just as valid and certain, even in heaven, as if Christ our dear Lord dealt with us Himself.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Trinity IV (June 15)

“Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)

Daily Readings for June 9 - 14

Monday:
Acts 21:1-39
1 Samuel 2:1-21

Tuesday:
Acts 21:40—22:29
1 Samuel 3:1-21

Wednesday:
Acts 11:19-30; 13:1-3
Mark 6:7-13

Thursday:
Acts 24:1-27
1 Samuel 5:1-12

Friday:
Acts 25:1-27
1 Samuel 7:1-17

Saturday:
Acts 26:1-32
1 Samuel 8:1-22

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Trinity III (June 8)

Confession: Where is this written (concerning the Office of the Keys)?
This is what St. John the Evangelist writes in chapter twenty: The Lord Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22-23)

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Trinity III (June 8)

“Cast all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)

There will be a Call Service on Wednesday, June 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Within this service, the Voters’ Assembly will make a decision regarding calling someone to serve as Associate Pastor/Principal at Immanuel. This is vital to our school’s continued operation as our interim school administrator is leaving soon. (A Pre-Call Information Session will be at 7:00 p.m., before the Service.)

The purpose for having a service and not just a meeting, is to pray fervently for the Holy Spirit’s guidance on this important decision. In this service we will sing psalms and the Litany, hear the Word of God, and pray for wisdom, before voting on issuing a Call for this office. Please note: only members of the Voters’ Assembly are allowed to vote, according to our constitution. Our circuit counselor, Rev. Jack Meehan, will provide leadership in this Call Service along with Pastor Esget.

Everyone is encouraged to attend this Call Service. Please pray diligently for our church during this time, that the Lord would guide us and bless us, and bring a servant into our midst to help us in our work.

Trinity 2 Sermon: Luke 14.15-24

Last week, we heard about a rich man who threw great feasts; but these parties were for himself, and for his friends and family. Meanwhile, Lazarus lay nearby in the gutter, starving, suffering, lonely. He received no help from that rich man. No food. No consolation. In death, however, he was given a place of honor, next to Abraham, at the heavenly banquet. The rich man had showed him no kindness, but God welcomed Lazarus to His feast, and his body full of sores became strong, his empty stomach was filled, his sorrow turned to joy, his loneliness replaced with eternal friendship with God, angels, and saints.

About that heavenly feast, Jesus today tells a parable proclaiming that everyone is invited; God is the true Rich Man, the world’s King who throws a banquet to end all banquets. The best parties in our experience are exclusive; only the wealthy, the powerful, the famous, the connected get invited. But the guest list for the heavenly party tells us something about the Host: He is incredibly generous. The host, of course, is God, whose generosity knows no bounds. He has been generous to you from the beginning: He gave man a body, a beautiful world to dwell in, and filled it with pleasures and gifts. And even when man spurned the feast God had prepared, and seized instead the diabolical junk food that would destroy him, still God kept on inviting man to His feast.

Today’s parable depicts the people invited in three groups: the prominent Jews; the poor, maimed, lame, and blind Jews; and finally, the Gentiles (those out in the highways and hedges). It is tempting to condemn the people for whom this parable was originally intended – those Jews who were not accepting Jesus; but isn’t it true that we, who mostly belong to that third group, the Gentiles – isn’t it true that we have also often despised the Supper to which we have been invited? The pastor is tempted simply to go through the motions, say the right words, do his job in a perfunctory way. I know that you, too, can be worried and distracted by many things, such that you do not regard with seriousness the Supper to which the Lord calls you. You too have bought pieces of ground, that must be cared for; you too have oxen, i.e., jobs, that can consume you; you too have spouses and families that clamor for your attention. And besides all that, there is is the ongoing temptation to presume that this world’s feasts, this world’s leisure, this world’s games and amusements, are more important. You have made your goals, your gossiping, your gluttony, of the highest importance, and disregarded the Lord’s call to leave everything and have Him alone for your God.

Do you come here as though you own the place, claiming your seats and letting your own words be most important? Do you consider it a routine and ordinary thing that you became a member of the Church by Holy Baptism and the gift of the Holy Spirit? We are guests in the Lord’s House, not owners; privileged to be invited, but easily evicted if we treat our Lord’s gifts callously, carelessly, something to be fitted in when convenient with our other priorities.

So we must never forget that we are beggars invited by grace to the Rich Man’s home; we are starving men invited to a feast. And what is that feast? Nothing other than our Lord Jesus Himself, whose living body gives life to our dying bodies, and whose cleansing blood gives forgiveness to our lives of sin.

How deeply tragic, then, if we disregard that Feast, while searching for other food that cannot satisfy. Think of all the things you have pursued to give delight to your body. Did it last? Was it beneficial? Think of the possessions you decided you absolutely had to have. When you got them, did you not tire of them and desire some new thing? Think of the things that have filled your heart: lusts, desires for revenge, dreams of fame and glory - what can they achieve, other than to make a person selfish and bitter?

Today your King calls to you to leave aside your fixation on this world’s feasts, and fix your eyes on your heavenly home. Only what you receive here, in this Sacrament, endures into the life to come.

Little children, now is the last hour. You are being called to the dinner. The end of all things is at hand. Do not turn aside, but run with repentance to the altar and beg forgiveness. Be eager in your prayers for the coming of the Lord. Be ready for His coming by daily repentance. And serve the poor, maimed, lame, and blind – all those in need around you – with whatever gifts you have. For we are called to love not in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Last Sunday, we heard about a rich man who would not invite a beggar to his feast. Today’s gospel shows us that we are poor, yet have God for a generous, philanthropic Rich Man. He has invited you to His Supper, to His home, to His forgiveness, to His love. Quit making excuses. Quit trying to serve two masters. Quit chasing this world’s riches. Quit condemning others and trying to be lord and master. Leave all this, and come, for all things are now ready, and even your excuses are forgiven in the Body and Blood of Jesus.

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

+ + +

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)

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!

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

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)

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)

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.

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)

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)

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.

Easter People

Note: This pastoral letter is from the April, 2008 issue of Tidings, the Newsletter of Immanuel.

St. Augustine allegedly said, "We are an Easter people, and 'Alleluia!' is our song." I'm not certain that he really said it, but I am certain that we should. This year the month of April is entirely given over to Easter. While we are tempted to think of Easter as a single day, the church appoints fifty days for the observance. This "week of weeks" (seven weeks) exhorts us to a life where "Alleluia!" is indeed our song.

So what does it mean to be "Easter people"? The Christian life is lived in a "Good Friday" world - a world of sorrow and betrayal, lies and mockery, quests for power and fear of other powers. It is a life that can only end in death. However, because we are baptized into Christ, we are "Easter people," people who know that because of His work on Good Friday, our Lord Jesus has brought us to Easter, giving us the hope of the resurrection. Being an Easter people means we do not have a life that can only end in death. We have a death that can only end in life.

We still live in the Good Friday world. We will still know sorrow, we will still be betrayed - perhaps even those who call themselves Christians. We will still be lied to and mocked. We will still experience the lust for power, both against us and within us. But on account of Christ's victory, we know these things have no power over us. "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" said the angel to the women on Easter morning. The Living One is not found among dead things - the perishable things of the marketplace, the lusts of the flesh, the lusts of the world, the pride of life.

We are Easter People, so that we live in the same forgiveness Jesus showed to those who crucified Him, and to His disciples who abandoned Him. "Alleluia!" (Hebrew for "Praise the Lord!") is restored to the liturgy; and hopefully, in the journey through Lent, we have learned more about what it means. How life is empty and meaningless without that word!

Now that Lent is over, and Easter has come, what will it mean for us? The fast being over, should we return to gluttony? The emphasis on prayer being ended, should we abandon prayer now, for the more important things? Being Easter People should mean what St. Paul says in Rom. 6: "We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." What will that "newness of life" look like in how you live with your family? In how you do your work? In how you deal with your habitual, secret sins?

As we tried during Lent to be people of genuine repentance, this April let us build on that and ask the Father, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to renew in us the work of the Holy Spirit, making us Easter People, with "Alleluia!" as our song, until the final Easter comes.

Article by parishioner in Wall Street Journal

Immanuel member Mollie Hemingway has an article in the March 28 Wall Street Journal. You can read it here.

Daily Readings for March 31 - April 5

Monday:
John 21:1-25
Jonah 1:1-16

Tuesday:
John 2:12-25
Jonah 1:17—2:10

Wednesday:
John 3:22-36
Jonah 3:1-10

Thursday:
John 4:1-27
Jonah 4:1-11

Friday:
John 4:28-38
Isaiah 33:2-6

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

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Quasimodo Geniti (March 30)

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 - Quasimodo Geniti (March 30)

“[Jesus] breathed on [His disciples] and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’” (John 20:22-23)

Daily Readings for March 24 - 29

Monday:
Matthew 28:1-15
Luke 24:1-35

Tuesday:
Luke 24:13-35
Luke 1:26-38

Wednesday:
Luke 24:33-49
Luke 24:36-49

Thursday:
John 20:19-31
John 21:1-14

Friday:
Mark 16:9-14
Isaiah 44:21-28

Saturday:
1 John 5:4–10
John 20:19–31

Small Catechism for Memorizing - The Resurrection of Our Lord

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism:
Which is that word of God? Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 28:19)

Bible Verse for Memorizing - The Resurrection of Our Lord

“Now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Good Friday sermon - midday service with parochial school

Perhaps you have said, “I hate my life. I wish I were dead.”

Or perhaps you have said, “I hate this person,” or, “that person.”

Instead, maybe you have said, “I love myself,” and meant it so much that you measured everything by how it pleased you. And in loving yourself so much, you made yourself god; which, in the end, is a form of saying, “I hate God, and His Word.”

In the account of the crucifixion of Jesus, we see a story filled with hate:

· Judas, hating his life, hangs himself;

· The Chief Priests and Pharisees hate Jesus, and cause the crowd to clamor for His execution;

· The disciples of Jesus, loving their own lives more than Jesus, run away, abandoning Jesus and leaving Him to face the hatred alone.

Truly, the event is filled with hate. It is also filled with God’s hatred.

Do you know what God hates?

Death.

And sin, which leads to death.

But God doesn’t just hate death in the abstract. No – He hates your death.

Which is another way of saying He loves you; He loves your life.

God loves you so much, that He sent His only Son, the Lord Jesus, into the world, for this very day, this Friday we call Good. For while it is sad—a profound sadness at the death of Jesus—it is also the cause of all our gladness. Nothing for us does more good than this death, for from this death comes our life. From this death comes the end of death, the defeat of death, the triumph of life, the triumph of God’s love.

God is love, and He loves you even when you are filled with hate.

When you hate yourself, God loves you, and desires to save you.

When you hate your neighbor, God loves you both, and desires to save you from your hate.

When you hate God, God still loves you, and wants to give you His gifts.

God does not stop loving you; for as we heard yesterday, in John 13, Jesus loves His disciples “to the end.”

The love of God is demonstrated on the cross.

Paradoxically, there on the cross is also shown the wrath of God, wrath against sin and hatred of sin.

And that is why this horrible, wonderful, terrible, awesome and awful death of the Son of God occurs. So that God could punish sin and at the same time save the sinner.

On the cross we see God’s wrath for sin, and God’s love for us sinners.

So the words we heard Jesus speak are for you:

· Jesus prays for those who are nailing Him to the cross, “Father, forgive them.” Put yourself in those words. Jesus is praying for your forgiveness, too.

· The dying thief says to Jesus, “Lord, remember me in Your kingdom,” and Jesus replies, “Today, you will be with Me in Paradise.” Those words spoken to him are recorded for you: through the cross, heaven opens to you, and paradise is regained for you.

So when next you are tempted by hate, remember this Friday. When next you are filled with anger, remember this Friday. When next you are saddened to despair, remember this Friday, remember what your God has done for you. He loves you. He gave His Son for you. He forgives you. He opens heaven for you. He defeated death for you.

Now, we wait for Easter. It is coming. This Sunday, and at the end of this world. Rejoice and be glad, for though your sins caused this Friday to be bad, God’s love has turned it into Friday filled with Good.

Holy Week 2008 at Immanuel

Dear Members of Immanuel,

On Palm Sunday, the faithful gathered to remember our Lord Jesus' entrance into Jerusalem; hailed as King on Sunday, by Friday He was crucified. The services of this week are devoted to the central articles of our faith—Baptism, Lord's Supper, Justification—accomplished by the words and mighty acts of Jesus. I know that your work must be done, your family attended to, and the spring weather beckons a return to the outdoors. Yet in the midst of all that, I urge you to experience this week as something greater – the fountain and source of your life.

• Holy Wednesday: 3/19/08, 6-7pm – Open time for Individual Confession and Absolution
• Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday): 3/20/08, 7:30pm – Divine Service (Setting Three), with confessional address and stripping of the altar; sermon by Rev. Jonathan Shaw.
• Good Friday: 3/21/08, 12pm – Vespers, with reading of St. Luke's Passion; 7:30pm – Solemn Divine Service, with reading of St. John's Passion, the Reproaches, and a simplified order of communion; sermon by Rev. John Wohlrabe
• Holy Saturday: 3/22/08, 8pm – The Great Vigil of Easter, with the kindling of the new flame, reading of the history of salvation, "Benedicite, Omnia Opera," remembrance of Baptism, and first Gospel of the resurrection
• The Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord: 3/23/08, 8am – Matins; 9am – Scripture Study; 10am – Festival Divine Service

Some of you reading this may have wandered away from the Lord and the hearing of His Word this year. Please know this and take it to hear: you are always welcomed back, with open arms. Come home, dear children of God!

God bless you as we pass through this holy time together, renewed and growing as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Every good wish in Christ,
+Pastor Esget

Daily Readings for March 17 - 22

Monday:
Daniel 6:1-24
John 12:1-36

Tuesday:
John 18:1-27
Exodus 12:1-14

Wednesday:
John 18:28-40
Isaiah 52:13—53:12

Thursday:
John 19:1-24
John 13:1-15

Friday:
John 19:25-42
2 Corinthians 5:14–21

Saturday:
1 Corinthians 5:6–8
Mark 16:1–8

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Holy Week (March 16 - 22)

The Sacrament of Holy Baptism: What is Baptism?
Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command and combined with God’s word.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Holy Week (March 16 - 22)

“He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)

Daily Readings for March 10 - 15

Monday:
John 8:42-59
Jeremiah 2:1-19

Tuesday:
John 12:1-11
Hosea 13:9-14

Wednesday:
John 12:12-26
Zephaniah 3:1-8

Thursday:
John 13:1-20
Micah 3:9-12

Friday:
John 13:21-38
Isaiah 66:1-9

Saturday:
Philippians 2:5–11
Matthew 26:1—27:66

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Judica (March 9)

Lord’s Prayer: The Conclusion
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

What does this mean? This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, amen means “yes, yes, it shall be so.”

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Judica (March 9)

“God demonstrates His own love for us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

Daily Readings for March 3 - 8

Monday:
Deuteronomy 9:1-29
Luke 23:26-56

Tuesday:
Deuteronomy 10:1-22
Matthew 26:1-35

Wednesday:
Deuteronomy 11:1-32
Matthew 26:36-75

Thursday:
Deuteronomy 28:1-14
Matthew 27:1-38

Friday:
Deuteronomy 34:1-12
Matthew 27:39-66

Saturday:
Hebrews 9:11–15
John 8:42–59

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Laetare (March 2)

Lord’s Prayer: The Seventh Petition
But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition, in summary, that our Father in heaven would rescue us from every evil of body and soul, possessions and reputation, and finally, when our last hour comes, give us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Laetare (March 2)

“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:29)

Looking Forward: Sundays and Holy Days in March

Taken from the March issue of Tidings, the parish newsletter of Immanuel.
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Looking Forward: Sundays and Holy Days in March

March 2: Laetare - The Fourth Sunday in Lent takes its name, Laetare, from the first word of the Introit in Latin: "Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her." As we draw closer to the awe-full deeds of salvation wrought by our Lord, we Christians—citizens of "the Jerusalem above" (Epistle, Gal. 4.26)—even at this solemn time rejoice at the Savior's work. During the season of fasting (Lent), our weakness has been exposed. We have stumbled. Fallen. So like that "great multitude" (Gospel, John 6.2) of old, we look to Jesus, who alone can feed us with the Bread of Life.

March 9: Judica - "Judge me (Judica me), O God," "Vindicate me ... and defend my cause against an ungodly people" (Introit). On this day, the "Sunday of the Passion," we speak words which we dare not utter regarding ourselves. If God should judge us, we would be damned. There is only One whose work needed vindication—Jesus, whose death was unjust, yet atoned for all our injustices (sins). Beginning with this Sunday, the crosses are veiled and the Gloria Patri disappears from the liturgy. We are on the final portion of the journey to the cross, and the signs of our joy are hidden from our eyes and ears, as we see how blind and deaf sin has made us.

March 16: Palmarum - The Palm Sunday Divine Service begins outside, hearing the Gospel of Jesus' Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The mood of the liturgy abruptly shifts, as we hear the entire Passion according to St. Matthew. There, we hear that the crowd which lauded Jesus on Sunday as a conquering king called for His blood on Friday. Having sung our "hosannas" to Jesus, will we likewise betray Him? Holy Week has begun.

March 20: Holy Thursday - Sometimes called "Maundy Thursday" (probably from the Latin mandatum, "commandment," based on the words of Jesus in today's Gospel, John 13: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another"), this Divine Service focuses on the Sacrament of the Altar, which Jesus instituted "on the night when He was betrayed." The service concludes with the Stripping of the Altar, in preparation for the solemn observance of Good Friday.

March 21: Good Friday - One cannot understand Easter without this day. Not a "funeral for Jesus," this Divine Service features a series of "Reproaches," as we hear that it was our disobedience and unfaithfulness that necessitated Christ's suffering. The Passion of St. John is read, and the body and blood of Jesus is distributed, for on this day, of all days, it is meet and right that we receive the benefit of the cross: communion with Jesus, the forgiveness of our sins.

March 22: The Great Vigil of Easter - A service unlike any other in the entire year, the liturgy begins with the blessing of the Paschal Candle and a journey into the darkened church. Our Lord, who spent this great Sabbath in a darkened tomb, awoke "very early in the morning on the first day of the week." Awaiting the celebration of His joyous resurrection, we hear again the narrative of salvation history - Creation, flood, deliverance from Pharoah's bondage, the valley of the dry bones - all leading up to our Lord Jesus, who fulfilled everything for us. In this liturgy we make special remembrance of our Baptism, and hear the first Gospel of Easter. Christ is risen!

March 23: The Resurrection of Our Lord - This day is the Feast of Feasts, and no adornment is out of place: the chanting of the Creed, a sequence hymn ("Christians, to the Paschal Victim, offer your thankful praises..."). Christ is risen, death's sting is removed, sin is forgiven, the devil is routed. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!

March 30: Quasimodo Geniti - The funniest of all the funny Latin names, Quasimodo Geniti is the Latin beginning to the Introit, from 1 Peter: "Like new-born babes, desire the pure milk of the Word." By baptism into Jesus' death and resurrection, we are newly-born. Through drinking in the Word, we will grow as God's children. Today's Gospel recounts the events of Easter evening and the following Sunday, when Jesus appeared to the Disciples and showed His wounds to unbelieving Thomas.

Want to learn more about the traditional church year? Visit http://historiclectionary.com today!

Daily Readings for February 25 - March 1

Monday:
Luke 11:14-28
Luke 18:15-30

Tuesday:
Matthew 21:1-17
Luke 19:1-40

Wednesday:
Matthew 26:2-16
Luke 20:1—21:4

Thursday:
Matthew 26:17-35
Luke 21:37—22:38

Friday:
Matthew 26:36-56
Luke 22:39-71

Saturday:
Galatians 4:21–31
John 6:1–15

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Oculi (February 24)

Lord’s Prayer: The Sixth Petition
And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Oculi (February 24)

“Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.” (Luke 11:28)

Daily Readings for February 18 - 23

Monday:
Matthew 15:21-28
Luke 13:1-17

Tuesday:
Genesis 44:18—45:3
Luke 14:25-35

Wednesday:
Genesis 45:4-28
Luke 15:11-32

Thursday:
Genesis 46:1-27
Luke 16:10-18

Friday:
Genesis 46:28—47:12
Luke 17:1-10

Saturday:
Ephesians 5:1–9
Luke 11:14–28

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Reminiscere (February 17)

Lord’s Prayer: The Fifth Petition
Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does this mean? We pray in this petition that our Father in heaven would not look at our sins, or deny our prayer because of them. We are neither worthy of the things for which we pray, nor have we deserved them, but we ask that He would give them all to us by grace, for we daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment. So we too will sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Reminiscere (February 17)

“God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

Daily Readings for February 11 - 16

Monday:
Matthew 4:1-11
Luke 9:28-62

Tuesday:
Genesis 42:1-24
Luke 10:1-22

Wednesday:
Genesis 42:25-38
Luke 10:38—11:13

Thursday:
Genesis 43:1-34
Luke 11:29-36

Friday:
Genesis 44:1-17
Luke 11:37-54

Saturday:
1 Thessalonians 4:1–7
Matthew 15:21–28

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Invocabit (February 10)

Lord’s Prayer: The Fourth Petition
Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread? Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Invocabit (February 10)

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

Guidance on Fasting

After my counsel after Divine Service regarding fasting on Ash Wednesday, several parishioners asked me for more details and guidance. I have some printed materials from previous years at church that I can (and will, when I get time) distribute, but for now I commend for your consideration Pastor William Weedon's little article on fasting. (Pastor Weedon is a minister in my former district, Southern Illinois, and his blog is well worth reading.)

Auf Deutsch, Lent is Fastenzeit. Fasting-time. And the readings for Ash Wednesday invite us to this discipline as part of our "return," our repentance.

But how does one fast? As Lutheran Christians we know that there can be no laws about HOW to fast in the Church for the simple reason that neither our Lord nor the Holy Apostles have given us any. There have always been divergent practices on fasting in the Church. Not without reason did St. Irenaeus confess "differences in fasting do not destroy the unity of faith."

Further, we know that fasting is not pleasing to God when it is offered in any way as a propitiation for sin; then, in fact, it becomes an abomination. There is but one propitiation for the sin of the world and that was offered once and for all by the Lamb of God upon the cross.

So why should we fast? We have to think no further than our Catechism: fasting is "a fine outward training." Now, that was spoken in regard to the Eucharistic fast, but it applies to fasting as a whole. On Septuagesima we heard St. Paul speak of how he disciplined his body, kept it under control, lest he end up being "disqualified" after preaching to others.

Well, if we can admit that fasting is a "fine outward training" the question still arises of what to do?

Many people confuse fasting and abstinence. To fast is to be hungry; to abstain is forego certain kinds of food. The traditional fast of the Western Church was 1/4 meal for breakfast and lunch, with a simple dinner. In other words, for breakfast maybe half a slice of toast, for lunch an orange. Then a regular dinner - but nothing fancy. Something like that was observed throughout the days of Lent. Further, Western Christians have traditionally abstained from meat and wine on the Fridays (and sometimes the Saturdays, and some would say the Wednesdays - all depend on whom you ask) of Lent.

Now, fasting was never meant to live by itself. It is joined to the other two Lenten disciplines: almsgiving and prayer. An increased giving to the poor and an increased time of prayer can go hand in hand with fasting: by not eating so much, you actually have more money to give to others who have less than you, and by not fixing elaborate meals, you also have more time to spend in the Word and prayer. Further, by going hungry each day you experience solidarity with those many members of the human race who also go hungry each day. Above all, we teach ourselves that the hunger behind all hungers is the hunger for God Himself.

In the freedom of the Gospel, we can discipline our wayward flesh by not letting it dictate to us what and when to eat. Give it some thought and prayer and then rejoice in the truth that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." Wishing one and all a joyful time of renewal during the upcoming Fastenzeit!

(Click here to see the article on its original page.)

Sermon for Children and Adults on Ash Wednesday

Ash Wednesday Matins
Jonah 3.1-10
February 6, 2008

Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent. Lent is the time of the year when we remember Jesus' sufferings for us, and we focus again on the importance of being repentant, that is, of being sorry for our sins and asking God to forgive us and help us be better.

The day is called Ash Wednesday for a reason; putting ashes on our heads is an old custom. What's it mean?

Ashes are what's left over after something has been burned, destroyed. It reminds us that our own bodies will one day return to the earth, the same earth out of which God made the first man, Adam. Ashes remind us that we sinners must die. As God said to Adam, "Dust you are, and to dust you shall return." At a funeral, the pastor says when the body is put into the ground, "Ashes to ashes and dust to dust."

But the ashes aren't just smudged on our foreheads in any old way. They go in the shape of the cross. So even the ashes remind us that the God-Man who died on the cross, Jesus, conquered death, and will raise up our bodies from the grave.

All this was part of the message Jonah was sent to preach to a very bad city called Ninevah. You might know that before Jonah gets to Ninevah, he had quite an adventure.

You see, God had commanded Jonah to go to Ninevah and call them to repent--confess their sins and ask God for forgiveness, changing their sinful way of living. Now Ninevah was a horrible city, filled with drunkenness, gambling, prostitution, and false worship. No Christian would want to go to a place like that.

Jonah's not so excited either. What's going to happen if he goes and tells them to repent? The people probably won't like it too much. It would be like going to a football game and cheering for the visiting team instead of the hometown favorites. Only a lot worse. If Jonah goes to Ninevah and tells them, "You aren't following God's Word, and He is going to punish you," the people might just laugh at him, spit on him - or even kill him!

So Jonah says, "No thanks! I'm not going there. I think I'll take a cruise instead." So he hops on a ship sailing in the other direction. He thinks God won't find him. Hah! You cannot hide from God. God causes a mighty wind to blow, and when the ship is about to sink, Jonah realizes that this whole thing is God's judgment on him. He tells the sailors, "Throw me overboard!"

They do, but then a giant sea creature swallows Jonah, but instead of chewing Jonah up, swallows him whole. Jonah lives in the belly of that giant sea creature for three days, and then, the creature vomits him out onto the land.

"Now, Jonah," says the Lord, "shall we try this again?" So Jonah goes to Ninevah and amazingly, the people listen! And that's where the Bible reading that we heard today picks up. The people repent, and even the king sits in ashes to show how sorry he is for his sins. And then the best part: God forgives them.

You see, that's what God does. He loves. He forgives.

This whole story--which is a true story--is telling us what's going to happen at the end of Lent. Just as Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days, so Jesus will be in the belly of the earth (that is, in the tomb) for three days. And because Jesus rose again just like Jonah was spit up onto dry ground, we too can be repentant, be baptized, and have our sins forgiven. And what happens then? Even though we die and turn to dust and ashes, we won't stay that way forever. God will raise the faithful up on the last day, and we will live forever in His kingdom.

That's why we celebrate Lent - to help us prepare for the true Easter to come - the day when Jesus will return and raise us up from the grave.

So today you're going to go around and see people with ashen crosses on their foreheads. You might be tempted to think it's a game. Or worry about how you look. Or worry about it itching, or getting something dirty. This is no game. Remember, O man, remember, boy, remember, girl, that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Look at the ashes all day today, and remember that you are going to die. But look at the ashes in the shape of a cross, and rejoice and be glad that Jesus died for you, and just as He is risen from the dead, so will you too. Rejoice and be glad, even this Ash Wednesday! +INJ+

Ash Wednesday

Blow the trumpet in Zion,

Consecrate a fast,

Call a sacred assembly;

Gather the people,

Sanctify the congregation.…

Let the priests, who minister to the LORD,

Weep between the porch and the altar;

Let them say, "Spare Your people, O LORD,

And do not give Your heritage to reproach."

-Joel 2.15, 16a, 17

Tomorrow, February 6, 2008, is an important day in the life of the Church, and in your life. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, opens the time of fasting and penitential discipline. All communicants are urged to undertake a fast, abstaining from meat and alcohol, and eating no food in the hours before Divine Service at Immanuel on Wednesday evening (7:30 p.m.). Preceding this solemn service will be the imposition of ashes at the rear of the nave - please arrive a few minutes before the service if you wish to receive this ancient token of mourning and repentance. The day of fasting culminates with our Lord's holy Supper – the true Food which we are training ourselves to desire.

I recently posted an excerpt from St. John Chrysostom on what I found to be an excellent summary of the real purpose of fasting; you can view it by clicking here.

A Prayer for Ash Wednesday

Almighty and everlasting God, who hates nothing that You have made and who forgives the sins of all those who are penitent, create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of You, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Daily Readings for February 4 - 9

Monday:
Luke 18:31-43
Luke 6:1-35

Tuesday:
Genesis 40:1-23
Luke 6:33-49

Wednesday:
Exodus 33:1-23
Luke 7:1-10

Thursday:
Genesis 41:1-36
Luke 7:18—8:3

Friday:
Genesis 41:37-57
Luke 8:16-56

Saturday:
2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Matthew 4:1-11

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Quinquagesima (February 3)

Lord’s Prayer: The Fourth Petition
Give us this day our daily bread.

What does this mean? God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Quinquagesima (February 3)

“Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38)

Confessions of a Chronic Switcher

The following will be published in the February 2008 issue of Tidings, the Newsletter of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School.

In my personal life, I am perpetually changing things around, never satisfied. I will use one program or device for awhile to keep track of things I need to do, and then switch when something else comes along - always looking for the magical device or system that will help me stay on top of everything I need and want to do. Same for calendars. And email. And exercising. And ...

I will probably always be this way, although I am trying to change. Really!

But the worst for me has been prayer and Scriptural meditation. When I was in college, I used a "One-Year Bible" I had been given - a book with the whole text of the Scriptures organized so that you read a passage from the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms, and by the end of the year one would have read the whole Bible. As I began to become aware of liturgical forms of daily prayer, I switched to the Book of Common Prayer and followed its lectionary (order for daily readings). Then, I discovered Lutheran Worship, our old blue hymnal, and from there, moved back in time to The Lutheran Hymnal. Then I discovered a tome called The Pastor at Prayer, with its own set of forms, including a chart for reading through the Lutheran Confessions in about a year. Then I got a four-volume set called For All the Saints, a kind of Lutheran breviary, with Matins, Vespers, and devotional readings from outside the Bible. These ran the gamut from early church fathers to twentieth-century figures including such questionable writers as Albert Schweitzer. "Too liberal!" I decided; time to switch again. Along came the Hymnal Supplement '98, with its brief orders of daily prayer, and a new pattern for reading the Bible every day. There were nifty cards that CPH printed up, and I latched onto those.

Being an early-music buff, I was thrilled when The Brotherhood Prayer Book was published by a new band of like-minded souls called the Lutheran Liturgical Prayer Brotherhood. Fantastic! It has Gregorian chant psalms, printed up in an old form of musical notation that even most musicians cannot read. This fit my quirky desire to be both faithful and anachronistic nicely. The problem comes once one realizes that A) no one else who lives near you [or with you!] can follow along and join you; and B) one needs to live a monastic life to actually do all of the things in the book. Morning Prayer alone can take over an hour! (Of course, I still use it when I can, and recently bought the second edition...)

Now we have Lutheran Service Book, and I have been trying in all things to conform myself to the pattern of this book. I have come to believe that it is exceedingly important that everyone in the Missouri Synod "be on the same page," even if one thinks he knows better or can improve upon it. Unity and harmony are deeply important, and if we don't act like it in our own lives and churches, how can we expect it among all the churches?

But the real lesson in all of this is that daily prayer and Scripture reading is important. While some books and systems are better than others, more thorough, more accessible, more traditional, more in step with the weekly liturgy and church year, the truly important thing is what the old Nike commercials said: "Just do it!" Quit worrying so much about the system, and just read! So every day, I'm using LSB morning and evening.

With Lent upon us, I encourage you to begin, or renew, your dedication to prayer and Scripture reading. Just do it! Buy a copy of Lutheran Service Book. Along with a Bible, it's the only thing you need. There are tables for daily reading, charts for using the Psalms, and orders for family devotions, on pages 294-304. Starting on page 305, there are model prayers for all kinds of different situations. An important discipline of Lent is renewing a life of prayer. Please make this your foremost commitment this Lent. God speaks to you, and gives you His gifts, through His Word, and He delights in hearing your prayers. If some days you are lazy/sick/busy/tired/pick your excuse - then simply start again as soon as possible. Just do it! God bless you in your Lenten disciplines, and may He brings us all to that final Easter in the life of the world to come.

Looking Forward: Sundays and Holy Days in February

These liturgical summaries will be published in Tidings, the Newsletter of Immanuel Lutheran Church and School.

February 3: Quinquagesima - This day is the last of the three Sundays before Lent, the names of which all end in "-gesima" ("-gesimus" is the Latin ending for some ordinal numbers; quinquagesimus means "fiftieth"). This day is exactly fifty days before Easter, and the Gospel for today (Luke 18:31-43) shows what must happen for Easter to come: "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.... They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." Then Jesus heals a blind man. Thus this Sunday is inviting us to follow Jesus to His cross, bearing our own crosses and praying for healing from our blindness, caused by sin. "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem," Jesus said, and hearing these words we are ready to begin our Lenten journey.

February 6 (7:30 pm): Ash Wednesday - This day marks the first day of Lent, a period of repentance and spiritual renewal. The Old Testament reading, Joel 2:12-19 summons us to fast, while reminding us that the fast needs to be in our hearts, too, and not just an outward show. The Gospel reading, Matthew 6:16-21, further admonishes us not to be hypocrites when we fast. A significant characteristic of this day is the imposition of ashes before the service, with the sobering words, "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." Recognizing our mortality--the just consequence of sin--we turn to the Lord, who feeds us in the Supper with the medicine of immortality, the seed of the resurrection.

February 10: Invocabit - Many of the Sundays in Lent obtain their names from the first words of the Introit (opening Psalm) in Latin. For the First Sunday in Lent, the word "Invocabit" comes from Psalm 91: "He will call upon Me, and I will answer him." Lent renews the invitation to call upon the Lord, and today's Gospel (Matthew 4) sets before us Jesus, who endured the temptations of the devil on our behalf. He called upon His Father in time of trouble, and the Father sustained Him. In every way we are tempted, so was Jesus - only He did not sin. In our temptations, we likewise take up the Word with confidence that when we call upon God, He will answer us.

February 17: Reminiscere - "Remember Your mercy, O Lord," begins the liturgy for the Second Sunday in Lent. The woman whose daughter was possessed by demons would not let Jesus go until He showed her mercy (Mt. 15:21-28). The same Jesus who answered her prayer will not forget us, but "defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul" (Collect for Reminiscere).

February 24: Oculi - "Oculi" means "eyes," and on Lent III we sing, "My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net" (Introit). Today's Gospel (Luke 11:14-28) tells us about Jesus who overcomes the strong man--the devil--by breaking into his fortress and taking the goods he is guarding. We are the "spoils" the devil obtained in the Fall into sin, but Christ our Lord comes to defeat the devil and redeem us, "that we may be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom." This marks the third Sunday in a row where Christ is shown to triumph over the powers of Satan. Throughout Lent, then, we are fixing our eyes on the Lord, who will not let the powers of darkness prevail over us.

Daily Readings for January 28 - February 2

Monday:
Matthew 20:1-16
Mark 10:1-31

Tuesday:
Genesis 35:1-15
Mark 10:32-52

Wednesday:
Genesis 35:16-20, 22b-29
Mark 11:1-33

Thursday:
Genesis 37:1-36
Mark 12:13-44

Friday:
Genesis 39:1-23
Luke 4:14-44

Saturday:
1 Corinthians 13:1–13
Luke 18:31–43

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Sexagesima (January 27)

Lord’s Prayer: The Third Petition
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

How is God’s will done? God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Sexagesima (January 27)

“The [seeds] that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)

March for Life

Reminder - the sadly annual March for Life will be held tomorrow on the National Mall. (Pray for the day when it will no longer be necessary to ask the government to protect the right of every human being to live.)

Immanuel, in conjunction with Lutherans for Life, will be having Divine Service at 9 a.m. Dr. James Lamb, Executive Director of National Lutherans for Life, will be preaching; Pastor Esget of Immanuel is the presiding minister. All are invited to attend, even if not able to participate in the march. For directions to Immanuel, please visit our website.

Daily Readings for January 21 - 26

Monday:
Exodus 5:1–23
Mark 5:21–43

Tuesday:
Exodus 6:1–13
Mark 6:1–29

Wednesday:
Genesis 32:1–21
John 1:43–51

Thursday:
Genesis 32:22–32
1 Timothy 6:11–16

Friday:
Genesis 33:1–11
Acts 9:1–22

Saturday:
1 Corinthians 9:24—10:5
Matthew 20:1–16

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Septuagesima (January 20)

Lord’s Prayer: The Third Petition
Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Septuagesima (January 20)

“The last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16)

Daily Readings for January 14 - 19

Monday:
Genesis 30:25-43
John 1:29-34

Tuesday:
Genesis 31:1-21
John 1:35-42

Wednesday:
Genesis 31:22-42
John 1:43-51

Thursday:
Genesis 31:43-55
Luke 4:1-13

Friday:
Mark 8:27-35
Acts 4:8-13

Saturday:
1 Corinthians 9:24—10:5
Matthew 20:1–16

Small Catechism for Memorizing - The Baptism of Our Lord (January 13)

Lord’s Prayer: The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - The Baptism of Our Lord (January 13)

“He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

Daily Readings for January 7 - 12

Monday:
Matthew 2:13-15
Luke 3:10-14

Tuesday:
Matthew 2:16-23
Luke 3:15-20

Wednesday:
Luke 2:41-52
Mark 1:1-8

Thursday:
Matthew 3:1-12
Mark 1:9-11

Friday:
Matthew 3:13-17
Luke 3:21-38

Saturday:
1 Corinthians 1:26–31 31
Matthew 3:13–17

Small Catechism for Memorizing - Epiphany (January 6)

Lord’s Prayer: The Second Petition
Thy kingdom come.

What does this mean? The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also.

How does God’s kingdom come? God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity.

Bible Verse for Memorizing - Epiphany (January 6)

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)