Sunday, August 16, 2015

Time in the Word - Pentecost 13 - Proper 16


Time in the Word
Preparing for Pentecost 13 –Proper 16
August 17-22, 2015



Collect for Proper 16 - Almighty and merciful God, defend Your Church from all false teaching and error that Your faithful people may confess You to be the only true God and rejoice in Your good gifts of life and salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Monday, August 17, 2015 – Psalm 26 – Next week’s Introit is an appeal for God to take account of David’s moral integrity, his unwavering trust, and his genuine delight in the Lord. This is not a boast of self-righteousness, but an appeal to God. The Antiphon is taken from verse 8, “I love the house where You live, O Lord, the place where Your glory dwells.” 

Tuesday, August 18, 2015 – Psalm 119:129-136 – The appointed Psalm for next week is taken from the longest Psalm and it under the Hebrew letter Pe. The Psalmist recalls the righteousness of God’s law and how they are a delight to follow. As we focus on the Lord and His precepts, we find direction in living.

Wednesday, August 19, 2015 – Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 6-8 – National well-being comes from obedience is the theme for next week’s Old Testament lesson. The revelation the Lord gives is sufficient. All of it must be accepted and anything that adulterates or contradicts it cannot be tolerated. The Israelites always had access to the Lord in prayer. His presence was symbolized by the tabernacle in the center of the camp, and by the pillar of cloud over the tabernacle.

Thursday, August 20, 2015 – Ephesians 6:10-20 – Christians battle against wickedness. In magnificent imagery Paul describes the armor of God. Human effort is inadequate but God’s power is invincible. With the tools the Savior offers, we are able to withstand the devil’s assaults.

Friday, August 21. 2015 – Mark 7:1-8; 14-15; 21-23 – Good living comes from a believing heart. The prophet Isaiah had denounced the religious leaders of his day. Jesus uses a quotation form this prophet to describe the tradition of the elders as “rules taught by men.”

Saturday, August 22, 2015 –Luke 17:5– This verse is the inspiration for the hymn, “Oh for a Faith that Will Not shrink” (TLH #396).  The disciples, feeling incapable of measuring up to the standards set forth by the Lord, cry out to Him, “Lord, increase our faith!” This is the cry of faith asking the Lord to supply us in every need.

Prayers for the Week...

Let us pray for all in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty:
O merciful Father in heaven, because You hold in Your hand all the might of man and because You have ordained, for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do well, all the powers that exist in all the nations of the world, we humbly pray You graciously to regard Your servants, especially [name], our President; the Congress of the United States; [name], our Governor; and all those who make, administer, and judge our laws; that all who receive the sword as Your ministers may bear it according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Let us pray our Lord God Almighty that He would deliver the world from all error, take away disease, ward off famine, set free those in bondage, and grant health to the sick and a safe journey to all who travel:
Almighty and everlasting God, the consolation of the sorrowful and the strength of the weak, may the prayers of those who in any tribulation or distress cry to You graciously come before You, so that in all their necessities they may rejoice in Your manifold help and comfort; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Lord Jesus Christ, our support and defense in every need, continue to preserve Your Church in safety, govern her by Your goodness, and bless her with Your peace; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lord of all power and might, Author and Giver of all good things, graft in our hearts the love of Your name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and bring forth in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ Your Son, our Lord we pray. Amen.

Some thoughts concerning our worship life together …

Hearing the Word of God, the people respond with words of praise. The Gradual is a Proper. It is a portion of a psalm of other Scripture passage that provides a response after the Old Testament Reading. The Epistle lesson gives us god’s counsel on how His gracious Word is applied to the hearer and the Church. Often in this reading we hear how god’s Word accomplishes what it says-creating faith, bestowing forgiveness, strengthening God’s people in their struggles against sin, and enlivening in them the hope of eternal life.

Sources:
The Lutheran Hymnal, © 1941, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
Lutheran Worship, © 1982, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis pg. 78
Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis 
Worshiping with Angels and Archangels – An Introduction to the Divine Service by Scot Kinnaaman© 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis pg. 20

Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcut used with permission from WELS

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