Holy Saturday

 

Holy Saturday

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before You in righteousness and purity forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Hymn of the Day

LSB 467 Awake, my heart, with gladness

1 Awake, my heart, with gladness,
See what today is done;
Now, after gloom and sadness,
Comes forth the glorious sun.
My Savior there was laid
Where our bed must be made
When to the realms of light
Our spirit wings its flight.

2 The foe in triumph shouted
When Christ lay in the tomb;
But lo, he now is routed,
His boast is turned to gloom.
For Christ again is free;
In glorious victory
He who is strong to save
Has triumphed o'er the grave.

3 This is a sight that gladdens--
What peace it doth impart!
Now nothing ever saddens
The joy within my heart.
No gloom shall ever shake,
No foe shall ever take
The hope which God's own Son
In love for me hath won.

4 Now hell, its prince, the devil,
Of all their pow'r are shorn;
Now I am safe from evil,
And sin I laugh to scorn.
Grim death with all his might
Cannot my soul affright;
It is a pow'rless form,
Howe'er it rave and storm.

5 The world against me rages,
Its fury I disdain;
Though bitter war it wages,
Its work is all in vain.
My heart from care is free,
No trouble troubles me.
Misfortune now is play,
And night is bright as day.

6 Now I will cling forever
To Christ, my Savior true;
My Lord will leave me never,
Whate'er He passes through.
He rends death's iron chain;
He breaks through sin and pain;
He shatters hell's dark thrall;
I follow Him through all.

7 He brings me to the portal
That leads to bliss untold,
Whereon this rhyme immortal
Is found in script of gold:
"Who there My cross has shared
Finds here a crown prepared;
Who there with Me has died
Shall here be glorified."

Verse

2 Timothy 1:10b

Alleluia. [Christ Jesus] abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia.

Introit

Exodus 15:2a, 6, 13, 17–18; antiphon: v. 1b

I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation.

Your right hand, O Lord, glorious in power,

your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy.

You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed;

you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

You will bring them in and plant them on your own mountain,

the place, O Lord, which you have made for your abode,

the sanctuary, O Lord, which your hands have established.

The Lord will reign forever and ever.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son

and to the Holy Spirit;

as it was in the beginning,

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;

the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

Gradual

Matthew 28:7; Hebrews 2:7; Psalm 8:6

Christ has risen from the dead.

[God the Father] has crowned him with glory and honor,

He has given him dominion over the works of his hands;

he has put all things under his feet.

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Holy Saturday image copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things

Good Friday

 

Good Friday

 

Good Friday 

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, graciously behold this Your family for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed and delivered into the hands of sinful men to suffer death upon the cross; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Hymn of the Day

LSB 454 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle

1 Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle;

Sing the ending of the fray.

Now above the cross, the trophy,

Sound the loud triumphant lay:

Tell how Christ, the world's redeemer,

As a victim won the day.

2 Tell how, when at length the fullness

Of the appointed time was come,

He, the Word, was born of woman,

Left for us His Father's home,

Blazed the path of true obedience,

Shone as light amidst the gloom.

3 Thus, with thirty years accomplished,

He went forth from Nazareth,

Destined, dedicated, willing,

Did His work, and met His death;

Like a lamb He humbly yielded

On the cross His dying breath.

4 Faithful cross, true sign of triumph,

Be for all the noblest tree;

None in foliage, none in blossom,

None in fruit your equal be;

Symbol of the world's redemption,

For the weight that hung on thee!

5 Unto God be praise and glory:

To the Father and the Son,

To the eternal Spirit honor

Now and evermore be done;

Praise and glory in the highest

While the timeless ages run.

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

Introit

Psalm 38:1–4, 18, 22; antiphon: Isaiah 53:5

He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath!

For your arrows have sunk into me,

and your hand has come down on me.

There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation;

there is no health in my bones because of my sin.

For my iniquities have gone over my head;

like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

I confess my iniquity;

I am sorry for my sin.

Make haste to help me,

O Lord, my salvation!

He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Image of Good Friday copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things 

Maundy Thursday

 

Holy Thursday

Collect of the Day

O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Hymn of the Day

LSB 797 Praise the Almighty. My soul, adore Him!

 

1 Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him!

Yes, I will laud Him until death;

With songs and anthems I come before Him

As long as He allows me breath.

From Him my life and all things came;

Bless, O my soul, His holy name.

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

2 Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal;

Earth-born they are and soon decay.

Vain are their counsels at life's last portal,

When the dark grave engulfs its prey.

Since mortals can no help afford,

Place all your trust in Christ, our Lord.

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

3 Blessed, oh, blessed are they forever

Whose help is from the Lord Most High,

Whom from salvation can nothing sever,

And who in hope to Christ draw nigh.

To all who trust in Him, our Lord

Will aid and counsel now afford.

Allelujah, allelujah!

4 Penitent sinners, for mercy crying,

Pardon and peace from Him obtain;

Ever the wants of the poor supplying,

Their faithful God He will remain.

He helps His children in distress,

The widows and the fatherless.

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

5 Praise, all you people, the name so holy

Of Him who does such wondrous things!

All that has being, to praise Him solely,

With happy heart its amen sings.

Children of God, with angel host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!

Allelujah, allelujah!

 

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

 

Introit

Psalm 116:1–4; antiphon: v. 5

 

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

                our God is merciful.

I love the Lord, because he has heard

                my voice and my pleas for mercy.

Because he inclined his ear to me,

                therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

The snares of death encompassed me; the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;

                I suffered distress and anguish.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

                “O Lord, I pray, deliver my soul!”

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;

                our God is merciful.

 

Gradual

Hebrews 9:12a, c, 15a; Psalm 111:9a

[Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, by means of his own blood,

                thus securing an eternal redemption.

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant,

                so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

He sent redemption to his people;

                he has commanded his covenant forever.

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Maundy Thursday copyright © Ed Riojas Higher Things

Wednesday of Holy Week

 

Wednesday of Holy Week

Collect of the Day

Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the power of sin, death, and the devil; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Hymn of the Day

LSB 425/426 When I survey the wondrous cross

1 When I survey the wondrous cross

On which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

Save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most,

I sacrifice them to His blood.

3 See, from His head, His hands, His feet,

Sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,

That were a tribute far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all!

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

 

Introit

Psalm 56:1–4a; antiphon: v. 11

In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

            What can man do to me?

Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;

            all day long an attacker oppresses me;

my enemies trample on me all day long,

            for many attack me proudly.

When I am afraid,

            I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust;

            I shall not be afraid.

In God I trust; I shall not be afraid.

            What can man do to me?

Gradual

Hebrews 9:12a, c, 15a; Psalm 111:9a

 

[Christ] entered once for all into the holy places, by means of his own blood,

                thus securing an eternal redemption.

Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant,

                so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance.

He sent redemption to his people;

                he has commanded his covenant forever.

 

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Tuesday of Holy Week

 

Tuesday in Holy Week

Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, grant us by Your grace so to pass through this holy time of our Lord’s passion that we may obtain the forgiveness of our sins; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Hymn of the Day

LSB 708 Lord, Thee I love with all my heart
 
1 Lord, Thee I love with all my heart;
I pray Thee, ne'er from me depart,
With tender mercy cheer me.
Earth has no pleasure I would share,
Yea, heav'n itself were void and bare
If Thou, Lord, wert not near me.
And should my heart for sorrow break,
My trust in Thee can nothing shake.
Thou art the portion I have sought;
Thy precious blood my soul has bought.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord,
Forsake me not! I trust Thy Word.

 

2 Yea, Lord, 'twas Thy rich bounty gave
My body, soul, and all I have
In this poor life of labor.
Lord, grant that I in ev'ry place
May glorify Thy lavish grace
And help and serve my neighbor.
Let no false doctrine me beguile;
And Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me
To bear my cross and follow Thee.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord, my God and Lord,
In death Thy comfort still afford.

 

3 Lord, let at last Thine angels come,
To Abram's bosom bear me home,
That I may die unfearing;
And in its narrow chamber keep
My body safe in peaceful sleep
Until Thy reappearing.
And then from death awaken me,
That these mine eyes with joy may see,
O Son of God, Thy glorious face,
My Savior and my fount of grace.
Lord Jesus Christ, my prayer attend, my prayer attend,
And I will praise Thee without end.

 

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.

 

Introit

Psalm 42:3, 9–10; antiphon: vv. 5–6a

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

                Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

My tears have been my food day and night,

                while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

I say to God, my rock: “Why have you forgotten me?

                Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?”

As with a deadly wound in my bones, my adversaries taunt me,

                while they say to me continually, “Where is your God?”

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?

                Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

 

 

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Monday in Holy Week

 

Monday in Holy Week

 

Collect of the Day

Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Hymn of the Day

LSB 434 Lamb of God, pure and holy

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o'er us:
Have mercy on us,
O Jesus!  O Jesus!

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o'er us:
Have mercy on us,
O Jesus!  O Jesus!

Lamb of God, pure and holy,
Who on the cross didst suffer,
Ever patient and lowly,
Thyself to scorn didst offer.
All sins Thou borest for us,
Else had despair reigned o'er us:
Thy peace be with us,
O Jesus!  O Jesus!

The text is public domain:

The name "Lamb of God" comes from the two citations from John 1, although Jesus is also compared to a lamb in Isaiah 53 and 1 Peter 1.

"Ever patient and lowly, / Thyself to scorn didst offer" paraphrases Isaiah 53:7 (just without the specific imagery), and the redemption mentioned in John 1:29, Isaiah 53, and 1 Peter 1 appears in the hymn as "All sins Thou borest for us."

Jesus' peace in John 14 appears at the very end: "Thy peace be with us, / O Jesus!"

Verse

John 12:23b

The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 

Introit

Psalm 31:10–11, 13–15; antiphon: v. 9

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

                my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.

For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing;

                my strength fails because of my iniquity, and my bones waste away.

Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach, especially to my neighbors, and an object of dread to my acquaintances;

                those who see me in the street flee from me.

For I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side!—

                as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life.

But I trust in you, O Lord;

                I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in your hand;

                rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors!

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;

                my eye is wasted from grief; my soul and my body also.

Content from Lutheran Service Book: Altar Book copyright © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.

Palm Sunday

 

Today is Palm Sunday. The first day of what is traditionally known as “Holy Week” or “Passion Week” During this week we will walk with the Savior, observing His Passion. As He approached Jerusalem coming to the Mount of Olives Jesus presents Himself as the Prince of Peace. While many received Him on that day as their royal King, most will reject this prince and His kingdom. This prince will pay the ultimate price for the peace of the world. And for the peace from above. And for our salvation.

The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. Lazarus, who had been dead, was raised to life.

So, the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.” The world has gone after Him. Or, is it the other way around? Have wayward children gone after the world?

As we review Jesus’ approach to the city, a beast of burden carries our Lord who Himself will carry the burden of the world’s sin –

The Son of Man the Prince of peace appeared on that first Palm Sunday to offer Himself for the life of the world. Today we offer our praise and we journey with Him as He offers up Himself for the sin of all and for your salvation and life.

Palm Sunday images by Ed Riojas, copyright Higher Things

Saturday prior to Palm Sunday

[1]

Matthew 21:16 – This verse is the inspiration for the hymn, “All Glory Laud and Honor” {LSB #442} This verse is a quotation from Psalm 8. Infants and children give thanks and praise to the Savior. As Palm Sunday looms a host of Old Testament scriptures will be fulfilled by Jesus’ Passion.  Christ is the fulfillment of all Old Testament prophecy. He is the center of the book of books, the Bible. 

he first Palm Sunday was a mob scene. Jesus, riding a borrowed donkey, no weapons, no army, entered Roman-occupied Jerusalem with thousands of other Jews to celebrate Passover. By the end of the week, the people waving palm branches and crying “Hosanna” (“save us!”) would call for his death on a Roman cross. His closest friends would keep their distance or outright deny knowing him.

Every year, Christians around the world recount the events of Holy Week and Easter through our hymns. And, every Palm Sunday we stand, waving branches, to sing  “ALL GLORY, LAUD AND HONOR,” words penned in a prison tower by a man of faith who kept his equilibrium, though the wheel of fortune had turned, taking him from venerated to vilified.

THEODULPH’S SONG OF PRAISE

Theodulph, Bishop of Orléans, (c. 750-821) had been a celebrated poet in Charlemagne’s court during a period of medieval renaissance. Widely hailed as a friend of the poor, he helped institute a number of enlightened reforms and, with a nod from the emperor, built public schools.

After Charlemagne’s death, Louis the Pious inherited the throne. Petty and paranoid, he had many people rounded up and held captive, including Theodulph.

Walls and locks cannot confine creativity or faith. Theodulph, the condemned poet, continued to write, including these words of praise in Latin, “Gloria, laus et honor tibi sit, Rex Christe, Redemptor.”

According to the legend, on Palm Sunday in the year 820, when the paranoid emperor passed by the prison tower in a procession of palm-wavers, Theodulph stood at his window and loudly sang.

All glory, laud and honor
to you, Redeemer, King,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
The people of the Hebrews
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.[2]

 

Collect for Saturday of the week of Lent 5: God our Father, you always work to save us, and now we  rejoice in the great love you give to your chosen people. Protect all who are about to become your children, and continue to bless those who are already baptized. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [3]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]http://askherabouthymn.com/what-palm-sunday-favorite-was-written-by-an-imprisoned-poet

[3] Collect for Saturday of the week of Lent 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

Friday prior to Palm Sunday

[1]

Psalm 118:19-28 The Psalm appointed for this coming Sunday. This section seems to be the answer and a great thanksgiving song, which echoes the “Give thanks” of verse 1, the “answered …me” of verse 5 and the testimony of verse 14.  

Psalm 118 – The Chief Cornerstone

Psalm 118 does not name an author in its title, but there is reason to believe it was King David, the Sweet Psalmist of Israel. Ezra 3:10-11 suggests that Psalm 118 was sung at the founding of the second temple, and when they sang it, they attributed it to David (“according to the ordinance of David king of Israel,” Ezra 3:10).

Most probably, David was the author of this psalm…. It partakes of David’s spirit, and everywhere shows the hand of a master. The style is grand and noble; the subject, majestic.

Though this was likely David’s psalm, it was also Jesus’ psalm. “This is pre-eminently the triumph song of the Christ, He the ideal Servant, He the perfect Priest, He the Leader of the people. How much all these words meant to Him as He sang them on that night in the upper room.”

Though this was likely David’s psalm, it was also Luther’s psalm. “This is my own beloved psalm. Although the entire Psalter and all of Holy Scripture are dear to me as my only comfort and source of life, I fell in love with this psalm especially. Therefore, I call it my own. When emperors and kings, the wise and the learned and even saints could not aid me, this psalm proved a friend and helped me out of many great troubles. As a result, it is dearer to me than all the wealth, honor, and power of the pope, the Turk, and the emperor. I would be most unwilling to trade this psalm for all of it.” (Martin Luther)[2]

Collect for Psalm 118: Lord God, your Son, rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church. Shed rays of your glory upon your Church, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its courts to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection, now and forever. Amen [3]

Collect for Friday of the week of Lent 5: Grant us your forgiveness, and set us free from our enslavement to sin. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen [4]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-118

[3] Collect for Psalm 118, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY

[4] Ibid, Collect for Friday of the week of Lent 5

 

Thursday prior to Psalm Sunday Psalm

[1]

John 12:20-43 – In the Gospel lesson Jesus suffers the death of the cross as we view the history of Jesus’ passion. The cross of Christ produces a response. It is not an ordinary death, which might cause only sympathy. There is a positive response by those with at least neutral eyes as expressed by a professional soldier, “Truly this was the Son of God.”

Jesus knew how awful His death would be but He also knew that it was His purpose and so rather than forgo it, rather than ask the Father to save Him from crucifixion, He chose to glorify Him. It is not a sin to feel the angst and difficulty of the sacrifices made for God. It is in remembering their purpose that we can go through it. That is how Jesus managed it. He took His eyes off Himself and put them on the big picture of God’s purpose, which is God’s glory.  And the Father answered Jesus so that everyone could hear! “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” God was glorified in Jesus birth and life and He would be glorified in His death and resurrection. It wasn’t Jesus who needed the audible comfort. It was the listeners. Jesus continued teaching in verses 31-33.

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die.”[2]

Collect for Thursday of the week of Lent 5: Lord, come to us; free us from the stain of our sins. Help us to remain faithful to a holy way of life, and guide us to the inheritance you have promised. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. [3]

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[1] Palm Sunday Images, © Ed Riojas, Higher Things

[2]https://www.donnalcampbell.com/salt--light-devotionals/john-1220-43-jesus-died-publicly-for-you-will-you-live-publicly-for-him

[3] Collect for Thursday of the week of Lent 5, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. III © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY