St Mark

O Almighty God, who hast instructed Thy holy Church with the heavenly doctrine of thy Evangelist Mark, Give us grace that, being not like children carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, we may be established in the truth of Thy holy Gospel; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp’1789/Readings1789&1892D.htm

Time in the Word - Easter 5

Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter: O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for newness of life by the Holy Spirit: O Lord God, heavenly Father, You gave Your only Son to die for our sins and to rise again for our justification. By Your Holy Spirit grant us newness of life that through the power of Christ's resurrection we may dwell with Him forever; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for a new heart and a new spirit: Almighty and everlasting God, by the death and resurrection of Your Son You cleansed our hearts and put a new Spirit within us. Grant that all who are brought to newness of life in the fellowship of the body of Christ may show forth in their lives what they confess with their lips; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for newness of life as a baptized child of God: Merciful Father, through Holy Baptism You called us to be Your own possession. Grant that our lives may evidence the working of Your Holy Spirit in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, according to the image of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Prayer for newness of life through confession and absolution: Almighty, everlasting God, for our many sins we justly deserve eternal condemnation. In Your mercy You sent Your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who won for us forgiveness of sins and everlasting salvation. Grant us a true confession that, dead to sin, we may be raised up by Your life-giving absolution. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may be ever watchful and live true and godly lives in Your service; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer at a confirmation: Almighty God, grant that we who have been redeemed from the old life of sin through Baptism into the death and resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, may be renewed in Your Holy Spirit and live in righteousness and true holiness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The Newness of the Resurrection Turns Sorrow into Joy

On earth “you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy” (John 16:20). Already the Spirit grants you peace and joy through the forgiveness of your sins. For by the cross of Christ, “God has granted repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18). His Gospel is “a message by which you will be saved, you and all your household” (Acts 11:13–14). He gives freely “from the spring of the water of life” (Rev. 21:6), “and death shall be no more” (Rev. 21:4). He dwells with His people, adorning His Church as a bride for her husband, “making all things new” (Rev. 21:5). Therefore, as the Son of Man is glorified by His cross, “and God is glorified in Him” (John 13:31), so He is glorified in us by our “love for one another” (John 13:35), which His Spirit works in us by His grace.

Monday, 22 April 2013—Psalm 98:2–6; antiphon, Psalm 98:1—During Eastertide, it is our great joy to sing wonderful songs of praise to the LORD in His royal honor. A new song is called for as we consider all the marvelous things He has done for us. He has made known His salvation in the person of His Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Because of His steadfast love and faithfulness to the spiritual house of Israel, that is, the Christian Church (Romans 9:6–8), we have been saved from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation.

Tuesday, 23 April 2013—Psalm 148—The Psalm for the Day is the same as it was on the Second Sunday of Easter, but it can never be stale or “old hat.” It is always a joy to sing the praise of the One who has raised up a horn of salvation for us. The psalm calls upon all creation to praise the LORD; this is fitting, for, by His death and resurrection, Christ has begun the work of making all things new, that is, restoring all creation from the tragic consequences of the Fall into sin.

Wednesday, 24 April 2013—Acts 11:1–18—The First Reading, from Acts, also shows the Newness of the Resurrection. There is a new way of thinking who may be incorporated into the family of God. Peter’s report to the Jerusalem Council of his encounter with the Gentile Cornelius (Acts, chapter 10), shows that the regulations which were binding on God’s people in the Old Testament were not an end unto themselves, but served the purpose of pointing the way to the One who would fulfill them: Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Christ makes all things new, and shows that salvation is by faith in the crucified and risen Jesus, and not by the works of the Law.

Thursday, 25 April 2013—Revelation 21:1–7—The glorious results of the Newness of the Resurrection were shown to St John in the revelation he received from the risen Lord Jesus Christ. Since Christ has atoned for the sins of the whole world, and has made all things new again, this will be reflected in all of creation at the Last Day, when the present age and present creation gives way to the new age and new creation. Because sin, death, and the devil have been defeated by Christ, in the new creation there will be no mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Friday, 26 April 2013—John 16:12–22 or John 13:31–35—In John 13, Jesus gives us a new commandment, in keeping with the Newness of the Resurrection: Love one another. How simple that sounds, and yet, how difficult it is to keep. Impossible, in fact for us sinful creatures to keep. Only the new man, the one who is in Christ, can do this. Because Christ lives in us by virtue of the faith imparted to us in our Baptisms, we can reflect the love of God to others.

Saturday, 27 April 2013—The Hymn of the Day, At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing (LSB #633), is an ancient hymn of praise to the Lamb who was slain, but is now risen and gives us His body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins, and the strengthening of our faith. Stanza 7 speaks once more of the Newness of the Resurrection, proclaiming that the resurrection of Christ has destroyed sin—Easter triumph, Easter joy!—and made us to be newborn souls. Alleluia!

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

Artwork by Ed Riojas © Higher Things

Good Shepherd Sunday

Jesus tells us, “My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me, and I give them eternal life and they shall never perish and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.” (John 10:2728)

A young Christian was once asked, “What is the most important thing you have learned about God?” The reply, “That God can be trusted in every circumstance of life.” What say you? Is this true?

There is talk these days about the future soundness of the Social Security system. Will sufficient funds be available when baby boomers retire? And, not only the current generation but future generations yet to come. Generation X and Y. How will they fare? As pressing and important as this question may be an even more pressing issue  is this - Will your spiritual security ever fail you? Jesus assures us that when your life is in the Shepherd’s hands you will live securely.

I.  You belong to the Good Shepherd. “My sheep hear My voice and I know them and they follow Me.”

A.       As a sheep of His flock, you listen to the voice of your Shepherd.

1.      There are many voices all trying to get our attention.

2.      In our struggle in this life, to whom will you listen?   Whom will you follow? Is this true? It is not that our baptism didn’t work. It’s not that Jesus’ suffering and death didn’t redeem us. It’s a continuing question. Will we continue to hear and follow our Savior?  Will we, as it were, change the channel? The challenge for us is to stay focused on Christ our Good Shepherd.

B.        We are assured of the Shepherd’s love and care for He knows us.

1.      Your Shepherd knows your needs. He knows you even better then you know yourself.

2.      As a Good Shepherd who knows you, He will provide you with all that you need to support your body and life.

C.       We follow Him alone.

1.      We don’t have to follow other Shepherds voices, which would tempt us.

2.      We follow the direction and the voice of our true Shepherd. Jesus reminds us, “My sheep hear My voice and they follow Me...” My prayer is that you would hear, obey and follow the Good Shepherd faithfully.

Transition: We live securely because we belong to the Good Shepherd. Our Good Shepherd gives us two promises.

II. Jesus gives us his Word and Promise “I give them eternal life.”

A.        The real story is not what we do.  Rather it’s always about Christ. What our shepherd has done. His cross and empty tomb guarantees for us life everlasting with our Shepherd in heaven.

B.        In glory, we will live and reign with Him forever. Just think of the life decisions our youth will be making in the next few years. Where will you go to school? What career will you choose? Whom will you marry? Where will you live? But of all the decisions you will ever make the most important decision has been made already for you – “I give them eternal life and they will never perish.”

C.        In sin, all we like sheep wander. Jesus your Good Shepherd finds you. He carries you. And brings you to a safe place. This is how we come to know how must He loves us. That’s why we follow Him. Not because the law says, we must. Not because we are afraid of sin or death. – But because we trust the Good Shepherd!

D.        We also know of the quiet waters and green pastures He provides us. We live thankful lives for the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation we have been given. We are Easter people.  We are given the gift of eternal life. The life we have now continues to eternity.

Transition: Jesus has promised us eternal life. He has also provided security and safety.

III. Jesus’ word and promise is sure “No one shall snatch them out of My hand.”

A.            There is a choice.  It’s simple.  Whose sheep will you be? I’m not saying that you will be perfect, and I’m not saying that sin doesn’t matter. What I am saying is that every day in what we think, do and say we are answering the question, “whose sheep will I be?”

B.       We sometimes struggle.  We are tempted. We often fail to listen to our Savior and follow where He leads. Yet, we keep coming back to Him. We come back because nowhere else can we find the forgiveness of sins, life and salvation that is ours in Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd.

I am Jesus’ little lamb. Ever glad at heart I am. For my shepherd gently guides me. Knows my needs and well provides me. Loves me every day the same, even calls me by my name.

Time in the Word - Easter 4

Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter: Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for unity of faith: O God, Your infinite love restores to the right way those who err, seeks the scattered, and preserves those whom You have gathered. Of Your tender mercy pour out on Your faithful people the grace of unity that, all schisms being ended, Your flock may be gathered to the true Shepherd of Your Church and may serve You in all faithfulness; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer for pastors and their people: O almighty God, by Your Son, our Savior, You have always given to Your Church on earth faithful shepherds to guide and feed Your flock. Therefore we pray, make all pastors diligent to preach Your holy Word and to administer Your means of grace, and grant Your people wisdom to follow in the way that leads to life eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for comfort to the dying: O Lord, our Shepherd, lead Your sheep in goodness and mercy as we pass with You through the valley of the shadow of death to Your eternal home, where You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer for comfort in hope of the resurrection: Lord God, our shepherd, You gather the lambs of Your flock into the arms of Your mercy and bring them home. Comfort us with the certain hope of the resurrection to everlasting life and a joyful reunion with those we love who have died in the faith; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came from the Father and became flesh among us in order to rescue us, His sheep. He laid down His life for us and took it up again in order to give us eternal life. By the preaching of His Gospel, He calls His sheep to Himself and keeps them with Him forever. As they hear His voice and follow Him, “they will never perish” (John 10:28), for “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (John 10:29). In the same way, faithful pastors (literally, “shepherds”) “care for the church of God, which He obtained with His own blood” (Acts 20:28), “testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21). Therefore, with all the company of heaven, the Good Shepherd gathers his flock in worship, as they cry: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Rev. 7:10).

Monday, 15 April 2013—Psalm 78:70–72; 79:13; antiphon, John 10:14, 15b—Sunday’s theme of the Good Shepherd Who Cares for His Sheep is set by the Introit. The Good Shepherd is really a Noble Shepherd, who loves the sheep of His flock so much that He lays down His life for the sheep. He guides us with His skillful hand throughout our lives into His eternal kingdom. In response, we can do nothing else than give thanks to Him forever, and make future generations aware of all the Good Shepherd has done for them by recounting His praise, and by making known to all the salvation we have through His death and resurrection.

Tuesday, 16 April 2013—Psalm 23—All three readings for Sunday use sheep and flock imagery. It is no surprise, then, that the Psalm of the Day is the beloved Twenty-third Psalm. It speaks of the Good Shepherd, whom we know is our Lord Jesus. He brings true peace and comfort to us, even in the presence of our enemies and when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, for He has overcome all enemies. Even as our enemies—sin, death, and the devil—surround us, we take comfort in the table He has prepared before us. At the Lord’s Table, He feeds us with His body and blood, given and shed for us for the remission of all our sins. We have true peace, for we have peace with God.

Wednesday, 17 April 2013—Acts 20:17–35—The devil hates Jesus, and hates all whom He has redeemed, that is, the Christian Church. In this farewell address by St Paul to the pastors at Ephesus, where Paul had served for a year and a half, he warns that the devil will try to attack the flock of God by way of false teaching. False teaching slips into a congregation subtly, speaking things which appeal to people and their feelings, shifting the focus from what God has done for us in Christ to what we can do for God. We must ever be on our guard, that the whole counsel of God is taught among us, especially the forgiveness of sins earned for us by Jesus Christ, by the shedding of His own blood.

Thursday, 18 April 2013—Revelation 7:9–17—What a beautiful picture of the Church we have placed before us! Redeemed children of God, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages. Their white robes show that they have been cleansed by the blood of the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. These Christians, having been called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified by the ministrations of the Holy Spirit, now surround the throne of God and sing praises to God and to the Lamb, just as the Church on earth does in the Divine Service.

Friday, 19 April 2013—John 10:22–30—The message of the Bible is not hard to comprehend: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world to redeem sinners by His perfect life, His suffering, death, and resurrection. Yet, many do not believe. They reject the words and deeds of Jesus because of the hardness of their hearts, just as many people rejected Him when He walked the earth 2,000 years ago, despite seeing His works and hearing His teaching. But the members of His Church, His flock, hear the voice of their shepherd, and He gives them eternal life.

Saturday, 20 April 2013—The sheep/shepherd imagery is carried forth also into the Hymn of the Day, The King of Love My Shepherd Is (LSB #709). This is a hymnic version of the Twenty-third Psalm, married to a pretty Irish tune.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

The icon on the cover shows Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In the upper corners, we see the stylized letters IC and XC, which are abbreviations for Jesus Christ in Greek. The Greek words on either side of the head of Christ say Ο ΠΟΙΜΗΝ Ο ΚΑΛΟΣ, meaning “The Good Shepherd.” The Painting comes from Google Images by the artist Dyce 

Time in the Word - Easter 3

Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter: O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer of praise and supplication: Lord God, creator of heaven and earth, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we praise You for the abundant mercy that You this day so richly have provided for us, blessing us not only with daily bread for our bodies but also with heavenly food for our souls. Grant that Your living and powerful Word may abide in our hearts, working mightily in us to Your glory and for our salvation. We commit ourselves to Your divine protection and fatherly care. Let Your holy angels be with us that the evil foe may have no power over us. Look in mercy on Your Church and deliver it from all danger and adversities. By Your Holy Spirit comfort and strengthen all who are in affliction or distress, and grant Your abiding peace to us all; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. Amen.

Prayer of adoration, praise, and supplication: Almighty and eternal God, we adore You as the God and Father of our Lord and Savior Jesus, and with the whole Church on earth and all the hosts of heaven we ascribe to You honor and blessing, thanksgiving and praise. Holy, holy, holy are You, Lord God Almighty; heaven and earth are full of Your glory. You created us in Your own image and redeemed us with the precious blood of Your Son. By Your Spirit You sanctified us and called us out of darkness into Your marvelous light.

Grant that we may with thankful hearts receive these great mercies and express our gratitude, not only with our lips but also in our lives as we give ourselves to Your service and walk before You in holiness and righteousness all our days. Deliver us from sin and error, from the frailties of the flesh, the allurements of this present age, and the temptations of the devil. Give us faith that works in love, hope that never disappoints, kindness that never fails, confidence in You that never wavers, patience that does not grow weary, and courage always to be ready to confess Christ, that we may live in Your mercy and die in Your peace; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

The Good Shepherd Feeds His Lambs

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 5:12), who by His cross has conquered sin and death. With His blood, He has “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nations” (Rev. 5:9). This same Lord Jesus visits people of all nations and calls them to Himself by the Gospel, even as He “revealed Himself again to the disciples…after He was raised from the dead” (John 21:1, 14). He restored Simon Peter to faith and life and commissioned him to feed His lambs and tend His sheep (John 21:15–17). Likewise, He revealed Himself to Saul of Tarsus and brought him to repentance, so that the persecutor of Jesus might carry and confess His name “before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel” (Acts 9:15–16).

Monday, 8 April 2013—Psalm 145:4–7, 9; antiphon, Psalm 145: 10—This Song of Praise by King David leads off the last six psalms, all of them songs of praise. As redeemed children of the LORD, our greatest delight shall always be to give thanks to Him, to bless Him, to commend His mighty works to others, to declare His mighty acts, to meditate on His wondrous works, to speak of the might of His awesome deeds, to declare His greatness, and to sing aloud of His righteousness!

Tuesday, 9 April 2013—Psalm 30—Sunday’s psalm was composed by David when he dedicated the materials for the building of the Temple (1 Chronicles 22:1–6), and may have been used at subsequent dedications: at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple (2 Chronicles 7:4–10) and in 165 B.C., at the Jewish Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah; see 1 Maccabees 4:54–59; 2 Maccabees 10:1–9; John 10:22). The psalm is one of thanksgiving to God for preservation of physical life (vv. 1–5) and spiritual life (6–10). Finally, the last two verses give thanks to the LORD for His mercy forever.

Wednesday, 10 April 2013—Acts 9:1–22—During Eastertide, all of our  first readings are taken from the book of the Acts of the Apostles, St Luke’s history of the Church during the Apostolic Age. Here, we have the account of the conversion of Saul, a learned Jew who zealously persecuted Christians. But, after being commissioned to be an apostle by the risen Christ, Paul, as he would henceforth be known, became an even more zealous ambassador for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His encounter gave him the joy of a new life in the risen Lord.

Thursday, 11 April 2013—Revelation 5:1–14—As all of our Eastertide first readings come from the book of Acts, so all of our epistle readings come from the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ to St John. In this portion of John’s vision, he wonders who is worthy to open the scroll containing the counsel of God, His plan of action. Only the Lamb, who was slain, but is alive, is worthy to do so. In response, those surrounding the throne of God sing a song of high praise to the Lamb. The joy of the resurrection is carried out in the joy of praising the risen Christ in heaven.

Friday, 12 April 2013—John 21:1–14—This is the third appearance of the risen Christ to His disciples. The setting is simple, normal—Jesus appears amidst the everyday occupations of a fisherman. He performs a miracle, in which they recognize Him as the Lord. Once again, Jesus shows that He is concerned for us in our everyday lives. Peter is so overjoyed when He recognizes Jesus, that he immediately swims to shore. The disciples eat breakfast with Jesus, the account once again proving the bodily resurrection of our Lord, as ghosts do not eat food. Truly there is joy for the disciples in meeting the risen Christ.

Saturday, 13 April 2013—The Hymn of the Day, With High Delight, Let Us Unite (LSB #483), continues the theme of joy in Christ’s resurrection. The whole Church on earth, together with those already in heaven, as we saw in the epistle, joins together in singing joyous songs of high praise to the risen Lord Jesus Christ, our salvation.

Prayers from Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House

The icon on the cover shows Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In the upper corners, we see the stylized letters IC and XC, which are abbreviations for Jesus Christ in Greek. The Greek words on either side of the head of Christ say Ο ΠΟΙΜΗΝ Ο ΚΑΛΟΣ, meaning “The Good Shepherd.”

Easter 2

John 20:19-31
Thomas, an Apostle for Skeptics

INTRODUCTION: Reject not until you have examined the evidence! Such is the message of the church as we find ourselves living in a post-modern world.

We are living in an ever-increasing world filled with skeptics. They sincerely want to believe in the resurrection but are reserving their final opinion until more evidence becomes available. They need or want convincing proof – before they will commit themselves completely to the message of Easter.

We believers today are in desperate need to follow in the footsteps of Thomas, proclaiming the message of the bloody cross and the empty tomb as it happened in time and space.  This request for proof should not bother us in the least.

As the evidence for the resurrection is so compelling that only one conclusion is possible we must insist that the evidence be examined.

Thomas makes an amazing statement. Christian truth dare never be based on the faith of any believer, the church, or Peter, or even the teachings and traditions of the church. According to Thomas, he must have the same experience as the other disciples.

Peter and John did not run to the tomb as believers. They did not believe the early reports of the women. Neither did the Emmaus disciples believe the message! They knew of the report of the resurrection and told Jesus as they walked along the road that the women had seen a vision of angels. Within the first hours of Easter, no one really believed the resurrection message! They were not expecting the resurrection, and besides, dead men don’t get up and live!

What changed their hearts and minds were the bodily appearance of Jesus to these first eyewitnesses. Yes, it is the message, which converts. But to that soul, which is searching, as was the case with the early disciples, the message, with proof is what makes the testimony convincing.

Thomas demands the same reality. He said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails were and put my hands into His side, I will not believe it!” Thomas’ demand for proof is a matter of necessity. If he is to have the same faith as the rest, he must experience the same proof. He must have the same reality. He too must say, “I too have seen the Lord!”

Thomas’ demand for proof does faith a service. We trust not in pious opinions but rather faith anchored and grounded in fact. Thomas’ demand has not weakened faith; to the contrary, his demands have strengthened it; pointing us specifically to the very events and circumstances of our salvation; a cross, a tortured body and an empty tomb.

Thomas’ confrontation with our Lord and the awareness of Thomas that Jesus had indeed come back from the dead motivate John to conclude his gospel with these words, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of His disciples which are not written in this book. But these have been written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life in His name.” (John 21)

The evidence from Scripture declares that Jesus did in fact live, die, and rise from the dead in our time. The resurrection is evidence that Jesus was born in our time – born to redeem the sons of earth, born to give them second birth.

Ours is not “religion as usual” and we have Thomas to thank! The Easter event from our vantage point and from our viewpoint is unbelievable.

That is the way Thomas felt about it. What Thomas discovered we must discover that the resurrection is acceptable when we look at the event from God’s viewpoint and from His perspective. Reject not until you have examined the evidence. Thanks to Thomas, evidence plus faith produces conviction.

175 Anniversary

A 21st Century Parish with a 1st Century Faith - Acts 2:42