Memorial Day

Originally referred to as "Decoration Day" as the day in which the graves of veteran's were decorated our nation today celebrates Memorial Day. Those who hate war the most are those who are called upon to go into battle knowing they might have to give the ultimate sacrifice of their life for the freedoms we cherish.

Today we pause to remember all those who sacrificed their lives so that we may enjoy the freedoms of life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Today is a day of remembrance. We recall all who have died that we might be free. We remember their courage. We thank the members of their families who mourn their loss.

Today we remember our military families, those who serve and protect, and our nation.

Lord  God of hosts, stretch forth Your almighty are to strengthen and protect those who serve in the armed forces of our country. Support them in times of war, and in times of peace keep them from all evil Give them courage and loyalty and  grant that in all things they may serve honestly and without reproach; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Prayer for the armed forces of our nation Lutheran Worship (c) 1980 Concordia Publishing House, St, Louis

Time in the Word - Proper 4

Time in the Word

God has no Boundaries  

A Study for Proper 4

The 2^nd Sunday in Pentecost
27 May - 1 June 2013

We now enter into the non-festival portion of the church year. As corn that has been planted begins to emerge, sprout and grow. So the seed of faith, planted in baptism grows and matures throughout the life of the Christian. As we have examined the entire life and ministry of Jesus, we now get into the application of God’s word in the life of the Christian. During this season, the Old Testament lessons are taken from fifteen different Old Testament books. Ten different New Testament books will be used for the Epistle lesson. Except for the Festivals [Pentecost, Trinity, Reformation, All Saints) all gospel lessons are from the Gospel of Luke. We will witness three miracles, six parables and hear fifteen discourses from the Savior. 

As to the theme for the coming Sunday we will examine the faith of foreigners. In the Old Testament lesson, Solomon prays that God would hear foreigners praying in the temple. In our day, we pray that people of all nations would come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. In the Epistle lesson, Paul is shocked that the Galatians have turned to another gospel and must be convinced of the truth, which is found in Christ. In the Gospel, Jesus heals the slave of a Roman centurion.

.

Prayer for Proper 4 (May 29 – June 4 ) – O God by Your almighty Word You set in order all things in heaven and on earth. Put away from us all things hurtful, and give us those things that are beneficial for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer for Pentecost 2 – O God, whose never-failing providence sets in order all things both in heaven and earth, put away from us, we entreat You, all hurtful things, and give us those things that are profitable for us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

A prayers for the residents of Moore, OK - Almighty God, our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble, look in mercy upon the residents of Oklahoma and elsewhere who have been ravaged by tornadoes. By these present storms, You call us to repentance. As the news breaks of the injuries, loss of life and destruction of homes and property, sustain our faith and defend those affected from every danger to body and soul. Lift up Your face and be gracious to them in this time of danger. Protect them, especially those who are weak and helpless. Be with the emergency service workers, police, fire, EMS and medical teams whose vocation is to respond in the minutes, hours and days following the storms. When they are weak, give them strength; when afraid, courage. Turn the hearts and minds of all to You, that they might find peace through the cleansing of Jesus' blood. Amid the tumult of disaster, build Your kingdom and turn these suffering souls to Yourself. For Jesus' sake, Amen

Monday, 27 May 2013 – Psalm 31:19, 23-24 - The Antiphon for this coming week’s Introit is from psalm 31:2b, “Be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.”   The term rock is a poetic figure for God symbolizing his unfailing strength as a fortress and refuge. Where do we go in times of great trial? We turn to the Lord our refuge, fortress, and strength.  

Tuesday, 28 May 2013 – Psalm 117 – In the Psalm appointed for this coming Sunday, the Psalmist gives us the shortest Psalm in the entire book of Psalms. It is also the shortest chapter in the Bible. In fitting with our theme for this week, we are reminded that all nations and peoples are called on to praise the Lord for his great love and enduring faithfulness toward Israel.

Wednesday, 29 May 2013 – 1 Kings 8:41-43 - The Old Testament lesson includes Solomon’s prayer that God will hear foreigners praying in the temple. All three lessons point to the fact that there is no partiality with and in God. Our lesson indicates that all people will come to God’s house and will be heard by God. Does this teach universalism? No, for man to come he must come through the narrow door. He must come through Jesus and through faith.

Thursday, 30 May 2013 – Galatians 1:1-10 – Paul is shocked that the Galatians have turned to another gospel. The Gospel is not confined to a race or sect but is available for all.

God would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. But they must come only through faith in Christ.

Friday, 31 May 2013 – Luke 7:1-10 – Jesus has mercy and heals a centurion’s slave. In the Gospel lesson, Jesus helps a pagan slave and credits his Roman master with the greatest faith in Israel. The point is not that this man is a “foreigner” rather he is a “foreigner” who has a stronger faith than any in Israel. What makes this incident in the life of the Savior so outstanding is that the believer is not a Jew but a Roman professional military pagan! 

Saturday, 1 June 2013 – 1 Samuel 20:3 – This verse is the inspiration for the great hymn, “In the Very Midst of Life.” {LSB 755}  The context of this verse is an oath David took with respect to his friend Jonathan. As the Lord lives, David knows the Lord will keep His word. In the midst of our earthly existence, the Lord has promised to sustain, guide, and lead His people. We place our lives into His hands knowing that He will surely order our days. Vicious and violent storms leave some questioning. Do we trust only when things go our way? Do we have confidence in God only when life is good? In the very midst of life, in every circumstance, we trust Christ completely.        

LUTHERAN SEVICE BOOK LECTIONARY © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, MO

Prayer for tornado victims offered by LCMS World Relief and Human Care

LECTIONARY PREACHING WORKBOOK SERIES C by John Brokhoff © 1979 CSS Publishing, Lima, OH

Trinity

Trinity Sunday

26 May 2013

John 16:12-15

Our All-Sufficient God

Is there anything too hard for God? Any problem too complex? Any tragedy too deep? Anything? Can your Lord handle your issues? Can He direct the affairs of men? What we need to consider is the simple fact that God is able to manage just fine.  What we need is to see and respond to is the Triune God; the all-sufficient God who has all grace and power to handle any problem, which might come your way. He makes Himself available to His children.

Consider your all-sufficient God – the Trinity

1. We have an all-sufficient God - God the Father – the God who has all. “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said, that He takes of Mine, and I will disclose it to you.” verse 15 How can we know that our God can handle and manage any problem, which might come your way? We know He is able to provide for us because He is the God who has everything.  Jesus said that the Father has “all things.” There is not one thing on this earth, which does not belong to the Father. That is what you confess every time we say the creed. We confess together, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, the maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible…”  There is not one thing, which exists that has not come into its own existence without the help of God the Father. The world and everything in it belongs to God. That is why God the Father can take care of you because the world belongs to Him.

Martin Luther has this closing pray at the end of each day. He would pray, “father, this is Your world not mine. This problem is too big for me to handle. I’m going to bed tonight. I expect You to manage it!” That is not blind faith.  It’s a perfect explanation to how you live your lives as children of the heavenly Father.

God is able to handle your problems because He is God. Maybe the difficulty we have with our problems is that we do not give them to God. We have an all-sufficient God. Trust Him. Cast all your care upon Him.  He is the Father – the God who has all.

2. We also have an all-sufficient God who is known as God the Son – the God who shares all. In the same verse, Jesus reminds us that just as the Father has all, He as the Son shares all that the Father has with you and me.

Jesus said, “I no longer treat you as slaves, but as heirs.” John 15; 15 He tells us “everything I have heard from the Father I have made known to you.”

The same man who would not let an employee drive a company vehicle turns around and gives his own so the keys to his car. Why does he do this? Because there is a relationship with that child. His only obligation to the employee is an honest wage. But with the son, he shares everything.

So it is with our all-sufficient God. He give you everything that He has; forgiveness, life, salvation.  He gives you these things freely for He is an all-sufficient God.  He shares everything that He has with His children. God will give you everything that you need whenever you are in need for He freely shares with His children everything that He has.

3. We have an all-sufficient God known to us as God the Spirit – the God who shows all. “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak of His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak and He will disclose to you what is to come.” Vs. 13 

How do you know that these things, these gifts of the Father are yours? You know that they belong to you because the Holy Spirit gives and shares them with you.  When EF Hutton speaks… People listen. So also with the Holy Spirit. When He speaks to you through His Word He speaks directly to you. He tells you what you are to believe. He gives the answers to the questions you ask. He gives you a way to live and a future, which guarantees that He will be with you always.

There is no problem too difficult for your all-sufficient God. He has provided a way for you. He owns everything, and all that He has He shares with you, and He shows you His will for your life through His words and promises. All is well for you, not because of what you do but because what Go does for you. Trust His this day. Walk in His ways. Listen to His Word. For there is nothing impossible for the all-sufficient God.  

  

 image (c) Higher Things

Bede the Venerable

Born: 672/3, Northumbria, England
Died: May 25, 735, near Newcastle, England 
Feast day: May 25

The Venerable Bede was the first English church historian. He was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Wearmouth (today part of Sunderland), and of its daughter monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow.

Bede is well known as an author and scholar. His most famous work is Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (The Ecclesiastical History of the English People), which gained him the title "The father of English History." Bede also wrote on many other topics, from music and metrics to scripture commentaries.

source

http://www.religionfacts.com/christianity/people/bede.htm

Jesse Hoover

In June of 1837, Pr. Jesse Hoover found a small settlement of German Lutherans in Adams County. Making the trip either on foot or on horseback, Pr. Hoover began paying regular visits to conduct services in the homes of settlers. 

On February 25, 1838, this small group met to organize a congregation, the first rural congregation in Adams county. The charter members of the congregation, 26 adults and 30 children formed the Friedheim parish. The congregation has grown to 616 souls and 472 communicant members. 

Pr. Hoover served both the congregation in Adams county and St. Paul's, Ft. Wayne maintaining his residence in Ft. Wayne. It was Pr. Hoover, who had given the new location the name "Friedheim" which translates, "House of Peace" or "Peaceful Home" 

Pr. Hoover served only until May 24, 1838 when he died at the age of 28 years, a victim of a heart ailment.. 175 years ago today he was transferred from the kingdom of grace into the kingdom of glory.

Pr. Hoover is buried in the Old Concordia Cemetery in downtown Ft. Wayne, IN adjacent to the Old Concordia College which is now Indiana Institute of Technology. 

Esther

Today the church remembers a woman of faith by the name of Esther.

Esther is the heroine of the  book that bears her name in the Bible. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, which means “myrtle” and or “star.” Her beauty, charm, and courage served her well as queen to King Ahasuerus. In that role she was able to save her people from the mass extermination that Haman, the king’s chief adviser, had planned (2:19-4:17). 

Esther’s efforts to uncover the plot resulted in the hanging of Haman on the very same gallows that he had built for Mordecai, her uncle and guardian. Then the king named Mordecai minister of state in Haman’s place. This story is an example of how God intervenes on behalf of his people to deliver them from evil, as here through Esther he preserved the Old Testament people through whom the Messiah would come.

The celebration of the Jewish holiday of Purim includes the reading of the the book of Esther.

The names "God" and "Lord" are not found in the book of Esther, yet, His presence and footprint are found on every page.  If you're not familiar with her story read the book of Esther some time today. It won't take long, it a quick read. Her story is so intriguing you won't want to put the book down! And yes, there's a Vegitales episode which commemorates Esther as well! 

Appropriate prayers for this day:

• For the safety of all believers, especially those in lands where Christianity is persecuted
• For those who rule, that they may allow the Gospel to be freely preached
• For the willingness to sacrifice all for the sake of Chris

Schnorr von Carlsfeld woodcuts (c) WLS for private and congregational use

Congratulations Lydia as you graduate from Mannes today with a Masters in Vocal Performance!