Grace Evangelical-Lutheran: June 2020

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Micah 7,18-20. 3. Trinity

Micah 7,18-20 4020

3. Sonntag nach Trinitatis 048

Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, France and disciple of Polycarp a disciple of John. Martyr 202

Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome, ✠ 461

28. Juni 2020

1. O Jesus, our Glorious Savior; give us assurance of our salvation for Your blood sanctifies, clothes, adorns and cleanses us, so that we behold our righteousness and may tell others of the righteousness You give to them. Amen. (Starck 326 ¶ 4)

2. »What god is like You? Removing iniquity and passing over wickedness of the remnants of His inheritance and does not retain to witness His wrath? For He desires mercy. He will turn and will pity us, He will sink our iniquity and He will throw overboard all our sins into the depths of the sea. He will give truth to Jacob and mercy to Abram, just as You swore an oath to our fathers from the days of old.«

3. Last week we heard that God invites and gathers into His house those whom will partake of His gracious banquet. Today we hear how Jesus’ ministry is to find those heirs who have become lost and bring them back to His Father’s house.

4. There is a persistent opinion among many people, including Christians, that the Old Testament portrays Yahweh as a God of wrath and the New Testament portrays Him as a God of mercy. This furthermore leads to the misconception that the Old Testament only contains the law and the New Testament only contains the gospel. The Scriptures, however, portray God’s mercy throughout the Old Testament, beginning in the 3. chapter where He shows mercy and compassion to Adam and Eve after they have sinned. He does impose the sentence of the law upon them but then immediately gives them the gospel by promising to send a Savior who will redeem them.

5. Micah 7 is another great Old Testament chapter that emphasizes God’s mercy and grace. In 3 verses, Micah 9 times uses words and images that highlight His loving-kindness. His emphasis here is important. Micah lived from 750-686 bc. When Micah was 28 years old he witnessed the utter destruction of Israel, the 10 tribes of the north, in 722 bc. So complete was the dispersion of Israel that the genealogy of those 10 tribes has been lost. The only remnant were those who married Assyrians and became known as the Samaritans. Micah then tells Judah, the 2 tribes of the south, that their idolatry is just as offensive to Yahweh and unless they repent they too will be utterly chastised. When Micah died in 686 bc, the year King Hezekiah died, and the next 100 years were disastrous. After good King Hezekiah died, their were 2 evil kings, then good King Josiah, and finally 4 more evil kings that ends with Babylon conquering Jerusalem, the destruction of the temple and the exiling of many Jews to Babylon. But Micah promises that Yahweh will ultimately show Judah mercy.

6. Through Micah, Yahweh promises that the remnant of Judah will remain and survive. This remnant would be among the nations (Micah 5,7-8). And among the nations Yahweh did His work among the nations to prepare them to for the advent of the Christ. Micah exhorts the people to: Look to Yahweh and wait for the God of their salvation, for He will hear us (Micah 7,7).

7. Our God who hears us removes our iniquities and passes over our wickedness. His anger does not last forever, because He delights in mercy. He has compassion upon us. God the Father’s compassion is seen in His Son whom He sent to earth to redeem us back to Him. In Baptism we talk about how in the sacramental waters God washes away our sins. Paul talks about us being baptized into Christ’s death, buried with Him and raised from the dead (Romans 6,3-4). Micah likewise uses the image of water, and he applies it that God takes our sin and throws it overboard so that it sinks to the bottom of the sea. David expressed this thought in one of his psalms, writing: »As far as the east is from the west, so far does Yahweh remove our transgressions from us« (Psalm 103,12).

8. Yahweh works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed; He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love; He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever; He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities (Psalm 103,6.8-10). When John the Baptizer once saw Jesus approaching where he was preaching in the wilderness, he cried out: Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1,29)! Jesus has removed our iniquities. Our Baptism cleanses away our sins, we have heard the Absolution and the forgiveness for our sins this day, we have heard the Word of God, the gospel, that tells us and assures us that our sins are forgiven in Christ Jesus; God is merciful to us. Hear it, receive it and believe it; for it is yours, now and always. Next week we will hear Jesus exhort us: Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. Amen.

9. Let us pray. O Lord, Thou art merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in loving-kindness; comfort our troubled consciences with this great truth, so that we are always certain of of standing before You as forgiven and righteous people. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

All Scriptural quotations are translations done by The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind using the Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia, 4. Edition © 1990 by the Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, and the Novum Testamentum Graece, Nestle-Aland 28. Revised Edition © 2012 by Deutsch Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart.

3. Trinity worship video pt 2

3. Trinity Divine Service pt. 2

3. Trinity worship video 1

3. Trinity Divine Service pt. 1

Saturday, June 27, 2020

2. Trinity Saturday video

2. Trinity Saturday Terce

Friday, June 26, 2020

2. Trinity Friday video

2. Trinity Friday Suffrages

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

2. Trinity Tuesday video

2. Trinity Tuesday Prime

2. Trinity Monday video

2. Trinity Monday Prime

Monday, June 22, 2020

Matthew 11,25-30. 2. Trinity

Matthew 11,25-30 3920

2. Trinitatis 047

Albanus, Martyr 286/303. Albanus, Martyr 404

21. Juni 2020

1. O Generous God, our earthly Provider; give us all things according to Your will, so that we always experience abundantly Your Fatherly faithfulness and grace. Amen. (Starck 118 ¶ 3)

2. »At that time Jesus declared: „I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will. All things have been handed over to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him. Draw near to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me that I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your lives. For My yoke is pleasant, and My burden is light.“«

3. Last week we heard Jesus tell us about the rich man and Lazarus and the efficacy of the power of God’s Word to convert people to faith. Today we hear that God invites and gathers into his house those whom will partake of his gracious banquet.

4. We all bear a great burden of sin. Our conscience daily reminds us of this burden we bear. The Holy Scriptures tell us that we have sinned against God and our neighbors. The Apostle Paul tells us: »All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3,24). The 10 Commandments exhort us to fear, love and trust God; they quickly reveal how often we fail to do that. Again Paul: »By works of the law no human being will be justified in God’s sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin« (Romans 3,20).

5. Jesus taught that the law is at its foundation twofold: 1. Love God with all your heart, and 2. Love your neighbor as yourself (Luke 10,27). To love God often contradicts mankind deepest heartfelt beliefs. At our core, we are religious and spiritual people; God created us this way. But in our sin, we believe that there are many paths to God. The Scriptures teach that God is our Father. This is nothing novel or new, for mankind has held this from the very beginning. Mesopotamian, Egyptian and Greco-Roman religions all have a pantheon of gods with one god who is the supreme deity and often known as the father: An, Amon-Re and Zeus, respectively. »I am Yahweh; that is My Name; My Glory I give to no other, nor my prayers to carved idols« (Isaiah 42,8). »You shall love Yahweh your God with all your heart, soul and might« (Deuteronomy 6,5). »You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve« (Matthew 4,10). Jesus taught that no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom He chooses to reveal Him. »I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me« (John 14,6). There is only one God and one path to him, and that is through Jesus Christ.

6. Before this path to God leads to everlasting rest. Jesus exhorts us: »Draw near to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.« Jesus is gentle and humble in heart. Jesus takes our heavy yoke of guilt and sin. In return, He gives us His yoke which is light and restful. The way to find rest is to trade the heavy burden of sin and failure for Jesus’ own yoke (Gibbs 590), for His yoke is pleasant and His burden is light.

7. But what is Jesus’ yoke? A: His yoke is nothing other than to become a disciple of Jesus (Gibbs 590). The Gospel according to Matthew tells us many things about being Jesus’ disciple. Jesus preached: »Repent, for the reign of heaven is at hand« (Matthew 4,17). »Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods rose and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall because it had been founded on the rock« (Matthew 7,24-25). »The reign of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field« (Matthew 13,44). »Simon Peter confessed: „You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go up to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, be killed and on the third day be raised« (Matthew 16,16.21). »Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for My Name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life« (Matthew 19,29).

8. Christ’s yoke is less like a collar of servanthood and more like a ring of sonship. St. Paul tells us: »If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring and heirs according to promise. You are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God« (Galatians 3,29.4,7).

9. The symbol we often use of Christ’s yoke is the cross or the crucifix. This reminds us of the burden Christ took from us and bore upon Himself. »Jesus was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities; and with His wounds we are healed. Yahweh has placed upon Him the iniquity of us all« (Isaiah 53,5.6). All things have been handed over to Jesus by His Father, and we are the beneficiaries of that grace and mercy. Our sins are forgiven. Our debts have been paid in full. We never face a trial or tribulation alone, for Jesus is by our side often carrying us through it when we can no longer walk. If we wander away, then He welcomes us home as His son or daughter. Jesus’ yoke is pleasant and light, for it is a yoke of grace and mercy.

10. Today we hear that God invites and gathers into His house those who will partake of His gracious banquet as His heirs, as His sons and daughters. Next week we will hear that Jesus’ ministry is to find those heirs who have become lost and bring them back to His Father’s house. Amen.

11. Let us pray. O Lord, our Strength, Rock, Fortress and Deliverer; impart to us the Holy Spirit, so that flowing from our faith we love You and our neighbor. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

2. Trinity Sunday video

2. Trinity Divine Service

Thursday, June 18, 2020

1. Trinity Thursday video

1. Trinity Thursday Noon

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Galatians 4 video

Galatians 4 Bible study

1. Trinity Wednesday video

1. Trinity Wednesday Suffrages

1. Trinity Tuesday video

1. Trinity Tuesday Sext

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Acts 4,32-37. 1. Trinity

Acts 4,32-37 3820

1. Sonntag nach Trinitatis 046

Elisha, Prophet, 840 bc

14. Juni 2020

1. O Bountiful and Gracious God, how great and glorious, how rich and mighty You are! Give us Your Holy Spirit. Give us a Godly heart, so that by Your working in us we conquer evil desires, put away bad habits and surrender our selves to You as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to You through Jesus Christ. Amen. (Starck 118 ¶ 1.2)

2. »Now the full number of those who having believed were of one heart and soul, and none of them were saying that any of the things belonging to him was his own, but that all things were in common and shared by all. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. Thus Joseph, who was also called by the apostles Barnabas (which means son of encouragement), a Levite, a native of Cyprus, sold a field that belonged to him and brought the money and laid it at the apostles’ feet.«

3. Last week we heard that those born of water and the Spirit enter the reign of God. Today we hear Jesus tell us about the rich man and Lazarus and the efficacy of the power of God’s Word to convert people to faith.

4. In the Acts 2, St. Luke the Evangelist summarizes the liturgy of the Early Church: apostolic preaching, the Sacrament of the altar and prayers. This is the basic outline of our Divine Service found in our Lutheran hymnals; we have the Scriptures read and proclaimed, we celebrate the Lord’s Supper and we conclude with prayers. Then in Acts 4 Luke tells us: And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.

5. The Scripture, from beginning to end, from Genesis to Revelation, is about Jesus Christ. In general, the Old Testament prophesizes the arrival of Jesus and the New Testament proclaims what He did when He had arrived. The defining moment in Jesus’ ministry is His crucifixion and resurrection. Paul told the Corinthians: We preach Christ and Him crucified for the salvation of the world (1. Corinthians 2,2); and this is what the apostles taught and preached two thousand years ago. What the apostles preached with great power was „not merely interesting information, but [a preaching that] has power to work saving faith, which is no illusion, but communion with the living Christ. ... This faith does not just arise by spontaneous combustion, but arises only because the apostolic word is taught and preached“ (Martens ¶ 8).

6. C. S. Lewis’ in his essay The Weight of Glory condenses the message of apostolic preaching into 5 simple points:

1. All children of Adam and Eve are sinful and have sinned. Romans 3,23.

2. The penalty for sin is death, both physical and eternal. Romans 6,23.

3. Jesus paid that penalty by His crucifixion. Romans 5,8.

4. Justification is pure gift and not our works (imputed righteousness). Eph 2,8-9

5. The assurance that we are right now justified before God. Romans 1; 1. John 5,12-13

7. Faith receives this gift of the proclamation which is justification. And through faith the Holy Spirit works in us sanctification: those good works in our lives that are a produce of faith. Luther teaches us in his Large Catechism: „I believe that there is upon earth a little holy group and congregation of pure saints, under one head, even Christ, called together by the Holy Spirit in one faith, one mind, and understanding, with manifold gifts, yet agreeing in love, without sects or schisms. 52] I am also a part and member of the same, a sharer and joint owner of all the goods she possesses, brought to her and incorporated into her by the Holy Spirit by having heard and continuing to hear the Word of God, which is the beginning of entering her. For formerly, before we had attained to this, we were altogether of the Devil, knowing nothing of God and of Christ. 53] Thus, until the last day, the Holy Spirit abides with the holy congregation or Christendom, by means of which He fetches us to Christ and which He employs to teach and preach to us the Word, whereby He works and promotes sanctification, causing her [this community] daily to grow and become strong in the faith and its fruits which He produces. 54] We further believe that in this Christian Church we have forgiveness of sin, which is wrought through the holy Sacraments and Absolution, moreover, through all manner of consolatory promises of the entire Gospel. Therefore, whatever is to be preached concerning the Sacraments belongs here, and, in short, the whole Gospel and all the offices of Christianity, which also must be preached and taught without ceasing. For although the grace of God is secured through Christ, and sanctification is wrought by the Holy Spirit through the Word of God in the unity of the Christian Church, yet on account of our flesh which we bear about with us we are never without sin. 55] Everything, therefore, in the Christian Church is ordered to the end that we shall daily obtain there nothing but the forgiveness of sin through the Word and signs, to comfort and encourage our consciences as long as we live here. Thus, although we have sins, the [grace of the] Holy Spirit does not allow them to injure us, because we are in the Christian Church, where there is nothing but [continuous, uninterrupted] forgiveness of sin, both in that God forgives us, and in that we forgive, bear with, and help each other“ (Large Catechism II,51-55).

8. The Word of God is able to do what it promises. Lazarus is in Paradise right now because Moses and the Prophets, by the working of the Holy Spirit, created faith in his heart. We have faith in our heart because the preaching of the apostles heard in our church, by the working of the Holy Spirit, created faith in our hearts.

9. Today we heard Jesus tell us about the rich man and Lazarus and the efficacy of the power of God’s Word to convert people to faith. Next week we will hear that God invites and gathers into His house those whom will partake of His gracious banquet. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord, Your testimonies are righteous forever; give us understanding of Your Holy Word, so that we may live. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Gode ealdore sy se cyneþrymm

✠

Martens, Gottfried. A sermon preached on 18. July 2010 | Acts 2,41-47 | 7. Sunday after Trinity. Copyright © 2010 St. Mary Church in Berlin-Zehlendorf (SELK). All rights reserved. The Rev. Peter A. Bauernfeind, Tr. © 2010.

1. Sunday after Trinity video

1. Sunday after Trinity Divine Service

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Holy Trinity Saturday video

Holy Trinity Saturday Terce

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Galatians 4 video

Galatians 4 Bible study

Holy Trinity Wednesday video

Holy Trinity Wednesday Terce

Holy Trinity Tuesday video

Holy Trinity Tuesday Responsive Prayer

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Numbers 6,22-27. Holy Trinity

Numbers 6,22-27 3720

Trinitatis 045

Paul, Bishop of Constantinople, Martyr 350

Deocar, Abbot at Herrieden, ✠ 850

7. Juni 2020

1. O thrice Holy God, Thou hast manifested Yourself as 1 in Essence yet 3 distinct Persons; manifest Yourself to us as our God, so that we may be encouraged and prompted to show ourselves Your obedient creation. Amen. (Starck 107 ¶ 1)

2. »Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying: „Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them: ‘Yahweh bless you and keep you. Yahweh make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Yahweh lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.’ So shall they put My Name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.“«

3. Last week we heard the fulfillment by Jesus to send us the Holy Spirit from the Father. Today we hear that those born of water and the Spirit enter the reign of God.

4. Paul emphasizes this rebirth at the end of Chapter 3 in his Epistle to the Galatians. He writes: »For y’all are sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus; for as many of you were baptized in Christ, y’all put on for yourselves Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither slave nor free man, neither male nor female: for y’all are one in Christ Jesus. If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise« (Galatians 3,26-29). Paul connects the new birth/rebirth in Jesus to the waters of Holy Baptism: we are connected to Christ and one another in that Baptism. No one is more holy or righteous on account of race, culture or skin color; we are all equally loved, redeemed and saved by Christ; we are born into God’s family – the Christian family – that manifests itself here on earth as the Church.

5. God blesses His people. Aaron and the priests were told to bless the people, saying: » Yahweh bless you and keep you. Yahweh make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. Yahweh lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.« This is the benediction that concludes our Divine Service on Sundays. Notice the triple Yahweh and the triple response by the congregation with Amen, Amen, Amen. One Lord and one Amen for the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Recall what the Athanasian Creed teaches us this morning: So the Father is God, the Son is God and the Holy Spirit is God; and yet there or not 3 gods, but 1 God. So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord and the Holy Spirit is Lord; and yet there are not 3 lords, but 1 Lord (Athanasian Creed § 15-18). The Psalms also speak this way: »Give thanks to Yahweh for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for His steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for His steadfast love endures forever« (Psalm 136,1-3).

6. Before His ascension, Jesus said to the 11 disciples: »Baptize all nations in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age« (Matthew 28,19-20). God blesses us in our Baptism, for in Baptism God forgives sin, rescues us from death and the Devil, and gives eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare (Small Catechism). And as the Apostle Paul tells us, our Baptism connects us to Christ, His crucifixion and His resurrection (Romans 6,1-6). The blessing of Jesus is that we walk in newness of life (Romans 6,4).

7. Martin Luther in his 1528 treatise Confession concerning Christ’s Supper writes how the Triune God blesses us: „These are the three Persons in one God, who has given Himself to us all wholly and completely, with all that He is and has. The Father gives Himself to us, with heaven and earth and all the creatures, in order that they may serve us and benefit us. But this gift has become obscured and useless through Adam’s fall. Therefore the Son Himself subsequently gave Himself and bestowed all His works, sufferings, wisdom and righteousness, and reconciled us to the Father, in order that restored to life and righteousness, we might also know and have the Father and His gifts. But because this grace would benefit no one if it remained so profoundly hidden and could not come to us, the Holy Spirit comes and gives Himself to us also, holy and completely. He teaches us to understand this deed of Christ which has been manifested to us, helps us receive and preserve it, use it to our advantage and impart it to others, increase and extend it. He does this … by means of faith and other spiritual gifts, … through the Gospel, Baptism and the Sacrament of the Altar, through which as through three means or methods He comes to us and instills by persistent instruction the sufferings of Christ for the benefit of our salvation“ (Luther 366).

8. God’s blessing, justification, comes when God Himself enters the deadly dispute of justification, suffers from it and carries it out in Himself. He does this through the death of His Son, which is also God’s own death. In this way God takes the dispute into Himself and overcomes it on our behalf (Bayer 53). God brings His holy presence into His fallen world, so that He blesses us and makes us holy. Jesus died and rose again to redeem us. God’s Holy Triune Name is put upon us in our Baptism. We have these blessings every day for we are children of God.

9. Today we hear that those born of water and the Spirit enter the reign of God. Next week we will hear Jesus tell us about the rich man and Lazarus and the efficacy of the power of God’s Word to convert people to faith. Amen.

10. Let us pray. O Lord Jesus Christ, we praise You for Your mighty deeds; pour out the Holy Spirit upon us, so that we see the mercy and love of our Heavenly Father revealed in You. Amen.

To God alone be the Glory

Soli Deo Gloria

✠

Holy Trinity Divine Service video

Holy Trinity Divine Service

Holy Trinity Propers

The Feast of the Holy Trinity

Introit (Psalm 145,1.3-4.7.13; Liturgical text)
Blessed be the Holy Trinity
and Undivided Unity.
I will extol You, my God and King,
and bless Your Name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation will commend Your works to another,
and will declare Your mighty acts.
They will pour forth the fame of Your abundant goodness
and will sing aloud of Your righteousness.
Your reign is an everlasting reign,
and Your dominion endures throughout all generations.
The Lord is faithful in all His words
and kind in all His works.
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.
Blessed be the Holy Trinity
and Undivided Unity.

Collect of the Day
O Almighty and Everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for You O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, live and reign, One God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 6,1-13
1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord seated upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of His robe filled the temple. 2Above Him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said: „Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!“
4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: „Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!“ 6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth and said: „Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.“ 8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying: „Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?“ Then I said: „Here am I! Send me.“ 9And He said: „Go, and say to this people: ‘Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
10Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed.“
11Then I said: „How long, O Lord?“ And He said: „Until cities lie waste without inhabitant, and houses without people, and the land is a desolate waste, 12and the Lord removes people far away, and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land. 13And though a tenth remain in it, it will be burned again, like a terebinth or an oak, whose stump remains when it is felled.“ The holy seed is its stump.

Gradual (Liturgical text)
Blessed are You, O Lord, who beholds the deep, and who dwells between the cherubim. Blessed are You, O Lord, in the firmament of heaven, and greatly to be praised forever.

Romans 11,33-36
32For God has consigned all to disobedience, so that He may have mercy on all.
33O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 34»For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?« [Job 15,8; Isaiah 40,13] 35»Or who has given a gift to Him so that He might be repaid?« [Job 41,11] 36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.

John 3,1-15
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man went to Jesus by night and said to Him: „Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher sent from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.“ 3Jesus answered him: „Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the reign of God.“ 4Nicodemus said to Him: „How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?“ 5Jesus answered: „Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the reign of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you: ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it is sent from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.“ 9Nicodemus said to Him: „How can these things be?“ 10Jesus answered him: „Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life.“

Hymns

649 Blest be the ties that Bind
506 Glory be to God the Father
849 Praise the One who breaks the Darkness

Friday, June 5, 2020

Pentecost Thursday video

Pentecost Thursday Noon

Pentecost Wednesday video

Pentecost Wednesday None

Galatians 3 Bible study video

Galatians 3 Bible study

Pentecost Tuesday video

Pentecost Tuesday Sext

Monday, June 1, 2020

A Collect for Peace, Justice and Order

O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, so that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; have mercy upon all who are suffering unjustly and are devoid of the justice they seek, deliver them from their unjust bonds and implore our magistrates and justices to create a community of trust and equality among all people, and furthermore impel them to speedily establish justice, so that we may together rejoice and continually give praise to You; graciously regard Your civil servants and all the rulers of our nation and the earth, may all that receive the sword as Your ministers bear it according to Your commandment, enlighten and defend them by Your Name, O God, grant them wisdom and understanding so that under their peaceful governance we may be guarded and directed in righteousness, quietness and unity; from discord bring peace, from injustice bring justice and from anarchy bring order; be merciful to us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church

Sunday, June 28, 2020

Saturday, June 27, 2020

Friday, June 26, 2020

Thursday, June 25, 2020

Wednesday, June 24, 2020

Monday, June 22, 2020

Saturday, June 20, 2020

Thursday, June 18, 2020

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Monday, June 15, 2020

Sunday, June 14, 2020

Saturday, June 13, 2020

Friday, June 12, 2020

Wednesday, June 10, 2020

Monday, June 8, 2020

Sunday, June 7, 2020

Saturday, June 6, 2020

Friday, June 5, 2020

Monday, June 1, 2020