Redeemer lutheran church



FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
A Match Made in Heaven
May 15, 2022

We and all people have been “married” to this fallen world since our first parents ate forbidden fruit at their reception in Eden. But now, everyone baptized into Christ, Jews and Gentiles alike, are invited to the wedding of the Church to Jesus, her Bridegroom. The “little while” (Good Friday to Easter morning) is over, and Christ is with us now, especially as we receive His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper. It is only a foretaste of the feast to come, when He will make all things new, and the tears and sorrow we experience now will be in the past. Jesus has come and brings pleasure eternal!

HYMN “Christ, the Word of God Incarnate” [LSB 540]
1 Christ, the Word of God incarnate, Lord and Son of Abraham Christ, the radiance of the Father, Perfect God, the great I Am Christ, the light, You shine unvanquished, Light and life You bring to all Light our path with Your own presence, Grant us grace to heed Your call.

2 Christ, the living bread from heaven, Food for body, food for soul Christ, the manna daily given, Nourish, strengthen, make us whole. Feed us with the food of heaven, Fore-taste of the feast to be Quench our thirst with living water Springing up eternally.

3 Christ, the shoot that springs triumphant From the stump of Jesse’s tree Christ, true vine, You nurture branches To bear fruit abundantly. Graft us into You, O Savior Prune our hearts so we remain Fruitful branches in Your vineyard Till eternal life we gain.

4 Christ, our good and faithful shepherd, Watching all Your lambs and sheep Christ, the gate that guards the sheepfold, Never failing vigil keep. When we stray, Good Shepherd, seek us, Find us, lift us, bear us home Lamb of God, our shepherd, keep us Let us hear Your voice alone.

5 Christ, the way that leads unfailing To the Father’s home on high, Christ, the truth that frees the captive, Christ, the life that cannot die. Mediator to the Father, Sacrifice and great High Priest: Lead us to Your heav’nly mansions, There to share Your wedding feast.

6 Christ, the Alpha and Omega, Christ, the firstborn from the dead, Christ, the life and resurrection, Christ, the Church’s glorious head: Praise and thanks and adoration And unending worship be To the Father and the Spirit And to You eternally.

PRAYER
Lord Jesus, Bridegroom of the Church, You have done everything needed for us to join You at the heavenly wedding feast that has no end. Guide us so that our thoughts, words, and deeds may testify that we are no longer wed to this world, but are Yours, now and always for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

EPISTLE Revelation 21:1–7
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.

HOLY GOSPEL John 16:12–22
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 16 “A little while, and you will see me no longer and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’ and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

The marriage relationship was a perfect relationship before Adam and Eve sinned. Before sin entered the world man’s relationship with God was perfect too. Now because of man’s sin that relationship with God is broken. God uses the image of marriage to describe His desire to restore us to having a relationship with Him. “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2) New Jerusalem is the Christian Church. Paul calls the Christian Church the Body of Christ. The Body of Christ is made up of all those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Through faith in Jesus our relationship with God is restored. The marriage relationship describes God desire for us. “Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.” (Ephesians 5:25) It is through Jesus’ death and resurrection that we have a relationship with God, forgiven and restored looking forward to the eternal wedding feast prepared for us in heaven.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace. Amen.



FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
His Path through the Valley to the House
May 8, 2022

It is Good Shepherd Sunday, and the familiar twenty-third Psalm is echoed throughout our worship. Our Lord went through the valley of the shadow of death in our place, leading from death to eternal life. There is work to do before we get to eternity, for following our Shepherd entails confessing our faith even when death’s shadow falls on us. It means vigilance against wolves attacking amid Christ’s flock. We can be confident that what we believe by faith we shall know by experience in the unending joy of the Father’s house.

HYMN “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” [LSB 709]
1 The King of Love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never
I nothing lack if I am His, And He is mine forever.

2 Where streams of living water flow, My ransomed soul He leadeth
And, where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth.

3 Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love He sought me
And on His shoulder gently laid, And home rejoicing brought me.

4 In death's dark vale I fear no ill, With Thee, dear Lord, beside me,
Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me.

5 Thou spreadst a table in my sight Thine unction grace bestoweth
And oh, what transport of delight, From Thy pure chalice floweth!

6 And so through all the length of days, Thy goodness faileth never
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise, Within Thy house forever!

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Lord Jesus, our Good Shepherd, who has gone victoriously through death and into eternity for us, lead us through whatever trials may befall us here in time until we join to praise You in our Father’s house for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST READING Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

HOLY GOSPEL John 10:22–30
22 At that time the Feast of Dedication took place at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the colonnade of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Psalm 23 has always been a psalm of comfort and strength however it can also be seen as a confession of faith and a promise. In confessing that our Lord Jesus Christ is our Shepherd we realize what He has done for us, what He is doing for us now, and what He will continue to do for us. Christ has walked through the shadow of death for us and conquered evil for us. He has risen from the dead to prove He has won the victory over sin, Satan, and the world. This is why we will fear no evil. Our Shepherd provides for us from day to day with green pastures and still waters in this chaotic world. When we are sorely pressed, He restores our soul with forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” (John 10:27) In this way we understand where to go and what we are to do. We follow His righteous path. We are under our Shepherd’s protection. We live in a world of difficulty with pressures all around us and yet we are preserved and cared for by our Lord. He will never leave us. “No one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10:28) It is because of our Lord’s goodness and mercy that we are preserved every day as we respond to His voice. Because the Lord is our Shepherd, we are assured that we will live in His house forever.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER
Worthy Is the Lamb
May 1, 2022

In the Reading from Revelation, John reports that he saw God’s throne, where the Lamb is the only One worthy to open the sealed scrolls. Not only is Jesus holy in Himself, He makes holy all those whose sins He forgives because of His own sacrifice. Saul is a prime example. He is called by Christ to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, even though he had been looking for Christians to arrest. In their fishing attempt in the Gospel, the disciples learn that even their physical wellbeing depends on trusting their Savior’s guidance. For Peter, that would also mean feeding and teaching Jesus’ flock. Made worthy because of our incorporation into the Body of Christ, what are we called to do?

HYMN “God Himself Is Present” [LSB 907]
1 God Himself is present: Let us now adore Him, And with awe appear before Him.God is in His temple All within keep silence Humbly kneel in deepest rev'rence.He alone, On His throne, Is our God and Savior Praise His Name forever!

2 God himself is present: Hear the harps resounding See the hosts the throne surrounding."Holy, Holy, Holy!" Hear the hymn ascending, Songs of saints and angels blending.Bow Your ear, To us here: Hear, O Christ, the praises, That Your church now raises.

3 Fount of every blessing, Purify my spirit, Trusting only in Your merit.
Like the holy angels, Worshiping before You, May I ceaselessly adore You.
Let Your will, Ever still, Rule Your Church terrestrial, As the hosts celestial.

PRAYER
O God, through the sacrifice of Your Son on our behalf, You made us worthy to approach You in confident faith. Help us by Your Holy Spirit to give You all the praise each day in what we think, say, and do through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

EPISTLE
Revelation 5:8–14
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

HOLY GOSPEL
John 21:1–14
After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. 2 Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. 4 Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” 6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards[a] off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

“They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. …… He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish.: (John 21:3, 6) What the disciples were not able to accomplish all night, Jesus was able to easily accomplish for them. This comparison illustrates that we can never satisfy God on our own. He is holy and we are not. No matter how hard we try we are not going to get the Job done. However what we cannot do God does for us. Instead of it being about fish in the example in John, it is about forgiveness and eternal life. Only Jesus can accomplish that for us. “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9) The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world makes us worthy.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER
This Shadow Changes Everything
April 24, 2022

Shadows are powerful. Just ask the crowds in Jerusalem mentioned in Acts 5. When Peter walked by them, they brought the sick on mats, hoping that his shadow would fall upon them. It did. And the sick were healed! God’s power was working through Peter’s shadow to bring restoration in Jesus’ name. Because our Savior is risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, His power is at work among us today as well. Even when death casts its gloomy shade over us, we stand in the shadow of Jesus’ cross and empty tomb and, therefore, we are assured of His power and His provision forever.

HYMN “He’s Risen, He’s Risen” [LSB 480]
1 He’s risen, He’s risen, Christ Jesus, the Lord
He opened Death’s prison, the Incarnate Word.
Break forth, hosts of heaven, in jubilant song,
And, earth, sea, and mountain, the paean prolong.

2 The Foe was triumphant when on Calvary
The Lord of creation was nailed to the tree.
In Satan’s domain did the hosts shout and jeer,
For Jesus was slain, whom the evil ones fear.

3 But short was their triumph, the Savior arose,
And Death, hell, and Satan He vanquished, His foes
The conquering Lord lifts His banner on high.
He lives, yea, He lives, and will nevermore die.

4 Oh, where is thy sting, Death? We fear thee no more
Christ rose, and now open is fair Eden’s door,
For all our transgressions His blood does atone
Redeemed and forgiven, we now are His own.

5 Then sing your hosannas and raise your glad voice
Proclaim the blest tidings that all may rejoice.
Laud, honor, and praise to the Lamb that was slain,
With Father and Spirit He ever shall reign.

PRAYER
Almighty God, grant that we who stand in the shadow of the cross and empty tomb may join with all other witnesses of the resurrection in boldly sharing with the world that Jesus is Lord and God through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST READING
Acts 5:12–20
12 Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. And they were all together in Solomon's Portico. 13 None of the rest dared join them, but the people held them in high esteem. 14 And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, 15 so that they even carried out the sick into the streets and laid them on cots and mats, that as Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on some of them. 16 The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all healed. 17 But the high priest rose up, and all who were with him (that is, the party of the Sadducees), and filled with jealousy 18 they arrested the apostles and put them in the public prison. 19 But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out, and said, 20 “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this Life.”

HOLY GOSPEL
John 20:19–31
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” 24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) These words of Jesus show us the true power of the gift of faith that comes from the power of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word. It is only because of the faith that we have received that we can accept what we have not seen. It is because of faith that it is as if we had been in the room with the apostles seeing Jesus who had risen from the dead. It was by faith that people brought their sick to see Peter because it is the power of God through Peter that truly does the healing. It is the power of the cross and the open tomb that heals us of the scourge of sin and the shadow of death. “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:18) It is in the shadow of the cross in which we stand by faith that gives us the healing power of forgiveness through the saving blood of Christ. This is the truth we find through what David conveys in Psalm 23:4-6. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies you anoint my head with oil my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



The Resurrection of Our Lord
Mary Magdalene
4/17/2022

We have followed Jesus to the cross, the tomb, and now we follow Jesus out of the tomb as He rises from the dead and appears to another witness: Mary Magdalene. Jesus’ Easter morning resurrection appearance to Mary Magdalene might be unexpected. After all, Mary had endured a terrible past. Jesus had cast seven demons out of her in the early part of His ministry. But Mary is chosen to be this eyewitness, and she exclaims to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18). Mary is the first to see Jesus’ resurrected glory and proclaim this good news, which we speak again and again today, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!”

HYMN “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” (LSB 457)
1 Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!
2 Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heav'nly king, Alleluia!Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!

3 But the pains which He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured Alleluia! Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!
4 Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as His love Alleluia!
Praise Him, all ye heav'nly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, You came from the heavens down to this world and endured the suffering and shame of the cross and grave, but You are arisen to new life, guaranteeing our own resurrection from the dead. Encourage us as we wait for Your return to delight in Your resurrection and faithfully proclaim this good news, just as Mary Magdalene did, so that more people may come to believe in You as Lord for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING
Jeremiah 31:1–6
1“At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be My people.” 2Thus says the Lord: “The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness when Israel sought for rest, 3the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love therefore I have continued My faithfulness to you. 4Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines and shall go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. 5Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria the planters shall plant and shall enjoy the fruit. 6For there shall be a day when watchmen will call in the hill country of Ephraim: ‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’ ”

HOLY GOSPEL
John 20:1–18
1Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.” 3So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed 9for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples went back to their homes. 11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” 14Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to Him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father but go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’” 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that He had said these things to her.

Mary Magdalene went from being confused and discouraged to being full of joy at seeing that Jesus has truly risen from the dead. “I have seen the Lord,” she exclaimed. It calls to mind Jesus’ words in John 10:27. “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.” Mary heard Jesus call her by name and she responded. She is one of Jesus’ sheep. Our sin and the imperfect world we live in causes us to be confused and question what God tells us. Jesus calls us by name. We hear our shepherd’s voice. He sends us His Holy Spirit to create faith in our hearts so that we can recognize our Lord and know to follow Him. He calls us by name and we know who to follow. We have seen the Lord by faith and know He is risen. Listen to Jesus voice and know you are forgiven. Listen to Jesus’ voice and know He has the words of eternal life.

LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



PALM SUNDAY / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION
The Promised Savior Comes
April 10, 2022

In the hymn “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted,” writer Thomas Kelly points to Jesus with a strong biblical image as he writes, “Here we have a firm foundation, Here the refuge of the lost: Christ, the Rock of our salvation, Is the name of which we boast” (LSB 451:4). The portrayal of Jesus as the rock is anchored in the Old Testament, where Moses brings forth water as a gift from God while the children of Israel traveled in the desert. Recalling the “water from the rock” event, Paul writes to the Corinthians, “For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:4). Today begins Holy Week, during which Jesus travels from the rock-strewn Mount of Olives to the rocky hill of Calvary as He goes to His death for us and for our salvation. We begin that blessed journey now!

HYMN “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” [LSB 442]
Refrain:
All glory, laud, and honor, To You, Redeemer, King,
To whom the lips of children, Made sweet hosannas ring.

1 You are the King of Israel, And David’s royal Son,
Now in the Lord’s Name coming, Our King and Blessèd One. [Refrain]

2 The company of angels, Is praising You on high,
And we with all creation, In chorus make reply. [Refrain]

3 The multitude of pilgrims, With palms before You went:
Our praise and prayers and anthems, Before You we present. [Refrain]

4 To you before Your passion, They sang their hymns of praise
To You, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. [Refrain]

5 As You received their praises, Accept the prayers we bring,
O Source of ev'ry blessing, Our good and gracious King. [Refrain]

PRAYER
Everlasting God and Father, You sent Your Son to take our flesh upon Himself and to suffer death upon the cross. Grant that, being inspired by His great humility and following His patient example as He was besieged by His enemies, we may at the last share in His victorious resurrection through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Deuteronomy 32:36–39
For the Lord will vindicate his people and have compassion on his servants, when he sees that their power is gone and there is none remaining, bond or free. 37 Then he will say, ‘Where are their gods, the rock in which they took refuge, 38 who ate the fat of their sacrifices and drank the wine of their drink offering? Let them rise up and help you let them be your protection! 39 “‘See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me I kill and I make alive I wound and I heal and there is none that can deliver out of my hand.

HOLY GOSPEL John 12:12–19
12The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,m15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Why does God say, “there is no god beside me.” Probably for the same reason that God gave us the First Commandment. “You shall have no other gods before[ me.” (Exodus 20:3) God is pretty blunt here and with good reason. We do tend to put ourselves and what we want ahead of what God has for us. We many times fail to see that what God has for us is by far better than what we want. The first Palm Sunday is a good example. The people welcome Jesus like a conquering hero hoping He will kick out the Romans. Instead Jesus comes riding on a donkey signaling that He comes to bring a different kind of peace. A peace won by His death on the cross and proven by His resurrection from the dead. The kind of peace that we need most is peace for the soul. What brings this peace is the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life. Is what we want worth losing the peace God wants us to have? If we are honest with ourselves through the faith we have in our Lord Jesus Christ, we know the answer. There is nothing more precious than the peace of God.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT
Turn to Life
March 20, 2022

It seems that much time is spent deciding which sins are worse and which sinners are worst. In the Gospel for today, Jesus is confronted with this question and turns it into a call for all sinners to repent. But this is not only a call to confess your sins, it is a call to turn away from those sins and become the fruitful trees of the Spirit’s planting. These fruits are displayed in us when we turn away from our self-interest and benefit and behold our neighbor in need. The call of the day is to repent and live the righteous life that flows from repentance and faith under the power of the Holy Spirit. Repentance always involves turning and this turn is away from sin and to life!

HYMN “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” [LSB 809]
1 Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not: Thy compassions, they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.

Refrain:
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

2 Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. [Refrain]

3 Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! [Refrain]

PRAYER
Gracious Father, You have shown patience with us sinners who deserved Your wrath turn our hearts away from sin and to the Lord Jesus Christ, that we may know the power of His life in us and bear the good fruits of Your kingdom in our daily lives through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Ezekiel 33:7–20 7
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul. 10 “And you, son of man, say to the house of Israel, Thus have you said: ‘Surely our transgressions and our sins are upon us, and we rot away because of them. How then can we live?’ 11 Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel? 12 “And you, son of man, say to your people, The righteousness of the righteous shall not deliver him when he transgresses, and as for the wickedness of the wicked, he shall not fall by it when he turns from his wickedness, and the righteous shall not be able to live by his righteousness[a] when he sins. 13 Though I say to the righteous that he shall surely live, yet if he trusts in his righteousness and does injustice, none of his righteous deeds shall be remembered, but in his injustice that he has done he shall die. 14 Again, though I say to the wicked, ‘You shall surely die,’ yet if he turns from his sin and does what is just and right, 15 if the wicked restores the pledge, gives back what he has taken by robbery, and walks in the statutes of life, not doing injustice, he shall surely live he shall not die. 16 None of the sins that he has committed shall be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right he shall surely live. 17 “Yet your people say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just,’ when it is their own way that is not just. 18 When the righteous turns from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it. 19 And when the wicked turns from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he shall live by this. 20 Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, I will judge each of you according to his ways.”

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 13:1–9
There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? 3 No, I tell you but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” 6 And he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, ‘Look, for three years now I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down. Why should it use up the ground?’ 8 And he answered him, ‘Sir, let it alone this year also, until I dig around it and put on manure. 9 Then if it should bear fruit next year, well and good but if not, you can cut it down.

’” “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way?” Jesus answers no to this question He posses with good reason. God refuses to play the human game of who is better and who is worse to justify oneself. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) What people fail to understand is that we are all equally guilty before God and we all need God’s forgiveness. We play the better and worse comparison game but God do not. We are only acceptable to God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross and His resurrection that we can have the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. God offers this to all. God’s declaration is clear. “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” By faith in Jesus Christ, God does for us what we cannot. So there is no distinction, all can be saved by faith in Jesus Christ.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace. Amen.



SECOND SUNDAY IN LENT
Crisis Averted
March 13, 2022

Throughout biblical history, God used prophets to call His people to repentance with the promise of mercy. God’s mercy should encourage us to return to Him, but too often, the people of God have refused His care. That is the story of Jeremiah, who was sent by the Lord to speak His Word, warn His people of disaster if they refused Him, and promise mercy to all who repent. It is also our story. The Law warns us of the failure to confess our sins and the Gospel promises forgiveness to all who confess and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ. Today, we pray the Lord to grant us hearts willing to hear His Word, confess our sins, believe in the forgiveness of Christ, and rejoice in this blessing all our days.

HYMN “How Firm a Foundation” [LSB 728]
1 How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,
Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!
What more can He say than to you He has said
Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2 "Fear not! I am with you, O be not dismayed,
For I am your God and will still give you aid
I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,
Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

3 "The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose
I will not, I will not, desert to his foes
That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,
I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

4 "When through fiery trials your pathway will lie,
My grace, all-sufficient, will be your supply.
The flames will not hurt you I only design
Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

5 "Throughout all their lifetime My people will prove
My sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love
And then, when gray hairs will their temples adorn,
Like lambs they will still in My bosom be borne."

PRAYER
Merciful Lord, because of Your mercy, we pray, deliver us from our pride and arrogance and bring us to repentance, that we may know the refuge of Your mercy, be comforted with a clear conscience through the forgiveness of sins, and serve in the obedience of faith through Jesus Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 26:8–15
8 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord. 10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” 12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13 Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 13:31–35
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”

People would rather hear only what they want to hear and if they don’t get that they are upset. The people of Jerusalem were quite upset with Jeremiah for the Words of God that he spoke. “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears,” they said. The people of Jerusalem have caused a crisis. They refused to believe what God is telling them. They refuse to repent. “Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you.” There are crises that we cannot solve or ignore especially the crisis of sin in our lives and the result of eternal death. The people of Jerusalem didn’t believe what God was telling them and soon after they brought upon themselves the disaster God was warning them about. They didn’t want to hear that unless they repented and obeyed God they would see Jerusalem destroyed. Jesus died on the cross so we can avert the crisis of sin in our lives. By faith in Jesus we receive the forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternal life. We need to hear about the crisis of sin so that we can receive God’s forgiveness and so that the crisis of sin can be averted.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR LORD
Consider Jesus
February 27, 2022

The reading from Deuteronomy extols Moses as the greatest prophet. He led God’s people toward the Promised Land, but the Epistle draws a contrast between him and our Lord. “Consider Jesus,” the Epistle encourages us today, not because He is a great servant with us in the “house,” or Church, the people of God, but because He is over it as the builder. When Jesus was baptized, the voice from heaven declared Him to be pleasing to His Father in heaven. The voice from the cloud on the Mount of Transfiguration adds a command not only to the three disciples, but to us as well: “Listen to Him!” From that mount to Mount Calvary, He, the Word Incarnate, tells us of God’s great love He goes to the cross willingly so that we may graciously follow Him through death to our eternal promised land of heaven.

HYMN “Built on the Rock” [LSB 645]
1 Built on the Rock the Church shall stand, Even when steeples are falling.
Crumbled have spires in ev'ry land Bells still are chiming and calling,
Calling the young and old to rest, But above all the soul distressed,
Longing for rest everlasting.

2 Surely in temples made with hands, God, the Most High, is not dwelling
High above earth His temple stands, All earthly temples excelling.
Yet He who dwells in heav'n above, Chooses to live with us in love,
Making our bodies His temple.

3 We are God's house of living stones, Built for His own habitation.
He through baptismal grace us owns, Heirs of His wondrous salvation.
Were we but two His name to tell, Yet He would deign with us to dwell
With all His grace and His favor.

4 Here stands the font before our eyes, Telling how God has received us.
Th'altar recalls Christ's sacrifice, And what His Supper here gives us.
Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim, Christ yesterday, today, the same,
And evermore, our Redeemer.

5 Grant, then, O God, Your will be done, That, when the church bells are ringing,
Many in saving faith may come, Where Christ His message is bringing:
"I know MY own My own know Me. You, not the world, My face shall see.
My peace I leave with you. Amen."

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, in times past You spoke through Your servants, the prophets, who proclaimed Your Word of promise until Your Son would come to save us. Strengthen our faith by Your Holy Spirit that we may listen to our Savior, who in these last days has fulfilled all Your promises and by whose death and resurrection the heavenly promised land awaits us, where we shall be with You in eternal joy 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.

EPISTLE Hebrews 3:1–6
Therefore, holy brothers, you who share in a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the apostle and high priest of our confession, 2 who was faithful to him who appointed him, just as Moses also was faithful in all God's house. 3 For Jesus has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses—as much more glory as the builder of a house has more honor than the house itself. 4 (For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.) 5 Now Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant, to testify to the things that were to be spoken later, 6 but Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house, if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope. HOLY GOSPEL

Luke 9:28–36 28
Now about eight days after these sayings he took with him Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray. 29 And as he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they became fully awake they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. 33 And as the men were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said. 34 As he was saying these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One listen to him!” 36 And when the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and told no one in those days anything of what they had seen.

“Consider Jesus,” the writer of the book of Hebrews puts forward. Does this imply that there are those who place themselves or others higher than Jesus? It would seem so as the writer of the book of Hebrews emphasizes that Jesus is greater than Moses. Someone who was revered by the Jews far too much. Today Jesus is demoted in some world religions and cults or outright ignored. However, Jesus is God with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Maybe that is why people ignore Jesus because to acknowledge Him is to admit they need Him. People need Jesus more than they can completely understand. We are sinful and God holds us accountable for our sin. We need what Jesus offers because of His death and resurrection. By faith in Jesus Christ we receive the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven. I rather doubt anyone can come up with a better offer then that. So perhaps we should listen to the voice that came out of the cloud that day on the Mount of Transfiguration saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One listen to him!”

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



SEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
In Joseph’s Shoes
February 20, 2022

“What shoes shall I wear today?” You may have asked yourself that question before heading to worship this morning. Most of us have many pairs of shoes from which to choose. But there is one kind of “shoes” each of us is to be wearing. As Paul counsels the Ephesians: “Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:14–15). Choosing the right kind of shoes makes the day go better. Hearing the Gospel proclaimed throughout our worship and directing the days of our week in response to that Gospel makes our lives a blessing.

HYMN “O Bless the Lord, My Soul” [LSB 814]

1 O bless the Lord, my soul! Let all within me join
And aid my tongue to bless His name, Whose favors are divine.

2 O bless the Lord, my soul, Nor let His mercies lie
Forgotten in unthankfulness, And without praises die!

3 'Tis He forgives thy sins 'Tis He relieves thy pain
'Tis He that heals thy sicknesses, And makes thee young again.

4 He crowns thy life with love, When ransomed from the grave
He that redeemed my soul from hell, Hath sov'reign pow'r to save.

5 He fills the poor with good He gives the suff'rers rest.
The Lord hath judgments for the proud, And justice for th'oppressed.

6 His wondrous works and ways, He made by Moses known,
But sent the world His truth and grace,By His beloved Son.

PRAYER
O Lord, You taught us to love our enemies and to be merciful as You are merciful. By Your Holy Spirit, grant us the gifts of love and peace without which we cannot live before You for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Genesis 45:3–15
3 And Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence. 4 So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me do not tarry. 10 You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ 12 And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. 13 You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” 14 Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 6:27–38 27
“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic[a] either. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. 31 And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them. 32 “If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. 36 Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Joseph understood Romans 8:28 long before it was written because that is exactly what happened with Him. Joseph expressed it this way speaking to his brothers, “It was not you who sent me here, but God.” (Genesis 45:8) Through the brother’s desire to get rid of Joseph, God positioned Joseph to save his brothers and preserve the means, the children of Israel, from whom Jesus would be born. Joseph realized it was not about short term plans that people make but about the eternal plan that God has made through Jesus Christ. His plan is mercy through the death and resurrection of Jesus for the forgive of sins and eternal life. This plan is available to all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. This is much better than our plans which last but a moment in time and then is gone. Mercy is what God would have us share with others so they may see God’s eternal plan. God’s plan of mercy and forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



SIXTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Blessed or Cursed?
February 13, 2022

During the middle weeks of the winter season, many homes receive catalogs in the mail from seed and nursery companies that are filled with pictures of beautiful plants and trees. It is easy to project what we see in those catalogs into our own yards and gardens. But before we do any ordering, we must consider whether we can provide settings in which those plants and trees can flourish. In both the Old Testament Reading and the Psalm of the Day, we are given images not only of plants and trees that flourish, but of people who flourish—people with faith in the Lord Jesus, who bring blessings in every season.

HYMN “I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus” [LSB 729]
1 I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, Trusting only Thee
Trusting Thee for full salvation, Great and free.

2 I am trusting Thee for pardon At Thy feet I bow,
For Thy grace and tender mercy, Trusting now.

3 I am trusting Thee for cleansing, In the crimson flood
Trusting Thee to make me holy, By Thy blood.

4 I am trusting Thee to guide me Thou alone shalt lead,
Ev'ry day and hour supplying, All my need.

5 I am trusting Thee for power Thine can never fail.
Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me, Must prevail.

6 I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus Never let me fall.
I am trusting Thee forever, And for all.

PRAYER
O Lord, You bless the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the persecuted. Mercifully hear the prayers of Your people when they call upon You, and give us faith to believe Your kingdom belongs to the humble of heart through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who with You and the Holy Spirit are one God, world without end. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 17:5–8
Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 6 He is like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see any good come. He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness, in an uninhabited salt land. 7 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. 8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 6:17–26
17And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. 19 And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all. 20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. “Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. 22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven for so their fathers did to the prophets. 24 “But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 “Woe to you who are full now, for you shall be hungry. “Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep. 26 “Woe to you, when all people speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.

“I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, Trusting only Thee Trusting Thee for full salvation, Great and free.” (v.1 LSB 729) As the Lord speaks to Jeremiah, He lets it be known that when it comes to being blessed or cursed its all about trust. Do we trust in God or is our trust in ourselves? It boils down to whether someone believes in Jesus Christ as Lord and savior from sin or not. Trusting in oneself will not deal with the need for forgiveness. Only because of Jesus’ death and resurrection is there the forgiveness of sin and the promise of eternal life. We can never satisfy God’s demand for perfection. Only Christ can. We are helpless to satisfy God. Our only hope is found in the words Jeremiah writes. “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.” That trust brings with it the forgiveness of sins and eternal life. This is how we are blessed. This is how we are saved.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.



FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Holy Makes Us
Holy February 6, 2022

God calls us to be His holy people. Through the words of the prophet Isaiah and through his experience in God’s presence, the Lord reassures us that in love He forgives our sins and makes it possible for us to be holy in His sight. In the Hebrew language, to express what we would call a comparative word, you would say the “base word” twice—so “holier” would be expressed “holy, holy,” and that which is the holiest would be spoken of in the superlative as “holy, holy, holy.” And that is what our God is! Yet He knows us and cares for us individually. How amazing is that!

HYMN “Holy, Holy, Holy” [LSB 507]
1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee, Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee, Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.

3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee, Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see, Only Thou art holy there is none beside Thee, Perfect in pow'r, in love, and purity.

4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea. Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

PRAYER
O Lord God, our loving Father, through the grace of Your Holy Spirit You call us, as You called the first disciples, to follow You as fishers of men. Make us to love You with our whole strength and with our whole heart and do the things that are pleasing in Your sight through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 6:1–8
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up and the train[a] of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above 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. 3 And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5 And 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!” 6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” 8 And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”

HOLY GOSPEL Luke 5:1–11
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts the whole earth is full of his glory!” The reaction of Isaiah and Peter is the same. “I am a man of unclean lips.” “I am a sinful man.” By ourselves we cannot stand in the presence of God’s holiness. This is why what the angel says to Isaiah is so important. “Your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.” Isaiah and Peter both understood that our forgiveness comes to us through Jesus Christ. Through His death and resurrection we are reconciled, brought back, to God. We are given the holiness of God through Jesus Christ. The holiness of Christ covers our sins. We are acceptable to God through faith in Jesus Christ. We are acceptable to God not because of who we are but because of who God is. Because of Christ we become what God needs us to be.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.


FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
Cruciform Love
January 30, 2022

At the beginning of the Church Year, many sang the hymn “Love Came Down at Christmas.” Indeed, the Bible says, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son” (John 3:16). It is only on Good Friday, however, that we discover the depth and power of God’s love in the cross of the Lord’s death. And so it was that ever since the beginning of His earthly ministry, after His Baptism, we are given clear hints about the true nature of God’s love. Initially people marveled at Jesus’ preaching and miraculous healings. Yet not only did the crowds quickly reject our Lord, but Satan also was actively opposing Him from the beginning. The love of God is the power of God to defeat Satan and free the world from the grip of sin and death. The standard of love is the cross of Christ. In today’s Epistle, Paul describes love in and through Christ. Substitute “Christ” for “love” and you get, “Christ is patient and kind Christ does not envy or boast . . . Christ rejoices with the truth.” This love of Christ is given to us and through us. “Faith, hope, and love abide, these three but the greatest of these” is the cross of Christ!

HYMN “O Love, How Deep” [LSB 544]

1 O love, how deep, how broad, how high, Beyond all thought and fantasy,
That God, the Son of God, should take, Our mortal form for mortals' sake

2 He sent no angel to our race, Of higher or of lower place,
But wore the robe of human frame, And to this world Himself He came.

3 For us baptized, for us He bore, His holy fast and hungered sore
For us temptation sharp He knew For us the tempter overthrew.

4 For us He prayed for us He taught For us His daily works He wrought,
By words and signs and actions thus, Still seeking not Himself but us.

5 For us by wickedness betrayed, For us, in crown of thorns arrayed,
He bore the shameful cross and death For us He gave His dying breath.

6 For us He rose from death again For us He went on high to reign
For us He sent His Spirit here, To guide, to strengthen, and to cheer.

7 All glory to our Lord and God, For love so deep, so high, so broad
The Trinity whom we adore, Forever and forevermore.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Lord God, You have shown the world Your love chiefly in the deliverance of the cross of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Make us to know this self-sacrificing love and share it with all in every kind of need through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 1:4–10 4
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 5 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you I appointed you a prophet to the nations.” 6 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” 7 But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’ for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” 9 Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 12:31b–13:13
And I will show you a still more excellent way. 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind love does not envy or boast it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way it is not irritable or resentful[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away as for tongues, they will cease as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three but the greatest of these is love.

God’s love is seen in the cross of Christ which results in the defeat of sin, Satan, and death. Such love is open-handed and sacrificial. It is a perfect love that can only come from God. Human love centers around selfishness, greed, and self-centeredness. We focus on ourselves when God chooses to focus on us. God dedicates His love to satisfying His holiness on our behalf. Through His love we have the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. How long this love is available to us is expressed in Psalm 117:2. “For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” The Lord bids us to use His love in the way He gives it to us in John 13:34. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” The way Christ loves us is through the cross with His forgiveness and He bids us to do the same.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace. Amen.



SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
The Work of One through the Many
January 16, 2022

Every year, the Epiphany of Our Lord is announced by the coming of the Magi from the East (on January 6) and the Baptism of Our Lord on the following Sunday. Likewise, every year on the next Sunday, John summarizes the significance of what we will hear concerning the earthly ministry of Jesus leading to the glory of His cross. Jesus enacts His first sign or miracle at a wedding in Cana. Turning water into wine signifies more than the joy of the marriage of God to His people. To Christians, it instantly calls to mind the Means by which God literally pours the new life of forgiveness into us through the blood of the cross of Christ. As the Bride of Christ, the Holy Church is empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life of the reverent worship of God and loving service of one another and the world. The one Spirit works through the many members of the Body of Christ.

HYMN “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here” [LSB 399]
1 The star proclaims the King is here But, Herod, why this senseless fear?
For He who offers heav'nly birth, Seeks not the kingdoms of this earth.

2 The eastern sages saw from far, And followed on His guiding star
And, led by light, to light they trod, And by their gifts confessed their God.

3 Within the Jordan's sacred flood, The heav'nly Lamb in meekness stood
That He, of whom no sin was known, Might cleanse His people from their own.

4 And oh, what miracle divine, When water reddened into wine!
He spoke the word, and forth it flowed, In streams that nature ne'er bestowed.

5 For this Thy glad epiphany, All glory, Jesus, be to Thee,
Whom with the Father we adore, And Holy Spirit evermore.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Lord God, heavenly Father, who sent Your Son to establish a new creation, by the forgiveness won in the glory of His cross and resurrection, renew our lives by the breath of the Holy Spirit empowering us to worship You in purity and serve one another in love through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

HOLY GOSPEL John 2:1–11
On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” 4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6 Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water” so they filled them to the brim. 8 Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, 9 and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside 10 and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink but you have saved the best till now.” 11 What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.

“I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” If ever there was a statement in Scripture that helped us to understand where faith in Jesus Christ comes from it is 1 Corinthians 12:3. It assures us that faith is real and trustworthy because it comes from God. We can trust our faith. It means that we truly have the forgiveness of our sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. Through the Holy Spirit’s work we truly have a new life in Christ. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Not only does the Holy Spirit create faith in our hearts, He also keeps us in our faith. Now we know the reason Martin Luther writes what he does in the meaning to the third article of the Apostle’s Creed. “the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.” (Luther’s Small Catechism) The presence of faith in Jesus Christ is proof that God is working within us for our eternal salvation. We praise and thank God for the assurance of His love and forgiveness.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

BENEDICTION Numbers 6:24–26
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace. Amen.