#38 Suffering Hurts Badly

It should be, however, and must be the kind of suffering that is worthy of the name and honestly grips and hurts, such as some great danger of property, honor, body, and life. Such suffering as we really feel, which weighs us down; otherwise, if it did not hurt us badly, it would not be suffering.

Beyond this, it should be the kind of suffering which we have not chosen ourselves, as the fanatics choose their own suffering. It should be the kind of suffering which, if it were possible, we would gladly be rid of, suffering visited upon us by the devil or the world. Then what is needed is to hold fast and submit oneself to it, as I have said, namely, that one know that we must suffer, in order that we may thus be conformed to Christ, and that it cannot be otherwise, that everyone must have his cross and suffering. (Luther’s Works, v.51, p.198-199)

Art. XX  Das man gütte weck solle übe, aber nicht [1]umb verdinst sondren der Ehrë Gottes wille.
That one should call forth goodness, but not for the sake of the glory of God’s will.
 Gal. 5 v. 6 ;  For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
1st Joh. 4, v. 10 ;  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins.

[All of the pictures for this year’s posts are from an etching entitled “Augsburg Confession” by Wenceslaus Hollar (1607-1677) and found in the Royal Collection Trust.]

Catechesis on Exaudi/Easter Six 2018 (St. John 15:26-16:4)

On Wednesday nights, Trinity Lutheran Church(Herrin, IL) offers to both children and adults an opportunity for teaching with Learn-by-Heart at 6:30 PM and a catechetical service at 7:00.

In this video from May 9, 2018, we learned stanza 2 of “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” (Lutheran Worship, #171), the Table of Duties for Wives and Parents from Luther’s Small Catechism.  This service is designed to prepare God’s people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service.  The dialog sermon explains the coming of the Helper, the Holy Spirit (St. John 15:26-16:4), which is taught in the Holy Gospel for the Sixth Sunday in Easter.

The service concludes with “Responsive Prayer for Catechesis” (pdf link below).

Bulletins:  Catechesis-Exaudi-5-9-2018-Online.pdf
Responsive Prayer:  Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2017.pdf

This catechesis is recorded in two parts.

The first video is the Learn-by-Heart.  [Length: 23 minutes]

The second video is the Catechesis Service.  [Length: 42 minutes]

Divine Service for Ascension on May 13, 2021

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Readings:  2 Kings 2:5-15, Acts 1:1-11, St. Mark 16:14-20
Hymn “Draw Us To You” LW 153, TLH 215
Sermon
Communion Hymns: “Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels” LW 152
“Here, O My Lord, I see You Face to Face” LW 243
“O Fount of Good, for All Your Love” LW 395
Closing Hymn “On Christ’s Ascension I Now Build” LW 150, TLH 216

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Ascension-Divine-Service-for-Online-5-13021.pdf

Above is the video and below is the audio only.

For Spiritual Communion

O GOD, the Health of our countenance, after Whom the souls of Thy servants ardently long: Grant, we beseech Thee, that while we are nourished with the food of our visible tears, we may see Thee invisibly with- in the tabernacle of our hearts; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen  (Oremus, 1925, p.37).

#37 First Christ’s Suffering Saves Us, Then It Becomes our Example.

Therefore we must note in the first place that Christ by his suffering not only saved us from the devil, death, and sin, but also that his suffering is an example, which we are to follow in our suffering. Though our suffering and cross should never be so exalted that we think we can be saved by it or earn the least merit through it, nevertheless we should suffer after Christ, that we may be conformed to him. For God has appointed that we should not only believe in the crucified Christ, but also be crucified with him, as he clearly shows in many places in the Gospels: “He who does not take his cross and follow me,” he says, “is not worthy of me” [Matt. 10:38]. And again: “If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household” [Matt. 10:25].

Therefore each one must bear a part of the holy cross; nor can it be otherwise. St. Paul too says, “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions” [Col. 1:24]. It is as if he were saying: His whole Christendom is not fully completed; we too must follow after, in order that none of the suffering of Christ may be lacking or lost, but all brought together into one. Therefore every Christian must be aware that suffering will not fail to come. (“Sermon on Cross and Suffering,” April 16, 1530, Luther’s Works, v.51, p.198)

Matins on Rogation Wednesday, May 12, 2021

Order of Matins, p. 208 Lutheran Worship
“O Fount of Good, for All Your Love” LW 395
Office Hymn “Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You”  LW 303, TLH 444
Psalmody:  Psalm 67, 104, 47
Readings:  St. John 17:1-11
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Rogation-Cover-Matins-May-10-to-12-2021-Luthers-Morning-Prayer.pdf
Psalms:  2021-Psalms-for-Rogations-Days-On-line-.pdf

Above is the video and below is the audio only.

Matins on Rogation Tuesday, May 11, 2021

Order of Matins, p. 208 Lutheran Worship
“O Fount of Good, for All Your Love” LW 395
Office Hymn “Our Father, Who from Heaven Above”  LW 430
Psalmody:  Psalm 67, 104, 47
Readings:  1 Peter 4:1-17
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Rogation-Cover-Matins-May-10-to-12-2021-Luthers-Morning-Prayer.pdf
Psalms:  2021-Psalms-for-Rogations-Days-On-line-.pdf

Above is the video and below is the audio only.

 

For Grace to Praise God 5.

ALMIGHTY and. Holy Spirit, the Comforter pure, living, true: Illuminate, govern, sanctify me, and confirm my heart and mind in the faith, and in all genuine consolation ; preserve and rule over me, that dwelling in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, I may be and remain forever in the temple of the Lord, and praise Him with a joyful spirit in union with all the heavenly Church; Who with the Father are one God, world without end. Amen  (Oremus, 1925, p.37).

Rogation Monday Matins on May 10, 2021

Order of Matins, p. 208 Lutheran Worship
“O Fount of Good, for All Your Love” LW 395
Office Hymn “Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ”  LW 432
Psalmody:  Psalm 67, 104, 47
Readings:  1 Peter 2:1-17
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Rogation-Cover-Matins-May-10-to-12-2021-Luthers-Morning-Prayer.pdf
Psalms:  2021-Psalms-for-Rogations-Days-On-line-.pdf

Above is the video and below is the audio only.

Divine Service for Rogate Sunday on May 9, 2021

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Readings:  Numbers 21:4-9, 1 Timothy 2:1-6, St. John 16:23-33
Hymn “Our Father, Who from Heaven Above” LW 431, TLH 458
Sermon
Communion Hymns: “O Living Bread from Heaven” LW 244, TLH 316
“O Fount of Good, for All Your Love” LW 395
“Come, My Soul, with Every Care” LW 433, TLH 459
Closing Hymn “How Blest Are They Who Hear God’s Word” LW 222, TLH 48

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Easter-Five-Divine-Service-for-Online-5-9-2021.pdf

Above is the video and below is the audio only.