#7 Gloria in Excelsis tells us “Rejoice, be glad!”

On the day of the Nativity [of our Lord] Dr. Martin Luther said many things about this remarkable festival which offers godly people the greatest pleasure and consolation, for the dear angels themselves preach and accompany their preaching with their singing.

“Those are true witnesses to the Messiah who declare, ‘Rejoice, be glad! Here you have the real Prince and a child of heaven and earth!’ They sing the best song: Glory be to God (that is, religion and faith), peace on earth (namely, in civil life), good will (that we feel right and are well pleased). It isn’t known, however, whether the angels were prophesying or expressing a wish, whether these words are to be understood indicatively(as a fact) or optatively(as a wish for us)…. (Luther’s Works, v. 54, p.248)

Divine Service on St. Titus, Pastor and Confessor January 26, 2022

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Hymn “Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure” LW 78
Readings: Acts 20:17-35, Ephesians 3:14-21, St. Matthew 24:42-47
Hymn of the Day: “Lord of the Church, We Humble Pray” ELH 95, LW 261, TLH 489
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin:  St-Titus-Bishop-and-Confessor-1-year-January-26-NKJV-b.pdf

 

Divine Service on The Conversion of St. Paul January 25, 2022

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Hymn “Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure” LW 78
Readings: Jeremiah 1:4-10, Acts 9:1-22, St. Matthew 19:27-30
Hymn of the Day: “O Thou, Who Dost Accord Us” ELH 356 (insert)
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin:  The-Conversion-of-St.-Paul-1-year-January-25-NKJV-b.pdf

#6 The Incarnation Is The Reason for Rejoicing

On the festival of the Annunciation of Mary in 1533 he [Martin Luther] said, “When preaching on this day one should stick to the story, so that we may celebrate the incarnation of Christ, rejoice that we were made his brethren, and be glad that he who fills heaven and earth is in the womb of the maiden. Disputations stand in the way of joy because they bring forth doubts, and these produce sorrow, just as if the girl had not rejoiced until she knew that she was promised in marriage and her doubt vanished. Therefore, I hate Erasmus from the bottom of my heart because he calls into question what ought to be our joy. Bernard filled a whole sermon with praise of the Virgin Mary and in so doing forgot to mention what happened; so highly did he and Anselm esteem Mary. But a Christian puts the questions aside and occupies himself with the effects [of the incarnation]. The incarnation, therefore, should be held high. Mary can’t be sufficiently praised as a creature, but that the Creator himself comes to us and becomes our ransom—this is the reason for our rejoicing. I don’t think the story can be told more simply than it was by Luke. Nobody could have invented the word ‘sent.’ ” (Luther’s Works, v. 54, p.84)

For The Church, General 3.

O GOD, Whose throne endureth forever: Grant that Thy Church may be enriched by the excellent beauty of all virtues; while, nevertheless, she is far more glorious, through the indwelling of Thy ever-present Spirit; Who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.67).

Divine Service on St. Timothy January 24, 2022

Divine Service on St. Timothy, Pastor and Confessor, January 24, 2022 at 10:30 AM   Link to Live Stream

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Hymn “Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure” LW 78
Readings: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 1 Peter 5:1-4, St. John 21:15-17
Hymn of the Day: “Preach You the Word” LW 259
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin:  St-Timothy-Pastor-and-Confessor-1-year-January-24-NKJV.pdf

#5 When Gloomy, Enjoy the Company of Others

“Having been taught by experience I can say how you ought to restore your spirit when you suffer from spiritual depression. When you are assailed by gloom, despair, or a troubled conscience you should eat, drink, and talk with others. If you can find help for yourself by thinking of a girl, do so.

“There was a bishop who had a sister in a convent. She was disturbed by various dreams about her brother. She betook herself to her brother and complained to him that she was again and again agitated by bad dreams. He at once prepared a sumptuous dinner and urged his sister to eat and drink. The following day he asked her whether she had been annoyed by dreams during the night. ‘No,’ she responded. ‘I slept well and had no dreams at all.’ ‘Go, then,’ he said. ‘Take care of your body in defiance of Satan, and the bad dreams will stop.’ (Luther’s Works, v. 54, p.15)

Divine Service Epiphany Three January 23, 2022

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Hymn “Arise and Shine in Splendor” LW 85, TLH 126
Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15a, Romans 12:16-21, St. Matthew 8:1-13
Hymn of the Day: “When I Suffer Pains and Losses” LW 423
Sermon
“Jesus Has Come and Brings Pleasure” LW 78
“Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” LW 239, TLH 305
“Lord, You I Love with All My Heart” LW 413, TLH 429
“O Chief of Cities, Bethlehem” LW 76

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin:  Epiphany-Three-Divine-Service-for-Online-1-23-2022.pdf

Picture: The Apostle Peter from Das Newe Testament Deuotzsch.  The image is from Martin Luther’s (1483-1546) September Testament. Peter holds his attribute, a key. The images from Das Newe Testament Deuotzsch, the 1522 German New Testament by Dr. Martin Luther are taken from https://pitts.emory.edu/.  These woodcuts were designed by Lucas Cranach, the Elder (1472-1553), a close friend of Martin Luther. For information on licensing this image, please send an email, including a link to the image, to dia@emory.edu.  These images are made available by the generous contribution of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Foundation.

 

#4 Pray the Catechism Every Day for Joy

In short, it does not occur to man that God is Father. If it did, man could not live for a single moment. Accordingly in this infirm flesh we must have faith, for if we were capable of fully believing, heaven would already be here. There is therefore no reason to fear, in so far as the object of fear is concerned, and yet we cannot understand and are compelled on account of the weakness of our flesh to suffer assaults of fear and desperation. Thus the catechism remains lord, and there is nobody who understands it. I am accordingly compelled to pray it every day, even aloud, and whenever I happen to be prevented by the press of duties from observing my hour of prayer, the entire day is bad for me. Prayer helps us very much and gives us a cheerful heart, not on account of any merit in the work, but because we have spoken with God and found everything to be in order. (Luther’s Works, v. 54, p.15)

Miriam’s Sunday School Study, Class #63 Jan 23, 2022

Dinah and the Shechemites in Genesis 34-35.

Handout 1:  Text-for-Genesis-34-35d.pdf
Handout 2: Line-of-the-Promise.pdf

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Picture: Burning the Christmas Tree on January 6, 2022.