St. Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor Divine Service – December 6, 2023

St. Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor Divine Service, December 6, 2023 at 10:30 AM     Link to Live Stream

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted
Hymn of the Day: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #66, LW 36)
Readings:  Hebrews 7:23-27, Matthew 25:14-23

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: December-6-St-Nicholas-Bishop-and-Confessor-Insert-2023.pdf

Catechesis for Advent Two – December 6, 2023

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 PM.

This service is designed to prepare God’s people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service. The dialog sermon explains the comfort we receive from the Second Coming of Christ (St. Luke 21:25-36), which is the Holy Gospel for the Second Sunday in Advent.

Learn-by-Heart will include “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #2, LSB 508, LW 462, TLH 611), Small Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, Sixth Petition and meaning, and Romans 15:4.

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

Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Advent-Two-12-6-2023-Final.pdf
Responsive Prayer for Catechesis:    Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2024.pdf
Insert for Hymn: Advent-Two-Insert-12-10-2023-Final.pdf

#1 Zechariah’s Clear and Plain Prophesy

For here is clear and plain prophecy: When Christ shall ride into Jerusalem, He will not come, as worldly kings are wont, on a proud steed, clothed in armor, with implements of war, but He will come, as the Evangelist says, meek, or as the prophet terms it, lowly. It is as if the prophet would thus warn everyone, saying: Mark well the ass, and know that He who comes on it is the true Messiah. Therefore, beware; do not look for a golden crown, sumptuous apparel or costly ornaments, or any great display. For Christ will come poor, with a meek and lowly heart, and will not be seen otherwise than riding upon an ass. This is all the pomp and glory He will show the world at His entry into Jerusalem.

This prophecy {Zechariah 9:9) induced our Lord now to make this entry, and He attaches much importance to it. Therefore He also gives the disciples such strict command about this matter; and will not enter Jerusalem by night, or secretly, but openly in the full light of day; not alone, but in the midst of a great multitude of. people going before and following after, calling aloud to Him as the true Son of David, and wishing Him great prosperity in His kingdom. Jerusalem must know of this entry, must see and hear the ass and this poor King, concerning whom Zechariah had prophesied, warning the Jews not to be offended at His poverty and humble entry, but to dismiss their idea that Christ would come with great worldly pomp. He will indeed be a king, says Zechariah, but a humble, poor king, who has nothing of the appearance of a king, judging by the outward pomp which worldly kings and princes usually show before men. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent, Volume 1, p. 18-19)

#76 True Preachers Seek to The Welfare of their Hearers

The best thing in the saying is that He does not say, “Other people shall do so to you,” but, “You shall do so to other people.” Everyone would like to have others do good to him. There are many villains and rascals who have no objection if other people are pious and do good to them, but they refuse to treat anyone else that way. So our peasants nowadays suppose that it is an injustice and a great burden that they are required to give fair measure, and yet they can yell and complain that their taxes are robbery. Such people are simply snakes. Now, some are a little better when they say: “I would be willing to take my turn and to do what I should if other people did it to me first.” This saying declares: “You should do what you expect from another.” If you want others to do it to you, you begin and be the first. And if they refuse, you do it anyway. If you will not be pious and do good until you see it in someone else, nothing will ever come of it. If others refuse, you are still obliged to do it, on the basis of the Law and of what this ordinance declares to be right, since that is how you would like to be treated. Whoever wants to be pious must not let himself be diverted by the example of other people. It is not right for you in turn, even those who used to do you damage before. When you do not do good yourself, your reward is that no one does good to you either.  And it serve your right, before God and the people. (Luther’s Works, v. 21, pages 240-241).

Divine Service Advent One – December 3, 2023

Hymn “The Advent of Our God” LW 12, TLH 68
The Order of the Confessional Service, p.227 (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal)
Versicles, Psalm 42…………..…….              p.227
Exhortation………….                          p.228-229
Confession/Absolution                                p.230
Divine Service, p.10 (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal)
Introit (insert), then Kyrie  p.10 (Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted)
Readings: Jeremiah 33:14-18, Romans 13:11-14, St. Matthew 21:1-9
Hymn of the Day: “Savior of the Heathen, Come” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #1, LW 13, TLH 95)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”                          p.18
Prayer of the Church………                    p.19-20
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 236, TLH 311
“O Lord, How Shall I Meet You” LW 19
“Hark the Glad Sound” LW 29, TLH 66
Closing Hymn “Prepare the Royal Highway” LW 27

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Advent-One-Divine-Service-for-Online-12-3-2023-revised.pdf

Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: St. Matthew ch. 1– Annunciation, #585

Liturgical Elements, Class #18 – December 3, 2023

We continue our look at the liturgical elements in the Common Service.  Today we examine the preparation including the St. Paul’s Examination as referenced in the Exhortation.

Handout 1: The-Exhortation-in-the-Divine-Service-final.pdf
Handout 2: Examination.pdf
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Picture: Deacon Anthony Oncken, Pastor Benjamin Henson, Pastor Jacob Henson, and Bishop James Heiser at the 2023 Eldona Synod.

On Going to Church.

HOW amiable are Thy Tabernacles, O Lord of Hosts.

Lord, open Thou my lips and purify my heart, that I may worthily magnify Thy glorious name; 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.126).