#26 The Equality of Christians is not in Life, But in Faith & Heirs of Heaven

This, then, is an additional benefit of the institution of the Holy Supper. Our Lord gave us this Sacrament to bring about unity of faith, of doctrine and of life. The external differences in the stations of life will, of course, continue; there is no equality there. Each one has his own duties to perform, which differ vastly from each other. A farmer leads another life than a prince; the wife and mistress of the house has other duties to perform than the maid-servant. Such distinctions must ever remain in our every day life. But in Christ there is neither male nor female, no prince nor tiller of the soil: they are all Christians. The Gospel, the promise and faith which I have, belongs equally to prince, peasant, woman, servant and child. Such equality is indicated by the Holy Supper, since in it we all receive the same food and nourishment, whether we be man or wife, matron or maid, father or child, ruler or subject. If we have the same faith we are heirs of the same heaven, though I may reside here and another in Jerusalem, and we are personally total strangers to each other; for we both have the same Lord, in whom we believe and hope for salvation. This union of faith causes the devil immense displeasure, and he is ever on the alert to sunder our communion; for he knows how his influence is thwarted when Christians firmly agree in faith and doctrine. Against these attempts of Satan, Christ instituted this Holy Sacrament as a means of uniting the believers. From this it follows that this Sacrament is needed by every individual; and if we disregard it and fail to praise the Lord, and so sever ourselves from the communion of Christians, the loss will be ours, and will become greater the longer we abstain from the Sacrament. It is true, indeed, that Christ has no need for Himself of our compliance with His ordinance, nor of our remembrance of Him; it is to our own advantage to do so; for if we are not in communion with Christ we are in communion with the devil, and will suffer great injury. Even if Satan cannot harm us externally, we still will carry with us in our bosoms our bitter foe.  (Luther’s House Postil, First Sermon for The Day of the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Sacrament 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Volume 2, p. 309)

Picture: Palm Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)

Divine Service Good Friday – March 29, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn of the Day: “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #27, LW 113, TLH 172)
Bidding Prayer, p.276
Readings:  Isaiah 50:6-9, Isaiah 52:13-53:12, Hosea 6:1-16, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, St. John 18:1-19:42
Hymn “A Lamb Alone Bears Willingly” LW 111, TLH 142
Reproaches
Hymn “Lamb of God, Pure and Sinless” Stanza 1 & 2 of LW 208, TLH 146, ASBH #25
Hymn “Sing, My Tongue” LW 117
Sermon
Communion Hymns
Hymn “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Have You Broken”  LW 119, TLH 143
Hymn “Go to Dark Gethsemane” LW #110, TLH 159

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Good-Friday-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-29-2024.pdf

https://vimeo.com/928870898?share=copy
Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 14:14-20 – Reaping the Harvest, #971

Tenebrae – Thursday, March 28, 2024

Order of Matins/Lauds (Insert)
Psalmody:  Psalm 2, 22, 27
Readings: Lamentations 2:1-7, 8-15, 16-22, 3:1-9, 10-18, Hebrews 4:11-5:6
After readings Hymn “The Royal Banners Forward Go” LW 103, TLH 168 (insert)
Sermon
Canticle of Habakkuk (3:2-19)
Psalm 147:12-20
Canticle of Zechariah (Benedicus)
Psalm 51

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Tenebrae-for-THREE-DAYS-NKJV-Online.pdf

Before the Holy Communion 1.

O GOD, be merciful to me, the sinner. O HOLY GHOST, sanctify us and purify my heart and lips, that in the Name of the Lord and in the power of His Word, I may worthily receive this holy sacrament; Who with the Father livest and reignest, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.139-140, adapted).

Picture: Palm Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)

#25 The Lesson of the Many Grains and Grapes Becoming One Loaf and Wine

Our old teachers entertained beautiful thoughts in regard to this when they said: Christ took bread and wine for His Supper to indicate that, just as many distinct and separate grains of wheat, when ground together, make one loaf of bread, so we, being many, are one bread and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread, though each one is a distinct person and separate individuality, 1 Cor. 10. And again, as many clusters of grapes and many little berries, each distinct and separate, when pressed together form one delicious juice, one wine, thus it is with the Christians who have the same faith, the same confession, the same love and hope of salvation. This was the interpretation of our fathers, and they were not mistaken in it.

The Holy Sacrament has the effect to firmly join the Christians together in unity of purpose, doctrine and faith, so that no one should stand alone, nor have his own doctrine or belief. The devil is sorely vexed at this, and is busy in endeavoring to destroy such unity and agreement. He knows full well what injury results to him, if we are united in our confession and adhere to one Head; hence he endeavors to tempt us, here and there, with false doctrines, with doubt, with lying insinuations in regard to the Sacrament and other articles of faith, hoping to cause dissensions in the Church. It is true, offenses will come, yet it behooves us to guard against them, so that the devil may not entirely separate us. If one or the other insists on differing with us in the doctrine of the Sacrament, or in other parts of our faith, let us, who agree in one confession, be so much the more united in our faith in Christ Jesus; yea, let us be in this as one man. This, however, is only possible where there is unity in doctrine. (Luther’s House Postil, First Sermon for The Day of the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Sacrament 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Volume 2, p. 308-309)

Picture: Palm Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)

Maundy Thursday – March 28, 2024

Order of Confessional Service  The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal (ASBH)
Invocation, Versicles, p.227
Psalm 51 (insert)
Exhortation #2    p.228-229
Confession/Absolution    p.230
Readings:  Exodus 12:1-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, St. John 13:1-15
Hymn of the Day: “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #26, LW 107, TLH 163)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
Maundy Thursday Prayer………  (insert)
Hymn: “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” LW #239, TLH 305
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Hymn “On My Heart Imprint Your Image”  LW 100, TLH 179
Hymn  “From Calvary’s Cross I Heard Christ Say”  LW 108
Stripping of the Altar: Psalm 22

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  Maundy-Thursday-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-28-2024.pdf

Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 14:2-13 – The Lamb  and the 144,000, #969

Tenebrae – Wednesday March 27, 2024

Order of Matins/Lauds (Insert)
Psalmody:  Psalm 69, 70, 71
Readings: Lamentations 1:1-14, 15-22, 1 Corinthians 11:17-34
After readings Hymn “The Royal Banners Forward Go” LW 103, TLH 168 (insert)
Sermon
Canticle of Moses (Exodus 15:1-19)
Psalm 147:1-11
Canticle of Zechariah (Benedicus)
Psalm 51

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Tenebrae-for-THREE-DAYS-NKJV-Online.pdf

#24 The Sacrament Produces Union in Faith and Doctrine

Another benign effect of this Sacrament is the union, in faith and doctrine, which it produces among Christians, and which is so very necessary. To bring about true union among Christians it is not sufficient, that they come together to hear the same preaching and the same word, but they must also meet around the same altar to receive the same food and drink. One may, perchance, hear me preach the word and yet be my enemy; but if one partakes of the Lord’s Supper he, by that act, makes for himself, individually, a public confession of his faith, although there may be hypocrites now and then; and thus a more reliable union, between the Christians who unite in this Sacrament, is formed than if they merely had the Gospel preached unto them, though this may also cause them to be of one mind. Those of the same faith and the same hope unite at the Table of the Lord, while those of a different faith stand aloof. Agreement in the Church is very desirable, and there should be no divisions in matters of faith. This union was properly called, by a Latin term, Communio, a communion, and those who would not agree with other Christians in faith, doctrine and life were called Excommunicati, as being different in their belief and conduct, and hence unworthy to belong to the congregation of those who are of one mind, lest they might produce dissensions and schisms. By means also of the Holy Sacrament Christ establishes this union among the little company of His believers.  (Luther’s House Postil, First Sermon for The Day of the Lord’s Supper. The Holy Sacrament 1 Corinthians 11:23-26, Volume 2, p. 307-308)

Picture: Palm Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)

Catechesis to prepare for Easter Sunday – March 27, 2024

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 Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (St. Mark 16:1-8), which is the Holy Gospel for Easter Sunday.

The teaching for Learn-by-Heart will include hymn “Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #29, LW 123, TLH 195),  Small Catechism, Christian Questions with their Answers, 17-20, and Job 19:25-27.

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

Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Resurrection-3-27-2024.pdf
Responsive Prayer for Catechesis:    Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2023.pdf
Insert for Hymn: Resurrection-Feast-Day-Insert-4-9-2023.pdf

Holy Wednesday – March 27, 2024

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings:  Isaiah 62:11-63:7, Revelation 1:5b-7, St. Luke 22:1-23:43
Hymn “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted” LW 116, TLH 153
Sermon
Hymn “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” LW 114, TLH 175

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Holy-Wednesday-Divine-Service-for-Online-3-27-2024.pdf


Picture:  The Luther Bible 1534: Revelation 13 – The Beast from the Sea, #968