- Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ; in Whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace; wherein He hath abounded unto us, and made us to know the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure: in Whom also we have obtained an inheritance and are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until our redemption as His purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. May He fill us with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding, that we walk worthy of our Lord unto all pleasing, being faithful in every good work, and increasing in knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, to the glorious day of our Lord Jesus Christ, unto the honor and glory of God. Unto Him, the only true God, Eternal King, immortal, invisible, and omniscient, be honor and glory forever. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer. The Creed. Psalm 146. The Gloria Patri. (Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians by William Loehe, Wartburg Publishing House, 1914, Pages 432)
Yearly Archives: 2025
Catechesis Third Sunday after Trinity – July 2, 2025
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 Lost Sheep and Lost Coin (St. Luke 15:1-10), which is the Holy Gospel for the Third Sunday after Trinity.
Learn-by-Heart will include the hymn “In Walk in Danger All the Way” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #97), the Daily Prayers from Luther’s Small Catechism(Ask a Blessing, Returning Thanks, Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, and St. Luke 15:2.
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Trinity-3-7-2-2025.pdf
Insert for Hymn: ASBH-97-I-Walk-in-Danger-All-The-Way.pdf
Suffrages: Suffrages-for-Catechesis-2024-Online.pdf
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Divine Service The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – July 2, 2025
Order of Divine Service, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Office Hymn: “My Soul, O God, Magnifies Thee” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #94)
Readings: Judges 13:2-7, Isaiah 11:1-5, St. Luke 1:39-56
Hymn
Sermon
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: July-2-Visitation-of-the-Blessed-Virgin-Mary-Insert-2024.pdf
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
#49 IX: Loving God Alone, part 2:
If a very powerful earthly sovereign were to send his messengers to seek in marriage a maiden of humble birth and fortune, would not that maiden act very foolishly to reject the hand of the king, and take up with his messengers and servants instead? And God, through the beauty of the works of His own hands, desires to call me to Himself and to incite me to love Him alone; why then should my soul, which Christ the heavenly Bridegroom seeks to unite to Himself, cling to a mere creature, as the messenger of this spiritual union which He desires to make with me? These creatures themselves exclaim, “Why dost thou cling so fondly to us? Why dost thou seek thy highest good in us? We cannot satisfy thy longings. Haste thee to our common Creator.” We dare not hope that the things of earth will reciprocate our love; nor do they first love us; but God, who is love (1 John iv. 16), cannot but love those who love Him; nay more, He even anticipates all our desires and all our love with His own love. Ah! how much then ought we love Him who first so dearly loved us. He loved us before we had any being, for it is because of His divine love that we were born into the world. He loved us when we were yet enemies (Rom. v. 10); for it is because of His divine love and compassion that He sent His Son to redeem us. (Gerhard’s Sacred Meditations – IX: Loving God Alone, Repristination Press, p. 50-51)
Bible Class #41 on Numbers 10-11 – June 29, 2025
Today, we will begin the study of the journey from Mt. Sinai to Kadesh-Barnea.
Overhead 1: Text-for-Numbers-10-11.pdf
Handout 1: Wilderness-Wanderings-Outline-Part-three.pdf
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Picture: Bishop James Heiser at Eldona Synod, April 28-May 2, 2025.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Divine Service Trinity Two – June 29, 2025
Order of Divine Service I, p. 136 Lutheran Worship
Hymn “Today Your Mercy Calls Us” LW 347
Readings: Isaiah 25:6-9, 1 John 3:13-18, St. Luke 14:16-24
Hymn of the Day: “The Mouth of Fools Doth God Confess” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #40, ELHB #277)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…” p.18
General Prayer……… p.19-20
Hymn: “Your Table I Approach” LW 249, TLH 310
Exhortation p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “We Give You But Your Own” LW 405
“One Thing’s Needful” LW 277
“Come Unto Me, Ye Weary” LW 345, TLH 276
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Trinity-Two-Cover-6-29-2025-Online.pdf
Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430 (III:34) The Great Banquet Luke 14:15-24
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Matins Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles – June 29, 2025
Order of Matins, p.208 Lutheran Worship
Office Hymn ASBH #93. “Christ, Thou Are the Sure Foundation”
Psalmody: Psalm 139, 45
Readings: Ezekiel 34:7-16, Acts 12:1-11, St. Matthew 16:13-19
Sermon
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: June-29-Sts-Peter-and-Paul-Matins-2025-Online.pdf
Picture: Deacon Jacob Henson preaching at Eldona Synod, April 28-May 2, 2025.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Theology Discussion on June 26, 2025
On June 26, 2025 we had a theology discussion of Bp. James Heiser’s Episcopal Address to the 2025 Synod of the ELDoNA, entitled, “A Time to Stand: Faithful Presence Amid the Ruins.”
Here is a PDF of my summary and some helps to the cited authors. CLICK HERE
Michael D. Henson, Pastor
Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL)
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
Prayer for Friday.
- Lord Jesus Christ, patient Lamb of Sacrifice, and holy Propitiation for my sins, not mine alone, but the sins of the whole world; once again I thank Thee with my whole heart that Thou hast this day so paternally defended me with Thy protection in body and soul. I pray Thee, graciously pardon and forgive all my sins which I have this day committed through the weakness of my evil nature or through precipitation, and which now oppress my heart and conscience. I am about to lay me down to rest and sleep. Cause Thy grace to overshadow me that, sheltered thus, I may this night rest my limbs in peace but with the soul be evermore awake unto Thee. Cause me also to realize Thy glorious coming again unto judgment, and eagerly to await Thee even unto the day when, at last, I shall pass hence unto Thee in Thy salvation. To all this help me, gracious Redeemer, Who, together with the Father and the Holy Ghost, art praised and glorified forever. Amen. The Lord’s Prayer. The Creed. Psalm 15. The Gloria Patri. (Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians by William Loehe, Wartburg Publishing House, 1914, Page 384)
Catechesis Second Sunday after Trinity – June 25, 2025
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. This service is designed to prepare God’s people for the theme of the upcoming Sunday Divine Service. The dialog sermon explains “The Great Banquet” (St. Luke 14:15-24), which is the Holy Gospel for Trinity Two.
Learn-by-Heart will include the hymn “Alas, My God, My Sins Are Great” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #95), Small Catechism, Table of Duties: To Youth: 1 Peter 5:5-6; To Widows: 1 Tim 5:5-6; To Everyone: Rom 13:9, 1 Tim 2:1, and 1 Corinthians 11:26.
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Trinity-2-6-25-2025.pdf
Insert for Hymn: ASBH-95-Alas-My-God-My-Sins-Are-Great.pdf
Suffrages: Suffrages-for-Catechesis-2024-Online.pdf
https://vimeo.com/1092632417?share=copy
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS