Author Archive: luther

Divine Service Easter Six – Exaudi – May 17, 2026

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Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn “Jerusalem, O City Fair and High” LW 306
Readings:  Ezekiel 36:25-27, 1 Peter 4:7-11, St. John 15:26-16:4
Hymn of the Day: “Had God Not Come, May Israel Say” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #36)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “O Jesus, Blessed Lord, My Praise” LW 245
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns:
“Jesus, Your Boundless Love So True” LW #280
“Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds” LW 131
“Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray” LW #302
Closing Hymn “O Day Full of Grace” LW 163

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Exaudi-Cover-5-17-2026-Online.pdf
Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:98 Exodus 32:35), The Anger of God

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#24 Art. IV “Justification” of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession.

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Thus the holy Patriarchs were justified in the sight of God, not by the law, but by the promises of God and by faith. It must indeed be surprising to everyone, that our opponents teach so little (or nothing at all) of faith when they see in almost every syllable of the Bible, that faith is praised and extolled as the most noble, holy, and acceptable, the greatest and best service of God. Thus in Psalm 50:15, he says:“Call upon me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver thee.” In this way, then, would God be known to us; thus he would be honored, that we may receive and accept from him grace, salvation, and every blessing, as gifts of grace, and not as a reward for our merit. This is a most precious knowledge, a powerful consolation in every affliction, bodily and spiritual, in life or in death, as the pious well know.

But our opponents deprive the poor conscience of this noble, precious, and sweet consolation, when they treat faith so coldly and contemptuously, and instead of it plead their own miserable beggarly works and merits before the supreme God. (Henkel Translation, p. 168).

Divine Service Ascension Day – May 14, 2026

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Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn “See, the Conqueror Mounts in Triumph” TLH 218
Readings:  Isaiah 57:15, Acts 1:1-11, St. Mark 16:14-20
Hymn of the Day: “Dear Christians, One and All Rejoice” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #35, LW 353, TLH 387)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “Draw Us To You” LW 153, TLH 215
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “On Christ’s Ascension I Now Build” LW 150, TLH 216
Closing Hymn: “Up Through Endless Ranks of Angels” LW 152

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Ascension-Day-Cover-5-14-2026-Online.pdf

Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:96 Exodus 31, 35:30-35), The Artisans: Bezaleel and Aholiab

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Matins on Rogation Wednesday – May 13, 2026

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Order of Matins, p. 7  The ASBH Psalter
Hymn “Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You” LW 303, TLH 444
Psalms:  67, 104, 47
Readings:  James 5:16-20, St. Luke 11:5-13  St. John 17:1-11
Office Hymn “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #34, LW 431, TLH 458)
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin: Rogation-Cover-Matins-May-11-to-13-2026.pdf

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Catechesis Exaudi/Easter Six – May 13, 2026

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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 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.
Learn-by-Heart will include the hymn “Come Holy Ghost Our Souls Inspire” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal), 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 Ephesians 4:10-12

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Exaudi-5-13-2026.pdf
Insert for Hymn: ASBH-Come-Holy-Ghost.pdf
Prayers: Order of Vespers, p.29-30 and then p.36-38 from ASBH Psalter Book

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Matins on Rogation Tuesday – May 12, 2026

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Order of Matins, p. 7  The ASBH Psalter
Hymn “Prayer is the Soul’s Sincere Desire” TLH 454
Psalms:  67, 104, 47
Readings:  James 5:16-20, St. Luke 11:5-13  1 Peter 4:1-17
Office Hymn “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #34, LW 431, TLH 458)
Sermon
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin: Rogation-Cover-Matins-May-11-to-13-2026.pdf

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#23 Art. IV “Justification” of the Apology of the Augsburg Confession.

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Such faith and trust in the mercy of God are extolled, particularly in the Prophets and Psalms, as the highest and the most holy worship of God. For although the law does not, like the Gospel, chiefly preach grace and the remission of sin, yet the promises respecting the coming Christ were handed down from one Patriarch to the other, and they knew and believed, that God would give blessings, grace, comfort, and salvation, through Christ, the blessed seed. Hence, if they understood that Christ was to be the treasure, paying for our sins, they knew that our works could never pay off so great a debt. They therefore received grace, salvation, and remission of sin, without any merit, and were saved through faith in the divine promises and the Gospel of Christ, as well as we, or the saints in the New Testament.

Hence the frequent repetition of the words mercy, goodness, faith, in the Psalms and Prophets; as, in Psalms 130:3–6; “If thou, LORD, shouldst mark iniquities, O LORD, who shall stand?” Here David confesses his sins, and boasts of no merit; but continues:“But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” Now he is comforted again, relies on grace and mercy, trusts in the divine promises, and says: “My soul waiteth for the Lord, and in his word do I hope.” And again:“My soul waiteth on the Lord;” that is, as thou hast promised forgiveness of sin, I will hold to thy word; I will trust and rely upon thy gracious promises.   (Henkel Translation, p. 167-168).

Matins on Rogation Monday – May 11, 2026

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Order of Matins, p. 7  The ASBH Psalter
Hymn “Eternal Spirit of the Living Christ”  LW 432
Psalms:  67, 104, 47
Readings:  James 5:16-20, St. Luke 11:5-13  1 Peter 2:1-17
Office Hymn “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #34, LW 431, TLH 458)
Sermon
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin: Rogation-Cover-Matins-May-11-to-13-2026.pdf

Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:228 Judges 6), Gideon and men lapping water

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Divine Service Easter Five/Rogate – May 10, 2026

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Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Hymn “O Holy Spirit, Enter In” LW 160
Readings:  Jeremiah 29:11-14, James 1:22-27, St. John 16:23-33
Hymn of the Day: “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #34, LW 431, TLH 458)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “O Living Bread from Heaven” LW 244, TLH 316
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns:
“Hail Thee, Festival Day” LW 125
“One Thing’s Needful” LW 277
“Our Father, Who from Heaven Above” LW 431
Closing Hymn: “We Give You But Your Own” LW 405

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Rogate-Cover-5-10-2026-Online.pdf

Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:97 Exodus 32), The Golden Calf and Moses/Aaron with God

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Bible Class #10 “Pentecost/Holy Trinity” – May 10, 2026

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Today, we will study an overview of the Sundays of Pentecost and Holy Trinity in one session.
Handout 1: PENTECOST-2026-Adult-Bible-Studies.pdf
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

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