Author Archive: luther

Divine Service on Second Sunday after Christmas – January 4, 2026

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Hymn: “Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band”  ASBH #73 (printed)
Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings: Genesis 46:1-7, 1 Peter 4:12-19, St. Matthew 2:13-23
Hymn “The Newborn Child This Early Morn” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #8)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “Here, O My Lord, I See You Face to Face” LW 243
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Thine Honor Rescue, Righteous Lord” ASBH printed
“It Is A Time of Joy Today” ASBH (printed)
“I Walk in Danger all the Way” LW 391, TLH 413
Closing Hymn  “When Christ’s Appearing Was Made Known” LW #81

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Christmas-Two-1-4-2026-Online.pdf

https://vimeo.com/1150758606?share=copy&fl=sv&fe=ci

Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:25, Genesis 18) The Three Men Visit Abraham

 

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Divine Service on Eve of the Name of Jesus – December 31, 2025

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Service of Light, LW p.250-255 Lutheran Worship
Psalm 8 (insert)
Isaiah 55:1-13
Hymn: “No Let Us Come Before Him” LW 184

Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings:  Galatians 3:23-29, Luke 2:21
Hymn “To The Name of Our Salvation” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #7, TLH 116)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”                          p.18
General Prayer of the Church for Eve of the Name ………     (insert)
Hymn: “Angels From the Realms of Glory” LW 50
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymn: “A Great and Mighty Wonder” LW 51
“Let All Together Praise Our God” LW 44
Closing Hymn: “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” LW 272

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Bulletin: Circumcision-Eve-of-the-Name-of-Jesus-12-31-2025-Online.pdf

#9 Art. VII. “The Sacraments and Their Proper use” Apology of the Augsburg Confession.

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Paul, (Rom. 4:9–11,) denies that Abraham was justified through circumcision, and asserts that it was a sign appointed to exercise and strengthen faith. We therefore say, that the proper use of the Sacraments requires faith, to believe the divine promises, and receive the promised grace, which is offered through the Sacraments and the Word. Now this is the obvious and proper use of the holy Sacraments, upon which our hearts and our minds can firmly rely. For the divine promises can be accepted through faith alone. Now, as the Sacraments are external signs and seals of the promises, their proper use requires faith ; for when we receive the sacrament of the body and blood of Christ, Christ clearly says: “This cup is the new testament,” Luke 22:20. We should firmly believe then, that the grace and remission of sins, promised in the New Testament, are imparted to us. Now we should receive this in faith, and thereby console our alarmed, timid hearts, and rest assured, that the Word and promises of God cannot fail, but are as sure, nay, more so, than a new divine voice, or a new miracle from heaven, promising grace to us. But what would miracles benefit us, if they were not believed ? Here we are speaking of special faith, namely, the belief that our own sins are surely forgiven, and not of general faith, believing that there is a God. This proper use of the Sacraments really consoles and refreshes the heart. (pages 266-267)

Prayer for Wednesday.

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  1. GRACIOUS and Almighty God, Merciful Father in heaven, with my whole heart I render unto Thee all praise and laud and honor that Thou hast preserved me throughout the night now past under the protection of Thy holy angels, and permitted me to see the light of this day in health and strength. I beseech Thee, Heavenly Father, to Whose will I submit all things begun or ended by me, and all that I may do or leave undone, grant me Thy continued grace; and, by Thy Holy Spirit, so rule and govern all my thoughts and purposes, my heart, mind, energies, and desires, together with every word and deed, that I may ever recognize what is good and what is evil; so that I may this day walk here amid this evil and perverse world, free from all transgression, keeping in mind the hearty desire toward my heavenly home, which Christ, my Savior, has obtained and merited for me, and that I may never by an evil and sinful life forfeit the same. Unto all this help me graciously by the love and power of Thy Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Thy well beloved Son. Amen.
    The Lord’s Prayer. The Creed. Psalm 73. The Gloria Patri. (Page 290-291)

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

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Now although our adversaries, in order not to pass by the name of Christ in total silence, as barbarous, impious heathens, speak of faith as being a knowledge of the history of Christ; and although they do tell us something of Christ—namely, that he has gained for us a habitum, or, as they term it, primam gratiam, the first or original grace, which they regard as an inclination, or a desire, by which we are enabled to love God more easily, than we could otherwise; yet a very weak and insignificant influence would thus be exerted by Christ, or by this habitus.

Nevertheless they say, that the operation of our reason and will, before this habitus exists, as well as afterwards, when the habitus is present, are ejusdem speciei, that is, one and the same thing, before as well as after.

For they maintain that our reason and human will are of themselves able to love God; but that the habitus creates a desire, which enables reason to accomplish, with greater ease and pleasure, what it before had the power to do.

Hence they also teach, that this habitus must be merited or earned by our previous works, and that, through the works of the law, we merit an increase of this good inclination and eternal life.

Thus these men conceal Christ from us, and bury him anew, so that it is impossible for us to recognise him as a Mediator; for they bury in silence the doctrine, that we obtain remission of our sins through him, by grace alone, without any merit of our own; and even set up their dreams, that we can merit forgiveness of our sins by good works and the works of the law; although the whole Bible teaches, that we are unable to keep or fulfil the law. And as human reason performs no part of the law, except external works, and does not really fear God, so it neither believes, that it is observed of God. Although they speak thus concerning the habitus, it is certain, that, without faith in Christ, real love to God cannot exist in the heart; nor can anyone comprehend, what love to God is, without faith. (Henkel Translation, p. 159-160).

Divine Service First Sunday after Christmas – December 28, 2025

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Hymn: “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” LW 37
Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-4, Galatians 4:1-7, St. Luke 2:33-40
Hymn “To God the Anthem Raising” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #6, TLH 112)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “I Come, O Savior, to Your Table” LW 242, TLH 315
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Glory to God” (choir)
“Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord” LW 33
“We Praise, O Christ, Your Holy Name” LW 35
Closing Hymn “Once Again My Heart Rejoices” LW 39

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Christmas-One-12-28-2025-Online.pdf

Picture:  Illustrated German Bible of 1483 (I:20, Genesis 10) Tower of Babel

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Bible Class #7 on “Wisdom” – December 28, 2025

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Today, we will continue our study of the word “Wisdom” in the Scriptures with an emphasis on the purpose of the church.
Handout: The-Purpose-of-the-Church-with-verses-Class-6.pdf
Handout 2: The-Purpose-of-the-Church-Lutheran-Confessions.pdf

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

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Vespers on St. John, Apostle – December 27, 2025

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Order of Vespers, p. 29  The ASBH Psalter
Psalms:  92, 100
Readings: Hosea 11:1-9, 1 John 1:1-10, John 21:19-24
Office Hymn “Word Supreme, Before Creation” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #71, TLH 271)
Sermon

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin:  December-27-St-John-Apostle-Vespers-12-27-2025-online.pdf

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Divine Service Christ’s Mass Day – December 25, 2025

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Hymn “It Is A Time of Joy Today” ASBH (printed)
Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Introit (printed), Kyrie   p.10
Gloria in Excelsis Deo, p.10-13
Readings:  Isaiah 7:10-14, Hebrews 1:1-12, St. John 1:1-14
Hymn of the Day “Of The Father’s Love Begotten” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #66, LW 36, TLH 98)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”         p.18
General Prayer for Christmas Day  ………                (insert)
Hymn: “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence” LW 241
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising” LW 48, TLH 90
“Away in a Manger” LW 64
“Now Sing We, No Rejoice” LW 47, TLH 92
Closing Hymn: “Joy to the World” LW 53

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Christmas-Day-12-25-2025-Final-Isaiah-7-Online.pdf

Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430  (II:67a) Jesus Lying in a Manger in Luke 2

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