Author Archive: luther

Morning Prayer for Thursday.

Posted on by

183. Lord, hear my prayer and let my cry come unto Thee. Hide not Thy face from me for I am poor and needy. Incline Thine ear unto me. When I cry unto Thee, hear me and answer me.

Under Thy good pleasure, O Lord Jesus Christ, I submit all that I do or leave undone, my beginnings and my endings, and commend unto Thee my body and soul, my kin and acquaintances, together with all my possessions. By the guardianship of Thy holy angels Thou hast this night protected me; and, I beseech Thee, condescend this day also to guard and defend me from all evil. Vouchsafe unto me and all my relatives and friends whatsoever we need unto the maintenance of this temporal life; and, as a merciful father, care for us. Save us from war and pestilence, from famine and from evil trials, and, at last, receive us into Thy eternal kingdom, the heavenly paradise. Amen. (Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians by William Loehe, Wartburg Publishing House, 1914, Pages 321-322)

Catechesis for First Sunday after Epiphany – January 8, 2025

Posted on by

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 “Jesus in the Temple” (St. Luke 2:41-52), which is the Holy Gospel for First Sunday After Epiphany.

Learn-by-Heart will include “O Splendor of God’s Glory Bright” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #79), the third and fourth question of Holy Baptism with its meaning from Luther’s Small Catechism, and Isaiah 28:21.

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

Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Epiphany-One-1-8-2025.pdf
Responsive Prayer for Catechesis:  Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2025-ASBH.pdf
Insert for Hymn: February-9-St-Cyril-of-Alexandria-Insert-2025.pdf

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Divine Service cancelled on January 6, 2025

Posted on by

The Epiphany of Our Lord, January 6, 2025 cancelled due to ice/snow storm

Service of Light, LW p.250-255  Lutheran Worship
Psalm 72 (insert) and Isaiah 49:1-7
Hymn “Hail to the Lord’s Annointed” (LW 82, TLH 59)
Divine Service begins with Introit(insert), then Kyrie p.10 of The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Mt 2:1-12
Hymn “Now Sing We, Now Rejoice” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #9, LW 47, TLH 92)
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 Hymn:
“O Morning Star, How Fair and Bright” LW 73
Closing Hymn: “O Jesus King of Glory” LW #79

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Epiphany-of-Our-Lord-Cover-1-6-2025-Online.pdf
Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430  (I:23) The Wise Men Visit the Baby Jesus in Matthew 2

Divine Service Cancelled on Sunday, January 5, 2025

Posted on by

Cancelled due to ice and snow storm.

Hymn: “Now Let Us Come Before Him” LW 184
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 Save, O Christ, Our Lord” TLH 265
“I Walk in Danger all the Way” LW 391, TLH 413
“It Is A Time of Joy Today” ASBH (printed)
Closing Hymn  “Let Us All with Gladsome Voice” LW 42

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Christmas-Two-Cover-1-5-2025-Online.pdf
Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430  (I:24) Herod Slaughters the Bethlehem Babies in Matthew 2

#9 Part Two, Chapter I. Thanksgiving for Formation in the Womb of the Mother and for Birth into this Life.

Posted on by

(Continued)  You showed Your mercy to me before I could perceive it. You came to me with Your kindnesses before I could long for them. Your generosity encompassed me before I could offer thanks for it. You are the one who not only marvelously formed me in the womb of my mother, but also drew me out from the womb. You have been my hope since I was yet at my mother’s breast. I was cast upon You from birth. From my mother’s womb You have been my God (Psa. 22:10–11).

When I consider how many die in the womb before coming to the light of this life, I admire and praise Your mercy all the more, because You brought me, alive, safe, and sound, out of the confinement of the womb into the theater of this world. How many years passed in which I was nothing! But it pleased You to build this dwelling of my body, and to bring it out of the deep and darkness of my mother’s womb. You have given me a rational soul and did not will that I be a stone or snake. To You, my God, for this Your mercy, be honor and glory forever. Amen. (The Daily Exercise of Piety by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p.30-32)

Morning Prayer for Wednesday

Posted on by

163. Sing unto the Lord a new song. Sing unto the Lord, O earth! Sing forth the honor of His Name.

Let day proclaim unto day the salvation of our God. O come, let us sing unto the Lord our God a new song. May He bless and preserve me,—The Father, Who created me, The Son, Who redeemed me, The Holy Ghost, Who sanctified me. Amen.

God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, blessed and most holy Trinity, abide with me this day and at all times. Let me now, together with all the elect of God, arise unto one faith and one confession thereof in like confidence and hope of God. Let me arise from all my sin and sorrow to the grace and comfort of God and unto eternal life in Jesus Christ. Amen. (Seed-Grains of Prayer: A Manual for Evangelical Christians by William Loehe, Wartburg Publishing House, 1914, Pages 287-288)

Divine Service on Eve of the Name of Jesus – December 31, 2024

Posted on by

Service of Light, LW p.250-255 Lutheran Worship
Psalm 8 (insert)
Isaiah 55:1-13
Hymn: “O Blessed Day When First Was Poured” TLH 115
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
Prayer of the Church………                    p.19-20
Hymn: “Lo, How a Rose is Growing” LW 67
Exhortation                                    p.21
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymn:
“From Heaven Came the Angels Bright” LW 52
“Let All Together Praise Our God” LW 44
Closing Hymn “Before You, Lord, We Bow” LW 500

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Bulletin: December-31-Eve-of-the-Name-of-Jesus-Cover-2024-ONLINE.pdf
Service of Light: Circumcision-and-Name-of-Jesus-Insert-12-31-2024-Online.pdf

Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430  (II:67b) Circumcision of Jesus in Luke 2:21

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

#8 Part Two, Chapter I. Thanksgiving for Formation in the Womb of the Mother and for Birth into this Life

Posted on by

Omnipotent, eternal God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, I give You thanks. I praise You, I glorify You, that Your hands fashioned me and made every detail of what I am. You shaped me like clay in the womb of my mother. You poured me out like milk and curdled me like cheese. You clothed me with skin and knit me together with bones and tendons. You gave me life and showed me mercy, and in Your providence You watched over my spirit (Job 10:9–12). I will celebrate Your great mercy which You have shown me with eternal praises. Your kindness I will declare with everlasting songs of praise. You covered me in the womb of my mother. I will praise You, for I am wonderfully made. Marvelous are Your works, and this my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You because You made me in secret when You adorned me with my various members in the lower parts of the earth. Your eyes saw me when I was yet unformed, and in Your book were written all the days that would be, though not yet one of them was. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is their sum! If I were to count them, they would be more in number than the sands of the sea (Psa. 139:13–18).

(Continued on Circumcision and Name of Jesus)  (from The Daily Exercise of Piety by Johann Gerhard, Repristination Press, p.30-32)

Divine Service First Sunday after Christmas – December 29, 2024

Posted on by

Hymn: “Hark the Herald Angels Sing” LW 49
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: “In Peace and Joy I Now Depart” LW 185, TLH 137
“Angels We Have Heard on High” LW 55
“Once Again My Heart Rejoices” LW 39
Closing Hymn “In His Temple Now Behold Him” LW 186, TLH 139

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Christmas-One-Cover-12-29-2024-Online.pdf

Picture: Ottheinrich Bible 1430  (II:68) Presentation of Jesus at the Temple in Luke 2)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS