In the Sacristy 2.

GOD and Master of all things, make us the unworthy, O Lover of men, worthy of this hour, that we, remaining pure from all guile and all hypocrisy, may be united together by the bond of peace and love, being stablished by the sanctification of Thy divine knowledge, through Thy Only-Begotten Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, with Whom Thou are blessed, with Thy most Holy and Good and Quickening Spirit, now and ever and to ages of ages. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.128).

Catechesis Advent Three – December 13, 2023

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 John’s Question to Jesus (St. Matthew 11:2-11), which is the Holy Gospel for the Third Sunday in Advent.

Learn-by-Heart will include “The Only Son from Heaven” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #3, LSB 402, LW 72), Small Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, Seventh Petition and meaning, and Romans 8:3-4.

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

Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Advent-Three-12-13-2023-Final.pdf
Responsive Prayer for Catechesis: Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2024.pdf
Insert for Hymn: Advent-Three-Insert-12-17-2023-Final.pdf

St. Lucy, Martyr Divine Service – December 13, 2023

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted
Readings:  Ecclesiasticus 51:1-7, 2 Corinthians 10:17-18, 11:1-2; Matthew 13:44-52
Hymn of the Day: “Rejoice, All Ye Believers” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #67, HS98 #801
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin: December-13-St-Lucy-Martyr-Insert-2023.pdf

#2 Christ is The Just One and Savior

On the other hand, says Zechariah, this poor and humble King will have a power greater than that of all emperors and kings who have ever lived on earth, great as their power may have been. For He is called Justus et Salvator. Not a rich, noble and mighty king before the world, but the Just One and Savior, who shall bring with Him righteousness and salvation, attack sin and death, be the enemy of sin and destroyer of death; for He comes for the purpose of saving from sin and eternal death all who believe in Him, receive Him as their king, and are not offended at the poor borrowed ass. Those who receive Him in faith and find their consolation in Him, receive forgiveness of sins, and shall not die, but live forever. And though after their bodies they must die and be buried, it shall be to them, and be called by them, not death, but only a sleep.

This the prophet would teach us of this King, when he gives Him these two glorious, nay divine, titles and names, calling Him the Just One and Savior, who shall rob death of his power, hell of its destruction, tread the devil under His feet, and thus deliver us who believe in Him from sin and death, and introduce us to the society of angels, where there is eternal life and salvation. He leaves other kings in possession of their external government, authority, pomp, castles, houses, money and goods, allows them also to eat, drink, clothe themselves, and build in a more costly manner than other people; but this art they do not understand, this work they cannot do, which this poor and humble King, Christ, understands and does. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent, Volume 1, p. 19)

Advent Two Divine Service – December 10, 2023

Hymn “O Savior, Rend the Heavens Wide” LW 32
Divine Service I, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted
Readings: Micah 4:1-7, Romans 15:4-13, St. Luke 21:25-36
Hymn of the Day “The Day is Surely Drawing Near” (insert from Augustana #2, LW462s4, TLH 611s7)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…”                          p.18
Prayer of the Church………                    p.19-20
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns “Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior” LW 237, TLH 311
“Lift Up Your Heads, You Mighty Gates” LW 24, TLH 73 third tune
“Come, O Precious Ransom” LW 34
“Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord” LW 33, TLH 91

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Advent-Two-Divine-Service-for-Online-12-10-2023.pdf

Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: The Gospel of St. Mark, #628

Liturgical Explanations, Class #19 – December 10, 2023

We continue our look at the liturgical elements in the Common Service.  Today we examine the preparation including the St. Paul’s Examination as referenced in the Exhortation.

Handout 1: The-Exhortation-in-the-Divine-Service-final.pdf
Handout 2: Conscience-Study.pdf
Handout 2: Examination.pdf

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

Picture: Trinity Lutheran Church from the narthex

On Entering the Church 1.

O LORD, open Thou my lips to praise Thy name, for I would adore Thee in Thy Church, O Blessed GOD, FATHER, SON, and HOLY SPIRIT, Who art worthy of all adoration and worship, blessing and praise, now and evermore. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.126).

St. Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor Divine Service – December 6, 2023

St. Nicholas, Bishop & Confessor Divine Service, December 6, 2023 at 10:30 AM     Link to Live Stream

Order of Divine Service, p.7   The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted
Hymn of the Day: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #66, LW 36)
Readings:  Hebrews 7:23-27, Matthew 25:14-23

–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: December-6-St-Nicholas-Bishop-and-Confessor-Insert-2023.pdf

Catechesis for Advent Two – December 6, 2023

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 comfort we receive from the Second Coming of Christ (St. Luke 21:25-36), which is the Holy Gospel for the Second Sunday in Advent.

Learn-by-Heart will include “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #2, LSB 508, LW 462, TLH 611), Small Catechism, Lord’s Prayer, Sixth Petition and meaning, and Romans 15:4.

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

Service Bulletin: Catechesis-Advent-Two-12-6-2023-Final.pdf
Responsive Prayer for Catechesis:    Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2024.pdf
Insert for Hymn: Advent-Two-Insert-12-10-2023-Final.pdf

#1 Zechariah’s Clear and Plain Prophesy

For here is clear and plain prophecy: When Christ shall ride into Jerusalem, He will not come, as worldly kings are wont, on a proud steed, clothed in armor, with implements of war, but He will come, as the Evangelist says, meek, or as the prophet terms it, lowly. It is as if the prophet would thus warn everyone, saying: Mark well the ass, and know that He who comes on it is the true Messiah. Therefore, beware; do not look for a golden crown, sumptuous apparel or costly ornaments, or any great display. For Christ will come poor, with a meek and lowly heart, and will not be seen otherwise than riding upon an ass. This is all the pomp and glory He will show the world at His entry into Jerusalem.

This prophecy {Zechariah 9:9) induced our Lord now to make this entry, and He attaches much importance to it. Therefore He also gives the disciples such strict command about this matter; and will not enter Jerusalem by night, or secretly, but openly in the full light of day; not alone, but in the midst of a great multitude of. people going before and following after, calling aloud to Him as the true Son of David, and wishing Him great prosperity in His kingdom. Jerusalem must know of this entry, must see and hear the ass and this poor King, concerning whom Zechariah had prophesied, warning the Jews not to be offended at His poverty and humble entry, but to dismiss their idea that Christ would come with great worldly pomp. He will indeed be a king, says Zechariah, but a humble, poor king, who has nothing of the appearance of a king, judging by the outward pomp which worldly kings and princes usually show before men. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent, Volume 1, p. 18-19)