Hence the Evangelist says, as already mentioned: “Tell ye the daughter of Zion.” And the prophet says: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, behold thy King cometh unto thee,” as if he would say: This is told to you and God wishes to have it proclaimed to you, that you may find consolation in Him by faith, and be defended by such faith against doubt and despair on account of your unworthiness and sins. What is it that is told, and on account of which she is to rejoice? It is this: “Behold thy King cometh unto thee.” What kind of a king? A holy and just King, a Physician and Savior, or Helper, who would heal and save you. He would give His glory and righteousness to you, that you may be free from your sins; His life also He would lay down for you, that through His death you may be delivered from eternal death. Therefore be not offended at His lowly and humble form, but thank Him for it, and comfort yourself in Him. For all that He does and accomplishes in His coming, is done for your good; thus He would deliver you from your sins and from death, and justify and save you. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent, Volume 1, p. 20-21)
Author Archive: luther
Christ’s Mass Day Divine Service – December 25, 2023
Hymn “Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful” LW #41
Divine Service I, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
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
Prayer of the Church……… p.19-20
Hymn: “Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising” LW 48, TLH 90
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Joy to the World” LW 53, TLH 87
“Now Sing We, No Rejoice” LW 47, TLH 92
“Once in Royal David’s City” LW 58,
Closing Hymn: “Angels We Have Heard on High” LW 55
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Feast-of-the-Nativity-Divine-Service-for-Online-12-25-2023.pdf
Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: The Book of Romans, #791.
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Matins at Christmas Dawn – December 25, 2023
Order of Matins, p.208 Lutheran Worship
Versicles, Venite
Hymn of the Day “The Newborn Child This Early Morn” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #8)
Psalm 93, 100, 63, Hymn #9 Benedicite, omnia opera, Psalm 148 (See Insert)
Readings: Micah 5:2-4, Titus 3:4-7, Matthew 1:18-25
Sermon
Te Deum, LW p.214
The Prayers
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Christmas-Dawn-Matins-Cover-2023-Online.pdf
Psalms: Christmas-Dawn-Psalms-2023-Online.pdf
Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: The Foreword to the Epistle of St. Paul to the Romans, #781.
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Divine Service Vigil of the Nativity – December 24, 2023
Hymn “From East to West” LW #43
Divine Service I, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted
Readings: Isaiah 9:2-7, 1 John 4:7-16, Luke 2:1-14
Hymn “O Jesus Christ, All Praise to Thee” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #5, LW #35, TLH 80)
Sermon
Offertory: “Create in Me…” p.18
Prayer of the Church……… p.19-20
“To Bethlehem Hasten” (choir)
Communion Service, p.144 (Lutheran Worship)
Communion Hymns: “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” LW 239
“Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” LW 49, TLH 94
“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” LW 37 TLH 85
“Angels from the Realms of Glory” LW 50
Closing Hymn: “A Great and Mighty Wonder” LW 51
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Vigil-of-the-Nativity-Divine-Service-for-Online-12-24-2023.pdf
Picture: The Luther Bible 1534: The Gospel of St. John, #701
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#4 Do Not Be Offend by What Your Eye Sees
Whoever will not receive this with his ears and heart, but would see it with his eyes and feel it with his hands, deprives himself of this King; for it is very different from what we find it with other kings. What they do, they do with pomp, and everything has a grand, imposing appearance. In Christ we do not find this; His office and work is to help us from sin and death, and this He does in no other external manner but through His word and gospel, which He orders to be told and preached to us, and through the signs which He gives besides the promise, through which also He works and shows His power; as that He first plunges us into baptism, where our eyes see nothing but simple water, like other water. Likewise, He has comprehended it in the word we are preaching, where our eyes see nothing but man’s breath. But we must beware and not follow our eyes here, but shut our eyes, open our ears and hear the word. This teaches us how our Lord Jesus shed His blood for the forgiveness of our sins, that we might live. These gifts He would bestow upon us in holy baptism, in the Lord’s Supper, in the preaching and absolution; there we certainly find them. Now it is true, it seems small matter. that through the washing of water, through the word and sacrament, such great things should be accomplished; but do not let your eyes deceive you. There also it seemed a small matter that He who rode on a borrowed ass, and afterwards suffered Himself to be crucified, should take away sin, death and hell. No one could see it in His appearance; but the prophet says so. Therefore we must simply receive it with our ears, and believe it with our hearts; with our eyes we cannot see it. (Luther’s House Postil, Sermon for the 1st Sunday in Advent, Volume 1, p. 20)
Liturgical Elements, Class #21: December 24, 2023
We continue our look at the liturgical elements in the Common Service. Today we examine the importance of the holy communion.
Handout 1: Lords-Supper.pdf
Handout 2: SACRIFICE-IN-THE-MASS-in-Book-of-Concord.pdf
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Picture: Trinity Lutheran Church in Altenburg, MO. Our congregation participated in a Christmas Country Church Tour on December 14, 2023. “The cornerstone for this church was laid in 1866. Stone was hauled by horse-drawn wagon from Bodenshatz Branch creek, three miles (4.8 km) east of the church site. The third church was dedicated in 1867. The design of the church with the pulpit situated above the altar is typical 18th century German style church architecture. … The name of the church was officially changed from the Evangelical Lutheran Brethren, U.A.C., to Trinity Lutheran Brethren, U.A.C., in 1918.” (Trinity_Lutheran_Church_(Altenburg,_Missouri)
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Divine Service on St. Thorlak, Bishop & Confessor – December 23, 2023
Order of Divine Service, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted
Hymn of the Day: “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #69, LW #264)
Readings: Hebrews 13:7-17, Matthew 24:42-47
Sermon
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: St-Thorlak-December-23-ASBH-Final-b.pdf
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On Entering the Church 4.
O GOD, Whose Word is a light making bright my way to Thee: Open my ears to hear, my mind to understand, my heart and soul to absorb, my life to show forth, Thy blessed Word borne to me this day; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen. (Oremus, 1925, p.127).
Matins on Ember Friday in Advent – December 22, 2023
Order of Matins, p.208 Lutheran Worship
Pre-Service Hymn “We Bid You Welcome in the Name” LW 262, TLH 484
Office Hymn “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist Cry” (ASBH #3)
Psalmody: Psalm 132, 98
Readings: Isaiah 11:1-5, St. Luke 1:39-47
Catechism: Confession/Office of the Keys
Sermon
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: Ember-Days-Advent-Matins-12-20-22-2023-Final.pdf
Psalms: Advent-Ember-Days-Psalms-2023.pdf
Propers: Advent-Ember-Days-Friday-Dec-2022-Final.pdf
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Divine Service for St. Thomas, Apostle – December 21, 2022
Order of Divine Service, p.7 The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal
Gloria in Excelsis Deo is omitted
Hymn: “To Jordan came our Lord, the Christ” (The Augustana Service Book and Hymnal #4, LW #223)
Readings: Judges 6:36-40, Ephesians 2:19-22, St. John 20:24-31
Sermon
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).
Service Bulletin: St-Thomas-1-year-December-21-ASBH-Final.pdf
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