#31 The Evil Hasten to Death without Wisdom, but The Church Has Joy

This one argument, I say, would be abundantly enough, even if it were the only one, to demonstrate this. If there is neither wisdom nor knowledge nor reason in death, whither we are hastening (Eccl. 9:10), then the world is that way by which we hasten to such great wretchedness. And so, the faster it hastens, the more it shares in its own end (like every motion). This is surely what Hezekiah says (Is. 38:18): “Neither shall death praise Thee, nor shall they who go down into the pit look for Thy truth.” If they who go down do not look for it, how much more is this true of those who are already in the pit and have gone down! For those who are going down are the ones in the world of whom he said that they are hastening to death.

Therefore, O thick darkness of Egypt, which ignores such great benefits of the Word of God! But, O blessed light of the church, which still sees, so that it also rejoices at these: In the midst of persecuting and threatening princes she still has more joy within than grief without; the words of God do more to strengthen the spirit than the scourges of men to weaken the flesh. The latter is afflicted with the pains of tormentors, the former is consoled by the strength of words. Wonderful exchange, that words prevail over things, things that are contrary and exceedingly strong! As Isaiah promises (Is. 50:4): “The Lord has given me a learned tongue, that I should know how to uphold by the Word him who is weary.” “By the Word,” he says, namely, by the naked Word without the reality set forth, but not without the reality to be set forth. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.519-520)

For the Contrite.

O GOD, Who hast pity upon all, and ceasest not to receive with fatherly kindness them who return unto Thee: Remember, we beseech Thee, that we are but flesh, and be ready to turn Thy wrath away, nor kindle all that wrath against us, but soften it and vouchsafe us Thine. unfailing grace: 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.88).

#30 The World Does Not Reach Our For the Word of God

The words of God are foolish to men and of no weight. For if they esteemed them as precious, wise, and good, they would undoubtedly not have thus disdained them. They can indeed say that they love and esteem the Word of God, but they deny it by their deeds. They can also say that they hate the world and regard it as nothing, but they approve of it by their deeds. For when they reach out all day and night for those things that are of the world, yes, week after week, but do not reach out for the Word of God on a festival day, it is plainly evident that “they do not rejoice but sicken at Your words,” like the Jews in the wilderness, who found many things lacking and no spoils. And this is a clear demonstration that the world is the image of hell and a model and forerunner of the damned, yes, like the lodging of the devil and ungodliness, which consistently ignores the Word of God and its immeasurable benefits and does not see them and most basely despises them. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.519)

Divine Service Good Friday, April 15, 2022

Order of Divine Service I, p.136  Lutheran Worship
Hymn “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” LW 113, TLH 172
Bidding Prayer, p.276
Readings:  Hosea 6:1-16, 2 Corinthians 5:14-21, St. John 18:1-19:42
Hymn “A Lamb Alone Bears Willingly” LW 111, TLH 142
Reproaches
Hymn “Lamb of God, Pure and Sinless”  Stanza 1 & 2 of LW 208, TLH 146
Hymn “Sing, My Tongue” LW 117
Sermon
Communion Hymns
Hymn “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Have You Broken”  LW 119, TLH 143
Hymn “Go to Dark Gethsemane” LW #110, TLH 159

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

Service Bulletin:  Good-Friday-Divine-Service-for-Online-4-15-2022.pdf

Picture:  The initial Letter “U” of The Fourth Book of Moses by Martin Luther for Das Alte Testament Deutsch, M. Luther, Wittemberg, 1523.  Jesus between 2 cherubs appearing to Moses with a bird….  “And the LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai…”  “Und der HERR Redet mit Mose ynn der zvusten Sinai…”  From page CI = 101.

“Luther struggled with Leviticus, which he regarded as tiresome and having little spiritual perspective.  Luther: ‘I have made a great effort to make Moses so German that no one would guess that he was a Jew’” (https://gruber.lstc.edu/luthers_bible/1523_1533.php).

Tenebrae on Good Friday April 15, 2022

Order of Matins/Lauds (Insert)
Psalmody:  Psalm 4, 15, 16
Readings: Lamentations 3:19-21, 22, 23-66, 4:1-6, 7-22, 5:1-11, 12-22, Hebrews 9:11-22
After readings Hymn “The Royal Banners Forward Go” LW 103, TLH 168 (insert)
Sermon
Canticle of Hezekiah (Isaiah 38:10-20)
Psalm 150
Canticle of Zechariah (Benedicus)
Psalm 51

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

Service Bulletin:  Tenebrae-for-THREE-DAYS-NKJV-Online.pdf

Catechesis on Easter (St. Mark 16:1-8) 2021

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 Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ (St. Mark 16:1-8), which is the Holy Gospel for Easter Sunday.  The teaching for Learn-by-Heart will include hymn #135, stanza 1 of “Welcome, Happy Morning,” Small Catechism, Christian Questions with their Answers, 17-20, and Job 19:25-27.
–Michael D. Henson, Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church (Herrin, IL).

Service Bulletin:  Catechesis-Resurrection-3-31-2021.pdf
Responsive Prayer: Responsive-Prayer-for-Catechesis-2020.pdf

 

For the Laborer.

ALMIGHTY God, Who, when Thou didst send forth man from Eden, commandedst him to labor in the sweat of his brow: We acknowledge that all our toil and work is in vain if it be without Thy blessing and aid; and we humbly beseech Thee to assist us patiently to fulfill our calling, and faithfully to accomplish our work, graciously enriching it with Thy blessing, in order that the labor of our hands may prosper, and, in thankfulness, we may consecrate the fruits thereof to the spread of Thy Kingdom and the help of the needy; 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.88).

Divine Service Maundy Thursday, April 14, 2022

Order of Confessional Service I, p.308  Lutheran Worship
Psalm 51
Readings:  Exodus 12:1-14, 1 Corinthians 11:23-32, St. John 13;1-15
Hymn “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” LW 107, TLH 163
Sermon
Communion Service, p.144
Hymn “On My Heart Imprint Your Image”  LW 100, TLH 179
Hymn “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” LW #239, TLH 305
Psalm 22

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

Service Bulletin:  Maundy-Thursday-Divine-Service-for-Online-4-14-2022.pdf

Picture:  The initial Letter “U” of The Third Book of Moses by Martin Luther for Das Alte Testament Deutsch, M. Luther, Wittemberg, 1523.  The picture is a lamb on the altar with a priest and a creature….  “Now the LORD called to Moses, and spoke to him….”  “Und der HERR rief Mose / unnd redet mit yhm…”  From page LXXX = 80.

#29 The Joy of Finding Great Treasure

Therefore he says in opposition to both: “I am neither afraid of you, nor will I rejoice with you, for there are other things that I fear and other things in which I will rejoice; I fear Him who can destroy into hell, and not the princes who kill the body (Matt. 10:28). And I will rejoice at the words of God, and not at the presence of your pleasure.” He compares himself to one finding many spoils. And how does he rejoice, I ask? I think that he rejoices in the manner which the Lord describes in Matt. 13:44, that a man who found a treasure hidden in a field hid it and went for joy, etc. He rejoices, but not openly. He alone knows his joy, because he alone knows his good. If he had published it, then the field would certainly not have been sold to him, and he would not have gained possession of the treasure. Or if he had possessed it, he would have possessed it with danger. Such is the joy of the Spirit, because it is in secret, because he alone knows, because also he alone knows his spiritual good. (Luther’s Works, v. 11, p.519)

Tenebrae on Thursday April 14, 2022

Order of Matins/Lauds
Psalmody:  Psalm 2, 22, 27
Readings: Lamentations 2:1-7, 8-15, 16-22, 3:1-9, 10-18, Hebrews 4:11-5:6
After readings Hymn “The Royal Banners Forward Go” LW 103, TLH 168 (insert)
Sermon
Canticle of Habakkuk (3:2-19)
Psalm 147:12-20
Canticle of Zechariah (Benedicus)
Psalm 51

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

Service Bulletin:  Tenebrae-for-THREE-DAYS-NKJV-Online.pdf