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[F] St. Philip and St. James, Apostles (R)
[F] St. Philip and St. James, Apostles (R)
May 1, 2022
Old Testament: Isaiah 30:18-21\rPsalm 36:5-12 (antiphon: v. 8)\rEpistle: Ephesians 2:19-22\rGospel: John 14:1-14\r\rSt. Philip and St. James, Apostles\r"Lord, show us the Father." Philip did not yet recognize that the Father is glorified in the Son. In His Name we have access to the Father, for they are one. Jesus is the way and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Him. And whoever believes in Him will do the works He does and greater (v. 6-13). And so Philip and James did, apostles on whose foundation the household of God is built-with Christ as her chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:19-22). The beloved Words of Jesus from today's Gospel were the Words of their Teacher, echoing in their ears as they walked in His way (Isa. 30:20-21). And so their hearts were not troubled (John 14:1) as they ate the bread of adversity and the water of affliction (Isa. 30:19). Philip, who in John's Gospel brings Jews and Greeks to Jesus, is said to have journeyed to Phrygia where he was martyred. James "the Younger" (son of Alphaeus, whose mother Mary was at the crucifixion) is said to have died by being sawn in half. Where Christ is, they also are, and so shall we be (John 14:3).
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Easter 3 (W)
Easter 3 (W)
May 1, 2022
Misericordias Domini\rIntroit: Ps. 33:1, 18-20; antiphon: Ps. 33:5b, 6a\rOld Testament: Ezek. 34:11-16\rPsalm 23 (antiphon: v. 6)\rEpistle: 1 Peter 2:21-25\rProperVerse: Luke 24:35b, John 10:14\rGospel: John 10:11-16\r\rThe Good Shepherd Cares for His Sheep\rOur Lord Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-16). He is not like the hireling, who cares nothing for the sheep and only for himself, who flees when he sees the wolf coming. Rather, Jesus is the Good Shepherd who seeks out His scattered sheep to deliver them (Ezek. 34:11-16). He gathers them and feeds them in rich pasture. He binds up the broken and strengthens the sick. He lays down His life for wandering and wayward sheep. On the cross, Christ bore in His body the attacks of the predators of sin and death and the devil for you that you might be saved. He now lives to restore your soul in the still waters of baptism, to lead you in the paths of righteousness by the voice of His Gospel, to prepare the table of His holy supper before you, that you may dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23). "For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25).
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Divine Service
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Bible Study
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[C] Athanasius of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor
[C] Athanasius of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor
May 2, 2022
Athanasius was born in Alexandria in Egypt in A.D. 295. He served as a church leader in a time of great controversy and ecclesiastical disagreements. At the Council of Nicaea in 325, he defended Christian orthodoxy against the proponents of the Arian heresy, which denied the full divinity of Jesus Christ. During his 45-year tenure as bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius wrote numerous works that defended the orthodox teaching. His enemies had him exiled five times; on two occasions he was almost murdered. Yet Athanasius remained steadfast and ended his days restored fully to his church responsibilities. The Athanasian Creed, though not composed by Athanasius, is named in his honor because it confesses the doctrinal orthodoxy he championed throughout his life.
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Bible Study
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[C] Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary
[C] Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary
May 4, 2022
Friedrich Wyneken is one of the founding fathers of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, along with C.F.W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler. Born in 1810 in Germany, he came to Baltimore in 1838 and shortly thereafter accepted a call to be the pastor of congregations in Friedheim and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Supported by Wilhelm Loehe's mission society, Wyneken served as an itinerant missionary in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, particularly among Native Americans. Together with Loehe and Sihler, he founded Concordia Theological Seminary in 1846 in Fort Wayne, Ind. He later served as the second president of the LCMS during a period of significant growth (1850-64). His leadership strongly influenced the confessional character of the LCMS and its commitment to an authentic Lutheran witness.
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Men's Study
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Pastors' Study Group in Plano
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[C] Frederick the Wise, Christian Ruler
[C] Frederick the Wise, Christian Ruler
May 5, 2022
Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, was Martin Luther's sovereign in the early years of the Reformation. Were it not for Frederick, there might not have been a Lutheran Reformation. Born in Torgau in 1463, he became so well known for his skill in political diplomacy and his sense of justice and fairness that he was called "the Wise" by his subjects. Though he never met Luther, Frederick repeatedly protected and provided for him. In all likelihood he saved the reformer from a martyr's fate. Frederick refused the pope's demand to extradite Luther to Rome for a heresy trial in 1518. When Emperor Charles V declared Luther an outlaw in 1521 at the Diet of Worms, Frederick provided sanctuary for Luther at the Wartburg castle. On his deathbed, Frederick received the Lord's Supper in both kinds--a clear confession of the evangelical faith.
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[C] C. F. W. Walther, Theologian
[C] C. F. W. Walther, Theologian
May 7, 2022
Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther (1811-87), the father of The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod, served as its first president from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. In 1839 he emigrated from Saxony, Germany, with other Lutherans, who settled in Missouri. He served as pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and in 1847 was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS (then called the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri, Ohio, and Other States). Walther worked tirelessly to promote confessional Lutheran teaching and doctrinal agreement among all Lutherans in the United States. He was a prolific writer and speaker. Among his most influential works are Church and Ministry and The Proper Distinction between Law and Gospel.
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Easter 4 (W)
Easter 4 (W)
May 8, 2022
Jubilate\rIntroit: Ps. 66:3, 5, 8-9; antiphon: Ps. 66:1-2\rOld Testament: Is. 40:25-31\r or Lam. 3:22-33\rPsalm 147:1-11 (antiphon: v. 5)\rEpistle: 1 Peter 2:11-20\r or 1 John 3:1-3\rProperVerse: Ps. 111:9a, Luke 24:26\rGospel: John 16:16-22\r\rThose Who Wait on the Lord Shall Rejoice\rThe people of God are pilgrims and sojourners in this world, looking ahead to a destination yet to come (1 Peter 2:11-20). Though we are now children of God, the fullness of what we shall be has not yet been revealed (1 John 3:1-3). We are those who wait on the Lord. "The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him" (Lam. 3:25). Jesus tells us that the wait is just a little while. "A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me" (John 16:16). Though you must experience sorrow for a time, though you must live as strangers in a world that is at enmity with Christ, yet your sorrow will be turned to joy when He returns. "But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength" (Is. 40:31). The little while of weeping shall be replaced with an eternity of rejoicing in the presence of Christ the crucified and risen Savior. "And no one will take your joy from you" (John 16:22).
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Divine Service
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[C] Job
[C] Job
May 9, 2022
Job was a blameless and upright man who came from Uz (Job 1:1), a land northeast of Canaan. The Book of Job examines the depths of his faith, which was severely tested through the sufferings God permitted. Despite the sudden death of his ten children and the loss of all his wealth and his health, Job refused to curse God: "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (1:21). Still, in the midst of his tribulations Job questioned the meaning and purpose of suffering to the point of asserting his own righteousness (34:5-6). Finally, the Lord revealed that a man cannot know the mysteries of God (chapters 38-41). Job's faith in his Redeemer and the resurrection prevailed (19:25-27). In the end the Lord restored his wealth and blessed him with another seven sons and three daughters.
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Bible Study
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[C] Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs
[C] Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs
May 11, 2022
Cyril (826-69) and Methodius (c. 815-85) were brothers who came from a Greek family in Thessalonica. The younger brother took the name "Cyril" when he became a monk in 868. After ordination, Cyril became librarian at the church of Holy Wisdom (Hagia Sophia) in Constantinople. In 862 the brothers were sent by the emperor as missionaries to what is now the Czech republic, where they taught in the native Slavic tongue. Cyril invented the alphabet today know today as "Cyrillic," which provided a written language for the liturgy and Scriptures for the Slavic peoples. This use of the vernacular established an important principle for evangelical missions.
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Choir
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Elder Meeting
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Easter 5 (W)
Easter 5 (W)
May 15, 2022
Cantate\rIntroit: Ps. 98:1b, 3-4; antiphon: Ps. 98:1a,2b\rOld Testament: Is. 12:1-6\rPsalm 66:1-8 (antiphon: v. 5)\rEpistle: James 1:16-21\rProperVerse: Ps. 118:16, Romans 6:9\rGospel: John 16:5-15\r\rJesus Promises to Send His Holy Spirit, the Helper\rThough Jesus has departed from us visibly to the right hand of the Father who sent Him, yet this is to our advantage. For Jesus-who is Lord over all creation, who intercedes for us before the Father, who is preparing a place for us in heaven-has sent the Helper, the Spirit of Truth (John 16:5-15). "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights" through Jesus Christ (James 1:17). The Holy Spirit helps us by taking what is Christ's and declaring it to us. In the Word of truth, the Spirit works repentance and delivers to us the forgiveness of sins, the righteousness of Christ, and victory over the devil. For the ruler of this world is judged and defeated by the cross. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we have been brought forth to new life in Him who is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Confident of our resurrection with Christ we confess, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid" (Is. 12:2).
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Hand Chimes
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Divine Service
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Circuit Pastors' Meeting
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[C] Emperor Constantine, Christian Ruler, and Helena, Mother of Constantine
[C] Emperor Constantine, Christian Ruler, and Helena, Mother of Constantine
May 21, 2022
Constantine I served as Roman Emperor from A.D. 306 to 337. During his reign the persecution of Christians was forbidden by the Edict of Milan in 312, and ultimately the faith gained full imperial support. Constantine took an active interest in the life and teachings of the church and called the Council of Nicaea in 325 at which orthodox Christianity was defined and defended. His mother, Helena (ca. 255-329), strongly influenced Constantine. Her great interest in locating the holy sites of the Christian faith led her to become one of the first Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land. Her research led to the identification of Biblical locations in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and beyond, which are still maintained as places of worship today.
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Easter 6 (W)
Easter 6 (W)
May 22, 2022
Rogate\rIntroit: Ps. 66:1-2a, 17, 19-20; antiphon: Is. 48:20b\rOld Testament: Num. 21:4-9\rPsalm 107:1-9 (antiphon: v. 19)\rEpistle: 1 Tim. 2:1-6\r or James 1:22-27\rProperVerse: Liturgical text, John 16:28\rGospel: John 16:23-30 (31-33)\r\rThe Father Answers Our Prayers Because of Jesus\r"Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you" (John 16:23). To pray in Jesus' name is to pray as one who has been baptized. For it is in the water that He put His name upon you, claiming you as His own, making you a son of God with access to the Father. By His incarnation and crucifixion, our Lord Jesus broke through the barrier of sin which separated us from God, opening a portal to the Father. To pray in Jesus' name is to pray with faith in Him as the one Mediator between God and men, who gave Himself a ransom for all (1 Tim. 2:1-6). Like Moses in the wilderness, Jesus is our go-between and intercessor before the throne of heaven. He was lifted up for us on the cross that we might be saved and restored to fellowship with the Father (Num. 21:4-9). Looking into this perfect teaching of liberty (James 1:22-27) we pray with boldness and confidence as dear children of God.
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Divine Service
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Ascension Lunch
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[C] Esther
[C] Esther
May 24, 2022
Esther is the heroine of the biblical book that bears her name. Her Jewish name was Hadassah, which means "myrtle." Her beauty, charm, and courage served her well as queen to King Ahasuerus. In that role she was able to save her people from the mass extermination that Haman, the king's chief advisor, had planned (2:19--4:17). Esther's efforts to uncover the plot resulted in the hanging of Haman on the very same gallows that he had built for Mordecai, her uncle and guardian. Then the king named Mordecai minister of state in Haman's place. This story is an example of how God intervenes on behalf of his people to deliver them from evil, as here through Esther he preserved the Old Testament people through whom the Messiah would come.
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Choir
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[C] Bede the Venerable, Theologian
[C] Bede the Venerable, Theologian
May 25, 2022
Bede (673-735) was the last of the early church fathers and the first to compile the history of the English church. Born in Northumbria, Bede was given by his parents to a monastery in Northern England at the age of seven. The most learned man of his time, he was a prolific writer of history, whose careful use of sources provided a model for historians in the Middle Ages. Known best for his book, The Ecclesiastical History of the English People, he was also a profound interpreter of Scripture; his commentaries are still fresh today. His most famous disciple, Cuthbert, reported that Bede was working on a translation of John's Gospel into English when death came, and that he died with the words of the Gloria Patri on his lips. He received the title "Venerable" within two generations of his death and is buried in Durham Cathedral as one of England's greatest saints.
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Men's Study
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Ascension (W)
Ascension (W)
May 26, 2022
Introit: Ps. 47:1-2, 5, 8; antiphon: Acts 1:11\rOld Testament: 2 Kings 2:5-15\rPsalm 110 (antiphon: v. 1)\rNew Testament: Acts 1:1-11\rProperVerse: Ps. 47:5, 68:18a\rGospel: Mark 16:14-20\r or Luke 24:44-53\r\rJesus Is Ascended, but Not Absent\rOn the fortieth day after His resurrection, our Lord ascended to the right hand of the Father. But although Jesus is hidden from your eyes, He is not absent from you. For He now fills all things in heaven and on earth. He continues "to do and to teach" (Acts 1:1), preaching repentance and forgiveness of sins through those sent in His name (Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:44-53), giving you His true body and blood in the Supper. Jesus is your great Elijah who pours out on you a double portion of His Spirit in the Word and the Sacraments (2 Kings 2:5-15). He is Lord over all things for the sake of the Church. He whom heaven cannot contain has raised your human nature to share fully in the glory of God. You who believe and are baptized into Christ's body are already sitting in the heavenly places; for you are in Him who is at the Father's right hand. When He comes again in the clouds on the Last Day, you also will appear with Him in glory.
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Easter 7 (W)
Easter 7 (W)
May 29, 2022
Exaudi\rIntroit: Ps. 27:1, 11a, 12; antiphon: Ps. 27:7a, 8b, 9a\rOld Testament: Ezek. 36:22-28\rPsalm 51:1-12 (antiphon: v. 10)\rEpistle: 1 Peter 4:7-11(12-14)\rProperVerse: Ps. 47:8, John 14:18a, 28, 16:22\rGospel: John 15:26-16:4\r\rThe Spirit of Truth Bears Witness to Jesus\rThe Spirit of Truth bears witness to Jesus, who is the truth. But the world does not receive the truth. It loves its own and hates those who are of the truth. Just as Jesus was scorned, so is His Church. "The hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God" (John 16:2). Yet it is by Jesus' suffering and death that we are saved. Therefore we rejoice to share in His sufferings, that we may also share in His resurrection glory (1 Pet. 4:7-14). Through the ministry of the Spirit of Truth, we are cleansed from the deceit of our idols and given a new heart and a new spirit, the heart and Spirit of Christ (Ezek. 36:22-28). He now works in us fervent, self-giving love for one another, love which covers a multitude of sins, "that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Pet. 4:11).
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Hand Chimes
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Divine Service
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