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[C] Joshua
[C] Joshua
September 1, 2023
Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, is first mentioned in Exodus 17 when he was chosen by Moses to fight the Amalakites, whom he defeated in a brilliant military victory. He was placed in charge of the Tent of Meeting (Ex. 33:11) and was a member of the tribal representatives sent to survey the land of Canaan (Num 13:8). Later, he was appointed by God to succeed Moses as Israel's commander-in-chief. He eventually led the Israelites across the Jordan River into the Promised Land and directed the Israelites' capture of Jericho. He is remembered especially for his final address to the Israelites, in which he challenged them to serve God faithfully (Josh 24:127), concluding with the memorable words, As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord(24:15).
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[C] Hannah
[C] Hannah
September 2, 2023
Hannah was the favored wife of Elkanah, the Ephraimite, and the devout mother of the prophet Samuel. He was born to her after years of bitter barrenness (1 Sam 1:68) and fervent prayers for a son (1:918). After she weaned her son, Hannah expressed her gratitude by returning him for service in the House of the Lord at Shiloh (1:2428). Her prayer (psalm) of thanksgiving (2:110) begins with the words, My heart exults in Lord; my strength is exalted in the Lord. This song foreshadows the Magnificat, the Song of Mary centuries later (Lk 1:4655). The name Hannah derives from the Hebrew word for grace. She is remembered and honored for joyfully having kept the vow she made before her son's birth and offering him for lifelong service to God.
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13th Sunday after Trinity (G)
13th Sunday after Trinity (G)
September 3, 2023
Introit: Ps. 74:1-2, 19b, 21b; antiphon: Ps. 74:20a, 21a, 22a, 23a\rGradual: Ps. 77:14-15\rOld Testament: 2 Chron. 28:8-15\rPsalm 32 (antiphon: v. 2)\rEpistle: Gal. 3:15-22\rProperVerse: Ps. 88:1\rGospel: Luke 10:23-37\r\rJesus Is Our Good Samaritan\rThe Law cannot help us or give us life. Rather, it confines everyone under sin as wounded and naked before God (Gal. 3:15-22). So it is that two figures of the Law, the priest and the Levite, passed by the injured man on the side of the road (Luke 10:23-37). Only the promised Seed of Abraham can rescue us and make us righteous before God. Only the Samaritan, our Lord Jesus, had compassion, as did the Samaritans of old (2 Chronicles 28:8-15). He came down to us in our lost and dying condition, pouring on the oil and wine of the Sacraments. He placed us on His own animal, bearing our sin and brokenness in His body on the cross to restore us. Jesus brought us to the inn, that is, the Church, and gave the innkeeper two denarii, that His double forgiveness might continue to be ministered to us. In this way the Lord, by whose Law we are torn and stricken, heals us and revives us by His Gospel and raises us up with Himself.
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[C] Gregory the Great, Pastor
[C] Gregory the Great, Pastor
September 3, 2023
One of the great leaders in Europe at the close of the sixth century, Gregory served in both the secular and sacred arenas of his era. As mayor of Rome, he restored economic vitality to his native city, which had been weakened by enemy invasions, pillage, and plague. After he sold his extensive properties and donated the proceeds to help the poor, he entered into full-time service in the Church. On September 3, 590 A.D., Gregory was elected to lead the church in Rome. As Bishop of Rome he oversaw changes and growth in the areas of church music and liturgical development, missionary outreach to northern Europe, and the establishment of a church-year calendar still used by many churches in the western World today. His book on pastoral care became a standard until the 20th century.
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Divine Service
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Bible Study/Sunday School
Bible Study/Sunday School
September 3, 2023 10:45 am - 11:45 am
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Labor Day
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[C] Moses
[C] Moses
September 4, 2023
Moses was born in Egypt several generations after Joseph brought his father Jacob and his brothers there to escape a famine in the land of Canaan. The descendants of Jacob had been enslaved by the Egyptians and were ordered to kill all their male children. When Moses was born his mother put him in a basket and set it afloat in the Nile River. He was found by Pharaoh's daughter and raised by her as her own son (Exod 2:110). At age 40 Moses killed an Egyptian taskmaster and fled to the land of Midian, where he worked as a shepherd for forty years. Then the Lord called him to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh, Let My people go, that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness (5:1). Eventually Pharaoh gave in and, after the Israelites celebrated the first Passover, Moses led them out. At the Red Sea the Egyptian army was destroyed and the Israelites passed to safety on dry land (Exodus 12-15). At Mount Sinai they were given the Law and erected the Tabernacle (Exodus 19-40). But because of disobedience they had to wander in the wilderness for forty years. Moses himself was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, although God allowed him to view it (Deuteronomy 34). In the New Testament Moses is referred to as lawgiver and prophet. The first five books of the Bible are attributed to him.
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[C] Zacharias and Elizabeth
[C] Zacharias and Elizabeth
September 5, 2023
Zacharias and Elizabeth were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord (Lk 1:6). Zecharias, a priest in the Jerusalem temple, was greeted by the angel Gabriel who announced that Zecharias and Elizabeth would become parents of a son. Initially Zecharias did not believe Gabriel's announcement because of their old age. For his disbelieve, Zecharias became unable to speak. After their son was born, Elizabeth named her son John. Zecharias confirmed his wife's choice and his ability to speak was restored. In response, he sang the Benedictus, a magnificent summary of God's promises in the Old Testament and a prediction of John's work as forerunner to Jesus (Lk. 1:6879). Zecharias and Elizabeth are remembered as examples of faithfulness and piety.
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Pastors' Study Group in Plano
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Choir
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14th Sunday after Trinity (G)
14th Sunday after Trinity (G)
September 10, 2023
Introit: Ps. 84: 1-2a, 4, 10b, 11b; antiphon: Ps. 84:9-10a\rGradual: Ps. 92:1-2\rOld Testament: Prov. 4:10-23\rPsalm 119:9-16 (antiphon: v. 12)\rEpistle: Gal. 5:16-24\rProperVerse: Ps. 65:1\rGospel: Luke 17:11-19\r\rThe Cry of Faith: Lord, Have Mercy\rThe ten lepers cried out from a distance, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:11-19). Their condition cut them off from God and others. So also do the works of the flesh cut us off from God and others. "Those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God" (Gal. 5:16-24). Thus we cry out with the lepers, "Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy," eagerly seeking His good gifts. Jesus said to the lepers, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. So too, we walk by faith and not by sight, being confident of Jesus' help before we see any evidence of it, trusting that Jesus' cleansing words of forgiveness will restore us to wholeness in the resurrection. Let us be as the one leper who returned to the true High Priest to give Him thanks and glory. For Jesus bore our infirmities in His sacrifice at Calvary. His words are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh (Prov. 4:10-23).
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Divine Service
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Bible Study/Sunday School
Bible Study/Sunday School
September 10, 2023 10:45 am - 11:45 am
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Youth Catechesis
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[F] Holy Cross Day (R)
[F] Holy Cross Day (R)
September 14, 2023
Old Testament: Numbers 21:4-9\rPsalm 40:1-11 (antiphon: v. 13)\rEpistle1 Corinthians 1:18-25\rGospel: John 12:20-33\r\rThe Exaltation of the Holy Cross\rSir, we wish to see Jesus! (John 12:21). Then look to His Holy Cross. For just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the wilderness, so Jesus, when He is lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to Himself (v. 32). He humbled Himself and became obedient even to the death of the cross to save us (Phil. 2:8). Everyone who is bitten by the ancient serpent's venom of sin, when he sees Christ shall live (Num. 21:8). The true Holy Cross is lost to history, and we cannot return to Calvary to find our salvation. So Christ brings the New Testament in His Blood to us. We preach Christ crucified . . . the power of God and the wisdom of God, though foolishness to the unbelieving world (1 Cor. 1:23-24). It pleases God through the folly of the cross we preach to save those who believe (v.21). We find the fruit and benefit of this Holy Cross poured out in Holy Baptism, spoken in the preaching of Holy Absolution, and delivered in the Body and Blood given and shed there for us. Thus are we strengthened to take up our crosses, sanctified by His (John 12:25-26).
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Elder Meeting
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[C] Cyprian of Carthage, Pastor and Martyr
[C] Cyprian of Carthage, Pastor and Martyr
September 16, 2023
Cyprian (A.D. ca. 200258), was acclaimed bishop of the north African city in Carthage around 248. During the persecution of the roman Emperor Decius, Cyprian fled Carthage but returned two years later. He was then forced to deal with the problem of Christians who had lapsed from their faith under persecution and now wanted to return to the Church. It was decided that these lapsed Christians could be restored but that their restoration could take place only after a period of penance that demonstrated their faithfulness. During the persecution under Emperor Valerian, Cyprian at first went into hiding but later gave himself up to the authorities. He was beheaded for the faith in Carthage in the year 258.
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15th Sunday after Trinity (G)
15th Sunday after Trinity (G)
September 17, 2023
Introit: Ps. 86:4, 6, 15a, 16; antiphon: Ps. 86:1a, 2b, 3\rGradual: Ps. 118:8-9\rOld Testament: 1 Kings 17:8-16\rPsalm 146 (antiphon: v. 9a)\rEpistle: Gal. 5:25-6:10\rProperVerse: Ps. 95:1\rGospel: Matt. 6:24-34\r\rAnxious Bondage vs. Confident Trust\r"You cannot serve God and money" (Matt. 6:24-34), for they require two contrary forms of service. Worry is the worship given to the false god of mammon, an unbelieving anxiousness and focus on the things of this world. Faith is the worship of the true God, a confident trust that He is a loving Father who will care for all of our needs in both body and soul. The widow of Zarephath served God- that is, she believed the word of the Lord spoken by Elijah that the bin of flour would not be used up nor would the jar of oil run dry (1 Kings 17:8-16). He who feeds the birds and clothes the flowers will certainly provide for our daily needs. For He has already provided for our eternal needs, clothing us with Christ's righteousness in Baptism and feeding us His body and blood for our forgiveness. With such confidence we are liberated from worry and freed to do good with our material resources, especially to those who are of the household of faith (Gal. 5:25-6:10).
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Divine Service
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Bible Study/Sunday School
Bible Study/Sunday School
September 17, 2023 10:45 am - 11:45 am
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Youth Catechesis
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[F] St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (R)
[F] St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist (R)
September 21, 2023
Old Testament: Ezekiel 2:8-3:11\rPsalm 119:33-40 (antiphon: v. 35)\rEpistle: Ephesians 4:7-16\rGospel: Matthew 9:9-13\r\rSt. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist\rOur Ascended Lord gives gifts to His Church. In particular He gave apostles and evangelists like St. Matthew, prophets like Ezekiel, and still gives pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:8, 11). All are for the common good, empowered by the same Spirit (1 Cor. 12:7, 11). They speak Christ's truth in love to wind- and wave-tossed children so that the saints may be equipped, served, and built up as the body of Christ (Eph. 4:12-15). Christ is not only the Head of this body; He is her Good Physician (Matt. 9:9-13). He has come not for the well but for the sick, not for the righteous, but for sinners-even notorious tax collectors like Matthew. Christ's team of spiritual physicians must serve faithfully. Their instrument is "Thus says the Lord God," to be spoken "whether they hear or refuse to hear" (Ezek. 3:11). To those stubborn, rebellious patients who believe they need no physician, the Word of lamentation, mourning, and woe must be fearlessly spoken: God's Law calls to repentance. To those who recognize their trouble and sickness, the salve of the Gospel is to be applied. So Christ works to save us, as Matthew's Gospel records.
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Ladies Tea at Faith, Plano
Ladies Tea at Faith, Plano
September 21, 2023 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
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[C] Jonah
[C] Jonah
September 22, 2023
A singular prophet among the many in the Old Testament, Jonah the son of Amittai was born about an hour's walk from the town of Nazareth. The focus of his prophetic ministry was the call to preach at Nineveh, the capital of pagan Assyria (Jonah 1:1). His reluctance to respond and God's insistence that his call be heeded is the story of the book that bears Jonah's name. Although the swallowing and disgorging of Jonah by the great fish is the most remembered detail of his life, it is addressed in only three verses of the book (1:17; 2:1, 10). Throughout the book, the important theme is how God deals compassionately sinners. Jonah's three-day sojourn in the belly of the fish is mentioned by Jesus as a sign of his own death, burial, and resurrection (Mt. 12:3941).
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16th Sunday after Trinity (G)
16th Sunday after Trinity (G)
September 24, 2023
Introit: Ps. 86:1, 7, 12, 13; antiphon: Ps. 86:3, 5\rGradual: Ps. 102:15-16\rOld Testament: 1 Kings 17:17-24\rPsalm 30 (antiphon: v. 5b)\rEpistle: Eph. 3:13-21\rProperVerse: Ps. 115:11\rGospel: Luke 7:11-17\r\rJesus Calls forth Life from Death\rA large funeral procession carrying the only son of a widow is confronted by another large procession, Jesus and His followers. Death and Life meet face to face at the gate of the city (Luke 7:11-17). Filled with compassion, Jesus comes into direct contact with our mortality in order to overcome it. He touches the coffin and speaks His creative words of life, "Young man, I say to you, arise." Jesus does what is neither expected nor requested. For through Christ, God the Father "is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think" (Eph. 3:14-21). Jesus bore our death in His body that we may share in His resurrection. Even as Elijah stretched himself out three times over the Zarephath woman's son (2 Kings 17:17-24), God stretched Himself out over us in the threefold application of His name in the baptismal water, breathing new and everlasting life into us. "To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."
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Divine Service
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Bible Study/Sunday School
Bible Study/Sunday School
September 24, 2023 10:45 am - 11:45 am
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Youth Catechesis
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[F] St. Michael and All Angels (W)
[F] St. Michael and All Angels (W)
September 29, 2023
Old Testament: Daniel 10:10-14; 12:13\rPsalm 91 (antiphon: v. 11)\rEpistle: Revelation 12:7-12\rGospel: Matthew 18:1-11 or\r Luke 10:17-20\r\rOur Father in Heaven Protects His Children by Giving His Holy Angels Charge Over Them\rWe live in "a time of trouble" (Dan. 12:1), in the midst of great tribulation; for Satan and his wicked angels have been thrown out of heaven and have come down to earth "in great wrath," with woeful "temptations to sin" and with constant accusations (Rev. 12:8-12; Matt. 18:7). Even so, we are encouraged by the presence and protection of St. Michael and the holy angels, whom God sends to help us in the strife (Dan. 10:11-13). By "the authority of his Christ," His holy angels guard and keep us in body and soul. These heavenly servants of God preserve His human messengers on earth, the ministers of "the blood of the Lamb," against all the power of the enemy; for by "the word of their testimony," the Church is saved and the devil is defeated (Rev. 12:10-11; Luke 10:18-19). By their preaching and Baptism of repentance, the old Adam and the old evil foe are "drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:6); and as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, so are His people delivered and raised from the dust of the earth through the forgiveness of their sins (Dan. 12:1-3).
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[C] Jerome, Translator of Holy Scripture
[C] Jerome, Translator of Holy Scripture
September 30, 2023
Jerome was born in a little village on the Adriatic Sea around the year A.D. 345. At a young age he went to study in Rome, where he was baptized. After extensive travels, he chose the life of a monk and spent five years in the Syrian desert. There he learned Hebrew, the language of the Old Testament . After ordination at Antioch and visits to Rome and Constantinople, Jerome settled in Bethlehem. From the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, he used his ability with languages to translate the Bible into Latin, the common language of his time. This translation, called the Vulgate, was the authoritative version of the Bible in the western Church world for over 1,000 years. Considered one of the great scholars of the early church, Jerome died on September 30, 420. He was originally interred at Bethlehem but his remains were eventually taken to Rome.
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