Category: General

FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

May 8, 2022

AS WE GATHER
O blessed mystery! The Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, is also the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep. The risen Lord Jesus is alive and present among His people as the Good Shepherd using His Word and Sacraments to care for us. Through His continuing presence and ministry, Jesus leads His people to our eternal home in His nearer presence, where the Lamb, who is our Shepherd, will guide us to streams of living water and wipe away every tear from our eyes.

BIBLE READINGS

FIRST READING: Acts 20:17–35 (Paul with the Ephesian elders)

SECOND READING: Revelation 7:9–17
(John sees the Lamb who was slain, now reigning on His throne.)

HOLY GOSPEL: John 10:22–30 (Jesus affirms that no one can snatch His flock from His care.)

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

May 1, 2022

AS WE GATHER
God’s Word is always effective; we cannot truly hear it and remain as we were. What a revelation! Today’s Scripture Readings all reflect this truth. In Acts, Saul, once responsible for the stoning of Stephen, is changed into the apostle Paul, the human author of much of the New Testament. In the vision in Revelation, John’s sorrow is drowned out by the hosts of heaven as they praise the Lamb who is worthy to receive all our praise. And in the Gospel, Peter is forgiven for his weak faith on Holy Thursday and given the gracious invitation to follow his Lord. Now it is our turn to be changed—into people freed from sin and death to serve our living Lord.

BIBLE READINGS

FIRST READING: Acts 9:1–22 (The conversion of Saul)

EPISTLE READING: Revelation 5: 1–14 (The scroll and the Lamb)

HOLY GOSPEL: John 21:1–14 (Jesus appears to seven disciples and restores Peter.)

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

April 24, 2022

AS WE GATHER
Sometimes the simplest of words carry the greatest of importance. As Jesus speaks with the doubting disciple Thomas gathered in a special room with the disciples a few days after the resurrection, He says simply, “See.” But that is all He needs to say. It confirms the powerful truth that He is indeed arisen from the dead. Today we are faithful people gathered in a different room—but also with those who are disciples of the Lord. And He has promised to be with us and among us in the upper room. As we worship, we will see signs of His abiding presence.

Bible Readings

FIRST READING: Acts 5:12–20 (God’s Word goes out to the people through the apostles.)

EPISTLE READING: Revelation 1:4–18
(John’s vision of Christ’s eternal glory)

HOLY GOSPEL: John 20:19–31
(Jesus appears to disciples hiding behind locked doors and brings peace by His resurrection.)

THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD—
EASTER DAY

April 17, 2022

AS WE GATHER
Today we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord. That event is a fact of history, but it means, as we sing to our Savior in “Hail Thee, Festival Day,” new life given to us all. Through Isaiah, God had promised a new heaven and a new earth. For us that means a new life in which our sins have been forgiven as we trust that Jesus paid for them all with His death and resurrection. The report of the women on Easter was met with skepticism by the disciples. But Christ did rise, and, Paul points out in the Epistle, He’s the firstfruits of those who sleep. Today’s celebrating isn’t for a day—it lasts forever!

BIBLE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 65:17–25
(God creates anew; remember not the things of the past.)

EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 15:19–26
(Christ is the firstfruits of those who will be raised.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:1–12 (Angels remind the women of Jesus’ words.)

PALM SUNDAY

April 10, 2022

AS WE GATHER
Palm Sunday begins with unbridled joy as we recall how Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey, while being acclaimed by the crowds with loud shouts of “Hosanna” and boisterous waving of palm branches. So today we begin with songs of praise and waving of palm branches as we hail Jesus as the One worthy of all glory, laud, and honor. But then the solemnness of Holy Week also begins. With a time of silence, the service shifts our focus to Jesus’ path to the cross. As foretold by prophets long ago, Jesus was stricken and afflicted, beaten and spit upon, crucified, and He died. He did this out of divine love for all of humanity, taking on Himself the sins of all people for our forgiveness. Today’s worship reflects the pattern of our lives. At times we experience unbridled joy and celebration. And then, sometimes in the next moment, we experience heartbreaking suffering. Jesus is there with us—in the joyful celebrations, in the heartbreak and suffering. He alone can transform it all into deeper love for God and neighbor. The hour of Jesus’ death on the cross is the hour of our life and salvation.

BIBLE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Deuteronomy 32:36-39
(The Lord will vindicate His people.)

EPISTLE READING: Philippians 2:5–11 (“He became obedient to death.”)

HOLY GOSPEL: John 12:20-43 (Jesus predicts His death)

FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT

April 3, 2022

AS WE GATHER
From the outside looking in, our walking together through the forty days of Lent does not seem nearly as exciting as the cheerfulness of Christmas or the elation of Easter, which we will experience two short weeks from today. Yet there is much joy to be found! There’s a great reason to rejoice! God blesses us with time together today to fix our eyes on Jesus and receive Him who was rejected for our redemption, forsaken for our forgiveness, and sacrificed for our salvation. Following the example of Paul, we cast everything else aside and find joy—true, lasting, eternal joy—in “the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8). Jesus longs for us to receive Him as He reveals Himself by His Word and Spirit, learning to know Him for who He truly is and what He has come to give. Christ alone is our joy—at Christmas, at Easter, during the season of Lent, and every day we are given! “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice” (Philippians 4:4).

BIBLE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 43:16–21 (The Lord gives refreshment in the wilderness to His chosen people.)

EPISTLE READING: Philippians 3:8–14 (Everything is counted as loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 20:9–20 (The rejected Son of God is our cornerstone.)

FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT

March 27, 2022

AS WE GATHER
This Sunday, once called Laetare, which is Latin for “rejoice,” lifts the somberness of Lent a bit. The reason is all that God has already done for us in the past. The reading from Isaiah looks ahead to our day, when we know that the Lord “has become my salvation.” We have known what David rejoices over in the psalm: that when he confessed his transgressions, the Lord “forgave the iniquity of my sin.” God’s forgiveness has reconciled us through Christ as completely, Paul writes that it is as if “the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” We can be confident that each day brings us closer to our last on earth, when, like the prodigal son, we shall hear our heavenly Father’s “welcome home.” So, even in Lent, rejoice!

BIBLE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 12:1–6 (God has answered our prayers.)

EPISTLE READING: 2 Corinthians 5:16–21 (Be reconciled to God.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 (The parable of the prodigal son)

THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT

March 20, 2022

AS WE GATHER
Someone’s always watching. At least it seems that way, doesn’t it? In a world full of security cameras and alarm systems, there seem to be millions of ways to keep your property secure and guard your valuables from intruders who would seek to cause trouble. But what are your thoughts about having someone—an actual living, breathing person—to watch over you and your family at all times and in all places? Lest we think that a security detail like that is available only to the rich and the powerful, listen to what the Lord God said to Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel” (Ezekiel 33:7). The entire house of God, which has been watched over by the prophets of old, is now under the authority and care of the Son of God and Son of Man, Jesus Christ. He is your ultimate watchman who guards and protects you from the threats of the evil thief who “comes only to steal and kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Place yourself under the watchful eye and merciful care of this watchman today! Watch Him, hear Him, and receive Him as He serves you in His Father’s house and fills you with the life that He alone can provide.

BIBLE READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ezekiel 33:7–20 (The prophet serves as a watchman for the house of Israel.)

EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 10:1–13
(Our faithful God provides the way of escape to help us endure our trials and temptations.)

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 13:1–9 (Jesus warns us that we will all perish unless we repent.)