The Feast of the Beheading of St. John

In the Name + of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

John the Baptist has risen from the dead — in Christ Jesus, in His Word and miraculous works. For the baptizer, as well as all the baptized, has both died and risen with Him who is our Head.

So do the Lord’s life, His Word and works testify to your resurrection. And your life testifies to His Cross and Resurrection: to His fulfillment of the Law in faith and love, and to His completion of Holy Baptism in repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

St. John’s preaching and his baptizing, his life and his death, all confess and point ahead to Christ, the Crucified. His death is neither an accident, nor a punishment or failure, but the culmination of his holy and righteous work. As the Forerunner of the Lord Jesus Christ, his passion and death precede that of the Lamb to whom he points.

And if the baptizer is so maligned and put to death, so are the baptized who die with Christ Jesus. But such a death is repentance, unto resurrection, and as Christ Jesus lives, so do you.

St. John the Baptist, in the spirit and power of Elijah, still goes before the Lord to prepare His way by the preaching of repentance.

Therefore, whatever is not lawful in your life, put that to death in you, and die to that. Repent, and bear the fruits of repentance.

Where you are harboring grudges, whether against the Lord, His servants, or your neighbor, repent of your sinful hardness of heart, humble yourself under God, and forgive, as you are forgiven. Be reconciled to God and man in Christ Jesus, lest the sin that is crouching at the door of your heart devour your body and soul in death.

If you are sorry for what you have said or done, do not be afraid to make amends and do better. Submit to the Word of the Lord, and trust Him to preserve your life, to vindicate and raise you, even from death and the grave. Whether you suffer the consequences of your own sins, or suffer the sins of others against you, do not doubt the faithfulness of the Lord, who loves you and who saves you by His grace, by His own innocent suffering and death, by His holy and precious blood, by His catechesis and His preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Do not simply listen to His Word as some kind of passing entertainment or amusement, but hear it and heed it as the truth, and live by it in faith and love, in life and death, patiently bearing the Cross.

Surely the Cross of Christ is perplexing, but do not be afraid.

Is it not amazing that Herod was afraid of John, locked up in Herod’s prison and subject to his whims? Whereas John, however fearful or discouraged his mortal flesh may have been, had the courage, peace and confidence to continue preaching, even in prison, even unto death.

That is a faithful example for you, even if it does end in beheading, in death (or precisely so!).

But, how long, O Lord? How long?

Are you not tempted and tested in your own place — whether in a prison or a palace?

Yet, the Lord has given you a white robe in your Baptism. He has clothed you in the righteousness of Christ Jesus. And He invites you to rest here, to be at peace, under the Altar of the same Lord Jesus Christ. Here is where your heart and soul recline in safety, even while your body labors in love, and suffers for the sake of love, for the sake of the truth, for the sake of the Gospel. For here your body also finds its Sabbath Rest, reclines, and eats and drinks in peace, in the forgiveness, life and salvation of Christ.

It is to and from this Altar that you live.

Your life in Christ is truly Sacramental. It is rooted in Holy Baptism. It reclines at the Lord’s Table in the Holy Communion. And such things are eminently practical.

You have died and risen with Christ in Holy Baptism.
So what could Herod or anyone else do to you?

And as your life is hidden with Christ in God, under His Altar, your life on earth is Eucharistic, that is, a living sacrifice of thanksgiving to the One who feeds you from His Altar by His grace.

That is your confidence and courage.

And know this, that your life, your death, and your resurrection are precious to Him. You are precious and pleasing to Him, because you are robed in Christ, and you are in Christ, and Christ Himself is in you, and with you, and for you.

He is your Head, truly, as He is the Head of His Body the Church. And as your Head has gone before you, through death and the grave, into life everlasting, you can even “lose your head” for Him and His Gospel (that is no pun, but the truth). And you shall rise in your body to live forever in glory with Him, immortal and imperishable, like unto Christ’s own glorious body.

By the same token, and for the same reason, love and care for your neighbor’s body (in life and in death), in the sure and certain hope of the resurrection of the body! As the disciples of St. John lovingly buried his body.

When you love your neighbor in his or her body, you are loving and serving the body of Christ, the body that is risen and glorified in Him.

In such faith and love, the life that you live from your Baptism to and from the Altar is a proper sort of dance for the true King, and He is pleased with you, not by seduction, but by His grace, through faith in His Gospel.

Living your life as a long slow beautiful dance for your King, the Lord’s Anointed, Christ Jesus, hear His solemn oath and gracious promise to you, that He gives to you His Father’s Kingdom.

And as a gift, guarantee and pledge of that, He who is the Head of John the Baptist gives to you His Body on a silver platter and pours out for you His Blood from a silver chalice, that you might live and abide in Him, as He lives and abides in you.

Dear child of God, baptized into Christ, in Him, not only St. John, but you are risen from the dead in and with Christ the Crucified.

Now, then, find your rest and be at peace here under His Altar, until you are vindicated in the final judgment when the full number of the baptized is completed.

In the Name + of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

The Latest Score

Here are the twenty artists or bands that have most caught my attention, captured my interest, fired my imagination, impressed and intrigued me in recent years (not including those who already had my ears).

Opeth

Black Stone Cherry

Paul Gilbert

Zac Brown Band

Orianthi

Black Label Society

Dream Theater

Eli Young Band

Black Tide

Breaking Benjamin

Halfway to Hazard

Nightwish

Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

MoZella

Elis

Shinedown

Thriving Ivory

Ingrid Michaelson

Apocalyptica

We are the Fallen

First prize, but no cash or any other tangible goodies, to the person who can come up with the best definition and description of my musical tastes. Simply saying "eclectic," "weird," "awful," or "great" won't cut it.

A Dozen Hard Rock / Heavy Metal Benchmarks

In some ways, it's a gimme, but fwiw, here are my hard rock / heavy metal benchmarks (in order of significance, so far as I am concerned):

Black Sabbath

Led Zeppelin

Judas Priest

Bon Jovi

AC/DC

Metallica

Ozzy Osbourne

Def Leppard

Guns N’ Roses

Van Halen

Scorpions

Iron Maiden

Yes, I basically live in the past. I like it that way.

The Dormition of St. Mary, the Mother of God

Let us arise and go to a city of Judah, and enter a priestly house, and rejoice in God our Savior.

And let us do so on this day in the remembrance of His mercy, with thanksgiving for His maidservant, the Blessed Virgin Mary, by whom He has become one with us, flesh of our flesh and blood of our blood.

She is, with us, a member of His Church, and in a special way she is an icon of that Royal Bride of Christ, that Holy Mother of God’s sons and daughters. In giving thanks for His grace and mercy upon her, we give thanks for His great mercy upon generation after generation, and upon us.

Because He is conceived and born of the Woman, this new Eve, this dear St. Mary, He is conceived and born for us, the sons and daughters of the first Adam and the first Eve, that we might receive the new birth of water, Word and Spirit, and the adoption of sons of God our Father.

So has He accomplished for us, first of all by becoming like us in all ways, save without sin, and then also by His Cross and Resurrection in our flesh. Born under the Law, and submitting Himself to the Law on our behalf, He has kept and fulfilled the Law for us, in perfect faith and love. Precisely in that same faith and love, He has suffered the judgment and punishment of the Law, the shame and humiliation of our sin and death, and has thereby atoned for our sin, defeated our death, destroyed our enemy the devil, redeemed us for Himself, and reconciled us to God forever.

All of this He has done, once for all — for St. Mary and St. Elizabeth, for Father Abraham and all his children, for Adam and Eve and all their children, and therefore, also, no less for you. It is an accomplished fact in His own flesh and blood, in His own Body and life, in His own Person, in the Kingdom of His God and Father, even now on earth (in His Church) as it is in heaven.

It is already true — it has been accomplished, and it is finished, complete, perfected — solid as a rock, never to be undone. So tightly has He bound Himself to us, by His Incarnation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and so tightly are His Cross and Resurrection united in Him, in His Body of flesh and blood like ours, that, even though you are small and weak and poor, lowly and mortal, dying and wasting away a little more every day, yet are you resurrected and ascended in and with Christ Jesus, the Son of God and Mary’s Son. In Him your life is already hidden with God, seated on high in the heavenly places, exalted far above all angels and archangels, above the cherubim and seraphim and the whole heavenly host.

But surely you do not see or feel or experience that heavenly glory and reality now. It is by faith in the Word of God, which you hear, and not by human sight. What you see and feel and experience in your life on earth is hunger, want and need; sickness and death; hardship and pain; ridicule and persecution; disappointment and despair; suffering and sorrow. You bear the reproach of your neighbor and the world, the assaults and accusations of the devil, the humiliation and shame of your own sin and guilt and faults and errors.

You hear that your sins are forgiven, and yet, you still suffer many of their consequences; not all of them, but many.

You hear that the Lord is with you, that He loves you, that His gracious favor is upon you, yet you often feel lonely and unloved, out of favor and forgotten.

You hear of the great blessings of Christ, but, as they come by and with and through His Cross, they are blessings often hard to bear.

You hear that God feeds and clothes you and preserves your life, but you still have to manage and juggle your finances, and work for a living, and pay your bills, and day by day you find yourself slowing down, getting tired and sometimes getting sick, wearing out and wasting away.

Against all of this harsh experience, the Church in heaven and on earth sets the incarnate Son of God, Christ Jesus, crucified, risen and ascended in our human flesh and blood. Here is the true Man, conceived and born of Mary, who is our sister and our mother; and He, the Lord Jesus, her Son, our Brother, has been tempted in all ways as you are tempted; He has suffered in all the ways that you suffer; He has borne all of your sins in His own body, and He has carried all the sins of those who trespass against you, so that by His stripes and holy wounds you are healed.

He has shed His blood for you, for your redemption and atonement, and He has suffered and died in your place, on your behalf. He has gone through hell on your account and for your benefit.

And God raised this same Jesus, the Son of Mary, from the dead. This One who humbled Himself, even unto death, God has highly exalted above all heavens and has bestowed on Him the Name which is above every name.

That is why we make the crucifix a beautiful work of art, finally crafted and often of polished metal. It is why we use the finest vessels we can for the Holy Communion, and adorn the Church in splendor, and reverence the crucified Lord with deliberate ceremonies. It is why we clothe the newly baptized in white garments, even though they may be crying or screaming or messing themselves as we do so. It is why we clothe the ministers of Christ with colorful and elaborate vestments, though they are mortal men, poor miserable sinners like anyone else. It is why we sing sturdy hymns of substance and great confidence, even in the face of sin and death.

And it is why we say of this young girl from Nazareth, that she is rightly called and truly is the Mother of God. For her dear Son, the blessed Fruit of her sanctified womb, even as a tiny Fetus hidden within her body, is the very Lord, our God.

With all these things, with our lips and with our lives, we confess before the world that the Lord has had regard for the humble state of His servants. We confess that in His great mercy He has done great things for us; that with His mighty arm, His hands outstretched upon the Cross, He has done truly mighty deeds for us.

With St. Mary, with St. Elizabeth and all the faithful (in heaven and on earth), we exalt the Lord, and our spirits rejoice in God our Savior. Which is to exalt and rejoice in the Son of Mary, for He is true God, and she is the Mother of our Lord.

In remembering her Dormition on this day — that is, her falling asleep in Jesus, in the sure and certain hope of His Resurrection — the Church rejoices and confesses that Mary’s Son is not the God of the dead, but of the living. In giving thanks to God for St. Mary, we believe, teach and confess that her Son, Christ Jesus, has fulfilled all that God has spoken and promised.

In considering that she who was humble has been exalted, in counting her blessed among women, we confess the Cross and Resurrection of Christ Jesus, our Lord, and count ourselves also exalted in Him. Even in the midst of lowliness and grief, in the midst of darkness, burdened by sin, threatened by death and destruction.

Even here, we do not fear.

We trust that, just as the Son of God was conceived and born of Mary by His Word and Spirit, so have you been conceived and born of His Church, as sons of God by grace through faith — in the same Word and Spirit that came to the Blessed Virgin.

We trust that, just as the Son of God became flesh and blood of her flesh and blood, and dwelt within St. Mary’s body, so does the same Son of God with the same flesh and blood come to dwell in your body in the Holy Communion.

As you eat of His Body and drink of His Blood, and as you have been united with Him, in His Cross and Resurrection, by your Holy Baptism, so are His Resurrection and Ascension surely yours.

So surely are they also St. Mary’s.

For the Lord our God, Christ Jesus, her Son, our Brother in the flesh and the Savior of us all, feeds the hungry with good things, in the remembrance of His mercy, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Between Perfect and Worthless

There's a lot of ground between perfect and worthless. Do not suppose that you have yet attained to either end of that great expanse.

There is but One who is Perfect, yes, only One.

Yet, there is no one who is worthless, no, not even one.

For the Perfect One has given Himself for all, and that is worth quite a lot.

You, yes you, are precious and of great price to that Perfect One, who has redeemed you, purchased and won you, not with perishable gold and silver, nor with stocks and bonds, but with His holy and precious blood, with His innocent suffering and death.

For Those Who Asked (and anyone else)

From the Rudisillian Retreat at Redeemer this past week:

Here is the presentation that LaRena and I gave on the Church as the Household and Family of God; and

Here is the sermon I preached for the Commemoration of the Holy Ghost (Acts 8:14-17; St. John 14:23-31) at the concluding Votive Mass.

Hymns for Proper 14-20 Series C

First Sunday in Martyrs’ Tide
Proper 14 (Sunday on August 7–13)
Genesis 15:1–6
Hebrews 11:1–16
Luke 12:22–34 (35–40)

Hymn of Invocation
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB 621)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
O little flock, fear not the foe (LSB 666)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord (LSB 728)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father (LSB 809)
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB 671)

Hymn of Departure
O God, our help in ages past (LSB 733)

Alternative Hymns
Consider how the birds above (LSB 736)
Entrust your days and burdens (LSB 754)
Evening and morning (LSB 726)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
Father, we praise Thee (LSB 875)
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer (LSB 918)
Have no fear, little flock (LSB 735)
If God Himself be for me (LSB 724)
If thou but trust in God to guide thee (LSB 750)
Jerusalem, my happy home (LSB 673)
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (LSB 663)
Saints, see the cloud of witnesses (LSB 667)
Seek where you may to find a way (LSB 557)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
Soul, adorn yourself with gladness (LSB 636)
The God of Abraham praise (LSB 798)
There is a time for ev’rything (LSB 762)
Wake, awake, for night is flying (LSB 516)
What God ordains is always good (LSB 760)


Second Sunday in Martyrs’ Tide
Proper 15 (Sunday on August 14–20)
Jeremiah 23:16–29
Hebrews 11:17–31 (32–40); 12:1–3
Luke 12:49–53 (54–56)

Hymn of Invocation
Come, Thou almighty King (LSB 905)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word (LSB 655)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
The Son of God goes forth to war (LSB 661)
I bind unto myself today (LSB 604)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)

Hymn of Departure
Evening and morning (LSB 726)

Alternative Hymns
Abide, O dearest Jesus (LSB 919)
Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord (LSB 497)
For all the saints who from their labors rest (LSB 677)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
God’s Word is our great heritage (LSB 582)
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)
If God Himself be for me (LSB 724)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
Jesus, once with sinners numbered (LSB 404)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
O Holy Spirit, enter in (LSB 913)
O little flock, fear not the foe (LSB 666)
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (LSB 663)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
The Gospel shows the Father’s grace (LSB 580)
The Law of God is good and wise (LSB 579)
Thee will I love, my strength, my tower (LSB 694)
Triune God, be Thou our stay (LSB 505)
Water, blood, and Spirit crying (LSB 597)
Who trusts in God a strong abode (LSB 714)


Third Sunday in Martyrs’ Tide
Proper 16 (Sunday on August 21–27)
Isaiah 66:18–23
Hebrews 12:4–24 (25–29)
Luke 13:22–30

Hymn of Invocation
Triune God, be Thou our stay (LSB 505)

Hymn of the Day
A multitude comes from the east and the west (LSB 510)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
From depths of woe I cry to Thee (LSB 607)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
The day is surely drawing near (LSB 508)
If God Himself be for me (LSB 724)

Hymn of Departure / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Jerusalem the golden (LSB 672)

Alternative Hymns
A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth (LSB 438)
Built on the Rock the Church shall stand (LSB 645)
Christ, the Life of all the living (LSB 420)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)
Jerusalem, my happy home (LSB 673)
Jerusalem, O city fair and high (LSB 674)
Jesus comes today with healing (LSB 620)
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness (LSB 563)
O sacred head, now wounded (LSB 450)
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be (LSB 675)
Saints, see the cloud of witnesses (LSB 667)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
Sing, my tongue, the glorious battle (LSB 454)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
The Bridegroom soon will call us (LSB 514)
Thine the amen, Thine the praise (LSB 680)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB 756)
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)


Fourth Sunday in Martyrs’ Tide
Proper 17 (Sunday on August 28—September 3)
Proverbs 25:2–10
Hebrews 13:1–17
Luke 14:1–14

Hymn of Invocation
These are the holy Ten Commands (LSB 581)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Lord Jesus Christ, life-giving bread (LSB 625)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Son of God, eternal Savior (LSB 842)
Now, my tongue, the myst’ry telling (LSB 630)
Soul, adorn yourself with gladness (LSB 636)
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart (LSB 708)

Hymn of Departure
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)

Alternative Hymns
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing (LSB 633)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
Christ is made the sure foundation (LSB 909)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
Hail, Thou once despised Jesus (LSB 531)
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
Jerusalem, my happy home (LSB 673)
Jesus comes today with healing (LSB 620)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Lord Jesus Christ, be present now (LSB 902)
Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly pray (LSB 623)
Saints, see the cloud of witnesses (LSB 667)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)
Who trusts in God a strong abode (LSB 714)
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)
Your table I approach (LSB 628)


Fifth Sunday in Martyrs’ Tide
Proper 18 (Sunday on September 4–10)
Deuteronomy 30:15–20
Philemon 1–21
Luke 14:25–35

Hymn of Invocation
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
A mighty fortress is our God (LSB 656)
Church of God, elect and glorious (LSB 646)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him (LSB 797)

Hymn of Departure
Lord of all hopefulness (LSB 738)

Alternative Hymns
All people that on earth do dwell (LSB 791)
“As surely as I live,” God said (LSB 614)
“Come, follow Me,” the Savior spake (LSB 688)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Guide me, O Thou great Redeemer (LSB 918)
I trust, O Lord, Your holy name (LSB 734)
In God, my faithful God (LSB 745)
In the cross of Christ I glory (LSB 427)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Lord of glory, You have bought us (LSB 851)
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart (LSB 708)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
The God of Abraham praise (LSB 798)
The King of love my shepherd is (LSB 709)
The royal banners forward go (LSB 455)
The Son of God goes forth to war (LSB 661)
Thy works, not mine, O Christ (LSB 565)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB 756)


Sixth Sunday in Martyrs’ Tide
Proper 19 (Sunday on September 11–17)
Ezekiel 34:11–24
1 Timothy 1:(5–11) 12–17
Luke 15:1–10

Hymn of Invocation
Chief of sinners though I be (LSB 611)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Jesus sinners doth receive (LSB 609)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O Christ, our true and only light (LSB 839)
O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken (LSB 439)
I will sing my Maker’s praises (LSB 977e; TLH 25; LW 439)

Hymn of Departure
Now thank we all our God (LSB 895)

Alternative Hymns
As rebels, Lord, who foolishly have wandered (LSB 612)
“As surely as I live,” God said (LSB 614)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
Christ, the Word of God incarnate (LSB 540)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Entrust your days and burdens (LSB 754)
Father most holy, merciful and tender (LSB 504)
From depths of woe I cry to Thee (LSB 607)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
I am Jesus’ little lamb (LSB 740)
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me (LSB 683)
Just as I am, without one plea (LSB 570)
Lord Jesus, think on me (LSB 610)
Lord, to You I make confession (LSB 608)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB 834)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
Send, O Lord, Your Holy Spirit (LSB 681)
The King of love my shepherd is (LSB 709)


Seventh Sunday in Martyrs’ Tide
Proper 20 (Sunday on September 18–24)
Amos 8:4–7
1 Timothy 2:1–15
Luke 16:1–15

Hymn of Invocation
God’s own child, I gladly say it (LSB 594)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Seek where you may to find a way (LSB 557)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
By grace I’m saved, grace free and boundless (LSB 566)
In the cross of Christ I glory (LSB 427)

Hymn of Departure
All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine (LSB 815)

Alternative Hymns
All depends on our possessing (LSB 732)
Christ, the Life of all the living (LSB 420)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Eternal Spirit of the living Christ (LSB 769)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)
Hope of the world, Thou Christ of great compassion (LSB 690)
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)
In the shattered bliss of Eden (LSB 572)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness (LSB 563)
Lord, enthroned in heav’nly splendor (LSB 534)
Lord of glory, You have bought us (LSB 851)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
One thing’s needful; Lord, this treasure (LSB 536)
Praise, my soul, the King of heaven (LSB 793)
Thee will I love, my strength, my tower (LSB 694)
What is the world to me (LSB 730)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)
Who trusts in God a strong abode (LSB 714)