30 November 2008

Hymns for Historic Epiphany Tide

The Epiphany of Our Lord
Isaiah 60:1–6
Ephesians 3:1–12
Matthew 2:1–12

Processional Hymn
Come, Thou bright and Morning Star (LSB 872)

Sequence Hymn
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
O Morning Star, how fair and bright (LSB 395)

Offertory Hymn
As with gladness men of old (LSB 397)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Wake, awake, for night is flying (LSB 516)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)
Songs of thankfulness and praise (LSB 394)

Processional Out
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)

Alternative Hymns
Angels from the realms of glory (LSB 367)
Arise and shine in splendor (LSB 396)
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning (LSB 400)
From God the Father, virgin-born (LSB 401)
Hail, O source of ev’ry blessing (LSB 409)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
Jesus has come and brings pleasure eternal (LSB 533)
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates (LSB 340)
O Christ, our true and only light (LSB 839)
O God of God, O Light of Light (LSB 810)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
O light whose splendor thrills and gladdens (LSB 891)
O splendor of God’s glory bright (LSB 874)
Rise, shine, you people (LSB 825)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)
The people that in darkness sat (LSB 412)
The star proclaims the King is here (LSB 399)
What child is this, who, laid to rest (LSB 370)


First Sunday after the Epiphany
1 Kings 8:6–13
Romans 12:1–5
Luke 2:41–52

Hymn of Invocation
O Word of God incarnate (LSB 523)

Sequence Hymn
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Within the Father’s house (LSB 410)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
From east to west (LSB 385)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)
Our Father, by whose name (LSB 863)

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

Alternative Hymns
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)
Children of the heav’nly Father (LSB 725)
Christ be my leader by night as by day (LSB 861)
Church of God, elect and glorious (LSB 646)
From God the Father, virgin-born (LSB 401)
God loves me dearly (LSB 392)
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Lord Jesus Christ, the children’s friend (LSB 866)
Lord of all hopefulness (LSB 738)
No temple now, no gift of price (LSB 530)
O Christ, our true and only light (LSB 839)
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)
Oh, blest the house whate’er befall (LSB 862)
Once in royal David’s city (LSB 376)
Shepherd of tender youth (LSB 864)
Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens (LSB 589)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)
What is the world to me (LSB 730)


The Baptism of Our Lord
Joshua 3:1–3, 7–8, 13–17 (or Isaiah 42:1–7)
1 Corinthians 1:26–31
Matthew 3:13–17

Processional Hymn
I bind unto myself today (LSB 604)

Sequence Hymn
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
To Jordan came the Christ, our Lord (LSB 406)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Jesus, once with sinners numbered (LSB 404)
A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth (LSB 438)
O love, how deep, how broad, how high (LSB 544)
All Christians who have been baptized (LSB 596)

Processional Out
God’s own child, I gladly say it (LSB 594)

Alternative Hymns
All who believe and are baptized (LSB 601)
Baptized into Your name most holy (LSB 590)
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest (LSB 498/499)
From God the Father, virgin-born (LSB 401)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
If Your beloved Son, O God (LSB 568)
Jesus, grant that balm and healing (LSB 421)
Lift high the cross (LSB 837)
My song is love unknown (LSB 430)
O Lord, we praise Thee (LSB 617)
O Morning Star, how fair and bright (LSB 395)
Songs of thankfulness and praise (LSB 394)
Thanks to Thee, O Christ, victorious (LSB 548)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)
The royal banners forward go (LSB 455)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)
To Jordan’s river came our Lord (LSB 405)
When all the world was cursed (LSB 346)
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)


Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Exodus 33:12–23 (or Amos 9:11–15)
Ephesians 5:22–33 (or Romans 12:6–16)
John 2:1–11

Hymn of Invocation
The star proclaims the King is here (LSB 399)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
The Bridegroom soon will call us (LSB 514)
All glory be to God alone (LSB 948)
O Morning Star, how fair and bright (LSB 395)
Christ, the Word of God incarnate (LSB 540)

Hymn of Departure
Songs of thankfulness and praise (LSB 394)

Alternative Hymns
Alleluia! Let praises ring (LSB 822)
At the Lamb’s high feast we sing (LSB 633)
Come, join in Cana’s feast (LSB 408)
Crown Him with many crowns (LSB 525)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty (LSB 507)
Holy God, we praise Thy name (LSB 940)
How clear is our vocation, Lord (LSB 853)
Jesus has come and brings pleasure eternal (LSB 533)
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s head (LSB 647)
Lord of our life and God of our salvation (LSB 659)
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)
O Lord, we praise Thee (LSB 617)
Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing (LSB 737)
Soul, adorn yourself with gladness (LSB 636)
The Church’s one foundation (LSB 644)
The people that in darkness sat (LSB 412)
Wake, awake, for night is flying (LSB 516)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)


Third Sunday after the Epiphany
2 Kings 5:1–15a
Romans 1:8–17 (or Romans 12:16–21)
Matthew 8:1–13

Hymn of Invocation
O Christ, our true and only light (LSB 839)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
From God the Father, virgin-born (LSB 401)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O God of God, O Light of Light (LSB 810)
Arise and shine in splendor (LSB 396)
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
Rise, shine, you people (LSB 825)

Hymn of Departure
O God, O Lord of heaven and earth (LSB 834)

Alternative Hymns
All Christians who have been baptized (LSB 596)
All depends on our possessing (LSB 732)
Baptismal waters cover me (LSB 616)
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning (LSB 400)
Come, Thou bright and Morning Star (LSB 872)
God loved the world so that He gave (LSB 571)
God’s own child, I gladly say it (LSB 594)
Hail, O source of ev’ry blessing (LSB 409)
I know my faith is founded (LSB 587)
I trust, O Lord, Your holy name (LSB 734)
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word (LSB 655)
Oh, how great is Your compassion (LSB 559)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
O love, how deep, how broad, how high (LSB 544)
Once in the blest baptismal waters (LSB 598)
Praise the One who breaks the darkness (LSB 849)
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty (LSB 790)
Salvation unto us has come (LSB 555)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)
Why should cross and trial grieve me (LSB 756)


Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Jonah 1:1–17
Romans 8:18–23 (or Romans 13:8–10)
Matthew 8:23–27

Hymn of Invocation
Blessed Jesus, at Your Word (LSB 904)

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

Offertory Hymn
Evening and morning (LSB 726)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
These are the holy Ten Commands (LSB 581)
Jesus has come and brings pleasure eternal (LSB 533) (Catechetical)
O love, how deep, how broad, how high (LSB 544)
In Thee is gladness (LSB 818)

Hymn of Departure
Jesus, Thy boundless love to me (LSB 683)

Alternative Hymns
As with gladness men of old (LSB 397)
Creator of the stars of night (LSB 351)
Entrust your days and burdens (LSB 754)
Eternal Father, strong to save (LSB 717)
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)
If God Himself be for me (LSB 724)
Jesus Christ, my sure defense (LSB 741)
Jesus, priceless treasure (LSB 743)
Jesus, Savior, pilot me (LSB 715)
Lord, Thee I love with all my heart (LSB 708)
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)
Now thank we all our God (LSB 895)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
O God, our help in ages past (LSB 733)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
Son of God, eternal Savior (LSB 842)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
The King of love my shepherd is (LSB 709)
What is the world to me (LSB 730)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)


Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Genesis 18:20–33
Colossians 3:12–17
Matthew 13:24–30 (36–43)

Hymn of Invocation
To God the Holy Spirit let us pray (LSB 768)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB 621)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)

Hymn of Departure
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide (LSB 585)

Alternative Hymns
Almighty God, Your Word is cast (LSB 577)
Come, my soul, with ev’ry care (LSB 779)
Crown Him with many crowns (LSB 525)
Eternal Spirit of the living Christ (LSB 769)
"Forgive our sins as we forgive" (LSB 843)
Hear us, Father, when we pray (LSB 773)
I am content! My Jesus ever lives (LSB 468)
Jesus has come and brings pleasure eternal (LSB 533)
Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word (LSB 655)
Lord of our life and God of our salvation (LSB 659)
May God bestow on us His grace (LSB 823)
My faith looks up to Thee (LSB 702)
O God of mercy, God of might (LSB 852)
O light whose splendor thrills and gladdens (LSB 891)
Our Father, who from heav’n above (LSB 766)
Preserve Your Word, O Savior (LSB 658)
Rise, my soul, to watch and pray (LSB 663)
Voices raised to You we offer (LSB 795)
Where charity and love prevail (LSB 845)
With the Lord begin your task (LSB 869)


The Transfiguration of Our Lord
Exodus 34:29–35 (or Exodus 3:1–14)
2 Peter 1:16–21
Matthew 17:1–9

Processional Hymn
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB 671)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
O wondrous type! O vision fair (LSB 413)

Offertory Hymn
Praise be to Christ in whom we see (LSB 538)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Wide open stand the gates (LSB 639)
O Morning Star, how fair and bright (LSB 395)
‘Tis good, Lord, to be here (LSB 414)
Thanks to Thee, O Christ, victorious (LSB 548)

Processional Out
Alleluia, song of gladness (LSB 417)

Alternative Hymns
All praise to Thee, for Thou, O King divine (LSB 815)
Alleluia! Sing to Jesus (LSB 821)
Arise and shine in splendor (LSB 396)
Beautiful Savior, King of creation (LSB 537)
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning (LSB 400)
Father, we praise Thee (LSB 875)
I will sing my Maker’s praises (LSB 977; TLH 25; LW 439)
Isaiah, mighty seer in days of old (LSB 960)
Jesus on the mountain peak (LSB 415)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB 621)
Lord Jesus Christ, with us abide (LSB 585)
My soul, now praise your maker (LSB 820)
O God of God, O Light of Light (LSB 810)
O God of light, Your Word, a lamp unfailing (LSB 836)
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)
O Word of God incarnate (LSB 523)
Swiftly pass the clouds of glory (LSB 416)
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)
Thine the amen, Thine the praise (LSB 680)
Thy strong word did cleave the darkness (LSB 578)

29 November 2008

Hymns for Christmas Tide Series B

The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols

Office Hymn
Silent night, holy night (LSB 363)

First Lesson
Genesis 3:8–15 (The promised Seed shall bruise the serpent’s head)

First Carol
Savior of the nations, come (LSB 332)

Second Lesson
Genesis 22:15–18 (The Lord’s gracious promise to Abraham)

Second Carol
Creator of the stars of night (LSB 351)

Third Lesson
Isaiah 7:10–15 (The Virgin shall conceive and bear Emmanuel)

Third Carol
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)

Fourth Lesson
St. Luke 1:26–38 (The Annunciation unto the Virgin St. Mary)

Fourth Carol
The angel Gabriel from heaven came (LSB 356)

Fifth Lesson
Isaiah 60:1–6 (The Glory of the Lord has risen upon you)

Fifth Carol / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)

Sixth Lesson
Isaiah 62:10–12 (The Lord comes with salvation for you)

Sixth Carol
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)

Seventh Lesson
St. Matthew 1:18–25 (The Birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior)

Seventh Carol
Away in a manger (LSB 364/365)

Eighth Lesson
1 John 4:7–16 (Let us love one another, for love is from God)

Eighth Carol
Once in royal David's city (LSB 376)

Ninth Lesson
St. John 1:1–14 (The Word became Flesh and dwells among us)

Ninth Carol
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)

Processional Out / Hymn of Departure
Joy to the world (LSB 387)

Alternative Hymns and Carols
A great and mighty wonder (LSB 383)
Angels from the realms of glory (LSB 367)
Angels we have heard on high (LSB 368)
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358)
Gentle Mary laid her child (LSB 374)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
It came upon the midnight clear (LSB 366)
Let our gladness have no end (LSB 381)
Let the earth now praise the Lord (LSB 352)
Now sing we, now rejoice (LSB 386)
O come, all ye faithful (LSB 379)
O come, O come, Emmanuel (LSB 357)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
O little town of Bethlehem (LSB 361)
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known (LSB 362)
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (LSB 377)
The people that in darkness sat (LSB 412)
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)
What child is this, who, laid to rest (LSB 370)


The Nativity of Our Lord
Midnight ChristMass

Isaiah 9:2–7
Titus 2:11–14
Luke 2:1–14 (15–20)

Processional Hymn
Of the Father's love begotten (LSB 384)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358)

Offertory Hymn
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB 621)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375) (Catechetical)
A great and mighty wonder (LSB 383)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)

Processional Out
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)

Alternative Hymns
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
Away in a manger (LSB 364/365)
From east to west (LSB 385)
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
O gladsome Light, O grace (LSB 888)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (LSB 377)
Silent night, holy night (LSB 363)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)


The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Dawn
Isaiah 62:10–12
Titus 3:4–7
Luke 2: (1–14) 15–20

Processional Hymn
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known (LSB 362)
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358)
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)

Processional Out
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)

Alternative Hymns
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
From east to west (LSB 385)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)
Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn (LSB 391)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)


The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Day

Isaiah 52:7–10
Hebrews 1:1–6 (7–12)
John 1:1–14 (15–18)

Divine Service, Setting Five (LSB 213–218)

Entrance Hymn / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)

Kyrie Hymn
Kyrie! God, Father in heav’n above (LSB 942)

Gloria Hymn
All glory be to God alone (LSB 948)

Gradual Hymn
Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn (LSB 391)

Hymn of the Day / Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Creedal Hymn
We all believe in one true God (LSB 954)

Offertory Hymn
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)

Sanctus Hymn
Isaiah, mighty seer in days of old (LSB 960)

Agnus Dei
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God (LSB 198)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
Savior of the nations, come (LSB 332)

Post-Communion Hymn
In peace and joy I now depart (LSB 938)

Processional Out
O Lord, we praise Thee (LSB 617)

Alternative Hymns
A great and mighty wonder (LSB 383)
From heav'n above to earth I come (LSB 358)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB 621)
Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)


First Sunday after Christmas
Isaiah 61:10—62:3
Galatians 4:4–7
Luke 2:22–40

Hymn of Invocation / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day
Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
Angels from the realms of glory (LSB 367)

Hymn of Departure
In peace and joy I now depart (LSB 938)

Alternative Hymns
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358)
In His temple now behold Him (LSB 519)
Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness (LSB 563)
Joy to the world (LSB 387)
Let our gladness have no end (LSB 381)
Let the earth now praise the Lord (LSB 352)
Lord, dismiss us with Your blessing (LSB 924)
No temple now, no gift of price (LSB 530)
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)
O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly (LSB 897)
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known (LSB 362)
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be (LSB 675)
Once He came in blessing (LSB 333)
Savior of the nations, come (LSB 332)
Sing with all the saints in glory (LSB 671)
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)
The people that in darkness sat (LSB 412)
Ye watchers and ye holy ones (LSB 670)


Second Sunday after Christmas
1 Kings 3:4–15
Ephesians 1:3–14
Luke 2:40–52

Hymn of Invocation
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day
Within the Father’s house (LSB 410)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
From east to west (LSB 385) (Catechetical Hymn)
No temple now, no gift of price (LSB 530)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Oh, blest the house whate’er befall (LSB 862)

Hymn of Departure
Our Father, by whose name (LSB 863)

Alternative Hymns
Angels from the realms of glory (LSB 367)
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)
Children of the heav’nly Father (LSB 725)
Come, Thou Fount of ev’ry blessing (LSB 686)
From God the Father, virgin-born (LSB 401)
God’s own child, I gladly say it (LSB 594)
Joy to the world (LSB 387)
Lord of all hopefulness (LSB 738)
O God, my faithful God (LSB 696)
O Morning Star, how fair and bright (LSB 395)
O Word of God incarnate (LSB 523)
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)
Once in royal David’s city (LSB 376)
Speak, O Lord, Your servant listens (LSB 589)
The gifts Christ freely gives (LSB 602)
The people that in darkness sat (LSB 412)

28 November 2008

Hymns for Historic Christmas Tide

The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Eve Lessons and Carols

Office Hymn
Silent night, holy night (LSB 363)

First Lesson
Genesis 3:8–15 (The promised Seed shall bruise the serpent’s head)

First Carol
Savior of the nations, come (LSB 332)

Second Lesson
Genesis 22:15–18 (The Lord’s gracious promise to Abraham)

Second Carol
Creator of the stars of night (LSB 351)

Third Lesson
Isaiah 7:10–15 (The Virgin shall conceive and bear Emmanuel)

Third Carol
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)

Fourth Lesson
St. Luke 1:26–38 (The Annunciation unto the Virgin St. Mary)

Fourth Carol
The angel Gabriel from heaven came (LSB 356)

Fifth Lesson
Isaiah 60:1–6 (The Glory of the Lord has risen upon you)

Fifth Carol
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)

Sixth Lesson
Isaiah 62:10–12 (The Lord comes with salvation for you)

Sixth Carol
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)

Seventh Lesson
St. Matthew 1:18–25 (The Birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior)

Seventh Carol
Away in a manger (LSB 364/365)

Eighth Lesson
1 John 4:7–16 (Let us love one another, for love is from God)

Eighth Carol
Once in royal David's city (LSB 376)

Ninth Lesson
St. John 1:1–14 (The Word became Flesh and dwells among us)

Ninth Carol
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)

Processional Out / Hymn of Departure
Joy to the world (LSB 387)

Alternative Hymns and Carols
A great and mighty wonder (LSB 383)
Angels from the realms of glory (LSB 367)
Angels we have heard on high (LSB 368)
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358)
Gentle Mary laid her child (LSB 374)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
It came upon the midnight clear (LSB 366)
Let our gladness have no end (LSB 381)
Let the earth now praise the Lord (LSB 352)
Now sing we, now rejoice (LSB 386)
O come, all ye faithful (LSB 379)
O come, O come, Emmanuel (LSB 357)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
O little town of Bethlehem (LSB 361)
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known (LSB 362)
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (LSB 377)
The people that in darkness sat (LSB 412)
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)
What child is this, who, laid to rest (LSB 370)


The Nativity of Our Lord
Midnight ChristMass
Isaiah 9:2–7
Titus 2:11–14
Luke 2:1–14 (15–20)

Processional Hymn
Of the Father's love begotten (LSB 384)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358)

Offertory Hymn
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB 621)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
A great and mighty wonder (LSB 383)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)

Processional Out
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)

Alternative Hymns
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
Angels we have heard on high (LSB 368)
Away in a manger (LSB 364/365)
Come, Thou long-expected Jesus (LSB 338)
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)
From east to west (LSB 385)
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
It came upon the midnight clear (LSB 366)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
O come, all ye faithful (LSB 379)
O gladsome Light, O grace (LSB 888)
On Christmas night all Christians sing (LSB 377)
Silent night, holy night (LSB 363)


The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Dawn
Micah 5:2–5a
Titus 3:4–7
Luke 2: (1–14) 15–20

Processional Hymn
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358) (Catechetical)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
From east to west (LSB 385)

Processional Out
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)

Alternative Hymns
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
Joy to the world (LSB 387)
Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
Now sing we, now rejoice (LSB 386)
O come, all ye faithful (LSB 379)
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)
O little town of Bethlehem (LSB 361)
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known (LSB 362)
Once in royal David’s city (LSB 376)
Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn (LSB 391)
Sing praise to God, the highest good (LSB 819)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)


The Nativity of Our Lord
Christmas Day
Exodus 40:17–21, 34–38
Titus 3:4–7
John 1:1–14 (15–18)

Divine Service, Setting Five (LSB 213–218)

Entrance Hymn
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)

Kyrie Hymn
Kyrie! God, Father in heav’n above (LSB 942)

Gloria Hymn
All glory be to God alone (LSB 948)

Gradual Hymn
Rejoice, rejoice this happy morn (LSB 391)

Hymn of the Day / Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Creedal Hymn
We all believe in one true God (LSB 954)

Offertory Hymn
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)

Sanctus Hymn
Isaiah, mighty seer in days of old (LSB 960)

Agnus Dei
O Christ, Thou Lamb of God (LSB 198)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
From heav'n above to earth I come (LSB 358) (Catechetical)
Savior of the nations, come (LSB 332)

Post-Communion Hymn
O Lord, we praise Thee (LSB 617)

Processional Out
Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)

Alternative Hymns
A great and mighty wonder (LSB 383)
Angels from the realms of glory (LSB 367)
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)
Infant holy, infant lowly (LSB 393)
Joy to the world (LSB 387)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence (LSB 621)
Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)
Let our gladness have no end (LSB 381)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)
What child is this, who, laid to rest (LSB 370)


First Sunday after Christmas
Isaiah 11:1–5 (or 2 Samuel 7:1–16)
Galatians 4:1–7
Luke 2:(22–32) 33–40

Hymn of Invocation
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)
Angels from the realms of glory (LSB 367)
No temple now, no gift of price (LSB 530)
O rejoice, ye Christians, loudly (LSB 897)

Hymn of Departure
In peace and joy I now depart (LSB 938)

Alternative Hymns
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name (LSB 549)
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360
Break forth, O beauteous heav’nly light (LSB 378)
Dear Christians, one and all, rejoice (LSB 556)
From east to west (LSB 385)
From heav’n above to earth I come (LSB 358)
Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
In His temple now behold Him (LSB 519)
Let our gladness have no end (LSB 381)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
O come, O come, Emmanuel (LSB 357)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)
O Savior of our fallen race (LSB 403)
Oh, what their joy and their glory must be (LSB 675)
Once He came in blessing (LSB 333)
Savior of the nations, come (LSB 332)
The infant priest was holy born (LSB 624)
The only Son from heaven (LSB 402)
The people that in darkness sat (LSB 412)


Second Sunday after Christmas
Genesis 46:1–7
1 Peter 4:12–19
Matthew 2:13–23

Hymn of Invocation
O Word of God incarnate (LSB 523)

Sequence Hymn
We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

Hymn of the Day / Catechetical Hymn of the Week
From east to west (LSB 385)

Hymns for the Distribution of the Holy Communion
In the very midst of life (LSB 755)
O Jesus Christ, Thy manger is (LSB 372)
O sing of Christ, whose birth made known (LSB 362)
Children of the heav’nly Father (LSB 725)

Hymn of Departure
Let us all with gladsome voice (LSB 390)

Alternative Hymns
A mighty fortress is our God (LSB 656)
All depends on our possessing (LSB 732)
All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)
Come, your hearts and voices raising (LSB 375)
From God can nothing move me (LSB 713)
I walk in danger all the way (LSB 716)
In peace and joy I now depart (LSB 938)
Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)
Let us ever walk with Jesus (LSB 685)
Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (LSB 359)
Now sing we, now rejoice (LSB 386)
O Jesus so sweet, O Jesus so mild (LSB 546)
O little flock, fear not the foe (LSB 666)
Of the Father’s love begotten (LSB 384)
The star proclaims the King is here (LSB 399)
The will of God is always best (LSB 758)
What child is this, who, laid to rest (LSB 370)
What God ordains is always good (LSB 760)
When aimless violence takes those we love (LSB 764)
Who trusts in God a strong abode (LSB 714)

27 November 2008

Twenty Slices of Daily Bread

God gives daily bread even without our prayer, but we pray that He would lead us to realize this, and that He would open our hands and mouths and hearts to receive His gifts of daily bread with thanksgiving. Here are twenty slices of that good loaf for which I am giving thanks this year:

1. Our own house and home, and the many people, good friends, faithful neighbors and the like, who have helped us to make it so.

2. Zach & Bekah's visit at Epiphany 2008, shortly after their engagement; and the wonderful chance I had to visit them in Texas a few weeks after that; also, that I was on hand when Zach fell after giving blood, and that he was spared any lasting hurt.

3. The precious gift of life that God graciously bestowed upon our Job, so briefly here in time, but now and hereafter eternally in the nearer presence of Christ; and, because our dear little Job has surpassed us all in going ahead of us to heaven, the life that God has now granted to our unborn daughter, Katharina. In this, our Job has shown himself a gentleman, indeed, giving way his place to a young lady.

4. Emmaus, for numerous reasons, including: that the congregation expects and encourages me to be and do those things that a pastor is actually called to be and do, instead of asking me to be a pop psychologist, an entertainer, a fundraiser and marketing exec; that we are blessed with an excellent assistant pastor; that we have such great music at Emmaus, including the regular singing of the richest and most robust hymns in the history of the Church; that our life together as a congregation is defined liturgically and catechetically, rather than socially, emotionally, programmatically or artificially; that our youth are faithful and pious, good-humored and friendly, and actively involved in the life of the congregation; and that little children comprise such a large percentage of our church family. (And thanks to Karin for her recent blog posts on our Emmaus congregation, which were such an encouragement.)

5. The opportunities I have been given to teach at the Lutheran seminary in Novosibirsk, and the very dear friends that I have met there each time.

6. The Church Fathers and the ready availability of their writings and information about them.

7. DoRena and Sam; their marvelous wedding; and their unborn daughter, Sarena.

8. Zach and Rebekah; their marvelous wedding; their good jobs in this difficult economy, and Zach's good grades and great scholarships at Sam Houston State University.

9. The good and faithful pastors that Christ has provided for DoRena and Sam in Fort Wayne, and for Zach and Rebekah in Texas.

10. Higher Things, and the privilege of serving as a conference chaplain.

11. The Concordia Catechetical Academy, despite the fact that I've not been able to attend the annual CCA symposium for the past two summers (with earnest hopes for the summer of 2009).

12. The Four-and-Twenty Blackbirds, both individually and collectively, even though our blog has lately been a little slow.

13. The hymns of Paul Gerhardt, and the steady progress of the Gerhardt Hymn Project.

14. Fresh vegetables from the garden, especially the broccoli, which was particularly tasty.

15. Our most recent goddaughter, Ingrid (and our several other godchildren, Penelope, Egon, Chase and Alexandria).

16. Our United States Constitution and remarkable form of government, and the freedom to study and learn about these things.

17. The opportunity I was given to research and write my dissertation, and the privilege I now have to work on writing a book on the basis of my dissertation research.

18. The Treasury of Daily Prayer, which is itself an answer to prayer.

19. Panera Bread, unlimited refills on ice tea, and free wireless internet, apart from which I would be significantly less productive and at a loss as to my regular routine.

20. Amazon.com, even if it does entice me to buy too many books.

Oh, give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,
and His mercy endures forever.

Seven Random Weird Facts About Me

I've been tagged to identify "seven random weird facts about me." Hmmm.

1. I was born on the day of the great East Coast Blackout, 9 November 1965. My parents always teased me that I was the cause of that rather traumatic event; on occasion, they would suggest that I had been delivered by aliens, and that the blackout was brought about by the spaceship. Uh, huh. As I understand it, the blackout began with a problem in the grid serving Niagara Falls, New York, which is where I was born. So, who knows, maybe it was my fault. Sorry.

2. My Mom and Dad were unaware that I share my birthdate with Martin Chemnitz. I also share my birthday with our good friend, Jane, who was also tagged to identify "seven random weird facts" about herself. How weird is that? Had I been born a day later, on the 10th of November, I would have been named "Martin," since my parents were aware of Martin Luther's birthdate.

3. When I was just a wee little lad, perhaps six or seven years of age, a babysitter had the bright idea of having me mow the lawn while my parents were out. We didn't own a power mower, but one of those old-fashioned push-mower things. Surely a very safe tool for a seven-year-old to use. The thing is, though, that the whirling exposed blades keep spinning even when you stop pushing, and they do an amazing job of cutting into seven-year-old fingers, if such appendages are so foolish as to find their way into the proximity of said blades. I still have a scar on the ring finger of my right hand from that interesting encounter.

4. The summer after I graduated from high school, I had major surgery to correct a massive underbite. This was following several years of prior orthodontia; such fun. I was under the knife for eight hours altogether, involving a bone graft from my hip, which was then molded behind my upper jaw to bring it forward into alignment with my lower jaw. I spent four days in intensive care, and then another week or more in a regular hospital room. My jaw was wired shut for a month, and I lost thirty-plus pounds. All of this just before heading off to my freshman year of college. We lived in McCook, Nebraska, at the time, but the surgery was done at the hospital in North Platte, a little more than an hour from home. My Mom and LaRena made the drive to see me every day, which was a great help once I was conscious and aware of their being there.

5. Backing up a bit, I was actually an athlete and a musician during high school. I wasn't a cool athlete, because I didn't play football and I sat the bench during basketball, but I did letter more than once in both cross country and track. I competed in various track and field events, but my first love and best event was the long jump; my personal best (I peaked in my junior year) was over twenty-two feet. That was fun. I also played the trombone in the band, but I didn't apply myself as conscientiously as I should have done. Too bad. There was one marching band trip to Worlds of Fun in Kansas City that I remember well; some of my bandmates were pretty wild. Oi. That was eye-opening. It was also on that trip that I first discovered how much I love roller-coasters.

6. It was during my senior year of college that I embarked upon my long-haired, freaky-person rock-n-roll phase. I wrote a mess of semi-Christian-rock songs, and I began learning how to play the bass guitar (sort of). My hair was down to my shoulders and even curly for a while. It was around that time that my friend, Joel, introduced me to Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest and Black Sabbath and that whole gamut of classic rock, which I still enjoy from time to time but don't listen to much anymore. Joel and I were an erstwhile band, "Jillian Switch," not that we ever performed anywhere, but we recorded a couple dozen songs that we wrote and worked up from scratch. I played the bass (basically), programmed the little drum machine, and did most of the singing (such as it was). It was great fun and quite a learning experience, but probably not the best stewardship of my time, treasures and talents at that point in my life, with a wife and new baby.

7. Then there's bowling and learning to drink beer. One of my fondest early childhood memories is going bowling with the youth group from church (or maybe it was my Dad's upper grade students at the Lutheran school where he was teaching). No, there wasn't any beer involved at that point; that comes later; just wait. I enjoyed that early experience and so have always had a special affection for bowling. I even bowled on the college team during my freshman year at Seward, which was great fun. On my vicarage at St. John Lutheran Church in Maple Grove, Minnesota, I participated in the congregation's bowling league and thoroughly enjoyed that experience, too. My Christmas present from LaRena that year was a bowling ball, engraved with "Vicar." I still have that ball and have been glad for the chance to use it again recently with our Emmaus Youth. Anyway, when I got back to Fort Wayne for my fourth year at the seminary, I joined several of my classmates in a local bowling league, and it was then and there that I first learned to drink beer. The other guys would buy a pitcher and pour me a glass, which I would manage to drink over the course of the evening. Ah, memories.

There you have it. Them's the facts. Not sure how random or weird they may be, but it's all true. I didn't even change any of the names.

26 November 2008

A Simple Way to Pray

As several of my good friends and colleagues have pointed out, one of the most wonderful things about the new Treasury of Daily Prayer is its flexible adaptability to a variety of contexts and circumstances. An individual can easily use it, whether a pastor or a layperson, whether in the closet or the chancel, at the desk or in the den. Couples can use it together, as can parents with their children, or small groups within a congregation, as part of the discipline of daily prayer, or as an opening devotion at a meeting. It can supply and support the orders of Matins and Vespers, Morning and Evening Prayer, Suffrages, or any other form of Christian prayer. This is a tremendous benefit of the book, for which its editor and CPH are greatly to be commended.

For all of that, I am personally most grateful for the way that Treasury of Daily Prayer so readily serves the practice of daily prayer in the home and family. It truly does, and I give sincere thanks to God for that. To the extent that I was privileged to have a hand in the early developments of a Lutheran prayer book (now published as the TDP), I was always driven by a single-minded sense of purpose and desire that such a book would invite and facilitate the prayer and catechesis of fathers and mothers with their children. My own faith and piety were early formed by the daily devotions that my parents shared with me and my siblings, and it has always been my goal (though not always my success) to lead my own wife and children into the Word of God and prayer. Various resources have been helpful over the years, most notably the four-volume set, For All the Saints (ALPB), but there were difficulties and disappointments with each and all of them. Thus, I was pleased to be given the opportunity, as one aspect of my service on the Lectionary Committee of the Lutheran Hymnal Project, to work toward a prayer book that would encourage and assist the head of the household in teaching his family to pray.

One cannot understand the design of the LSB daily lectionary apart from this fact, that it was developed and assembled with a view toward what is now the Treasury of Daily Prayer; and that was done, specifically, with this goal of serving the laity in their prayer life, especially fathers with their families. I don't believe that detracts from the versatility of the book, but lends to it. The single biggest challenge was how to coordinate the entire lectionary with the contours of the Church Year, including the moveable Time of Easter (from Ash Wednesday through Holy Trinity) and the annual sanctoral cycle of festivals and commemorations, without complicating the connection and harmony of the daily readings with the other propers for each day. What we really aimed at was a way of keeping the readings and everything else, the Psalm, the writing, the hymnody, the prayer of the day, and any commemoration that might occur, all together in the same easily-determined location within the envisioned prayer book. I was personally hoping that such a book would be one that any Christian father could readily open up to the day at hand, and that he would there find everything laid out in such a way that he could easily proceed to pray and confess the Word of God with his family. The Treasury of Daily Prayer has indeed made that possible, in such a beautifully elegant and flexible manner.

For those fathers and mothers who desire to use the Treasury of Daily Prayer with their children, perhaps around the family table following a meal, here is a simple approach that I and my wife have found useful in praying with our children. It enables the participation of the whole family, even the littler children, without difficulty.

Those members of the family who are able to read will typically have their own copies of the Lutheran Service Book in hand. For their benefit, I indicate ahead of time the Psalm that we'll be praying together, as well as the hymn of the day, both of which they bookmark.

We begin with the familiar opening versicles and responses, and the Gloria Patri, as in Matins and Vespers: "O Lord, open my lips," etc. Everyone can do this from memory.

Then we pray together the Psalm of the day, either speaking in unison or responsively, verse-by-verse; or chanting the Psalm by the same tone we are using for the season at Emmaus.

I read the appointed Readings of the day, from the Old Testament and the New Testament, each followed by the familiar versicle and response, again as in Matins and Vespers: "O Lord, have mercy upon us," etc.

After the Readings of Holy Scripture, I then read the "Writing" provided for the day, which usually comments on one or the other of the Readings. Note that I am simply following the propers as provided and laid out for each day in the Treasury for Daily Prayer.

We sing together the Hymnody appointed for the day. Here is where the LSB comes in handy, since we usually sing more of the hymn than the single stanza indicated in the Treasury; plus, it helps to have the musical notation in front of us. The children love to sing hymns together, so that is always a high point of our daily prayer and catechesis.

Following the hymn, we pray in this manner: Invocation, Apostles' Creed, a three-fold Kyrie, the Our Father, then the Prayer of the Day as provided in the Treasury of Daily Prayer. At that point, I turn to the "Daily Prayer for the Christian" (TDP, pages 1306-09) for the general prayer prescribed for the pertinent day of the week. Those weekly prayers are one of the best and most beautiful provisions of the book.

If there are special intercessions to be made for our family, friends or congregation, I lead the family in those. We conclude with the Morning or Evening Prayer, then the Benedicamus and Benediction, again as in Matins and Vespers. We know these basic components by heart, so there is no need for us to look them up or have them in front of us.

Now, on days when there is a commemoration to observe, I often save mention of that till the end. The Treasury provides an informational paragraph on each commemoration at the end of the propers for its day, so it is convenient to read that paragraph at the conclusion of our family prayers. Sometimes, though, I find it more useful to read about the commemoration either after the Readings or after the Hymnody. Typically, the Writing of the day comes from the commemorated saint, and it is nice to have some awareness of that before hearing his words. Similarly, the Prayer of the Day usually incorporates some reference to the commemoration, in which case it is beneficial to know something about the person so remembered prior to praying.

As I have said, this simple approach has worked well for our family. It takes advantage of the straightforward way in which the Treasury of Daily Prayer is arranged and organized. It is not the only way to make good use of the book, but it is one way to facilitate a family's devotion.

24 November 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas 2008

The Twelve Days of Christmas are somewhat difficult to standardize, because of the several feasts that occur during this time, the fluctuation of these days in relation to Sundays and the other days of the week, and the differences in the established lectionaries. For all of these reasons, there needs to be a certain flexibility from one year to the next, in order to accommodate the various considerations that come into play. For the past several years, I have taken into account the lections and propers of the Lutheran Service Book, along with the daily appointments of the Roman and SELK lectionaries, in order to arrive at a plan for these twelve days, each of which we observe at Emmaus with the Divine Service, whether fully festive or briefly spoken. Here is this year's plan (with indication of possible adjustments for those who follow the Historic Lectionary):


The First Day of Christmas (Thursday, 25 December):

The Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord: Christmas Day

(Series B):
Isaiah 52:7–10
Psalm 2 (antiphon: v. 7)
Hebrews 1:1–6 (7–12)
John 1:1–14 (15–18)

We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)

(Historic):
Exodus 40:17–21, 34–38
Psalm 2 (antiphon: v. 7)
Titus 3:4–7
John 1:1–14 (15–18)

We praise You, Jesus, at Your birth (LSB 382)


The Second Day of Christmas (Friday, 26 December):

The Feast of St. Stephen, the First Martyr

2 Chronicles 24:17–22
Psalm 119:137–144 (antiphon: v. 142)
Acts 6:8—7:2a, 51–60
Matthew 23:34–39

The Son of God goes forth to war (LSB 661)


The Third Day of Christmas (Saturday, 27 December):

The Feast of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist

Revelation 1:1–6
Psalm 11 (antiphon: v. 4a)
1 John 1:1—2:2
John 21:20–25

O Word of God incarnate (LSB 523)


The Fourth Day of Christmas (Sunday, 28 December):

The First Sunday after Christmas

(The Feast of the Holy Innocents)

(Series B):
Isaiah 61:10—62:3
Psalm 111 (antiphon: v. 9a, b)
Galatians 4:4–7
Luke 2:22–40

Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)

(Historic):
Isaiah 11:1–5 (or 2 Samuel 7:1–16)
Psalm 89:1–8 (antiphon: v. 8)
Galatians 4:1–7
Luke 2:(22–32) 33–40

Let all together praise our God (LSB 389)


The Fifth Day of Christmas (Monday, 29 December):

(Commemoration of King David)

Psalm 96 (morning)
Psalm 132 (evening)

Isaiah 55:1–7
St. Matthew 1:18–25
(or St. Matthew 2:13–23)

Hail to the Lord’s anointed (LSB 398)
(or, Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band; TLH 273; LSB 969)


The Sixth Day of Christmas (Tuesday, 30 December):

Psalm 93 (morning)
Psalm 89:1–18 (evening)

1 John 3:1–10
St. Luke 2:15–20
(or St. Matthew 2:13–23)

Once in royal David’s city (LSB 376)
(or, Sweet Flowerets of the Martyr Band; TLH 273; LSB 969)


The Seventh Day of Christmas (Wednesday, 31 December):

New Year’s Eve

Isaiah 30:(8–14) 15–17
Psalm 90:1–12 (antiphon: v. 17)
Romans 8:31b–39
Luke 12:35–40

Across the Sky the Shades of Night (LSB 899)


The Eighth Day of Christmas (Thursday, 1 January 2009):

The Feast of the Name and Circumcision of Jesus

Numbers 6:22–27
Psalm 8 (antiphon: v. 9)
Galatians 3:23–29
Luke 2:21

The ancient Law departs (LSB 898)


The Ninth Day of Christmas (Friday, 2 January 2009):

(Commemoration of Johannes Konrad Wilhelm Löhe)

Psalm 48 (morning)
Psalm 45 (evening)

Isaiah 62:1–12
St. John 1:19–28

From east to west (LSB 385)
(or, Wide open stand the gates; LSB 639)


The Tenth Day of Christmas (Saturday, 3 January 2009):

Psalm 111 (morning)
Psalm 15 (evening)

Isaiah 63:1–14
St. John 1:29–34

All my heart again rejoices (LSB 360)


The Eleventh Day of Christmas (Sunday, 4 January 2009):

The Second Sunday after Christmas

(Series B):
1 Kings 3:4–15
Psalm 119:97–104 (antiphon: v. 99)
Ephesians 1:3–14
Luke 2:40–52

Within the Father’s house (LSB 410)

(Historic):
Genesis 46:1–7
Psalm 77:11–20 (antiphon: v. 13)
1 Peter 4:12–19
Matthew 2:13–23

From east to west (LSB 385)


The Twelfth Day of Christmas (Monday, 5 January 2009):

Psalm 99 (morning)
Psalm 110 (evening)

Isaiah 65:17–25
St. John 1:35–42

Hark! The herald angels sing (LSB 380)

Musings on Having a "Big" Family

Questions and conversations on family size tend to make me apprehensive. It usually feels like a no-win situation. Walking on eggshells isn't quite sufficient; it's more like navigating landmines. I can't help but feel conspicuous in such discussions, due to the size of my own family. Nor am I unaware of the weight that attaches to my words on account of my pastoral office. Getting to the substance of what I actually believe, teach and confess on matters of marriage and family is made more difficult by the fact that I do not agree with some commonly-held presuppositions. The further assumptions that are made about my position and opinions, before I have had a chance to say anything at all, make the challenge of communication that much trickier.

It would be easier and more comfortable to say nothing at all. I'd much rather keep a low profile and simply go on with my life without entering into discussions and debates regarding numbers of children. I venture into such territories, where the angels have no reason to tread, because I have perceived that it may be of helpful service to my neighbors; and because, as a pastor and teacher in Christ's Church, I have a responsibility to confess His Word and faith in response to perennial questions pertaining to these profound aspects of human life and love.

The ground-zero problem is the presupposition that children are a choice. Every disagreement, every frustration, every poor decision (because there are choices and decisions to be made), and every fear pertaining to family size either stems from this presupposition or is exacerbated by it. Christians should know better, but they may be misled. They confess that God is the "Maker of the heavens and the earth," the "Author and Giver of life," but their decisions and actions may profess something else. Perhaps it derives from an imprecise and sloppy way of speaking, but the rhetoric has shaped thinking and solidified opinions contrary to the Creed.

Surely it is true that God's work of procreation coincides with the decisions and actions of men and women, even when those decisions and actions are sinful and unclean. With the exception of our Lord's own virgin birth, we are able to discern and describe the process of conception; precisely because the Lord our God is a faithful Creator who preserves His Creation and still maintains the good order that He has established against the devilish chaos of sin and death. Yet, the Lord has not relinquished His divine prerogatives; nor has man's self-idolatry enabled him to become like God, delusions of power notwithstanding. It is the Lord who opens and closes the womb. The activities of men and women do not lead inevitably to the same results in every case, despite their intentions, whether for good or evil. They may cause death, but they are incapable of creating life. Their choices are contingent, never certain.

Unfortunately, we sinners have this mindset of control. We reject what God has given; we grasp and seize what He has not. Hence, we have this thing called "birth control," which ought really to be called "birth prevention," and too often it has been exactly that. I do believe there are times and circumstances in which methods of pregnancy prevention are permissable, with discretion, in the freedom of faith and the service of love. But any method of "birth control," which would intentionally prevent the birth of an unborn child at any stage of pregnancy from conception to full term, is contrary to the Fifth Commandment. That includes the "birth control pill," the full dangers, damages and repercussions of which are yet to be discovered, I fear.

"The pill" does figure into the shaping of my perspective and position on "family planning." When my bride and I were wed at the age of 19, the summer following our freshman year in college, we had assured our parents that we would complete our education before having any children. In retrospect, that promise was presumptuous, but we were trying to be responsible and to assuage those of our family and friends who worried that we were too young to be getting married, to say nothing of starting a family. Our doctor advised the use of "the pill," so that is what we dutifully did. Half a year into our marriage, however, I came across an article on "the pill," which claimed that it worked, in part, by preventing the implantation of a fertilized egg in the womb. Percentages differed, depending on the type of "pill" being used, but, according to the article, one could expect a "silent abortion" to occur at least every other year. We found this information quite alarming and disturbing. On the first opportunity, we consulted with our doctor, the one who had recommended "the pill" in the first place, and asked him about it. He admitted that, yes, it was true; "the pill" would cause the rejection of a fertilized egg, and that was by design as a last line of defense. "Birth control," indeed. When we asked the doctor why he had not told us this before, he replied that he didn't think we'd want to know.

We could not in good conscience continue using "the pill." Rather, we were grieved to have used it at all, and we were shocked at the way that we had been misled. It resulted in the first major shift in our way of thinking about our marriage and our openness to children. Our DoRena was born the following year.

The reactions of our fellow students were interesting. Our extended family and most of our friends were delighted for us, and supportive of our efforts to continue going to school while caring for a child and working to provide for our needs. But there were also those among our peers who muttered about that we were being reckless and irresponsible. We should not have gotten married to begin with, but, having done so, we should certainly not be choosing to have children. For our part, though, it was not a matter of choosing to have children, but a refusal to act in such a way as to destroy God's good gift of life. Deliberately not avoiding conception was a kind of personal penance for having blindly used "the pill" without questioning the consequences of that choice. Resolving to receive and care for any children that God would grant us was a discipline of repentance and a confession of faith in the One who did not withhold His Son, but freely gave Him up for us all.

It is not my opinion, nor has it ever been, that methods of pregnancy prevention are inherently sinful. I do not believe they are. Nor am I inclined to distinguish between "natural" and "artificial" methods of pregnancy prevention, because I have not been persuaded of any ethical difference in this distinction. My concern, and here I am thinking of myself more than anyone else, is not with the external decisions and actions of pregnancy prevention, but with the heart. It is out of the heart that all manner of wickedness proceeds, and while I do not know my own sinful heart as well as the Lord knows it, I am at least somewhat aware of my idolatrous fears and my covetous desires. It is precisely in my heart that the temptation to think of children as a "choice" would take hold of me. I would seek and strive to control their number and timing, so as to fit my desire to control my own life, my time and energy, my interests and pursuits, my gods and demons, my proud plans and grand schemes. Thus far in my life, a choice to avoid the likelihood of conception would not derive from faith and love, but from unbelief and selfishness. It would contradict what I confess and deny what I preach and teach. So I have set myself against those temptations, and have deliberately not given way to the trepidations of my heart.

Trepidations there are, more than I can name. My wife has consistently been stronger in her faith and love at this point than I have been. The assumptions of those who have guessed that we are either careless or simply delight in having lots of children, and that all of this is easy for us to manage, could not be more mistaken. We are not careless, but have at many times along the way been almost paralyzed by caution and confusion. We do delight in our children, but we also grow weary and get frustrated with them. I cannot count the times I have coveted the freedom, the time, and the available resources of acquaintances with smaller families, whose children are no longer wearing diapers and requiring constant care and supervision. While there are days of fun and full of joy, which I would not trade for the world, rare is the day that could be called "easy."

The assumptions are mistaken, because they stem from the presupposition that we must be choosing to have children. Not so. Unlike many of our family and friends, we have never found ourselves in the position of "trying" to conceive. Rather, the Lord has blessed us to be fruitful and to multiply beyond any effort or intention on our part. Honestly, learning that we are expecting another baby has usually been a difficult thing to embrace with glad and willing hearts. I'm sorry to say that, but it's true, and it goes to the point. Initial reactions to the news are full of mixed emotions, including questions of how we'll manage the demands of another child upon our limited time, treasures and talents, and concerns about what other people will think and say. When our little Job died in the womb this past February, I grieved and mourned quite deeply, but there was also a part of me that involuntarily felt a small sense of relief. I despised that feeling in myself, but I could not banish it away from my heart and mind. There was relief, in part, from the challenge of another child, and from the fears that I had harbored for my wife after the difficult experience she underwent with Gerhardt's delivery. Mainly, though, there was a bittersweet sigh of relief in me that we would actually receive some sympathy from people who would otherwise have looked askance at another pregnancy.

We have not chosen to have children, because that choice is not within our prerogative or power. We have chosen to be and to live as husband and wife, and to be a father and mother to as few or many children as God entrusts to our care. We have chosen not to avoid conception; not because we are eager for a bigger and bigger family, but because we cannot claim that either faith or love would be guiding such avoidance. The day may come when I should love and serve my wife by deliberately seeking to limit the likelihood of conception, and then I shall proceed to do so in the freedom of faith. Heretofore that has not been the case.

Assumptions that we have chosen to have lots of children are matched by assumptions that couples with fewer or no children have chosen not to have more or any. That is a dangerous and hurtful game, which is one of the many reasons that I strive to be very careful in how I speak to these matters. The fact that such choices are beyond us is evidenced by the husbands and wives who desire children, who may even long to have many children, but who suffer from infertility, or from miscarriage after miscarriage, or who must deal with the precarious health of the woman's body. Courts and constitutions cannot grant any freedom of choice to avoid such crosses, but Christian charity could certainly do more to avoid the sting of presumptuous comments and questions.

Those who suppose that I insist upon or expect a "big" family have not known my mind or heart or spirit at all. For one thing, it is precisely my point that such a goal is not within our reach, and is therefore not appropriate. For another thing, I fully acknowledge and empathize with the weakness of our sinful hearts and the frailty of our mortal flesh. It is for those reasons that I have always affirmed the legitimacy of pregnancy prevention, which is not inherently sinful and can be undertaken in repentant faith toward God and in ferevent love toward one another. What I warn against, chiefly in myself but also in my pastoral counsel, is the covetous idolatry that would seek to avoid children for the sake of selfish desire. The difference between abortion, which is murder, and pregnancy prevention, which is not, is as great as the difference between life and death. Many of the motivations and arguments for both contraception and abortion, however, are indistinguishable. That is why Christians examine, not only their actions, but also their hearts and minds; and they are called to repentance, which bears the fruits of faith and love in Christ.

Practically speaking, Christian couples have not only been misled by the rhetoric of "choice," but have been done a disservice by the limited number of "big" families to consider as examples, as a consequence of "birth control." It was only a few generations ago, when my grandparents and many of my older parishioners were children, that a family the size of mine would not have seemed especially "big" or so unusual. Now the standards, expectations, routines and provisions of our societal culture are geared toward families with only a couple of children. By the fourth child, people are beginning to wonder "when you're going to stop." Half a dozen children qualifies as a decidedly "big" family, and families the size of mine are now just shy of being magazine cover stories.

Because a "big" family is comparatively rare, it is a daunting thing for a young couple to imagine. They can hardly comprehend what it must be like, because it appears to be so extreme. When a father and mother are coping with two or three children under the age of five, the prospect of two or three times that many children can be downright frightening. It seems impossible. The temptation is to suppose that "big" families are either extraordinarily gifted or else simply crazy.

Truthfully, it does get easier with time, in numerous ways and for all sorts of reasons. Apart from sextuplets, you never do end up with half a dozen toddlers all at one time. Not everyone is wearing diapers at once. Not everyone requires constant supervision and maintenance. Little children get older and mature; eventually, they grow up and move away from home. There are still challenges, to be sure, but of a different sort. The older children grow into responsibilities and are able to assist with their younger siblings. There is family comradery and a sense of community. DoRena and Zachary were a tremendous help to us in their teenage years, and now we see Nicholai and Monica moving into those positions. There is a dynamic at work in a larger family, when you have both older and younger children at the same time, which smaller families don't see. So that is one thing to consider.

Another thing is that parents do get better at this gig as they grow in experience. That's true already in the labor and delivery room, but it continues to be the case from the first day that the new baby comes home. After three or four children, at about the point when people are starting to wonder, "when are they going to stop," moms and dads are finally settling into the routine. I realize there are all sorts of exceptional circumstances, and that children with special needs require a whole new learning curve that I cannot pretend to fathom. Such things are met, as marriage and family and each child are met, by the gracious providence of God. In any event, as parents gain wisdom and maturity with age, along with the knowledge of experience, it really is amazing what a difference that makes. We were twenty-one and still in college when DoRena was born, and we were pretty clueless and naive about parenting. We weren't pros, yet, when Zachary was born two years later, either. Everything is new; most things are difficult; lots of things are scary. You muddle along and learn as you go. Thankfully, God has made children fairly resilient. If you love them and proceed conscientiously, you're not likely to mess them up too badly. I've said before that DoRena and Zachary were our guinea pigs; we not only learned from our mistakes and our experience with them, but we also grew in confidence and became increasingly more comfortable and relaxed in welcoming and rearing more children.

Young parents with two or three children should also realize that the impact of additional children will not be as great as the first few. Having your first baby is a major change, obviously. Going from one child to two is also a significant adjustment. Three children means that neither parent can hold all of them at once. Beyond that, the shift in family dynamics with the arrival of another baby is increasingly less dramatic. Going from seven to eight children, or from eight to nine, makes hardly a ripple in the flow of life (other than the immediate demands of a newborn). There are the challenges of vehicle capacity and dining room table size, but no earthshaking renegotiations of family polity, structure and governance. I will say that, having had three boys in a row (Justinian, Frederick and Gerhardt), it does sometimes take me a little longer to get the correct name from my brain to my mouth when I'm trying to get the attention of one of them.

In all likelihood, and this is how it now is for us, at some point between eight and ten children the oldest ones start spreading their wings and flying away. They don't cease to be our children, but our responsibility for them is redefined, and their place within the day-to-day life of our family is substantially reduced. Although it might sound odd to many people, my family has seemed rather small this past year or so, with DoRena and Zachary both away from home and now married. We have also felt the absence of our Job, even though we never had the privilege of seeing him or holding him. I never quite know how to answer the question of how many children I have. Counting Job and Katharina, there are eleven. Counting Sam (our son-in-law) and Rebekah (our daughter-in-law), there are thirteen. But presently living at home outside the womb are only seven. I know that's still a "big" family by most standards, but I consistently feel like I'm missing someone (truth be told, I am). It's not impossible that we could end up with ten children around the table before Nicholai heads off to college (or wherever), but it's not likely that it would ever be more than that.

I'm grateful for the children God has given us. Each one has been His choice, not ours. Other husbands and wives might make all the same decisions we have made, and yet receive an entirely different set of blessings and crosses to bear and carry. I'm incredibly grateful to my wife for her faithfulness in her vocations. I'm grateful to our parents for not only supporting us, but for rejoicing with us in each pregnancy and each new baby, no matter which number. I'm grateful to be only in my 40s, relatively young these days, already seeing my older children married, and now awaiting the arrival of my first grandchild. God-willing, I will live to see many grandchildren in the decades ahead, and then great-grandchildren, too. If each of my children were to have as many children as I have, then by the time I am 86 I would have 100 grandchildren. But that is no prerogative of mine, nor theirs; it is the Lord's. So here am I and the children He has given me. My prayer is that He will keep me faithful in serving my several vocations, including that of father, to the glory of His Name and to the benefit of His children in my care.

21 November 2008

The Love of the Good Shepherd

Your salvation hinges on two things: the Cross & Resurrection of Christ, and your attachment to Him by faith. For He has opened the way of life to you in His Resurrection from the dead, and whether you stand or fall in the final judgment depends entirely on where you stand in relation to Him.

Are you on His right or on His left? Are you a sheep or a goat? Will you live under Him in His Kingdom in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness? Or will you be forever cursed and die eternally with the devil and his wicked angels?

The verdict has already been determined by the Cross of Christ and openly declared in His Resurrection: for you and all people, for the world and all nations. In Him there is no condemnation. Apart from Him, there is no salvation. The judgment rests entirely upon Him; and by His authority, you are judged.

This is what it means for Jesus, the Christ, to be "the Son of Man," to whom all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to judge the living and the dead.

He has come into His glory by the way of His Cross: His vicarious self-sacrifice of Atonement as the Propitiation for all of your sins and for the sins of all the world. His Resurrection, therefore, is His vindication, the declaration of His Righteousness, and the justification of all those who belong to Him.

Thus, because He desires all men to be saved, He reigns in love from His Cross and calls all men to Himself by the Gospel. He sends His Apostles, His ministers, to make disciples of all nations by Holy Baptism and ongoing catechesis. It is by these means of grace, the Ministry of the Gospel, that He gathers His lost and wandering sheep to Himself, unto life.

The preaching of His Word, the preaching of repentance in His Name, for faith and forgiveness, that is the truth: the sure and certain verdict of God, now and forever.

Repent of your sins, therefore. Repent of your unbelief, idolatry, unfaithfulness and lack of love. Turn away from sin and death. Come unto Christ and His Gospel. Trust Him and live. Fear Him as the Lord, your King. Trust Him as your Shepherd, your Savior. Believe His Word to you as the judgment of God. Love Him with all your heart.

Love Him, not selfishly, but gratefully, because He is your Savior and God; He is your highest good. Love Him, not to get something from Him, but because you have received everything from Him. Love Him, not to gain His favor, but because His favor and His righteousness are yours.

In truth, He needs nothing from you, and there is nothing you need, at all, that is not already yours in Him, freely, with no strings attached and no contingencies. Love Him, therefore, because of who He is, and because He loves you faithfully forever.

Love Him, by loving and serving His Christians; love them in His Name and for His sake. Such love is the evidence of your faith and life in Christ. It is how faith lives, without keeping score and not at all self-conscious. For if you are in Christ, you are a new creation (here and now, in heaven on earth). You live and abide in Him, as He lives and abides in you.

So this is how you live in love toward your neighbor, in particular toward your brothers and sisters in Christ, because this is the life of Christ toward you: Food and drink for your hunger and thirst; shelter from the cold, from darkness and death; clothing for your nakedness; comfort and care in all adversity; health for your sickness, and release from prison.

So, you, feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, clothe the poor, visit the sick and imprisoned. Do it for Jesus' sake. Do it in His Name (as He does so for you). Do it all, as unto Him. For it is in His poor and needy ones, in the weak and lowly, in His little ones of every age, that you find your Lord and serve Him in love.

See, this is how He has come to you and served you in love: He has been hungry and thirsted. He has been the stranger and the outcast. He has been imprisoned, stripped naked, and punished (for your sins). He has been sick with the sins of the world, even unto death upon the Cross.

Thus, it is not only in your neighbor's weakness that you find Him, your Lord and God, your Shepherd King. But He is with you, in love, in your weakness and shame, in your nakedness and pain, in your hunger and fear, in your sickness and at the hour of your death. He is with you as One who has been there before you. And He is with you, as your Redeemer, in the Judgment.

As He has taken your place in His death upon the Cross, so does He give you His place in His Resurrection. His Righteousness is yours. His works of love are yours. His life and salvation are yours. Because the Atonement, the forgiveness, the reconciliation and peace of His Cross are yours, by His Word of the Gospel.

It is already in His Word of the Gospel that you hear God's verdict concerning you: You are forgiven all your sins. You are righteous; not guilty, but innocent. Thus, you are set free from the prison house of sin and death. You are healed of every disease. You are clothed with Christ. You are fed with His Body and His Blood. You are welcomed into His Father's Kingdom, who is now also your God and Father.

That is the significance of this church and congregation, and the reason for our celebration of its presence in this place (for 85 years now). Here eternal judgments are declared and delivered. Here the Son of Man exercises His authority to forgive sins, and with that forgiveness to give life. Here you enter into heaven to eat and drink with Him forever.

Here the Lamb sits upon His glorious throne, and all His angels with Him, and gathers you to Himself: to feed you, to clothe you, to heal you, to set you free. Come, blessed of His Father, enter into His peace and rest.

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

19 November 2008

Mixed Signals and Bad Reactions

I was clipping along in my car yesterday, driving home for lunch, going maybe 35-40 m.p.h. As I approached an intersection, I had a solid green light, no question, and I proceeded at my pace accordingly. Just as I'm reaching the intersection, however, a car waiting at the light suddenly makes a right-hand turn in front of me. It was startling and a bit scary, because I had to hit my brakes quickly to avoid rear-ending the other car. I also laid on my horn as I did so, because I was pretty ticked off about it. My level of patience with other drivers is not what it should be.

Well, next thing I know, this car that pulled out in front of me has its flashers on and is slowing down to a crawl. I figured the driver was probably feeling contrite about pulling out in front of me, or else just wanted to get me out of his hair by letting me go by. No problem, except that I was wanting to turn right in less than half a block, in order to mail a letter. Well, the other car comes practically to a stop, so I go ahead and pass, then turn into the post office parking lot. As I pull up to the mailbox to drop my letter, the other car pulls up alongside me.

Great. I'm thinking, this other driver is going to give me trouble now. All sorts of things are running through my head, like, Is this someone on crack? Who knows what's going to happen.

I roll down the passenger side window, and here's this well-dressed older gentleman in his car. He calmly and courteously expresses that he had been confused by the fact that my right turn signal had been on as I was approaching the intersection. That's why he had pulled out in front of me. And as soon as he said that, I realized that I was the one who had inadvertently caused the problem. My turn signal switch has been broken for months now. It's a real pain. I've gotten pretty good at shutting it off after each turn, but I don't always manage it; I just don't think about it, necessarily, because the ticker isn't all that loud.

The gentleman in the other car behaved better than I had done. I hadn't confused him on purpose, of course, but my car was sending him a false signal, and he had done exactly what I would have done at the same intersection. Then he, too, might have been startled and upset by the fact that I almost rear-ended him, and honked at him, yet he didn't confront me with any hint of anger. He was polite and well-mannered, and he took the trouble to explain what had happened.

I apologized immediately. But I was chagrined with myself as I continued on my way afterwards. I had too quickly gotten upset and become angry at a stranger, over something that proved to be as much or more my own fault. I had instantly made assumptions and judgments that were quite simply wrong. I've been conditioned to expect other drivers to be rude and inconsiderate. In this case, I was the one who acted rudely; my horn blast was longer than it needed to be for any purpose other than venting my short temper at the other driver.

This isn't just an analogy, but a concrete example of how easy it is to send and receive mixed signals, and then to proceed rather badly in reaction to false assumptions and misinterpretations. It happens all the time in conversation, but that is almost always easier to perceive when you're an outside party listening in. I'm sorry to think how often I have responded to someone on the basis of what I supposed he or she was saying and thinking, when I really didn't have an accurate understanding of things. I've been the driver waiting at the light, ready to turn right on red when I perceive that the approaching traffic is planning to turn. And I've been the driver with his turn signal still blinking from the last intersection, unwittingly conveying a different course of action than I'm actually taking.

I need to work on listening more patiently, observing more carefully, and asking questions of clarification before reaching my conclusions and acting on impulse. I was humbled by the gentle demeanor of that other driver, and I want to take a lesson from him in how I approach others. It seems to me there is also a remindere and a lesson to be learned, that miscommunications go both ways; and while they are often very frustrating, they are almost never intended or desired by either party. No one wants to be misunderstood, nor mistaken, anymore than any of us wants to collide with another vehicle in the middle of an intersection. I need to cut my neighbor some slack, at the same time I also need to strive for clarity in all of my own communications.

18 November 2008

Update on the Gerhardt Hymn Project

Those interested in the hymns of Paul Gerhardt may want to check out "The Big Picture" on the Gerhardt Hymn Project Wetpaint Wiki Webpage. It's still very much a work-in-progress, but it is progressing, and I'm rather pleased with what has already been accomplished in barely over a year. Special thanks to Matthew Carver for his tireless contributions to this effort. Whew! Makes me tired just thinking of the labors he has exerted to provide us with first draft translations of close to four dozen Gerhardt hymns that were not previously available in English.

For a more thorough assessment of where things stand at this point, check out the "Gerhardt Grid" attachment at the bottom of "The Big Picture" page.

If you'd like to become a participant in the Gerhardt Hymn Project, contact me this way with your name and e-mail address, etc., and I'll get you "signed up."

15 November 2008

Enter Into the Joy of Your Lord

Whatever you may have, whatever talents, abilities and possessions, they are not your own but the Lord's, which He has entrusted to your stewardship. Be faithful in using those talents according to His Word, to the glory of His Name, for the benefit of His Kingdom.

Do not look around at others with pride or envy, to compare and compete, but be faithful in using however much or little you have been given to use. Not selfishly, for your own profit, but in order to return thanks, to the praise and glory of your Lord.

Do not be afraid to use your talents and to exercise your stewardship (as though success or failure depended on you), but fear the Lord and so be faithful in using His good gifts according to His will. Do not hoard them, but use them; do not misuse them, but use them rightly.

Do not misuse His Name, which He has given to you in Holy Baptism, but call upon Him in every trouble; pray, praise and give thanks. Do not despise the gift of His Word, but gladly hear and learn it. Do not despise your parents and other authorities, but honor them with obedience. Do not hurt your neighbor, but help him; do not take his stuff, but, as you are able, provide for his needs of both body and soul. Do not covet your neighbor's position or possessions, but serve wisely and well with whatever the Lord has entrusted to you in your own place and station.

As a pastor is a steward of the Mysteries of God, and it is required of a steward to be faithful, so you be faithful in your stewardship of God's talents. If you are a husband, use the gifts of God to love and serve your wife, to provide for her, protect and care for her. If you are a wife, use the gifts of God to love and serve your husband. If you are a father or mother, use the gifts of God to care for your children, not least of all by teaching them His Word and how to call upon His Name in daily prayer. If you are a child, use the gifts of God to help around the house. If you are a student, use the gifts of God to study and learn. If you are a worker, use the gifts of God to benefit your boss and to care for your customer with honest labor and conscientious integrity.

In so doing whatever you are given to do, enter into the joy of your Master: the joy of repentance and faith; of life and love; of righteousness and peace; of justice and truth.

Do not use your talents for wickedness, certainly. But do not be lazy, either. Do not neglect to use your talents to do good, according to your abilities and vocations in life. For to this you have been called; it is a sacred trust.

But what shall be the settling of accounts when your Lord returns from His long journey?

If you have not used His gifts to His glory and your neighbor's good, repent.

Do not devise excuses, but invest yourself and your talents in order to bring forth fruits worthy or repentance; worthy of your Lord and Master.

Indeed, consider what sort of man your Lord is. Is He a "hard man," because He reaps and gathers where He has not sown? Or is He not gracious and merciful, generous and kind, in calling all men to Himself? What sort of man is He in causing His seed to be sown and His Word to be preached to the ends of the earth? In fact, He does not take, but He gives. For this rich man has made Himself poor, in order to make you rich with His own possessions.

Ironically, and paradoxically, this is how it is in the Kingdom of heaven. The King has buried His singular, greatest treasure, His own beloved Son, in the ground of the earth. That is the journey on which your Lord has gone: by the way of the Cross, unto death; and through death and the grave,unto life. He has borne your sin and shame, your failure and falsehood, your arrogance and your fear. And He has suffered for it; He has been cast into the outer darkness of death and the grave (you know that He has done).

But He has not returned void and empty-handed. He has become the Firstfruits of an abundant harvest, reaping life from death, gaining victory from the grave.

He has compounded interest on His investment, far more than you could ever count. And here is the currency of His Kingdom: not gold or silver, but free and full forgiveness of all your debts and trespasses. Not coins in your pockets, but His own body and blood, given and poured out into your mouth, into your body, for the forgiveness of all your sins.

That is the foremost talent with which He blesses you — and with that forgiveness, also life and salvation. He has been faithful in much, in order that you may receive all these treasures of His Kingdom. And as you are forgiven much, love much. Multiply His talents by forgiving, as you are surely forgiven. Enter into the joy of your Lord.

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