Author: Pastor Page 2 of 13

Getting Ready for Church: Invocavit Sunday (Lent 1)

By Pastor

On February 25, 2023

In Getting Ready for Church, Uncategorized

Getting Ready for Church: Invocavit Sunday (Lent 1)

Scripture Readings For the Week:

The devil slithers his way into our hearts and minds. He is after the Word of God. He wants to to take steal the very thing that would set us free from the darkness. “Did God really say?” “You will not rurely die.” “Your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” His temptation is to look for our good in life anywhere except from God. But apart from God, there is no good. There is only darkness, weeping, wailing, gnashing of teeth. Adam and Eve fell into sin. We have followed them. But the Son of God took on flesh to battle for us, to crush the serpent’s crafty head. He is faithful. He does not turn aside from God’s Word for any reason. He is faithful even unto death. His faithfulness atones for our sin. His death conquers death. His Word leads us out of darkness, out of lies, out of death–into light, truth, and life-everlasting. Put aside your sins. Repent where you have believed lies and walked in darkness. Rejoice in the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Follow Him, walking in the way that leads back to paradise.

Prayer of the Day:

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Hymns

655 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
945 Your Heart, O God, Is Grieved
657 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
634 The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord
423 Jesus, Refuge of the Weary
716 I Walk in Danger All the Way

Bach Cantata for the Week

Aus tiefer Not schrei ich zu dir, BWV 38 (Video | Translation)

Getting Ready for Church: Quinquagesima

By Pastor

On February 18, 2023

In Getting Ready for Church

Scripture Readings For the Week:

The prophet Samuel is sent by the Lord to annoint a new king for Israel. He is impressed by the stature and strength of Jesse’s sons. The Lord however, does not see as man sees. Man looks at the outward appearances, but the Lord looks at the heart. St. Paul writes in Romans 13 that there are many praiseworthy things in life that are outwardly apparent, but the Lord sees to the heart. And from the true heart of faith, flows love. It is love that comes from God, flowing to us from the heart of Christ that was pierced for our transgressions, and it is a love of God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves. In Luke 18, Jesus shows his love for those caught in the darkness of sin. He hears our cries and answers our prayers. He is the light shining in the darkness, and He restores our sight so that we can see rightly, and seeing rightly we love rightly following Him.

Prayer of the Day:

O Lord, mercifully hear our prayers and having set us free from the bonds of our sins deliver us from every evil; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

655 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
685 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
849 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness
622 Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared
861 Christ Be My Leader

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 159 Sehet! Wir gehn hinauf gen Jerusalem

Arioso Dictum(1) and Recit. (A) (B)
See ye!

(A)
Come, ponder well, my mind,
Where doth thy Jesus go?

(B) We’re going up

(A)
O cruel path! That way?
O uninviting hill, of all my sins the token!
How bitter wilt thou have to climb it!

(B) To Jerusalem.

(A)
Ah, do not go!
Thy cross for thee is now prepared,
Where thou thy bloody death must suffer;
Here do they scourges seek, there, bind the switches;
The bonds now wait for thee;
Ah, take thyself not them to meet!
If thou couldst hold in check thy journey,
I would myself not to Jerusalem,
Ah, sadly down to hell then venture.

Aria (A) and Chorale (S)

(A)
I follow thy path

(S) I will here by thee tarry,

(A)
Through spitting and scorn;

(S) Do not treat me with scorn!(2)

(A)
On cross will I once more embrace thee,

(S) From thee I will not venture As now thy heart doth break.

(A)
I will not let thee from my breast,

(S) And when thy head grows pallid Upon death’s final stroke,

(A)
And if thou in the end must part,

(S) E’en then will I enfold thee

(A)
Thou shalt thy tomb in me discover.

(S) Within my arm’s embrace.

Recit. (T)

So now I will,
My Jesus, for thy sake
In my own corner sorrow;
The world may ever still
On venom of desire be nurtured,
But I’ll restore myself with weeping
And will not sooner yearn
For any joy or pleasure
Til thee my countenance
Have in thy majesty regarded;
Til I through thee have been redeemed;
Where I will find with thee refreshment.

Aria (B)

It is fulfilled,
The pain is over,
We are from all our sinful ruin
In God to right restored.
Now will I hasten
And to my Jesus make thanksgiving;
World, fare thee well,
It is fulfilled!

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Jesus, this thy passion
Is my purest pleasure,
All thy wounds, thy crown and scorn,
Are my heart’s true pasture;
This my soul on roses walks,
Once I have considered
That in heaven doth a home
To me for this offer.

Representing the Vox Christi.
Lines 3-4 are transposed in the PT.

Getting Ready for Church: Sexagesima

By Pastor

On February 6, 2023

In Getting Ready for Church

Scripture Readings For the Week:

The prophet Isaiah reminds us that rain and snow come from heaven. We can’t have our life without water, but we can’t open the sky. We depend on the providence of God for our lives and our livelihoods. God sends down the water to give us all what we need, seed for the sower and bread for the eater. God’s Word is what creates, upholds, and blesses all life on earth. He will accomplish all that He wills. St. Paul gives us the assurance that the Lord gave to Him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” We are strongest when we depend most on the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the sower. His seed falls everywhere, but only in the good soil does it bear fruit. He warns us against the devil who wants to snatch away God’s Word from our hearts, against temptation that would cause us to fall away, against the cares, riches, and pleasures of life that choke otherwise good plants and keep them from bearing their intended fruit. We pray for Him to create noble and good hearts within us, that we may receive the Word, keep it, and bear fruit with patience.

Prayer of the Day:

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

693 O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace
823 May God Bestow On Us His Grace
536 One Thing’s Needful, Lord This Treasure
618 I Come, O Savior, To Thy Table
577 Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 18 Gleichwie der Regen und Schnee vom Himmel fällt_

Sinfonia
Recit. Dictum

Just as the showers and snow from heaven fall and return again not thither, rather give the earth moisture and make it fertile and fruitful, so it gives seed for the sowing and bread for eating: Just so shall the word which from mine own mouth proceedeth, be too; it shall not come again to me empty, but shall do what I have purposed and shall that accomplish for which I send it.

Recit. (T, B) and Litany (S, A, T, B)

(T)
My God, here shall my heart abide:
I bare it to thee my Jesus’ name;
So scatter wide thy seed then
As if on fertile land in me.
My God, here shall my heart abide:
Let it bring forth in hundredfold its harvest.
O Lord, Lord, help! O Lord, O let it prosper!(1)

(S, A, T, B)
That thou might to the word thy Spirit add with power,
O hear us, O good Lord, our God!

(B)
But keep us, faithful Father, keep us,
Both me and any Christian soul,
From Satan’s lies attending.
His mind has only one intent,
Of thy word he might deprive us
With all our happiness.

(S, A, T, B)
That Satan underneath our feet be trodden,
O hear us, O good Lord, our God!

(T)
Ah! Many, word and faith renouncing,
Do fall away like rotting fruit,
When persecution they must suffer.
Thus they are plunged in everlasting grief
For having passing woe avoided.

(S, A, T, B)
And from all the Turk’s and all the Pope’s
Most cruel murder and oppression,
Anger and fury, fatherlike protect us.
O hear us, O good Lord, our God!

(B)
One man may but for belly care,
And meanwhile is his soul left quite forgotten;
And Mammon, too,
Hath many hearts’ allegiance,
And then the word is left without its power.
How many are the souls
Doth pleasure not hold captive?
So well seduceth them the world,
The world which must by them instead of heaven be honored,
So that they then from heaven stray and wander.

(S, A, T, B)
That all gone astray and misled may yet recover.
O hear us, O good Lord, our God!

Aria (S)

My soul’s true treasure is God’s word;
Otherwise are all those treasures
Mere devices
By the world and Satan woven,
Scornful spirits for beguiling.
Hence with all those, hence with them!
My soul’s true treasure is God’s word.

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

I pray, O Lord, with inmost heart,
May thou not take it from me,
Thy holy word not from my mouth;
For thus shall not confound me
My sin and shame, for in thy care
I put all mine assurance:
Who shall steadfast on this rely
Shall surely death not witness.

Getting Ready for Church: Septuagesima

By Pastor

On February 1, 2023

In Getting Ready for Church

Scripture Readings For the Week:

We have sinned in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved God with our whole heart, nor our neighbor as ourselves. We departed from the Lord’s judgments and we did not listen to the faithful men God sent to bring us His Word. We stand shamefully idle when the Lord has given us work to do. Righteousness belongs to the Lord, but to us shame of face because we have sinned against Him. But to the Lord our God belongs mercy and forgiveness. Jesus calls us hour after hour to take up our cross and follow Him into the work of the Kingdom. He lifts our eyes from shame to the hope of the promised great reward that, because of Christ’s love and grace, death and resurrection, belongs even to those untimely called. In the work and heat of the day He gives us our spiritual food and spiritual drink. Christ is our Rock. Nourished by Him we work with zeal, strength, and endurance, not for things which perish, but for the certain hope of an imperishable crown.

Prayer of the Day:

O Lord, graciously hear the prayers of Your people that we who justly suffer the consequence of our sin may be mercifully delivered by Your goodness to the glory of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

608 Lord, to You I Make Confession
555 Salvation unto Us Has cometh
563 Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness
525 Crown Him With Many Crowns
708 Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 144 Nimm, was dein ist, und gehe hin

Chorus [Dictum] (S, A, T, B)

Take what is thine and go away.

Aria (A)

Murmur not,
Man of Christ,

When thy wish is not fulfilled;
Rather be with that contented
Which thee thy God hath allotted;
He knows what thou hast need of.

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

What God doth, that is rightly done,
His will is just forever;
Whatever course he sets my life,
I will trust him with calmness.
He is my God,
Who in distress
Knows well how to support me;
So I yield him all power.

Recit. (T)

Wherever moderation rules
And ev’rywhere the helm doth tend,
There is mankind content
With that which God ordains.
However, where immoderation doth its judgment speak,
There shall both grief and woe ensue,
The heart shall not
Be satisfied,
And unremembered shall be this:
What God doth, that is rightly done.

Aria (S)

Contentedness,
In this life it is a treasure
Which is able to bring pleasure
In the greatest time of stress,
Contentedness.
For it lets itself in all things
Satisfied be in what God brings,
Contentedness.

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

What my God will, let be alway,
His will, it is the best will.
To help all those he is prepared
Who in him faith keep steadfast.
He frees from want, this faithful God,
And punisheth with measure.
Who God doth trust, firm on him builds,
Him shall he not abandon.

Getting Ready for Church: Epiphany 3

By Pastor

On January 21, 2023

In Getting Ready for Church

Scripture Readings For the Week:

*2 Kings 5:1-15
*Romans 12:16-21
*Matthew 8:1-13

God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, His ways are not our ways. Naaman, the commander of the King of Syria’s army wanted to be healed. God spoke to him through the prophet Elisha and told him he must wash in the Jordan river seven times and he would be healed. This was below him. He was an important man. Surely he should be healed impressively. That was the point. He had to humble himself to God’s Word, God’s will. When he did, he was healed, and became even like a child. St. Paul reminds us in Romans 12 that we are not be wise in our own opinions, but humble ourselves to God’s Word and God’s will. God will provide our daily bread and justice, we are to walk in the good works He has prepared for us. Jesus reveals what God’s will for us is, He is willing to cleanse us, to come and heal us, to be our Savior, our King, our life. We submit ourselves to His leading, and trust that following His steps, we will see His victory.

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

*578 Thy Strong Word
*401 From God the Father Virgin Born
*620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing
*621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence
*756 Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 73 Herr, wie du willt, so schick’s mit mir

Chorale (S, A, T, B) and Recit. (T, B, S) (S, A, T, B)
Lord, as thou wilt, so deal with me
In living and in dying!

(T)
Ah! Ah, alas! How much
Thy will doth let me suffer!
My life hath been misfortune’s prey,
For sorrow and dismay
Must plague me all my days,
Nor will yet my distress in dying even leave me.

(S,A,T,B) Alone for thee is my desire, Lord, leave me not to perish!

(B)
Thou art my helper, strength and shield,
Who every mourner’s tears dost number,
And dost their confidence,
That fragile reed, no way corrupt;
And since thou me hast chosen,
So speak to me of hope and joy!

(S,A,T,B) Maintain me only in thy grace, But as thou wilt, let me forbear, For thy will is the best will.

(S)
Thy will, in truth, is like a book that’s sealed,
Which human wisdom cannot read;
Thy grace oft seems to us a curse,
Chastisement, oft a cruel judgment,
The rest which thou hast in our dying slumber
One day ordained,
To hell an introduction.
Thy Spirit, though, our error doth dispel
And show that thy true will doth make us well

(S,A,T,B) Lord, as thou wilt!

Aria (T)

Ah, sink thou yet thy joyful Spirit
Into my heart!

For often through my spirit’s sickness
Both joyfulness and hope would falter
And yield to fear.

Recit. (B)

Ah, our own will remains perverse,
Now haughty, now afraid,(1)
On dying ever loath to ponder;
But those of Christ, through God’s own Spirit taught,
Submit themselves to God’s true purpose
And say:

Aria (B)

Lord, if thou wilt,
Suppress, ye pains of dying,
All sighing from my bosom,
If this my pray’r thou dost approve.

Lord, if thou wilt,
Then lay to rest my body
In dust and ashes lowly,
This most corrupted shape of sin.

Lord, if thou wilt,
Then strike, ye bells of mourning,
I follow quite unfrightened,
My sorrow is forever stilled.

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

This is the Father’s purpose,
Who us created hath;
His Son the fill of goodness
Hath won and with much grace;
And God the Holy Ghost
In faith o’er us yet ruleth,
To heaven’s kingdom leadeth.
To him laud, honor, praise!

Getting Ready for Church: Epiphany 2

By Pastor

On January 14, 2023

In Getting Ready for Church

Scripture Readings For the Week:

*Amos 9:11-15
*Romans 12:6-16a
*John 2:1-11

IGod promises that He will repair what sin has broken, and the blessings will be more than we know what to do with “The plowman shall overtake the reaper…the mountains shall drip with sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it.” These blessings come through the Word of God, the Scripture and the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, our Lord. “Whatever He says to you, do it” says the mother of our Lord. This is the source of all blessings. The starting place is what Jesus says in John 6 “This is the work of God, that you should believe in Him whom He has sent” and all the work of our life flows from their. The Epistle reading shows how God blesses us with various gifts, but we use them for blessing according to God’s Word.

Prayer of the Day:

Salutation and Collect of the Day
Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of Your people and grant us Your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

*TLH 622 The Voice That Breathed o’er Eden
*402 The Only Son from Heaven
*394 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
*636 Sou, Adorn Yourself with Gladness
*TLH 131 The Star Proclaims the King is Here

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 155 My God, how long, how long then? (Translation)

Recit. (S)

My God, how long, how long then?
Of grief there is too much,
I see no end at all
Of mis’ry and of sorrow!
Thy soothing mercy’s face
Beneath the night and clouds itself hath hidden;
Thy hand of love, alas, is quite withdrawn;
For comfort I’m most anxious.
I find that to this wretch’s daily anguish,
My cup of tears is ever full replenished,
The wine of joy doth fail;
And falls nigh all my confidence!

Aria (A, T)

Thou be faithful, thou be hopeful,
Thou must rest assured in God!
Jesus knows the proper hour,
Thee with help and joy to fill.
When this troubled time is over,
All his heart to thee shall open.

Recit. (B)

So be, O soul of mine, contented!
If it should to thine eyes appear
As if thy dearest friend
Were fully from thee absent
When he a short time thee hath left,
Heart, keep thy faith:
A short time will it be,(1)
When he for bitter weeping
Of hope and joy the wine,
And honey sweet, replacing gall will grant thee!(2)
Ah, do not think
That from his heart he thee would sadden;
He only tests through sorrow thine affection;
He maketh now thy heart to weep through cheerless hours,
So that his gracious light
To thee appear e’en still more lovely;
He hath reserved thy joy
For last,
To thy delight and consolation;
So yield to him, O heart, in all things power!(3)

Aria (S)

Cast, my heart yet, cast thyself
In the Highest’s loving bosom,
That he grant to thee his mercy.
And remove thy sorrows’ yoke,
All that thee till now hath burdened,
On the shoulders of his mercy.

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Though it should seem he were opposed,
Be thou by this not frightened,
For where he is at best with thee,
His wont is not to show it.
His word take thou more certain still,
And though thy heart say only “No,”
Yet let thyself not shudder.

Getting Ready for Church: The Baptism of Our Lord

By Pastor

On January 7, 2023

In Getting Ready for Church

Getting Ready for Church: The Baptism of Our Lord

Scripture Readings For the Week:

Joshua 3:1-3, 7-8, 13-17
1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Matthew 3:13-17

The Lord brings His people out of their captivity, out of darkness and across the river into the light of the promised land. The waters of sin, death, and destruction stop when Jesus steps into the river. Now a cleansing flood flows from His throne. He is the source of our salvation, the beloved Son, in whom the Father is well pleased. We have our life in Him, let us boast in the Lord!

Prayer of the Day:

Salutation and Collect of the Day
Father in heaven, at the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River You proclaimed Him Your beloved Son and anointed Him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized in His name faithful in their calling as Your children and inheritors with Him of everlasting life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

594 God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It
406 To Jordan Came The Christ Our Lord
394 Songs of Thankfulness and Praise
528 O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
TLH 131 The Star Proclaims the King is Here

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 154 Mein liebster Jesus ist verloren (Translation here)

Aria (T)

My precious Jesus now hath vanished:

O word, which me despair doth bring,
O sword, which through my soul doth drive,
O thund’rous word, when mine for hearing.(1)

Recit. (T)

Where shall I, then, my Jesus meet,
Who will show me the way
Where of my soul its fervent desiring,
My Savior, hath departed?
No sorrow could me ever touch so deeply
Than if I were to lose my Jesus.

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

Jesus, my shield and redeemer,
Jesus, my true confidence,
Jesus, mighty serpent-slayer,
Jesus, of my life the light!
How my heart now thee desireth,
Little Jesus, for thee acheth!
Come, ah come, I wait for thee,
Come, O dearest Jesus child!

Aria (A)

Jesus, let me find thee,
Let, though, my transgressions
Not the swelling clouds become
Where thou, to my terror,
Wouldst from me lie hidden;
Quickly show thyself again!

Arioso Dictum(2)

Know ye then not that I must be there where my Father’s business is?

Recit. (T)

This is the voice of my beloved,(3)
God praise and thanks!
My Jesus, my devoted shield,
Makes through his word
Himself heard for new comfort;
I was with grieving sick,
My sorrow sought me to the bone,
My limbs were nearly wasted;
But now, though, will my faith again be strong,
Now full is my delight;
For I behold this my soul its glory,
My Savior, my true sunlight,
Who after mourning’s night of grief
Through his bright light doth make my heart rejoice.
Rise, spirit, get thyself prepared!
Thou must to him
Into his Father’s house, into his temple draw;
There he himself within his word revealeth,
There would he in the sacrament restore thee;
But if thou worthily his flesh and blood would enjoy,
Then thou must Jesus kiss in faith and firm repentance.

Aria (A, T)

Bless me, Jesus is here present,
Now am I no more distressed.
He, the true love of my soul,
Comes to me for joyous hours.
I will, O my Jesus, now nevermore leave thee,
I will now in faith ever steadfast embrace thee.

Chorale (S, A, T, B)

This my Jesus I’ll not leave,
I’ll forever walk beside him;
Christ shall let me more and more
To the springs of life be guided.
Blesséd those who say with me:
This my Jesus I’ll not leave.

Cf. Johann Rist, “O Ewigkeit, du Donnerwort,” and Lk. 2:35.
Representing the Vox Christi.
S. of S. 2:8.

Getting Ready for Church: The Circumcision and Name of Jesus

By Pastor

On December 31, 2022

In Getting Ready for Church, Uncategorized

Getting Ready for Church: The Circumcision and Name of Jesus

Scripture Readings For the Week:

Genesis 17:3b-14
Galatians 3:23-29
Luke 2:21

God makes His covenant with His people. They hear His Word, they believe it, and they follow it. God marks the sons of Abraham in their bodies so that each generation is born through the promise. Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and His family. In Christ, we are called not just to mark a part of ourselves, but to crucify the flesh and in repentance put to death the old man of sin. Jesus raises us as new men to live and serve Him in righteousness and purity, bringing each generation up in the promise of life in the Father’s house through Jesus Christ.

Prayer of the Day:

Salutation and Collect of the Day
Lord God, You made Your beloved Son, our Savior, subject to the Law and caused Him to shed His blood on our behalf. Grant us the true circumcision of the Spirit that our hearts may be made pure from all sins; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

383 A Great and Mighty Wonder
TLH 115 O Blessed Day When First Was Poured
384 Of the Father’s Love Begotten
385 From East to West
TLH 120 Help Us, O Lord! Behold, We Enter

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 190 Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied! (Translation Source)

Chorus
Sing a new song to the Lord!
The company of the saints shall praise him!
Praise him with drums and dances,
praise him with strings and pipes!
Lord God, we praise you!
Everything that has breath, praise the Lord!
Lord God, we thank you!
Alleluia!
Chorus and Recitative B T A
Lord God, we praise you,
Since you, with this new year,
send us new fortune
and new blessing
and still think upon us in grace.
Lord God, we thank you,
since your goodness
in times past
has protected the entire land
and our worthy city
from inflation, disease and war.
Lord God, we praise you,
for your fatherly love
has still no end,
it is still renewed for us every morning.
Therefore for this reason,
merciful God,
we fold in humility our hands
and lifelong speak praise and thanks
with our mouths and hearts.
Lord God, we thank you!
Aria A
Praise, Sion, your God,
praise your God with joy,
arise! proclaim his glory,
who in his sanctuary
from now on as your shepherd
will pasture you in green meadows.
Recitative B
The world desires for itself
what pleases flesh and blood;
only one thing, one thing I ask of the Lord,
this I would gladly have,
that Jesus, my joy,
my true shepherd, my comfort and salvation
and the best part of my soul,
would embrace me as a lamb of his flock
and protect me also this year
and not let me out
of his arms ever again.
His good Spirit,
which shows me the path to life,
guides and leads me upon a level road,
therefore I begin this year in Jesus’ name.
Aria (Duet) T B
Jesus shall be my everything,
Jesus shall remain my beginning,
Jesus is my light of joy,
I will ascribe myself to Jesus.
Jesus helps me through his blood,
Jesus shall make my end a good one.
Recitative T
Now, may Jesus grant
that with the new year
his annointed one may also live;
He blesses both trunk and branch,
so that its good fortune
may reach the clouds.
May Jesus church and school,
may he bless all faithful teachers,
may he bless all the hearers of his word;
may he bless the council and judge’s seat;
may he pour out upon every house
the fount of blessing in our city;
may he grant that once again
peace and loyalty
might kiss each other within our borders.
Thus we would live this entire year
in blessing.
Chorale
Let us complete the year
to the praise of your name,
so that we might sing the same
in the company of Christians.
If you choose to extend our lives
through your almighty hand,
sustain your beloved Christians
and our fatherland.
Turn your blessing upon us,
give peace to every outcome,
grant, uncorrupted, to our country,
your sanctifying word.
Put the hypocrite to shame
here and in every place!

Getting Ready for Church: Christmas Day

By Pastor

On December 22, 2022

In Getting Ready for Church, Uncategorized

Scripture Readings For the Week:

Isaiah 52:6-10
Hebrews 1:1-12
John 1:1-14

God says, “My people shall know my name, behold it is I.” His name is Jesus, for He saves His people from their sins. The people of God break forth into joy because we have seen our salvation. The angels worship the child who was laid in the manger and we join our voices to theirs because we have seen beheld His glory, glroy as the only begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Prayer of the Day:

Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

379 O Come, All Ye Faithful
382 We Praise You Jesus, At Your Birth
388 Go Tell It on the Mountain
373 See Amidst the Winter Snow
391 Rejoice Rejoice this Happy Morn

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 91 Christen, ätzet diesen Tag (Translation source)

Chorus [Verse 1] (S, A, T, B)

All glory to thee, Jesus Christ,
For thou man today wast born,
Born of a virgin, that is sure,
Thus joyful is the angel host.
Kyrie eleis!

Recit. and Chorale Verse 2

The light of highest majesty,
The image of God’s very being,
Hath, when the time was full,
Himself a dwelling found and chosen.

Th’eternal Father’s only child
Th’eternal light of light begotten,
Who now in the crib is found.
Ye mortals, now behold
What here the power of love hath done!
Within our wretched flesh and blood,
(And was this flesh then not accursed, condemned, and fallen?)
Doth veil itself eternal good.
Yet is it, yea, for grace and blessing chosen.

Aria (T)

God, for whom earth’s orb is too small,
Whom neither world nor heaven limits,
Would in the narrow crib now lie.

Revealed to us this lasting light,
Thus henceforth will us God not hate,
For of this light we are the children.

Recit. (B)

O Christian world,
Now rise and get thyself prepared
To thee thy maker now to welcome.
The mighty Son of God
Comes as a guest to thee incarnet.
Ah, let thy heart by this his love be smitten;
He comes to thee, that he before his throne
Through this deep vale of tears be guiding.

Aria (S, A)

The weakness which God hath assumed
On us eternal health bestowed,
The richest store of heaven’s treasures.

His mortal nature maketh you
The angels’ glory now to share,
You to the angels’ choir appointeth.

Chorale [Verse 7] (S, A, T, B)

All this he hath for us achieved,
His great love to manifest;
Rejoice then all Christianity
And thank him for this evermore.
Kyrie eleis!

Getting Ready for Church: Christmas Eve

By Pastor

On December 21, 2022

In Getting Ready for Church

Scripture Readings For the Week:

Isaiah 9:2, 6-7a
Titues 2:11-15a
Luke 2:1-14

A great light has broken into our dark world, for unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given! He rules the world with truth and grace, and wonders of His love. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all, and we are to live and walk in His light, in the blessed hope of His appearing on the Last Day. This Savior is the same Jesus who humbled Himself to be born of a virgin and set aside the glory of heaven for swaddling cloths and the straw of the manger. This is good news of great joy for all people, we have a Savior born who is Christ the Lord. Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!

Prayer of the Day:

O God, You make us glad with the yearly remembrance of the birth of Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Grant that as we joyfully receive Him as our Redeemer, we may with sure confidence behold Him when He comes to be our Judge; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Hymns

361 O Little Town of Bethlehem
376 Once In Royal David’s City
358 From Heaven Above to Earth I Come
364 Away in a Manger
370 What Child is This
380 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
368 Angels We Have Heard on High
383 A Great and Mighty Wonder
TLH 81 O Jesus Christ, Thy Manger Is
363 Silent Night
387 Joy to the World

Bach Cantata for the Week

BWV 63 Christen, ätzet diesen Tag (Source for the translation)

Chorus (S, A, T, B)

Christians, etch ye now this day
Both in bronze and stones of marble!

Come, quick, join me at the manger
And display with lips of gladness
All your thanks and all you owe;
For the light which here breaks forth
Shows to you a sign of blessing.

Recit. (A)

O blessed day! O day exceeding rare, this,
On which the world’s true help,
The Shiloh(1), whom God did in Paradise(2)
To mankind’s race already pledged,
From this time forth was perfectly revealed
And seeketh Israel now from the prison and the chains of slav’ry
Of Satan to deliver.
Thou dearest God, what are we wretches then?
A people fallen low which thee forsaketh;
And even still thou wouldst not hate us;
For ere we should according to our merits lie in ruin,
Ere that, must deity be willing,
The nature of mankind himself assuming,
Upon earth dwelling,
In shepherd’s stall to be a child incarnate.
O inconceivable, yet blessed dispensation!

Aria (S, B)

God, thou hast all well accomplished
Which to us now comes to pass.

Let us then forever trust him
And rely upon his favor,
For he hath on us bestowed
What shall ever be our pleasure.

Recit. (T)

Transformed be now today
The anxious pain
By which hath Israel been frightened and sore laden
To perfect health and blessing.
Of David’s branch the lion now appeareth,
His bow already bent, his sword already honed,
With which he us to former freedom brings.

Aria (A, T)

Call and unto heaven cry,
Come, ye Christians, come in order,
Ye should be in this rejoicing
Which God hath today achieved!

For us now his grace provideth
And with such salvation sealeth,
More than we could thank him for.

Recit. (B)

Redouble then your strength, ye ardent flames of worship,
And come in humble fervor all together!
Rise gladly heavenward
And thank your God for all this he hath done!

Chorus (S, A, T, B)

Highest, look with grace upon
This the warmth of souls here bending!

Let the thanks we bring before thee
To thine ears resound with pleasure.
Let us e’er in blessing walk,
But yet / Let it / never come to pass
That us Satan seek to torment.