Pentecost, The Spirit of the Living God

God has fulfilled his ancient promise to “pour out His Spirit on all people.” As we celebrate the Day of Pentecost we welcome The Spirit of the Living God, the guiding and comforting Spirit of God is ours to call into this moment and this place.

The first and second hymn is LSB 496, “Holy Spirit Light Divine”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 503, “O Day Full of Grace”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Triumphant Jesus Ascends into Heaven

When his disciples saw Jesus alive again after His Resurrection that let themselves hope for some small victory. As we go through life we hope for triumphs.  Jesus’ disciples, just before Christ was about to ascend to heaven asked Him, "Lord will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"  But God had a greater victory in mind.  Jesus’ ascension means His triumph is over all things, over all that is broken, over all that we fear. Jesus who was crucified, died, and risen, ascends to heaven taking His victory with Him to sit at God's right hand in power and majesty. He is triumphant over all things forever.  

The first and second hymn is LSB 493, “A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 495, “Look, Ye Saints, the Sight Is Glorious”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Jesus Promises His Spirit Will Be With Us, The 6th Week of Easter

Jesus wants us to believe and take to heart that He never really leaves us. He tells us that He will be with us always. He calls the Holy Spirit to embody His love among us.  In this Easter season, as we celebrate Jesus raised from the dead, we begin to celebrate that by the Holy Spirit, we have God’s abundant love among us in all the mercy and grace won for us in Jesus’ triumphant Resurrection.

The first and second hymn is LSB 475, “Good Christians Friends, Rejoice and Sing”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 527, “O Savior, Precious Savior”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Living Lord Jesus, 5th Sunday of Easter

It took Jesus’ personal revelation to his disciples to get them to see who He was, now glorified in Resurrection triumph. It is by God’s grace and love that we can see how Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer. He is the One promised on every page of God’s Word. Jesus is our eternal security, and our good and certain way.

The first and second hymn is LSB 687, “Thine Forever God of Love”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 861, “Christ Be My Leader”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Shepherd's Voice, the Fourth Week of Easter Worship

Jesus uses a simple illustration to tell us something vitally important. His relationship to us is like a shepherd to his sheep. The shepherd knows each of his sheep and we know his voice when he calls.  Jesus also tells us that he is the gate of the sheep pen. He is the connection between earth and heaven. Jesus is the caretaker who promises to guard and care for us. As we continue our celebration of Easter, hearing about our Good Shepherd adds to our appreciation of His victorious triumph: the One who left his grave alive stands in careful watch over our lives.

The first and second hymn is LSB 710, “The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 709, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

In His Present Glory, the 3rd Sunday of Easter

Two men are walking down a road and all of a sudden Jesus is right there with them. He seemed to appear out of nowhere. They were not sure who had joined them on their walk as he easily became part of the conversation. It took them a while before they suddenly figured out that this was the same Jesus who had the whole of Jerusalem buzzing with the news of His Resurrection. Just when we think God is some abstract, distant idea He can surprise us. God is closer than you think. He is in His present glory.

The first and second hymn is LSB 474, “Alleluia! Jesus Is Risen”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 483, “With High Delight Let Us Unite”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

The Reality of Jesus' Resurrection, The Second Sunday of Easter

An essential part of absorbing the implications of Jesus’ Resurrection is to understand that it is a solid historical fact. Things that happened two thousand years ago can get shrouded in myth and legend. But Jesus’ Resurrection was an event of such immense importance that great care was taken to record the details. Not just the Gospel writers but also historians of the era put the pieces together for us so that we can be sure. Jesus left His grave alive. Resurrection is a reality.

The first and second hymn is LSB 463, “Christ the Lord is Risen Today, Alleluia”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 461, “I Know that My Redeemer Lives”. If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Easter Day, Jesus Christ is Risen Alive!

Jesus is alive! He is risen indeed. This changes everything. Since Jesus rose from the dead, we know He can bring life to any situation; He will be able to raise us from death to an everlasting life.  We celebrate that Jesus is alive. Christ is Risen!

The first and second hymn is LSB 457, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 525, “Crown Him with Many Crowns”.

If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Good Friday, Jesus Sacrifice for Us, Tenebrae Worship

Jesus, the Son of God, gave up His life to pay the price of our sins.  This is the highest and grandest drama that has ever unfolded on the stage of the earth.  Through the words and the actions of this service, we travel through the moments of Jesus' saving work and pass into the shadows of Tenebrae as our Lord's body is placed in the tomb. 

The first and last hymn is LSB 450, “O Sacred Head Now Wounded”. The hymn played in between the seven sections is LSB 447 “Jesus in Your Dying Woes”.

If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.

Maundy Thursday, Jesus Promises to Feed Us in The Father's Kingdom

God’s blessings to you in this holy week. May he give you a quiet mind and a peaceful spirit in this sacred time. For Maundy Thursday we celebrate that Jesus promises us a meal together in His Father’s Kingdom

The first and second hymn is LSB 617, “O Lord We Praise Thee”. The third and fourth hymn is LSB 621, “Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence”.

If you have a Lutheran Service Book Hymnal at home, please sing along.