92 Year Old Preacher

Commemoration of Noah
November 29, 2010

The Lord be with you

A member of my congregation sent me the following story. I have no idea whether or not it is true (and I certainly do not recommend watching worship services on TV instead of participating in a worship service with living breathing fellow believers) but the story makes a good point. One observation, there is a re-work of an old hymn at the end. The final verse in what I received took the focus of the hymn off Jesus and put is squarely on the person who is singing. The original hymn avoided this anthropocentric blunder and kept the hymn Christocentric throughout. To overcome this, I simply deleted the new final verse and repeated the new first verse. I also made some punctuation changes.

Blessings in Christ
Pastor John Rickert

92 Year Old Preacher

While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down, he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gait to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak.

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50-odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. . . The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me. . . the only thing that would comfort was this verse. . .

"Jesus loves me this I know,
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong;
They are weak but He is strong.
Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me!
Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.

A pastor once stated, "I always noticed that it was the adults who chose the children's hymn 'Jesus Loves Me' (for the children of course) during a hymn sing, and it was the adults who sang the loudest because I could see they knew it the best."

"Senior version of Jesus Loves Me"

Here is a new version just for us who have white hair or no hair at all. For us over middle age (or even those almost there) and all you others, check out this newest version of Jesus Loves Me.

JESUS LOVES ME

Jesus loves me! this I know,
Though my hair is white as snow,
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)
YES, JESUS LOVES ME! YES, JESUS LOVES ME!
YES, JESUS LOVES ME! FOR THE BIBLE TELLS ME SO.

Though my steps are oh, so slow,
With my hand in His I'll go.
On through life, let come what may,
He'll be there to lead the way.
(CHORUS)

When the nights are dark and long,
In my heart He puts a song,
Telling me in words so clear,
"Have no fear, for I am near."
(CHORUS)

When my work on earth is done,
And life's victories have been won.
He will take me home above,
Then I'll understand His love.
(CHORUS)

Jesus loves me! This I know,
Though my hair is white as snow,
Though my sight is growing dim,
Still He bids me trust in Him.
(CHORUS)

Wednesday Advent Activities

Wednesday * Wednesday * Wednesday

This Wednesday we will have our first Advent Services for this year.

The message at both services is titled “Mary’s Song,” and is based on the Magnificat.

12:15 Service
Liturgy: Responsive Prayer I (Suffrages), page 282
Hymn: “The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came,” LSB 356


7:00 Service
Liturgy: Evening Prayer, page 243
Hymns: “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” LSB 338
“The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came,” LSB 356
“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” LSB 357

Preceding the evening service, at 6:15 PM

Soup Supper * Soup Supper * Soup Supper

Soups this week:

Turkey & Brown Rice and Red Lentil

Following the evening service, at 8:00 PM

Choir Practice * Choir Practice * Choir Practice

When it comes down to the basics of who we are, worship of the Triune God is what makes the Church different from all other organizations in the world. Join us each week for worship (and fellowship).

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Worship for Advent 1 - 2010

Saturday after Christ the King Sunday
November 27, 2010

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday will be the First Sunday in Advent. At Lamb of God we will have a guest minister, Rev. Dr. Hugo Kaeding, presiding at the worship service. Pastor Kaeding is the Circuit Counselor for Circuit 19. I will be in Camden in my capacity as Circuit Counselor for Circuit 18. Because I will not be here, I cannot tell you what the sermon text will be, etc. However I will share the following information.

As this will be the first Sunday in Advent, the paraments will be blue. Blue is the most recent addition to liturgical colors and first began being used in Scandinavian countries. It represents hope, and reflects our hope in the Christ who came and is to come.

We will be using the first setting of the Diving Service (page 151). This will be a communion service. The appointed lessons for the day are: Isaiah 2:1-5; Romans 13:11-14; Matthew 21:1-11.

Our Opening Hymn will be LSB 337, “The Night Will Soon Be Ending.” The sermon hymn will be: LSB 396, “Arise and Shine in Splendor.” Our Closing hymn will be: LSB 333, “Once He Came in Blessing.” Our Distribution Hymns: LSB 620, “Jesus Comes Today with Healing,” LSB 331, “The Advent of Our King,” and LSB 918, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer.”

The Opening Hymn, “The Night Will Soon Be Ending” is another hymn that was selected by our Hymnal Review Committee as one that is worth learning. We will be singing if for four weeks.

Don’t forget that Wednesday Advent Services begin this week, December 1. As usual for us, we will have a service at 12:15 with only one hymn and a spoken liturgy. The 7:00 service will have a sung liturgy and three hymns. The theme this year for the Wednesday Advents services is the “Canticles of Christmas.” The first homily is titled “Mary’s Song” and is based on the Magnificat. The services will be preceded by a Soup Supper at 6:15 PM.

Below is a video of a High School Choir singing the first and last verses of "Arise and Shine in Splendor," our sermon hymn. They do a real good job.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert

Worship Thanksgiving Eve - 2010

Commemoration of Clement of Rome, Pastor
November 23, 2010

The Lord be with you

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day in the United States of America. This is the fourth Thursday in November, the day set by law back on December 26, 1941, when Franklin D. Roosevelt was president. Before that it was, by tradition started by President Abraham Lincoln, the last Thursday in November. (Sometimes November has five Thursdays.) Roosevelt wanted it moved earlier to help the economy and the selection of the fourth Thursday was a compromise with congress.

When I arrived at Lamb of God they traditionally had a Thanksgiving Eve worship service, and we have maintained that practice. Therefore tomorrow evening, at 7:00 PM, we will have our Thanksgiving worship service.

We will be using Evening Prayer (page 243) for our liturgy. Our hymns will be: “Before You, Lord, We Bow” (LSB 966), “God Bless Our Native Land” (LSB 965), “We Give Thee But Thine Own” (LSB 781:1-2, 6), and “The Day Thou Gavest” (LSB 886). The appointed lessons are: Deuteronomy 8:1-10, Philippians 4:6-20, and Luke 17:11-19. The appointed psalm is Psalm 67, antiphon: v. 7. The text for the homily is Deuteronomy 8:1, and the homily is titled “God Blessed America.” No, that is not a typo. “Blessed” is suppose to be in the past tense.

For us, this is the last worship service of the Church Year. The First Sunday in Advent is November 28 this year. So come and join us as we give thanks for the many blessings God has graciously granted us in the past.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor Rickert

Luther Medallions

Friday after Pentecost 25

ALPB gauging interest in anniversary medals
Reporter, November 2010

The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau (ALPB) would like to hear from those interested in buying a series of nine commemorative medallions it plans to offer "to begin a countdown of the years to the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in 2017," according to an ALPB press release.

Established in 1914, the ALPB "is …

Flunking the Religious Knowledge Test

Friday after Pentecost 25

Commentary: Flunking the religious knowledge test
By Gene Edward Veith
Reporter, November 2010

Do atheists know more about religion than religious people do? That was the conclusion of recent news reports on the U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey conducted by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, which released the survey results Sept. 28. Though the media conclusions are somewhat misleading, the survey raises issues that Christians need to face up to.

Worship for the Last Sunday of the Church Year - 2010

Thursday after Pentecost 25
November 18, 2010

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday will be the Last Sunday of the Church Year. On other liturgical calendars it is also known as Christ the King Sunday.

The appointed lessons for the day are: Malachi 3:13-18; Colossians 1:13-20, and Luke 23:27-43. The appointed Psalm is Psalm 46 and the antiphon is verse 7. The sermon will draw on each of the main lessons, but I need only one text, so I’ve chosen Luke 23:43. The sermon is titled “Saved Four Times.”

We will be using Matins for our liturgy Sunday (page 219). Our hymns will be “Salvation unto Us Has Come” (LSB 555), “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” (LSB 702), and “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers” (LSB 515). .

Below is a video of a graduation ceremony where a choir is singing “Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers.” The words are almost identical to the ones in our hymnal, and the tune is the same. Because it is a real occasion, the organist gets fancy, especially at the beginning and between verses. They do a real fine job. (By-the-way, we will not be singing the little fanfare the choir does at the end.)

Preview of the Lessons

Malachi 3:13-18: Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament and probably the last one written. Scholars date it to 440 through 430 BC. The book was written after Nehemiah returned to Babylon, and the people had quickly fallen back into sinful ways. In this reading the people are depicted as complaining against God, claiming that God’s ways are of no value and that the ways of the world are to be preferred. Those who remain faithful suffer at the hands of those who have abandoned God’s ways. The Lord, though, pays attention to the faithful and will, on the Last Day, distinguish them by bringing them into eternal fellowship with him.

Colossians 1:13-20: Paul begins this section by reminding us that we were saved when we came to faith in Jesus, transferring us to the kingdom of God. Paul then expounds on who Jesus is. This is a powerful Christological section. In the final verse Paul points to the moment Christ died on the cross, reconciling to himself al things whether on earth or in heaven.

Luke 23:27-43: This reading is from Luke’s Passion account. Jesus is carrying his cross and being led to Calvary. Multitudes follow, weeping, clearly indicating that many, many Jews did not support the decision of their leaders to kill Jesus. This reading includes two of our Lord’s words from the cross, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” and “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This last ‘word’ has brought comfort to countless multitudes who have stood at a grave and known that their loved one is not really dead. Christ saved them from that. Their loved one is in Paradise with their Lord.

Gradual (Rev. 7:14b; Ps. 84:5)

These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Verse (Luke 23:43)

Alleluia. Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise. Alleluia.

Collect for the Day

Lord Jesus Christ, You reign among us by the preaching of Your cross. Forgive Your people their offenses that we, being governed by Your bountiful goodness, may enter at last you’re your eternal paradise; for You live and reign with the Fahter and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Psalm for the Day: Psalm 46, antiphon v. 7

Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
For the LORD, the Most High, is to be feared,
a great king over all the earth.
He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves.
God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
For God is the King of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God; he is highly exalted!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Adult Bible Study

We continue our series “Puzzlers and Questions about the Bible.” The next question is, “We studied Romans 6:6. What is the (“body of sin”) and if we have no sin in our body (or does “that the body of sin might be destroyed” – not mean that we have no sin in our body? Then what does 6:7 mean if we are free from sin – does that mean we don’t sin & 6:9 – death has no dominion – it doesn’t say spiritual death – could it mean physical death? Matthew 16:28 and there in the Old Testament it says “death is the enemy” can’t recall where but if death is the enemy what enemy (Satan)? If Satan is the enemy then can’t he be destroyed?” These questions all revolve around sanctification. I’m sure this will take more than one Sunday. Class begins at 9:00 AM. Everyone is invited.

Well, I hope to see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert

Worship for Pentecost 25 - 2010

Birthday of Martin Luther, 1483
November 10, 2010

The Lord be with you

This coming Sunday will be the Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost. On our old calendar it was known as the Second-Last Sunday of the Church Year. While the name has changed, the theme for the last three Sunday’s of the Church Year remain the same – Eschatology. (Eschatology is a word that means the study of “end things.” End things can be anything from our own death to the Second Coming of Jesus and beyond.) The Lutheran Church is sometimes accused of not teaching about the End Times. Nothing could be further from the truth. What we don’t teach is the false doctrines popularized by those influenced by Darby and the Scofield Reference Bible. These fancies may make for exciting movies, but they do not represent the teaching of the Bible.
This Sunday is also the Commemoration of Emperor Justinian, Christian Ruler and Confessor of Christ. While Justinian is certainly worthy of being remembered, alas this Sunday he will be overlooked at our church.

The appointed lessons for the day are: Malachi 4:1-6, 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13, and Luke 21:5-28. The sermon text is Luke 21:8 and the sermon is titled “False Prophets and the Church.”

We will be using the third setting of the Divine Service in the hymnal for our liturgy Sunday (page 184). We will be celebrating the Lord’s Supper. Our hymns will be “Father Most Holy,” (LSB 504), “Faith and Truth and Life Bestowing” (LSB 584), “Almighty God, Your Word is Cast” (LSB 577), “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less” (LSB 575), “O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee” (LSB 632), and “My God Bestow on Us His Grace” (LSB 824).

Below is a video of a young man playing “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less.” There are actually two well know tunes associated with these words. The one in this video is the one we will be singing Sunday.

Preview of the Lessons

Malachi 4:1-6: Malachi looks forward to the “End Times.” These times began with Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2). God uses images for fire to describe his judgment against the wicked. The wicked are those who do not fear God’s name (2), that is, lack faith. In the end, all that they valued is destroyed. The role of believers in the judgment is also revealed as well as the glory that will be ours at the resurrection. While the religious leaders in Malachi’s time were faithless, the faithful are to remember Moses, God’s faithful servant, and the word God delivered to him. Even in a time when the leaders of the Church have abandoned God’s word, we still have the examples of God’s faithful past servants and the testimony of God’s word. The reference to the appearance of Elijah might be a reference to John the Baptist (Matthew 11:14) or the Transfiguration of our Lord when Elijah and Moses appeared on this earth again (Matthew 17:3). Either way, the End Days began with Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13: It appears that some in this church believed that the Second Coming of Jesus was eminent and so had quit their jobs and were living off the good will of other members in the Church while they waited. I guess they even felt a little smug about their supposed spirituality. Paul tells them to get off their lazy behinds and go back to work. No one knows when Christ will return. Not only that but, if we are gainfully employed then, as good stewards of what the Lord gives us, we are able to do good to all people, especially those of the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). Therefore Paul urges us in this lesson to “not grow weary in doing good” (13).

Luke 21:5-28: This is one of Jesus’ famous “eschatological discourses.” Because he is speaking of things dealing with End Times, and because the End Times began with him, the events he describes span history from his day until the Second Coming. For example, the destruction of the Temple he speaks of (6) happened in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed it. Certainly there have been plenty of wars and rumors of wars for the last 2,000 years. People are always pointing to unusual celestial events, and have been for the last 2,000 years. Of course one of the most remarkable is the Christmas star. We will be focusing our considerations on verse 8 and see how this has been and is being fulfilled and consider what difference it makes for us today.

Gradual (Rev. 7:14b; Ps. 84:5)

These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Verse (Luke 21:28b)

Alleluia. Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. Alleluia.

Collect for the Day

O Lord, almighty and ever-living God, You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You. Rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that we may live and abide forever in Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Introit for the Day (Ps. 121:1-2, 7-8; antiphon: Luke 21:33)

Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.
I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The LORD will keep from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Heaven and earth will pass away,
but my words will not pass away.

Adult Bible Study

We continue our series “Puzzlers and Questions about the Bible.” The next question is, “Regarding O.T. offerings, how do we reconcile giving a tithe at the temple/tabernacle with the verse that says that if the place is too far away, use the $ for “strong drink,” etc.?” This question seems to be based on Deuteronomy 14:22-29. We will consider just what “strong drink” is, what this text means, and what it means for us today. The study is titled “Tithes and Strong Drink.” Class begins at 9:00 AM. Everyone is invited.

Well, I hope to see you Sunday.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert

Recognition of Karen Hampton

Birthday of Martin Luther

November 10, 2010

The Lord be with you

This past Sunday (All Saints' Sunday at Lamb of God) we recognized Karen Hampton for her twenty years of service at Lamb of God as our organist and music director. Below are two pictures that were taken. The one is of me, Karen, and our president, Phillip Swain. The other is the cake that Connie Melton made. Karen is a clear example that the gifts of God most often come in human flesh. Thank you Karen.

Blessings in Christ,

Pastor John Rickert

Johannes von Staupitz

Saturday after All Saints’ Sunday
Commemoration of Johannes von Staupitz, Luther’s Father Confessor
November 8, 2010

The Lord be with you

November 8 is the day set aside to remember Johannes von Staupitz on our calendar. The link below is to a post I made last year concerning Staupitz, which you may wish to read.

http://lutheran-in-sc.blogspot.com/2009/11/johannes-von-staupitz.html

Blessings in Christ,
John

Sympathy for the Baptist Preacher

Monday after All Saints’ Sunday
November 8, 2010

The Lord be with you

I am attending school at Gardner-Webb University (GWU) working on a Doctorate of Ministry degree. GWU is affiliated with the Baptist denomination. Currently I’m in a worship seminar. There has been an unexpected result in me, emotionally, that I would like to share.

Baptists are part of the “free church” tradition. It is a natural outgrowth of their belief in what they call “soul freedom.” To sum it up in non-church language, it basically means “Aint nobody gonna tell me what to believe or do.” Any guidance from the denomination is viewed by many with great suspicion, as if they are seeking to create a Baptist Pope.

One of the practical results is that there are no denominationally sanctioned/endorsed agendas. An agenda, for those who don’t know, is a book that contains all kinds of occasional services like weddings, funerals, dedication for new church appointments (pews, art, Bible, hymnals, etc.). In fact, there are no pan-Baptist worship services whatsoever!

The result, from a practical point-of-view, is that when a Baptist minister graduates and gets his first church, he has NO resources for leading his people in worship other than what he may have learned in school. The minister will probably have a good handle on the Bible and theology as understood in their tradition, and will be able to lead Bible studies or preach, but the nuts and bolts of leading worship is often left for them to figure out on their own.

This practice seems to me to be filled with all sorts of potential disasters for the young pastor. Each congregation will have developed their own specific worship traditions and the pastor is expected to know them. With no guidance to help him determine what is a theologically sound practice the minister is left to work through each of the local traditions. If he has a funeral right away he may well not have time to evaluate the current practices and simply follow an old bulletin. If later he decides to modify the practice for theological reasons, the congregation might well wonder why he did it “wrong” before. When a pastor first arrives at a congregation one of their first priorities often is visiting members and getting to know the congregation. This leaves little time for reflecting on the worship practices he has inherited.

The emotional response I’ve had is an increase in sympathy for the Baptist pastor, especially the new Baptist pastor who doesn’t have years of experience on which to draw.

I also have a recommendation for ministers in the “free church” tradition. Find a liturgical denomination that has similar theology to yours. Purchase a copy of their Hymnal and Agenda. You don’t have to tell your people you have done this. Use these books to help you develop Sunday morning, wedding, funeral, etc., services that have substance and integrity. I have often been approached by Baptist laity after a wedding or funeral and been told just how great the service was. I never understood why as I basically follow standard forms which are laced with great theological and biblical thought. I thought every church provided such resources to their pastors. Now I know. Baptist ministers are not given the resources I am given by my denomination.

So, if you are a minister from the “free church” tradition, do yourself and your people a favor. Buy an Agenda from a liturgical denomination with similar theology to yours. You’ll thank me later.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert

(By-the-way, the picture is of the dedication of new hymnals for use at Lamb of God. The dedication rite came right out of our Agenda.)

All Saints Sunday - 2010

Wednesday after All Saints’ Day
November 3, 2010

The Lord be with you

This past Monday was All Saints’ Day (November 1). In Lutheran Churches (and to my knowledge we are the only ones that do this) we celebrate this feast on the first Sunday following November 1 (assuming November 1 is not a Sunday). At Lamb of God this is what we will do.

All Saints’ Day is the most comprehensive of the days of commemoration, encompassing the entire scope of that great cloud of witnesses with which we are surrounded (Hebrews 12:1). It holds before the eyes of faith that great multitude which no man can number: all the saints of God in Christ—from every nation, race, culture, and language—who have come “out of the great tribulation … who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 7:9, 14). As such, it sets before us the full height and depth and breadth and length of our dear Lord’s gracious salvation (Ephesians 3:17-19). It shares with Easter a celebration of the resurrection, since all those who have died in Christ Jesus have also been raised with Him (Romans 6:3-8). It shares with Pentecost a celebration of the ingathering of the entire Universal Church—in heaven and on earth, in all times and places—in the one Body of Christ, in the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Just as we have all been called to the one hope that belongs to our “one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6). And the Feast of All Saints shares with the final Sundays of the Church Year an eschatological focus on the life everlasting and a confession that “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). In all of these emphases, the purpose of this feast is to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, that we might not grow weary or fainthearted (Hebrews 12:2-3). (Treasury of Daily Prayer, Concordia Publish House)

A common practice in churches for this feast is to read the names of those who have died and gone to be with the Lord during the worship service. In large churches only the names of those who have died in the last year are remembered. This is due to time restraints. In a small church like Lamb of God we can, and do, open this list up to any whom the congregation wishes to remember.

We will have a special liturgy for our worship Sunday. Because we are remembering those who have joined the Church Triumphant, our liturgy will be drawn largely from a traditional liturgical funeral service. This will give us a chance to consider the meaning of these services during a less emotional time, helping us to understand the comfort and focus of such services. Several features of our regular Sunday morning service will be absent because they are not part of our funeral services. Most noticeable of these will be the absence of a time for confession of sins and absolution.

The hymns for Sunday will be “For All The Saints” (LSB 677), “I Know That My Redeemer Lives” (LSB 461), and “Lift High the Cross” (LSB 837). Each of these hymns are common selections at funerals. The appointed lessons are Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3, and Matthew 5:1-12. The sermon is based on the reading from Revelation and is titled “Who Are The Saints?” The Introit is the one appointed for All Saints’ Day. Our prayers will be based on the ones commonly offered during a funeral.

The following video is of a church singing For All the Saints in a processional.




The adult Sunday school class will continue with part 2 of our study titled “Flesh, Spirit, and Sanctification.” It is part of our series Puzzlers and Questions About the Bible, which is simply Bible studies based on questions submitted my members and friends of Lamb of God.

Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert