Saturday after Easter 6
May 19, 2012
The Lord be with you
This coming Sunday is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. We will
be using Matins (page 219) for our liturgy. The appointed lessons are Acts
1:12-26, 1 John 5:9-15, and John 17:11b-19. The Psalm for the Day is Psalm 1.
The antiphon is verse 6. Our hymns will be “O Sing to the Lord” (LSB 808), “Lift High the Cross” (LSB 837), and “Now All the Vault of
Heaven Resounds” (LSB 465).
In our prayers we will remember the Evangelical Lutheran
Church of Argentina (IELA) (Iglesia Evangélica Luterana Argentina)
and their President, Rev. Edgardo Elseser. We will also thank God for the new
partner church status established between the LC-MS and the Lutheran Church of
Liberia. We will remember our missionary, Megan Birney. Megan serves in Hong
Kong. She desires that we pray that the Lord would pave the way
and open hearts to the ministries of LCMS World Mission, Church of All Nations,
and The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod; that the Lord would grant her
discernment and wisdom as she serves in this leadership role; that God will
continue to bless the ministry in Hong Kong and that nothing would hinder the
work of the Holy Spirit. We will remember the persecuted believers in Lebanon.
We will also remember our sister SED congregations: Trinity, Tryon, NC; Hope,
Wake Forest, NC; St. Paul, West End, NC; Messiah, Wilmington, NC; and Good
Shepherd, Charleston, SC.
Below is a video of “Lift High the Cross,” our sermon hymn.
It is sung and played by “Rachel” aka the LutheranWarbler.
Our adult Bible class
meets at 9:00 Sunday morning. This Sunday
we will continue in Matthew. As always, everyone is invited to come.
Preview of the
Lessons
Acts 1:12-26:
This is the account of the selection of Matthias to replace Judas as one of the
Apostles. After the Ascension (this past Thursday), the disciples returned to
the “upper room” in Jerusalem.
There the men and women, “with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer.”
There were about 120 people. Peter gives a “sermon.” Based on the Old
Testament, Peter recognized several things. First, the betrayal of Jesus had
been foretold. Second, the death of the betrayer had been foretold. Third, the
office once allotted to Judas, needed to be filled by another. This they set
out to do. After reviewing the qualifications for being an Apostle, it is
discovered that only two men have the necessary qualifications. Of the two,
Matthias is selected by lot. The way pray and scripture permeate the process is
a lesson for us today. The importance of carrying on the work Christ has given
the Church is also important for us to recognize. Finally, in our modern day
when people like to stile themselves as modern “apostles,” it is worthwhile to
see what the qualifications for a full-fledged apostle are. Of special note is
that they are to have been with Jesus from the baptism of John through the
resurrection. While the word “apostle” means “sent one,” and certainly we can
and do send people so that they are “apostles” is a sense, nonetheless they are
not apostles in the sense that Peter, James, Matthias and John were. Those who
pretend to speak with such authority should be avoided as false teachers. When
we say something is “apostolic,” we mean built on and reflecting the teachings
and work of the Apostles of Christ, those first century saints called by God.
1 John 5:9-15: This lesson is packed! John begins
by speaking of the “testimony of men,”
and he calls it important. “Men” testify about many things, the economy, how to
be a good citizen, work, and so much more. Just look at the self-help section
in any book store. But the “testimony of God” is greater, because it is about
Jesus. Through faith in him we have eternal life. The ‘testimony of God” is
carried by the Church of God,
you and me. When John says whoever does not believe “makes God a liar,” he
means they are calling God a liar (not that God is somehow a liar). John wants
us to have faith in Jesus. John also touches on prayer. Some look at John’s
words and conclude that God has promised to grant us anything we ask for.
Nothing could be further from what John wrote. John writes that God will grant
anything we ask “according to his will.” We discover God’s will in the pages of
the Bible, not in the selfish recesses of our hearts.
John 17:11b-19: This is part of Jesus’ “High Priestly
Prayer.” Jesus prayed this prayer on the night he was betrayed. He prays for
the unity of his followers. The loss of Judas and how it was foretold in
Scripture is prayed about. This illustrates how Scripture should inform our
prayer life. One of the great aspects of the Churches historic prayers is how
they are shaped by the Bible. If these prayers seem out of sync with your
private prayers, perhaps you should examine what you are praying for. Jesus
recognized that the “evil one” will persecute his followers, and so he prays
for their safety. We reflect this each Sunday by praying for believers in area
of the world where persecution of believers is common. He prays that we might
be “sanctified,” which is done through the Bible. If regular Bible reading is
not part of your devotional life, then you are ignoring the key element through
which the Holy Spirit strengthens us and conforms us into the image of Jesus.
Finally Christ also prays for the mission of the Church, to reach out with the
truth of the Gospel. We reflect this concern each Sunday as we pray for one of
the LC-MS missionaries.
Tidbits
- The Church Council will meet Sunday after the worship service.
- Remember, on the 27th (Pentecost Sunday) we will have a cook-out after the worship service.
Well, I pray I’ll see you Sunday.
Blessings in Christ,
Pastor John Rickert
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