Occasion: Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Colour: Green
Order of Service: Matins (LSB Page 219)

Prelude: #649, "Blest be the Tie that Binds"
Office Hymn: #688, '"Come, Follow Me," the Savior Spake'
Hymn to Depart: #730, "What Is the World to Me"
Postlude: #589, "Speak, O Lord, Your Servant Listens"

Readings:
Additional Psalm: Psalm 16
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:11–21
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:8–15a
Third Reading: Luke 5:1–11

Sermon: "Where is God?"

Jesus Makes Fishers of Men

The Lord called fishermen to be fishers of men (Luke 5:1–11). The net they would use is the message of the cross, which is foolishness and a stumbling block to the world (1 Cor. 1:18–25). The power of God to save is not in spectacular signs like wind and fire and earthquakes (1 Kings 19:11–21), nor is it to be found in human intelligence and wisdom. The power of God to save comes in the still, small voice of the preaching of Christ crucified. In worldly darkness the disciples could catch nothing. But in the light of Christ, whose Word was attached to the water, the boats were filled with fish. So it is that in Baptism you have been drawn in to the ship of the Church. Though the nets are breaking and some who hear the Word do not believe, pastors continue to cast the net of the Gospel and the Sacraments, that Christians may abide in the boat of the Church and that we may be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:8–15).

As always, our service can be found online at https://loganmonkton.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/first-lutheran-church/services/

2023-07-09 - Trinity 5

Occasion: Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Colour: Green
Order of Service: Matins

Prelude: #555, "Salvation unto Us Has Come"
Office Hymn: #562, "All Mankind Fell in Adam's Fall"
Hymn to Depart: #829, "Christ the Eternal Lord"
Postlude: #591, "This Is the Spirit's Entry Now"

Readings:
Reading	1: Exodus 20:1–17
Reading	2: Romans 6:3–11
Reading	3: Matthew 5:20–26


Sermon: “The Reconciliation of Jesus Christ” 

Our Only Hope Is in Christ’s Righteousness 

“Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 5:20). God demands nothing less than perfection and holiness from you in regard to His commandments (Ex. 20:1–17). Your only hope, then, is not in your own goodness but in the goodness of Christ, who did not come to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them for you. In Christ, your righteousness does indeed exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. For you have been baptized into Christ’s death and your sinful nature crucified. Therefore, he who has died has been freed from sin (Rom. 6:1–11). You are now raised with Christ to walk in newness of life and to share in His resurrection on the Last Day. Christ has brought you through the baptismal sea “out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Ex. 20:2). Therefore, “consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:11).

As always, our service can be found online at https://loganmonkton.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/first-lutheran-church/services/

2023-07-16 - Trinity 6

Occasion: Seventh Sunday after Trinity
Colour: Green
Order of Service: Divine Service, Setting One (LSB Page 151)

Prelude: #555, "Salvation unto Us Has Come"
Hymn of Invocation: #804, "O Worship the King" 
Hymn of the day: #819, "Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good"
Distribution Hymn: #611, "Chief of Sinners Though I Be"
Hymn to depart: #566, "By Grace I'm Saved"
Postlude: #578, "Thy Strong Word"

Readings:
Introit: Psalm 47:3, 6–8; antiphon: vv. 1–2
Old Testament: Isaiah 62:6–12
Gradual: Psalm 34:11, 5
Epistle: Romans 6:19–23
Holy Gospel: Mark 8:1–9

Sermon: "Divine Economy"

Jesus Restores Paradise and Feeds Us Freely

In the Garden of Eden, our first parents received food freely from the gracious hand of God, apart from any burdensome work (Gen 2:7–17). But after the fall, food would be received only through toil and labor. The curse declared, “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground . . .” (Gen. 3:19). In other words, “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). But into this wilderness world came Jesus the Messiah to restore creation. Having compassion on the weary multitudes, He renewed the bounty of Eden on the third day, freely granting an abundance of bread to the 4,000 (Mark 8:1–9). So also our Lord Jesus, having endured the burden of our sin, was raised on the third day to bring us back to Paradise. He now miraculously turns the bread of death into the Bread of Life in the Sacrament, giving you His very body and blood for your forgiveness. For “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).


As always, our service can be found online at https://loganmonkton.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/first-lutheran-church/services/

2023-07-23 - Trinity 7

Occasion: Eighth Sunday after Trinity
Colour: Green
Order of Service: Divine Service, Setting One (LSB Page 151) 

Prelude (Online Only): #577, "Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast"
Hymn of Invocation: #588, "Jesus Loves Me"
Hymn of the Day: #745, "In God, My Faithful God"
Distribution Hymn: #596, "All Christians Who Have Been Baptized"
Hymn to Depart: #761, "Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me"
Postlude (Online Only): #669, "Come, We That Love the Lord"

Readings:
Introit	Psalm 48:1, 3, 11, 14; antiphon: vv. 9–10
Old Testament Reading	Jeremiah 23:16–29
Gradual	Psalm 31:2b, 1a
Second Reading	Acts 20:27–38
Verse:
Holy Gospel	Matthew 7:15–23

Sermon: "Walking the Narrow Way"

Beware of False Prophets

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves” (Matt. 7:15). Deceit has its strength in masquerading as the truth. False prophets speak a vision of their own heart, not from the mouth of the Lord (Jer. 23:16–29). They deny the judgment of the Lord, speaking peace to the unrepentant, when in truth there is condemnation and wrath. “You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:20). The “fruits” of a true prophet are not outward righteousness or success but faithfulness in proclaiming the Word of the Lord. This is the will of the Father in heaven, that pastors take heed to the flock, the Father’s adopted ones (Rom. 8:12–17), warning them against the wolves and their lies, and shepherding the Church of God which He purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:27–38). For indeed, the cross is that good tree bearing good fruit—namely, the body and blood of Christ, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins.


As always, our service can be found online at https://loganmonkton.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/first-lutheran-church/services/

First Lutheran / Redeemer Lutheran Church