The Savior remains Christ (the) Lord

Nativity I by Becky Thorns

Why did God bring you here tonight? Was it His intent that you would simply behold the beauty of this building’s decorations—those that may be seen in hues of gold and silver (Altar Table), blue and white (Angel Banners), red and green (Wreaths and Ponsettias), purple and rose (Advent Wreath), brass and wood (all about the Chancel and Nave)? Did God move you to be in this place just for you to give thanks to Him through your joining this congregation’s hymns and prayers for sending His only begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sins into death? All those things certainly may be beheld with our human senses in this place on this, one of most holy of nights of the year….For more, click on he title above.

Proclamations of God’s love

John the Baptist bearing witness by Annibale Carracci, c1600

Today is the Sunday in the Church Year that is especially set aside so that the members of Christ’s Body would be called to prepare the way of the Lord in their hearts, minds, and lives. That preparation the Holy Spirit works, as the faithful, you we pray, participate as fully as possible in that which is going on the Lord’s Service to us. I said, “as fully as possible,” because as humans still wrestling with sin—in the world and in ourselves—we do become distracted…
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Ad te Domine Levavi: To You, I will lift up

Today we begin our 2022 Advent series. It is one that is being centered upon the Church’s more historic Introit Psalms. Those were long ago appointed for each of the four Sundays, and following weeks, of the Advent season. Each of those Sundays have received their names from Latin translations of the Introit appointed for each specific Advent week: Ad te levavi; Populus Zion; Gaudete; and Rorate coeli. Those names were derived from the first Latin language verse of the Introit given to the Church for hearing during each Advent week….For more, click on the title above

The triumphal advent of the King of peace

Entry into Jerusalem by Sadao Watanabe

Today, the confessing Church throughout the world celebrates the Triumphal Advent of the King of Peace. Jesus is that King. We declare that for He is the One Who was heralded almost 2,000 years ago by crowds both following and leading His procession into Jerusalem.
That, and more, we have heard again from today’s readings. That is because this is the day that begins a new Church Year of our Lord. For centuries, its Gospel reading has been heard each year on this day. Yet, it is not the only time we hear today’s text in the Lord’s Services.
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The Church’s new song is not what some people think it is

!0 Virgins by Lu Lan

Again, today, the Lord of the Church has preserved His Church through another year. Throughout this “Year of the Psalm,” which is now a long-held Catalina Lutheran tradition, on most Sunday’s of the past year, God’s Word of Law and Gospel has been proclaimed from the Psalms. Through the declaration of the convicting, condemnning and killing Law, and, we pray, the predominance in our proclamation of the acquitting, atoning and enlivening Gospel, you, God’s people have been encouraged to behold Christ Jesus as the Psalms reveal Him. That is, as the One Who bore the full brunt of the Law that you might receive the full benefits of His Good News….For more, click on the title above

Delivered for our sins and raised for our justification

The Creator of Man Who took on human flesh to be delivered for our sins and raised for our justification (that the faithful would believe, confess and know that we have been declared right with God) has brought us, once again, into the final division of the Trinity season. Its three weeks have been marked today with the special ways of proclaiming God’s Word that this congregation has used, for some time, to mark a seasonal change….for more, click on the title above.

Jesus reigns above all His enemies

Jesus reigns above all His enemies. That is good news for Jesus. That began for Him as He was suspended between heaven and earth—affixed to the wood of a cross long ago. It continued in His resurrection from the dead. That revealed that the last enemy of mankind, death, was then under His rule. Jesus’ reign was exalted above His enemies round about in His ascension to the position of all power, rule and authority over all things in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. His rule will reach its eternal fulfillment when Jesus returns on the clouds with power and glory in order to establish His everlasting kingdom. …For more, click on the title above

The righteous man, Jesus, is your sure and certain hope

This year, today is the third Sunday in the fourth part of the Trinity season. The weekly readings continue be proclaimed in order to turn their hearers hearts and minds to their emphasis on the power Christians are given to endure as we live under the cross, that which comes to us through the Faith of Jesus. The texts reveal the power of God that gives you strength in your struggle against the temptations of the world. They lead you to hear and believe that our victory against all those who oppose us, on account of the Faith we rightly confess is assured through the death and resurrection of the only truly righteous Man, Jesus the Christ…For more, click on the title above.