WORSHIP
| Worship Is... entering the presence of the true & living God, and hearing his holy Word... praising, thanking, & adoring him in song, seeking his mercy for the needs of the world... feasting at the holy Supper of the Lamb... |
 |
SUNDAY – THE LORD’S DAY
From the very start Christians have gathered on the first day of the week (Sunday). For on that day the disciples found the empty tomb, learned that Jesus was risen, and later met him face-to-face. While the New Testament was still being written, the church chose the Day of Resurrection to gather, calling the first day of the week the Lord’s Day.” About a century after the Apostles, Justin Martyr from Syria also connected Sunday to the creation, writing to the Roman Emperor of his day, “We hold this common gathering on Sunday since it is the first day on which God, transforming darkness and matter, made the universe, and Jesus Christ, our Savior, rose from the dead on the same day.”
WORSHIP CENTERED ON GOD’S GIFTS
Worship is first of all about what we come to receive from God, secondly about what we offer him. We call this hour the Divine Service – for in it God serves us his saving grace in Christ. It is the chief “family hour” of those baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Justin Martyr describes this gathering as follows:
On the day called Sunday... the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read... They next earnestly offer common prayers for themselves, along with the one who has been illuminated and for others everywhere... Then bread and a cup of water mixed with wine are brought... When the president has given thanks and the whole congregation has agreed, those whom we call deacons give to each person present a portion of the consecrated bread and wine/water.. This food we call Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to partake except those who believe that what we teach is true, and who have received the washing that forgives sins and grants rebirth – and who are living as Christ commanded. We have been taught that the food consecrated by the word of prayer is the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus.
THE THREE CHIEF PARTS OF THE SUNDAY SERVICE
I. BIBLICAL PREACHING — Christ said of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13), “He will guide you into all the truth.” When the church gathers, God fulfills this promise through the public reading of the Holy Scriptures, which provide the foundation for all preaching.
II. PRAYER — Christ promised us (John 14:13-14) that through him our prayers would be heard and answered by God the Father. The church gathers to pray, therefore for the needs of the whole church and the whole world.
III. THE LORD'S SUPPER — Christ declared of the bread and wine: “This is my body which is for you... This cup is the new covenant in my blood.” The Lord’s Supper, sharing the blood of Christ and sharing the body of Christ, is part of our regular Sunday worship.
|
WHEN YOU ENTER THE PEW IN OUR CHURCH, you will find a book in the rack, Lutheran Service Book. It’s what we use for our services, both on Sunday and at other times. Although it contains much more than hymns, we simply call it “the hymnal.”
THE SUNDAY BULLETIN that an usher hands you provides an outline to the service that morning. It shows you where to turn in the hymnal.
WE FOLLOW AN ORDER of service that on Sunday morning is entitled “Divine Service.” It appears in the hymnal in a number of musical settings. Whichever one we use, and regardless of where else we turn in the hymnal during worship, we always come back to this Divine Service order.
“PROPERS” ARE SPECIFIC hymns and other items being used on that particular day. For we are always following the Christian Calendar, which has various readings assigned to the seasons and festivals of the Church Year.
TWO RIBBONS are in the hymnal to let you mark places in advance and thus to follow the service more easily.
THE SCRIPTURE READINGS OF THE DAY, which would not all fit in a hymnal, we print out on the back of the bulletin.
THE GENERAL CONTENTS OF OUR HYMNAL
An outline of the Christian Year, including the Bible passages appointed for each week.
Most of the Old Testament’s 150 Psalms
The Divine Service for Communion services
Daily Prayer materials for use by families, other groups, and individuals
Rites for Baptism, Confirmation, weddings, and funerals
Over 600 hymns of the Christian church
OUR WORSHIP SERVICES ARE SATURATED WITH THE LANGUAGE OF BIBLICAL TEXTS
Visitors find themselves “singing the Scriptures” with us. And with so much packed into a single volume, our hymnal serves well also in schools and homes.
Read more: http://www.lcms.org/graphics/assets/media/LCMS/wa_lutheranworship.pdf
|
| DATE | TITLE | TEXT | VIDEO |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 28 | 5th Sun of Easter | ||
| Apr 21 | 4th Sun of Easter | revelation | |
| Apr 14 | 3rd Sun of Easter | to the lamb | |
| Apr 7 | 2nd Sun of Easter | revelation | |
| Mar 31, 2013 | Easter Sunday | easter sunday | |
| Mar 24, 2013 | Palm Sunday | passion of christ | |
| Mar 17, 2013 | 5th Sun in Lent | luke 20_9-20 | |
| Mar 10, 2013 | 4th Sun in Lent | prodigal son | |
| Mar 3, 2013 | 3rd Sun in Lent | sacraments | |
| Feb 24, 2013 | 2nd Sun in Lent | always hope in god | |
| Feb 17, 2013 | 1st Sun in Lent | call on the lord | |
| Feb 13, 2013 | Ash Wednesday | ash wednasday 2013 | |
| Feb 10, 2013 | Transfiguration Sunday | transfiguration sunday | |
| Feb 3, 2013 | 4 th Sun after Epiphany | christ restores | |
| Jan 27, 2013 | 3rd Sun after Epiphany | nazareth | |
| Jan 20, 2013 | 2nd Sun after Epiphany | cana | |
| Jan 13, 2013 | lst Sun after Epiphany | baptism of our lord | |
| Jan 6, 2013 | Epiphany of Our Lord | epiphany |
|
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which trancends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Do you have a need for prayer? Do you know someone else who needs a prayer?
Contact us with your prayer requests: prayers@immanuellutheranonline.org
From Luther’s Small Catechism...
MORNING PRAYER
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
EVENING PRAYER
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
I thank you, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night.
For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things.
Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
TABLE PRAYER
The eyes of all look to you, O Lord, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Lord God, Heavenly Father, bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from you bountiful goodness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
|
THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR (THE CHURCH YEAR)
The Time of Christmas
Advent - We remember how the Messiah came to Israel, rejoice in Christ coming to us today in his means of grace, and anticipate his return to glory on the day of judgment.
Christmas - We observe the Feast of the Nativity – God’s Word made Flesh – followed by 12 days of celebration.
Epiphany - Through signs and wonders, God reveals his Son to be the Light of the nations and the glory of his chosen people Israel.
The Time of Easter
Lent - We recall especially the trials and conflicts in the life of Christ by which he was prepared to enter his sufferings, and we larn from him to endure.
Holy Week - We enter the mystery of God’s own atonement for the sins of the world, in order to give life to the world.
Easter - God’s hidden plan of the ages is revealed to us in his raising Jesus from the tomb, and raising his disciples from despair to faith.
Octave of Pentecost
In the outpouring of the Spirit, God reveals himself as a holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Spirit.
The Time of the Church
Sundays after Pentecost - This long period through summer and autumn represents the life of Christ in his church, as she lives by faith and in service to him between his Ascension into heaven and his final coming in glory.
Explanation of the Christian Calendar… http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=865
http://www.christianitysite.com/calendar.htm