September 30, 2007
Vol. 1, no. 15
Beloved in the Lord: Grace and Peace to you in the name of the One True God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
Amen.
Pray continually; giving thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. I Thessalonians 5:17-18.
Prayer is the contrite sinner’s voice
Returning from his ways,
While angels in their songs rejoice
And cry, “Behold, he prays!”
Prayer is a gift specifically given to humanity. It is a gift for us to come before the very throne of God Almighty with contrite and repentant hearts. It is a gift that we, through the all atoning sacrifice of Christ Jesus, may repent and turn from our sinful ways. It is a gift that we share with no other creature. The angels in heaven wonder and stand in awe of this glorious relationship God has invited us to in prayer. And yet we neglect this! Can you imagine the shock, the horror, the disbelief of that heavenly angel host when we so carelessly turn from this thing that they can only gape at? In all of creation, God has not interacted as closely as He has with humanity. Do not take this gift for granted, but turn to God, beg for mercy, receive His grace and peace that He freely gives in Christ Jesus. Take it to the Lord in prayer.
The Lord be with you,
Pastor Jim
*TLH 454, v. 4
Worship Practices
(Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Does it matter how I receive communion? What should my posture be if I am not coming up to receive communion?
A: It is always a blessing for God’s people to gather around His blessed gift of the Lord’s Supper (aka, The Sacrament, Holy Communion, The Eucharist, The Lord’s Meal). That sense of gratitude, wonder and awe at receiving Christ’s very Body and Blood for the forgiveness of sins should be the motivation for how you receive communion. Some receive the Body directly on their tongue, some hold out their hands. Both are acceptable. I would encourage you, if you are receiving the Body with your hands, to hold your right hand over your left hand, so that, as one of the early Church Father’s put it, you make a fitting throne for the Lord Christ to sit upon. If you receive the Body directly to your mouth, extend your tongue a bit and wait for the wafer to touch it, it would be a good idea to hold your hand out under the pastor’s so that if the wafer falls you would be ready to catch it. When receiving the Blood, you are encouraged to take the common; however, you may take the individual cup. There is some significance in us all communing from one cup, as it is closer to the words of Christ; however both are acceptable. If you are receiving the Blood in the individual cup simply take a cup, wait for the elder or pastor to say the words “Take and drink, the true blood of Christ given for you,” and then drink the wine. Try to get it all. The elder will come back to collect the cup. If you are receiving the common cup, it is encouraged to gently direct the cup so you don’t get too little or too much. It is also a good idea for ladies to blot their lipstick before taking the common cup. The pastor holds a cloth, called the purificator, right under your mouth to catch any dribbles and to wipe the rim between communicants. It is good and appropriate to say “Amen” after receiving each element. It is also appropriate to cross yourself during the dismissal.
If you are not receiving communion but would still like a blessing, please come up to the rail. So as to avoid any confusion, it would be a good sign to the pastor, as well as a sign of humility, to cross your arms in front of you. To do this, you would put your right hand on your left shoulder and your left hand on your right shoulder. The pastor will recognize this as a sign that you would like a blessing. When you receive the blessing, the pastor will lay his hands on your head and make the sign of the cross on your forehead, in remembrance of your baptism.
Five Minutes with Herr Luther
We must become accustomed to the language of Scripture. The word angelos, whence we derive our word “angel,” really means a messenger, not one who carries letters, but one who is sent to deliver a message by word of mouth. Thus this name is commonly applied in Scripture to all messengers of God in heaven and on earth, whether they are the holy angels in heaven or prophets and apostles on earth…Therefore all who proclaim His Word are God’s angels and messengers. Thence is also derived the word “evangel,” which means a good message. But the heavenly spirits in particular are called angels because they are the highest and noblest messengers of God.
Hymn History
Sing, My Tongue, the Glorious Battle, was written in 569 AD by Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus. Fortunatus converted to Christianity at an early age, at Aquileia. While a student at Ravenna, he became almost blind, but recovered his sight, as he believed miraculously, by anointing his eyes with oil taken from a lamp that burned before the altar of St. Martin of Tours (who Martin Luther was named after!) His recovery induced him to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Martin at Tours, in 565. He remained in Gaul the rest of his life.
At Poitiers, he formed a romantic, though purely platonic, attachment for Queen Rhadegunda, daughter of Bertharius, king of Neustria. As a result of her influence, Fortunatus was eventually ordained and, after Rhadegunda’s death, became bishop of Poitiers shortly before his own death in 609.
Next Week’s Readings
Psalm 62
Habakkuk 1:1–4; 2:1–4
2 Timothy 1:1–14
Luke 17:1–10
Next Week’s Hymns
Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty LSB 901
If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee LSB 750
In the Shattered Bliss of Eden LSB 572
O Living Bread from Heaven LSB 642
Praise and Thanksgiving LSB 789
Now Thank We All Our God LSB 895
The Lord be with you!
***We will be using Divine Service 3 in October!! Be ready!***
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, 908 W. Main Middleville, MI 49333 +269-795-2391+ goodshepherdlcms@gmail.com