The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16
Introit
Turn Thee unto me and have mercy upon me:
for I am desolate and afflicted.
Look upon mine affliction and my pain:
and forgive all my sins.
Psalm. Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul:
O my God, I trust in Thee, let me not be ashamed.
The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O God, the Protector of all that trust in Thee, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy, increase and multiply upon us Thy mercy that, Thou being our Ruler and Guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Cast thy burden upon the Lord:
and He shall sustain thee.
V. I will call upon God; and the Lord shall save me:
He hath delivered my soul in peace.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. I will love Thee, O Lord my Strength:
the Lord is my Rock and my Fortress and my Deliverer. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Lost and Found
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #49 Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast
In Our Prayers and Announcements
- Happy Father's Day!
- Medical treatment - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Kermit Way, Lito Cruz and Family, Lori Howell, Sarah Buck, Tom Fisher. Those with emotional issues and those with metabolic disorders.
- The Greek lessons on Wednesday at 11 AM will be on vacation break. The Reformation Seminary lectures will continue on Tuesday and Thursday at 11 AM.
- The Veterans Honor roses are in recognition of our military in the past and present.
KJV 1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. 3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? 5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. 8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? 9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. 10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Third Sunday After Trinity
Lord God, heavenly Father, we all like sheep have gone astray, having suffered ourselves to be led away from the right path by Satan and our own sinful flesh: We beseech Thee graciously to forgive us all our sins for the sake of Thy Son, Jesus Christ; and quicken our hearts by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may abide in Thy word, and in true repentance and a steadfast faith continue in Thy Church unto the end, and obtain eternal salvation, through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end Amen.
Lost and Found
KJV Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
The opening should not shock anyone, because the Pharisees and scribes are murmuring exactly what the Lutheran managers and pastors think, say, and act out. They are the ones - The Big Five - ELCA-LCMS-WELS-ELS-CLC (sic) - who shun and excommunicate anyone who openly rejects their Objective Faithless Justification. Their argument against Justification by Faith, the Chief Article of the Christian Religion, is like a cat's ball of yarn - rolling across the floor and getting all tangled up - because they mix up everything then fall into a rage against faith.
The scribes and Pharisees are synodical executives and sycophants who glare at anyone who opposes their money squandering and laundering. Their bloodshot eyes glare at those who dare to slightly suggest that they are one with Unitarianism and not even good at that. Like the Unitarians and Universalists (UUs - their own term) - they are losing the precious jewels of the past - bricks and mortar, property, and widow's endowments.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, 4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
This translates into faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. How? Because this faith in the Savior is singular, the most important doctrine, the all-encompassing doctrine of the Bible.
Color me an evolutionist for a minute or two. I went out to harvest the Queen of Sweden rose, almost up to my eyes, perfectly formed. Evolution! But wait, there is a very complicated, large spider's nest just below it, a gossamer trampoline. Over billions of years the spiders developed skills in manufacturing web and applying it with skill, knowing that insects would get trapped and provide fresh food, whether crawling down or up or flying into it. Dew on the rose's web, early in the morning, is a reminder - evolution is a fool's paradise.
The math for this man in the parable is not good, as if he would leave 99 sheep for the one lost and crying for help. A reader and author worries about all his farm animals; he must balance what they need and what he can do for them.
The sheep in the parable is universal, but not for Universalists who belong to the Big Five. ("Everyone is saved! Everyone! Everyone!" - formerly a youth group leader.) The person who holds to the doctrine of faith in Jesus Christ, no matter what his condition might be, can raise his voice to the Good Shepherd, even when there is nothing left except faith.
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
This is Christ, whose main attributes are love and forgiveness. There is no condemnation in His work, because He took the sins of the world upon Him. This verse emphasizes the Shepherd's voice of joy over this weak, fragile, and starving individual. The sheep is not scolded for trusting in the Shepherd, and finds comfort in the rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. 7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
Here is the visible church. This is saying that Jesus will lead back the lost and believers will rejoice, just as those do in heaven, with more joy over one sinner than 99 who "need no repentance." I take "need no repentance" as ironic humor, because it is poking fun at those who are so perfect that they do not share in the joy over the lost sheep who was found. Some openly declare that they are righteous through being in the right synod and coming from the ideal state, truly a Pharisaical attitude of works-righteousness and rejection of the Gospel itself - bragging about certain attributes as the correct school and DNA.
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
Based on currency in those days, one piece of silver was a lot to lose. We may spot a penny on the ground or in the car, but a ten will attract a lot more notice. If we lose track of a significant amount, we will search and search to find it. Any precious item is going to be searched in every way possible.
This parable seems to hang up in the air, because the two passages are the lead into the next 20 verses, the Prodigal Son. The three go together to illustrate many perspectives of this theme about repentance - and joy from forgiveness, plus the sourpuss attitudes who of those who depend on their works-righteousness.
the end.
