The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect
in one communion and fellow-ship in the mystical body of
Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion
and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord,
grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly
living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared
for those who unfeignedly love Thee;through Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Oh, fear the Lord, ye His saints:
for there is no want to them that fear Him.
V. They that seek the Lord:
shall not want any good thing. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden:
and I will give you rest. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Praise be to Thee, O Christ! The Nicene Creed p. 22
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 #657Beautiful Savior
KJV Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessedare the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessedare they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessedare the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessedare they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessedare the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessedare the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessedare the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessedare they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
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
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 #49Almighty God Thy Word Is Cast
In Our Prayers and Announcements
Medical treatment -those with emotional issues and those with metabolic disorders. Tom Fisher - very tough year with the sheep.
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.
God And Angels Rejoice
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 [welcomes!] sinners, and eateth with them.
Luke 15 is often called Luke's Great Passage - the Loving Mercy of Jesus.
1. The Lost Sheep - Luke 15:1-7
2. The Lost Coin - Luke 15:8-10
3. The Lost Son - Luke 15:11-32.
These three passages are distinctive in dealing with one particular theme, Jesus' gracious love - comparing that to the self-righteous or works-righteous Pharisees and scribes.
The Lost Sheep is not so much about the animal but God.
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 is painfully clear. The works-righteous have their feet to the fire, as people say. Someone could have 100 sheep and still go after that one sheep until it is found. How about seeing people as God does? Sheep are timid, easily frightened, hard to control. The owner cares about them and their suffering. So this part alone is easy to see - the scribes and Pharisees are placed in the position of God. Jesus is saying, "Wouldn't you go out and look for that sheep, dying in the wilderness, growing weaker by the hour?" Our emotions would respond - we have to try. We can't let the little guy suffer. We will find him! But that is not all! The owner will search until he finds the lost sheep.
Searches
Finds
Lays it on the shoulders -
Rejoices
Calls friends and neighbors -
Rejoices
The lost one is found!
More joy in Heaven than the 99 almost perfect ones - a jibe from Jesus - for those who think they are without sin.
I often hear from people who have reached the bottom of life from alcohol and drug abuse. The Savior has rescued them from almost complete destruction and have experienced the long passage back from the wilderness, which very difficult. But it also means someone can be a good counselor after coming back.
Most importantly - This is a parable about the graciousness of God. He delights in mercy.
When graduate students write about how tough Jeremiah is, I remind them of the name that came from the prophet's long, angry speeches. The denunciations are called jeremiads, in honor of Jeremiah. But I respond to Jeremiah 31
31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
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.
This is a great follow-up, which can make anyone sweat bullets - as they say - go bats trying to find lost items - tickets, glasses, maps, etc. Once again, the emphasis is about rejoicing over the lost coin. Just as the angels rejoice in this parable, so does the individual have joy in telling the friends and neighbors.
The joy is over repentance, not coin collecting. Just as we find a thrill in the object of value lost and then found, even more significant are the angels rejoicing over one repentant sinner.
Selah is an ancient Hebrew word found 74 times in the Old Testament—71 times in the Book of Psalms and 3 times in Habakkuk chapter 3—where its exact meaning remains a matter of scholarly debate. [1, 2]
Main Interpretations
A Musical Pause: Most biblical scholars believe it functions as a liturgical or musical notation. It likely instructed musicians to play louder, pause, or signal an instrumental interlude while the singers stopped.
To Lift Up or Exalt: Etymologically, it may derive from a Hebrew root meaning "to lift up" or "to weigh" (as in raising voices in praise or lifting hands in worship).
A Call to Reflection: Spiritually, it acts as a prompt for the reader or listener to stop, breathe, and deeply ponder the truth just spoken. Modern paraphrases like the Amplified Bible often translate it as "Pause, and calmly think about that." [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Would you like to explore how Selah is used in a specific psalm (like Psalm 46 or Psalm 3), or look into how ancient translations like the Septuagint handled the word?
Greg Jackson was born and grew up in Moline, Illinois. His mother and father were both from farm families and were familiar with the farm lifestyle - getting up early and working hard all day - but neither of them went into farming. His father, Homer, was a baker, he owned and operated the Melo Creme Donut Shop for many years, famous for its cinnamon fries and long johns. His mother was an elementary school teacher until she retired.
KNOWN FOR
"Did you know that I worked in a doughnut as a kid?" Greg was very fond of telling his grandchildren about his experiences working in the Melo Creme Donut Shop in his childhood. Even after he got married and moved away, Greg and his family were still occasionally featured in Melo Creme advertising, including calendars. Pictures (and lots of devotional material and other commentary can be found at his blog "Ichabod, the Glory Has Departed" at https://ichabodthegloryhasdeparted.blogspot.com.
WHAT THEY DID
Greg's work is defined by two major categories - his work as a Lutheran pastor and later a teaching career of his own. He earned a master's degree at Yale and a PhD at Notre Dame. He wrote many books about Lutheran history and also devotional material, including a biography of his now sainted wife Christina. In the latter part of his working life, he taught online classes for a number of institutions, including the University of Phoenix and Grand Canyon University. His reviews were stellar and his classes were packed.
A TREASURED MEMORY
When his son Martin's family was fairly young, he organized a trip to Disneyland in California for the whole family, including Greg and Chris. Together with Martin, his wife, and two children (at the time) they rode the rides, ate the food, and enjoyed the park and each other. One of the best parts was a character breakfast where Josie (the older sister, about four at the time) helped feed Danielle (the younger sister, who was two then). Pictures from this event still hang on the younger Jacksons' wall in Bentonville, Arkansas.
AND ONE MORE THING
Greg was married to Christina for fifty-two years. The classic marriage views say it, and they did it - they were together for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. They met at Augustana (college) in Rock Island and were inseparable from the age of 18.
With thanks to [Martin Jackson] for sharing these memories.
The Confession of Sins The Absolution The Introit p. 16
Introit
Almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect
in one communion and fellow-ship in the mystical body of
Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love Thee; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Kyrie p. 17 The Gloria in Excelsis The Salutation and Collect p. 19
Collect
O almighty God, who hast knit together Thine elect in one communion
and fellowship in the mystical body of Thy Son Jesus Christ, our Lord,
grant us grace so to follow Thy blessed saints in all virtuous and godly
living that we may come to those unspeakable joys which Thou hast prepared
for those who unfeignedly love Thee;through Jesus Christ, Thy Son,
our Lord, who liveth, etc.
The Epistle and Gradual
Oh, fear the Lord, ye His saints:
for there is no want to them that fear Him.
V. They that seek the Lord:
shall not want any good thing. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
V. Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden:
and I will give you rest. Hallelujah!
The Gospel
Glory be to Thee, O Lord! Praise be to Thee, O Christ! The Nicene Creed p. 22
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 #657Beautiful Savior
KJV Matthew 5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
3 Blessedare the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessedare they that mourn: for they shall be comforted.
5 Blessedare the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessedare they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessedare the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessedare the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
9 Blessedare the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
10Blessedare they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
