Lutheran Subject (Schroeder's blog)

Thursday, December 15, 2022

Update from Good Shepherd (December 15, 2022)

Greetings!

REGULAR SCHEDULE

Divine Service is Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters will resume in January 2023.

For a calendar of events and meetings, click here.

CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

Christmas Eve Candlelight Worship -- December 24, 7:00 PM

Christmas Day Festival Worship -- December 25, 10:00 AM

Invite friends and family to join us!

JEREMIAH, THE WEEPING PROPHET

Our current series for Adult Bible Class is the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah is called the weeping prophet because, although he was faithful in his service as God’s prophet, he was grieved at the rebellion of God’s people and, eventually, at the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, the place where God had put his name.
God’s people of all time do well to heed calls to repentance so that we do not lose the gifts God is eager to give. Therefore, we will hear Jeremiah preach to us and humbly take to heart his words of repentance and his words of promise.
The schedule for this class can be found here.

VOTERS’ MEETING HIGHLIGHTS
On Sunday, November 20, Good Shepherd voted to purchase the newest hymnal from our synod, along with all the books that support its usage.

We adopted a budget for 2023. A copy can be given to you upon your request.

EVERY MEMBER VISITS – 2022

Every 3-4 years, the pastor desires to meet with all members in their homes. It is an opportunity to speak with each other in a less-than-formal setting. The pastor gets to know the people he serves better. It also allows for members to ask about matters that might be personal, to offer suggestions and ideas, to inquire about matters of the Bible that have them confused, or just general chit-chat. Visits would be about 45-60 minutes but can last longer if you want them to. You can also sign up through the links below. Time slots are first come, first served. We are down to only two months in 2022.

The December calendar is here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050a4fa8aa2ea64-every11

GOOD SHEPHERD ON YOUTUBE
Services are uploaded to YouTube each week, usually the Monday after the service. Feel free to share the videos. Here is the service from Sunday, December 11: (56) Good Shepherd Novi, Divine Service, December 11, 2022 - YouTube

OFFICE HOURS
Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – Noon. The pastor will be in his office unless a meeting has been scheduled elsewhere (consult the weekly schedule). The pastor is also available by appointment. Call or text (248-719-5218). You may also email (welsnovi@aol.com), but the response may be slower.

BAD WEATHER POLICY FOR GOOD SHEPHERD
We will always have services as scheduled at Good Shepherd. Since I live across the parking lot, I can get to the church no matter how bad the weather gets. Even if the service is just me and my family, we will be here. For everyone else, please use your God-given common sense to determine whether or not you will get on the road to attend any service when the weather is bad. We don't want anyone to risk his or her life to be here. But if you do venture out, the scheduled service will take place. It may be only a handful with a cappella singing and/or spoken liturgy, but we will be here.
Bible Classes and meetings may be canceled due to weather. Check your email regarding announcements to see if any of those scheduled events is canceled. If there is no email about it, it is not canceled. But again, use common sense to determine if you can make it, and call the pastor to let him know if you will not be coming.

PEERING INTO THE NEW YEAR
Offering Envelopes
  If you have not received your offering envelopes, please check the mailboxes at church and you should find one. Every confirmed member of Good Shepherd should have received a box of offering envelopes. If you can find neither envelopes or a mailbox for you, please speak with the pastor.
  Besides giving offerings through envelopes, you may instead give offerings electronically from your checking account. For more information, please speak with Terry Barber.

Bible Matters
  Bible Matters will resume on Wednesday, January 18. We will have a five-week session leading up to the season of Lent. Classes begin at 6:30 PM. Topic soon to be announced

Bible Information Class
  Starting a new year also means resolutions. Why not resolve to become better acquainted with the Bible? Or resolve to bring friends to become better acquainted with the Bible. While any of our Bible Classes would be valuable, Bible Information Class presents an overview of the basic Bible teachings. Members of Good Shepherd, start thinking of people whom you might invite to this class and bring them along. There is no cost. Starting time and date to be announced soon.

Through the Bible in a Year
  If you want to take up the discipline of reading through your entire Bible in a year, you can use this schedule: WORBIbleThroughTheYear.15373011.pdf (goodshepherdnovi.org). Note that you will be reading through all four Gospels twice throughout the year.
  This will only require a commitment of 15-20 minutes each day. That 15-20 minutes will be better spent reading the Bible than going through Facebook entries, so it can be done.

New Hymnal Introduction

Our target date for using the CW21 hymnal will be Sunday, February 5. While Setting 1 of the Divine Service bears some resemblance to The Common Service in our current hymnal, there will be a few differences. Some of the canticles have been rewritten, and we will want to practice those before we utilize them for the entire service. We will begin taking a look at the new service setting following Divine Services in mid-January.

SUPPORT FOR FINNEAS BATER
One of our guest preachers this past year was Pastor Mike Bater who made us aware of his 2-year-old grandson who has been receiving treatments for cancer. If you want to offer support to Finneas and his parents, Pastor Noah and Missy Bater, you can buy a Team Finneas T-shirt or coffee mug. The Baters live in Thousand Oaks, CA. The links to purchase these are below.
If you want to keep track of Finneas’ progress, Pastor Schroeder shares the reports from the Baters when they appear on Facebook.

ADULTS – GREEN
https://allpowereverything.com/products/unisex-team-finneas-t-shirt?fbclid=IwAR2QpBM4SyaoZ2rHp37yoRbLzAEQVJ45TMQSql0FxVVwaIENQjddecUoy9o

ADULTS – WHITE
https://allpowereverything.com/products/mens-team-fines-classic-tee?fbclid=IwAR3qcCKEIxnmWp70zyGVJS13EVeJrzYJ7kDraMD2X7xni9O21KEnRu4y20Q

KIDS
https://allpowereverything.com/products/youth-short-sleeve-team-finneas-t-shirt?fbclid=IwAR291Np2kuFczDaNE1z_HSeIZYV6JAWo2GQb7IhpV-OLaTIDHQg-cQ5DEdE

MUGS
https://allpowereverything.com/products/white-team-finneas-mug?fbclid=IwAR0D7N9JwKPIH2FNWlAs2iBHcIhe_F73J2J13rc1MiXHUfHQGLGaiA1LPO8

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In Christ,
Pastor Schroeder

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REGULAR SCHEDULE
DIVINE SERVICES are on Sundays at 10:00 AM.
Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are on Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Bible Matters will resume in January 2023.

GOOD SHEPHERD’S WEBSITE
www.GoodShepherdNovi.org

PASTOR SCHROEDER’S BLOG
www.LutheranSubject.blogspot.com

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

Sermon -- Advent Vespers: Week 3 (December 14, 2022)

LUKE 1:57-80

THAT YOU MAY BE CERTAIN ABOUT THE THINGS YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT.

Certain That God Is Merciful.

In the name + of Jesus.

The priest Zechariah was told that his elderly wife would conceive and give birth to a son. It was a word from God and an answer to Zechariah’s and Elizabeth’s prayers. Gabriel even told Zechariah what the name of his son was to be. There was nothing vague or iffy about the announcement. But the priest of God did not believe the word from God. Therefore, the angel of God proclaimed a sentence of judgment upon Zechariah: “Behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place” (Luke 1:20).

Of course, the word of the Lord was fulfilled. Elizabeth conceived and bore a son. Still, Zechariah remained mute, for eight more days, anyway. Then, on the eighth day, the boy was circumcised to mark him as a child of Abraham and a son of the covenant. It was also the day for giving him his name.

The relatives of Zechariah and Elizabeth followed the common practice of the day. This custom helps to explain why so many names repeat in the Scriptures—Simon, Jacob (often translated James in the New Testament), and Mary. The relatives reasoned that the only son of the aged priest would be named after him, right? It makes perfect sense: Zechariah gets his namesake. Bucking the trend, and perhaps giving the impression that she was disrespecting Zechariah, “his mother answered, ‘No; he shall be called John.’ And they said to her, ‘None of your relatives is called by this name’” (Luke 1:60-61). Not the father, not a grandfather, not a cousin, or even some weird uncle would be honored or remembered? That can’t be what Zechariah would want. So, “they made signs to his father, inquiring what he wanted him to be called” (Luke 1:62).

Zechariah may have questioned the word of the Lord when he heard it in the temple, but he would not be skeptical when the word of the Lord was proven to be true. Apparently, he had made known to Elizabeth what Gabriel had told him, including the boy’s assigned name. Zechariah’s ego had been put in its proper place. He did not need a name’s sake. He listened to the word of the Lord and did as he was instructed. “He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ … And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God” (Luke 1:63-64). The angel Gabriel had told Zechariah that he would not be able to speak until the word of the Lord was fulfilled. Zechariah finally had fulfilled that word by naming his son. Then God proved to be merciful by opening his mouth again.

St. Luke has recorded all these things so that you can be certain about the things you have been taught, and so that you can be certain that God is merciful. King David gave us an excellent definition for mercy in Psalm 103: “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10). What could Zechariah say before God? He had been given a clear promise, but he did not believe it. For his rejection of God’s word, Zechariah should have rejected by God.

Is not this the case with every sin we commit? God’s Commandments are not vague. His word is not iffy. God tells us what is good so that we may do it, and he tells us what is evil so that we may despise it and avoid it. But we are skeptical of God’s word, and we doubt it can really be good. Jesus taught how God’s people are supposed to live and act. Unlike Gabriel’s message to Zechariah, Jesus’ instructions do not involve miraculous acts. This is what Jesus said: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them” (Luke 6:27-31).

Perhaps that is harder to grasp than God’s word to Zechariah. After all, Gabriel said what God would do; Jesus taught what God’s people should do. Jesus’ words are not vague or iffy, so we can’t say we don’t understand it. We might insist, “He can’t mean that,” but his words are clear. Nevertheless, we can find all kinds of reasons why we won’t live as he directs us. Other people will take advantage of me. I don’t want to suffer abuse. Those who hate me are not worthy of compassion; they deserve scorn, if not revenge. I love my stuff too much to give it away. In short, the Lord gives us his word and we say, “No.” But if we say, “No,” then we also forfeit our right to say, “Lord.” For a Lord and master is to be obeyed, not rejected. Repent.

What can we say before God? What excuse can we give? We cannot plead that we didn’t know his commands. We cannot insist that we have obeyed his commands. Like Zechariah, we deserve God to strike us in judgment.

What a marvel, then, that “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10)! This is written so that you can be certain that God is merciful. No wonder, then, when Zechariah begins to speak again, he praises God: “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David” (Luke 1:68-69). Zechariah sings of the Lord’s redemption. If we are to be redeemed, then there is a price that has to be paid. The horn of salvation—the one who is strong to save—makes that ransom payment. In fact, he is the ransom payment.

This is recorded so that you can be certain that God is merciful. “(The Lord) does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities” (Psalm 103:10)! Rather, the Lord dealt with Jesus according to our sins, and Jesus paid the price for our iniquities. At best, we have been reluctant to follow the word of the Lord which Jesus had preached. At worst, we have flat out refused to do it. Jesus, however, gave himself willingly to do all that is commanded. He does it to redeem us.

Jesus did love his enemies—whether it is us who have turned away from his word or it was those who were mocking him as he died for them. He even prayed that God would forgive the ones killing him. When they struck him in the face and spit upon him, Jesus did not strike back. He gave himself willingly to his accusers and abusers. Jesus let his enemies take his cloak and his seamless garment as he hung naked from the cross. All this Jesus did to redeem us from sin and death. All this Jesus did to secure the blessings from his heavenly Father for us. Jesus was condemned for us so that the heavenly Father would not deal with us according to our sins or repay us according to our iniquities. Jesus paid the full price; the ransom is complete. You are redeemed from sin and reconciled to God. This is all written so that you can be certain of the things you have been taught and certain that God is merciful.

Zechariah praised God for the Savior who would come soon after John came. He rejoiced that the Lord showed “the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the oath that he swore to our father Abraham, to grant us that we, being delivered from the hand of our enemies, might serve him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him all our days” (Luke 1:72-75). You also get to live in holiness and righteousness before him. For the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. He promises: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is written so that you will be certain that God is merciful. He has promised to forgive all who turn to Jesus, and he cleanses you of any unrighteousness that would convict you. That is why you can life without fear. There is no fear of judgment for you; Jesus has forgiven all your sins. There is no fear of death for you; Jesus gives you life everlasting. These are not merely endearing stories we tell at Christmas time; they are the oaths and promises of a merciful God, and they have been fulfilled by Jesus. So, you can be certain of these things you have been taught.

Only after Zechariah praised God for the Redeemer did he praise God for the son he was given. As the angel had commanded, he was named John, which means, “The Lord is gracious.” John would go forth to prepare the people for God’s grace. Zechariah had prophesied, “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, to give knowledge of salvation to his people in the forgiveness of their sins” (Luke 1:76-77).

Although John prepared the people by calling them to repent of their sins, John did not just blast people for their faults and weaknesses. That would be easy enough to do. Everyone has faults. And you can guilt people into behaving better. At this time of year, parents might warn children that presents are on the line if the children don’t produce better behavior. Threats work, at least for a little while. After a while, threats produce either fear or resentment. Threats may curb sins, but they don’t take sins away. John alerted people of their sins so they would recognize their need for a Savior. But then John pointed, quite literally, to Jesus: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29)! John means, “The Lord is gracious,” and so John pointed to the gracious Lord. Jesus is the one who takes away sin, who alleviates fears, and who removes any reason to resent God. He shows you that God is motivated by mercy, not manipulation.

John the Baptist grew up and proclaimed the mercy of God to sinners. It is the same mercy that was shown to Zechariah even though he did not believe the word of the Lord. It is the same mercy that is shown to you when you do not love your neighbor as you ought. This mercy is the reason God does not treat us as our sins deserve. That mercy, in turn, enlightens us to see that God’s word guides us in a pure and purposeful life. And that mercy warms our hearts so that we are like Jesus in our dealings with other people. This is written so that you are certain of God’s mercy, and so that you can make God’s mercy known by your words and your actions.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Christmas 2022

Here is the schedule for our services this Christmas season.

Saturday, December 24

at 7:00 PM
Christmas Eve

Candlelight Service

Sunday, December 25

at 10:00 AM
Christmas Day

Festival Service

Sunday, January 1

at 10:00 AM
The Circumcision of our Lord

and The Name of Jesus

Sunday School & Adult Bible Class will be on a break December 25 and January 1. We will resume these classes on Sunday, January 8 at 9:00 AM.

Monday, December 12, 2022

YouTube -- 3rd Sunday of Advent (December 11, 2022)

Here is the service from Sunday, December 11, 2022.

Sunday, December 11, 2022

Sermon -- 3rd Sunday of Advent (December 11, 2022)

JAMES 5:7-11

WE WAIT WITH PATIENCE.

In the name + of Jesus.

John the Baptist preached the word of the Lord to Herod Antipas. He had taken the wife of his brother, Herod Philip, for himself. It did not matter if this marriage made both of them happy or if Herod Antipas claimed, “But we belong together. She’s my soul-mate. You can’t control whom you love.” His marriage was against God’s word, and John told him so. For upholding the word of God, John was imprisoned by Herod.

While John sat in prison for preaching the word of God faithfully, Jesus continued to gain in popularity among the people. John had foretold concerning the Christ: “The axe is laid to the root of the trees. …He who is coming after me is mightier than I… His winnowing fork is in his hand…” (Matthew 3:10-12). But John was not hearing stories about the axe falling or sifting out the wicked from the righteous. Jesus was acting meekly and mercifully. John sat in prison with time to think, and he thought about Jesus. Is he really the Christ? It seems John expected more immediate and definitive action from Jesus. As John sat in prison by the command of a wicked man, John’s level of patience for judgment seems to have grown short.

St. James encourages all of God’s people, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7). That is much easier said than done. We don’t face the same kind of persecution that John the Baptist did, but we know the frustrations of seeing wicked people who seem to get away with everything. We would like to see that axe John spoke of to drop. We would like the Lord to sift out of this world the evil that goes on in it. We might rally behind someone who claims that he can make the world a safer, happier, and cleaner place. But man-made solutions are met with man-made schemes to get around those solutions. And the world remains wicked.

We all get frustrated by all this wicked world. Who wouldn’t? Do you think that God is not grieved by the wickedness he sees? When people do not listen to the word of the Lord, his patience gets abused. His wrath is fired up. In the past, God’s punishment included the banishment of Cain, the Plagues in Egypt, the oppression of Israel by the Philistines, the captivity of Israel by the Babylonians, and the Flood which destroyed the world. All these judgments came for the same reason: People did not listen to the Lord.

It’s not like we are innocent in this, either. In Psalm 46 God urges us, “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Psalm 27 says, “Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord” (Psalm 27:14)! And of course, our reading from St. James calls for the same: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7). But we are not patient for the Lord to act in his time and as he knows best. We complain that God does not act with immediate, harsh judgment, snuffing out the wicked. We become just as frustrated with God as we do about the wickedness we see. Some have even abandoned the Christian faith because of this impatience.

We know that God can do something about every evil and yet does not. God can put an end to violence. God can cut down crooked rulers and violent nations. God can nullify crime and COVID and car accidents and cold and flu season. If God can do these things, and if God loves us, why does he let us suffer through these things? These things go on and on, and the Lord directs us: Wait with patience.

Part of the problem is that we fail to recognize that we are part of the problem. Yes, God can stop people from making threats and being bullies. Should he also cause your throat to swell shut when you speak ill of your in-laws? Yes, God can remove the sickness that makes you cry by your child’s bedside. Should he also remove the husband who made you cry with an insensitive remark? Yes, God can assure you that you will not be affected by road rage. Shall he take your car away? We have a very selfish view of what needs to be done to make the world a better place. We fail to recognize that our selfish works and sarcastic words cause problems for others. Repent. For, the axe is ready to fall. Or, as St. James states is, “The coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9-10).

Our complaints and impatience show that we fail to remember that the Lord has dealt with the world, its wickedness, and its problems. When John the Baptist asked Jesus if he were the one to come, Jesus replied, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them” (Matthew 11:4-5). By his miracles, Jesus began his reversal of all the misery that sin has brought into the world. Jesus was doing just what the prophets foretold, proving that he is the Christ. This is the one who will save us from evil and restore all things.

But it is not enough that Jesus merely cures diseases. Even if the whole world is healthy, we still face stress, poverty, earthquakes, and terrorism. Even when we enjoy times of peace and prosperity, wickedness still goes on. So, Jesus has come to address all of this. He has taken the sin which corrupts this world, which corrupts our hearts, which affects our bodies, which wounds our consciences, which marks us for death and hell—he has taken all of it and rescued us from it.

Jesus delivered us from our sins by dying for every wicked thought, word, or work that stains our record. Because we have faulted God for not doing more to make our lives better, Jesus was faulted for our impatience and complaints. Because we complain about God’s failure to judge others, Jesus was put to death without complaint, judged for our failures. Jesus was slain in humility to pay for our arrogance. Thanks to Jesus, all is forgiven. He has secured full pardon for our false judgment of God’s wisdom and love. In fact, Jesus died for the wickedness of all people so that no one should have to be condemned.

So, now you are free—free from all guilt, free from every accusation, free to live without fear of God’s judgment, and free to live in peace. You have the joy of knowing that Jesus will come again to deliver you out of this wicked world to the everlasting peace of Paradise. There is an end to war and violence, of sickness and disease, of pain and sorrow, and of shame and regret. We wait in patience for the full deliverance from these things, but we do not wait in vain. As St James wrote, “You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8).

We must wait with patience because we have not been delivered from this sinful world yet. We still struggle with temptations. We still are burdened by guilt and shame. We lose sleep because we have hurt other people. And that is just what we have done to ourselves. We also have sins done against us. People lie and cheat and defraud and deceive us. Even our loved ones fail us and wound us. And then the world adds stress and fear. Jesus warned us what we can expect as long as the world endures: “wars and rumors of wars … nation … against nation, kingdom against kingdom, and famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:6-8). And if that is not bad enough, we have this warning too: “You will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:9-12). Oh, how we long to be delivered from all of this! But we wait in patience. Even though it is hard, even though we struggle, even if we suffer, we wait in patience. For, “The one who endures to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).

St. James, then, offers his encouragement to you while you wait with patience. “As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful” (James 5:10-11).

The prophets and Job both suffered, but in different ways. The prophets preached the word of the Lord, like John the Baptist did. People despised their preaching. They would not repent of their sins. They not only persisted in them, they also attacked the prophets who condemned them. Cancel culture is nothing new. To this point, we have not experienced that kind of intentional persecution. Will that change? Will we be oppressed or canceled for hate speech? It seems to be trending that way, but only God knows for sure. Nevertheless, “we consider those (prophets) blessed who remained steadfast” (James 5:10). Although their sufferings were intense, even leading to death, they are forever free from all suffering now. If we must suffer, we will call upon our God in prayer. We will remain committed to each other. And we will wait with patience. The Lord does not forget his own.

On the other hand, Job’s sufferings were not persecution. He endured painful losses—friends, children, wealth, reputation, and health. Job was reduced to a pathetic shell of his former self. He felt like God abandoned him or that God’s curse was on him. Even his friends who came to comfort him suggested to Job that he was getting what he deserved from God. What else could Job do but wait in patience?

But Job did not wait without hope, and neither do you. We wait with patience. We trust that God is true to his word and steadfast in his love. If we lived for this world, it would make sense that we would be discouraged. If we only live for this life, we might be overcome by misery and despair. But “our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 3:20).

We are eager to be forever freed from all our problems, pains, and pressures. Fear not, “for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8). God remembers his promises, and he remembers us. Meanwhile, we trust that God knows what he is doing while we wait. And we trust that whatever God is doing, he is doing it for our eternal good. Therefore, we can be still and know that he is God, he rules all things, and he is our Savior. Jesus is coming soon. We wait with patience.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Saturday, December 10, 2022

CW21 -- A New Hymnal

PURCHASE OF THE HYMNAL

Based on discussions at our November Open Forum and the decision of the voters, Good Shepherd has decided to adopt the new hymnal, Christian Worship (c) 2021, usually referred to as CW21. We will be purchasing the following items so that we can take full advantage of all that has been produced for our use in worship.

Hymnals (130 hymnals at $24 each) = $3,120
Organist accompaniment for hymns = $230
Organist accompaniment for liturgy = $120
Altar Book = $100
Agenda = $50
Psalter (15 copies for choir at $22 each) = $330
Psalter accompaniment = $230
Musician's Manual = $30
Gospel Acclamation settings = $20
===================================
TOTAL = $4,265 plus shipping and handling

This is a sizable purchase for our worship, but a worthy investment for quality worship. These hymnals and all the resources will serve us for a generation or more. Future worshipers will appreciate our commitment to our Lutheran, liturgical tradition.

Look for special envelopes for you to offer a gift to defray the expense of these new materials. We will be collecting this special offering through March 2023.

INTRODUCTION OF THE HYMNAL

Our target date for using the CW21 hymnal will be Sunday, February 5. While Setting 1 of the Divine Service bears some resemblance to The Common Service in our current hymnal, there will be a few differences. Some of the canticles have been rewritten, and we will want to practice those before we utilize them for the entire service. A tentative schedule for the rehearsal of these canticles is here:

Sunday, January 8
Dedication of the CW21 Hymnals and resources

Sunday, January 15
Responsive "Lord, have mercy" (Kyrie)
NOTE: Glory be to God on High (Gloria in Excelsis) is the same as The Common Service
Gospel Acclamation for the season

Sunday, January 22
Gospel Acclamation for the Lenten season
Preface for the Sacrament
Holy, Holy Holy (Sanctus)
NOTE: O Christ, Lamb of God (Agnus Dei) is the same as The Common Service

Sunday, January 29
Review all parts of the liturgy

May God bless our worship for the glory of his name and for the edification of his people.

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Update from Good Shepherd (December 8, 2022)