Logos Lutheran

https://witness.lcms.org/2024/the-divine-service-a-guide-booklet/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3feTLeMHKh40B6jlM0ddKFyjaMkwzX1Yuofel6RpePTVfkwP1Wr_uUFnw_aem_3XNWUCrUd0Lay0rSMt8_Tw

“The Divine Service: A Guide” Booklet – The Lutheran Witness This booklet walks through the Divine Service from beginning to end, including biblical and historical background, and gives an overview of common Lutheran practices during worship.

Welcome to our new vicar. We are looking forward to Adam joining us this summer.

“Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.’

So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, ‘Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?’ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.’

So they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.”

- Mark 16:1-8

Alleluia! He has risen!

Holy Saturday often gets over looked, however it’s an important part of Holy Week. While others have used the events of Holy Saturday to discuss the harrowing of hell and try it with other ideas, perhaps, Luther puts it best when He says:

We of course, have to grasp all things which we cannot really know through images… Therefore, I believe… in this case that Christ personally destroyed hell and bound the devil whether with banners, portals, doors, and chains were made of wood or iron or did not exist at all. It doesn’t depend on whether I hang on to what is depicted with the image but rather that I believe these things of Christ. Believing in him is the chief thing. It is useful and gives the power that we have from this: that neither hell nor the devil can take us and all others who believe on him captive nor can they do us harm.”

Remember today and find an Easter Vigil service if you can.

“After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, ‘I thirst!’ Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, ‘It is finished!’ And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, ‘Not one of His bones shall be broken.’ And again another Scripture says, ‘They shall look on Him whom they pierced.’

After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

- John 19:28-42

Photos by Vicar Alexander Ogden
‘The Dead Christ Supported by Two Putti’,
by Carlo Crivelli, 1470s

On Good Friday we remember our Lord’s crucifixion. On the cross we behold the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. And there in agony, He heals as He is wounded.

O’ come let us worship Him.

So much happens on Maundy Thursday. From the washing of the disciples feet, to the upper room discourse, to the institution of the Lord’s Supper, to the garden and betrayal of Judas.

But perhaps, it is fitting for us to remember why today is called Maundy Thursday. Maundy means “mandate”, which is a reference to the new commandment Jesus gives to His disciples – to love one another. We would do well to remember that mandate in our own lives as we interact with our neighbors and strangers alike. We learn how to love from the actions of Christ Himself. For He demonstrates what it means to “have no greater love than this, that one lay down his life for his friends… I call you friends.”

Today is Palm Sunday and also marks the beginning of Holy Week.

As we enter Holy Week we remember the Passion of our Lord. During this week we meditate on and anticipate the events that will transpire. While we march towards Golgotha today takes a somewhat joyous tone as the church cries out, “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.”

While today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent, it also happens to be St. Valentine’s Day.

But did you know that there are actually two St. Valentines commemorated on this day? One is from Terni and the other from Rome. Both have become, despite secularization, icons of love because of their actions.

One of the Valentines would perform marriages of soldiers (which was illegal in the Roman Empire at the time), and has since become associated with romantic love. However, we would do well to reflect on the love of the Divine. as Lent begins. Perhaps, it is fitting that this year Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day as well. Though Lent is a penitential season, we would do well to “rend our hearts” (as Joel 2:13 says) and recognize that “my soul has found the One whom it loves” (Song of Songs 3:4).

Let us then begin our Lenten journey with love, the love of God, who sent His only Son into this world because of His love for humanity. Remember that you are but dust and yet God loves you. So begin your Lent with a meditation in the divine love that God has for you, and respond in a proper way. Remember that it is “God who so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son…”

Today pastor and vicar were able to meet follow brothers and Christ today at a Winkel where they enjoyed fellowship, commraderie, and a discussion on the Lutheran view of Christ’s descent into Hell lead by vicar Ogden.

“From this text [Romans 9:2] it is clear that love is found not only in sweetness and delight, but also in the greatest sorrow and bitterness. Indeed it rejoices and delights in bitterness and sorrow, because it regards the misery and sufferings of others as if they were its own. Thus Christ even in the final and worst hour of His suffering was aglow with His deepest love… it filled Him with the greatest joy to suffer the greatest pain. For this it is that ‘God is wonderful in His saints’ (Ps. 68:35), so that He causes them, at every time they are suffering the greatest pains, also to experience the greatest joys.”

- Luther, Lectures on Romans, Scholia

A few days late but the other day we celebrated Epiphany. In this celebration we recognize that the Lord came for both Jew and Gentile alike. The Wise Men came and by their gifts proclaimed their God, as the hymn says.

In Epiphany, we see how Christ came to live, love, and die for all men. We thank God that Christ became man so that we might be reunited with God.

Today is the feast of the Circumcision and Naming of Jesus. It is also New Years Day, a blessed New Year to everyone. May we always remember Christ this year, and that He is our savior.

As the year draws to a close we also celebrate the Eve of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus. We would do well to reflect on what the name Jesus means for us, as He truly will nand has saved His people. We wish you a blessed New Year to come.

Today is the feast of the Holy Innocents. We remember the baby boys who were killed by Herod’s command.

“Thus says the LORD: ‘A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are no more.’”

Jeremiah 31:15.

We pray for the for all the innocent who have been killed unjustly, particularly the unborn and infants. Lord have mercy on the unborn and keep them safe.

A blessed feast of St. John the Evangelist. Today marks the commemoration of the Evangelist. Known for his writing of the Gospel of John, we acknowledge his contribution to Holy Scripture. We thank God for using him as a tool for our benefit, for as the Evangelist wrote: “blessed are those who believe but have not seen.” We pray that we might have that faith among ourselves for those of us who have not yet seen Jesus.

Today the church celebrates the feast of St. Stephen, protomartyr.

He is the first martyr (which comes from a Greek word, which means “to bear witness”) of the church, which many faithful believers would follow after in the centuries to come. We pray that we would be so bold and faithful to die confessing Christ. But we also thank God for the relatively peaceful lives that we live.

A Blessed Feast of the Nativity to all of you.

Here is a Christmas prayer from St. Ephraim the Syrian:

“What mere human can declare the glory of the All-Life-Giver, who stepped down from majesty and humbled Himself to become humanity?

You who lifted up humanity in Your birth, lift up my weak mind to declare Your birth and proclaim Your grace.

How amazing is it that the Son dwelled completely in a body, that it was enough for Him. Your will was fully contained, yet Your bounds reached wholly to the Father. Blessed be He who, though without bounds, was bound!

Who can explain how, though You dwelled wholly in a body, You also dwelled wholly in all?

Your majesty is concealed from us, while Your grace is revealed before us. I will be silent, O Lord of majesty, and I will tell of Your grace. Your grace clung to You, while it bowed You down to our worst.

Your grace made You a baby, and Your grace made You a man. Your grace straightened and enlarged Your majesty. Blessed is the might that became little… and became great!

Glory to You who became lowly, though Your nature is lofty. By Your own will You became man, though You are God by nature. Blessed be Your glory which put on our image!

Your hope brought new hope when ours had broken down. Blessed be the one who brought good news of hope!

Double was the happiness of those who saw Your birth and Your day, yet also happy are those who have not seen, but who have believed. Blessed is Your happiness that is added to us!

Amen.”

“What Child is this, who, laid to rest, on Mary’s lap is sleeping?”

A happy Christmas Eve to all from Logos Lutheran

- photos by Vicar Ogden

Today the church commentates St. Lucia the martyr. She was consecrated herself a virgin to God and gave her dowry to the poor. Tradition says that she tied herself to an ox and wasn’t able to be moved. When the soldiers finally did move her, she was to be burned. However, the wood wouldn’t catch fire. As a result she was struck with a sword and died. We thank God for her example and pray that we would be so brave and live chaste lives.

Today marks the commemoration of St. Ambrose of Milan. Ambrose is famous for several reasons. He was a mentor of sorts to St. Augustine, the latter of whom discusses his impressions of Ambrose in ‘Confessions’. Ambrose also once prevented emperor Theodosius from entering the cathedral in Milan because of the emperor’s massacre in Thessalonica. While acting as bishop, Ambrose vehemently supported Trinitarian theology against that of Arianism. It is fitting that his commemoration comes in the season of Advent as he wrote the hymn, ‘Savior of the Nations, Come’.

Here’s the first stanza of the hymn:

“Savior of the nations, come;
virgin’s Son, make here Thy home!
Marvel now, O heav’n and earth,
that the Lord chose such a birth.”

Painting: Theodosius Repulsed from the Church by Saint Ambrose
Date: 1700/10
Artist: Alessandro Magnasco; Italian, 1667–1749

Today marks the commemoration of St. Nicholas of Myra. Now commonly known as Santa Claus, the real St. Nicholas was known for his charity. On top of being an adamant defender of the orthodox faith, he also has several acts of mercy attributed to him according to church tradition and legend. One of the most amazing accounts was when he gave money to a poor family who was in such a desperate position that they were considering selling their daughters into prostitution. It’s said St. Nicholas threw money over the home’s wall as Ahmet to keep the daughters from that dour fate.

Additionally, it’s been said that St. Nicholas slapped Arius at the council of Nicaea. However, this likely never happened as Arius was not a bishop and wouldn’t have been allowed to attend in the same capacity as the rest of the bishops present.

Today marks the commemoration of St. John of Damascus in the church calendar. As a church father who appeared in the scene towards the end of the patristic era, St. John fought against the heresies and errors of his day. One of the big ones that he wrote against was the iconoclast movement (the rejection or destruction of Christian imagery and art). He wrote a treatise defending the use of liturgical art in the church against those who would see it destroyed. A large part of this issue arose from the growing influence of Islam which began to see itself sneaking into the church. As a result St. John of Damascus wrote championing Christian artwork, its usefulness, and its importance. To read more check out his work ‘On Holy Images’ and celebrate his commemoration by letting us know your favorite icon or church painting!

Today is the feast of St. Andrew the Apostle. Often referred to as ‘the First Called’, he was the brother of Simon Peter. He was there when Jesus called Simon Peter and told him and his brother that they’d be fishers of men.