The best Christmas gifts are the ones that come from the heart. And sometimes, they come from a Shoe Box!
The Canada-wide 2023 Operation Christmas Child Shoe Box collection season has begun, and thousands of individuals, families, churches, businesses, and community groups will be filling Shoe Boxes with gifts for less fortunate kids around the world.
This Sunday, Susan will give us more details on this year’s project.
Sunday School at Trinity Lutheran Church is in full swing. It takes place every Sunday morning, starting right after the children’s sermon (about 15 minutes into the Divine Service).
All children from K to grade 7/8 are welcome. Teens are welcome to help out.
The Enduring Faith Bible Curriculum (Concordia Publishing House) is being used.
AS WE GATHER
Jesus’ words and actions are for the benefit of all human beings. Isaiah says, “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5). What if Jesus was also transfigured for our transformation? In this mysterious encounter, the veil between the seen and the unseen is pulled aside, and Peter, James, and John beheld Jesus, the man, as He is in the brightness of the glory of God. He spoke with Moses and Elijah about His coming Passion in Jerusalem. The Father’s blessing echoes the blessing at His Baptism, “This is My Son, My Chosen One, listen to Him!” (Luke 9:35). This transfiguration began while Jesus was praying. The Divine Service is a weekly event where God serves His people through His Word and Sacraments. People respond with prayers, praise, and thanksgiving. As faith opens us to God’s love, this divine conversation powerfully transforms us, changing our ways of thinking, seeing, and living as we are sent out by God each week to love and serve others—just as Jesus did.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Deuteronomy 34:1–12 (The death of Moses)
EPISTLE READING: Hebrews 3:1–6 (Jesus, the Son, is worthy of more glory than Moses.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 9:28–36 (The transfiguration of Jesus)
AS WE GATHER
In these Sundays after the Epiphany, we have observed many of the miracles of our Lord, who came to save us in body and soul. We give thanks for His many gifts of life and health and daily bread, but especially for our new birth in Holy Baptism—the forgiveness of our sins and the promise of eternal life. Today we are reminded that because we have received such great, generous, and life-giving blessings from God, we now are enabled to give and share the love of God with others who need God’s blessings.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Genesis 45:3–15
(Joseph provides for his brothers and family.)
EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 15:21–26, 30–42
(The resurrection body)
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 6:27–38 (Love your enemies.)
AS WE GATHER
These Sundays after the Epiphany give us a glimpse and overview of our Lord’s earthly ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing. The people who followed Him have seen Him do many great things. In fact, many followed Him mainly in hopes that they would receive healing or some other gift. But today Jesus has everyone stop in their tracks for some teaching, words of wisdom, words of blessing, and words of warning. The blessing is when you know Jesus’ spiritual promises of forgiveness and assurance of eternal life. The warning is the danger of taking your eyes off of Jesus, being concerned only with the gifts and blessings we receive in this life, that is, things of this world that will surely pass away. As Jesus continues to lead us to His goal—His suffering, death, and resurrection—we are being drawn to value the spiritual blessings that in faith will provide us with forgiveness and eternal life.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Jeremiah 17:5–8 (Trust in man or in the Lord.)
EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 15:12–20 (The resurrection of the dead)
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 6:17–26 (Jesus ministers to a great multitude.)
AS WE GATHER
During the season of Epiphany, which means “shine forth,” the Readings shine forth to us the real, biblical Jesus. So far this season we have seen how Jesus turned water into wine, how He taught with an authority never heard before, and how He cast out demons and healed the sick. Now this week we hear that Jesus calls disciples to be “catching people.” God calls. He calls individual people such as Isaiah and Peter, and groups of people such as the Twelve and the Church today. As God called Isaiah in a spectacular vision to speak God’s Word in a world marred by sin, so He calls us, the Church, to do the same. As Jesus called Peter to go from catching fish to “catching men,” so He calls us, the Church, to do the same. What God has done for all of creation in the death and resurrection of Jesus will not be kept silent. God calls us to speak the Gospel in a sin-marred world and to live in ways that demonstrate the power of the Gospel.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 6:1–8
(Isaiah’s vision of the seraphim)
EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 14:12b–20
(Excel in gifts that build up the Church.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 5:1–11
(The miraculous catch of fish)
AS WE GATHER
All three Readings today declare the depth, breadth, and height of God’s love for the world. When God’s people were drifting away, God sent prophets, such as Jeremiah, to speak God’s Word and call the people back to faithfulness. God declares His love for Jeremiah: “I formed you in the womb . . . I consecrated you; I appointed you . . . I am with you to deliver you” (Jeremiah 1:5, 8). God’s love is shown forth in Jesus in the Gospel. Jesus casts out a demon from a man, thereby restoring his life. Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law, and He casts out even more demons and heals more diseases. This all points to the restoration of all creation in God’s coming kingdom. The Epistle, often read at weddings, calls us toward lives shaped by the depth, breadth, and height of God’s love for us.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Jeremiah 1:4–10
(The Lord calms Jeremiah’s fear with a promise.)
EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 12:31b–13:13 (All about love)
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 4:31-44 (Jesus casts out a demon and heals Peter’s mother-in-law.)
AS WE GATHER
Today we welcome to our church an honored proclaimer of the Word. Despite the rejection He often has faced over the years—even from the people who knew Him best—let us welcome Him today with open ears and open hearts. This preacher is like none other. The way He communicates the Word of God makes you feel that He knows the Bible inside and out—and that’s because He does! This proclaimer is none other than your Savior Jesus Christ. Much like He did in today’s Gospel, Jesus stands among God’s people to deliver the Good News of life and salvation. Unlike the neighbors in Nazareth, who ended up rejecting their hometown preacher, let us receive Him with glad and sincere hearts. In humble faith, we fix our eyes on Jesus and receive all He comes to give.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10
(The people gather as one to hear God’s Word.)
EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a (In Christ, we are one Body with many members.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 4:16–30
(Jesus reads and fulfills God’s Word in His hometown synagogue.)
AS WE GATHER
Right here. Right now. Jesus is present. Take a moment and let that sink in. Jesus—the very Son of God and King of the universe—is present! As He was at the wedding feast in Cana of Galilee, where He gave the first sign of His glory, He also is present with us today through the Word proclaimed and the “sign” received in His body and blood. The Table will be prepared. The bread and the wine will be plentiful. And you will be invited to come: “Take, eat. Take, drink.” Christ’s true presence is here for you, and you are richly blessed! Savor this hour as we gather and receive Jesus into our midst. What a holy hour this is! Right here. Right now. You are blessed by Jesus’ presence.
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 62:1–5
(God is the Bridegroom to His people.)
EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 12:1–11
(God gives the gifts of His Spirit for the common good.)
HOLY GOSPEL: John 2:1–11 (Jesus works His first sign at the Cana wedding feast.)
OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 43:1–7 (The Lord has called Israel by name.)
EPISTLE READING: Romans 6:1–11 (We are made to walk in newness of life in Christ.)
HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 3:15–22 (Jesus teaches that one must be born of water and the Spirit.)
