Category: General

Rejoice Always!

Sunday, December 13, 2020

THIRD SUNDAY IN ADVENT

If you light the candles of an Advent wreath at church or at home, it’s likely that the color of the candle you light this Sunday is pink. It’s also likely that this is the only pink candle on the wreath. Pink is a color of joy. In fact, this Third Sunday in Advent is commonly referred to as “Rejoice Sunday.” But don’t confuse the joy we celebrate this Advent with a passing happiness. No, the joy we have this Advent is greater. It lasts always. That’s what today’s Epistle assures us when Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18). Only in Jesus, the coming Savior, can we rejoice in good times and bad times, busy times and quiet times, sick times and healthy times. In Christ, we rejoice always!

READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11
(“The Lord has anointed me to bring good news.”)

Psalm 126

EPISTLE READING: 1 Thessalonians 5:16–24
(“Rejoice always. Do not quench the Spirit.”)

HOLY GOSPEL: John 1:6–8, 19–28
(“Make straight the way of the Lord.”)

prayer of the day

Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Messengers and Messages

Sunday, December 6, 2020

Second Sunday in Advent

Throughout the ages, God has sent messengers with special messages for His people. Many centuries before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah told of how God would comfort His people. The ministry of Jesus was announced by the strong spoken messages of John the Baptizer in the wilderness. After the ascension of Jesus, written messages such as those of Peter, John, Paul, and James encouraged the first Christians into ongoing lives of faith and witness. Through His Word, the timeless messages of God come to us anew each week and in each changing season of the Church Year.

READINGS









Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40:1-11
(Comfort God’s people is proclaimed)

Psalm 85

Epistle Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-14
(The Day of the Lord will be coming)

HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 1:1-8
(John the Baptist announces the coming of Jesus)

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

The Time of Christmas

Sunday, November 29, 2020

FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

This is the First Sunday in Advent and the beginning of a new Church Year of grace. Our Church Year counts time differently than the secular calendar. We are tied to the fullness of time in which God sent His one and only Son into the womb of the virgin, born to save us. The First Sunday in Advent is the Sunday on or closest to November 30 (St. Andrew’s Day). Today, we begin a journey not simply to the manger but the familiar journey that takes us to the manger, the cross, and the empty tomb. It is not merely a remembrance of what took place so long ago but also preparation for what is to come—our Lord’s return in glory to lay claim to His Church for all eternity. Encouraged by the Spirit, we devote ourselves to faithfully keeping what God has made known to us and showing forth our living faith in words and acts of repentance and holy living. But each Advent is a reminder that we are one step further from Bethlehem and one year closer to our Lord’s coming again.

READINGS

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Isaiah 64:1–9 “Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down.”

PSALM: 80:1-7

EPISTLE READING: 1 Corinthians 1:3–9 He will sustain you to the end.

HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 11:1–10
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.”

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen.

People of His Pasture

Sunday – November 22, 2020

LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR—PROPER 29

We are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Psalm 95:7b

Today is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. This Sunday is traditionally filled with themes of Christ’s roles as King and Judge. But consider these words from Psalm 95: “We are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.” We are God’s chosen sheep. He is our Shepherd. We follow Him as He goes to seek the lost, bring back the stray, and bind up the injured.

Old Testament Reading:


Psalm:

Epistle:


Gospel:

READINGS

Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24
God will search for His sheep

Psalm 95:1–7a

1 Corinthians 15:20–28
The last enemy to be destroyed is death

Matthew 25:31–46
The separation of the sheep and the goats

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen

Enter into the Joy of Your Master

Sunday, November 15, 2020

Sermon Audio

TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—PROPER 28

Enter into the joy of your Master. Matthew 25:21b

We read today about three servants. Two were good and faithful. One was evil and faithless. Two enter into the joy of their master. One does not. Our Lord has entrusted us with many good and gracious gifts and sends us into the world to make disciples and multiply the gifts we have received. Yet, it is not our own work that leads us into the joy of our Master; rather, it is our Master’s work on our behalf. Jesus’ saving work of death and resurrection brings us into the joy of our Master.

Old Testament Reading:


Psalm:

Epistle:


Gospel:

READINGS

Zephaniah 1:7–16
The Day of the Lord is near

Psalm 90:1-12

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11
Let us live as children of the light

Matthew 25:14–30
The parable of the talents

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living God, You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You. Dispel from us the works of darkness and grant us to live in the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Always with the Lord

Sunday, November 8, 2020

TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—PROPER 27

And so we will always be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17b

We hear today these words from the apostle Paul concerning everlasting life: “We will always be with the Lord.” Our Lord makes His presence known today in His Word and in the Lord’s Supper. You have the assurance that when Jesus returns, you will spend everlasting life in His gracious presence.

Old Testament Reading:


Psalm:

Epistle:


Gospel:

READINGS

Amos 5:18–24
The day of the Lord is coming

Psalm 70

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18
We will always be with the Lord

Matthew 25:1–13
The parable of the ten virgins

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Let us pray. Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead home His Bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

Pastoral Letter & Reservation Service Link – Nov 1, 2020

October 2020

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

It is with no small gladness that I can now inform you that we plan to resume church services after this long hiatus. The first planned service is scheduled for November 1st, All Saints Day. Because we are restricted to 50 people or less we have devised a system whereby you can sign up online for the service you plan to attend, or you may phone the office to reserve your spot, Monday-Thursday, 9:30am to 1:30pm. At this point we have planned services only for November, specifically the 1st, 15th and the 29th. As you are, no doubt, well aware the COVID-19 cases are rising in BC and so we decided to spread the services out this way in order to give us room to evaluate the situation as it continues to develop.

Many of you are very concerned about all of this, and with good reason, and therefore I would like stress that we are not pressuring anyone to attend. Everyone has to evaluate their own situation and make their decisions accordingly. Private communion is available to all who wish it and it will continue to be so. Thus, if you are not comfortable with attending the planned services you will always have that option.

By this time many of us, if not most, are thinking ahead to Christmas. At this point all I can tell you is that we are working on that at this time and will inform you in due time. Unless things take a serious turn for the worse there is every reason to think that we will be worshipping during the Christmas season, albeit in a smaller way than in previous years. But we will notify you as we get closer to December.

Below you can find the link to sign up online. The system is easy to understand and use. I would ask you all to only sign up for services mindful of the fact that we are limited to 50 or less and thus to allow room for others as well. Moreover, please only sign up for those services you are reasonably sure you will be able to attend and if you, for some reason, cannot attend please remove your name from the list or call the church office to let us know. Also, please do
not assign your place to others if you are unable to attend as that has the potential to cause considerable chaos and confusion. Only sign up for yourself and those you plan to bring with you.

To all appearances this COVID-19 situation will persist for the foreseeable future. Our congregation has so far weathered all this very well and I would simply continue encourage you all to use this time, as you are able, to reflect on the things you have been taught in the Holy Christian Church and why these things matter just as much now as they did before and as they will continue to matter until the Last Day! Perhaps now would be an opportune time to review
the Small Catechism and the things taught there in as these things pertain to daily living all the days of our lives. I should also like to encourage you to stop by the office with any questions regarding the Christian faith that you may wish to talk about. Coming to see me is not wasting the Church’s time, but actually making use of the service the Holy Christian Church puts at your
disposal. So make use of it as you deem necessary and fit.

The end of the Church Year is fast approaching and thus my thoughts are inevitably drawn to those Scripture texts that speak of our Lord’s return and the events surrounding it. During a worldwide pandemic it would be all too easy to fall into the trap of thinking that this is a close herald of the End Times. As the Holy Christian Church we need not worry about such things (and we are in fact commanded not to!), but instead we are reminded at all times, in every
age and every generation to heed the words of Jesus recorded by St. Luke: “Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

In Christ,

Pastor Jakob Valsson

Reservation Webpage

Please do not attend if you are: not feeling well or do not feel comfortable in a 50 person gathering.

COVID PROTOCOL STEPS TAKEN BY TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
• Do not come early, socializing will not be encouraged in the building.
• Masks are required; they will be available if you forget yours.
• Parking: use front or side lot (South lot will be closed)
• Entering the building: follow signs and arrows, separate doors will be used for entering and exiting.
• Use hand sanitizer upon entering.
• You MUST sign in after sanitizing, this allows for contact tracing in the case of an outbreak.
• Follow the arrows into the sanctuary, seating will be every third row, maintain your social distance from your neighbour.
• Church service will be conducted out of the LSB Hymnal, no bulletins or newsletters are available.
• Pastor Jakob will instruct those wishing to partake in communion.
• One person at a time may enter the Men’s/Women’s washroom, line up in the hallway
• Please refrain from checking your church mailbox at this time; possibly come in during the week when the Narthex is empty. Note: the balcony, nursery, church kitchen, gym and conference room are off limits at this time.
• Exit through doors marked “EXIT”, maintaining social distance from others.