Christmas Eve – 2025
Sermon: St. Luke 2:1-14 (Historic Gospel) 12-24-25, Christmas Eve, Hope-Leander TX (Hymns: 175:1-3, 139, 126:1.3, 1271.2.5, 145:1-2, 143:1.3.8.9, 137:1.4, 148:1-4.6.8, 140, 125) BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY FOR YOU Sermon Text, St. Luke 2:6-7. And so it was that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the…
St. Thomas Day – Advent 4 – 2025
John 20:24 St. Thomas’ Day, Apostle & Martyr/Advent 4, Hope-Leander TX “MY LORD AND MY GOD” Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus: We thank You for calling us so that we may be Your own. We also thank You for calling Thomas. If You brought him, despite his doubts, to confess You as his God and Lord, and to be a great missionary filled with deathless courage, You can also keep us in faith to the end, so that we bravely confess…
Advent 3- 2025
JOY Matthew 11. Dear Lord God, heavenly Father: Your Son, our Savior, said that we are to rejoice and be exceedingly glad even when we are persecuted. John the Baptist was treated with contempt, put into prison unjustly, and suffered death for Your name. Teach us from his example and our Savior’s words to rejoice always (1Th 5:16), to receive great joy from Your glad tidings (Lk 2:10), to find joy in every station (ELH #424:5), and for the joy…
Advent 2 – 2025
HOPE Romans 15:4-13 (Epistle for Advent 2) Prayer: Lord, be Thou our Hope. Lead us into Your Word, where we receive patient endurance, encouragement, and hope from You. Empower us to welcome others, especially those weak in faith, and to give them this same encouragement and hope. Amen. (The Lutheran Study Bible p. 1939; also ELH 372:5) Dear fellow redeemed in Christ: Grace and peace be unto you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. Paul begins…
Advent 1 – 2025
CALLED TO FOLLOW JESUS ALL THE WAY Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank You for coming into our world to be the Savior of all people. Not only do You have universal love for all, but You love each person by name. You call us individually, just as You called Andrew to be Your disciple. We thank You that by Your Holy Spirit You call us by the gospel, in Baptism and through Your Word. Enable us to hear Your call…
Thanksgiving – 2025
SEEING JESUS’ MERCY PRODUCES THANKSGIVING Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, You daily care for us and are an ever-present Help in every need: We pray that You awaken our hearts to be truly thankful for all Your benefits. Let us not grow apathetic about Your temporal and eternal blessings, but remember that Your mercy is new every morning, so that in perfect trust we may call upon You in every trouble and thank and praise You with a joyous heart. Amen.…
Last Sunday of the Church Year – 2025
CHRIST HAS OPENED THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN TO ALL BELIEVERS Prayer: We thank You, Lord God, heavenly Father, that in the past church year You have preserved Your saving Word among us and by it kept us waiting to receive Your Son when He comes again. Forgive our neglect, unbelief, and disobedience with respect to Your Word, and continue to pour down upon us the oil of gladness so that we are prepared to go into eternal life. Amen. Sermon…
2nd Last Day of the Church Year – 2025
WHAT JUDGMENT DAY SAYS ABOUT OUR GOOD WORKS Prayer: Lord Jesus, when You come in Your glory, You will speak about what we have done. So today we pray about the things that are Your will for us to do. Help us not to trust in salvation in our good works but only in Your perfect obedience and righteousness. Help us do the things You want us to do even for the least and littlest of these Your brethren, since…