Thanksgiving at Living Hope
Living Hope will hold an evening service on
November 25 at 7 p.m.
Visitors welcome!
(no services will be held on Nov. 26th)
November 23, 2009
Christ the King Sunday
The Christian worship calendar ends today (Nov. 22nd) with a grand confession of faith and a hymn of adoration to Christ our King. We await his return, for it will transform our worship…from faith to sight, and from under the cross to glory.
Of all the things that our King could have chosen to show forth his glory, what did he pick? To use his death in order to redeem us. Wow.
Standing before Pilate, there was no outward display of our King’s power. There was little to be seen of his kingdom’s beauty. Jesus did not attempt to snatch a glory that was confined to this world, and therefore perishable.
As we enter the Advent season and the beginning of a new year of worship, let’s take time during the whirl of December schedules to look closely at that baby in the manger. Jesus. Our Bridegroom, our King, our Savior–he is Glorious!
…for his beautiful words
…for his powerful kingship
…for his right kingship
Praise him!
Add comment November 22, 2009
What’s on your calendar?
- Sunday Worship Service:10:30 Sunday mornings
- Family Bible Hour/Sunday School: 9:15 a.m., Sundays
Special events, meetings, and Worship Services
- Thanksgiving Eve Service: Nov. 25th at 7 p.m.
- Wed. Advent Services:Dec 2, Dec 9, Dec 16 at 7 p.m.
- Children’s Christmas Service: Dec. 20 at 10:30 a.m.
- Christmas Eve Service: Dec. 24 at 7 p.m.
- Christmas Day Service: Dec. 25 at 10:30 a.m.
- New Year’s Eve Service: Dec 31 at 7 p.m.
- Voters meeting and family potluck: Jan 17
- Men’s Retreat: Feb. 19-20, 2010
Check out the white-board at church for individual committee meeting times.
November 16, 2009
Behold a Host, Arrayed in White
by Hans A. Brorson, 1694-1764
Behold a host, arrayed in white,
Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright,
With palms they stand. Who is this band
Before the throne of light?
…Lo, these are they of glorious fame
…Who from the great affliction came
…And in the flood of Jesus’ blood
…Are cleansed from guilt and blame.
Now gathered in the holy place,
Their voices they in worship raise,
Their anthems swell where God doth dwell,
Mid angels’ songs of praise.
Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;
But now, how glorious they must appear!
Those martyrs stand a priestly band,
God’s throne forever near.
…So oft, in troubled days gone by,
…In anguish they would weep and sigh,
…At home above the God of Love
…For aye their tears shall dry.
They now enjoy their Sabbath rest,
The paschal banquet of the blest;
The Lamb, their Lord, at festal board
Himself is Host and Guest.
Then hail, ye mighty legions, yea,
All hail! Now safe and blest for aye,
And praise the Lord, who with His Word
Sustained you on the way.
…Ye did the joys of earth disdain,
…Ye toiled and sowed in tears and pain.
…Farewell, now bring your sheaves and sing
…Salvation’s glad refrain.
Swing high your palms, lift up your song,
Yea, make it myriad voices strong,
Eternally shall praise to Thee,
God, and the Lamb belong.
Revelation 7:9
[ The Great Multitude in White Robes ] After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.
November 14, 2009
Failed WELS links
WELS.net is upgrading to a new website. Because of this change, many links on Living Hope’s sites that used to connect to the WELS site no longer go to those corresponding pages. We will work to correct this problem. Thank you for your patience.
November 12, 2009
Veterans Day Prayer
Lord God,
From the day our nation began you have been with us. From the first time our armies marched against the foe you have preserved us. You have moved the hearts of men and women to place their lives in danger’s path so that we, whom they never would meet, might enjoy the blessings of liberty that you have bestowed on America.
Let the spirit of courage and the love of country that moved these heroes continue to thrive in our nation, that there will always be those ready to answer the call and pay the price for liberty.
Bless the men, women and children who are greiving as a result of the evil done at Fort Hood. Guide their hearts to You for comfort and healing. We pray this in Jesus’ name, who died to make us truly free. Amen.
November 11, 2009
“Timely Words”
If you haven’t been attending our Family Bible Hour, this is a great time to make it work for you and your family. Kids and teens start at 9:15, adults at 9:30.
...how good is a timely word! ~Proverbs 15:23a
“A farmer went out to sow his seed……The seed is the word of God. …the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.” ~ Luke 8:5a, 11b, 15
October 26, 2009
A Mighty Fortress is Our God
by Martin Luther 1483-1546
A mighty Fortress is our God,
A trusty Shield and Weapon;
He helps us free from every need
That has us now o’er-taken.
The old evil Foe Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might
Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.
With might of ours can nothing be done,
Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One,
Whom God Himself elected.
Ask you, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is.
Of Sabaoth Lord,
And there’s none other God;
He holds the field forever.
+
Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you for preserving your holy church against the forces of hell. For the gift of the blessed gospel we praise your name. For the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection from the dead, and life eternal in Christ, we thank you, loving Father. Help us treasure the rich heritage handed down to us. Continue to raise up faithful pastors and teachers among us in the spirit of Martin Luther, so that we can carry on your saving work to the end of time. All glory to your name. Amen.
October 24, 2009
¿Por qué se bautizan a los bebés?
La Biblia describe la naturaleza humana tal y como es: pecadora y sin Dios. David confiesa en Salmos 51:5: “Yo sé que soy malo de nacimiento; pecador me concibió mi madre.” El veredicto de Dios en Génesis 8:21 es: “Las intenciones del ser humano son perversas desde su juventud.” Toda aquella persona que llega a este mundo es un pecador perdido sin la gracia de Dios.
¿Cómo adquirió el hombre esta naturaleza pecadora? “Por medio de un solo hombre el pecado entró en el mundo, y por medio del pecado entró la muerte; fue así como la muerte pasó a toda la humanidad, porque todos pecaron” (Romanos 5:12) En ocasiones bebés mueren y cuando esto sucede, la única manera de explicar tal acontecimiento es: “Todos pecaron.” Morimos porque nacimos pecadores. Así dice Jesús: “Yo te aseguro que quien no nazca de agua y del Espíritu, no puede entrar en el reino de Dios. Lo que nace del cuerpo es cuerpo; lo que nace del Espíritu es espíritu” (Juan 3:5,6). El bautismo es la combinación de agua y el Espíritu….
October 24, 2009
Jesus sets the guilty free!
Romans 3:19-24
Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
October 23, 2009
