February 7, 2022
Dear friends,
As we get ready for the season of Lent, we enter a part of the church year called Pre-Lent.
Here’s a paragraph and a prayer concerning Pre-Lent from a wonderful devotional book (see more info below):
Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.
This period of the Church Year is our “narthex,” our entrance, into the season of Lent, a time for us to pause before we begin our pilgrimage to Calvary and the empty tomb. The names of the three Sundays in this mini-season are markers telling us about how many days there are until our celebration of Easter: Septuagesima (70), Sexagesima (60), and Quinquagesima (50). Each of the three Sundays focuses on one of the three Sola’s of Lutheranism. The first week we will hear how we are saved by Grace Alone (Sola Gratia), the next week of Scripture Alone (Sola Scriptura), and finally we consider the importance of Baptism and how we are saved by Faith Alone (Sola Fide). With our eyes focused on how God works to save us, we are prepared to enter the penitential season of Lent.
Prayer for the Pre-Lent Season and Annunciation
Awake, my soul, and rejoice in the Lord, your Savior. Magnify the Highest, who has so faithfully fulfilled His promise and sent His Son into the world. Exult and be glad, for God Himself, out of love to you, became Man and your Brother. Who can sufficiently praise His mercy and lovingkindness? O Lord, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of man that You consider him? O dearest Jesus, I heartily thank You that in the hallowed womb of Your mother Mary, You so intimately united Yourself with our human nature, and in this assumed humanity reconciled us with Your heavenly Father. O my Savior, You humbled and humiliated Yourself, that I might be exalted. You became a human being, that we might become children of God, Your sisters and brothers and beloved bride. You have descended to us from Your throne above to have me participate in Your great glory in heaven. How could You have shown greater love to me? O dearest Jesus, I heartily rejoice in this and know for certain that I am in Your grace, for You cannot hate Your own flesh and blood, nor be angry with it. Though I am sinful and unholy, I take comfort in Your holiness and innocence. Though I have incensed God with my sins, I know that You are the Mediator between God and me, that You will appease His wrath, and will save me from all ills that threaten me because of my transgressions. O Jesus, my Brother, although I have deserved death and damnation, You are able to give me life and salvation. Where my Brother, my flesh and blood reigns, I too hope to be and remain eternally. To this end, O dearly beloved Savior, lend us Your aid, for the sake of Your most holy incarnation. Amen.
Excerpt from: Book of Family Prayer, by Nils Laache (1831-1892)
You can read it online here: https://archive.org/details/bookoffamilypray00laac, or you can find it in print here: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Family-Prayer-Meditations-According/dp/B00UDCLAO0
God bless and keep you,
Pr. Buchs
COMING EVENTS:
Family Night – Wednesday, February 9 @ 5:30pm
Elders and Council – Thursday, February 10 @ 6 & 7pm
Men’s Bible Study – Wednesday, February 17 @ 8pm