Good afternoon and God bless,
For the remainder of the week,
Wednesday: Regular midweek Services (Matins, Confession, Holy Communion, but NO VESPERS). I’ll be at the Mission in Harrisonburg for their 6:30pm Service.
Thursday: 6pm Outreach Meeting, 7pm Council Meeting.
Looking ahead: Monday 9/8 @ 7pm – ADULT CATECHISM RESUMES. We’ll be looking at the first chief part of Luther’s Catechism and introducing an overview of Holy Scripture. I’ll be providing folders for the papers and other documents for the course.
Holy Cross Day is Wednesday 9/14. Will be celebrating at Matins, Holy Communion and Vespers.
Have some hot cross buns on Wednesday, or maybe some kind of basil soup… both are customs for that day.
Ember Days are Friday (9/16) and Saturday (9/17), see the note below for an explanation.
Saturday, 9/17: Rally Day Cruise-In, come by the church at 4pm to help bring in the new educational year at Lebanon and see some great cars. Family fun, food, and games.
Holy Cross info from this very helpful website:
Holy Cross Day
On September 14, some Christians observe Holy Cross Day. In the Roman Church the day’s focus is on the finding of the relics of the original cross. Among Lutherans the focus is on the words of Jesus, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matthew 16:24). Here is an extended collect and a blessing with the focus on cross bearing by Veit Dietrich, a student of Martin Luther.
Lord God, heavenly Father,
in your fatherly and infinite wisdom
you place your children on earth under the cross
and we endure many troubles.
Through these you guard us against sins
and lead us to believe, hope and pray.
Have mercy on us,
and hear our prayers in every affliction and need,
and send us your gracious help
so that we may know your grace and fatherly goodness,
and praise and glorify you with all your saints in eternity,
for you, with your Son and the Holy Spirit alone are the eternal God. Amen.
Source: Veit Dietrich, Summaria christlicher lehr, Epiphany 4, 1548. Prayers from the Evangelical Lutheran Heritage, #223.
May the almighty and gracious God,
the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
forgive us all our sins,
help us to live in daily repentance,
and grant that whatever crosses he sends
serve to lead us to despise and avoid what is evil
and love and practice what is good,
until we depart this life and enter eternal life. Amen.
Source: Veit Dietrich / Franziskus Vierling, Votum (a reflective prayer or blessing) on Hebrews 12:1-17, from the Altenberger Bibel. Prayers from the Evangelical Lutheran Heritage, #224.
What Are Ember Days?
The name is derived from the Latin quattuor tempora, meaning “Four Times” or “Four Seasons.” The specific themes for each Ember Week of the year are as follows:
- Spring: the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Ash Wednesday, to give thanks for the rebirth of nature and for the gift of light (usually flowers are offered at this time).
- Summer: Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after Pentecost, to give thanks for the wheat crop.
- Fall: the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the Feast of the Holy Cross (September 14), to give thanks for the grape harvest. [OR Apple harvest for us folk!]
- Winter: the Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday after the Feast of St. Lucy (December 13), during the third week of Advent, to give thanks for the olive crop.
