Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. In today’s Epistle lesson St. Paul summarizes the new life we have by faith in Christ. Through faith our sins are forgiven. God declares us righteous through faith apart from the works of the Law. Through faith in the promise of the Gospel God adopts us into His holy family, making us heirs of all His heavenly blessings. Because we are sons of God by adoption, we are brothers of Christ Jesus. Being brothers of Christ and co-heirs with Christ, we suffer in this life as He suffered in this life, knowing that if we suffer with Him, we will be glorified with Him at the consummation of all things. This new life of faith in Christ is beset by many challenges, one of which Christ warns us against in today’s Gospel lesson. There will be false prophets, preachers and interpreters of His Word, who intentionally, and most unintentionally, try to draw us away from the new life of faith. Paul begins by reminding us that ...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. On the day of Pentecost, God the Father sent the Holy Spirit as Christ had promised. The apostles are in one place when “ suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing, mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. ” Tongues as of fire sit atop their heads while new tongues, that is, foreign languages, fill their mouths. This special gift was given to them because outside the house, all throughout the city of Jerusalem, were Jews, devout men from every country, who had gathered there for the Old Testament festival of Pentecost. The Spirit gives utterance to the apostles so that they can preach “ the wonderful works of God ” in languages previously unknown to them. Men from all over the world hear the gospel in their own tongue, not in a cacophony of confusion like after the Lord visited the tower of Babel. It happened orderly, each one hearing only his own native tong...

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Jesus tells His disciples that He goes away to God the Father. He speaks this on Maundy Thursday, the night in which He was betrayed. Sorrow fills the disciple’s hearts, and understandably so. But Jesus consoles their troubled hearts, “ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ” Jesus promises the Helper, who is God the Holy Spirit, whose coming we will celebrate in three weeks on Pentecost. In some translations the word is translated “Comforter,” while others transliterate it: “Paraclete.” As Christ says this to His disciples, He approaches His suffering and death for the sins of the world. He will accomplish the atonement and declare from the cross “ It is finished ” (John 19:30). Christ runs His course. He atones for the sins of the entire world. But then He must go ...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 235 O Holy Spirit, Enter In Hymn # 224 Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord Hymn # 236 Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid   Introit THE SPI- - || rit of the Lord | fills | the | world. | - *             Alle- | lu- | ia! || Let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice | be- | fore | God; | - *             Yes, let them rejoice exceedingly. Alleluia! Alle- | lu- | ia! ( Wisdom 1:7a; Psalm 68:3 ) || Let God arise, let His ene- | mies | be | scat- | tered; *             Let those also who hate Him flee be- | fore | Him. || Sing to God, sing praises | to | His | name; | - *             Extol Him who rides on | the | clouds. || The Lord | gave | the | Word; | - *             Great was the company of those who pro- | claimed | it. || He sends out His voice, a | might- | y |...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 233 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest Hymn # 467 Built on the Rock, the Church Shall Stand Hymn # 437 Who Trusts in God, a Strong Abode Introit HEAR, O || Lord, when I cry with my | voice! | - *             Al- | le- | lu- | ia! || When You said, “Seek My face,” My heart said to You, “Your face, Lord, I will | seek.” | - *             Do not hide Your face from me. Al- | le- | lu- | ia! (Psalm 27:7a, 8-9a) || The Lord is my light and my sal- | va- | tion; *             Whom | shall | I | fear? || The Lord is the strength of my | life; | - *             Of whom shall I | be | a- | fraid? || Teach me Your way, O | Lord, | - *             Do not deliver me to the will of my ad- | ver- | sa- | ries; || For false witnesses have risen a- | gainst | me, *             And su...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 231 We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost Hymn # 387 Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice Hymn # 195 Christ Jesus Lay in Death's Strong Bands Introit OH, SING || to the Lord a new | song! | - *             For he has done mar- | ve- | lous | things; The Lord has made known His sal- | va- | tion; *             His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of | the | na- | tions. (Psalm 98:1a, 2) His right hand and His holy | arm | - *             Have gained Him the | vic- | to- | ry. He has remembered His | mer- | cy *             And His faithfulness to the house of | Is- | ra- | el. All the ends of the | earth | - *             Have seen the salvation | of | our | God. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the | earth; | - *         ...