Pastor Sullivan's Blog

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. The prophet tells us to rejoice. “ Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad with her, all you who love her; rejoice for joy with her, all you who mourn for her ” (Is. 66:10). In our day many Christians would interpret this to mean that we should rejoice in the modern nation-state of Israel. While there’s nothing wrong with having them as our ally, the New Testament is clear that Christ’s holy church is His true Israel. The prophet would never tell us to rejoice over unbelievers who reject His only-begotten Son and seek their salvation in themselves, their works, or their genealogy. This is what St. Paul writes about in today’s epistle lesson. Abraham had two sons by two different women. Each woman corresponds to a different covenant. The sons born to each woman correspond to a different type of people. “ For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was...

In the Name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Jesus crosses over the Sea of Tiberius and a great multitude follows Him. They don’t pursue Jesus to hear about the kingdom of God, the forgiveness of sins, and grace of God. They follow Him “ because they saw the signs which He performed on those who were diseased. ” These folks were after miracles. They marveled at driving out demons, healing paralytics, and curing fevers. This multitude saw in Jesus someone who could make their lives easier and more comfortable. Jesus’ signs, that is, the miracles He performed, were always about more than just the miracle itself. Jesus’ signs demonstrated His divinity so that when people saw the signs they should give thanks for them and then listen to Jesus’ teaching about the kingdom of God. His signs demonstrates the nature of human need and God’s grace and were meant to lead people to hear Jesus’ Word in faith so that they could receive the greater gifts that Jesus off...

Order of Holy Communion - Pg. 15 Hymn # 369 All mankind fell in Adam’s fall Hymn # 311 Jesus Christ, Our Blessed Savior Hymn #  54 Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah   Introit Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her: All you who love her Rejoice for joy with her : All you who mourn for her. (Isaiah 66:10) I was glad when they said to me: “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Our feet have been standing: Within your gates, O Jerusalem! Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.” For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say: “Peace be within you.” (Psalm 122:1, 2, 6, and 8) Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad with her: All you who love her. Rejoice for joy with her, : All you who mourn for her. (Isaiah 66:10) Collect for Laetare, the 4th Sunday in Lent Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of Thy grace may mercifully be relieved...