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Thursday, May 24, 2018

The Divine Service

It is always important to understand why we have service in the way we do. Therefore in the coming months, we will review each part of the Divine Service. Please follow along as we journey through the joy of the Liturgy (Greek: leitourgia- service for the people). For it is in the Divine Liturgy that God gives and we receive. As Jesus is with us and the Holy Spirit guides and leads through the Word, we come to receive in faith His gifts, the Word and Sacrament, for the forgiveness of our sins.


Invocation

We begin the invocation (invoke: to call upon God in prayer). We begin with the words (as the Pastor begins with the sign of the Cross and these words), "In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit". To invoke the Trinitarian name, is to call upon the one true God who has called us by name (Is 43:1) in the waters of Holy Baptism (Gal 3:27, Ti3:5). Therefore we invoke the Name that has "called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith" (Apostles Creed Art III). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we are gathered in His name (Mt 28:18-20) as we walk in the newness of life.

Key Verse: Matthew 28:19b "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit"


Confession and Absolution

"for if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us" (1Jn1:8). We enter the house of the Lord with confession. In order to draw near to God (for God is present with us) "with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:19-22). We first confess our sins to God, acknowledging our sins (Is 6:5, Ps 32:3-5, 130:1-3) against God and neighbor. And therefore we say, "Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean... we justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment". We indeed, deserve eternal condemnation and death for our sin, and thus we confess to our merciful God for His forgiveness.

The second part of confession is to receive absolution, the forgiveness of sins. Again, by the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, we receive the words of forgiveness that is connected to the atoning work of Christ. And by the words of absolution, we are certain in faith that we are washed clean, purified and forgiven of all our sins. What a joyous gift that God gives through His promises! Now, we are prepared for worship as we praise honor and laud His glorious name!

Key Verse: John 20:22-23 "And when Jesus had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."

For July: Kyrie, Hymn of Praise, Salutation/Prayer of the Day

Have a blessed June!

✝️ Pastor Jeong

The full newsletter can be found here:
http://www.faithmoorpark.com/files/pdf/2018/2018-06-Newsletter.pdf

Faith Lutheran Church • 123 Park Lane • Moorpark, CA 93021 • (805) 532 1049 • Send Email