September 2020

HCAP for September 30, 2020

WEDNESDAY (September 30, 2020)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”” (Ezekiel 18:32)

Reading
“Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5–11)

Meditation
It is a strange thing indeed to think of God as emptying Himself. And yet, that is what Jesus did. He emptied Himself. He made Himself nothing in order that he might enter into our humanity in weakness. He took on the frailty of our flesh in order to accomplish what we could not—obedience to the point of death. The only explanation for this mystery is Love. God’s love for us is more than we can fathom.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Be with Dee this day, O Lord, and show her your great love throughout all the days of her life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for September 29, 2020

TUESDAY (September 29, 2020)
St. Michael and All Angels
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”” (Ezekiel 18:32)

Reading
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:1–4)

Meditation
Jesus “came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:28). This same Jesus invites us to live as He lived—in love, in joy and in service to one another. This same Jesus, calls us to live together as the Church—together, and of one mind. This same Jesus, the great servant, beckons us to let go of pride, anger, resentment, power (and whatever else puts a wedge between us and someone else) and put our fellow believer’s interests before our own. Only in Jesus is this possible.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Lord Jesus Christ, be with Bruce this week. Give him your grace and teach him to learn more of your mercy with each passing day. Amen.

Prayer for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels
Everlasting God, You have ordained and constituted the service of angels and men in a wonderful order. Mercifully grant that, as Your holy angels always serve and worship You in heaven, so by Your appointment they may also help and defend us here on earth; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for September 28, 2020

MONDAY (September 28, 2020)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”” (Ezekiel 18:32)

Reading
““Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”” (Ezekiel 18:30–32)

Meditation
God calls us to repent—to see the error of our sinful ways, and turn from them. If that were the last word, we would sit in terror of His judgement, for sin separates us from God. But God is gracious. He gives us the gift of the Holy Spirit who creates faith and helps us in our time of need. He gives us Jesus who releases us from our own bondage. He gives us grace, mercy and peace which enable us to repent and turn away. God’s ultimate desire is for restoration and life.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Heavenly Father, bless Charles with faith in you and fervent love toward all those who cross his path this day. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCLC – September 27, 2020 – Bible Class: 1 Peter 5:5-9 – “Shepherd of the Flock”

Bible Class – “1 Peter 5:5-9” led by Pastor Todd Peperkorn on September 27, 2020. 1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Therefore humble yourselves under the …

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HCLC – September 27, 2020 – Pentecost 17 – Matthew 21:23-27 – Divine Service Inside

Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on the Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost, September 27, 2020 by Pastor Todd Peperkorn. Sermon Text: Matthew 21:23-27 & Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 Sermon Theme: Christ’s Interest in You“ Old Testament: Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32 Epistle: Philippians 2:1–4, 14–18 Holy Gospel: Matthew 21:23–27 The Cross of Christ Opens …

HCLC – September 27, 2020 – Pentecost 17 – Matthew 21:23-27 – Divine Service Inside Read More »

HCAP for September 27 2020

SUNDAY (September 27, 2020)
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”” (Ezekiel 18:32)

Reading
“The word of the LORD came to me: “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18:1–4)

Meditation
This proverbial saying about sour grapes and setting the children’s teeth on edge is rather strange. Essentially what it means is this, “Oh, don’t blame ME for what is wrong. I am simply a victim of a miscarriage of justice.” Through the prophet Ezekiel, God tells His people, “Stop blaming others for your misdeeds. The guilt is yours alone to bear. All souls belong to me—I will be the ultimate judge.” How often are we like the Israelites with our grumbling and complaining and blaming? It is far easier to be the victim than to own up to our own guilt and misdeeds. God knows this. He calls us to repentance and gives us forgiveness to wipe the slate clean.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Let your grace be upon Kathy O Lord, and teach her to hope in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week
Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for September 26, 2020

SATURDAY (September 26, 2020)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Reading
“And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ So the last will be first, and the first last.” (Matthew 20:11-16)

Meditation
This is a strange parable. God seems unfair. He pays those who worked all day the same wage that he paid those who worked only an hour! How can this be?! The underlying message here is God is a generous giver. There is no limit to his generosity and He freely gives it. And what God gives is always more than enough.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
O Lord, in Holy Baptism you put your Name upon Gerry. Bless him now with the forgiveness of sins and a firm trust in you. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week
Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for September 25, 2020

FRIDAY (September 25, 2020)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Reading
“Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.” (Philippians 1:27-30)

Meditation
God is a good and gracious God who bestows on us His grace and mercy. Christ has redeemed us by His death and resurrection. He has given us new life. He daily and richly forgives us, and walks alongside us. He does this so that we might love and serve our neighbor. That is what we are called to do. This mercy he so lavishly gives us is not ours to hoard and keep, but rather to be given out generously to all those who cross our path each day.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Father, we lift up Jerry before you this day, asking that You would give him your mercy all the days of his life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week
Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for September 24, 2020

THURSDAY (September 24, 2020)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Reading
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” (Philippians 1:21-24)

Meditation
Paul’s greatest desire is to die and be with Christ, for there is nothing better. However, he also recognizes his vocation as one who is sent by Christ to spread the good news. He is torn. The study notes in The Lutheran Study Bible puts it this way, “If you live as a Christian, you live by Christ’s grace, in His image, to serve as Christ the people around you. If you die, you learn the fullness of what you had known in part and your fallen human nature no longer hinders you”.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Show your grace to Reney this day, as she goes about the callings you have given to her. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week
Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for September 23, 2020

WEDNESDAY (September 23, 2020)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1)

Reading
“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians1:12-14)

Meditation
God’s Word often goes forth in the most unusual and often difficult circumstances. Interestingly, Paul is sitting in jail for proclaiming the good new of Jesus Christ. His imprisonment serves to advance the Gospel. People on the “outside” are talking about why Paul was imprisoned. Paul has his own mission field right inside the prison. No matter how difficult our circumstances may be, the Gospel still goes forth. The Church, while assailed on many sides is already victorious and nothing can change that.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Be with Chris this day, O Lord, and show him your great love throughout all the days of his life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week
Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer