November 2020

HCAP for November 30, 2020

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

Gospel Sentence
“From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)

Reading
“You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember you in your ways. Behold, you were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. There is no one who calls upon your name, who rouses himself to take hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand. Be not so terribly angry, O LORD, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all your people.” (Isaiah 64:5–9)

Meditation
O earth, in flow’ring bud be seen;
Clothe hill and dale in garb of green.
Bring forth, O earth, a blossom rare,
Our Savior, sprung from meadow fair. (LSB 355:3)

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Heavenly Father, bless Walt 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)
Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for November 29, 2020

SUNDAY (November 29, 2020)
The First Sunday in Advent
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:4)

Reading
“Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence— as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil— to make your name known to your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at your presence! When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence. From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.” (Isaiah 64:1–4)

Meditation
O Savior, rend the heavens wide;
Come down, come down with mighty stride;
Unlock the gates, the doors break down;
Unbar the way to heaven’s crown. (LSB 355:1)

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Let your grace be upon Emma, 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 for the First Sunday in Advent
Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCLC – November 29, 2020 – First Sunday in Advent – Divine Service

Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on First Sunday in Advent, November 29, 2020 by Pastor Todd Peperkorn Sermon Text: Mark 13:24-37 Sermon Theme: “God’s Good Judgment For You“ Old Testament: Isaiah 64:1–9 Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:3–9 Holy Gospel: Mark 13:24–37 The Lord Jesus Comes in Meekness and Humility to Save …

HCLC – November 29, 2020 – First Sunday in Advent – Divine Service Read More »

HCAP for November 28, 2020

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

Gospel Sentence
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Reading
““Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”” (Matthew 25:41–46)

Meditation
For those who do not believe, it matters not what they did in this world. Their deeds, even if judged “good” by the world hold no merit before Christ. The dividing line is belief or unbelief—plain and simple.

Silence

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

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for November 27, 2020

FRIDAY (November 27, 2020)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Reading
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’” (Matthew 25:34–40)

Meditation
Our good works do not save us, only the gift of faith saves us. Yet, Jesus clearly says good works are important. Good works, or acts of love and mercy, are who we are in Christ.

Silence

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

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for November 26, 2020

THURSDAY (November 26, 2020)
Day of Thanksgiving
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Reading
““When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left.” (Matthew 25:31–33)

Meditation
God desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. Now is the time of salvation. Now is the time of mercy, where God’s compassion calls out to one and all. But at the Last Day, there will be a gathering (literally congregating). Those who received Him in mercy will be on His right; those who rejected Him on the left. But He calls you today with the voice of His Word: “Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy burdened, and I will give you rest.” Hear His call. Trust His Word, for now is the time.

Silence

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

Prayer for the Day of Thanksgiving
Almighty God, Your mercies are new every morning and You graciously provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your goodness, give thanks for Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience all our days; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for November 25, 2020

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

Gospel Sentence
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Reading
“For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:25–28)

Meditation
Death is the enemy. Make no mistake about it. Death is a direct consequence of the sin of Adam and Eve. And we still pay the price for it today. No matter how much we try to dress it up or make death into a good thing, it is, ultimately, the enemy. Christ has defeated these enemies, sin, death and the devil. That is who He is. He is our champion who conquers all for us.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Be with Mary 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)
Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for November 24, 2020

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

Gospel Sentence
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Reading
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–24)

Meditation
In fact Christ has been raised from the dead. This is a fact. Not a fairy tale. Not wishful thinking. Not the pious hopes of a religious person. It is a fact, as sure as the sun will rise tomorrow. This is the foundation of the Christian faith. Jesus’ death and resurrection from the dead are what make us who we are, the people of God. Thanks be to God!

Silence

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

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer