February 2021

HCLC – February 27, 2021 – Second Sunday in Lent

Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on The Second Sunday in Lent, February 27, 2021 by Pastor Todd Peperkorn. Sermon Text: Mark 8:34 Sermon Theme: The Theology of the Cross” Old Testament: Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16 Epistle: Romans 5:1–11 Holy Gospel: Mark 8:27–38 By the Cross of Our Lord Jesus, We Inherit …

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HCAP for March 3, 2021

WEDNESDAY (March 3, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:5–6)

Reading
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” (Romans 5:6–11)

Meditation
God’s love for us is beyond comprehension. There is simply no way to fully understand it. It is a mystery to be entered into and embraced with trust. God’s love requires no “entrance card” other than faith, which itself is a gift. Thanks be to God for his steadfast love and mercy.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Be with Miriam 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)
O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; 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 March 2, 2021

TUESDAY (March 2, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:5–6)

Reading
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:1–5)

Meditation
Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord—is part of the liturgy of Holy Communion. It is at the Lord’s Supper that Christ gives us Himself. As the bread is put into our mouths, and we drink the wine; we get Christ and His peace. There is no need to fear. We are reconciled to the Father, not because of anything we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us. What does it mean to you to know you have Christ’s peace and all is well?

Silence

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

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; 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 March 1, 2021

MONDAY (March 1, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:5–6)

Reading
“And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”” (Genesis 17:15–16)

Meditation
Sarai was long past the age of getting pregnant and having a child. And yet, God’s promises are often paradoxical in nature—at first glance anyway. As He did with Abraham, God gives Sarai a new name, Sarah. God promises to bless her by making her womb fruitful. She will bear a son. The mystery of God’s plan begins to unfold in the womb of Sarah.

Silence

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

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; 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 February 28, 2021

SUNDAY (February 28, 2021)
Second Sunday in Lent
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:5–6)

Reading
“When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, “Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.” (Genesis 17:1–7)

Meditation
This text in Genesis actually precedes the text from last week where God commands Abraham to sacrifice his only son. Here, Abraham is still Abram. God makes His promise to Abraham that he would be the father of a multitude of nations, and then renames Him. Abraham at age 99, would soon become father of more than one son.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Let your grace be upon Anne 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
O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; 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 February 27, 2021

SATURDAY (February 27, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

Reading
“The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”” (Mark 1:12–15)

Meditation
St. Mark wastes no time here. Jesus is baptized and immediately, the Spirit that had descended upon Jesus like a dove, now drives Jesus out into the wilderness. The wilderness is seen as a place of desolation and danger—a place where one is all alone and defenseless. This is where Satan tempts Jesus, to no avail. Jesus is victorious, but note that even Jesus is cared for by ministering angels. Even Jesus was never alone. For through Jesus we see the Father, by the Spirit. This is good news for us sinners as well, for we are never alone. God—Father, Son and Holy Spirit— is always with us.

Silence

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

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; 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

HCLC – February 13, 2021 – The Transfiguration of Our Lord – Mark 9:2-9

Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on The Transfiguration of Our Lord, February 14, 2021 by Pastor Todd Peperkorn. Sermon Text: Mark 9:2-9 Sermon Theme: “A Glimpse of More” Old Testament: 2 Kings 2:12 Epistle: 2 Corinthians 3:12–18, 4:1–6 Holy Gospel: Mark 9:2–9 The Face of Jesus Christ Manifests the Light …

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HCLC – February 20, 2021 – First Sunday in Lent

Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on The First Sunday in Lent, February 21, 2021 by Pastor Todd Peperkorn. Sermon Text: Mark 1:9-15 Sermon Theme: “Baptized for the World’s Temptations” Old Testament: Genesis 22:1–18 Epistle: James 1:12–18 Holy Gospel: Mark 1:9–15 Christ Jesus Defeats Our Temptation and Saves Us by His …

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HCAP for February 24, 2021

WEDNESDAY (February 24, 2021)
Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

Reading
“And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”” (Genesis 22:15–18)

Meditation
This narrative of the sacrifice of Isaac is full of paradoxes. God commands Abraham to sacrifice—to kill— his only son. Abraham is ready to plunge the knife into Isaac when the angel of the LORD stops him and saves Isaac by providing a ram to sacrifice. The promised Messiah is to come from Abraham’s seed….the same Messiah, the Lamb of God that will be crucified as the ultimate sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Silence

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

Prayer for the Feast of St. Matthias, Apostle
Almighty God, You chose Your servant Matthias to be numbered among the Twelve. Grant that Your Church, ever preserved from false teachers, may be taught and guided by faithful and true pastors; 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 February 26, 2021

FRIDAY (February 26, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” (James 1:17)

Reading
“In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”” (Mark 1:9–11)

Meditation
The Creator of the world, enters into creation to restore it. Jesus restores, heals, brings life where only death reigned before. He does not hesitate or stand afar off. He comes to us, joins us in our humanity and stands in solidarity with sinners when He enters the Jordan River to be baptized. It is a cosmic event—even the heavens are torn open. The Father speaks and the Holy Spirit descends upon Him. It is why we can say with full confidence that He who knew no sin became sin for us. In our baptism, Christ stands with us to restore us, heal us and give us new life. What a great cosmic event this is!

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Father, we lift up Jack 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 (from Sunday)
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; 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