March 2021

HCLC – March 27, 2021 – Eve of Palm Sunday

Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on the Eve of Palm Sunday by Rev. Todd A. Peperkorn Sermon Text: John 12:12-19 Sermon Theme: “Palms Under the Cross” John 12:12–19 (Palm Sunday Procession) Old Testament: Zechariah 9:9–12 Epistle: Philippians 2:5–11 Holy Gospel: Mark 15:1–47 The Son of David Ascends His Throne and …

HCLC – March 27, 2021 – Eve of Palm Sunday Read More »

HCAP for April 1, 2021

THURSDAY (April 1, 2021)
Holy (Maundy) Thursday
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

Reading
“And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.” (Mark 14:21–26)

Meditation
He gives us His body and blood to eat and drink for us and our salvation. It is an amazing thing, a mystery for the ages. But a sacrifice isn’t really finished until it is consumed. And week after week, Jesus gives us His own body and blood as a Testament that His sacrifice on the cross did it all, paid the price, and that now you are cleansed and whole.

Silence

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

Prayer for Holy (Maundy) Thursday
O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for March 31, 2021

WEDNESDAY (March 31, 2021)
Wednesday in Holy Week
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

Reading
“I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion,
according to the abundance of his steadfast love.” (Isaiah 63:7)

Meditation
Our new life comes from the death of Mercy Incarnate. Without His death, we would still be living under the law and wrath of God. The LORD’s steadfast love and mercy is ultimately shown through the crucifixion of His only Son Jesus. For this, let us give thanks and praise indeed.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Be with Pauline 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 Wednesday in Holy Week
Merciful and everlasting God, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all to bear our sins on the cross. Grant that our hearts may be so fixed with steadfast faith in Him that we fear not the power of sin, death, and the devil; 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 March 27, 2021

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

Gospel Sentence
“For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”” (Jeremiah 31:34b)

Reading
“And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”” (Mark 10:42–45)

Meditation
Jesus comes to serve up His life. He is the price for our redemption, the cost of our ransom. If you want to understand God’s character, that is where you must look, to the cross and His death. Why? Because that is where God’s nature is most clearly revealed before the world. In the same way, greatness in this world does not come from riches or power. No, it comes from serving those in need, because God has served us in our greatest needs.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
O Lord, in Holy Baptism you put your Name upon Charlie. 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)
Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and 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 29, 2021

MONDAY (March 29, 2021)
Monday in Holy Week
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

Reading
“But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls, and the sprinkling of defiled persons with the ashes of a heifer, sanctify for the purification of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God. Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant.” (Hebrews 9:11–15)

Meditation
The sacrifices of animals and grains could never pay for our sins for all time. Only the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, cleanses us from all sin. And He offered Himself up once and for all, so that we can forever be in God’s presence, holy and pure and without spot or blemish. That is what God does for you in His Son.

Silence

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

Prayer for Monday in Holy Week
Almighty God, grant that in the midst of our failures and weaknesses we may be restored through the passion and intercession of Your only-begotten Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for March 28, 2021

SUNDAY (March 28, 2021)
Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.” (John 12:24)

Reading
“The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written, “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”” (John 12:12–19)

Meditation
The crowd came out to see Him because of Lazarus. It isn’t every day that someone comes back from the dead. Who was this Rabbi who could do such things? Were they impressed by what they saw? The whole world went after Him, But their accolades and praises were short lived. In a few short days they would cry out, “Crucify Him!” Jesus continues on His journey to the cross, whether they praise Him or not.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Let your grace be upon Jordan, 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 for Palm Sunday / Sunday of the Passion
Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; 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