Author name: Todd Peperkorn

HCLC – May 23, 2021 – The Day of Pentecost

Preached at Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran Church in Rocklin, California on the Day of Pentecost, May 23, 2021 by Pastor Todd A. Peperkorn. Sermon Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Sermon Theme: “Living Breath, Living Bones, Living People” Old Testament: Ezekiel 37:1–14 Epistle: Acts 2:1–21 Holy Gospel: John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15 The Holy Spirit Brings the Dead to Life …

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HCAP for May 20, 2021

THURSDAY (May 20, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Reading
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:13–15)

Meditation
In his Gospel account, St. John tells us, “These things are written that you may believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.” In fact, we often sing this as part of our liturgy before the Gospel is read. In Baptism, the triune God’s name is put on our forehead and our breast as one redeemed by Christ. It is in this surety that we come before the Father in prayer, knowing that Christ prays with us and for us. Whatever we ask, God will hear us.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Show your grace to John-Paul this day, as he goes about the callings you have given to him. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for May 19, 2021

WEDNESDAY (May 19, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Reading
“If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:9–12)

Meditation
It’s fairly simple—Jesus gives us life. Jesus is the Way , the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him. The world denies this and is even hostile to the reality that there is only Truth and One way to salvation. How do you encounter the world’s attempt to suppress the Truth of who Jesus is?

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Be with Andrew 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 (from Sunday)
O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for May 18, 2021

TUESDAY (May 18, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Reading
“So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.” (Acts 1:21–26)

Meditation
Two men are chosen as possible replacements for Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus. Both have been eye-witnesses of Jesus’ ministry. Neither one is more worthy, so lots are cast, as was done in the ways of old.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Lord Jesus Christ, be with Jessica 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)
O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for May 17, 2021

MONDAY (May 17, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Reading
“In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’” (Acts 1:15–20)

Meditation
God’s ways are not our ways. Often His ways seem strange and even paradoxical. But His Way is always one of Love and Truth.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Heavenly Father, bless Norb 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)
O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for May 16, 2021

SUNDAY (May 16, 2021)
Seventh Sunday of Easter
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

Reading
“Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.” (Acts 1:12–14)

Meditation
The risen, and now ascended Christ has prepared His disciples to go out and proclaim the good news. They gather together in one accord—that is they gather in Jesus’ name. He is their identity. From Him flows their prayers and devotion. We too, gather in His name week in and week out. Jesus is our identity and the foundation for all we do. From Him flows our prayers and all mercy.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
Let your grace be upon Jeffrey, O Lord, and teach him 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 King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer

HCAP for May 15, 2021

SATURDAY (May 15, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” (John 15:9)

Reading
““This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.” (John 15:12–17)

Meditation
Jesus is the embodiment of Love. His sacrificial Love for us on the cross sets the standard. His Love for His Father and for us, led Him to lay down His life for us.

Silence

Prayer for Holy Cross Member
O Lord, in Holy Baptism you put your Name upon Josie. 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 God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; 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 May 14, 2021

FRIDAY (May 14, 2021)
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” (John 15:9)

Reading
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:9–11)

Meditation
Jesus is speaking the language of Love. God is the source of Love and The Father loves His Son. God also loves us—and this Love for us was so immense and incomprehensible that He sent His only beloved Son into our humanity to save us from ourselves. For on our own, we cannot truly love. On our own, we are self-centered and our love is conditional. Resting, abiding, receiving from the One who is Love, we have joy in its fullness, even in the midst of trials and sorrows.

Silence

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

Prayer of the Week (from Sunday)
O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; 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 May 13, 2021

THURSDAY (May 13, 2021)
The Ascension of Our Lord
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Gospel Sentence
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love.” (John 15:9)

Reading
“This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.” (1 John 5:5–8)

Meditation
The water of Baptism is made holy through the bloody sacrifice of Christ on the cross. As Christ was pierced on His side with a sword, out flowed water and blood. Christ’s blood is healing. Christ’s blood brings wholeness and life. It restores us and reconciles us to the Father. The Spirit is the truth and testifies—always points to Jesus. Another way to think about this mystery is this: through Jesus we see the Father, by the Holy Spirit.

Silence

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

Prayer for The Ascension of Our Lord
Almighty God, as Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, ascended into the heavens, so may we also ascend in heart and mind and continually dwell there with Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Lord’s Prayer