Greetings in Christ,

We live in a loud world. There’s always something beeping, buzzing, honking, ringing.

At times we don’t know if we’ll ever know what it means to have peace and rest. Even when there is quiet, we’re wondering what we’re missing, or we’re alone with ourselves for long enough that the silence leads our minds down any number of paths to anxiety and worry.

This weekend Pastor Troup is preaching and he’ll be focusing on the Old Testament lesson from Zephaniah about the Lord quieting us. In the midst of chaos, fear, and discontentment, the Lord comes to us in Christ to give us true peace and to remove all fear. He makes us content as He feeds us with His body and blood and proclaims the forgiveness of our sins by His grace.

In Christ alone, our soul is stilled.

As you prepare for the Divine Service this weekend, you can take a look at the Service Folder to find the readings, prayers, and other parts of the service that will help to guide your reflection and prayer.

You can dig deeper into the parts of this weekend’s service with this segment from Issues, Etc.

Here’s the Lectionary Summary for the upcoming weekend that ties the themes of the weekend together:

The Coming of Jesus Enables Us to Rejoice

The Third Sunday in Advent has traditionally been called by the Latin word Gaudete, meaning “Rejoice!” For as you are called to repentance, so also are you urged to rejoice in the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. By His own cross, He has accomplished salvation for you; “he has cleared away your enemies,” “taken away the judgments against you” and come to reign in your midst. Indeed, He rejoices over you with gladness and song (Zeph. 3:15–17)! Therefore, even from prison St. Paul encourages us to “rejoice in the Lord always,” knowing that the peace of God will guard and keep us in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:4, 7). We find an example and encouragement in the case of John the Baptist. As he languishes in prison, he calls upon Jesus and is strengthened by the Word of the Gospel that he receives. The same good news is preached to you, by which all things are made new and even “the dead are raised up” (Luke 7:22). Do not be offended by the cross, therefore, but let your life be one of prayer and thanksgiving (Luke 7:23; Phil. 4:6).

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If you weren’t able to join us for service last week, you can catch up now.

I look forward to seeing you this weekend!

Blessings on your day!

In Christ,
Pastor Demski