December 31, 2018 - END THE YEAR AT THE CROSS

Day 365 - (Today’s Bible readings: Judges 9:33-47, Psalm 150; Acts 15:1-21)

Tonight we will have the chance to gather in our churches to end the old year properly, at the foot of the cross. We will have the chance to repent of our sins and begin the new year aright. May the following hymn be your prayer this New Year’s Eve.

1. Across the sky the shades of night
This New Year’s Eve are fleeting,
We deck Your altar, Lord, with light,
In solemn worship meeting;
And as the year’s last hours go by,
We raise to You our earnest cry,
Once more You love entreating.

2. Before the cross subdued we bow,
To You our prayers addressing,
Recounting all Your mercies now,
And all our sins confessing;
Beseeching You this coming year
To keep us in Your faith and fear
And crown us with Your blessing.

3. We gather up in this brief hour
The memory of Your mercies;
Your wondrous goodness, love and power
Our grateful song rehearses;
For You have been our strength and stay
In many a dark and dreary day
Of sorrow and reverses.

5 Then, gracious God, in years to come,
We pray Your hand may guide us,
And, onward through our journey home,
Your mercy walk beside us
Until at last our ransomed life
Is safe from peril, toil, and strife
When heav'n itself shall hide us. Amen.
(Across the Sky the Shades of Night, Lutheran Service Book, CPH 2006, LSB #899)

May you be blessed by the Lord as you end 2018 and begin 2019!

“See” you at the Communion table tonight (6:00 pm at St. Paul’s)!

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2018 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!