Monday, December 30, 2024 - MERRY SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Monday, December 30, 2024 - Day 364 (Through the Bible 

in a year reading for today: Zech. 13,14; Rev. 21)

MERRY SIXTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

  my true love sent to me:

Six Geese a Laying         (Six days of Creation)

Five Golden Rings         (The Pentateuch... first 5 books of the Bible)

Four Calling Birds         (The 4 Gospels... Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

Three French Hens         (The Holy Trinity... Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

Two Turtle Doves         (The Old and New Testaments)

A Partridge in a Pear Tree. (OUR LORD JESUS)

Why Six Geese a-laying on the Sixth Day of Christmas? 

Six Geese a-Laying represent the six days of creation:

In the very beginning of the Bible we read:

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth...  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. (Genesis 1:1, 3-5 ESV)

God continued to create during the next 5 days. On day 6 He created the crown of His creation:

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness... So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:26-27 ESV)

And how did He do?

And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31 ESV)

Heavenly Father, help me to take comfort in the fact that You created everything, including me. May I celebrate and defend Your precious gift of life! In the saving name of Jesus. Amen.

Pastor David Paape

Sunday, December 29, 2024 - MERRY FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Sunday, December 29, 2024 - Day 363 (Through the Bible 

in a year reading for today: Zech. 10-12; Rev. 20)

MERRY FIFTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

  On the fourth day of Christmas

  my true love sent to me:

  Five Golden Rings

  Four Calling Birds (The 4 Gospels... Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)

  Three French Hens (The Holy Trinity... Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

  Two Turtle Doves (The Old and New Testaments)

  A Partridge in a Pear Tree. (OUR LORD JESUS)

Why four Five Golden Rings on the Fifth Day of Christmas? Five Golden Rings are symbolic of the Pentateuch, the first five Books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy.

What makes these 5 books special is that, while they were written by Moses, they were inspired by the Holy Spirit and, therefore, are the very Word of God, as are the other 34 books of the Old Testament and the 27 books of the New Testament. Jesus Himself often referred to Moses:

“And as for the dead being raised, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?”  (Mark 12:26 ESV)

Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing the history of Your people and Your plan of salvation on the pages of the Pentateuch. Holy Spirit, please guide me and direct my faith as I read the Bible. Grant me the desire and the discipline to read Your Word on a daily basis in 2025. Amen.

Have a blessed Fifth Day of Christmas!

“See” you at the Communion rail this morning

Pastor David Paape

Saturday, December 28, 2024 - MERRY FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Saturday, December 28, 2024 - Day 362 (Through the Bible 

in a year reading for today: Zech. 7-9; Rev. 19)

MERRY FOURTH DAY OF CHRISTMAS

  On the fourth day of Christmas

  my true love sent to me:

  Four Calling Birds

  Three French Hens (Father, Son and Holy Spirit)

  Two Turtle Doves (The Old and New Testaments)

  and a Partridge in a Pear Tree. (Jesus)

● The Partridge in a Pear Tree represents Jesus and His death for us on the cross.

● The Two Turtle Doves represent the  Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

● The Three French Hens represent the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Why four Calling Birds on the Fourth Day of Christmas? Four Calling Birds represent the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

The beginning of John’s Gospel captures the focus of all four Gospels, namely Jesus our Savior. 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  (John 1:1-5 ESV)

Lord Jesus, thank You for revealing Yourself to me by means of the first four books of the New Testament. Thank You for shining the light of forgiveness into my sin-darkened life. Amen.

Have a blessed Fourth Day of Christmas!

“See” you in church tomorrow!

Pastor David Paape

Friday, December 27, 2024 - THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Friday, December 27, 2024 - Day 361 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Zech. 7-9; Rev. 19)

THE THIRD DAY OF CHRISTMAS

THE SONG

♬ On the third day of Christmas

my true love sent to me:

Three French Hens

Two Turtle Doves                 (The Old and New Testaments)

A Partridge in a Pear Tree. (JESUS)

Link to the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qySAkZwLrOA

Why Three French Hens on the third day of Christmas? Some say the three French hens represent the three theological virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity. These were given by God and poured into our hearts. The three hens are also symbolic of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Almighty God, holy blessed Trinity, thank You for being our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. Holy God, I praise Your name. Amen.

Have a blessed Third Day of Christmas!

 

Pastor David Paape

Thursday, December 26, 2024 - CHRISTMAS ISN’T JUST ONE DAY

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Thursday, December 26, 2024 - Day 360 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Zechariah 1-3; Rev. 17)

Several years ago The Lutheran Witness carried an article written by Terence Maher. The title of that article was:

CHRISTMAS ISN’T JUST ONE DAY

The Church’s celebration of Christmas does not begin with December and end on Christmas, with New Year’s Day tacked on the end. In the Western Church, it begins on Christmas and continues until Epiphany. That day—Jan. 6—is when we celebrate the arrival of the Wise Men to worship Jesus. By tradition, these twelve days from Christmas through Epiphany comprise the Twelve Days of Christmas.

THE SONG

What in world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, & especially the partridge who won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas? 

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. 

DAY ONE

  On the first day of Christmas

  my true love sent to me:

  A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Tradition has it that the partridge is Jesus. This seems fitting to me since Jesus is reason for the Christmas season.

So, the answer to an add that I heard on the radio earlier this week is... we all do! What was the question?  “Who needs that old partridge in a pare tree.” We all need Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem and our dear Savior!

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  (Luke 2:11 ESV)

THE SECOND DAY OF CHRISTMAS

Since Christmas Day was the first day of Christmas, today is the second day of Christmas. 

THE SONG

 ♬ On the second day of Christmas

my true love sent to me:

Two Turtle Doves

and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Link to the song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qySAkZwLrOA

Why Two Turtle Doves on the second day of Christmas? Some believe that the two doves represent the two parts of the Bible: Old Testament and New Testament. The Partridge in a Pear Tree represents Jesus, which is why this is part of each of the Twelve Days of Christmas. 

From Old Testament to New Testament, the Gospel is the message that predominates throughout the Bible. Thus the Bible is Gospel-centered, focusing on the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus and the salvation of all and any who trust in Him.

Almighty God, I thank You for revealing Yourself to the world in both parts of the Bible, the Old and New Testaments. What blessings You have given sinners like me in the love of Jesus that comes to us from His cross! Be with me and guide me today, in the name of my God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Have a blessed Second Day of Christmas!

Pastor David Paape

Wednesday, December 25, 2024 - CHRIST YOUR SAVIOR IS BORN

 

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Wednesday, December 25, 2024 - Day 359 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Haggai; Rev. 16 )

CHRIST YOUR SAVIOR IS BORN

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)

MERRY CHRISTMAS! What a glorious day this is. 

Christ your Savior is born. And this changes everything!

  Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!

  No more let sins and sorrows grow nor thorns infest the ground; 

  He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.

  Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing;

  Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. 

  Gloria in excelsis Deo;  Gloria in excelsis Deo. 

  Mild He leaves His throne on high, born that man no more may die;

  Born to raise the sons of earth; born to give them second birth.

   Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King!"

  God's Son for a gift has been sent you this night.  

  To be your Redeemer, your Joy and Delight.

Be near me, Lord Jesus! I ask Thee to stay 

Close by me forever and love me, I pray. 

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care, 

And take us to heaven to live with Thee there. Amen.

“See’ you in church this Christmas morning!

May the Lord bless you and your family this Christmas and always IN EVERY WAY!

Pastor David Paape

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 - ALMOST THERE

"I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen." (Luther's Morning Prayer)

Tuesday, December 24, 2024 - Day 358 (Through the Bible in a year reading for today: Zephaniah; Rev. 15)

ALMOST THERE

“The Lord your God is in your midst,

    a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

    he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.” (Zephaniah 3:17 ESV)

The prophet Zephaniah wrote words descriptive of what the birth we are about to celebrate brought to this sin-darkened world of ours. The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)

The name Immanuel means “God with us.” Zephaniah’s words truly express our joy as we gather to worship today and tomorrow:

“The Lord your God is in your midst,

    a mighty one who will save;

he will rejoice over you with gladness;

    he will quiet you by his love;

he will exult over you with loud singing.”

I hope and pray that you can join God’s people in loudly singing the praises of Christ the newborn king!

  Christ, by highest heav'n adored, 

  Christ, the everlasting Lord.

  Late in time behold Him come, 

  Offspring of a virgin's womb.

  Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,  

  Hail the incarnate Deity! 

  Please as Man with man to dwell; 

  Jesus, our Immanuel!

  Hark! the herald angels sing, 

  "Glory to the newborn King!"

Dearest Lord Jesus, thank You for this holy night. Please fill me with Your peace and joy this night and always. In the name of Jesus, the Babe of Bethlehem. Amen.

“See’ you in church tonight!

Pastor David Paape