St. Peter and St. Paul the Apostles

These two Apostles have much in common: they share the same place of death and of burial, and they share the same confession that the faith they share is entirely without any merit or worthiness on our part. St. Peter speaks of being called out of darkness into light, and St. Paul, of being saved by grace alone through faith. This is no doubt partly because they also shared a very personal history of coming to terms with that. St. Peter fell into great shame with his denial, but was restored; and St. Paul calls himself least of the apostles, because he persecuted the church. The sermon.

Oktoberfest!

Why you need to come to Oktoberfest in Kewanee (Oct 9-11)

* The chance to receive Holy Absolution before Mass.

* A reverent celebration of the Mass with solid preaching.

* Sheboygan bratwurst cooked by a Sheboygan native for the Sunday banquet.

* Top notch German potato salad too.

* Prof. William Weinrich (see below)

* The best evening of drinking and theological discussion in the Missouri Synod.

* That point in the evening when Fritz puts on Hotel California and asks, "Now, what does this hymn mean?"

* Solemn Vespers to close your Sunday.

* A most gracious hostess in Mrs. Eckardt.

* Good company - a wonderful group of faithful pastors to bounce ideas off of, commiserate, and debate.

I could go on and on. Oktoberfest in Kewanee is simply what a general pastors' conference should be but what many, sadly, are not. It will refresh you for your busy fall and winter and send you home with some new theological thought to chew on - it always does!

REGISTRATION: $25 per person (students $20) $40 per couple — includes Sunday banquet and Monday continental and luncheon; no charge for children with parents.

To register, please call 309-852-2461 and leave your registration information (name[s] and address) or register by email with the the option of using PayPal with an account or a major credit card, by clicking here and putting "Oktoberfest" in the purpose line for the donation. Or you may pay the registration fee when you arrive. Please register ahead, even if you choose to pay when you arrive.

Featuring Dr. William Weinrich, Oktoberfest will begin as usual on Sunday night with Choral Vespers, a bratwurst banquet, and a big party. Monday features an all-day seminar with Dr. Weinrich. Dr Weinrich's topic will be "Baptism in the Gospel of St. John." Tuesday: Gottesdienst Central, topic TBA

The Rich Man and Lazarus

This short sermon from Tuesday morning uses Sunday's Gospel on the rich man and Lazarus (St. Luke 16:19-31).

The Nativity of John the Baptist

Gospel and sermon here.

Trinity Sunday

Nicodemus approaches by night, which is his problem. No one can come to Christ by night, that is, by his own reason or strength. The Light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not. The sermon.

Pentecost

Our observance of Pentecost began with the Pentecost Vigil on Saturday (sermon here). On Pentecost Sunday, our celebration of the coming of the Holy Ghost includes the reading of the first verse of the Gospel in several languages (see if you can pick them out by listening to the audio). The Pentecost reading from Acts was also a chief ingredient in today's sermon.

Jesus' Priestly Prayer of Divine Love

At the end of Jesus' high priestly prayer, he speaks of the love the Father has had for him since before the foundation of the world, but usually he speaks of his love for the Father. So where is the Father's love for Jesus manifested? It is manifested in the resurrection, which vindicates everything Jesus has done, and in the creation of the Holy Christian Church, which also vindicates his work. And the love of God, which is the Holy Spirit, created the Church from the Gospel of Jesus' passion and resurrection, and draws us into unity and fellowship with the Father and the Son. The sermon.

Thy face, Lord, will I seek

In the 27th Psalm , David declares, When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. In this he speaks of Christ, for Christ is the face of God. Where the mercy of Christ is, there is comfort that the Father will not put me away in anger. God incarnate wears our own flesh, and so disguises his majesty in a way that tells us we may approach him unafraid. So it is right to say with David, One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. The sermon.

Exaudi, the Sixth Sunday after Easter

Jesus' discourse in today's Gospel provides a good opportunity to defend our confession that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Son and the Spirit are as bound together in substance and in purpose as are the Father and the Son. The Spirit testifies of Jesus, through the preaching of the Gospel, and this is what creates and sustains faith. The sermon.

The Ascension of Our Lord

Ascension Day is the day to bury all doubt beneath the mountain of evidence of the truth of our faith. St. Luke says, in Acts 1, that Jesus showed his disciples many "infallible truths," and then ascended into heaven. This validates his entire ministry, in spite of its weakness and poverty. Now he ascends in glory and triumph. It also validates God's creation of the world. On the fifth day of the week he created birds and fish, that is, he put life in the heavens and in the seas. Now, on Ascension Thursday, he fills the heaven with himself, who is the life, and also fills the waters of Holy Baptism with the life of the Holy Trinity. Not only so, but his ascension is the ascension of our own flesh. "Mighty Lord, in Thine ascension We by faith behold our own." The sermon.