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.

Rogate, the Fifth Sunday after Easter

Jesus' invitation to ask for anything in his name comes in today's Gospel, leading us to consider the meaning of his name, and the fact that "Jesus" means "I am salvation," which is in a sense the fuller meaning of the old name "Yahweh," meaning simply "I am." Hence all who are baptized in his name gain the privilege of praying in his stead, and expecting to receive all things in him. He demonstrated this abundantly by giving Israel more than they asked: they asked for deliverance, and he came to them in the flesh. So also he demonstrates this by giving us more than we expect: we pray for God's will on earth and the giving of daily bread, and he gives us the Bread of Life in the Holy Supper. We should therefore expect all good things to come to us, for they will in the end, when we shall receive more than our hearts can imagine. The sermon.

The Truth Shall Make You Free

In today's Gospel, Jesus speaks of truth. He has also said "I am the truth." What does this mean? He is the Word, who was with God, and who was God. He was in the beginning with God. God spoke, and it was so. He called light out of darkness by his word. His word created and caused all things to be formed. And the word that he spoke was also God, was Christ. So ought we to pay heed to him, for he is full of life and salvation. The power of his word is the power of life eternal. He who called the worlds into being also called Lazarus forth from the grave; and so his word also bespeaks us righteous, brings us to God, and grants eternal salvation. The sermon.

Cantate, the Fourth Sunday after Easter

In today's Gospel, Jesus tells of the coming of the Spirit, and of his preaching of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. It is truly the Spirit who preaches whenever his faithful pastors proclaim the law, the Gospel, and the vindication of the faithful. The sermon.

I am the Way

In St. John 14:1-11, Jesus corrects Thomas, who claims he does not know the way Jesus is going. In effect, Jesus is gently saying, Yes, you do, Thomas. You know me. Therefore you know the way, because I am the way. So also does he say to all of his people who might fear to have lost their way. "Let not your heart be troubled" about that, for you have not lost me, and therefore you still know the way. You know me. The sermon.

Jubilate, the Third Sunday after Easter

Today's Gospel considers the passage of time: "a little while . . . a little while." Time is a great thief. It steals our carefree, playful childhood and leaves us only with memories. It takes away our loved ones; it robs us of our health and happiness. We go through the years and decades of life losing more and more, and drawing ever nearer to our own demise. But the resurrection of our Lord means victory over all our enemies, as today's Introit declares. One of these enemies is the passage of time. In Christ we have a good end to expect: resurrection. The passage of time is nothing to fear. We are, as St. Peter declares in today's Epistle, on pilgrimmage. We tend not toward the grave, but toward life and salvation. The sermon.

Life and Resurrection

The Gospel of St. John is all about life. It highlights the creation of a life-filled world, commenting on Genesis, and it records Jesus' words "I am the life." In today's Gospel, Jesus' discourse makes us think not only of the raising of Lazarus, another Johannine account, but of his own resurrection, and of the raising of all his people at the last day. The sermon.

Another Thought on the Good Shepherd

The Misericordias Domini Gospel is closely tied to its Epistle, wherein St. Peter declares your return to "the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." We recall Peter's impetuous eagerness to follow Jesus, yet while turning away from his word. This ended in disaster for him. But when properly humbled, he hears the resurrected Jesus stand before him and instruct him to feed his sheep. So we note from today's Epistle that Peter now understands that his own shepherding, his own authority, is only the authority of the Gospel: by preaching Christ, he is participating in Jesus' own shepherding of his sheep. The sermon.

Misericordias Domini Sunday

Today's Gospel is full of mercy and the heart of God, for it tells us of the Good Shepherd. See how he tenderly and gently brings his wandering flock back to himself after the tragic events of Good Friday. He appears to Mary in the garden, not so as to frighten her, but by calling her name. He comes to the Emmaus disciples gently, first as a stranger, then teaching, and finally revealing. He appears to his disciples on the shore, again as a stranger at first. He does not wish to startle his sheep. Nor does he treat you harshly. He brings you back to himself, in this holy place, by preaching to you and by feeding you on his own Sacrament. And this in spite of your wayward tendencies. How kind he is; and how convinced you should be that in him you are safe! The sermon.

Quasimodogeniti

Today's Gospel is especially for us who were not present on the day of the resurrection. Neither was Thomas present. But he received the peace of the Lord later, and so do we, through the ministration of the Office of the Holy Ghost, which Jesus established for this purpose.

So the Evangelist remarkably speaks directly to us in this Gospel, saying, "these are written that ye may believe . . ."

The sermon.

Easter Wednesday

In today's Gospel Jesus shows his disciples his hands and feet. Why did Jesus show in particular his hands and feet? These are where his wounds had been, which are now his trophies; not only his trophies but ours, for he gives them to us in the Holy Sacrament. The blood shed from the wounds in his body, and the body from whose wounds it was shed, are given to us in this Feast. The sermon.