Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Galatians 6,2

Introit

As a deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God!
I thirst for God, for the living God.
I say, “When will I be able to go and appear in God’s presence?”

I cannot eat; I weep day and night.
All day long they say to me, “Where is your God?”
I will remember and weep.
For I was once walking along with the great throng to the temple of God,
shouting and giving thanks along with the crowd as we celebrated the holy festival.
Why are you depressed, O my soul?
Why are you upset?
Wait for God!
For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.
I am depressed, so I will pray to you while in the region of the upper Jordan,
from Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
One deep stream calls out to another at the sound of your waterfalls; all your billows and waves overwhelm me.
By day the Lord decrees his loyal love, and by night he gives me a song, a prayer to the God of my life.
I will pray to God, my high ridge: “Why do you ignore me?
Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?”
My enemies’ taunts cut me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”
Why are you depressed, O my soul?
Why are you upset?
Wait for God!
For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.

Psalm 42

Old Testament lesson

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge and wants to repayus in full for all the harm we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave these instructions before he died: ‘Tell Joseph this: Please forgive the sin of your brothers and the wrong they did when they treated you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sin of the servants of the God of your father.” When this message was reported to him, Joseph wept. Then his brothers also came and threw themselves down before him; they said, “Here we are; we are your slaves.”But Joseph answered them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day. So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.

Genesis 50,15-21

Epistle

Do not repay anyone evil for evil; consider what is good before all people. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all people. Do not avenge yourselves, dear friends, but give place to God’s wrath, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Rather, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing this you will be heaping burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12,17-21

Holy Gospel

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.” He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Luke 6,36-42

Dr. Martin Luther´s sermon on the 4th Sunday after Trinity (Luke 6,36-42) 

My sermon on 1. Samuel 24,1-20:

The Christian Creed 

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Nicene Creed

Hymn of the week

O God, my faithful God, True fountain ever flowing, Without whom nothing is,
All perfect gifts bestowing: Give me a healthy frame, And may I have within
A conscience free from blame, A soul unstained by sin.

Grant me the strength to do With ready heart and willing Whatever You command,
My calling here fulfilling; That I do what I should While trusting You to bless
The outcome for my good, For You must give success.

Keep me from saying words That later need recalling; Guard me lest idle speech
May from my lips be falling; But when within my place I must and ought to speak,
Then to my words give grace Lest I offend the weak.

Lord, let me win my foes With kindly words and actions, And let me find good friends
For counsel and correction. Help me, as You have taught, To love both great and small
And by Your Spirit’s might To live in peace with all.

Let me depart this life Confiding in my Savior; By grace receive my soul
That it may live forever; And let my body have A quiet resting place
Within a Christian grave; And let it sleep in peace.

And on that final day When all the dead are waking, Stretch out Your mighty hand,
My deathly slumber breaking. Then let me hear Your voice, Redeem this earthly frame,
And bid me to rejoice With those who love Your name.

Johann Heermann (1585-1647) translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

Prayer of the week

O Lord, our light and our salvation, You are our strength. Work in us a worthy fear and constant trust in Your mercy, that we would fear nothing else in this passing world. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Gracious Lord, sustain Matthew, our president; Rudolf, our Superintendent; and our pastors Mark, Felix, Johan, Markus, Andreij, Vadim as they proclaim Your exalted name and Word to us, that we may give thanks to Your name for Your steadfast love and faithfulness toward us in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Father, enable us through Your Law to see the logs in our own eyes, not only the specks in our brothers’ eyes, that we may not be judged and condemned by our own judgment and condemnation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Almighty Lord, You raised up Joseph according to Your plan to exercise authority in Egypt, working good from what was meant only for evil. Work by Your power in the leaders and authorities of our nation, whom You have set in place, that many would be kept alive and protected in this life through their governance. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, answer our prayers for Karin, Ingrid, Angelika, Christoph, Friederike & Olly, Isabel, Elle, Max & Louis, Detlev und Biljana, Matzi und Timo, for Bob and Pauline, David and Markus, Felix and Johann, and especially for all who suffer on the day when they call to You by increasing their strength of soul. Preserve their lives, and grant them health and healing in accord with Your perfect will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father, though we walk in the midst of trouble in this broken world, You preserve our lives in Your Son, who forgives and sustains us with His body and blood. Stretch out Your hand against sin, death and hell to deliver us from their wrath. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, heavenly Father, You are merciful and through Christ have promised that You will neither judge nor condemn us, but graciously forgive all our sins and abundantly provide for all our wants of body and soul. By Your Holy Spirit, establish in our hearts a confident faith in Your mercy. Teach us in turn to be merciful to our neighbor, that we may not judge or condemn others, but willingly forgive all and, judging only ourselves, lead blessed lives in Your fear; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

+ Dominum vobiscum +

The Lord bless Thee, and keep Thee;

The Lord make His face shine upon Thee, and be gracious unto Thee;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon Thee + give Thee peace.

Numbers 6,24-27

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the holy one and triune God give You joy and strength, wisdom, knowledge and insight, that You preach His holy will faithfully and His gracious promises invitingly. His most precious Gospel is “the power of God to save all who believe.” (Rom 1:16) and His good Word and Luther´s true teaching remains forever – just as His one, holy Christian Church + Amen.