Rogate Sunday
Dear friends in Christ,
Sunday is Rogate Sunday. "Rogate" is a Latin word that means "to ask." That is our theme this week, is asking God for the things we need and that He promises to give us in prayer. In our Gospel reading, Jesus promises that "Whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give to You." (John 16:23). A few sentences later, we find out that this comes as a gift of love from the Father, because we have loved His Son by faith. Jesus promises that we can ask and trust that we will receive that our joy may be full. We would do well to remember then, what we've learned in the preceeding weeks about what the fullness of our joy is, and where it is to be found, so that we can ask for the best things that God has to give, things that will not fade away.
One tradion for Rogate Sunday is that the church would process out to the surrounding fields to ask God's blessings on fields and pastures for the seasons to come. Here are some prayers that you can pray this week for our farms and ranches, fields, pastures, and homes (the prayers are adapted from an old Lutheran prayerbook called Seed-grains of Prayer:
God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, most holy Trinity, I commit to You, for Your own my house and all my buildings. This house is yours, please enter with Your blessings. My soul and the souls of all the family you have given me are yours. Our Father, You have created us together with all creatures, preserve us in body and soul unto life everlasting. O Son of God, You have redeemed us with Your blood, give us the blessings of Your life and death, and make us walk in the newness of life. O Holy Spirit, You gather us into the kingdom of grace by the Word and Sacraments, preserve us in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and help us to follow His example of humility to the end. Comfort us, holy Comforter, when our sins distress us. Spirit of Truth, protect us from all errors that would endanger our souls, and against all plans and purposes of the devil, the world, and our sinful natures. Spirit of holiness, make us holy, that we may be changed from glory to greater glory and at the end attain the perfect image of Jesus Christ. Spirit of Joy, remove all sorrow from us, slay the old man of sin and his whims and desires within us, and make our minds centered on heaven, that our hearts may cleave to our True Home, where Jesus Christ, our Most Precious Treasure is. Work in us so that we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and be Yours in body and soul, in life and in death, now and in eternity.
O Lord, You have promised that all other things should be added to those who seek first Your kingdom and its righteousness. So we pray You, of Your Gracious goodness, grant all these other things to us, as far as they be good and needful for us.
Bless our fields, pastures, and garden. Send us rain at the proper times, grant us fruitful seasons. Preserve us from crop failure, from hail, from wind and storms. Fill our fridge and freezer, the shelves of our cupboards, pantry, and cellar with Your blessings; so that we may enjoy Your gifts with thanksgiving and also have gifts that we may share with those in any need.
Bless all the meat, the fruits, vegetables, and grains in our house that they may nourish and strengthen our bodies.
Preserve our home and land from dangers by fire and water. Protect both man and animal from illness and injury.
Cover our possessions with Your shield. Build Your walls around us against Satan and all his wicked host, against thieves, robbers, and those who would harm our bodies. Let the dishonest who work in darkness be made known in the light of justice. Preserve us from the traitor who would be Judas in our midst. If there is anything unrighteous and sinful in our house, make it known to us so that we may put its curse away from us.
Watch over the purity of our bodies so that no one in our house may fall into dishonor or evil reputation. Bless husband and wife in their love toward each other. Bless mothers in their labor, lift up Your countenance upon them, and turn their anguish into joy. Keep our sons and daughters in your care as they grow to be godly men and women.
Let Your peace come down from heaven upon all under this roof. Let peace and unity dwell in this house. Let gray hairs here find shelter and rest as Jacob and Jospeh did in the land of Goshen (Genesis 47), and crown the aged among us with honor.
Grant the inheritance of heaven and truly obedient hearts to all the children of this house.
Grant us peaceful neighbors; and, wherever strife threatens to come, cause Your holy Word and the remembrance of Jesus to quickly adjust all our differences. Let no evil tongue divide us in hatred and envy, and, when we suffer unjustly, grant us true humility.
When You give us a cross to carry, let us recognize it as a great blessing to our home, and give you thanks for it. When we fall ill or grow old, make our hearts that much stronger, and more youthful in faith and love toward You. When things go hard and our way is difficult, let Your grace be sufficient for us.
If one of us should die, make us remember that we are pilgrims and strangers on earth, but in heaven we will have all the joy we need. Preserve us from sudden and evil death. When our day comes, let us come to You, filled with nothing but faith and the Holy Ghost, not trusting in our own lives or works. In our last hour, let us enjoy once more the refreshing assurance of Your Holy Sacrament. Grant our bodies a safe burial in some quiet spot among the graves of our beloved dead, and with all faithful Christian bodies, may they rest in peace until the Last Day; and then wake us unto the resurrection of the body and clothe us with the garments of grace. Spare us in the day of judgment, and lead us home into the mansions You have prepared, O Shepherd of our souls, and in that blessed home, accept our eternal and everlasting praise. Amen.
I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord" (Psalm 122:1)
Scripture Readings For the Week:
Prayers of the Day:
O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Hymns
725 Children of the Heavenly Father
766 Our Father, Who from Heaven Above
155 This Is the Feast
469 Christ the Lord Is Risen Today
619 Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior
703 How Can I Thank You, Lord
Bach Cantata for the Week
BWV 86 Wahrlich, wahrlich ich sage euch (Video | Translation)
I in truth would roses gather,
Even though the /now/ thorns should prick me.For of this I'm confident:
My petition and my prayer
God most sure to heart is taking,
For this me his word hath pledged.
Our mission offerings for May
will go towards the Military Bible Stick Program
More than 180,000 men and women enter and leave military service every year, many of them unchurched. As well, veterans often struggle with post-traumatic stress, enduring physical and mental wounds that last decades. Thanks to thousands of chaplains, they can find answers to their questions; and thanks to you, they can receive the Word of God on a portable BibleStick.
The provision of God’s audible Word to our service members and veterans through the Military BibleStick program is one branch of our efforts to record and provide God’s Word in every language that needs it by the year 2033.
Join us for on Missions Potluck Today!
It is also Mothers' Day. Here is a prayer from Seed-grains of Prayer for mothers:
Lord Jesus Christ, very Son of God Who has given unto me my husband, my children, and my own hearth and home, graciously help me that, according to Your command, I may be submissive unto my own husband and train my children in reverence and fear of You. Give me wisdom and faithfulness as I administer what my husband earns from Your blessing. Make me to live at peace with all, make my calling sure, and let me praise You with my work, for You are the Savior of believing women, and make them to be partakers of Your grace, blessed to all eternity. Amen.
Next week we will celebrate the Baptism of Edmund George Sherman. Please join us and stay for a dinner afterwards!
See everyone tomorrow on the Lord's Day!
In Christ,
Pastor Sherman