11460 60 Ave NW, Edmonton, AB. T6H 1J5 Canada. 780-434-1671
Next Service January 12, 2025 Morning Worship @ 10:30
Holy Communion 3rd Sundays of the month
Next Church Service: Jan 12, 2025, 10:30 Morning Worship
Martin Luther's Morning Prayer
Make the sign of the Holy Cross and say:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 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.
2022 LCC Synod Convention June 10-13, 2022
2022 LCC Synod Convention June 10-13, 2022
https://www.canadianlutheran.ca/elections-for-lccs-board-of-directors-commissions/
https://www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/synod-convention-2022/
CONVENTION WORKBOOK:
https://www.lutheranchurchcanada.ca/convention-workbook-2022/
CONVENTION DATES: The Twelfth Regular Convention of Lutheran Church–Canada will meet from June 10-13, 2022
CONVENTION LOCATION: The convention will be held at the Delta Hotels Edmonton South Conference Centre in Edmonton, Alberta
THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD / FIRST SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY
(12 January 2025)
Isaiah 43:1–7
Romans 6:1–11
Luke 3:15–22
The Triune God Opens Heaven to You in Holy Baptism
The Baptism of our Lord is an “Epiphany” of the one true God in the flesh and blood of Jesus Christ. In divine mercy, He takes His place with sinners and takes their sin upon Himself. “When all the people were baptized,” Jesus submitted Himself to a Baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins (Luke 3:21). He had no sins of His own, but He took the sins of the world upon Himself and so was baptized into His own death. Therefore, “when you pass through the waters,” He is with you (Is. 43:2). He created you for His glory, and He has redeemed you with His blood, that you may be His own and live with Him in His kingdom (Is. 43:1, 7). As you are baptized with a Baptism like His, so also are you united with Him in His death and resurrection that you “might walk in newness of life” (Rom. 6:4). For all who are baptized into Christ Jesus receive His anointing of the Holy Spirit and are named by His Father as beloved and well-pleasing sons and daughters. LCMS Summaries
Introit (Psalm 2)
P: Look! This is My Servant. I support Him.
C: I chose Him. My soul is happy with Him.
P: I will announce this news.
C: The Lord told Me, You are My Son. Today I am Your Father.
P: Ask Me, and I will give You the nations.
C: All the earth will belong to You.
P: You will break them with a metal rod.
C: You will crush them the same-as a pot.
P: Kings, you should be wise.
C: Warning, all rulers on earth!
P: Serve the Lord with fear.
C: Rejoice and be-afraid.
P: Because the Lord quickly becomes angry.
C: Happy are all people finding safety in Him.
All: Glory give to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, the same as it was in the beginning, is now, and will continue forever. Amen.
Prayer for God’s Word
P: Father in heaven, Your Son Jesus went to the JORDAN River for baptism. When Jesus got baptized, You announced Jesus is Your Son and You gave Him the Holy Spirit. You baptized us and You tell us to follow You. Help us to continue following You, bravely announce Jesus our Savior, and receive His gift of eternal life. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Jesus lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: (copy) Amen.
What Is a Lutheran?
While there are a variety of ways one could answer this question, one very important answer is simply this, “A Lutheran is a person who believes, teaches and confesses the truths of God’s Word as they are summarized and confessed in the Book of Concord.” The Book of Concord contains the Lutheran confessions of faith.
Perhaps you have attended an ordination of a pastor and heard him promise that he will perform the duties of his office in accord with the Lutheran Confessions. When people are received into membership into a Lutheran congregation through confirmation they are asked if they confess the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as they have learned to know it from the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true.
These solemn promises indicate to us just how important the Lutheran Confessions are for our church. Let’s take a look at the various items contained in the Book of Concord and then we will talk about why the Lutheran Confessions are so important for being a Lutheran.
What are the Ecumenical Creeds?
The three ecumenical creeds in the Book of Concord are the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. They are described as “ecumenical” [universal] because they are accepted by Christians worldwide as correct expressions of what God’s Word teaches.
What is the Augsburg Confession and Apology of the Augsburg Confession?
In the year 1530, the Lutherans were required to present their confession of faith before the emperor in Augsburg, Germany. Philip Melanchthon wrote the Augsburg Confession and it was read before the imperial court on June 30, 1530. One year later, the Lutherans presented their defense of the Augsburg Confession, which is what “apology” here means. It too was written by Philip Melanchthon. The largest document in the Book of Concord, its longest chapter, is devoted to the most important truth of the Christian faith: the doctrine of justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.
What are the Small and Large Catechisms?
Martin Luther realized early on how desperately ignorant the laity and clergy of his day were when it came to even the most basic truths of the Christian faith. Around 1530, he produced two small handbooks to help pastors and the heads of families teach the faith.
The Small Catechism and the Large Catechism are organized around six topics: the Ten Commandments, the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, Holy Baptism, Confession, and the Sacrament of the Altar. So universally accepted were these magnificent doctrinal summaries by Luther, that they were included as part of the Book of Concord.
What are the Smalcald Articles and the Treatise on the Power and Primacy of the Pope?
In 1537, Martin Luther was asked to prepare a statement of Lutheran belief for use at a church council, if it was called. Luther’s bold and vigorous confession of faith was later incorporated into the Book of Concord. It was presented to a group of Lutheran rulers meeting in the town of Smalcald. Philip Melanchthon was asked to expand on the subject of the Roman pope and did so in his treatise, which also was included in the Book of Concord.
What is the Formula of Concord?
After Luther’s death in 1546, significant controversies broke out in the Lutheran Church. After much debate and struggle, the Formula of Concord in 1577 put an end to these doctrinal controversies and the Lutheran Church was able to move ahead united in what it believed, taught and confessed. In 1580, all the confessional writings mentioned here were gathered into a single volume, the Book of Concord. Concord is a word that means, “harmony.” The Formula of Concord was summarized in a version known as the “Epitome” of the Formula of Concord. This document too is included in the Book of Concord.
What is the connection between the Bible and the Confessions?
We confess that, “The Word of God is and should remain the sole rule and norm of all doctrine” (FC SD, Rule and Norm, 9). What the Bible asserts, God asserts. What the Bible commands, God commands. The authority of the Scriptures is complete, certain and final. The Scriptures are accepted by the Lutheran Confessions as the actual Word of God. The Lutheran Confessions urge us to believe the Scriptures for “they will not lie to you” (LC, V, 76) and cannot be “false and deceitful” (FC SD, VII, 96). The Bible is God’s “pure, infallible, and unalterable Word” (Preface to the BOC).
The Lutheran Confessions are the “basis, rule, and norm indicating how all doctrines should be judged in conformity with the Word of God” (FC SD RN). Because the Confessions are in complete doctrinal agreement with the written Word of God, they serve as the standard in the Lutheran Church to determine what is faithful Biblical teaching, insofar as that teaching is addressed in the Confessions.
Now may:
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine on you and show grace to you.
The Lord look on you and give you peace.
Be safe, keep each other in prayer and, God willing, we will all see each other next Sunday!
Pastor Ken
Scripture Readings: Wednesday, January 12, 2025 (ASL Format)
The Old Testament lesson is from Isaiah chapter 42.
Here is My Servant. I support Him. I chose Him. My soul is happy with Him. I filled Him with My Spirit. He will judge the nations correctly. He will not shout and will not speak loudly. He will not shout in the street. He will not break a weak branch. A small candle-fire, He will not blow-out. He will honestly judge all people. He will not fail or be-disappointed. He will judge and make everything right on earth. The nations far-away eagerly wait for His teaching.
The Lord God made the sky and all the stars. God made the earth and all living things on earth. God gave life and breath to all the people. And now He says to His Servant: “I, the Lord, called You in righteousness. I will lead You and keep You. I will make You become a promise for all people. You will be a light for the nations. You will open the eyes of blind people, and You will free the people living in dark prisons.”
I am the Lord, that is My name. I will not give My glory to someone else. I will not give My praise for an idol. The past things happened. Now I announce new things. Before they happen, I announce that to you.
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
The New Testament lesson is from Romans chapter 6.
Do you think we should continue sinning, then God will give us more grace? No! Our old sinful life is dead. We should not continue living with sin.
You should know this. All of us who are baptized in Christ Jesus, baptism made us joined to Jesus’ death. That means baptism buried us in death with Jesus. Then the same-as the Father raised Christ from death, now we also can live a new life.
Because we became joined with Jesus in His death, then we will be joined with Him in His resurrection. We know God crucified our old sinful life with Jesus. And that destroys the sin in us, and now we are no more slaves serving our sins. Because when a person dies, then he is free from sin.
Because we died with Christ, we believe we will also live with Him. We know Christ was raised from death and He will never die again. Now death can’t control Him. Happen Jesus died, He died once for all sins. But in His life, He lives with God. Also you must think yourselves dead and finished sinning, but living with God in Christ Jesus.
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
The Gospel lesson is from Matthew chapter 3.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus traveled from GALILEE to the river named JORDAN, for JOHN to baptize Him. But JOHN tried to stop Jesus. JOHN said, “You should baptize me! But You come for me to baptize You?”
Jesus answered, “Let it happen, because this way we will do right.” Then JOHN agreed and he baptized Jesus. When Jesus came-up from the water, the sky opened for Jesus, and He saw the Spirit of God the same-as a DOVE coming-down on Him. A voice from heaven said, “This is My Son, I love Him, and I am very pleased with Him.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: (copy) Praise to You, O Christ.
Holy Communion Procedures Post-COVID
Holy Communion
Words of Institution
The "Individual Cups"
The Chalice and Paten will always be present on the Altar during Holy Communion as a visual reminder of the corporate nature of Holy Communion.
The "Individual Cups"
Words of Institution
The "Individual Cups"
We will be using two individual cups with lids, in place of the Chalice and Paten to Celebrate Communion.
Words of Institution
Words of Institution
Words of Institution
After the Words of Institution are spoken, the individual cups with Host and Wine will be brought to the congregation on the tray.
Distribution
The "Hand-off"
Words of Institution
Individual cups will be distributed by the Elder/President of Cross of Christ, and brought to you in your pew. Please do not leave your pew.
The "Tray"
The "Hand-off"
The "Hand-off"
The tray will contain the Individual Servings for those partaking of Communion.
The "Hand-off"
The "Hand-off"
The "Hand-off"
The Individual cups will be "handed" to the individual. Please do not reach into the tray.
COVID Procedures for Cross of Christ
General Procedures for attending Church at Cross of Christ Stage 3
AHS COVID Policy for Places of Worship
Alberta entered Step 2 on March 1.
The following changes came into effect at that time. Any remaining school requirements removed (for example: Kindergarten to grade 6 co-horting). Youth screening activities for entertainment and sport activities removed. Capacity on all large venues and entertainment venues lifted. Restrictions lifted on interactive activities, table limits, liquor sales and closing times for bars, restaurants and other food serving businesses. Indoor and outdoor social gathering limits lifted, including for all wedding and funeral events. Mandatory work-from-home requirements lifted. Provincial mask mandate lifted except: on municipal and intra-provincial public transit for Albertans 13 and older at AHS-operated and contracted facilities, and all continuing care settings.
Mandatory restriction - Effective March 1
The provincial mask mandate has been lifted for most settings, except:
- on municipal and intra-provincial public transit for Albertans 13 and older
- at all AHS operated and contracted facilities
- at all continuing care settings
- continuous masking must be followed for up to 5 days following mandatory isolation due to COVID infection for vaccinated individuals. For more information, see the isolation page.
- If a person chooses to wear one, masks should fit well and be of high quality. People at risk of severe outcomes should wear medical masks when in settings with people outside of their household.
Public health measures in effect | Alberta.ca
Reviewed Jan 2023