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Next Church Service Sunday May 25, 2025
Holy Communion 3rd Sundays of the month
The Book of Concord
Visit this site to access the Book of Concord
BookOfConcord.org · The Original Home of the Book of Concord
May 25, 2025
Next Church Service Sunday
Martin Luther's Morning/Evening Prayer
Make the sign of the Holy Cross and say:
Morning Prayer
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.
Evening Prayer
In the evening when you go to bed, 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 graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. 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.
Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer.
2026 LCC Synod Convention June 12-15, 2026
2026 LCC Synod Convention June 12-15, 2026
2026 LCC Synod Convention - Lutheran Church–Canada
2026 Convention Updates - The Canadian Lutheran
Welcome to the 2026 LCC Synod Convention Info-page
Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC)’s 13th Regular Convention will be held in Winnipeg from June 12-15, 2026, gathering under the theme “Together One: One Lord, One Faith, One Body” (Ephesians 4:4-6). The Convention was last held in the Central Region in 2008 under the theme “Give Jesus Glory – His Calling, Our Praise.”
The start of business related to this synod convention will begin on March 20, 2025, with the first meeting of the Commission on Nominations and Elections (CNE). The CNE manages the nomination process for elected positions at the synodical and regional levels, monitors the vetting process of nominees, and supervises the election of candidates to various positions at conventions of LCC.
News pertaining to LCC’s Synod Convention will be released on an ongoing basis in The Canadian Lutheran and on CanadianLutheran.ca; as well as in LCC’s weekly e-newsletter InfoDigest.
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
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
(25 May 2025)
Acts 16:9–15
Revelation 21:9–14, 21–27
John 16:23–33 or John 5:1–9
We Pray to the Father in Jesus’ Name
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus has opened the way to the Father so that “whatever you ask of the Father” in Jesus’ name, “he will give it to you” (John 16:23). We pray, therefore, in the confidence that we will be heard and answered, that our “joy may be full” (John 16:24). We pray because the
Gospel has been preached to us and the Lord has opened our hearts to believe the Gospel (Acts 16:10, 14). We pray in the name of Jesus because we have been baptized into Him, as Lydia and her household were baptized (Acts 16:15). We have been healed, and we live and walk and pray in newness of life (John 5:8–9). For we stand upon the firm foundation “of the twelve apostles of the Lamb” (Rev. 21:14), and our temple is “the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb” (Rev. 21:22). LCMS Summaries
Introit (Psalm 55)
P: Your burden give-to the Lord and He will support you.
C: God will not let righteous people fall.
P: My heart suffers inside me.
C: I am afraid of death.
P: I call-out to God.
C: The Lord will save me!
P: Evening, morning and noon I complain and groan.
C: The Lord attends me.
P: He saves my soul from my struggle.
C: Because many people fight against me.
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: O God, You give all things good. Lead us to think only good and right things. With Your mercy, make us succeed doing those right things. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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 for Sunday, May 25, 2025 (ASL Format)
The First Lesson is from Acts chapter 16.
One night, PAUL saw a vision. He saw a man from MACEDONIA standing and begging him, “Come to MACEDONIA and help us.” After PAUL saw that vision, we quickly planned to go to MACEDONIA. We agreed that God called us to preach the gospel there.
We took a ship from TROAS to SOMATHRACE, and the next day to NEAPOLIS. Then we went to the city named PHILIPPI. That is a Roman city and an important city in MACEDONIA. We stayed there for a while.
On the worship day we went outside the city to the river. We thought we will find a meeting place for prayer. We sat and talked with the women meeting there. One woman was named LYDIA, from the city THYATIRA. She sold purple cloth and she believed in God. We talked to her and the Lord opened her heart to believe Paul’s message. We baptized her and everyone in her house. She asked us, “If you think I am faithful to the Lord, please stay in my house.” We accepted her invitation.
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
The Second Lesson from Revelation chapter 21.
Before, the seven angels had seven bowls full of the seven last PLAGUES (punishments). Now one of those angels told me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” With the power of the Holy Spirit, the angel brought me to the top of a high mountain. The angel showed me JERUSALEM, the holy city, coming-down from God in heaven. The city had God’s glory. The city was bright the same-as a beautiful stone, the same-as JASPER, and clear the same-as a CRYSTAL.
The city had a great high wall with 12 gates and with 12 angels taking-care-of the gates. The names of the 12 families in Israel were-written on the gates. Three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west. The wall had 12 foundations. The names of the 12 apostles of Jesus were-written on the foundations.
The 12 gates were 12 pearls, each gate made from one pearl. The street was pure gold, the same-as clear glass. I didn’t see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty Himself is the temple, and also Jesus Christ, the Lamb. The city didn’t need the sun or moon to shine, because the glory of God shines, and the Lamb Jesus is the light.
All the nations will live in that light. The kings on earth will bring their glory for God. The gates will never close, because it will be always day and never night. All the nations will bring their glory and honor there. Nothing unclean or sinful or lying will go into the city. Only people having their names written in the Lamb’s book of life will live there.
This is the word of the Lord.
C: (copy) Thanks give to God.
There are two choices for the Gospel lesson, John 16 or John 5. Choose one.
The reading from John 16.
The Gospel lesson is from John chapter 16.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
Jesus said, At that time, you will not ask Me questions. I tell you the truth, if you ask the Father anything in My name, He will give it to you. Before now, you asked for nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive. Then you will have full joy.
I explain these things to you in a way you don’t-yet understand. But a time is coming when I will speak for you to understand. I will tell you clearly about the Father. On that day you will ask in My name. I will not need to ask for you. The Father Himself loves you, because you love Me and you believe I came from God. I came from the Father and I came into the world. Now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.
Jesus’ disciples said, “Now You are speaking clearly and not hiding anything. Now we know that You know all things. No one needs to question You. That is why we believe You came from God.”
Jesus said, “Now you believe? A time is coming, the time is now, you will run away. All of you will run to your own homes and leave Me alone. But I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. I told you these things for you to have peace in Me. In the world you will have trouble. But have courage, I defeated the world.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: (copy) Praise to You, O Christ.
The reading from John 5.
The Gospel lesson is from John chapter 5.
C: (copy) Glory to You, O Lord.
Now was the time for a Jewish feast celebration. So Jesus went to JERUSALEM.
A gate in JERUSALEM was named the Sheep Gate. Near that gate, there was a water pool named BETHESDA. That place had five PORCHES. Many people lay there, people who were blind, couldn’t walk, or paralyzed. One man couldn’t walk for 38 years. Jesus saw the man and He knew the man was there a long time. Jesus asked him, “Do you want to become healed?”
The man said, “Sir, when the water gets stirred-up, no one will help me get into the water. I try to go, but another person goes into the water first.”
Jesus said to him, “Stand up, pick up your bed, and walk.” That minute, the man became healed. He picked up his bed and walked. That day was the Jewish worship day.
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 2025