Ascension, 2025.

  

Ascension 2025. Holy Communion

7 PM Central, May 29th, 2025

Pastor Gregory L. Jackson

The melody is linked to the name of the hymn.

The lyrics are linked to the Bethany Lutheran Hymnal page.

The Hymn #212        A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing  

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? 

Hallelujah!

This same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen Him go into heaven: 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. Oh, clap your hands, all ye people: shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that like as we do believe Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, to have ascended into the heavens, 

so may we may also in heart and mind thither ascend and 

with Him continually dwell; who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual    Acts 1:1-11

Gradual

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. God is gone up with a shout: 

the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. Hallelujah!

V. Thou hast ascended on high: 

Thou hast led captivity captive. Hallelujah!

The Gospel                        Mark 16:14-20

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #413      I Walk in Danger

The Little Great Event 

The Hymn #341       Crown Him with Many Crowns       

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #409            Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus

In Our Prayers

Dr. Lito Cruz, Lynda Roper, Sarah Buck; Tom Fisher, Kermit Way; Pastor Jim Shrader and Christine.

The Little Great Event

If we measured this as a great event today, very little would be said. The non-religious majorities have many different thoughts, not very focused. It is strange about how often people use the Name of Jesus, but not its meaning.

Here we have a perfect example of the use and splendor of Jesus' Ascension. The last days after the Resurrection solidified and confirmed the confused believers and began the miracles that we have with us today. He let a few ascend into heaven before their eyes, the angelic hosts enhancing this and asking - Why stare into the heavens?

From that time on, the bedrock of the Empty Tomb and the Ascension farewell (but only in a sense) backed and strengthened Jesus in His supreme ministry for all of earth, which spread the Gospel to every corner, every race, every type. As Luther wrote, Jesus did not go to Heaven for the Savior's need but for those who needed Him...prayed to Him...and shared the Gospel that came from Him.

If you do not believe in Him - faith dwindles away. The many declarations of the Good Shepherd are aimed at helping and healing us. The old ways are never going to work:

1. Shunning
2. Getting even
3. Revenge
4. Hurting others.

Those four traits above do not accomplish anything and instead make people more bitter or worse on both sides.

• Kindness is just the opposite of the list above and it comes from the Shepherd. 
• Understanding another's emotions and sufferings.
• Helping with losses, whether personal or material. 
• Offering humor, levity, and personal parallels.

We cannot fully explain the nature of Christ and His will for each and every one of us, but we can marvel at what He has already done, even in the worst of circumstances.

Since I was teaching about Acts 12 today, I thought I would add up all the Luther Melanchthon Chemnitz videos. The readers have added up 65,000 views. That is a small amount compared to millions churned out by big media methods. But the Word of God is the power, not the showmanship and the glitter.

Easter 5 - Rogate - 2025

  

The Hymn #457     What a Friend We Have in Jesus
The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

With the voice of singing declare ye and tell this: 

utter it even to the end of the earth. Hallelujah!

The Lord hath redeemed His servant Jacob: Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Psalm. Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: 

sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, from whom all good things do come, grant to us, Thy humble servants, that by Thy holy inspiration we may think those things that be right and by Thy merciful guiding may perform the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. Christ, who hath redeemed us with His blood: 

is risen and hath appeared unto us. Hallelujah!

V. I came forth from the Father and am come into the world: 

again, I leave the world and go to the Father. Hallelujah!

The Gospel 
Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #458                Our Father Thou

Confidence Means Faith

The Communion Hymn #653   Now the Light Has Gone Away
The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #660             Heaven Is My Home 

Prayers and Announcements

• Monday Memorial Day. The Veterans Honor Rose is on the altar.
• The Ascension Holy Communion Service is Thursday, 7 PM Central Daylight.
• Prayers and concerns - Pastor Jim Shrader, Chris Shrader, Sarah Buck, Kermit Way. Lito Cruz is getting better. Those suffering from emotional distress and those with metabolic disorders.
• Thursday is Ascension Day, 7 PM Holy Communion.

KJV James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. 23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. 27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

KJV John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father. 26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you: 27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. 28 I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again, I leave the world, and go to the Father. 29 His disciples said unto him, Lo, now speakest thou plainly, and speakest no proverb. 30 Now are we sure that thou knowest all things, and needest not that any man should ask thee: by this we believe that thou camest forth from God.

Enchanted Peace

Mark 1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. 35 And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. 36 And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. 37 And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

This passage and many more like it are examples of His prayer and its priority. Many prayers are formalities and many more prayers are mocked. However, this is concentrated in one exceptional passage -

KJV John 16:8 - And when He is come, He will reprove [convict] the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

 The basic errors of these days and the past are based upon the problem of unbelief. 

• Many priests and clergy start and end on law and order. Pay the price. 
• The law is broken so it must be absolved. 
• How about emotion, being really, really sorry?
• Or ice cream names on fancy new chapels, libraries, and buildings?

Luther was trained in the forces of the priesthood. He struggled to understand and practice forgiveness. He felt guilty and felt the weight of all his sins, no matter how minor, and therefore felt no grace. The monasteries badgered their victims with Law and more Law. They inflicted pain on themselves and knew - at the same time - that their struggles were a lot of tommy-rot. There was no relief.

The interior life is quite powerful. Our brains are at work at all times and places, so we find ourselves in one arena or another or several at once. Concentration is a struggle because God has endowed us with so much mental energy.

But we do have one great asset from the Holy Trinity - the Holy Spirit convicting us of sin because we do not believe in Him. Although we have a great emphasis - Justification by Faith (St. Paul, Romans 4-5 etc), on this Johannine passage directly from Jesus Christ is even more clear.

We can go through all the Scriptures and academic books without believing in Him. That was and is the great struggle. The rationalists, scoffers, and deniers can flaunt their knowledge but it is tied up in their lack of faith and therefore in all the follies of this world.

However, if we continue with a child-like faith, the blessings of Jesus Christ come to us in many different ways. As Jesus said, Let the children come to me and do not forbid (reject) them - the Kingdom of God belongs to them.

Prayer - Faith in Jesus

The greatest gift the Savior offers us is a complete knowledge of His kindness, compassion, spiritual wisdom, and trust. Even the disciples had their failings in three years and even after the Resurrection. But they were encouraged to take on the work of Jesus on earth while He managed from beyond, as Luther observed. Jesus did not stop His work but elevated it to a greater number, like the millions of stars predicted to Abraham, greater than all the sands of the sea.

There is no sorrow, trouble, or pain which the Good Shepherd is unable to heal. John 10 and Psalm 23 encourage and comfort us in many ways. 

Individual prayer is the great blessing, because we can communicate with the Savior as easily as He can talk to us. It is a sin not to believe in Him. If we let the truths of the Bible take over our thoughts, many refreshing waves of joy can roll over us. We remember the disciples asking in fear in the dark raging storm, "Don't You care if we die?!" But when fear takes over, faith flies out the window. That is why the heavenly forces - Jesus and His angels - watch over us to prove their efforts and their love.

  

Easter 4 - Cantate - 2025

  

The Hymn #347                           Jesus Priceless Treasure                     

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Oh, sing (cantate) unto the Lord a new song: 

for He hath done marvelous things.

The Lord hath made known His salvation: 

His righteousness hath He openly showed in the sight of the heathen.

Psalm. His right hand and His holy arm hath gotten Him the victory.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

O God, who makest the minds of the faithful to be of one will, grant unto Thy people that they may love what Thou commandest and desire what Thou dost promise, that among the manifold changes of this world our hearts may there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual 

Gradual

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. The right hand of the Lord is exalted: 

the right hand of the Lord doeth valiantly. Hallelujah!

V. Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no more: 

death hath no more dominion over Him. Hallelujah!

    

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
The Sermon Hymn #132                O God of God   

                 Jesus Teaching the Holy Spirit

Communion Hymn #259     Flung to the Heedless Winds

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #657                        Beautiful Savior                     

In Our Prayers -

• Treatment and recovery - Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Lori Howell, . Dr. Kermit Way, Sarah Buck, Dr. Cruz is doing better. BibleJohn is getting diabetic treatments.
• The St. Louis tornado took 5 lives and much more to comprehend.
• Pray for our country's leaders as the major trials continue. 
• Biblical doctrine is broadcast live on Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 10 AM Central. 
• The Bethany Lutheran Hymnal  has 91,547 views.

KJV James 1:16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. 19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: 20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. 21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

KJV John 16:5-15 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;  11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 12 I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now. 13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

   Jesus Teaching the Holy Spirit

John 15:5-7 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

This puzzles many people in great numbers, because they assume or argue everything except the message given, the Spirit-Word combination. 

• Everyone has to be excited and entertained. No.
• Everyone has to be learned, impressed by the most educated. No.
• Everyone has to name the newest building as an honor to him. No.
• Everyone has to be popular. No.

The Spirit works through the Word of God, so we are certain that gardens and fields, lawns and weeds will spring up, flower, fruit, and set seed. Jesus taught the disciples that they must mourn and be without Him as it was in their time together. These passages in John's Gospel show us what has to be so that a few hundred or thousand people can cover the earth with the Gospel of forgiveness and everlasting life.

8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

This is the center of Jesus' work and cannot be escaped. Not only are denominations against faith in Jesus Christ, they openly ridicule the basics of the Good Shepherd's divinity - teaching, miracles, dying to atone for the sins of the world, rising from death and ascending to heaven. How is it that the Father of the Church Growth Movement - Donald McGavran - published his approval of Planned Parenthood? His book was the bible for all the Lutherans, including LCMS-ELS-WELS-ELCA.

That is the big picture, as they say, but it also covers the small one, down to the individuals, based on whether they believe the blessings, miracles, and divine help of the Savior. Some pick and choose.

I remember that my mother had me memorize the 23rd Psalm when I was in Sunday School. I was about 5 years old and we were at Plymouth Congregational Church, now gone, along with First Christian Church. I had her join the Lutheran Church later. Her last stay was in our sun-lit living room in Glendale, Arizona, not far from the venue of the ELCA convention in July. One final day I brought my Bible to her and said, "You taught me this, Mom." I read the 23rd Psalm to her and she passed into eternal life.

The foundational work of the Christian Church is to teach faith in Jesus Christ, in all aspects, from Genesis 1 to the end of time. The wife of my friend from Moline boasted about her studies at a joint-seminary  - Unitarian and Disciples of Christ. "They work together, unified!" So Christina said, "How can you tell the difference?" The lady said this - about the Virgin Birth of Jesus and His resurrection - "Those items are not very important." I was removed from my friend's Facebook list. He had all the catechism lessons of our Augustana congregation and he attended a Lutheran college. 

People feel the burdens of past errors, sins, and various difficulties. This issue is extremely important because the Bible is there for our healing and peace. "Access to His grace" is the key.

Easter 3 - Mother's Day 2025

 

Bethany Lutheran Church

Mother's Day

Sunday at 10 AM

Bible Lectures Tuesday and Thursday

Springdale, Arkansas

Pastor Gregory Jackson

Note - the hymn lyrics are linked to the Bethany Lutheran Hymn Blog for the hymn number; the tune is linked on the hymn's name. 

The Hymn #345     Jesus Lover of My Soul

The Confession of Sins
The Absolution
The Introit p. 16

Introit

Make a joyful noise (Jubilate) unto God, all ye lands: sing forth the honor of His name; make His praise glorious.

Psalm. Say unto God, How terrible art Thou in Thy works: through the greatness of Thy power shall Thine enemies submit themselves unto Thee.

The Gloria Patri
The Kyrie p. 17
The Gloria in Excelsis
The Salutation and Collect p. 19

Collect

Almighty God, who showest to them that be in error the light of Thy truth to the intent that they may return into the way of righteousness, grant unto all them that are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion that they may avoid those things that are contrary to their profession and follow all such things as are agreeable to the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, etc.

The Epistle and Gradual  

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

V. The Lord hath sent redemption unto His people. Hallelujah!

V. It behooved Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead: and thus to enter into His glory. Hallelujah!

     

The Gospel              

Glory be to Thee, O Lord!
Praise be to Thee, O Christ!
The Nicene Creed p. 22
Sermon Hymn #651      Be Still My Soul

A Little While - Micron

Communion Hymn #250      Holy God We Praise Thy Name

The Preface p. 24
The Sanctus p. 26
The Lord's Prayer p. 27
The Words of Institution
The Agnus Dei p. 28
The Nunc Dimittis p. 29
The Benediction p. 31
The Hymn #514        God Moves in a Mysterious Way

THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Lord God, heavenly Father, who of Thy fatherly goodness dost suffer Thy children to come under Thy chastening rod here on earth, that we may be like unto Thine only-begotten Son in suffering and hereafter in glory: We beseech Thee, comfort us in temptations and afflictions by Thy Holy Spirit, that we may not fall into despair, but that we may continually trust in Thy Son's promise, that our trials will endure but a little while, and will then be followed by eternal joy; that we thus, in patient hope, may overcome all evil, and at last obtain eternal salvation, through the same, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one true God, world without end. Amen.

 

KJV 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 12 Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation. 13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men: 16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloke of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. 17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. 18 Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward. 19 For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.

 

KJV John 16:16 A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father? 18 They said therefore, What is this that he saith, A little while? we cannot tell what he saith. 19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? 20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

 

Mikron - A Little While

KJV John 16:16 A little while,  μικρον and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me, because I go to the Father. 17 Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?

This is a one-word sermon, so concise that one little word - mikron -  is repeated seven times. If we pay attention to what Jesus is saying - concise and yet a lifetime of wisdom - we will change our entire perspective. I could say a microscope or a telescope. One is very short, the other reaches out millions and billions of miles. Micro is tiny and scope means "exam closely." Tele means a long distance yet it provides a close examination. I used to stop traffic on a state highway when I got my very large telescope out in the front yard. People parked their cars to look, so they could look at craters within craters on the moon. Jupiter, Saturn? yes yes!

This passage has three vital lessons - parallels. 

1. The first involves Jesus Himself, who will undergo the worst of all punishments from Rome and the Jewish opponents. 
2. The second is the disciples going through the same kind of torture, the agony of losing their Savior in a horrible and drastic way - the cross. Childbirth is often no better and is always the cause of great concern. 
3. The third is the experience of the disciples, which begins with Stephen (ordained to serve under the disciples) being stoned to death by the Jewish mob yet seeing Heaven opened up.

KJV Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,

56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

At a district meeting (LCA), a Harvard PhD seminary professor told the LCA pastors that Christianity grew by the sword. Nobody objected until I said, "You are completely wrong." He said, "Why are you saying that? I must have been taught that." I said, "You went to Harvard. That's why." Yale had a beautiful and serious, separate Day Missions Library. 

Day Missions Library, Yale Divinity.
Main YDS section - National Council of Churches, RSV editing.

This passage from John's Gospel is so clear that we miss the lesson about us. If we apply this to our own lives, we can see and experience what Jesus is saying about Himself, the disciples, and us. It is so simple that people skip past the message, and yet the early arrangers of worship though this was a very important study.  Great turmoil, discouragement, and release from the pain and sorrows - Jesus, the disciples, and the Christian believers - all participate together.

The lesson from Jesus is easy to remember (but often forgotten). We can dwell on the difficulties but they will be taken away. The Psalms especially are good at providing spiritual wisdom for our lives. The ending of Proverbs about the ideal wife and mother is just as true today and it was long ago.

What About the Anger And Guilt Dredged from the Past?

Some episodes can be extremely hurtful and discouraging, but what if they are the road to peace and calm? Even a step to all that one could hope?

The Good Shepherd is all of that - protecting us and guiding us to the still waters, driving away evil, resentment, and useless anger. We can say, "I know for a fact that the Savior will resolve this, the opposite of clenching our teeth or getting even or shunning as a punishment."

Prayers and Announcements

• Medical treatment - Pastor Jim Shrader and Chris, Sarah Buck, Kermit Way.
• Roses were distributed locally today - most of the cul de sac, BibleJohn, and two helpers from the area.
• Tuesday and Thursday 10 AM - Reformation Seminary, Acts
• New posts are Zoom linked, then added to the YouTube on the masthead, and also posted on the Worship and Reformation Seminary blog pages. All new YouTubes are linked on the Ichabod masthead.