Blessed to be a blessing to others
Immanuel Lutheran Church, 1500 North Blissfield Hwy. Palmyra, MI 49268
Sermons and Devotions
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Daily Bible Reading ECLA
Daily Bible Reading
June 1, 2020
Luke 1:39-57
Visit of Mary to Elizabeth (transferred)
39In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."
46And Mary said,
"My soul magnifies the Lord,
47and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever."
56And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.
57Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Light for My Path Daily Devotion
Bible Reading
[Jesus said] “When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father—he will testify about me. And you also are going to testify, because you have been with me from the beginning.” (John 15:26-27 EHV)
Hymn ELH 404:3-4 The Lord, My God, Be Praised
The Lord, my God, be praised,
My Hope, my Life from heaven,
The Spirit, whom the Son
In love to me hath given.
‘Tis He revives my heart,
‘Tis He that gives me power,
Help, comfort, and support
In sorrow’s gloomy hour.
The Lord, my God, be praised,
My God, who ever liveth,
To whom the heavenly host
All praise and honor giveth.
The Lord, my God, be praised,
In whose great name I boast,
God Father, God the Son,
And God the Holy Ghost.
Prayer
O Holy Spirit, through Your working I was brought to faith. Help me to be a witness to others of the Good News of forgiveness and salvation in Jesus. In His name I pray. Amen.
Monday, June 1, 2020
Light for My Path Daily Devotion
Bible Reading
After this, I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. (Joel 2:28 EHV)
Hymn ELH 402:4-6 Holy Ghost, With Light Divine
Holy Ghost, with joy divine
Cheer this saddened heart of mine;
Yield a sacred, settled peace;
Let it grow and still increase.
Holy Spirit, all divine,
Dwell within this heart of mine;
Cast down every idol throne,
reign supreme and reign alone.
See, to Thee I yield my heart,
Shed Thy life through every part;
A pure temple I would be,
Wholly dedicate to Thee.
Prayer
O Holy Spirit, give me peace and comfort through Your Word, trusting in the promise of forgiveness and salvation. Continue to work through Your Word, bringing to faith those who hear it. Equip all those You have chosen with boldness of faith, to spread Your Word throughout the world, that many more may believe and be saved. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
A Holy Rumbling
Devotional for the week of May 31, 2020
Helene’s foot pressed down; her heel held long and steady on the organ’s pedal board. The bellows in the basement blew air through ducts up to the biggest pipes, and there was a rumble. A rumble that wiggled lead in the windows. A rumble that wobbled the chandelier, rattled coins in the offering plates, and made the walls shudder. A rumble that troubled the baptismal font waters and stirred flames on altar candles. And it was a rumble that resonated in the hearts of that little church assembly every Sunday when, before their last amen, the congregation began to breathe the words and melody of the hymn they knew by heart:
Breathe on me, breath of God; fill me with life anew,
that I may love all that you love and do what you would do.
Then the doors were opened. Women picked up their purses, children collected their crayons, the men stretched their legs. A voice sounded: “Go in peace. Serve the Lord.” And the people said, “Thanks be to God.”
Jesus joined the disciples and said, “Peace be with you” (John 20:19, 21). How could it be? The doors were locked. The disciples had assembled in fear. The light of day was spent. How could it be that he entered into such a place, where the end of so much had made no room for peace? And how did it happen that though they were crowded into hiding and imprisoned by walls of sadness, peace came to be with them?
We, too, are visited by the holy mystery of the Spirit of God despite the closed doors of our hears, minds, and lives. It is the sudden rumbling of the Spirit—the divine breath that first gave life to creation—that stirs us to pray:
Breathe on me, breath of God; fill me with life anew,
that I may love all that you love and do what you would do.
—Edwin Hatch, 1835–1889
Devotional message and art based on the readings for May 31st, reprinted from sundaysandseasons.com.
Copyright © 2019 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.
An Message from Pastor Leking May 31, 2020
This sermon will be posted when it is available in hard copy.