Week of St. Michael & All Angels - September 28-October 4

Theme: Together with the Angels, We All Bless the Lord

Learn by Heart

Verse: Matthew 5:37 (NKJV)

“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.”

Hymn: “Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs” | ELH #66

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 7th and 8th Commandments

The Seventh Commandment

You shall not steal.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, nor get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and means of making a living.

The Eighth Commandment

You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not lie about, betray or slander our neighbor, but excuse him, speak well of him, and interpret everything in the best possible way.

Week of St. Matthew's Day - September 21-27

Theme: God Gives Us a Home and a Family

Learn by Heart

Verse: Mark 10:6-8a

But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.’

Hymn: “Draw Us to Thee” | ELH #581:1-4

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 5th and 6th Commandments

The Fifth Commandment

You shall not murder.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do no bodily harm to our neighbor, but help and befriend him in every need.

The Sixth Commandment

You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in word and deed, and that husband and wife each love and honor the other.

Week of Holy Cross Day - September 14-20

Theme: Jesus Is the Blessed Tree of Life

Learn by Heart

Verse: Deuteronomy 6:6-7

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

Hymn: “Hark! The Voice of Jesus Crying” | ELH #191:1-3

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 3rd and 4th Commandments

The Third Commandment

You shall keep the day of rest holy.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but regard it as sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

The Fourth Commandment

Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise our parents and superiors, nor provoke them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem them.

Week of Trinity 12 - September 7-13

Theme: Those Who Seek God Rejoice and Are Glad in Him

Learn by Heart

Verse: Deuteronomy 6:4-5

Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Hymn: “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” | ELH #51:1, 2, 5

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 1st and 2nd Commandments

The First Commandment

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean?

We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.

The Second Commandment

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks.

Week of Trinity 11 - August 31-September 6

Theme: The Lord Has Led Captivity Captive

Learn by Heart

Verse: Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”

Hymn: “Our Father, Thou in Heaven Above” | ELH #383:8-9

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 7th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer & the Conclusion

The Seventh Petition

But deliver us from evil.

What does this mean?

We pray in this petition, as the sum of all, that our Father in heaven would deliver us from every evil of body and soul, property and honor; and at last, when the hour of death shall come, grant us a blessed end, and graciously take us from this valley of sorrow to Himself in heaven.

The Conclusion

For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for­ever and ever. Amen.

What does “Amen” mean?

Amen means that we should be sure that these petitions are acceptable to our Father in heaven and are heard by Him; for He himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us. Amen, Amen: that is, Yes, Yes, it shall be so.