Week of Trinity 21 - October 12-18, 2025

Theme: Happiness Is Found in the Way of the Lord

Learn by Heart

Verse: James 2:10

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

Hymn: “God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It” | ELH #246:1-3

The Catechism: The Conclusion to the Commandments

What does God say about these commandments?

I the Lord your God am a jealous God, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity upon the children to the third and fourth generation of those who hate Me, and showing mercy to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

What does this mean?

God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments. Therefore we should fear His wrath and not disobey these commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him and willingly obey His commandments.

Week of Trinity 20 - October 5-11, 2025

Theme: God Is in Heaven

Learn by Heart

Verse: Matthew 6:33-34

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Hymn: “In Thee Is Gladness” | ELH #149

Listen to the hymn here.

The Catechism: The 7th and 8th Commandments

The Ninth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not craftily seek to get our neighbor’s inheritance or home, nor get it by a show of right, but help and serve him in keeping it.

The Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, workers, animals, or anything that is his.

What does this mean?

We should fear and love God, so that we do not tempt, force or coax away from our neighbor his wife or his workers, but urge them to stay and fulfill their responsibility.

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.