Week of Reminiscere (Lent 2) - March 1-7, 2026

Theme: Great Faith Clings to the Crumbs of Mercy

Learn by Heart

Verse: Psalm 119:105

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

Hymn: “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” | ELH #287:1-4

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The Catechism: The Table of Duties

For Bishops, Pastors and Preachers

A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous; one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence… not a novice… holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and to convict those who contradict. 1 Timothy 3:2-4 and 6; Titus 1:9.

Preschool +

The First Commandment

You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean?

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

Week of Invocavit (Lent 1) - February 22-28, 2026

Theme: Jesus Overcomes Temptation

Learn by Heart

Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Hymn: “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” | ELH #287:1-2

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The Catechism: The Proper REception of the Sacrament of the Altar

The Proper Reception of the Sacrament of the Altar

Who then receives this Sacrament worthily?

While fasting and bodily preparations are fine outward training, whoever has faith in these words, “Given and shed for you for the remission of sins,” is truly worthy and well prepared. But whoever does not believe these words, or doubts them, is unworthy and unprepared because the words “for you” require only believing hearts.

Week of The Baptism of Jesus - February 15-21, 2026

Theme: The Son of God Is Baptized as Sinners Are

Learn by Heart

Verse: John 6:35

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”

Hymn: “To Jordan Came Our Lord, the Christ” | ELH #247:1-7

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The Catechism: The Benefit & Power of the Sacrament of the Altar

The Benefit of the Sacrament of the Altar

What benefit do we receive from such eating and drinking?

The benefit which we receive from such eating and drinking is shown us by these words: “Given and shed for you for the remission of sins,” namely, that forgiveness of sins, life and salvation are given to us in the Sacrament through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

The Power of the Sacrament of the Altar

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

It is not the eating and drinking that does this, but the words here written: “Given and shed for you for the remission of sins.” These words, along with the eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: the forgiveness of sins.

Week of Sexagesima - February 8-14, 2026

Theme: You Are the Garden of God

Learn by Heart

Verse: Acts 2:41a, 42

So those who received his word were baptized.... And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Hymn: “To Jordan Came Our Lord, the Christ” | ELH #247:1-5

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The Catechism: The Nature of the Sacrament of the Altar

The Nature of the Sacrament of the Altar

What is the Sacrament of the Altar?

The Sacrament of the Altar is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, under the bread and wine, instituted by Christ himself, for us Christians to eat and to drink.

Where is this written?

The holy evangelists Matthew, Mark and Luke, together with St. Paul, write thus: “Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in which He was betrayed, took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way also He took the cup after supper, gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, Drink from it, all of you; this cup is the New Testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the remission of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.’”

Week of Septuagesima - February 1-7, 2026

Theme: Strive to Enter Through the Narrow Door

Learn by Heart

Verse: Psalm 51:7

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;

a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Hymn: “To Jordan Came Our Lord, the Christ” | ELH #247:1-3

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The Catechism: The Office of the Keys

What is the Office of the Keys?

The Office of the Keys is the special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to forgive the sins of repentant sinners, but to retain the sins of the unrepentant as long as they do not repent.

Where is this written?

The evangelist writes, in John 20:22-23, “Jesus breathed on His disciples and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; and if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.’”

What do you believe according to these words?

I believe that when the called servants of Christ deal with us by His divine command, specifically, when they exclude public, unrepentant sinners from the Christian congregation, and absolve those who repent of their sins and want to amend their ways, this is just as valid and certain in heaven as if Christ our dear Lord has done it Himself.