Monthly Archives: December 2008

Introits for the days after Christmas, and more!

Here are introits for the days following Christmas (St. John coming soon I hope). For those celebrating Divine Service for Holy Innocents tomorrow, here’s a special bonus: Gradual & Alleluia! The notes are taken from the liber usualis, a 20th … Continue reading

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From Heaven Above (Meditations on Luther's Hymn)

Todd A. Peperkorn, STM Messiah Lutheran Church Kenosha, Wisconsin Christmas Eve Midnight (Dec. 24, 2008) Luke 2:1-20 TITLE: “From Heaven Above” [This sermon is a series of meditations and quotations all from the Christmas sermons of Dr. Martin Luther.  I … Continue reading

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A happy little rubric

I don’t know how many of you have the custom of New Year’s Eve services. We do here. As I was looking at the propers in the LSB 1-year lectionary book, I found that there are two options for New … Continue reading

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The Nativity of Our Lord – John 1:1-18

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit Perhaps the reason why we love the secular holiday song “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” is because of when it was written. Bing Crosby … Continue reading

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From Heav'n Above

This year for our midnight Christ Mass, I am doing a series of meditations on Luther’s hymn, From Heav’n Above.  We’ll sing a couple verses, and then do a short meditation from Luther that is on the same text as … Continue reading

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Advent 4 – John 1:19-28

Revised and shortened from 2004. In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit Like all royalty, our Lord Jesus does not simply sweep into the room. He is announced. Jesus is announced … Continue reading

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Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes

I my Christmas preparations this year, I have been reading Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, by Kenneth E. Bailey. ?I highly recommend it. I would commend to you one of the opening paragraphs in his essay on the story of … Continue reading

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Introit confusion for Christmas-Epiphany

Here is a list of occasions on which one might want to hold Divine Service, all falling between Christmas Eve and Epiphany. Beneath each is a list of Lutheran chant books and hymnals, and which (if any) introits they prescribe … Continue reading

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St. John Chrysostom on Phil 4:4-7

Interesting that Philippians 4:4-7 is given to Rorate Caeli instead of Gaudate.  I came across a very nice blog entitled Rorate Caeli  ( www.rorate-caeli.blogspot.com/ ).  The following Chrysostom proclamation on Phil 4 is included there: Rejoice? Fratres: Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Modestia vestra … Continue reading

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Martyrology of Christmas

Looking ahead a bit, I find it a nice touch to proclaim the Martyrology of Christmas each year. If you’re familiar with the Midnight Mass from the Vatican and/or from Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, you know that the Mass … Continue reading

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