“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
"Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." [Preschool +]
What does this mean? [First Grade +]
The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. How is God’s will done?
[Second Grade +] God’s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God’s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us firm in Hs Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will.
Hark the glad sound!
The Savior comes,
The Savior promised long;
Let every heart prepare a throne
And every voice a song.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
13 Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – 4 th Sunday after the Epiphany – Luke 4:31-44
"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14
Thy kingdom come. [Preschool +]
What does this mean?
[First Grade +] The kingdom of God certainly comes by itself without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may come to us also. How is God’s kingdom come?
[Second Grade +] God’s kingdom comes when our heavenly Father gives us His Holy Spirit, so that by His grace we believe His holy Word and lead godly lives here in time and there in eternity. +
Lord, when You came as welcome guest
To Canna’s wedding feast,
The bridal pair, divinely blest,
Found all their joy increased.
1 Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
5 The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – 3rd Sunday after the Epiphany – Luke 4:16-30
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:27-28
The First Petition – Hallowed be Thy Name. [Preschool +]
What does this mean? [Second Grade +]
God’s name is certainly holy in itself. But we pray in this petition that it may be kept holy among us also.
How is God’s name kept holy? [Third Grade +]
God’s name is kept holy when the Word of God is taught in its truth and purity, and we, as the children of God, also lead holy lives according to it. Help us to do this, dear Father in heaven! But anyone who teaches or lives contrary to God’s Word profanes the name of God among us. Protect us from this, heavenly Father!
The star proclaims the King is here;
But Herod, why this senseless fear?
For He who offers heavenly birth
Seeks not the kingdoms of this earth.
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.
3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”
10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – 2nd Sunday after the Epiphany – John 2:1-11
"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7
Our Father who art in heaven. [Preschool +]
What does this mean? [First Grade +]
With these words God tenderly invites us to believe that He is our true Father and that we are His true children, so that with all boldness and confidence we may ask Him as dear children ask their dear father.
From east to west, from shore to shore
Let every heart awake and sing
The holy child whom Mary bore,
The Christ, the everlasting king.
97 Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100 I understand more than the aged,[a]
for I keep your precepts.
101 I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102 I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
103 How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104 Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way
* Adopted from Bible Stories for Daily Prayer, Copyright © 2006 Concordia Catechetical Academy, Sussex, Wisconsin.
Saturday: Look Ahead to Sunday – The Baptism of Our Lord – Luke 3:15-22