Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: Jan 19-25, 2025

Pray and confess out loud as much as you are able or based on your family size and ages. (Alternative orders in LSB pp295-8)

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The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Hymn of the Month for January LSB 940 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

One or more verses from the hymn of the month are sung, or another hymn may be chosen.

Verse of the Week: John 2:11

This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.

Daily Lectionary

The Second Article of the Creed, Part 1: And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary…

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord…

The Apostles’ Creed is confessed † Lord’s Prayer † Prayers for Others and Ourselves (see LSB 305-318 for prayers)

In Our Prayers: Those who are suffering:  Shirley Arndt, Dan Drinkman, JoAnn Ehlers, Lois Eichinger, Louis and Mary Gettler, Richard Hanson, Marlys Jones, Pastor Jones, Rick Lahner (Carter’s grandfather), Greg Leland, Missy Lien (Thomas family friend), Lacie Miles (Chrystal’s sister-in-law), Marlene Paulson (Dianne Schroeder’s sister), Kathy Peterson, Doris Post, Arlene Potts, Michael Potts, Mark Radl, Dianne Schroeder, Kara Simmons (Pastor & Susan Thomas’ goddaughter), Leah Sparks (Marty Swearingen’s sister), Pastor Szedlak, Jeff Thomas, Ethel Vance, Cookie Ziebarth

Collect for the Second Sunday after Epiphany

Lord Jesus Christ, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, I give You thanks that You have become my Brother. Give me the confidence and boldness to confess You as my Lord and so live and die within Your loving care; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Prayer based on the Second Article Part 1 of the Creed[1]

Almighty Father, maker of heaven and earth; I praise You for having fashioned me in love and set me within this world, which You have also created. For all that You have given me in body and soul and for wondrous ways in which You take care of me, I give You thanks. Keep me mindful of Your bountiful gifts, ever looking to You for all good things in this earthly life, and teach me to receive them as Your child and heir; through Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Second Article, Part 1 of the Creed

-The Creed is nothing other than the answer and confession of Christians arranged with respect to the First Commandment, It is as if you were to ask a little child, “My dear, what sort of a God do you have? What do you know about Him?” The little child could say, “This is my God; first the Father, who has created heaven and earth. Besides this One only, I regard nothing else as God. For there is no one else who could create heaven and earth.” (399:10-11)

-We also confess that God the Father has not only given us all that we have and see before our eyes, but He daily preserves and defends us against all evil and misfortune. He directs all sorts of danger and disaster away from us. We confess that He does all this out of pure love and goodness, without our merit, as a kind Father. He cares for us so that no evil falls upon us. (400:17)

-We ought, therefore, daily to recite this article. We ought to impress it upon our mind and remember it by all that meets our eyes and by all good that falls to us. Wherever we escape from disaster or danger, we ought to remember that it is God who gives and does all things. In these escapes we sense and see His fatherly heart and His surpassing love toward us. In this way the heart would be warmed and kindled to be thankful, and to use all such good things to honor and praise God. (400-401:23)

Bible Verses for Meditation on the First Article, Part 1 of the Creed: 

-Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

-She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.  Matt 1:21

-For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

-But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Galatians 4:4-5

-And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

-For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9

[1] Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. St. Louis: Concordia, 2017.