The Congregation at Prayer A Guide for Daily Meditation and Prayer For the Week of the Third Sunday after Epiphany January 23 through

The Congregation at Prayer
A Guide for Daily Meditation and Prayer
For the Week of the Third Sunday after Epiphany
January 23 through January 29, 2011

The Order of Meditation and Prayer

Pray and confess out loud as much from the order of meditation and prayer as you are able, or as your family size and ages dictate. Learn by heart the verse, catechism, and hymn of the week.

Theme: The Sacrament IS Christ’s Body and Blood

Invocation

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

Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and a the life everlasting. Amen.

Verse: Matthew 26:26

"Take, eat; this is my body." ESV

Psalm 97 and/or the appointed daily psalms listed below.

Daily Psalm	Morning	Evening
Sunday	125,126	127
Monday	128,129	130
Tuesday	131,132	133,134
Wednesday	135	136
Thursday	137,138	139
Friday	140,141	142,143
Saturday	144	145

The Catechism:

Where is this written?

The holy Evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul write: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: "Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me."

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

These words, "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins," show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: "Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins." These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: "forgiveness of sins."

Readings for the Week

Day	Reading
Monday	Judah Intercedes for Benjamin before Joseph—Genesis 44:18-45:3
Tuesday	Joseph Forgives His Brothers—Genesis 45:4-28
Wednesday	Jacob Journeys to Egypt to See Joseph—Genesis 46:1-27
Thursday	Jacob Settles in the Land of Goshen—Genesis 46:28-47:12
Friday	Catch Up on Readings or Look Ahead to Sunday
Saturday	Catch Up on Readings or Look Ahead to Sunday

Prayers: Collect for the Week, In Our Prayers at St. Paul

Collect for the Week of the Third Sunday after Epiphany:

Almighty and everlasting God, mercifully look upon our infirmities and stretch forth the hand of Your majesty to heal and defend us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

In Our Prayers this Week

Ann Kelley

Illness/Afflictions: Marge Hill, Larry Nave, Herman Neumann, Eunice Oltmans, Arlo Sohl, Virlene VanLaningham, Cindy Weise, Marilyn Goetz Stolzer - sister of Connie Hartig

Hospitalized: Dottie Jurgens

Baptism: Truitt Thomas Schulz, son of Thomas and Carissa Schulz

Serving in Military: William Faulder, Timothy Starnes

Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
*Morning Prayer*	*Evening Prayer*
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.	I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Hymn of Week

"From God the Father, Virgin Born"

#401

*Looking forward to the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany*		*January 30, 2011*
*Hymns:*	*743, 708, 733, 718, 533*
*Lessons:*	*Jonah 1:1-17; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 8:23-27*