Unemployement

This article helped me to fully grasp the depth and difficulty of this economic recession. So far, where we live in rural MN and the fact that I do still have a job, has insulated me. This has helped me more specifically, grasp what kinds of effects joblessness can have on each of us. I am thankful this article came along since it has given me a better grasp on what a few of my members and their families may be going through after the recent closing of the prison in our area. This was one of our major employers.

The message of the article made me very thankful that I still have a job. I am thankful that, many of our friends and relatives (not all) have remained employed. We have been and continue to pray for all our friends, neighbors and relatives. We will be praying that more jobs become available for them and for all in this nation. We are praying for those who are currently unemployed and those who still are employed.

A Little Something about Snow

This post, from the blog I linked yesterday, gives a delightful description of snow. For those who are in the midst of the "annual great white rearrangement", here is another way to look at such things. We more often than not think of snow and only remember the slush on city streets or the scraping of windows every morning or the shoveling of sidewalks that must be done. We forget about the joy we first felt each winter at the first snow when we were children. We forgot that we too used to put out our tongue to taste the snow. Some of us declaring that it was not done yet or just right!

Also, notice in the second half the argument, not simply for the existance of "a god", but of the God of Genesis. The God who knits (Psalm 139) each of us in our mother's womb. This is the same God who with intricate care creates billions of snowflakes for each snowfall. Even if they will melt in a month or later that same day. After you read this, go play in the snow!

September 11

Today, whether it has been made official by anyone or not, should for at least the near term be one of those days designated a day of repentance and prayer. In other words, it should be a day to pray the penitential Psalms(6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143), a day to pray the historic Litany, and a day to listen to and sing this. That hymn, like many other hymns, when sung by a boy's choir, it always makes me cry.





Following is the Litany from the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod's new hymnal The Lutheran Service Book.





L: O Lord,*


C: have mercy.


L: O Christ,


C: have mercy.


L: O Lord,


C: have mercy.


L: O Christ,


C: hear us.


L: God the Father in heaven,


C: have mercy.


L: God the Son, Redeemer of the world,


C: have mercy.


L: God the Holy Spirit,


C: have mercy.


L: Be gracious to us.


C: Spare us, good Lord.


L: Be gracious to us.


C: Help us, good Lord.


L: From all sin, from all error, from all evil; from the crafts and assaults of the devil; from sudden and evil death; from pestilence and famine; from war and bloodshed; from sedition and from rebellion; from lightning and tempest; from all calamity by fire and water; and from everlasting death:


C: Good Lord, deliver us.

L: By the mystery of Your holy incarnation; by Your holy nativity; by Your baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your cross and passion; by Your precious death and burial; by Your glorious resurrection and ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter:

C: Help us, good Lord.

L: In all time of our tribulation; in all time of our prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment:

C: Help us, good Lord.

L: We poor sinners implore You

C: to hear us, O Lord.

L: To rule and govern Your holy Christian Church; to preserve all pastors and ministers of Your church in the true knowledge and understanding of Your wholesome Word and to sustain them in holy living; to put an end to all schisms and causes of offense; to bring into the way of truth all who have erred and are deceived; to beat down Satan under our feet; to send faithful laborers into Your harvest; and to accompany Your Word with Your grace and Spirit:

C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

L: To raise those who fall and to strengthen those who stand; and to comfort and help the weakhearted and the distressed:

C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

L: To give to all peoples concord and peace; to preserve our land from discord and strife; to give our country Your protection in every time of need; to direct and defend our "president/queen/king" and all in authority; to bless and protect our magistrates and all our people; to watch over and help all who are in danger, necessity, and tribulation; to protect and guide all who travel; to grant all women with child, and all mothers with infant children, increasing happiness in all their blessings; to defend all orphans and widows and provide for them; to strengthen and keep all sick persons and young children; to free those in bondage; and to have mercy on us all:

C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

L: To forgive our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers and to turn their hearts; to give and preserve for our use the kindly fruits of the earth; and graciously to hear our prayers:

C: We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

L: Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

C: we implore You to hear us.

L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

C: have mercy.

L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

C: have mercy.

L: Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

C: grant us Your peace.

L: O Christ,

C: hear us.

L: O Lord,

C: have mercy.

L: O Christ,

C: have mercy.

L: O Lord,

C: have mercy. Amen.

The Litany may conclude with the Lord's Prayer and a collect.

* (the letters L and C used here are for Leader and Congregation)

HT: Elephant's Child