Easter Season | Confident.Faith

Readings Psalm 119:9–16 Psalm 91 Exodus 20:1–24 Luke 4:1–15 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:35–41

Readings Psalm 30 Psalm 68 Exodus 19:1–25 Hebrews 13:1–21 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:28–34

Readings Psalm 145 Psalm 94 Exodus 18:5–27 Hebrews 12:1–24 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:17–27 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist. Author of the second Gospel, Mark was originally from Jerusalem, where his mother’s home served as the center of the Church in that city. Mark would accompany Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch and then from Antioch on Paul’s first missionary journey. Barnabas would then go on a second missionary journey with Mark to Cyprus. Tradition holds that Mark was instrumental in founding the Church in Alexandria, where he served as the first bishop and died a martyr’s death.

Readings Acts 5:12–32 Psalm 148 Revelation 1:4–18 John 20:19–31

Readings Psalm 114 Psalm 136 Exodus 17:1–16 Hebrews 11:1–29 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:9–16

Readings Psalm 134 Psalm 135 Exodus 16:13–35 Hebrews 10:19–39 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VII:1–8

Readings Psalm 81 Psalm 40 Exodus 15:19—16:12 Hebrews 10:1–18 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:21–26

Readings Psalm 13 Psalm 59 Exodus 15:1–18 Hebrews 9:1–28 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:15–20

Readings Psalm 96 Psalm 107 Exodus 14:10–31 Hebrews 7:23—8:13 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:7–14

Readings Psalm 37 Psalm 76 Psalm 102 Exodus 13:17—14:9 Hebrews 7:1–22 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration VI:1–6

Readings Isaiah 65:17–25 Psalm 16 1 Corinthians 15:19–26 Luke 24:1–12

Readings Psalm 135 Psalm 136 Psalm 51 Exodus 12:29—13:16 Lamentations 5:1–22 Hebrews 6:1–20 Psalm 22 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration V:23–27

Readings Job 19:23–27 Psalm 118:15–29 1 Corinthians 15:51–57 John 20:1–18

Readings Isaiah 52:13—53:12 Psalm 22 Psalm 31 Hebrews 4:14–16—5:7–9 John 18:1—19:42

Readings Psalm 116 Psalm 109 Numbers 20:22—21:9 Luke 20:45—21:19 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 53–64

Readings Psalm 78 Psalm 110 Numbers 20:1–21 Luke 20:19–44 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 45–52

Readings Psalm 80 Psalm 91 Numbers 16:41—17:13 Luke 20:1–18 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 38–44

Readings Psalm 118 Psalm 9 Numbers 16:23–40 Luke 19:29–48 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 33–37

Readings Psalm 111 Psalm 45 Numbers 16:1–22 Luke 19:11–28 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 27–32

Readings Psalm 146 Psalm 142 Numbers 14:26–45 Luke 18:35—19:10 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 14–26

Readings Psalm 81 Psalm 9 Numbers 14:1–25 Luke 18:18–34 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 8–13

Readings Psalm 119:97–104 Psalm 122 Numbers 13:1–3, 17–33 Luke 18:1–17 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, XI, 1–7 Commemoration Today we commemorate Cyril and Methodius, Missionaries to the Slavs. Cyril and Methodius were brothers from a Greek family from Thessalonica. Ordained as priests, the brothers were sent, in AD 862, to what is today the Czech Republic, where they taught the Christian faith in the region’s native tongue. As part of this mission, Cyril created the alphabet that is today known as Cyrillic, in order to write down Scripture and liturgy. The use of the vernacular by Cyril and Methodius set an important precedent for future missionary work.

Readings Acts 1:12–26 Psalm 1 1 John 5:9–15 John 17:11b–19

Readings Psalm 77 Psalm 8 Numbers 11:24—12:16 Luke 17:20–37 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 26–31

Readings Psalm 130 Psalm 47 Numbers 11:1–35 Luke 17:1–19 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 19–25

Readings Psalm 62 Psalm 19 Numbers 10:11–36 Luke 16:19–31 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 13–18

Readings Psalm 85 Psalm 18 Numbers 9:1–23 Luke 16:1–18 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, X, 5–12 Commemoration Today we commemorate C. F. W. Walther, Theologian. Father of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, Carl Ferdinand Wilhelm Walther emigrated from Saxony in Germany with other Lutherans in 1839. Settling in Missouri, he served as pastor of several congregations in St. Louis, founded Concordia Seminary, and was instrumental in the formation of the LCMS in 1847. Walther would serve as president of the Synod from 1847 to 1850 and then again from 1864 to 1878. Walther worked tirelessly to promote Confessional Lutheranism in the US. A prolific writer and speaker, Walther’s works are still widely used today, particularly including his book on the distinction between Law and Gospel.

Readings Acts 1:1–11 Psalm 47 Ephesians 1:15–23 Luke 24:44–53

Readings Psalm 103 Psalm 70 Numbers 8:5–26 Luke 15:11–32 Article IX and ¶¶ 1–4 of Article X of the Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, IX and X, 1–4

Readings Psalm 135 Psalm 60 Numbers 3:1–16, 39–48 Luke 14:25—15:10 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 88–96 Commemoration Today we commemorate Friedrich the Wise, Christian Ruler. Elector of Saxony from 1486 to 1525, Friedrich the Wise was instrumental to the Reformation. Although he never met Luther, Friedrich aided Luther significantly, including refusing to extradite Luther when the pope demanded it in 1518 and arranging for Luther to be ‘kidnapped’ and safely hidden in Wartburg Castle after the Diet of Worms. Beloved of his subjects, Friedrich was called “the Wise” for his sense of fairness and his justice. Upon his deathbed, Friedrich received the Lord’s Supper in both kinds — a clear confession of his Lutheran faith.

Readings Psalm 63 Psalm 78 Leviticus 26:21–44 Luke 14:1–24 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 85–87 Commemoration Today we commemorate Friedrich Wyneken, Pastor and Missionary. Along with C. F. W. Walther and Wilhelm Sihler, Friedrich Wyneken was one of the founding fathers of the LCMS. Born in Germany in 1810, Wyneken came to Baltimore, Maryland, in 1838, and then accepted a call to Friedheim and Fort Wayne in Indiana. During his life, Wyneken would serve as missionary in Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan, including among the Amerindian population; would help found — along with Wilhelm Loehe and Sihler — Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne; and would serve as the second president of the LCMS. Wyneken is remembered for his dedication to preaching and spreading the Word of God and for his commitment to right doctrine and the Lutheran faith.

Readings Psalm 119:33–40 Psalm 81 Leviticus 26:1–20 Luke 13:18–35 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 77–84

Readings Acts 10:34–48 Psalm 98 1 John 5:1–8 John 15:9–17

Readings Psalm 52 Psalm 107 Leviticus 24:1–23 Luke 12:54—13:17 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 71–76 Commemoration Today we commemorate Athanasius of Alexandria, Pastor and Confessor. Born in Alexandria around AD 295, Athanasius would later serve as bishop of that city — a post he held for forty-five years. At the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, Athanasius defended Christian orthodoxy against the Arian heretics. Exiled five times and nearly murdered twice, Athanasius remained steadfast in his faith and lived his final days restored to his ecclesiastical office. The Athanasian Creed is named in his honor, because it confesses the truth of the divinity of Christ, which Athanasius championed during his life.

Readings Psalm 116 Psalm 123 Leviticus 23:23–44 Luke 12:35–53 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 66–70 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles. St. Philip, from Bethsaida in Galilee, was one of the first disciples called by Christ. In turn, Philip would bring Nathanael to Jesus. According to tradition, Philip labored and died in Phrygia. St. James, son of Alphaeus and Mary (one of the faithful women who stood at the foot of the cross), is little mentioned in the New Testament and there are no sure records concerning his work after the resurrection or his death. We commemorate these two men as followers of and workers for Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Readings Psalm 127 Psalm 92 Leviticus 23:1–22 Luke 12:13–34 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 61–65

Readings Psalm 31 Psalm 25 Leviticus 21:1–24 Luke 12:1–12 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 53–60

Readings Psalm 37 Psalm 150 Leviticus 20:1–27 Luke 11:37–54 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 46–52

Readings Psalm 36 Psalm 39 Leviticus 19:9–37 Luke 11:14–36 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 38–45

Readings Psalm 119, vv 1–8 Psalm 116 Leviticus 18:1—19:8 Luke 11:1–13 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 31–37

Readings Acts 8:26-40 Psalm 150 1 John 4:1–21 John 15:1–8

Readings Psalm 17 Psalm 89 Leviticus 17:1–16 Luke 10:23–42 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 23–30 Festival Today we celebrate the Festival of St. Mark, Evangelist. Author of the second Gospel, Mark was originally from Jerusalem, where his mother’s home served as the center of the Church in that city. Mark would accompany Paul and Barnabas from Jerusalem to Antioch and then from Antioch on Paul’s first missionary journey. Barnabas would then go on a second missionary journey with Mark to Cyprus. Tradition holds that Mark was instrumental in founding the Church in Alexandria, where he served as the first bishop and died a martyr’s death.

Readings Psalm 19 Psalm 50 Leviticus 16:1–24 Luke 10:1–22 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 16–22 Commemoration Today we commemorate Johann Walter, Kantor. Having begun his service — as a composer and bass singer — in the court of Frederick the Wise at the age of twenty-one, Johann Walter would go on to publish a collection of hymns that would become the basis of many subsequent hymnals. Walter would serve for a total of thirty years as kantor in the cities of Torgau and Dresden. Additionally, he aided Martin Luther in the preparation of the German Mass.

Readings Psalm 25 Psalm 141 Leviticus 10:1–20 Luke 9:37–62 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 7–15

Readings Psalm 119:129–138 Psalm 96 Leviticus 9:1–24 Luke 9:18–36 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VIII, 1–6

Readings Psalm 45 Psalm 132 Leviticus 8:1–36 Luke 9:1–17 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 124–128 Commemoration Today we commemorate Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian. Born in Italy, St. Anselm is most strongly and closely associated with England, where he served as Archbishop of Canterbury for many years. A brilliant scholar and writer, Anselm is best remembered for his work Why God Became Man, which professes Christ crucified for sinners.

Readings Psalm 41 Psalm 76 Exodus 40:17–38 Luke 8:40–56 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 116–123

Readings Acts 4:1–12 Psalm 23 1 John 3:16–24 John 10:11–18

Readings Psalm 107 Psalm 115 Exodus 39:32—40:16 Luke 8:22–39 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 107–115

Readings Psalm 119:145–152 Psalm 20 Exodus 38:21—39:31 Luke 8:1–21 Formula of Concord: Solid Declaration, VII, 104–106