RESOURCES

HOLY BAPTISM

Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit."  In the last chapter of Mark our Lord promises, "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved."  And the apostle Peter has written, "Baptism now saves you."
 
The Word of God also teaches that we are all conceived and born sinful and are under the power of the devil until Christ claims us as His own.  We would be lost forever unless delivered from sin, death, and everlasting condemnation.  But the Father of all mercy and grace has sent His Son Jesus Christ, who atoned for the sin of the whole world, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.  (Lutheran Service Book p. 268)

CONFIRMATION

Our Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Therefore go and make disciples on all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"  You have been baptized and catechized in the Christian faith according to our Lord's bidding.  Jesus said, "Whoever confesses Me before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven."  Lift up your hearts, therefore, to the God of all grace and joyfully give answer to what I now ask you in the name of the Lord.  (Lutheran Service Book p. 272)

HOLY MATRIMONY

We gather in the sight of God and before His Church to witness the union of this man and this woman in holy matrimony.  This is an honorable estate instituted and blessed by God in Paradise, before humanity's fall ito sin.
In marriage we see a picture of the communion between Christ and His bride, the Church.  Our Lord blessed and honored marriage with His presence and first miracle at Cana in Galilee.  This estate is also commended to us by the apostle Paul as good and honorable.  Therefore, marriage is not to be entered into inadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.
 
The union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for the mutual companionship, help, and support that each person ought to receive from the other, both in prosperity and adversity.  Marriage was also ordained so that man and woman may find delight in one another.  Therefore, all persons who marry shall take a spouse in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust, for God has not called us to impurity but in holiness.  God also established marriage for the procreation of children who are to be brought up in the fear and instruction of the Lord so that they may offer Him their praise.  (Lutheran Service Book p. 275)
 
 
A MEMBER'S CHRISTIAN FUNERAL GUIDE
MAKING CONFESSION OF JESUS CHRIST … IN LIFE AND IN DEATH
 
A good place to start is to refer to the Funeral Service from pages 278-281 in the hymnal, Lutheran Service Book.  
 
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church makes a funeral pall available.  A funeral pall is a large white cloth with a cross embroidered in the middle that is placed over the casket as it is brought into the sanctuary at the beginning of the funeral service.  The pall symbolizes the gifts of the Holy Spirit and eternal benefits given to this child of God at Baptism.  “In Holy Baptism _______________ was clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness that covered all his/her sin” (LSB, pg. 278)
 
The Word of God recorded in Holy Scripture is read at the funeral service.  A Psalm, Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel passages are selected, which are appropriate to declare the praise of Him Who has given us victory over sin and death, Jesus Christ the Lord.  Suggestions can be confirmation verses and/or favorite Bible texts.
Psalm:  __________________________________
Old Testament:  __________________________
Epistle:  _________________________________
Gospel:  _________________________________
 
Lutheran Service Book also provides hymns which proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His saving death and resurrection for us.  
Entrance Hymn:  _____________________________________
Hymn before Sermon:  _____________________________________
Recessional Hymn:  _____________________________________
 
A Lutheran pastor is thankful to the Lord at the time of a funeral for the life of a confessing Christian (“… be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” Revelation 2:10) However, the faithful pastor will always draw the focus, for the benefit of those gathered, to Jesus Christ Whom we worship, and His grace alone that is sufficient for us, even for the eternal life of all who believe in Him.  “Thanks be to God, Who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
 
A LIST OF HYMNS FROM LUTHERAN SERVICE BOOK APPROPRIATE FOR A CHRISTIAN FUNERAL:
#461 - I Know That My Redeemer Lives
#490 - Jesus Lives!  The Victory’s Won
#517 - By All Your Saints in Warfare (especially stanzas 1,4,3)
#537 - Beautiful Savior
#555 - Salvation unto Us Has Come
#560 - Drawn to the Cross, Which Thou Hast Blessed
#563 - Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness
#566 - By Grace I’m Saved
#568 - If Your Beloved Son, O God
#570 - Just as I Am, without One Plea
#571 - God Loved the World So That He Gave
#575 (or #576) – My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less
#580 - The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace
#588 - Jesus Loves Me
#596 - All Christians Who Have Been Baptized
#601 - All Who Believe and Are Baptized
#606 – I Lay My Sins on Jesus
#609 – Jesus Sinners Doth Receive
#611 – Chief of Sinners Though I Be
#644 – The Church’s One Foundation
#645 – Built on the Rock
#649 – Blest Be the Tie That Binds
#656 (or #657) – A Mighty Fortress Is Our God
#664 – Fight the Good Fight
#672 – Jerusalem the Golden
#676 – Behold a Host, Arrayed in White
#677 – For All the Saints
#684 – Come unto Me, Ye Weary
#685 – Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
#701 – Draw Us to Thee
#702 – My Faith Looks Up to Thee
#709 – The King of Love My Shepherd Is
#710 – The Lord’s My Shepherd, I’ll Not Want
#715 – Jesus, Savior, Pilot Me
#718 – Jesus, Lead Thou On
#725 – Children of the Heavenly Father
#733 – O God, Our Help in Ages Past
#742 – For Me to Live Is Jesus  (Tune:  “Abide, O Dearest Jesus”)

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