“Christian”—Do you take this name for granted? Because it is a name that was given to you, rather than one you chose, perhaps you fail to appreciate the importance of that name. Have you become so accustomed to using it when referring to yourself or to the Church, that you have forgotten what it means?

From the beginning of your life until its end your Pastor is there so that you might have faith in Jesus. That’s what your Pastor has been called by Jesus to do.

There is another time in your life when your Pastor is there—when you are sick, hospitalized, or facing surgery. In fact, a very important part of your Pastor’s work “during the week” is making calls on the sick.

Why are you here? Put another way, the question is, “Why do you go to church on Sunday?" 

The answer to the above question is a resounding "Yes." For the Lord has given this commandment, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." To keep the Sabbath day holy is to set it apart for the Lord's purposes, that is, for the Sabbath rest that He gives to His Church in His Word and Sacraments.

During the Lenten mid-week Vespers we have been learning about Individual Confession and Absolution. We have been listening to the Word of God from the Penitential Psalms and have been instructed from the Small Catechism as we have learned about the importance of Individual Confession and Absolution in the life of believers and Christian congregations.