BLC Chapel Services

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• The Third Article: Sanctification (p. 32): I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
• Hymn 1 - Blessed Jesus, At Thy Word (View)
• Romans 8:26-27: Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
• Devotion
• Prayer
• Hymn 37 - We All Believe in One True God (View)
• Blessing
• Postlude

Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Joel Hermanson (Organist)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Hymn 378 - Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice (View): vv. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
• Acts 18:5-11: When Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia, Paul was compelled by the Spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ. But when they opposed him and blasphemed, he shook his garments and said to them, “Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” And he departed from there and entered the house of a certain man named Justus, one who worshiped God, whose house was next door to the synagogue. Then Crispus, the ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his household. And many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized. Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.
• Devotion
• The Earth Adorned (Psalm of Summer / Waldemar Åhlén): The earth adorned in verdant robe sends praises upward surging, While soft winds breathe on fragrant flow’rs from winter now emerging. The sunshine bright gives warmth and light to budding blossoms tender, proclaiming summer splendor. From out the wood, the birds now sing and each its song now raises, To join with all the universe in voicing thankful praises. With hope and joy, their songs employ a rapturous exaltation in praise of God’s creation. Men du, o Gud, som gör vår jord så skön i sommarns stunder, Giv, att jag aktar främst ditt ord och dina nådesunder. Allt kött är hö och blomstren dö, och tiden allt fördriver; Blott Herrens ord förbliver. O God, amid these joys of life, creation’s glory beaming, Grant us the grace to keep your Word and live in love redeeming. All flesh is grass, the flowers fade, and time is fleeting ever; God’s Word remains forever. (Translation: Carolyn and Kenneth Jennings)
• Prayer
• Blessing
• Announcement
• Postlude

Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Kaleb Schmidt (Organist), Prof. Ann Fredrickson (Choir Director), Mary Martha Singers (Choral Group)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Psalm 122: I Rejoiced (Stephen Dean): Refrain: I rejoiced when I heard them say, "Let us go to the house of the Lord." I rejoiced when I heard them say, "Let us go to the house of the Lord!" / I rejoiced... I rejoiced when I heard them say, "Let us go to God's house." And now our feet are standing in your gates, O Jerusalem! / I rejoiced... Jerusalem is built as a city, strongly compact. It is there that the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord! / I rejoiced... For Israel's law it is, there to praise the Lord's name. There were set the thrones of judgement of the house of Israel! / I rejoiced...
• Acts 2:42-47: They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.
• Devotion
• Prayer
• Hymn 212 - Lord Jesus, Thou the Church's Head (View)
• Blessing
• Postlude

Service Participants: Rev. Glenn Obenberger, Pres. of the ELS (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Dennis Marzolf (Pianist), William Stottlemyer (Soloist)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Hymn 581 - Draw Us To Thee, in Mind and Heart (View)
• The Versicles (pp. 120-121)
• James 1:16-21: Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures. So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
• Homily
• The Versicle (p. 122)
• The Nunc Dimittis (p. 124)
• The Kyrie (p. 124)
• The Lord's Prayer (p. 125)
• Hymn 584 - Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord (View)
• The Collect (pp. 125-127)
• The Benedicamus (p. 127)
• The Benediction (p. 127)
• Hymn 586 - How Blest Are They Who Hear God's Word (View)
• Postlude

Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Organist)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Hymn 486 - The Church's One Foundation (View): vv. 1, 2, 3
• 1 Peter 4:12-14: Dear friends, do not be surprised by the fiery trial that is happening among you to test you, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead rejoice whenever you are sharing in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted in connection with the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you.
• Devotion
• Prayer
• Hymn 486 - The Church's One Foundation (View): vv. 4, 5
• Blessing
• Postlude

Service Participants: Rev. Tim Hartwig, President, Bethany Lutheran Theological Seminary (Preacher), Laura Matzke (Organist)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Hymn 33 - We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost (View)
• Acts 2:29-36: “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” ’ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
• Devotion
• Prayer
• Hymn 28 - O How Holy is This Place (View): vv. 1, 4, 5
• Blessing
• Postlude

Service Participants: Rev. Prof. Brian Klebig (Preacher), BLC Chamber Orchestra (Musician), Naomi Anderson (Musician)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Prayer for Monday Morning, p. 168
• Hymn 402 - Holy Ghost, With Light Divine (View): vv. 1, 3, 4
• John 16:12-16: “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you. “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”
• Devotion
• Prayer: P: At the beginning of the week I cry unto You, O holy Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ, that You would fill my heart and mind with Your Holy Spirit. C: Help us, O God, by Your Holy Spirit, for the sake of Jesus Christ, to keep Your Word in pure hearts, that we thereby may be strengthened in faith, perfected in holiness, and comforted in life and death. Amen.
• Hymn 401 - O Day Full of Grace That Now We See (View)
• Blessing
• Postlude

Service Participants: Chaplain Don Moldstad (Preacher), Micah Smith (Organist)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Luther's Morning Prayer (p. 36): In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 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 You to protect 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 wicked foe may have no power over me. Amen.
• Hymn 57 - Evening and Morning, Sunset and Dawning (View): vv. 1, 2, 4
• Commentary: Paul Gerhardt will preach to us this morning through his hymns. Paul Gerhardt is the greatest German hymnwriter after Martin Luther. He lived through the difficult times of the Thirty Years War. Death took his wife and his children. Yet he writes hymns of dearest comfort and consolation, such as: Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve me? Gerhardt’s hymns are very personal and devotional, while at the same time also teaching the doctrines of the Christian faith. He thanks God for creation, for salvation, and for the consolation of the Holy Spirit. He prays for himself, the whole church, and the whole world.
• Hymn 52 - All Ye Who On This Earth Do Dwell (View): vv. 1 - 4
• Commentary: Gerhardt’s hymns take us through the whole life of Jesus our Savior. The next three hymns commemorate that Jesus was born, died, and rose again for our salvation. As we sing these three hymns, contemplate that Jesus was born for you, died for you, and rose again for you.
• Hymn 128 - Come, Your Hearts and Voices Raising (View): vv. 1, 3, 5, 7
• Hymn 304 - Upon the Cross Extended (View): vv. 1, 4, 12
• Hymn 341 - Awake, My Heart, With Gladness (View): vv. 1, 6
• Commentary: The work of the Holy Spirit is to bring us to spiritual life again because we are born dead in trespasses and sins. The Holy Spirit is given to us in baptism and lives within us throughout our life. He intercedes for us with our inexpressible groanings, when we don’t know how to put our prayers into words. We are forgiven for our sins. We are beloved by God through faith in Christ. We are children of God and our eternal home is in heaven.
• Hymn 400 - O Enter, Lord, Thy Temple (View)
• Commentary: When we pray in Jesus’ name, that is, with faith in Christ, God hears our prayers and answers them. He promises to guard and protect us, to keep us steadfast, and to bring us to heaven. We pray for ourselves, our family, and we join all Christians around the world in thanking God who is our Maker, Redeemer, and Comforter.
• Hymn 569 - Now Rest Beneath Night's Shadow (View): vv. 1, 4, 6
• The Benediction (p. 87)

Service Participants: Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Preacher), Kaleb Schmidt (Organist)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• Blest are They D. Haas: Blest are they, the poor in spirit, theirs is the kingdom of God. Blest are they, full of sorrow, they shall be consoled. / All: Rejoice… Blest are they, the lowly ones, they shall inherit the earth. Blest are they who hunger and thirst; they shall have their fill. / All: Rejoice… Blest are they who show mercy, mercy shall be theirs. Blest are they, the pure of heart, they shall see God! All: Rejoice… Blest are they who seek peace; they are the children of God. Blest are they who suffer in faith, the glory of God is theirs. / All: Rejoice… Blest are you who suffer hate, all because of me. Rejoice and be glad, yours is the kingdom; shine for all to see. / All: Rejoice… (twice)
• Lamentations 3:18-26: And I said, “My strength and my hope have perished from the Lord.” Remember my affliction and roaming, the wormwood and the gall. My soul still remembers and sinks within me. This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I hope in Him!” The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
• Prayer
• Hymn 377 - Why Should Cross and Trial Grieve Me? (View): vv. 1, 2, 3, 4, 7
• Blessing
• Postlude

Service Participants: Rev. Shawn Stafford (Preacher), Andrew Wade (Instrumentalist), Caleb Schulte (Singer), Daryan Rosenthal (Singer), Rev. Prof. Dennis Marzolf (Pianist), Hannah Caauwe (Instrumentalist), Kaleb Schmidt (Singer)

Order of Service:

• Prelude
• The Confession of Sin (p. 120)
• Hymn 56 - Ye Lands, To the Lord Make a Jubilant Noise (View)
• The Versicles (pp. 120-121)
• The Name of Jesus (Craig Courtney)
• Homily
• Choir Canticle: Magnificat, arr. R. Kreutz: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my Savior. For He has looked upon His lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His Name. He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation. He has shown the strength of His arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He remembered His promise of mercy, The promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.
• The Kyrie (p. 124)
• The Lord's Prayer (p. 125)
• Hymn 584 - Grant Peace, We Pray, in Mercy, Lord (View)
• The Collect (pp. 125-127)
• The Benedicamus (p. 127)
• The Benediction (p. 127)
• Hymn 596 - Praise To Thee and Adoration (View)
• Postlude

Service Participants: Peter Estrem (Preacher), Rev. Prof. Mark DeGarmeaux (Organist), Prof. Ann Fredrickson (Choir Director), Mary Martha Singers (Choral Group)