Grace’s 2017 Lenten Midweek Services - “Small Catechism, Big Lessons”

​2017 is the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany - the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.  In honor of this anniversary our Lenten Wednesday worship services are designed around one of Luther’s most famous writings, Luther’s Small Catechism.  This small booklet was designed to help parents teach their children the basic beliefs of our Christian faith with simple explanations of the Ten Commandments, Apostles’ Creed, Lord’s Prayer and of our Lutheran sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion.

During Lent our 7:00 p.m. services, which will use the beautiful “Holden Evening Prayer”, will focus each week on one part of Luther’s Small Catechism and how it ties into the story of Jesus.

March 8 – The Ten Commandments – God’s laws on how to relate to him and to others are the basis of our lives.  Jesus’ ministry was built around how he taught the Ten Commandments, and God’s other laws, in deeper, more meaningful ways.  They guided Jesus’ ministry.

March 15 – The Apostles’ Creed – The Creed is nothing more than a brief summary of what we believe; an easy-to-remember Gospel in miniature.  The Second Article of the Creed focuses on who Jesus is and what he has done for us which is at the heart of Lent.

March 22 – The Lord’s Prayer – Jesus taught this prayer to his disciples.  It is the model of a perfect prayer as it calls upon us to focus, in prayer, on our relationship with our Heavenly Father, on our own faith, and on our relationships with others.  Luther called upon Christians to know this prayer, to say it daily and let it guide us on our journey of faith.

March 29 – Holy Baptism – Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.  John’s gospel tells us Jesus even baptized others.  Baptism in Jesus’ name was the entry rite into the church for the first Christians and continues to be so today.  Luther explains to us what the water and God’s holy Word mean for us as followers of Jesus Christ.

April 5 – Holy Communion – On the last night of his life Jesus changed the ancient Jewish Passover meal.  He declared that the bread and wine shared at that meal were his body and blood.  The power of the sacrament of Holy Communion ties us intimately to our Lord Jesus.