Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: June 29–July 6, 2025

Pray and confess out loud as much as you are able or based on your family size and ages. (Alternative orders in LSB pp295-8)

+++

The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Hymn of the Month for June LSB 709 The King of Love My Shepherd Is

Hymn of the Month for July  LSB 953 We All Believe in One True God

One or more verses from the hymn of the month are sung, or another hymn may be chosen.

Verse of the Week: Luke 9:51

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

Daily Lectionary

The Benefit of the Sacrament of the Altar

What is the benefit of this eating and drinking?

These words, Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins, show us that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these words. For where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation.

How can bodily eating and drinking do such great things?

Certainly not just eating and drinking do these things, but the words written here: Given and shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. These words, along with the bodily eating and drinking, are the main thing in the Sacrament. Whoever believes these words has exactly what they say: forgiveness of sins. (Go to bottom of next page for related Bible verses and/or excerpts from Large Catechism.)

The Apostles’ Creed is confessed † Lord’s Prayer † Prayers for Others and Ourselves (see LSB 305-318 for prayers)

In Our Prayers: Those who are suffering:  Shirley Arndt, Dave Ashlin, Gabby Arnquist (Lyn Brace’s sister’s granddaughter), Dave Ashlin, Vicki Bellore, Fred Burkart (Tiffany Drinkman’s father), Anita Dommer, Duane Draeger (Janet Fischer’s brother), Dan Drinkman, JoAnn Ehlers, Lois Eichinger, Louis and Mary Gettler, Harold & Joan Grunwald (Susan’s parents), Chuck Heidtke (Ed’s brother), Linda Hull, Marlys Jones, Pastor Jones, Rick Lahner (Carter’s grandfather), Greg Leland, Missy Lien (Thomas family friend), Lacie Miles (Chrystal’s sister-in-law), Marilyn Norton (Rev Norton’s wife), Marlene Paulson (Dianne Schroeder’s sister), Kathy Peterson, Doris Post, Mark Radl, Pastor Szedlak, Jeff Thomas (Pastor’s brother), Ethel Vance

Collect for the Third Sunday After Pentecost

Lord of all power and might, author and giver of all good things, graft into our hearts the love of Your name and nourish us with all goodness that we may love and serve our neighbor; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on the Sacrament of the Altar[1]

Lord Jesus Christ, You suffered in Your holy body and shed Your precious blood to redeem your fallen creatures. Grant us to come often to Your Supper, trusting in Your promise, and so to receive to our everlasting benefit the gifts You give in Your body and blood: forgiveness of our sins, life with You, and eternal salvation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Sacrament of the Altar                                                                       

-It is indeed called a food of souls, which nourishes and strengthens the new man. For by Baptism we are first born anew. But, as we said before, there still remains the old vicious nature of flesh and blood in mankind. There are so many hindrances and temptations of the devil and of the world that we often become weary and faint, and sometimes we also stumble. Therefore, the sacrament is given as a daily pasture and sustenance, that faith may refresh and strengthen itself so that it will not fall back in such a battle, but become even stronger and stronger…. Now to this purpose the comfort of the Sacrament is given when the heart feels that the burden is becoming too heavy, so that it may gain here new power and refreshment. (434-435:23-24, 27)

-Those who want to be Christians may prepare to receive this praiseworthy Sacrament often. (436:39)

-     It must be known that people who deprive themselves of and withdraw from the Sacrament for such a long time are not to be considered Christians. (436:42)

-      This is certainly true, as I have found in my own experience, and as everyone will find in his own case: if a person withdraws like this from the Sacrament, he will daily become more and more callous and cold, and will at last disregard the Sacrament completely. To avoid this, we must examine our heart and conscience, and we must act like people who desire to be right with God. The more this is done, the more the heart will be warmed and enkindled, so it may not become entirely cold. (437:53-54)

-But if you say, “How can I come if I feel that I am not prepared?” (437:55)

Bible Verses for Meditation on the Sacrament of the Altar

-John 6:35, John 6:51, John 6:54, John 15:5, 1 Corinthians 11:23-30, Acts 2:42, 46-47

[1] Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation. St. Louis: Concordia, 2017.