Zion Lutheran Church (LCMS)

A Guide for Daily Prayer and Meditation: May 4 - 11, 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 May LSB 633 At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing

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

Verse of the Week: Romans 6:9; Luke 24:32

We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 

Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?

Daily Lectionary

The Lord’s Prayer: The Conclusion

For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen

What does this mean?

This means that I should be certain that these petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven, and are heard by Him; for He Himself has commanded us to pray in this way and has promised to hear us.  Amen, amen means “yes, yes, it shall be so.” (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)

Shirley Arndt, 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 Grunwald (Susan’s father), Richard Hanson, Marlys Jones, Pastor Jones, Rick Lahner (Carter’s grandfather), Greg Leland, Missy Lien (Thomas family friend), Lacie Miles (Chrystal’s sister-in-law), Marlene Paulson (Dianne Schroeder’s sister), Kathy Peterson, Doris Post, Mark Radl, Dianne Schroeder, Kara Simmons (Pastor & Susan Thomas’ goddaughter), Pastor Szedlak, Anna Thomas (Carol Gale’s mother), Jeff Thomas (Pastor’s brother), Ethel Vance

Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter

O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Prayer based on The Lord’s Prayer: The Conclusion[1]

Our Father in heaven, grant us certainty to pray according to Your command and in the confidence that You have promised to hear us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Let us bless the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Excerpts from the Large Catechism on the Conclusion of The Lord’s Prayer

-All depends on this, that we learn also to say “Amen.” This means that we do not doubt that our prayer is surely heard and that what we pray shall be done. This is nothing else than the word of undoubting faith, which does not pray on a dare but knows that God does not lie to him. For He has promised to grant it. Therefore, where there is no such faith, there cannot be true prayer either. (422:119-120)

-It is, therefore, an evil deception on those who pray as though they could not dare from the heart to say “Yes!” and positively conclude that God hears them. Instead, they remain in doubt and say, “How can I be so bold as to boast that God hears my prayer? For I am but a poor sinner,” and other such things. The reason for this is, they do not respect God’s promise, but they rely on their own work and worthiness, by which they despise God and accuse Him of lying. Therefore, they receive nothing. As St. James says, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.” Behold, God attaches such importance to this fact that we can be sure we do not pray in vain, so that we do not despise our prayer in any way. 

 (422-423:121-124)

Bible verses for meditation on the Conclusion of the Lord’s Prayer

-If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 15:7

-Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

-Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation… And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Hebrews 11:1-2, 6

-For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:11-13

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