Our Shepherd Lutheran Church and School

06/20/2026

THE HYMN OF THE WEEK: “LORD OF OUR LIFE”
(Lutheran Service Book #659)

“Lord of our life and God of our salvation,
Star of our night and hope of ev’ry nation:
Hear and receive Your Church’s supplication,
Lord God Almighty.

“See round Your ark the hungry billows curling;
See how Your foes their banners are unfurling
And with great spite their fiery darts are hurling,
O Lord, preserve us.

“Lord, be our light when worldly darkness veils us;
Lord, be our shield when earthly armor fails us;
And in the day when hell itself assails us,
Grant us Your peace, Lord.

“Peace in our hearts, where sinful thoughts are raging,
Peace in Your Church, our troubled souls assuaging,
Peace when the world its endless war is waging,
Peace in Your heaven.”

A common theme throughout this week’s readings (Jeremiah 20:7-13, Romans 6:12-23, Matthew 10:21-33) is the conflict between Christ’s followers and the sinful world, both within our individual selves and between us and the surrounding world. This hymn describes that conflict and reminds us of the peace that ultimately comes through Christ’s victory over sin. While Lutheran Service Book lists this hymn as being written by Matthäus Apelles von Löwenstern (1594-1648) and translated by Philip Pusey (1799-1855), many hymnals consider Pusey’s “translation” to be an original hymn only loosely based on the original German text.

The tune “Iste confessor” comes from Poitiers, first appearing in 1746. It is one of several possible tunes that this hymn’s text could fit into, our hymnal has also used it for two other hymn texts--“Christ, High-Ascended, Now in Glory Seated” ( #840) and “Only-Begotten, Word of God Eternal” ( #916).

This contemporary piano arrangement of this hymn was published by CPH in 2016. We'll hear it as part of the pre-service music at Our Shepherd this weekend.

pianist: Steve HohnstadtConcordia Publishing House, 2016https://...

06/19/2026

https://app.hirenimble.com/jobs/OurShepherdLutheranSchool
Our Middle School needs a faithful and enthusiastic teacher to join the staff of Our Shepherd Lutheran School. Is that you? Is that someone you know? Click on the link above to find out more.

06/18/2026

Hark, the voice of Jesus crying,
“Who will go and work today?
Fields are ripe and harvests waiting;
who will bear the sheaves away?”
Loud and long the Master calleth;
rich reward he offers thee.
Who will answer, gladly saying,
“Here am I, send me, send me”?

If you cannot speak like angels,
if you cannot preach like Paul,
you can tell the love of Jesus,
you can say he died for all.
If you cannot rouse the wicked
with the judgment’s dread alarms,
you can lead the little children
to the Savior’s waiting arms.

If you cannot be a watchman,
standing high on Zion’s wall,
pointing out the path to heaven,
off’ring life and peace to all,
with your prayers and with your off’rings
you can do what God demands;
you can be like faithful Aaron,
holding up the prophet’s hands.

Let none hear you idly saying,
“There is nothing I can do,”
while the multitudes are dying,
and the Master calls for you.
Take the task he gives you gladly,
let his work your pleasure be;
answer quickly when he calleth,
“Here am I, send me, send me!”

(Christian Worship 745)

06/16/2026

Are you or someone you know ready for an amazing opportunity to teach faithful middle school students in mathematics and join a growing ministry? Contact Rachel Miller, [email protected] for more information.

06/13/2026

THE HYMN OF THE WEEK: “GOD LOVED THE WORLD SO THAT HE GAVE”
(Lutheran Service Book #571)

“God loved the world so that He gave
His only Son the lost to save,
That all who would in Him believe
Should everlasting life receive.

“Christ Jesus is the ground of faith,
Who was made flesh and suffered death;
All then who trust in Him alone
Are built on this chief cornerstone.

“God would not have the sinner die;
His Son with saving grace is nigh;
His Spirit in the Word declares
How we in Christ are heaven’s heirs.

“Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son
Forgives all sins which you have done;
And, justified by Jesus’ blood,
Your Baptism grants the highest good.

“If you are sick, if death is near,
This truth your troubled heart can cheer:
Christ Jesus saves your soul from death;
That is the firmest ground of faith.

“Glory to God the Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To You, O blesséd Trinity,
Be praise now and eternally!”

There are two hymns of the week this week. The other one is #834, "O God, O Lord of Heav'n and Earth," which we'll be singing this weekend at Our Shepherd.

The hymnwriter Johann Olearius (1611-1684) drew upon one of the most loved and well-known passages in all of Scripture, “For God so loved the world, that He sent His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), to write this hymn, originally “Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt.” This was translated into English by August Crull (1845-1923) for the Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book of 1912. Both Crull’s translation and the original begin by echoing the sentiment of John 3:16 and end with a doxology stanza.

With the text being written in long meter (four lines of eight syllables each), there are many tunes that can be used for this hymn. Lutheran Service Book uses the tune “St. Crispin,” which was composed in 1862 by George Elvey (1816-1893) for the hymn “Just as I Am, without One Plea.” Ironically, in Lutheran Service Book, “Just as I Am” can be found on the opposite page ( #570) as this week’s hymn, with a different melody by a different composer, but harmonized by Elvey.

The following arrangement of this tune comes from volume 10 of CPH’s “Hymn Prelude Library,” which came out in 2017. The composer, Wayne Wold, serves as professor of music at Hood College in Frederick, Maryland director of music at First Lutheran Church in Ellicott City, Maryland.

"Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness" #563"God Loved the World So T...

06/12/2026

Calling all bibliophiles! We are needing an individual to help maintain the Our Shepherd school library and work with a faithful and joyous staff. Part time flexible hours! Contact Rachel Miller, [email protected] , with questions or interest.

06/06/2026

THE HYMN OF THE WEEK: "LET ME BE THINE FOREVER"
(Lutheran Service Book #689)

"Let me be Thine Forever,
My faithful God and Lord;
Let me forsake Thee never
Nor wander from Thy Word.
Lord, do not let me waver,
But give me steadfastness,
And for such grace forever
Thy holy Name I'll bless.

"Lord Jesus, my salvation,
My light, my life divine,
My only consolation,
O make me wholly Thine!
For Thou hast dearly bought me
With blood and bitter pain.
Let me, since Thou hast sought me,
Eternal life obtain.

"And Thou, O Holy Spirit,
My comforter and guide,
Grant that in Jesus' merit
I always may confide.
Him to the end confessing
Whom I have known by faith,
Give me Thy constant blessing
And grant a Christian death."

"Let Me Be Thine Forever" #689"Through Jesus' Blood and Merit" #74...

06/05/2026

Look at all the fun that happened this week as Our Shepherd Summer camp! Sign up for next weeks adventures. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfY1Rs2XqTld0Th7BO7H9YsQRtPnO95LhZCtt51KlG16mVTgQ/viewform

06/01/2026

Summer camp begins today! Have you registered? https://us.list-manage.com/RyjN9qsebIl?e=2bc885a188&c2id=2a22c3e88cc2cd9df5f5cb96cc3723bf

05/31/2026