Saint Athanasius Lutheran Church

08/28/2026

Commemoration of Saint Augustine- August 28

Augustine was one of the greatest of the Latin Church Fathers and a significant influence in the formation of Western Christianity, including Lutheranism. Born in AD 354 in North Africa, Augustine’s early life was distinguished by exceptional advancement as a teacher of rhetoric. In his book Confessions he describes his life before his conversion to Christianity, when he was drawn into the moral laxity of the day and fathered an illegitimate son. Through the devotion of his sainted mother, Monica, and the preaching of Ambrose, bishop of Milan (AD 339-97), Augustine was converted to the Christian faith. During the great Pelagian controversies of the fifth century, Augustine emphasized the unilateral grace of God in the salvation of mankind. Bishop and theologian at Hippo in North Africa from AD 395 until his death in AD 430, Augustine was a man of great intelligence, a fierce defender of the orthodox faith, and a prolific writer. In addition to Confessions, Augustine’s book City of God had a great impact upon the Church throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance. - Treasury of Daily Prayer

08/20/2026

Commemoration of Samuel

Samuel, last of the Old Testament judges and first of the prophets (after Moses), lived during the 111th century B.C. The child of Elkanah, an Ephraimite, and his wife Hannah, Samuel was from early on consecrated by his parents for sacred service and trained in the house of the Lord at Shiloh by Eli the priest. Samuel’s authority as a prophet was established by God (1 Sam. 3:20). He anointed Saul to be Israel’s first king (10:1). Later, as a result of Saul’s disobedience to God, Samuel repudiated Saul’s leadership and then anointed David to be king in place of Saul (16:13). Samuel’s loyalty to God, his spiritual insight, and his ability to inspire others made him one of Israel’s great leaders.

Source: https://files.lcms.org/file/preview/Eqm0sBtilV1kI57LHE7XkLDDgl0mV2ng

08/12/2026

Over the centuries, the Christian Church has set aside specific days to remember persons and events that were significant in the proclamation of the Gospel.

What are the benefits of observing the commemorations?

The purpose of the commemorations is to focus the hearts and minds of those who observe them on
Christ Jesus and his Gospel. Following the examples of Holy Scripture and the guidance of our Lutheran
Confessions, these commemorations serve the helpful purpose of teaching the Christian faith and life and encouraging the praise and thanksgiving of God in Christ. At the same time, by giving this appropriate attention to the saints who have gone before us, we discourage inappropriate and superstitious ways of remembering them. Instead, we give thanks to God for demonstrating his mercy through them, a practice which our Lutheran Confessions call “truly worthwhile” (Apology to the Augsburg Confession, XXI, 36).

08/06/2026

08/01/2026

The Scriptures flatly call natural man in spiritual and divine things darkness (Ephesians 5:8; Acts 26:18). John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness” (that is, in the dark, blind world, which does not know or regard God), “and the darkness has not overcome it.” Likewise, the Scriptures teach that a sinful person is not only weak and sick, but also finished and entirely dead (Ephesians 2:1-5; Colossians 2:13).

Now, a person who is physically dead cannot from his own powers prepare or make himself come back to life again. So the person who is spiritually dead in sins cannot by his own strength make or apply himself to acquire spiritual and heavenly righteousness and life. This is true unless he is delivered and brought to life by God’s Son from the death of sin.

The Scriptures deny to the intellect, heart, and will of the natural man all readiness, skill, capacity, and ability to think, to understand, to be able to do, to begin, to will, to undertake, to act, to work, or to agree to work anything good and right in spiritual things from himself.

“The natural person does not accept [or, as the Greek word properly signifies, grasps not, comprehends not, accepts not] the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). This means he is not capable of spiritual things. For they are foolishness to him; neither can he know them. Much less will he truly believe the Gospel or agree with it and regard it as truth.

For the mind that is set on the flesh [or the mind of the natural man] is hostile to God, for it does not submit
to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. (Romans 8:7)

In a word, what God’s Son says remains eternally true, “For apart from Me you can do nothing” [John 15:5].

Paul says, “For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure” [Philippians 2:13].

—Solid Declaration of the Formula of Concord II 10-14

07/25/2026

July 25: Feast of St. James the Elder Apostle.

St. James and his brother John, sons of Zebedee and Salome (see Matthew 27:56 and Mark 15:40), were fishermen in the Sea of Galilee who were called with Peter and his brother Andrew to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-22). In the Gospel lists of Jesus’ disciples, James is listed following Peter and preceding John. Together, these three appear as leaders of the Twelve. Because James precedes John, it is reasons that James is the elder of the Brothers. The Book of Acts records that James was beheaded by Herod Agrippa I, probably between AD 42 and 44 (Acts 12:1-2). Thus James is the first of the Twelve to die a martyr.

03/25/2026

Annunciation of our Lord - March 25

The Annunciation commemorates the visit of the angel Gabriel to the blessed Virgin Mary, announcing that the eternal Son of God would take up human flesh in her womb and, in accordance with Isaiah’s prophecy, be born of a virgin.

His message declared that God showed undeserved kindness to Mary and, by faith in His Word, Christ was conceived in her. In this way, she is a godly example of faith for us also — how a Christian hears the Words and promises of God and says, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

The Annunciation is appointed for March 25, from which date Christmas came to be observed as the birth of Christ (nine months later). When the Annunciation falls in Passiontide, Holy Week or Easter, it is observed at another time. - Source: https://calendar.lcms.org/event/annunciation-of-our-lord/2025-03-25/

c. 1480
Albert Bouts
(Netherlandish, 1451/55–1549)
Netherlands, Leuven, 15th century

03/18/2026

Wednesday — Lent 4

You must honor Baptism and consider it glorious because of the Word. For God Himself has honored it both by words and deeds. Furthermore, He has confirmed it with miracles from heaven. Do you think that it was a joke that, when Christ was baptized, the heavens were opened and the Holy Spirit descended visibly, and everything was divine glory and majesty [Luke 3:21-22]?

- Luther's Large Catechsim IV 21

03/04/2026

Wednesday - Lent 2

Artist: Bartolomeo Biscaino
Genoese, 1629 - 1657

02/25/2026

Lent 1 Midweek Service | February 25, 2026

Soup Supper at 6:30PM
Lenten Vespers at 7:30PM

Psalm 32
Blessed Are the Forgiven
A Maskil of David.

Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah

I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.

You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.

Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

----------------------

Artwork
Title: The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak
Artist: Albert Bierstadt (American, Solingen 1830–1902 New York)
Date: 1863