Devotional Helps, November 2-8

Philipp Nicolai is a hero of the faith. At the age of thirty, he was forced out of his first parish because of opposition by local Catholics. He was able to diagnose the theological issues with the Calvinists of the time and was brought to the town of Unna because the Lutherans were having issues with the area Calvinists. One year after his arrival, an epidemic killed 1,300 of his members in a six-month span. There was a time where he was burying over thirty members a day. It was during this epidemic that he wrote the hymn Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying. The hymn deals with the parable of the wise and foolish virgins found in our Gospel text for Sunday. May we be constantly ready and prepared. We never know what day will be our last, as Rev. Nicolai saw firsthand.

Readings-

Monday- Jeremiah 1:1-19; Matthew 21:23-46

Tuesday- Jeremiah 3:6-4:2; Matthew 22:1-22

Wednesday- Jeremiah 5:1-19; Matthew 22:23-46

Thursday- Jeremiah 7:1-29; Matthew 23:1-12

Friday- Jeremiah 8:18-9:12; Matthew 23:13-39

Saturday- Jeremiah 11:1-23; Matthew 24:1-28

Sunday- Amos 5:18-24; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13

Collect for the 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Small Catechism- (If you want, try and memorize this by next Sunday.)

(From the Table of Duties)- To Parents- “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4)

To Children- “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and your mother’—which is the first commandment with a promise – ‘that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.’” (Ephesians 6:1-3) (3rd grade +)

Weekly Hymn of Emphasis- LSB 516 Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying

Helpful prayers from the Lutheran Prayer Companion this week- 297, 371, 436, 434, 440