Martin Luther's Evening Prayer

Boredom, like anger, is an experience, not a sin, but it can set us up for temptation. Dr. Zeile's message based on Israel's experience in the wilderness alerts us to the folly that awaits those who cannot "wait upon the Lord." After Psalm 146, Luther's hymn on the Lord's Prayer is sung ("Our Father Thou in Heaven Above"), then the sermon; afterward the Nice...

One of the painful experiences of the 21st Century is REJECTION by those who know us best. It is sobering to reflect on the fact that Jesus Christ shared this painful experience, alienation from those He loved. This sermon is accompanied by readings of Nehemiah 8 and 1 Corinthians 12, Psalm 19, and the hymn "O Christ our True and Only Light." Confession & Absolution, the Kyrie, Glori...

This meditation for Transfiguration Sunday is accompanied by Psalm 121, a General Prayer (prayer for blessing in general, for all in general, as opposed to particular requests for particular persons), and Transfiguration hymns, "Jesus on the Mountain Peak,"  and the western-sounding "Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory." Send us Fan Mail

Abram was given a new name, Abraham, because he found a new identity as a father of many nations (peoples). Dr. Zeile's meditation on this promise shows how it is fulfilled in our day (3 billion people today look to him as a Father), and that through the baptism commanded by Christ we, too, are given a new identity as children of God, heirs of the Promise first given to Abraham. Psalm 103 acc...

We often regard rules negatively as restricting our freedom; yet God's Law enables us to accomplish things we could not achieve before, just as rules make activities from chess to driving possible. Dr. Zeile's meditation brings out God intended blessing to us through His rules, and His remedy for those of us who have failed to keep them. Send us Fan Mail

This message on the Foolishness of God being wiser than man's wisdom is accompanied by Matthew 15, the Nicene Creed, and a choir singing "Dona Nobis Pacem" ("give us peace"). Send us Fan Mail

This A Capella service begins with the contemporary hymn, "Only a Holy God," then Continues with readings from 1 Corinthians, Psalm 27, and Matthew. Dr. Zeile's meditation concerns the painful truth that family members, particularly adult children, may reject the faith. In this situation we are invited to imitate Jesus' love for the lost, He who died even for those who would ev...

After the beginning of Evening Prayer (Vespers), this message, suitable for the New Year, explains the new life Christians are called to live, not by their own power but by Christ. The classic hymn, "The Advent of our King," and a choir anthem are included. Send us Fan Mail

This service for New Year's Eve begins with prayers entitled "Devotion to the Holy Infancy," Psalm 8, and the homily on the meaning of the name Jesus, meaning "Savior" and its two aspects, that of rescue and the other of healing. Hymns, "Infant Holy, Infant Lowly" and Longfellow's translation of "Oh, How Blessed" are also included. Send us Fan Mail

This Christmas episode includes reading of the Christmas Gospel, Luke 2, interspersed with hymn or choir selections. Dr. Zeile's meditation on Psalm 126 brings out the Gospel quality of being so much better than we could imagine. Send us Fan Mail

In the 6th of the series on Seven Deadly Sins Dr. Zeile discusses the psychological need to hoard things and to put our trust into material possessions which will pass away. This was preached on Holy Thursday and parts of the service are included including the confession and the Gospel reading of Judas objecting to the expensive oil used to anoint Jesus due to Judas' own avarice. Send us Fan...

In this 4th in a series on Seven Deadly Sins, Dr. Zeile speaks frankly of the social,  psychological, and spiritual damage this temptation has wreaked upon modern society where people have been exploited and rejected by those who have known them intimately. The Lenten Passion reading, Elements of Vespers/Evening Prayer, and special prayer directed toward this temptation accompany this meditation. ...

Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation. Send us Fan Mail

This is 2nd in Dr. Zeile's series on the Seven Deadly Sins, often called "Capital" sins, not because they are worse than other sins but because they are the sources or motivations for sinful acts. Dr. Zeile explains the deadly aspect, in natural terms, of gluttony, a sin primarily of the body. Accompanied by elements of Evening Prayer, a hymn composed for the deadly sins is included...

This is the third message in Dr. Zeile's Lenten series on the Seven Deadly Sins. In addition to elements of Evening Prayer (Vespers) are included the classis hymn, "Thousand, Thousand Thanks Shall Be,"  and Dr. Zeile's own hymn on the Deadly Sins.   Send us Fan Mail

This begins a series on the 7 Deadly Sins: Sloth, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Avarice, Envy, and Pride. Dr. Zeile's meditation on this, the "deadest" of the deadly sins includes elements of Evening Prayer (Vespers), and the Passion reading from Lent. Send us Fan Mail

This message is based on the Psalmist's prayer which was fulfilled for all believers at Pentecost. Dr. Zeile's sermon is accompanied by the Confessional rite, Introit, Gloria in Excelsis, a reading from Acts 2 and the classic medieval hymn, Come Holy Ghost." Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation. Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation. Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation Send us Fan Mail

Abram was promised a son, and waited for God to provide. When Abram fretted about this God gave him a new name, "Abraham" meaning "Father of Many." That this childless old man should take on this name was a testimony before the world that Abraham believed God. Dr. Zeile applies this episode to believers who bear the name of "Christians" and are witnesses to the world....

Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation. Send us Fan Mail

"Who is a God Like Ours?" asks the prophet Micah. This prompts a meditation on how the revealed faith of Christ differs from some of the major religions in the world and popular in the secular West. Dr. Zeile shows that the common belief that all religions believe basically the same is deeply mistaken, and how the unique religion of Christ is essential for an authentic relationship with...

Dr. Zeile reads the Psalm in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James Version, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rheims translation. Send us Fan Mail

This message, delivered for the Festival of Saints Peter & Paul, addresses the Office of the Keys, the authority of the Pastoral Office (or Office of the Holy Ministry). Many Protestants believe that pastors' only authority is human-bestowed and can be taken away by human institutions, but the Biblical doctrine is that Christ Himself appointed men to be pastors and gave them authority. Dr...