Martin Luther's Evening Prayer

What is in a name? It is the identity of the person. In the case of Jesus, it is the name that means "Savior" and no other name saves. This is why Christmas historically is a big deal. God Himself came into our world so that the world might be healed and so that people could have union with God. Dr. Zeiule's meditation is preceded by the Deacon's litany with its response of Kyr...

The Blessing of the Advent Wreath, Kyrie, Collect, and readings from Isaiah 64 and Mark 11 accompany Dr. Zeile's message on this theme of waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. St. Ambrose classic hymn, "Savior of the Nations, Come" is also included. Send us Fan Mail

In the season of Advent (which means "arrival"), we meditate on the Three Advents which pertain to Past, Future, and Present. Christ came in the past in fulfillment of the Old Testament promises of the Messiah, and we celebrate this on Christmas. Christ has promised to come in the future to judge the living and the dead. But in the present Christ comes to believers in His Word and Sacram...

At the Palm Sunday entrance into Jerusalem, Jesus was greeted by the crowd who acclaimed Him "Son of David." The pharisees were in despair, telling each other "The whole world has gone after Him!" They were seeing the future, a future hidden by the cross but revealed in the resurrection. God's triumph in Christ may be veiled to our eyes now, but His victory is assured. Dr....

When Elijah was at the nadir of his fortunes, fleeing for his life and alone in the desert, God sent an angel to give him bread and water which were divine food that enabled him to travel 40 days to Horeb, (or Sinai) where God had revealed Himself to Moses. In the Body and Blood of Christ given in Holy Communion, God gives us an even more potent food which enables eternal life! This meditation is...

John wanted to stop those who cast out devils in Jesus' name because they were not of their group. Jesus said that those who are not against Him are for Him, and cautioned against allowing loyalty to a group cancel the kindness or respect we owe to others. This is relevant in our day to what some have called "Tribalism." Dr. Zeile's careful discussion distinguishes what is prai...

In this reflection, Dr. Zeile discusses the reasons Christ taught in parables, in part to reveal, and in part to conceal. The Nicene Creed and Communion rite accompany this message. Send us Fan Mail

The woman with a flow of blood had heard the Gospel- that Jesus had power of God to heal and love of people who suffered- and acted boldly. Only she knew her uncleanness but she confessed when Jesus asked. Faith that reaches out to Jesus overcomes our sin! This meditation is accompanied by elements of the Service of Prayer and Preaching, and the classic Luther hymn, "In the Midst of Earthly L...

Dr. Zeile's message reflects on John the Baptist's call to confront the reigning monarch on his adulterous marriage. He notes that Jesus' supported but did not make Himself part of John's mission, for He had a differing call (and more important work). Nevertheless, It shows the Christian's duty to influence the political world for the common good, even if perfection in a f...

This meditation on the stilling of the storm points out the parallel of Christ and Jonah who each slept through a storm at sea, and who each gave himself up for others.  The hymn "Guide Me o Thou Great Redeemer" and the Navy Hymn, along  with Isaiah 24 and the Magnificat are included. Send us Fan Mail

On Easter evening Jesus appeared to His disciples in the upper room, causing them to doubt what was real. Dr. Zeile discusses the relationship between the very real spiritual and material worlds, and the mastery of both by the Son of God who reached into the material world to rescue us. This message is accompanied by the celebration of Holy Communion, a choal anthem "Praise to the Risen Lord,...

Beginning with the spiritual, "Go Tell It on the Mountain," this meditation on Galatians 4 ponders Paul's words about the "fullness of time." Dr. Zeile discusses the difference between the Greek words, and the insights of the Greek father Eusebius whose treatise, "The Preparation for the Gospel" identified elements of God's providence in establishing the Rom...

This meditation on Psalm 89 reflects the on the parallels between this song of David and the description of the Angel host that greeted the birth of the Son of David on Christmas morning. Matins for the Sunday after Christmas includes Isaiah 61, Galatians 4, and Psalm 111. The American classis "O Little Town of Bethlehem" is sung to the Ralph Vaughan Williams tune, and the Andreas Hammer...

The Five Wounds of Christ traditionally are the two in the hands, the two in the feet, and the spear wound in the side. In the series at St. John's we choose to meditate on the Crown of Thorns (small wounds on the Head of Christ) and one meditation on the two feet. This is a Lenten Vespers (Evening Prayer) service which includes Psalm 80, Genesis 3 (the curse of the Fall into sin), the Nicene...

A hymn, "This Joyful Eastertide" begins the program, followed by Ephesians 5 and Psalm 136. Then Dr, Zeile speaks on the Apostle John's looking back on what Jesus said and did to present the "Big Picture" of what God has done for us in Christ and what our way forward is. The Appalachian hymn "What Wondrous Love is This?" and a General Prayer follow this message....

This meditation for Lenten Vespers, the Wednesday evening service Lutherans attend during the penitential season that precedes Easter, is part of a series on the Five Wounds of Christ. Psalm 22 is prayed, a reading from Job 10, and the classic hymn, "Upon the Cross Extended are part of this program. The expected portions of Vespers, the Magnificat, collects, and Lord's Prayer are include...

This is part of a Lenten series of meditations on the Five Wounds of Christ, though the two feet and the two hands are combined into two meditations, and the Scourged Back and Crown of Thorns are included to make of the five meditations. In the present Vespers service Psalm 22, the Magnificat, and classic Lenten hymns are included: Jesus in Thy Dying Woes, Stricken Smitten, and When I Survey the W...

Many Christians fail to take St. Paul's teaching seriously when he describes us as "dead" in sin, and try to claim some power for human choice, as if the difference between the saved and the unsaved is that the saved are "more deserving." As Dr. Zeile explains, this leads to pride over fellow men, and ultimately against God. This message is accompanied by a reading from Jo...

We often think that having "favorites" is unfair, but Dr. Zeile's meditation on John 15 shows how each of us is invited to be a recipient of God's favor. Acts 10, Psalm 98, and Luther's hymn, "Dear Christians One and All Rejoice" accompany this message. Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Zeile's message for the Sunday after Easter is based on the "Doubting Thomas" account and the reality of transcendent things. The meditation is preceded by the hymn, "We Know that Christ is Risen," and followed by the Nicene Creed, a choral anthem "Praise the Risen," and the celebration of Holy Communion concluding with the 18th Century Te Deum hymn, "Ho...

Using the concept of form versus function, Dr. Zeile explains what Christ's body has in common with the temple in Jerusalem, namely the presence of God among men. Psalm 116, a catechetical recitation and a celebration of Holy Communion are included in the program, and the hymn "This New Year of Grace." Send us Fan Mail

The Program begins with the Collect for the Ascension, and then continues with Dr. Zeile's exposition of Peter's doctrine that we live in a wicked world against which we must be on guard lest it carry us away unawares, and when Christ's victory is revealed at the end we find ourselves on the losing side. The Communion Celebration for the Ascension follows the message, a feast of vic...

This program begins with the John 20 account of "Doubting Thomas," followed by the contemporary hymn, "These Things did Thomas Count as Real." Then Dr. Zeile discusses what the people in Isaiah's prophecy were waiting for versus what individuals today are waiting for, and how this relates to the New Testament teaching that we walk by faith rather than by sight. The Easter...

Dr. Zeile reads Psalm 71, first in the 16th Century Book of Common Prayer version, then in the 17th Century King James Version, and finally in the 18th Century Challoner Revision of the Douai-Rheims translation. Send us Fan Mail

Dr. Zeile reads Psalm 73 out of the 16th Century English Book of Common Prayer, the 17th Century King James translation, and the 18th Century Challoner revision of the Douai-Rhiems  translation. Send us Fan Mail