The God Pause for Sunday, 4 June 2017 - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord" (ELW 395, verse 3)

The God Pause for Sunday, 4 June 2017 - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States  "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord" (ELW 395, verse 3)
"Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord" (ELW 395, verse 3)3. Come, holy Fire, comfort true,
grant us the will your work to do
and in your service to abide;
let trials turn us not aside.
Lord, by your pow'r prepare each heart
and to our weakness strength impart,
that bravely here we may contend,
through life and death to you, our Lord, ascend.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
------- Happy Pentecost! Happy fiftieth day of Easter! Today's hymn reminds us that the Spirit is light, guide, teacher, revealer, faith creator, fire, comforter. The Spirit is the one called alongside us, the advocate, the Paraclete.
Again Martin Luther teaches us in his explanation of the Third Article of the Apostles' Creed: The Spirit "calls, gathers, enlightens and makes holy the whole Christian church...and keeps it in the faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins--mine and those of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead and give us eternal life. This is most certainly true."
O God, on this day you open the hearts of your faithful people by sending into us your Holy Spirit. Direct us by the light of that Spirit that we may have a right judgment in all things and rejoice at all times in your presence and peace. Amen.
Wolfgang W. Laudert, '11
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Staten Island, N.Y.
-------
The God Pause for Saturday, 3 June 2017 - The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord" (ELW 395, verse 1)
"Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord" (ELW 395, verse 1)
1. Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord,
with all your graces now outpoured
on each believer's mind and heart;
your fervent love to them impart.
Lord, by the brightness of your light
in holy faith your church unite;
from ev'ry land and ev'ry tongue,
this to your praise, O Lord, our God, be sung:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
------- This hymn seems to be Martin Luther's version of the ancient Latin hymn Veni Sancte Spiritus. It's a prayer to the Holy Spirit. It's Saturday and the vigil of waiting for Pentecost. Jesus told the disciples to wait until they were clothed with power from on high. Today the ecumenical church also commemorates Pope John XXIII.
May God continue to sustain you with the gift of the Holy Spirit--the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in God's presence, both now and forever.
God, remind us that we've been sealed by your Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Amen.
Wolfgang W. Laudert, '11
Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Staten Island, N.Y.
--------

The Luther Seminary
2481 Como Avenue

Saint Paul,  Minnesota,  55108, United States



-------