The Two Comings of Christ - Cyril of Jerusalem

We preach not one advent only of Christ, but a second also, far more glorious than the former. For the former gave a view of His patience; but the latter brings with it the crown of a divine kingdom. For all things, for the most part, are twofold in our Lord Jesus Christ…. In His former advent, He was wrapped in swaddling clothes in the manger; in His second, He covers Himself with light as with a garment. In His first coming, He endured the Cross, despising shame (Hebrews 12:2); in His second, He comes attended by a host of Angels, receiving glory. We rest not then upon His first advent only, but look also for His second. And as at His first coming we said, Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord , so will we repeat the same at His second coming; that when with Angels we meet our Master, we may worship Him and say, Blessed is He that comes in the Name of the Lord. The Savior comes, not to be judged again, but to judge them who judged Him; He who before held His peace when judged , shall remind the transgressors who did those daring deeds at the Cross, and shall say, These things have you done, and I kept silence. Then, He came because of a divine dispensation, teaching men with persuasion; but this time they will of necessity have Him for their King, even though they wish it not.

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 15

What is Ash Wednesday?

What is Ash Wednesday?

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the season of Lent: a time of penitence, fasting, and prayer, in preparation for the great Easter Feast. 

The season of Lent began in the early days of the Church as a time of preparation for those seeking to be baptized at Easter. The forty days refer to our Lord’s time of fasting in the wilderness; and Ash Wednesday is the beginning of the Lenten Fast. 

Throughout the Old Testament, ashes are used as a sign of sorrow and repentance, and Christians have traditionally used ashes to indicate sorrow for our own sin, and as a reminder that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Like Adam and Eve, we have disobeyed and rebelled against God, and are under the same judgment, “you are dust, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19b). 

But as we are marked with ashes in the same manner that we were signed with the cross in Baptism, we are also reminded of the life we share in Jesus Christ, the second Adam (Romans 5:17, 6:4). It is in this sure hope that we begin the journey of these forty days, that by hearing and answering our Savior’s call to repent, we may enter fully into the joyful celebration of his resurrection. 

Sanctity of Human Life

- Sanctity of Human Life -

On January 22, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation designating January 22nd as National Sanctity of Human Life Day. On this weekend, churches and life organizations across the United States seek to bring awareness and support to the most vulnerable humans - the unborn. As Christians we believe every human being is created in the image of God and worthy of respect, dignity, and the freedom to life. Next Sunday (23rd) we will take time to observe this day. 

So what is the current situation of abortions in the Unites States?  We give praise for the passage of the recent Heart Beat Law in Texas (here is an article I wrote reflecting on its significance) and that the rates across the United States are at historic lows! Praise God! And yet sadly there were still over 600,000 abortion in the United States this last year. Our response to this high death toll among the most vulnerable should be one of  1) prayer, 2) advocacy and education, 3) supporting the young mothers and fathers by any means possible, 4) serving in the foster care system, 5) adopting and supporting families who adopt, and 6) sharing the good news of God's grace and forgiveness over all sins. 

One of the major ways we can be people of life is by supporting local pregnancy advocacy organizations who daily reach women and families with messages of hope, life, and healing. Here is a list of such organization here in San Antonio:

Pregnancy Advocacy Organizations in San Antonio

• Any Women Can - https://www.anywomancansa.com/

• San Antonio Family Association - https://sanantoniofamilyassociation.com/

• San Antonio Coalition for Life - https://sacfl.org/

• Pregnancy Care Center - https://www.sapregnancy.org/

• A Women's Haven Pregnancy Center - https://www.awomanshaven.com/

• The Source - https://www.thesource.org/

• Life Choices Care - https://www.lifechoicescare.com/

• The Share Center (Bulverede/Spring Branch) - https://www.bulverdepregnancy.com/

• Allied Women's Center - https://www.alliedwomenscenter.com/

You may not be called to volunteer in these organizations on a regularly basis but still desire to help be part of the movement, January and February are wonderful months to do just that. Below are 8 ways you can get involved this month in the cause of supporting mothers, fathers, and the unborn.

Ways to Get Involved:

1. Join the march for life in downtown San Antonio or in Austin on January 21st at 1pm - https://www.texasrallyforlife.org/

2. Sign-up to pray in front of Planned Parenthood during the 40 Days of Life (March 2 - April 10) - https://www.40daysforlife.com/en/sanantonio

3. Assemble Bags that are handed out to women considering abortions with information to help them make an informed decision (Every-other Monday at 12:15pm and every-other Thursday at 1pm) - https://sacfl.org/about-us/volunteers-action

4. Become a Sidewalk Advocate - https://sacfl.org/sidewalk-intern-program

5. Volunteer at one of the above clinics

6. Volunteer and support the Foster Care system (see below)

7. Support adoption with your time and resources either by prayerfully considering adopting, supporting families that adopt, or directly supporting adoption organizations.

8. Volunteer at Boysville - https://boysvilletexas.org/volunteer/

Foster Care and Adoption
Throughout history Christians have sought to follow Christ's command to care for the least by being on the front lines of caring for the sick by opening hospitals, caring for the elderly by opening care homes, and caring for the orphaned by opening orphanages and adopting. It is an uncontested fact of history that each of these three have been spearheaded and run by Christians from the first century onward. Even in our own time, consider that while there are 11 Planned Parenthood clinics that provide abortions in the State of Texas, there are almost 200 life advocacy organizations which seek to support mothers and fathers by providing support and encouragement as they bring their child into the world. Praise God! If the parents are unable or unwilling to care for their child, all of these will help with connecting them to organization and families that are waiting to adopt.

Adoption and foster care are two other significant means by which Christians can support the most vulnerable. We believe it is a beautiful calling to participate as a foster family and/or adopt a child who would otherwise be left in the foster system. Let me ask you, have you ever prayerfully considered serving as a foster family or adopting? If not, I encourage you to take some time to consider if God may be calling you to become a family for a child currently without one.

Currently in the US there are over 400,000 children in the foster care system and roughly 1/4th of those are awaiting a family to adopt them.

Here are some wonderful local organizations engaged in this work:

Local Foster Care & Adoption Organizations:

• CASA - https://www.casa-satx.org/who-we-are

• South Texas Alliance for Orphans - https://www.alliance4orphans.org/

• 1 Hope for Kids - https://1hopeforkids.org/

• A World for Children - https://www.awfc.org/

• The Bair Foundation - https://www.bair.org/

• DePelchin Children's Center - https://www.depelchin.org/

• Pathways - https://www.pathway.org/

• Providence Place - https://www.provplace.org/

• SJRC - https://sjrctexas.org/

In all this we seek to extend the grace and forgiveness Christ offers to the broken, ashamed, and grieving. There is no sin too great that it cannot be cleansed by the blood of Christ Jesus. No sin too great. We do not gather to cast stones, for our Lord said "let him who is guiltless cast the first stone" and all walked away. Christ, the only one who is sinless and who has the only right to cast a stone, doesn't. Rather, he offers grace and forgiveness to all who come to him. Perhaps you have felt guilt and shame for your part in an abortion. Hear this good news - Christ does not condemn you but wants to embrace you and shower his love and forgiveness on you!

The peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all!

Pastor Matthew

How to Teach Your Kids to Pray

Prayer is speaking to God and providing Him the space to speak to us through His Word and by His Holy Spirit. In prayer we share our concerns, joys, and thanksgiving with Him and allow Him to convict, guide, and encourage us.

Prayer is not complicated, but it can be difficult. I believe this is true for everyone but it can be especially true of parents with young kids that wake up at the break of dawn and have boundless energy until they are put to bed at night. How is anyone to find time to pray when you have Sonic the Hedgehog in your house?

A lot of helpful advice could be given here but I want to focus on one simple principle - pray with your children. That’s right. While personal time to pray is important, don’t miss the opportunity to pray with your children. Not only does this help you grow in your prayer life, but it also is teaching your kids how to pray. Here are some ideas of times you can stop to pray:

• Before breakfast (take 30 seconds to pray in public and at home)

• In the car on the way to school or work or running errands

• At lunch

• When you pull into your driveway take 60 seconds to thank God for the day and help you invest in your family this evening.

• At dinner

• Before bed

• Anytime!

Now you might be thinking, “I’ve tried that and it’s just too challenging. They don’t focus and I have to get on them every 15 seconds to stop pushing and pinching each other.” I get it. I really do. Here is a secret that has really helped our family prayer times - make use of written prayers.

But aren’t written prayers less spiritual? Some might feel as if written prayers are less spiritual than free form praying, but here is the truth, while they can be prayed in a mindless and rote way, they don’t have to be. In fact this applies to anything in life we do on a repetitive basis. Just because we sometimes fall into reading the Bible mindlessly doesn’t mean we stop reading the Bible altogether. Rather, it means we seek to read it with engaged hearts and minds, asking the Holy Spirit to enflame our hearts with His love. The same goes for written prayers.

Below are four written prayers that you can print and pray together as a family. At first you’ll have to read it but eventually your whole family (even the youngest!) will know them by heart. We don’t do the same prayer every single night but like to mix them up. So a few nights a week we’ll do the Lord’s Prayer and a few nights the Evening prayer. We almost always include extemporaneous prayers as well, I like to give each child a chance to pray using their own words.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Morning Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Evening Prayer

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Prayer Before a Meal

In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Lord God, heavenly Father, bless us and these Your gifts which we receive from Your bountiful goodness, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

I encourage every family to pick up the Lutheran Prayer Book which has written prayers for morning and evening of every day.

How to Celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior

Forty days of Lent is drawing to a close; we are walking through Holy Week and are about to arrive at the biggest celebration of the Church Year, Easter Sunday! But Easter isn't just one lone day at the end of weeks of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Easter Sunday kicks off the season of Easter, which lasts 50 days until Pentecost Sunday.

In the cycle of the Church Year, seasons of fasting are followed by seasons of feasting. So how can we press into a season of feasting and celebrating our Savior's resurrection for the next 50 days? Here are several ideas; hopefully you can find a couple that will work for you and your family this year!

Easter Sunday

It's a celebration, so let's party! A party looks different depending on the person, house and family you come from, but a party usually incorporates the five senses. There might be music, some fun activities, almost always good food, and maybe even some decorations. Think about how you want to celebrate Christ's resurrection tomorrow; maybe it's a playlist of Easter worship and hymns that you put on first thing in the morning, or your grandma's famous coffee cake for breakfast. It might be a special meal for dinner, or a banner that says "He is Risen!" You might want to fill your house with Easter lilies, yellow daffodils and pink tulips. Of all the days to go all out on a celebration, Resurrection Sunday is the day!

Even though we will be in our homes for worship services this year, we can still continue the sense of celebration by dressing up in our Easter best. If you have something white, you might want to wear it to remind yourself of your baptism and the new life we have in Christ! 

The Week Following Easter

We can keep following Jesus' footsteps even beyond Holy Week. Here are two recommendations for you to try sometime during the week after Easter Sunday:

1. Fish for Breakfast

Read the beautiful story in John 21, where Jesus appears to the disciples and makes them fish and bread for breakfast. Yes, the resurrected Christ cooks breakfast for a bunch of fishermen! After you read this passage, go ahead and eat some fish for breakfast! Baked white fish with eggs and toast could be a place to start, but if you have a fire pit, wrap some fish in foil and make it really authentic. Or if fish for breakfast just isn't your thing, try going fishing after reading this passage. 

2. Take an "Emmaus Walk"

Read Luke 24:13-35, and then take a walk with a neighbor, friend or your family and discuss a topic from Scripture, or talk about what it would have been like to be these followers of Jesus having this conversation on the road.

The Season of Easter

Here are some ideas for keeping the joy and celebration of the resurrection before us in the 50 days of Eastertide:

1. Listen to Easter music. 

Use a playlist like this one or pick a different Easter hymn/song to learn each week during this season. You could sing this song every morning after breakfast or each night after dinner.

2. Keep your Easter decor up until Pentecost. 

If you have a cross you could drape it with a white cloth, or maybe you want to make or purchase a special sign or banner that says," He Lives!" or "He is Risen!" to keep out during the season of Easter.

3. Party every week!

Pick a certain day of the week and plan a party on that day every week of Eastertide! It doesn't have to be complicated-you could have a Blue Bell ice cream party, a water balloon party, an Easter music jam session (if you're the musical type!), a game of hide and seek (read John 20:19 and talk about how the disciples went into hiding after Jesus' crucifixion), or a movie night (Maybe something like Ben Hur (1959) or Jesus of Nazareth (1977), or another family favorite. Be sure to preview before showing to your kids!).

4. Make or buy a special candle to remind you of the resurrection, and light it at breakfast or dinner each day during the season of Easter. Try this DIY idea. 

5. Join Natalie every Monday of Eastertide for an Easter themed children's book read aloud on our YouTube channel: