The Lutheran church enjoys a long tradition of identifying one “Hymn of the Week” for every Sunday of the church year. Such a hymn should reflect the unifying theme of the service, and is intended to be sung on that Sunday every year. In this series, Pastor Nathanael Mayhew gives us a brief overview of the Hymns of the Week for the coming month.
The Season of Easter – As we near the end of the Easter season, we do not leave the joy of Christ’s victory behind. No matter where we are in the church year, every Sunday reminds us of the hope that is ours because Christ is risen from the dead.
- June 1—The Sixth Sunday after Easter is the last Sunday in the season of Easter. The readings for this Sunday communicate the Christian’s life of joyful expectation, lived with confidence in the certain promises of Jesus. The expectation of our eternal deliverance from sin encourages the believer in this life. Martin Luther’s reformation hymn “If God Had Not Been on Our Side” (TLH 267; not in LSB) has a powerful but unfamiliar melody. Based on the words of Psalm 124, it is full of confident expectation in the Lord.
- June 8—The fifty-day celebration of Easter concludes with the Festival of Pentecost. On this day we focus on the work of God the Holy Spirit. Jesus told His disciples that He would ascend to His Father after completing His work of salvation, but promised that He would send the Holy Spirit, who would “guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) The hymn “Come, Holy Ghost, God and Lord!” (TLH 224; LSB 497) was Luther’s hymn on the person and work of the Holy Spirit.
The Season of Trinity – The longest season of the church year begins with the Feast of the Holy Trinity. In the festival part of the church year, we reviewed all that our Triune God has done to accomplish our salvation. Now, in the Trinity season we will see how God’s work for us is not just about words or ideas, but is also applicable to our everyday lives as our Triune God works in and through us to live for His glory. The color for the season of Trinity is green, which symbolizes the new life that God works in those who believe in Him.
- June 15—The season of Trinity begins with the festival of Holy Trinity. On this day we consider the nature of the one and only true God. The church has used the Latin word “triune” to describe the God of Scripture, who is one in essence, but three in person (Father, Son and Holy Spirit). The color for Trinity Sunday is white, representing the holiness of our Triune God. Luther’s creedal hymn, “We All Believe in One True God” (TLH 251; LSB 954) is a metrical version of the Nicene Creed, which has been used since the early church to confess the nature and work of God.
- June 22—The First Sunday after Trinity examines the tools which the Holy Spirit uses to call sinners to salvation. We call these tools the Means of Grace. The Holy Spirit uses the Word of God, and the sacraments which are connected to God’s Word, to bring us to faith, keep us in the faith, and strengthen us in our Christian lives of faith. The hymn for this day, “We Now Implore God the Holy Ghost” (TLH 231; not in LSB), praises all that the Holy Spirit does in our lives.
- June 29—The Second Sunday after Trinity studies God’s gracious invitation to sinners. This call is an urgent call, because we are sinful and are deserving of death, and we can in no way save ourselves. It is also urgent because we do not know when our lives will come to an end or when Jesus will return. The communion hymn “Lord Jesus Christ, Thou Hast Prepared” (TLH 306; LSB 622), wonderfully focuses us on the Lord’s gracious call to receive the forgiveness and refreshment that He alone is able to give.
Dear Lord, help me to worship You with a joyful and thankful heart!
is a pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato, Minnesota.