Learning the Faith by Heart
Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together
The Week of April 13 – April 20
Holy Week/
Preparing for the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord
Hymn of the Week: If Christ Had Not Been Raised from Death (486)
Psalmody for Matins: Psalm 36 (Mon)
GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: I Know That My Redeemer Lives (461, ss. 1,3,5,6)
Catechism Memory (GLCA Only): Table of Duties (To Husbands & Wives): 1 Peter 3:7; Col. 3:19; Eph. 5:22; 1 Peter 3:5-6 (to recite on 4/28)
Monday: Holy Week – Kids in the Divine Service
Why do we have a week called “Holy Week”? Why would we refer to a week as being holy? The word “holy” means that it is from God. That’s why we call the Bible “holy”. It isn’t just any book. It is God’s living Word give to us for our salvation! The same goes for Holy Week. This is “God’s Week.” This is the week in the Church Year when Jesus paid for our sins and won our salvation. Parents: during worship, help your children to look for other things in the church that are considered holy.
Tuesday of Holy Week: Isaiah 53 and John 12:20-50
The Gospels are filled with miracles our Lord performed. He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, fed the masses with only a few loaves and fishes, and even raised the dead to life. With all this evidence pointing to Jesus’ identity as the promised Savior, we would expect that the entire crowd who surrounded Jesus following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem would have believed in Him. Read John 12:37. Was this the case? Read vv. 38-43. How does John explain their disbelief? – Lutheran Witness: April 2025, pg .12
Wednesday of Holy Week: Psalm 41 and John 13:12-58
How is Judas’ disloyalty a fulfillment of Psalm 41? Of all the prophecies about the Messiah in the OT, perhaps none is more prominent than those that connect the Savior to David. King David was once betrayed by someone close to him. His anguish, however, was only a shadow of the sorrow Jesus would feel over a betrayal that would lead to His horrible death on the cross. How does John describe Jesus’ grief in vs. 21? – Lutheran Witness: April 2025, pg. 13
Maundy Thursday: Luke 22:7-20
On this day of Holy Week, we remember when Jesus gave the Lord’s Supper for the first time. The word “Maundy” means “commandment”. We remember how before Jesus died, He gave His Church the commandment to eat His body and drink His blood for the forgiveness of sins.
Good Friday: Luke 23:44-46
Good Friday is the day that changed the world. This is the day Jesus made everything right between God and people. He took the punishment for all the sins of the world. What did it cost Him? How could Jesus’ death be “good”?
The Order of Meditation and Prayer
The sign of the cross + may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism
Invocation
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in the God the Father Almighty…
Catechism Memory (GLCA): Table of Duties – To Husbands & Wives
Certain passages of Scripture for various holy orders and positions, admonishing them about their duties and responsibilities.
To Husbands
Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers. – 1 Peter 3:7
Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. – Col. 3:19
To Wives
Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. – Eph. 5:22
They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. – 1 Peter 3:5–6
Bible Reading for the Day (From Upcoming Readings for Sun, Portals of Prayer, or other Daily meditation)
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Hymn of the Week
If Christ Had Not Been Raised from Death (486)
Family Prayers
For___________________, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Collect of the Day for Palm Sunday (to be used throughout Holy Week) – Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.