Learning the Faith by Heart

Speaking, Praying, and Singing God’s Word Together 

The Week of April 26 – May 3, 2026

Preparing for the Fifth Sunday of Easter/Confirmation

Hymn of the Week: At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing (633)

GLCA Learn by Heart Hymn: Awake My Heart with Gladness (467:7) 

GLCA Catechism Memory: Lord’s Prayer 6th Petition (All) + Explanation (2+)

Bible Verse Memory: “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

Monday: Catechism Bible Story – Genesis 3:1-13

   We pray that God would guard and protect us against the sins that come from the devil, the world, and our sinful selves, and that He would keep us strong in faith and in our love for Jesus. The devil tempted Adam and Eve to disobey God and eat fruit from the tree that God had told them not to eat from. What did the serpent (the devil) say to Eve to tempt her to eat the fruit? What happened after Adam and Eve ate the fruit? – Luther’s Small Catechism for Kids, pg. 83

Tuesday: First Reading – Acts 6:1-9, 7:2a, 51-60

         St. Stephen was not one of the Twelve but is a wonderful example of what it means to live by faith in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. What example of faith does Stephen give in Acts 6:60?

Wednesday: Epistle – 1 Peter 2:2-10

         Following these great examples of faith, with Christ as our cornerstone, what are Christians called to do (1 Peter 2:9b)?

Thursday: Holy Gospel – John 14:1-14

         On Confirmation Sunday, we will rejoice with thankful hearts, that purely by God’s grace, three of our young men are living by faith in Jesus as the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Reflect on your own catechesis (your receiving the Lord’s teaching) through your life. Who have been examples of faith in your life?    

Friday: Feast of St. Philip and St. James, Apostles – Ephesians 2:19-22

Philip and James the Less are numbered among the 12 disciples of Jesus. With Philip and James, we remember all the apostles of the Lord as the foundation of the Church, “Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone” (Eph. 2:20). They serve as great examples of what it means to live by faith in Jesus as our only way to the Father, our only source of truth and wisdom, and our fountain of life both now and for eternity. What example of faith does Philip give in John 14:8-9? Why is it so important for Christians to have examples of faith?       

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 God the Father Almighty…

Verse of the Week 

  “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:6-7

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  

At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing (633)

Catechism Memory 

The Sixth Petition

And lead us not into temptation.

What does this mean? God tempts no one. We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice. Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory.

Family Prayers 

  For___________________, let us pray to the Lord.

Lord, have mercy.  

Lord’s Prayer 

  Taught by our Lord and trusting in His promises, we are bold to pray:

Our Father, who art in heaven…