April Feasts, Festivals, and Commemorations
April 6: Lucas Cranach & Albrecht Durer, Artists
Commemoration
Lucas Cranach (1472-1557), a close friend of Martin Luther, was a celebrated painter of portraits and altar pieces and a producer of woodcuts of religious subjects. Albrecht Duerer (1471-1528), a native of Nuernberg, Germany, was one of the most learned of Renaissance artists and also an ardent admirer of Martin Luther. His paintings and woodcuts include examples of the splendor of creation and skilled portrayals of biblical narratives. Both Cranach and Duerer are remembered and honored for the grandeur of their works of art that depict the glory and majesty and the grace and mercy of the triune God. (TDP)
Let us pray.
O God, by Your Holy Spirit You give wisdom to some, knowledge to others, and to some the gift of beauty. We praise You that through Your servants Lucas Cranach and Albrecht Durer, and through their gift of artistic representation, they preach to us of Your mighty acts of redemption and the great piety of the saints who have served You in humility and faith. May Your Church never be without such gifts; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (TDP) OR
We give thanks to You, O God, Creator and Fashioner of the universe, for the work of Your servants, Lucas Cranach and Albrecht Durer; and we pray that by the vigor and strength of their creations You would open our eyes to the wonder of life, the glories of creation, and our exploration of our place in this world; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (NBFC)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (NBFC)
Isaiah 28:5-6
Psalm 96
Philippians 4:8-9
Matthew 13:44-52
April 20: Johannes Bugenhagen, Pastor
Commemoration
Johannes Bugenhagen (1485-1558), from Pomerania in northern Germany, was appointed pastor of Wittenberg in 1523 through the efforts of Martin Luther and thus served as Luther’s own pastor and confessor. One of the greatest scholars of the Reformation era, he helped translate the New Testament into Low German and wrote a commentary on the Psalms. He also worked to organize the Lutheran Church in northern Germany and Denmark, journeying to Copenhagen where he crowned both King and Queen and consecrated seven men to the offices of superintendent and bishop. (TDP)
Let us pray.
Almighty and everlasting God, Your Son called the twelve to be His apostles and sent out the seventy-two to preach and to heal. You continue to send out faithful pastors to feed the people of God with the holy food of the Gospel and the Sacraments. We give You thanks for providing Martin Luther with a faithful pastor and confessor in Johannes Bugenhagen and for his care of Luther’s widow and children. May we all be blessed to have such pastors to take care of our needs in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (TDP) OR
Heavenly Father, Shepherd of Your people, we thank You for Your servant Johannes Bugenhagen, who was faithful in the care and nurture of Your flock; and we pray that, following his example and the teaching of his holy life, we may by Your grace grow into the stature of the fullness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (BCP)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (BCP, Of a Pastor I):
Ezekiel 34:11-16
Psalm 23
1 Peter 5:1-4
John 21:15-17
April 21: Anselm of Canterbury, Theologian
Commemoration
Born in Italy in 1033, Anselm is most closely associated with England, where he served as Archbishop of Canterbury for many years. A brilliant scholar and writer, Anselm used his political skills with the British kings on behalf of the established Christian church, affirming that it is the leadership of the church and not the state which has the responsibility of establishing structure and maintaining order among the clergy. Anselm is especially remembered for his classic book, Why God Became Man, which taught that the reason for the incarnation was that Jesus, the Son of God, would suffer and die in place of sinners. (TDP)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, You raised up Your servant Anselm as a devout and learned scholar to teach the Church of his day to believe and confess in Your eternal nature, Your perfect justice, and Your saving mercy. Continue to provide Your Church in every age with saints who embody Your saving faith as they give us reason for the hope that is in us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (TDP) OR
Almighty God, You raised up Your servant Anselm to study and teach the sublime truths You have revealed: Let Your gift of faith come to the aid of our understanding, and open our hearts to Your truth; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (NBFC)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (NBFC):
Romans 5:1-11
Psalm 139:1-9 or 37:3-6, 32-33
Matthew 11:25-30
April 24: Johann Walter, Kantor
Commemoration
Johann Walter (1496-1570) began service at the age of 21 as a composer and bass singer in the court chapel of Frederick the Wise. In 1524, he published a collection of hymns arranged according to the church year. It was well received and served as the model for numerous subsequent hymnals. In addition to serving for 30 years as kantor (church musician) in the cities of Torgau and Dresden, he also assisted Martin Luther in the preparation of the Deutsche Messe (1526). Walter is remembered as the first Lutheran kantor and composer of church music. (TDP)
Let us pray.
God of majesty, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven, we give You thanks that You provided music for Your Church through Johann Walter, kantor in the church of the Reformation. Through music You give us joy on earth as we participate in the songs of heaven. Bring us to the fulfillment of that song that will be ours when we stand with all Your saints before Your unveiled glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (TDP)
Color: White
Readings Appointed (PAS):
1 Chronicles 15:16-28
Psalm 100
Revelation 5:6-14
Luke 1:46-55
April 25: St. Mark, Evangelist
Feast
St. Mark was the author of the second Gospel, which he composed, according to some Early Church Fathers, when the Christians in Rome asked him to write down the preaching of the apostle Peter. Mark, also known as John Mark, was originally from Jerusalem, where the house of his mother Mary was the center of early Jerusalem Church (Acts 12:12). He was brought from Jerusalem by Paul and Barnabas to Antioch (Acts 12:25), and it was from this city that they set out on the first missionary journey. When Paul and Barnabas were preparing to go on the second missionary journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them again, but Paul objected because Mark had left them during the first journey. Barnabas took Mark and went to Cyprus, while Paul took Silas as his new companion (Acts 15:37-40). Later, Paul reconciled with Mark and was working with him again (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 24; 2 Timothy 4:11). Finally, Mark was found laboring with Peter in Rome (1 Peter 5:13). Tradition says that Mark was instrumental in founding the Church in Alexandria, becoming its first bishop, and also that he suffered a martyr’s death. (TDP)
Let us pray.
Almighty God, You have enriched Your Church with the proclamation of the Gospel through the evangelist Mark. Grant that we may firmly believe these glad tidings and daily walk according to Your Word; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (LSB)
Color: Red
Readings Appointed (LSB):
Isaiah 52:7-10
Psalm 146
2 Timothy 4:5-18
Mark 16:14-20