Concordia Publishing House

Believe it or not, Thanksgiving is just a few short weeks away! In the midst of preparing for the meals and family get-togethers, it’s surprisingly easy to let the day come and go without taking time to pause, reflect, and actually give thanks. This struggle can be magnified for pastors, church administrators, and volunteers who are trying to balance preparations at home with preparations taking place at church!

 The devotional reading for the feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles, comes from Meditations on the Gospels: According to His Word, where we consider the implications of today's Gospel from John 15.

Today's devotional reading comes from the A Year in the New Testament and focuses on the Gospel reading from Luke 18:9–17.

The devotional reading for the feast of St. Luke, Evangelist comes from Concordia Commentary: Luke 1:1–9:50.

Today’s devotional reading for the Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost comes from Luther’s Works, Volume 6.

Today's devotional reading comes from the The Christian Year of Grace and focuses on the Gospel reading appointed for today, Luke 17:11-19.

Today's devotional reading for the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost comes from Concordia Pulpit Resources.

Today commemorates Jerome, Translator of Holy Scripture. The devotional reading comes from the Treasury of Daily Prayer.

At a time when the world endures the pain and devastation of sin, the music of the church provides a special comfort. The life of Johann Sebastian Bach, a Lutheran composer of renown, comes to mind on this day, the anniversary of his death, as his music shaped generations of Church music around the world.  This special excerpt from Celebrating the Saints on the life of Johann Sebastian Bach includes a brief biography and ends with a prayer asking God's continued blessings from Bach's and other composer's music: