St. Andrew, Apostle

Today the Church remembers St. Andrew, Apostle of our Lord. Of course, St. Andrew is best known for first recognizing that Jesus is the Messiah and then for going to find his brother, Simon, to tell him, "We have found the Christ." See John 1:35-42. Would that St. Andrew - and not the latest in corporate marketing strategies, or multi-million dollar programs and "movements" - would be our genuine inspiration for evangelism work! Then our evangelism efforts just might be received more readily and, well, in a more genuine and authentic manner.

At any rate, we thank God for the example of St. Andrew as, technically speaking, today we begin a new Church Year of receiving and living in God's grace given in His Son Jesus Christ.

Hymn verse:
All praise, O Lord, for Andrew,
The first to welcome You,
Whose witness to his brother
Named You Messiah true.
May we, with hearts kept open
To You throughout the year,
Confess to friend and neighbor
Your advent ever near. (LSB 517:5)

Collect from Lutheran Service Book:
Almighty God, by Your grace the apostle Andrew obeyed the call of Your Son to be a disciple. Grant us also to follow the same Lord Jesus Christ in heart and life, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Collect from The Book of Common Prayer:
Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.