Trinity Milwaukee

Grateful to God for providing our Undercroft Chapel for His service to us this morning as we were experiencing a heating issue in our sanctuary…although it was Pentecost!

Our confirmand and those receiving the Lord’s Supper rejoiced with the congregation on this memorable day.

May 21, 2026

Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,

May 21 is the day on which the church commemorates the Emperor Constantine, Christian ruler, and Helena, his mother. One of the hymns with which we will be celebrating the Feast of Pentecost this Sunday, May 24, is, "Come, Oh, Come, Thou Quickening Spirit." TLH 226

"This splendid hymn of invocation of the Holy Spirit first appeared in a publication by Heinrich Held's Altenburg friend, Johann Niedling, Neuerfundener Geistlicher Wasserquelle (Frankfort-am-Oder, 1658) with the caption: 'On Holy Pentecost, to the French psalm tune 146.' The translation by Edward Traill Horn III was originally done for the Service Book and Hymnal (1958). . . .

The tune is undoubtedly older than 1693, for it is contained in a notebook of variations by Johann Christoph Bach (1642-1702), the uncle of Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). Whether it is actually a creation of his is uncertain. The union of this tune to Held's Pentecost text first occurred in the Geistreiches Gesangbuch (Darmstadt, 1698)." Lutheran Worship Hymnal Companion

1. Come, oh, come, Thou quickening Spirit, God from all eternity!
May Thy power never fail us; Dwell within us constantly.
Then shall truth and life and light Banish all the gloom of night.

2. Grant our hearts in fullest measure Wisdom, counsel, purity,
That they ever may be seeking Only that which pleaseth Thee.
Let Thy knowledge spread and grow, Working error's overthrow.

3. Show us, Lord, the path of blessing; When we trespass on our way,
Cast, O Lord, our sins behind Thee And be with us day by day.
Should we stray, O Lord, recall; Work repentance when we fall.

4. With our spirit bear Thou witness That we are the sons of God
Who rely upon Him solely When we pass beneath the rod;
For we know, as children should, That the cross is for our good.

5. Prompt us, Lord, to come before Him With a childlike heart to pray;
Sigh in us, O Holy Spirit, When we know not what to say.
Then our prayer is not in vain, And our faith new strength shall gain.

6. If our soul can find no comfort And despondency grows strong
That the heart cries out in anguish: "O my God, how long, how long?"
Comfort then the aching breast, Grant us courage, patience, rest.

7. Holy Spirit, strong and mighty, Thou who makest all things new.
Make Thy work within us perfect And the evil Foe subdue.
Grant us weapons for the strife And with victory crown our life.

8. Guard, O God, our faith forever; Let not Satan, death, or shame
Ever part us from our Savior; Lord our Refuge is Thy name.
Though our flesh cry ever: Nay! Be Thy Word to us still Yea!

9. And when life's frail thread is breaking, Then assure us more and more,
As the heirs of life unending, Of the glory there in store.
Glory never yet exprest, Glory of the saints at rest.

God's peace,
Trudy J. Schmalz
Director of Music

Emperor Constantine (c. 272–337) was the first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, and he legalized Christianity throughout the region with the Edict of Milan in 313. Previously, it was legal to persecute Roman Christians. Constantine also was involved in the Council of Nicaea (325), a council he himself summoned, which dealt with the issue of Arianism and produced the Nicene Creed.

According to the church historian Eusebius, Constantine's conversion also inspired his mother, Helena, to become Christian. Helena herself played an important role in Christian history: Deeply interested in history and the sites mentioned in the New Testament, she went on a Holy Land pilgrimage. During her time there, she identified several sites associated with Scripture, many of which are still maintained as churches and pilgrimage sites to this day. She also is said to have discovered the True Cross. Obviously, the topic of cross relics is a bit controversial—you've probably heard that Luther remarked there were enough fragments of the True Cross to build an ark (though, we haven't been able to track down the quote, so it might be apocryphal). Concordia Historical Institute

Join us this Sunday as we rejoice in receiving our Lord’s gifts, singing His praise and giving thanks for His mercy. The Chancel is one step closer to being completed as of today as the 2nd Evangelists window was installed…Matthew and Mark are back at Trinity. Thank you to Paul, Laura, Paul and the Petes, from Oakbrook Esser stained glass in Oconomowoc for their amazing work! What a blessing! See you at 10:00 am on Sunday.