OPENING HYMN Baptized into Your Name Most Holy LSB 590
1 Baptized into Your name most holy, O Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
I claim a place, though weak and lowly, Among Your saints, Your chosen host.
Buried with Christ and dead to sin, Your Spirit now shall live within.
2 My loving Father, here You take me To be henceforth Your child and heir.
My faithful Savior, here You make me The fruit of all Your sorrows share.
O Holy Spirit, comfort me When threat'ning clouds around I see.
3 My faithful God, You fail me never; Your promise surely will endure.
O cast me not away forever If words and deeds become impure.
Have mercy when I come defiled; Forgive, lift up, restore Your child.
4 All that I am and love most dearly--Receive it all, O Lord, from me.
Let me confess my faith sincerely; Help me Your faithful child to be!
Let nothing that I am or own Serve any will but Yours alone.
INVOCATION
P In the name of the Father, who graciously calls us His sons and daughters.
C Amen.
P In the name of the T Son, whose death and resurrection has given us eternal life.
C Amen.
P In the name of the Holy Spirit, who has given us the gift of faith to trust all the promises of God.
C Amen.
REMEMBRANCE OF BAPTISM Romans 6:4; Colossians 3:1–4
P In his Epistle to the Church in Rome, Paul wrote, “We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” And in today’s Epistle, Paul writes, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.”
Let us therefore remember our Baptism.
Almighty and eternal God, according to Your strict judgment You condemned the unbelieving world through the flood, yet according to Your great mercy You preserved believing Noah and his family, eight souls in all. You drowned hard-hearted Pharaoh and all his host in the Red Sea, yet led Your people Israel through the water on dry ground, foreshadowing the washing of Your Holy Baptism. Through the Baptism in the Jordan of Your beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, You sanctified and instituted all waters to be a blessed flood and a lavish washing away of sin.
C We give thanks that according to Your boundless mercy, You have beheld us and have blessed us with true faith by the Holy Spirit, that through this saving flood all sin in us, which has been inherited from Adam, has been drowned and died. Grant that we be kept safe and secure in the holy ark of the Christian Church, being separated from the multitude of unbelievers and serving Your name at all times with a fervent spirit and a joyful hope, so that, with all believers in Your promise, we could be declared worthy of eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
CONFESSION OF FAITH
P Do you renounce the devil, all his works, and all his ways?
C Yes, I renounce them.
P Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth?
C Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
P Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son?
C Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
P Do you believe in the Holy Spirit?
C Yes, I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.
P The almighty God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has given you the new birth of water and of the Spirit and has forgiven you all your sins, strengthen you with His grace to life T everlasting.
C Amen.
P Let us pray. Almighty and most merciful God and Father, we thank and praise You that You graciously preserve and enlarge Your family and have granted us new birth in Holy Baptism and made us members of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and heirs of Your heavenly kingdom.
C We humbly implore You that, as we are Your children, You would keep us in our baptismal grace, that according to Your good pleasure we may faithfully lead godly lives to the praise and honor of Your holy name and finally, with all Your saints, obtain the promised inheritance in heaven; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
P Peace T be with you.
C Amen.
INTROIT Psalm 49:7–8, 13–14a, 15; antiphon: vv. 1–2
P Hear this, all peoples!
C Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
P both low and high,
C rich and poor together!
P Truly no man can ransom another,
C or give to God the price of his life,
P for the ransom of their life is costly
C and can never suffice.
P This is the path of those who have foolish confidence;
C yet after them people approve of their boasts.
P Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;
C death shall be their shepherd.
P But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,
C for he will receive me.
All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P Hear this, all peoples!
C Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
P both low and high,
C rich and poor together!
HYMN OF PRAISE Father Welcomes LSB 605
Father welcomes all his children To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation, Life eternal has been won.
Little children, come to Me, For My kingdom is of these.
Life and love I have to give, Mercy for your sin.
Father welcomes all his children To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation, Life eternal has been won.
In the water, in the Word, In His promise, be assured:
Those who are baptized and believe Shall be born again.
Father welcomes all his children To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation, Life eternal has been won.
Let us gladly die to sin; Let us daily rise with Him,
Walk in the love of Christ our Lord, Live in the peace of God.
Father welcomes all his children To His family Through His Son.
Father giving His salvation, Life eternal has been won.
SALUTATION & COLLECT OF THE DAY
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray.
All: O Lord, You have made great and gracious promises that come to us through our Baptism into Christ. As we recall our Baptism, assure us of Your forgiveness, strengthen our faith, and lead us to be instruments of Your peace and joy, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12–14; 2:18–26
2Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity. . . .
12I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. . . .
18I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me, 19and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. 20So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun, 21because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. 22What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun? 23For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.
24There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God, 25for apart from him who can eat or who can have enjoyment? 26For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
L This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE Colossians 3:1–11
1If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
5Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.
L This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA VERSE Colossians 3:1-11
All: Alleluia. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. Alleluia.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 12:13–21
P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the twelfth chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.
13Someone in the crowd said to [Jesus], “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
P This is the Gospel of the Lord. C Praise to You, O Christ.
HYMN OF THE DAY The Gifts Christ Freely Gives LSB 602
1 The gifts Christ freely gives He gives to you and me
To be His Church, His bride, His chosen, saved and free!
Saints blest with these rich gifts Are children who proclaim
That they were won by Christ And cling to His strong name.
2 The gifts flow from the font Where He calls us His own;
New life He gives that makes Us His and His alone.
Here He forgives our sins With water and His Word;
The triune God Himself Gives pow’r to call Him Lord.
3 The gifts of grace and peace From absolution flow;
The pastor’s words are Christ’s For us to trust and know.
Forgiveness that we need Is granted to us there;
The Lord of mercy sends Us forth in His blest care.
4 The gifts are there each day The holy Word is read;
God’s children listen, hear, Receive, and they are fed.
Christ fills them with Himself, Blest words that give them life,
Restoring and refreshing Them for this world’s strife.
5 The gifts are in the feast, Gifts far more than we see;
Beneath the bread and wine Is food from Calvary.
The body and the blood Remove our ev’ry sin;
We leave His presence in His peace, renewed again.
6 All glory to the One Who lavishes such love;
The triune God in love Assures our life above.
His means of grace for us Are gifts He loves to give;
All thanks and praise for His Great love by which we live!
SERMON “RAISED WITH CHRIST” Colossians 3:1-11
OFFERING
OFFERTORY Create in Me LSB 956
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
P Remembering the gift of our Baptism, let us join in prayer to our Lord, asking for His guidance and care along the way.
HYMN “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” LSB 685 (v.1)
Let us ever walk with Jesus, follow His example pure,
Through a world that would deceive us and to sin our spirits lure.
Onward in His footsteps treading, pilgrims here, our home above,
Full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father’s bidding.
Faithful Lord, with me abide; I shall follow where You guide.
P For all who are deceived by the world’s valuing property over people and power over service, that God would open their eyes that they serve Him above all, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For all who focus on themselves, trusting their own efforts rather than relying on the mercy and blessings of our heavenly Father, that God would move them to faithful trust in His care and loving service for the people around them, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the Church around the world, wherever the Gospel is proclaimed, calling people to follow our Lord as pilgrims treading toward the gracious and eternal promises of Christ, that God would protect and direct her, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
HYMN “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” (v. 2)
Let us suffer here with Jesus and with patience bear our cross.
Joy will follow all our sadness; where He is, there is no loss.
Though today we sow no laughter, we shall reap celestial joy;
All discomforts that annoy shall give way to mirth hereafter.
Jesus, here I share Your woe; help me there Your joy to know.
P For all who languish, working in joyless jobs, those who are underemployed or unemployed, and each person who awakens to another day of discomfort and pain, that God would provide strength, endurance, and solace, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For all who call out to God for relief from illness, pain, or difficult circumstances, [especially . .], that God would hear their prayers and graciously answer them in His almighty wisdom and love, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the leaders of the nations, that God would guide them to provide decent food, clothing, and shelter for their citizens and protection both from enemies outside their borders and from lawlessness within, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
HYMN “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” (v. 3)
Let us gladly die with Jesus. Since by death He conquered death,
He will free us from destruction, give to us immortal breath.
Let us mortify all passion that would lead us into sin;
And the grave that shuts us in shall but prove the gate to heaven.
P For all who do not know Christ’s resurrection, but see the grave as the end of life, that the Holy Spirit would grant them faith to trust in our Lord’s victory, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For health care workers, first responders, and all who minister to people nearing the end of this mortal life, that God would sustain them in their ministry and use them as His instruments for Jesus’ sake, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P For ourselves, that we look beyond the grave in our daily living, anticipating our entry into heaven and living in the light of God’s love, let us pray to the Lord:
C Lord, have mercy.
P Into Your hands, heavenly Father, we commend ourselves and all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C Amen.
HYMN “Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus” (v. 4)
Let us also live with Jesus. He has risen from the dead
That to life we may awaken. Jesus, You are now our head.
We are Your own living members; where You live, there we shall be
In Your presence constantly, living there with You forever.
Jesus, let me faithful be, life eternal grant to me.
LORD'S PRAYER
P O Lord Jesus Christ, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
C Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
DISMISSAL
P Go in peace as you serve the Lord.
C Thanks be to God!
BENEDICTION
P The blessing of God Almighty—the Father, who graciously calls you His sons and daughters; the T Son, whose death and resurrection has given you eternal life; and the Holy Spirit, who has given you the gift of faith to trust all the promises of God—be upon you, now and forever.
C Amen.
CLOSING HYMN Go, My Children, with My Blessing LSB 922
1 Go, my children, with my blessing, Never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you; You are my own.
In my love's baptismal river I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing - You are my own.
2 Go, my children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, What I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son's story; Here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure.
3 Go, my children, fed and nourished, Closer to me;
Grow in love and love by serving, Joyful and free.
Here my Spirit's power filled you; Here his tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, Joyful and free.
4 I the Lord will bless and keep you And give you peace;
I the Lord will smile upon you And give you peace;
I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother.
Go, my children; I will keep you And give you peace.