Sunday, January 22, 2023

Hymn:  “Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices”   LSB # 811

1 Oh, that I had a thousand voices To praise my God with thousand tongues!

My heart, which in the Lord rejoices, Would then proclaim in grateful songs

To all, wherever I might be, What great things God has done for me!

2 O all you pow'rs that he implanted, Arise, keep silence now no more;

Put forth the strength that God has granted! Your noblest work is to adore!

O soul and body, join to raise With heartfelt joy our maker's praise!

3 You forest leaves so green and tender That dance for joy in summer air,

You meadow grasses, bright and slender, You flow'rs so fragrant and so fair,

You live to show God's praise alone. Join me to make his glory known!

4 All creatures that have breath and motion, That throng the earth, the sea, the sky,

Come, share with me my heart's devotion, Help me to sing God's praises high!

My utmost pow'rs can never quite Declare the wonders of his might!

5 Creator, humbly I implore you To listen to my earthly song

Until that day when I adore you, When I have joined the angel throng

And learned with choirs of heav'n to sing Eternal anthems to my king!

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins.  To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.  May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C:   Amen.

Matins (sung)

P     O Lord, open my lips,

C     and my mouth will declare Your praise.

P     Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

C     make haste to help me, O Lord.

C     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.
Praise to You, O Christ, Alleluia. (Common response)

Psalmody (Psalm 95) (sung)

P:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

O come, let us sing to the Lord. 
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.
For the Lord is a great God and a great king above all gods.
The deep places of the earth are in His hands;
The strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, for He made it, and His hand formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand.  

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:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 9:1-4)

But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.

2 The people who walked in darkness

    have seen a great light;

those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,

    on them has light shone.

3 You have multiplied the nation;

    you have increased its joy;

they rejoice before you

    as with joy at the harvest,

    as they are glad when they divide the spoil.

4 For the yoke of his burden,

    and the staff for his shoulder,

    the rod of his oppressor,

    you have broken as on the day of Midian.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (1 Corinthians 1:10-18)

I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. 12 What I mean is that each one of you says, “I follow Paul,” or “I follow Apollos,” or “I follow Cephas,” or “I follow Christ.” 13 Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. 16 (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.

18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 4th chapter.

C:  (Sung) Glory to You, O Lord.

(Matthew 4:12-25)

Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, 14 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:

15 “The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,

    the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—

16 the people dwelling in darkness

    have seen a great light,

and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,

    on them a light has dawned.”

17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

23 And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24 So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them. 25 And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (Sung) Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day “O Christ, Who Called the Twelve”  LSB # 856

1    O Christ, who called the Twelve To rise and follow you,

      Forsaking old, familiar ways For ventures bold and new:

      Grant us to hear your call To risk security

      And, bound in heart and will to you, Find perfect liberty.

2    O Christ, who taught the Twelve The truth for ages sealed,  

      Whose words and works awakened faith, The ways of God revealed:

      Instruct us now, we pray, By your empow’ring Word.

      True teacher, be for all who seek Their light, their life, their Lord.

3    O Christ, who sent the Twelve On roads they’d never trod

      To serve, to suffer, teach, proclaim The nearer reign of God:

      Send us on ways where faith Transcends timidity,

      Where love informs and hope sustains Both life and ministry.

4    O Christ, th’apostles’ Lord, The martyrs’ strength and song,

      The crucified and risen King To whom the saints belong:

      Though generations pass, Our tribute still we bring,

      Our hymns a sacrifice of praise, Our lives an offering.

Sermon

Te Deum (Sung)

We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord.

All the earth now worships You, the Father everlasting.

To You all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the pow'rs therein.

To You cherubim and seraphim continually do cry:

      Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;

      heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory.

The glorious company of the apostles praise You.

The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise You.

The noble army of martyrs praise You.

The holy Church throughout all the world does acknowledge You.

The Father of an infinite majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son;

      also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. You are the king of glory, O Christ;

      You are the everlasting Son of the Father.

When You took upon Yourself to deliver man,

You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.

When You had overcome the sharpness of death,

You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.

We believe that You will come to be our judge.

We therefore pray You to help Your servants,

whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with Your saints in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage.

Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify You.

And we worship Your name forever and ever.

Grant, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let Your mercy be upon us, as our trust is in You.

O Lord, in You have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

Prayer of the Church

P:  Lord, in Your mercy,

C:  Hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “Sent Forth by God’s Blessing”  LSB # 643

1    Sent forth by God's blessing, our true faith confessing, the people of God from his dwelling take leave. The supper is ended; Oh, be now extended the fruits of this service in all who believe. The seed of his teaching, receptive souls reaching, shall blossom in action for God and for all. His grace did invite us; His love shall unite us to work for God's kingdom and answer his call.

2    With praise and thanksgiving, to God ever living, the tasks of our everyday life we will face. Our faith ever sharing, in love ever caring, embracing his children of each tribe and race. With your feast you feed us; With your light now lead us; Unite us as one in this life that we share. Then may all the living with praise and thanksgiving give honor to Christ and his name that we bear.

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Hymn “Brightest and Best of the Stars of the Morning”  LSB # 400

1    Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

2    Cold on His cradle the dew-drops are shining;

Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall;

Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,

Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

3    Shall we not yield Him, in costly devotion,

Fragrance of Edom and off'rings divine,

Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,

Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

4    Vainly we offer each ample oblation,

Vainly with gifts would His favor secure,

Richer by far is the heart's adoration;

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

5    Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C:   who made heaven and earth.

P:   I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C:   and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   O almighty God, merciful Father,

C:   I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You, and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P:   Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

The Introit is read…

(Sung)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

The Antiphon is read…

(Sung)

Lord, have mercy upon us.  Christ have mercy upon us.  Lord, have mercy upon us.

(Glory be to God on high)

…and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.  We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.  O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.  O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.  Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.  For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.  Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.

Collect of the Day:

P:   Almighty and everlasting God, who governs all things in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the prayers of your people and grant us your peace through all our days; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “Hail, O Source of Every Blessing”  LSB # 409

1 Hail, O Source of ev'ry blessing, Father of our human race!

Gentiles now, Your grace possessing, In Your courts obtain a place.

Grateful now, we fall before You, In Your Church rejoice to live,

See Your glory and adore You, Thankful for the grace You give.

2 Once far off but now invited, We approach Your sacred throne,

In Your covenant united, Reconciled, redeemed, made one.

Now revealed to Eastern sages, See the Star of Mercy shine,

Myst'ry hid in former ages, Myst'ry great of love Divine.

3 Hail, O all-inviting Savior! Gentiles now their off'rings bring,

In Your temples seek Your favor, Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.

May we, body, soul, and spirit, Live devoted to Your praise,

Glorious realms of bliss inherit, Grateful anthems ever raise.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 49:1-7)

Listen to me, O coastlands,

    and give attention, you peoples from afar.

The Lord called me from the womb,

    from the body of my mother he named my name.

2 He made my mouth like a sharp sword;

    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;

he made me a polished arrow;

    in his quiver he hid me away.

3 And he said to me, “You are my servant,

    Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”

4 But I said, “I have labored in vain;

    I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;

yet surely my right is with the Lord,

    and my recompense with my God.”

5 And now the Lord says,

    he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,

to bring Jacob back to him;

    and that Israel might be gathered to him—

for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord,

    and my God has become my strength—

6 he says:

“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant

    to raise up the tribes of Jacob

    and to bring back the preserved of Israel;

I will make you as a light for the nations,

    that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

7 Thus says the Lord,

    the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,

to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,

    the servant of rulers:

“Kings shall see and arise;

    princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;

because of the Lord, who is faithful,

    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (1 Corinthians 1:1-9)

          Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,

2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:

3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5 that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— 6 even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— 7 so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. John, the 1st chapter.

C:  (sung) Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

(John 1:29-42a)

           The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”

35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus.
                             

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (sung) Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Confession of Faith  --  Apostles’ Creed

C:   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth.
And 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.
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. Amen.

Hymn “Christ, the Word of God Incarnate”  LSB # 540

1    Christ, the Word of God incarnate, Lord and Son of Abraham;

      Christ, the radiance of the Father, Perfect God, the great I Am;

      Christ, the light, You shine unvanquished, Light and life You bring to all;

      Light our path with Your own presence, Grant us grace to heed Your call.

2    Christ, the living bread from heaven, Food for body, food for soul;

      Christ, the manna daily given, Nourish, strengthen, make us whole.

      Feed us with the food of heaven, Fore-taste of the feast to be;

      Quench our thirst with living water Springing up eternally.

3    Christ, the shoot that springs triumphant From the stump of Jesse’s tree;

      Christ, true vine, You nurture branches To bear fruit abundantly.

      Graft us into You, O Savior; Prune our hearts so we remain

      Fruitful branches in Your vineyard Till eternal life we gain.

4    Christ, our good and faithful shepherd, Watching all Your lambs and sheep;

      Christ, the gate that guards the sheepfold, Never failing vigil keep.

      When we stray, Good Shepherd, seek us, Find us, lift us, bear us home;

      Lamb of God, our shepherd, keep us; Let us hear Your voice alone.

5    Christ, the way that leads unfailing To the Father’s home on high,

      Christ, the truth that frees the captive, Christ, the life that cannot die.

      Mediator to the Father, Sacrifice and great High Priest:

      Lead us to Your heav’nly mansions, There to share Your wedding feast.

6    Christ, the Alpha and Omega, Christ, the firstborn from the dead,

      Christ, the life and resurrection, Christ, the Church’s glorious head:

      Praise and thanks and adoration And unending worship be

      To the Father and the Spirit And to You eternally.

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in your mercy,

C:   Receive our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And with thy spirit.

P:   Bless we the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn “Alleluia! Let Praises Ring”  LSB # 822

1 Alleluia! Let praises ring! To God the Father let us bring

Our songs of adoration. To Him through everlasting days

Be worship, honor, pow'r, and praise, Whose hand sustains creation.

Singing, ringing: Holy, holy, God is holy; Spread the story

Of our God, the Lord of glory.

2 Alleluia! Let praises ring! Unto the Lamb of God we sing,

In whom we are elected. He bought His Church with His own blood,

He cleansed her in that blessed flood, And as His Bride selected.

Holy, holy Is our union And communion. His befriending

Gives us joy and peace unending.

3 Alleluia! Let praises ring! Unto the Holy Ghost we sing

For our regeneration. The saving faith in us He wrought

And us unto the Bridegroom brought. Made us His chosen nation.

Glory! Glory! Joy eternal, Bliss supernal; There is manna

And an endless, glad hosanna.

Sunday, January 8, 2023

Hymn  “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed”  LSB # 398

1    Hail to the Lord's anointed, Great David's greater Son!

Hail, in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!

He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free,

To take away transgression And rule in equity.

2    He comes with rescue speedy To those who suffer wrong,

To help the poor and needy And bid the weak be strong;

To give them songs for sighing, Their darkness turn to light,

Whose souls, condemned and dying, Were precious in His sight.

3    He shall come down like showers Upon the fruitful earth;

Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, Spring in His path to birth.

Before Him on the mountains Shall peace, the herald, go;

And righteousness in fountains From hill to valley flow.

4    Kings shall fall down before Him And gold and incense bring;

All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing.

To Him shall prayer unceasing And daily vows ascend;

His kingdom still increasing, A kingdom without end.

5    O'er ev'ry foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest,

From age to age more glorious, All blessing and all-blest.

The tide of time shall never His covenant remove;

His name shall stand forever– That name to us is Love.

P:   In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

C:   amen.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.  As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “O Savior of Our Fallen Race”  LSB #403

1    O Savior of our fallen race, O Brightness of the Father’s face,

            O Son who shared the Father’s might Before the world knew day or night Alleluia!

2    O Jesus, very Light of Light, Our constant star in sin’s deep night:

             Now hear the prayers Your people pray Throughout the world this holy day.  Alleluia!

3    Remember, Lord of life and grace, How once, to save our fallen race,

            You put our human vesture on And come to us as Mary’s son.  Alleluia!

4    Today, as year by year its light Bathes all the world in radiance bright,

            One precious truth outshines the sun: Salvation comes from You alone.  Alleluia!

5    For from the Father’s throne You came, His banished children to reclaim;

            And earth and sea and sky revere The love of Him who sent You here.  Alleluia!

6    And we are jubilant today, For You have washed our guilt away. 

            O hear the glad new song we sing On this, the birthday of our King!  Alleluia!

7    O Christ, Redeemer virgin-born, Let songs of praise Your name adorn,

            Whom with the Father we adore And Holy Spirit evermore.  Alleluia!

(Sung)

P:   In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C:   Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.  O God, by the leading of a star You made known your only-begotten Son to the Gentiles.  Lead us, who know you by faith, to enjoy in heaven the fullness of Your divine presence; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading  (Isaiah 42:1-9)

 
Behold my servant, whom I uphold,

    my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my Spirit upon him;

    he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,

    or make it heard in the street;

3 a bruised reed he will not break,

    and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;

    he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not grow faint or be discouraged

    till he has established justice in the earth;

    and the coastlands wait for his law.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,

    who created the heavens and stretched them out,

    who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people on it

    and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness;

    I will take you by the hand and keep you;

I will give you as a covenant for the people,

    a light for the nations,

7     to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

    from the prison those who sit in darkness.

8 I am the Lord; that is my name;

    my glory I give to no other,

    nor my praise to carved idols.

9 Behold, the former things have come to pass,

    and new things I now declare;

before they spring forth

    I tell you of them.”

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Romans 6:1-11)

What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 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.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

All: Alleluia.  Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Alleluia, alleluia.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 3rd chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord.

(Matthew 3:13-17)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day  “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord”  LSB # 405

1   To Jordan's river came our Lord, The Christ, whom heav'nly hosts adored,

     The God from God, the Light from Light, The Lord of glory, pow'r and might.

2   The Savior came to be baptized – The Son of God in flesh disguised –

     To stand beneath the Father's will And all his promises fulfill.

3   As Jesus in the Jordan stood And John baptized the Lamb of God,

     The Holy Spirit, heav'nly dove, Descended on him from above.

4   Then from God's throne with thund'rous sound Came God's own voice with words profound:

     "This is my Son," was his decree, "The one I love, who pleases me."

5   The Father's word, the Spirit's flight Anointed Christ in glorious sight

     As God's own choice, from Adam's fall To save the world and free us all.

6   Now rise, faint hearts: be resolute! This man is Christ, our substitute!

     He was baptized in Jordan's stream, Proclaimed Redeemer, Lord supreme

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Nicene Creed

C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth

            and of all things visible and invisible.

      And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

            the only‐begotten Son of God,

            begotten of His Father before all worlds,

            God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

            begotten, not made,

            being of one substance with the Father,

            by whom all things were made;

            who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

            and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

            and was made man;

            and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

            He suffered and was buried.

            And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

                        and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

            And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

            whose kingdom will have no end.

      And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

            the Lord and giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

            who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

            who spoke by the prophets.

            And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church

            I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

            and I look for the resurrection of the dead

            and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P:         Lord, in Your mercy

C:         hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn “Songs of Thankfulness and Praise”  LSB # 394

1    Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise,

      Manifested by the star To the sages from afar,

      Branch of royal David's stem In Thy birth at Bethlehem:

      Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.

2    Manifest at Jordan's stream, Prophet, Priest, and King supreme;

      And at Cana wedding guest In Thy Godhead manifest;

      Manifest in pow'r divine, Changing water into wine;

      Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.

3    Manifest in making whole Palsied limbs and fainting soul;

      Manifest in valiant fight, Quelling all the devil's might;

      Manifest in gracious will, Ever bringing good from ill;

      Anthems be to Thee addressed, God in man made manifest.

4    Sun and moon shall darkened be, Stars shall fall, the heav'ns shall flee;

      Christ will then like lightning shine, All will see His glorious sign;

      All will then the trumpet hear, All will see the Judge appear;

      Thou by all wilt be confessed, God in man made manifest.

5    Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord, Present in Thy holy Word–

      Grace to imitate Thee now And be pure, as pure art Thou;

      That we might become like Thee At Thy great epiphany

      And may praise Thee, ever blest, God in man made manifest.

Sunday, December 18 2022

Hymn:  “Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates”   LSB # 341

1 Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates! Behold, the King of glory waits.

The King of kings is drawing near; The Savior of the world is here.

Life and salvation He doth bring; Therefore rejoice and gladly sing.

To God the Father raise Your joyful songs of praise.

2 A righteous Helper comes to thee; His chariot is humility,

His kingly crown is holiness, His scepter, pity in distress.

The end of all our woe He brings; Therefore the earth is glad and sings.

To Christ the Savior raise Your grateful hymns of praise.

3 How blest the land, the city blest, Where Christ the ruler is confessed!

O peaceful hearts and happy homes To whom this King in triumph comes!

The cloudless sun of joy is He Who comes to set His people free.

To God the Spirit raise Your happy shouts of praise.

4 Fling wide the portals of your heart; Make it a temple set apart

From earthly use for heav'n's employ, Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

So shall your Sov'reign enter in And new and nobler life begin.

To God alone be praise For word and deed and grace!

5 Redeemer, come and open wide My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!

O enter with Thy grace divine; Thy face of mercy on me shine.

Thy Holy Spirit guide us on Until our glorious goal is won.

Eternal praise and fame We offer to Thy name.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins.  To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.  May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C:   Amen.

Matins (sung)

P     O Lord, open my lips,

C     and my mouth will declare Your praise.

P     Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

C     make haste to help me, O Lord.

C     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.
Praise to You, O Christ, King who comes to save us. (Advent response)

Psalmody (Psalm 95) (sung)

P:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

O come, let us sing to the Lord. 
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.
For the Lord is a great God and a great king above all gods.
The deep places of the earth are in His hands;
The strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, for He made it, and His hand formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand.  

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:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 7:10-17)

Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the Lord your[a] God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.” 12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test.” 13 And he said, “Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. 15 He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. 16 For before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land whose two kings you dread will be deserted. 17 The Lord will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah—the king of Assyria!”

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Romans 1:1-7)

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, 3 concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, 5 through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, 6 including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

7 To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 1st chapter.

C:  (Sung) Glory to You, O Lord.

(Matthew 1:18-25)

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,

    and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (Sung) Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day “At the Name of Jesus”  LSB # 512

1    At the name of Jesus Ev'ry knee shall bow,

Ev'ry tongue confess Him King of glory now.

’Tis the Father’s pleasure We should call Him Lord,

Who from the beginning Was the mighty Word.

2    At His voice creation Sprang at once to sight,

All the angel faces, All the hosts of light,

Thrones and bright dominions, Stars upon their way,

All the heav'nly orders In their great array.

3    Humbled for a season, To receive a name

From the lips of sinners Unto whom He came,

Faithfully He bore it Spotless to the last,

Brought it back victorious When from death He passed;

4    Bore it up triumphant With its human light,

Through all ranks of creatures To the central height,

To the throne of Godhead, To the Father’s breast,

Filled it with the glory Of that perfect rest.

5    In your hearts enthrone Him; There let Him subdue

All that is not holy, All that is not true:

Crown Him as your Captain In temptation's hour;

Let His will enfold you In its light and pow'r.

6    Christians, this Lord Jesus Shall return again

In His Father's glory, With His angel train;

For all wreaths of empire Meet upon His brow,

And our hearts confess Him King of glory now.

7    Glory then to Jesus, Who, the Prince of light,

To a world in darkness Brought the gift of sight:

Praise to God the Father; In the Spirit's love

Praise we all together Him who reigns above.

Sermon

Te Deum (Sung)

We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord.

All the earth now worships You, the Father everlasting.

To You all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the pow'rs therein.

To You cherubim and seraphim continually do cry:

      Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;

      heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory.

The glorious company of the apostles praise You.

The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise You.

The noble army of martyrs praise You.

The holy Church throughout all the world does acknowledge You.

The Father of an infinite majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son;

      also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. You are the king of glory, O Christ;

      You are the everlasting Son of the Father.

When You took upon Yourself to deliver man,

You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.

When You had overcome the sharpness of death,

You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.

We believe that You will come to be our judge.

We therefore pray You to help Your servants,

whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with Your saints in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage.

Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify You.

And we worship Your name forever and ever.

Grant, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let Your mercy be upon us, as our trust is in You.

O Lord, in You have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in Your mercy,

C:  hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love”  LSB #900

1 Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Name all other names above,

Unto which must ev'ry knee Bow in deep humility.

2 Jesus! Name decreed of old, To the maiden mother told,

Kneeling in her lowly cell, By the angel Gabriel.

3 Jesus! Name of priceless worth To the fallen sons of earth

For the promise that it gave, "Jesus shall His people save."

4 Jesus! Name of mercy mild, Given to the holy Child

When the cup of human woe First He tasted here below.

5 Jesus! Only name that's giv'n Under all the mighty heav'n

Whereby those to sin enslaved Burst their fetters and are saved.

6 Jesus! Name of wondrous love, Human name of God above;

Pleading only this, we flee Helpless, 0 our God, to Thee.

Sunday December 11, 2022

Hymn “Hark! The Glad Sound”  LSB # 349

1 Hark the glad sound! The Savior comes, The Savior promised long;

Let ev'ry heart prepare a throne  And ev'ry voice a song.

2 He comes the pris'ners to release,In Satan's bondage held.

The gates of brass before Him burst, The iron fetters yield.

3 He comes the broken heart to bind, The bleeding soul to cure,

And with the treasures of His grace To enrich the humble poor.

4 Our glad hosannas, Prince of Peace, Thy welcome shall proclaim,

And heav'n's eternal arches ring With Thy beloved name.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C:   who made heaven and earth.

P:   I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C:   and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   O almighty God, merciful Father,

C:   I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You, and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P:   Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

The Introit is read…

(Sung)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

The Antiphon is read…

(Sung)

Lord, have mercy upon us.  Christ have mercy upon us.  Lord, have mercy upon us.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.

Collect of the Day:

P:   Lord Jesus Christ, we implore you to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”  LSB # 338

(Apologies that we had a recording issue here and did not get the hymn)

1 Come, Thou long-expected Jesus, Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us; Let us find our rest in Thee.

Israel's strength and consolation, Hope of all the earth Thou art,

Dear desire of ev'ry nation, Joy of ev'ry longing heart.

2 Born Thy people to deliver; Born a child and yet a king!

Born to reign in us forever, Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.

By Thine own eternal Spirit Rule in all our hearts alone;

By Thine all-sufficient merit Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 35:1-10)

 The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;

    the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;

2 it shall blossom abundantly

    and rejoice with joy and singing.

The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,

    the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.

They shall see the glory of the Lord,

    the majesty of our God.

3 Strengthen the weak hands,

    and make firm the feeble knees.

4 Say to those who have an anxious heart,

    “Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

    will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

    He will come and save you.”

5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,

    and the ears of the deaf unstopped;

6 then shall the lame man leap like a deer,

    and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.

For waters break forth in the wilderness,

    and streams in the desert;

7 the burning sand shall become a pool,

    and the thirsty ground springs of water;

in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down,

    the grass shall become reeds and rushes.

8 And a highway shall be there,

    and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

the unclean shall not pass over it.

    It shall belong to those who walk on the way;

    even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.[a]

9 No lion shall be there,

    nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;

they shall not be found there,

    but the redeemed shall walk there.

10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return

    and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

    they shall obtain gladness and joy,

    and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (James 5:7-11)

          Be patient, therefore, brothers until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 11th chapter.

C:  (sung) Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

(Matthew 11:2-15)

           Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” 4 And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. 6 And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

    who will prepare your way before you.’

11 Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
                             

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (sung) Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Hymn “Savior of the Nations Come”  LSB # 332

1.   Savior of the nations, come, Virgin’s Son, make here Your home!

      Marvel now, O heaven and earth, That the Lord chose such a birth.

2.   Not by human flesh and blood, By the Spirit of our God,

      Was the Word of God made flesh-- Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.

3.   Here a maid was found with child, Yet remained a virgin mild.

      In her womb this truth was shown: God was there upon His throne.

4.   Then stepped forth the Lord of all From His pure and kingly hall;

      God of God, yet fully man, His heroic course began.

5.   God the Father was His source Back to God He ran His course.

      Into hell His road went down, Back then to His throne and crown.

6.   For You are the Father’s Son Who in flesh the victory won.

      By Your mighty power make whole All our ills of flesh and soul.

7.   From the manger newborn light Shines in glory through the night.

      Darkness there no more resides; In this light faith now abides.

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Apostles’ Creed

C:   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth.
And 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.
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. Amen.

Offering

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in your mercy,

C:   Receive our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And with thy spirit.

P:   Bless we the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness”  LSB # 849

1    Praise the One who breaks the darkness With a liberating light;

Praise the One who frees the pris'ners  Turning blindness into sight.

Praise the One who preached the Gospel, Healing ev'ry dread disease,

Calming storms, and feeding thousands With the very Bread of peace.

2    Praise the One who blessed the children With a strong, yet gentle word;

Praise the One who drove out demons With the piercing two-edged sword.

Praise the one who brings cool water To the desert's burning sand;

From this Well comes living water Quenching thirst in ev'ry land.

3    Let us praise the Word incarnate, Christ, who suffered in our place.

Jesus died and rose victorious That we may know God by grace.

Let us sing for joy and gladness, Seeing what our God has done;

Let us praise the true Redeemer, Praise the One who makes us one.

Sunday December 4, 2022

Hymn  “Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding”  LSB # 345

1 Hark! A thrilling voice is sounding! "Christ is near," we hear it say.

"Cast away the works of darkness, All you children of the day!"

2 Startled at the solemn warning, Let the earth-bound soul arise;

Christ, its sun, all sloth dispelling, Shines upon the morning skies.

3 See, the Lamb, so long expected, Comes with pardon down from heav'n.

Let us haste, with tears of sorrow, One and all, to be forgiv'n:

4 So, when next He comes in glory And the world is wrapped in fear,

He will shield us with His mercy And with words of love draw near.

5 Honor, glory, might, dominion to the Father and the Son

With the ever-living Spirit While eternal ages run!

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.  As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming”  LSB #359

1 Lo, how a rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung!

Of Jesse's lineage coming As prophets long have sung,

It came, a flow'ret bright, Amid the cold of winter,

When half-spent was the night.

2 Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The rose I have in mind;

With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind.

To show God's love aright, She bore to us a Savior,

When half-spent was the night.

3 This flow'r, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air,

Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness ev'rywhere.

True man, yet very God, From sin and death he saves us

And lightens ev'ry load.

4 O Savior, child of Mary, Who felt our human woe;

O Savior, King of glory, Who dost our weakness know:

Bring us at length we pray To the bright courts of heaven,

And to the endless day.

(Sung)

P:   In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C:   Amen.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.  Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading  (Isaiah 11:1-10)

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,

    and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.

2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,

    the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

    the Spirit of counsel and might,

    the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

3 And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

He shall not judge by what his eyes see,

    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,

4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,

    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;

and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,

    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.

5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,

    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

6 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb,

    and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat,

and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together;

    and a little child shall lead them.

7 The cow and the bear shall graze;

    their young shall lie down together;

    and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra,

    and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den.

9 They shall not hurt or destroy

    in all my holy mountain;

for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord

    as the waters cover the sea.

10 In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Romans 15:4-13)

or whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles

8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,

“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,

    and sing to your name.”

10 And again it is said,

“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”

11 And again,

“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,

    and let all the peoples extol him.”

12 And again Isaiah says,

“The root of Jesse will come,

    even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;

in him will the Gentiles hope.”

13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

All: Alleluia.  Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Alleluia, alleluia.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 3rd chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord.

(Matthew 3:1-12)

In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”[a] 3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said,

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare[b] the way of the Lord;

    make his paths straight.’”

4 Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the region about the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day  “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry”  LSB # 344

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Nicene Creed

C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth

            and of all things visible and invisible.

      And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

            the only‐begotten Son of God,

            begotten of His Father before all worlds,

            God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

            begotten, not made,

            being of one substance with the Father,

            by whom all things were made;

            who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

            and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

            and was made man;

            and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

            He suffered and was buried.

            And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

                        and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

            And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

            whose kingdom will have no end.

      And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

            the Lord and giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

            who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

            who spoke by the prophets.

            And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church

            I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

            and I look for the resurrection of the dead

            and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P:         Lord, in Your mercy

C:         hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn “Sing Praise to the God of Israel”  LSB # 936

1.   Sing praise to the God of Israel! Sing praise for His visitation!

      Redeeming His people from their sin, Accomplishing their salvation,

      Upraising a mighty horn within The house of His servant David.

2.   God spoke by the prophets long ago, His promise an oath recalling

      To Abraham made in former years; Of vanquishing foes appalling,

      That those He delivered from their fears Might gladly and truly serve Him.

3.   You, child will go on before the Lord As prophet, His way preparing;

      To speak on behalf of God Most High, His counsel of truth declaring;

      Rich mercy and grace for all whereby Iniquity is forgiven.

4.   O, bright, rising Sun, now shine on us In need of illumination;

      Come scatter the shades of sin and death And shatter their domination.

      Be guiding our footsteps on the path, of peace, in Your presence dawning!

Sunday November 27, 2022

Hymn:  “The Advent of Our King”   LSB # 331

1 The advent of our King Our prayers must now employ,

And we must hymns of welcome sing In strains of holy joy.

2 The everlasting Son Incarnate deigns to be,

Himself a servant's form puts on To set His servants free.

3 O Zion's daughter, rise To meet your lowly King,

Nor let your faithless heart despise The peace He comes to bring.

4 As judge, on clouds of light, He soon will come again

And His true members all unite With Him in heav'n to reign.

5 Before the dawning day Let sin's dark deeds be gone,

The sinful self be put away, The new self now put on.

6 All glory to the Son, Who comes to set us free,

With Father, Spirit, ever one Through all eternity.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins.  To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.  May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C:   Amen.

Matins (sung)

P     O Lord, open my lips,

C     and my mouth will declare Your praise.

P     Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

C     make haste to help me, O Lord.

C     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.
Praise to You, O Christ, King who comes to save us. (Advent response)

Psalmody (Psalm 95) (sung)

P:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

O come, let us sing to the Lord. 
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.
For the Lord is a great God and a great king above all gods.
The deep places of the earth are in His hands;
The strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, for He made it, and His hand formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand.  

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:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading (Isaiah 2:1-5))

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 It shall come to pass in the latter days

    that the mountain of the house of the Lord

shall be established as the highest of the mountains,

    and shall be lifted up above the hills;

and all the nations shall flow to it,

3     and many peoples shall come, and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

    to the house of the God of Jacob,

that he may teach us his ways

    and that we may walk in his paths.”

For out of Zion shall go forth the law,[a]

    and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 He shall judge between the nations,

    and shall decide disputes for many peoples;

and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,

    and their spears into pruning hooks;

nation shall not lift up sword against nation,

    neither shall they learn war anymore.

5 O house of Jacob,

    come, let us walk

    in the light of the Lord.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Romans 13:11-14)

Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 21st chapter.

C:  (Sung) Glory to You, O Lord.

(Matthew 21:1-11)

Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,

5 “Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold, your king is coming to you,

    humble, and mounted on a donkey,

    on a colt,[a] the foal of a beast of burden.’”

6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them. 8 Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (Sung) Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day “Prepare the Royal Highway”  LSB # 343

1    Prepare the royal highway; the King of kings is near!

      Let ev’ry hill and valley a level road appear!

      Then greet the King of glory, foretold in sacred story:

      Hosanna to the Lord, for he fulfills God’s word!

2    God’s people, see him coming: your own eternal king!

      Palm branches strew before him! Spread garments! Shout and sing!

      God’s promise will not fail you! No more shall doubt assail you!

      Hosanna to the Lord, for he fulfills God’s word!

3    Then fling the gates wide open to greet your promised king!

      Your king, yet ev’ry nation its tribute too may bring.

      All lands, bow down before him; All nations, now adore Him!

      Hosanna to the Lord, for he fulfills God’s word!

4    His is no earthly kingdom; it comes from heav’n above.

      His rule is peace and freedom and justice, truth, and love.

      So let your praise be sounding for kindness so abounding:

      Hosanna to the Lord, for he fulfills God’s word!

Sermon

Te Deum (Sung)

We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord.

All the earth now worships You, the Father everlasting.

To You all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the pow'rs therein.

To You cherubim and seraphim continually do cry:

      Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;

      heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory.

The glorious company of the apostles praise You.

The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise You.

The noble army of martyrs praise You.

The holy Church throughout all the world does acknowledge You.

The Father of an infinite majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son;

      also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. You are the king of glory, O Christ;

      You are the everlasting Son of the Father.

When You took upon Yourself to deliver man,

You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.

When You had overcome the sharpness of death,

You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.

We believe that You will come to be our judge.

We therefore pray You to help Your servants,

whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with Your saints in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage.

Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify You.

And we worship Your name forever and ever.

Grant, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let Your mercy be upon us, as our trust is in You.

O Lord, in You have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in Your mercy,

C:  hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying”  LSB #516

1 "Wake, awake, for night is flying," The watchmen on the heights are crying;

      "Awake, Jerusalem, arise!"

      Midnight hears the welcome voices And at the thrilling cry rejoices;

      "Oh, where are ye, ye virgins wise?

      The Bridegroom comes, awake! Your lamps with gladness take! Allelujah!

      With bridal care Yourselves prepare To meet the Bridegroom, who is near."

2 Zion hears the watchmen singing, And all her heart with joy is springing;

      She wakes, she rises from her gloom.

      For her Lord comes down all-glorious, The strong in grace, in truth victorious;

      Her star is ris'n, her light is come.

      Now come, Thou Blessed One, Lord Jesus, God's own Son, Hail! Hosanna!

      We enter all The wedding hall To eat the Supper at Thy call.

3 Now let all the heav'ns adore Thee, Let saints and angels sing before Thee

      With harp and cymbals' clearest tone.

      Of one pearl each shining portal, Where, joining with the choir immortal,

      We gather round Thy radiant throne.

      No eye has seen the light, No ear has heard the might Of Thy glory;

      Therefore will we Eternally Sing hymns of praise and joy to Thee!

Sunday October 30, 2022

PRESERVICE MUSIC / PIANO & ORGAN DUET        “Reformation Chorale”

WELCOME

OPENING HYMN                             Glory Be to God the Father          LSB 506

1 Glory be to God the Father, Glory be to God the Son,
Glory be to God the Spirit: Great Jehovah, Three in One!
Glory, glory While eternal ages run!

2 Glory be to Him who loved us, Washed us from each spot and stain:
Glory be to Him who bought us, Made us kings with Him to reign!
Glory, glory To the Lamb that once was slain!

3 Glory to the King of angels, Glory to the Church’s King,
Glory to the King of nations; Heav'n and earth, your praises bring!
Glory, glory To the King of glory sing!

4 Glory, blessing, praise eternal! Thus the choir of angels sings:
Honor, riches, pow'r, dominion! Thus its praise creation brings.
Glory, glory, Glory to the King of kings!

INVOCATION

P             In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.         

C   Amen.

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

P             O Almighty God, Merciful Father,

C             I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P             Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C             Amen.

INTROIT                                                                           Psalm 34:1–2, 11, 22; antiphon: Psalm 119:46

P             I will speak of your testimonies before kings, [O Lord,]

C             and shall not be put to shame.

P             I will bless the LORD at all times;

C             his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

P             My soul makes its boast in the LORD;

C             let the humble hear and be glad.

P             Come, O children, listen to me;

C             I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

P             The LORD redeems the life of his servants;

C             none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.

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             I will speak of your testimonies before kings, [O Lord,]

C             and shall not be put to shame.

HYMN OF PRAISE                           Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ   LSB 565

1 Thy works, not mine, O Christ, Speak gladness to this heart;

They tell me all is done, They bid my fear depart.

To whom, save Thee, Who canst alone

For sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

2 Thy wounds, not mine, O Christ, Can heal my bruised soul;

Thy stripes, not mine, contain The balm that makes me whole.
To whom, save Thee, Who canst alone

For sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

3 Thy cross, not mine, O Christ, Has borne the crushing load

Of sins that none could bear But the incarnate God.
To whom, save Thee, Who canst alone

For sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

4 Thy death, not mine, O Christ, Has paid the ransom due;

Ten thousand deaths like mine Would have been all too few.
To whom, save Thee, Who canst alone

For sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?

5 Thy righteousness, O Christ, Alone can cover me;

No righteousness avails Save that which is of Thee.
To whom, save Thee, Who canst alone

For sin atone, Lord, shall I flee?                

SALUTATION & COLLECT OF THE DAY

P             The Lord be with you.

C             And also with you.

P             Let us pray.

All:         Merciful Lord, in darkness You shine Your light and send forth Your Word that those who hear may believe and believing may live by Your gracious favor. As once You renewed a people lost in error and without the comfort of Your Gospel, so bring this renewal to our own time, that sin may be forgiven, death overcome, and faith may cling to Christ alone; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE DAY

P             Today we commemorate the great Reformation and lay claim to this legacy of pure doctrine and the zeal for the proclamation of this Gospel that grew out of this movement. We give thanks to God for His Gospel, for the doctrine that flows from that Gospel, and for Martin Luther, who recalled the Church to its truth with such clarity and conviction. In the First Reading from Revelation, we hear the message the Church is given to proclaim until Christ comes again. In Romans, Paul gives clear explanation of what it means to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of John, we are taught that we are His disciples and free because we abide in His life-giving Word.

FIRST READING                               Revelation 14:6–7

               6Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. 7And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

P             This is the Word of the Lord.         
C             Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE                                                            Romans 3:19–28

               19Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

               21But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

               27Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

P             This is the Word of the Lord.         
C             Thanks be to God.

ALLELUIA VERSE              Luke 12:32

All:         Alleluia. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL                                  John 8:31–36

P             The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.         

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

               31So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 33They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

               34Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. 36So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

P             This is the Gospel of the Lord.         

C             Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN   A Mighty Fortress           LSB 656

1     A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;
He helps us free from ev'ry need That hath us now o'ertaken.
The old evil foe Now means deadly woe;
Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight;
On earth is not his equal.

2     With might of ours can naught be done, Soon were our loss effected;
But for us fights the Valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.
Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is,
Of Sabaoth Lord, And there's none other God;
He holds the field forever.

3     Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow'r us.
This world's prince may still Scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none. He's judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.

4     The Word they still shall let remain Nor any thanks have for it;
He's by our side upon the plain With His good gifts and Spirit.
And take they our life,Goods, fame, child, and wife,
Though these all be gone, Our vict'ry has been won;
The Kingdom ours remaineth.

SERMON                                          

NICENE CREED  

C                            I believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.  And in One Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the  Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made Man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.  He suffered and was buried.  And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.  And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.  And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets.  And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come.  Amen.

OFFERING

OFFERTORY / CHORAL ANTHEM                                               “I Am Forever Who I Am”

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P             Friends in Christ, I urge you all to lift up your hearts to God and pray with me as Christ our Lord has taught us and freely promised to hear us. God, our Father in heaven, look with mercy on us, Your needy children on earth, and grant us grace that Your holy name be hallowed by us and all the world through the pure and true teaching of Your Word and the fervent love shown forth in our lives. Graciously turn from us all false doctrine and evil living whereby Your precious name is blasphemed and profaned. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             May Your kingdom come to us and expand. Bring all transgressors and those who are blinded and bound in the devil’s kingdom to know Jesus Christ, Your Son, by faith that the number of Christians may be increased. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             Strengthen us by Your Spirit according to Your will, both in life and in death, in the midst of both good and evil things, that our own wills may be crucified daily and sacrificed to Your good and gracious will. Into Your merciful hands we commend all who are in need, praying for them at all times, [especially….]. Thy will be done. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             Grant us our daily bread, preserve us from greed and selfish cares, and help us trust in You to provide for all our needs. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             Forgive us our sins as we also forgive those who sin against us so that our hearts may be at peace and may rejoice in a good conscience before You, and that no sin may ever frighten or alarm us. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             Lead us not into temptation, O Lord, but help us by Your Spirit to subdue our flesh, to turn from the world and its ways, and to overcome the devil with all his wiles. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             And lastly, O heavenly Father, deliver us from all evil of both body and soul, now and forever. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             We trust, O Lord, in Your great mercy to hear and answer us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C             Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

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.

Benediction

P:    The Lord bless you and keep you.

        The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

        The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN                              The Church’s One Foundation                       LSB 644

1     The Church’s one foundation Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;
        She is His new creation By water and the Word.
        From heav'n He came and sought her To be His holy bride;
        With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died.

2     Elect from ev'ry nation, Yet one o’er all the earth;
        Her charter of salvation: One Lord, one faith, one birth.
        One holy name she blesses, Partakes one holy food,
        And to one hope she presses With ev'ry grace endued.

3     Though with a scornful wonder The world sees her oppressed,
        By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed,
        Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up, “How long?”
        And soon the night of weeping Shall be the morn of song.

4     Through toil and tribulation And tumult of her war
        She waits the consummation Of peace forevermore
        Till with the vision glorious Her longing eyes are blest,
        And the great Church victorious Shall be the Church at rest.

5     Yet she on earth has union With God, the Three in One,
        And mystic sweet communion With those whose rest is won.
        O blessed heav'nly chorus! Lord, save us by Your grace
        That we, like saints before us, May see You face to face.

Sunday October 23, 2022

Hymn:  “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty”   LSB # 901

1 Open now thy gates of beauty; Zion, let me enter there,

Where my soul in joyful duty Waits for Him who answers prayer.

Oh, how blessed is this place, Filled with solace, light, and grace!

2 Gracious God, I come before Thee; Come Thou also unto me.

Where we find Thee and adore Thee, There a heav'n on earth must be.

To my heart, O enter Thou; Let it be Thy temple now!

3 Here Thy praise is gladly chanted; Here Thy seed is duly sown.

Let my soul, where it is planted, Bring forth precious sheaves alone,

So that all I hear may be Fruitful unto life in me.

4 Thou my faith increase and quicken; Let me keep Thy gift divine,

Howsoe'er temptations thicken; May Thy Word still o'er me shine

As my guiding star through life, As my comfort in the strife.

5 Speak, O God, and I will hear Thee; Let Thy will be done indeed.

May I undisturbed draw near Thee While Thou dost Thy people feed.

Here of life the fountain flows; Here is balm for all our woes.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins.  To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.  May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C:   Amen.

Matins (sung)

P     O Lord, open my lips,

C     and my mouth will declare Your praise.

P     Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

C     make haste to help me, O Lord.

C     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.
Praise to You, O Christ, Alleluia. (Common response)

Psalmody (Psalm 95) (sung)

P:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

O come, let us sing to the Lord. 
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.
For the Lord is a great God and a great king above all gods.
The deep places of the earth are in His hands;
The strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, for He made it, and His hand formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand.  

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:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading (Genesis 4:1-15)

Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, saying, “I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord.” 2 And again, she bore his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, and Cain a worker of the ground. 3 In the course of time Cain brought to the Lord an offering of the fruit of the ground, 4 and Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, 5 but for Cain and his offering he had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. 6 The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.”

8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?” 10 And the Lord said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. 11 And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth.” 13 Cain said to the Lord, “My punishment is greater than I can bear. 14 Behold, you have driven me today away from the ground, and from your face I shall be hidden. I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Not so! If anyone kills Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold.” And the Lord put a mark on Cain, lest any who found him should attack him.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18)

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth. 18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 18th chapter.

C:  (Sung) Glory to You, O Lord.

(Luke 18:9-17)

[Jesus] also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10 “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

15 Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (Sung) Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day “Amazing Grace”  LSB # 744

1 Amazing grace--how sweet the sound--That saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see!

2 The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures.

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come;

His grace has brought me safe thus far, His grace will lead me home.

4 Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease,

Amazing grace shall then prevail In heaven's joy and peace.

5 When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun,

We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.

Sermon

Te Deum (Sung)

We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord.

All the earth now worships You, the Father everlasting.

To You all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the pow'rs therein.

To You cherubim and seraphim continually do cry:

      Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;

      heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory.

The glorious company of the apostles praise You.

The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise You.

The noble army of martyrs praise You.

The holy Church throughout all the world does acknowledge You.

The Father of an infinite majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son;

      also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. You are the king of glory, O Christ;

      You are the everlasting Son of the Father.

When You took upon Yourself to deliver man,

You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.

When You had overcome the sharpness of death,

You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.

We believe that You will come to be our judge.

We therefore pray You to help Your servants,

whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with Your saints in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage.

Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify You.

And we worship Your name forever and ever.

Grant, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let Your mercy be upon us, as our trust is in You.

O Lord, in You have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in Your mercy,

C:  hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “How Firm a Foundation”  LSB #728

1    How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord,

      Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!

      What more can He say than to you He has said

      Who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?

2 "Fear not! I am with you, O be not dismayed,

      For I am your God and will still give you aid;

      I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand,

      Upheld by My righteous, omnipotent hand.

3 "The soul that on Jesus has leaned for repose

      I will not, I will not, desert to his foes;

      That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake,

      I’ll never, no never, no never forsake!

4 "When through fiery trials your pathway will lie,

      My grace, all-sufficient, will be your supply.

      The flames will not hurt you; I only design

      Your dross to consume and your gold to refine.

5 "Throughout all their lifetime My people will prove

      My sov'reign, eternal, unchangeable love;

      And then, when gray hairs will their temples adorn,

      Like lambs they will still in My bosom be borne."

Sunday October 16, 2022

Hymn “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”  LSB # 940

1 Holy God, we praise Thy name; Lord of all, we bow before Thee.

All on earth Thy scepter claim, All in heav'n above adore Thee.

Infinite Thy vast domain, Everlasting is Thy reign.

2 Hark! the glad celestial hymn Angel choirs above are raising;

Cherubim and seraphim, In unceasing chorus praising,

Fill the heav'ns with sweet accord: Holy, holy, holy Lord!

3 Lo, th'apostles' holy train Join Thy sacred name to hallow;

Prophets swell the glad refrain, And the white-robed martyrs follow,

And from morn to set of sun Through the Church the song goes on.

4 Thou art King of glory, Christ; Son of God, yet born of Mary.

For us sinners sacrificed, As to death a Tributary,

First to break the bars of death, Thou hast opened heav'n to faith.

5 Holy Father, holy Son, Holy Spirit, three we name Thee;

Though in essence only one, Undivided God we claim Thee

And, adoring, bend the knee While we own the mystery.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C:   who made heaven and earth.

P:   I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C:   and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   O almighty God, merciful Father,

C:   I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You, and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P:   Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

The Introit is read…

(Sung)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

The Antiphon is read…

(Sung)

Lord, have mercy upon us.  Christ have mercy upon us.  Lord, have mercy upon us.

(Glory be to God on high)

…and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.  We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.  O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.  O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.  Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.  For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.  Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.

Collect of the Day:

P:   O Lord, almighty and everlasting God, You have commanded us to pray and have promised to hear us.  Mercifully grant that Your Holy Spirit may direct and govern our hearts in all things that we may persevere with steadfast faith in the confession of Your name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”  LSB # 686

1 Come, Thou Fount of ev'ry blessing, Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;

Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.

While the hope of endless glory Fills my heart with joy and love,

Teach me ever to adore Thee; May I still Thy goodness prove.

2 Here I raise my Ebenezer, Hither by Thy help I've come;

And I hope, by Thy good pleasure, Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger, Wand'ring from the fold of God;

He, to rescue me from danger, Interposed His precious blood.

3 Oh, to grace how great a debtor Daily I'm constrained to be;

Let that grace now, like a fetter Bind my wand'ring heart to Thee:

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it; Prone to leave the God I love.

Here's my heart, O take and seal it, Seal it for Thy courts above.

4 Oh, that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy lovely face;

Clothed then in the bloodwashed linen, How I'll sing Thy wondrous grace!

Come, my Lord, no longer tarry; Take my ransom'd soul away;

Send Thine angels soon to carry Me to realms of endless day.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading (Genesis 32:22-30)

          5 The same night [Jacob] arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.”

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (2 Timothy 3:14-4:5)

          As for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 18th chapter.

C:  (sung) Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

(Luke 18:1-8)

           [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
                             

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (sung) Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Confession of Faith  --  Apostles’ Creed

C:   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth.
And 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.
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. Amen.

Hymn “The Gospel Shows the Father’s Grace”  LSB # 580

1 The Gospel shows the Father's grace, Who sent His Son to save our race,

Proclaims how Jesus lived and died That we might thus be justified.

2 It sets the Lamb before our eyes, Who made the atoning sacrifice,

And calls the souls with guilt oppressed To come and find eternal rest.

3 It brings the Savior's righteousness To robe our souls in royal dress;

From all our guilt it brings release And gives the troubled conscience peace.

4 It is the pow'r of God to save From sin and Satan and the grave;

It works the faith which firmly clings To all the treasures which it brings.

5 It bears to all the tidings glad And bids their hearts no more be sad;

The weary, burdened souls it cheers And banishes their guilty fears.

6 May we in faith its message learn Nor thanklessly its blessings spurn;

May we in faith its truth confess And praise the Lord, our righteousness.

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in your mercy,

C:   Receive our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn “We Are Called to Stand Together”  LSB # 828

1    We are called to stand together With the saints of ages past,

      With the patriarchs and prophets In the faith they once held fast;

      Promises and hopes they treasured Now we find fulfilled at last!

2    Those whom Jesus called apostles Journeyed with Him side by side,

      Heard His teaching, felt His power, Saw the way He lived and died;

      Then the news of resurrection They delivered far and wide.

3    Through the intervening ages Round the world the Gospel spread:

      Faithful heralds took the message, Guided where the Spirit led;

      So the body grew in stature, Serving Christ, the living head.

4    Now in many tongues and cultures Songs of celebration ring;

      Millions who confess our Savior Honor Him as Lord and King

      And, for courage, grace and guidance Ev’ry day their prayers they bring.

5    To each coming generation Tell the truth, persuade, explain,

      Till the time when time is ended, Till the Savior comes again—

      Till the saints are all united Under Christ’s eternal reign!

Sunday October 9, 2022

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Hymn  “Today Your Mercy Calls Us”  LSB # 915

1 Today Your mercy calls us To wash away our sin.

However great our trespass, Whatever we have been,

However long from mercy Our hearts have turned away,

Your precious blood can wash us And make us clean today.

2 Today Your gate is open, And all who enter in

Shall find a Father's welcome And pardon for their sin.

The past shall be forgotten, A present joy be giv'n,

A future grace be promised, A glorious crown in heav'n.

3 Today our Father calls us; The Holy Spirit waits;

His blessed angels gather Around the heav'nly gates.

No question will be asked us How often we have come;

Although we oft have wandered, It is our Father's home.

4 O all-embracing Mercy, O ever-open Door,

What should we do without You When heart and eye run o'er?

When all things seem against us, To drive us to despair,

We know one gate is open, One ear will hear our prayer.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.  As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “Entrust Your Days and Burdens”  LSB #754

1 Entrust your days and burdens To God's most loving hand;

   He cares for you while ruling The sky, the sea, the land.

   For He who guides the tempests Along their thund'rous ways

   Will find for you a pathway And guide you all your days.

2 Rely on God your Savior And find your life secure.

   Make His work your foundation That your work may endure.

   No anxious thought, no worry, No self-tormenting care

   Can win your Father's favor; His heart is moved by prayer.

3 Take heart, have hope, my spirit, And do not be dismayed;

   God helps in ev'ry trial And makes you unafraid.

   Await His time with patience Through darkest hours of night

   Until the sun you hoped for Delights your eager sight.

4 Leave all to His direction; His wisdom rules for you

   In ways to rouse your wonder At all His love can do.

   Soon He, His promise keeping, With wonder-working pow'rs

   Will banish from your spirit What gave you troubled hours.

5 O blessed heir of heaven, You’ll hear the song resound

   Of endless jubilation When you with life are crowned.

   In your right hand your maker Will place the victor’s palm,

   And you will thank Him gladly With heaven’s joyful psalm.

6 Our hands and feet, Lord, strengthen; With joy our spirits bless

   Until we see the ending Of all our life’s distress.

   And so throughout our lifetime Keep us within Your care

   And at our end then bring us To heav’n to praise You there.

(Sung)

P:   In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C:   Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.  Almighty God, You show mercy to Your people in all their troubles.  Grant us always to recognize Your goodness, give thanks for Your compassion, and praise Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

First Reading  (Ruth 1:1-19a)

In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons. 2 The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons. 4 These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years, 5 and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.

6 Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord had visited his people and given them food. 7 So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go, return each of you to her mother's house. May the Lord deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me. 9 The Lord grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!” Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept. 10 And they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 But Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons, 13 would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me.” 14 Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.

15 And she said, “See, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. 17 Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.” 18 And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.

19 So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.

8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for:

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;

12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;

if we deny him, he also will deny us;

13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—

for he cannot deny himself.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

All: Alleluia.  Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Alleluia, alleluia.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 17th chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord.

(Luke 17:11-19)

On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day  “Your Hand, O Lord, in Days of Old”  LSB # 846

1 Your hand, O Lord, in days of old Was strong to heal and save;

It triumphed over ills and death, O'er darkness and the grave.

To You they came, the blind, the mute, The palsied and the lame,

The lepers in their misery, The sick with fevered frame.

2 Your touch then, Lord,brought life and health, Gave speech and strength and sight;

And youth renewed and frenzy calmed Revealed You, Lord of light.

And now, O Lord, be near to bless, Almighty as before,

In crowded street, by beds of pain, As by Gennes'ret's shore.

3 O be our great deliverer still, O Lord of life and death;

Restore and quicken, soothe and bless, With Your life-giving breath.

To hands that work and eyes that see Give wisdom's healing pow'r

That whole and sick and weak and strong May praise You evermore.

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Nicene Creed

C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth

            and of all things visible and invisible.

      And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

            the only‐begotten Son of God,

            begotten of His Father before all worlds,

            God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

            begotten, not made,

            being of one substance with the Father,

            by whom all things were made;

            who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

            and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

            and was made man;

            and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

            He suffered and was buried.

            And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

                        and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

            And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

            whose kingdom will have no end.

      And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

            the Lord and giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

            who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

            who spoke by the prophets.

            And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church

            I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

            and I look for the resurrection of the dead

            and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P:         Lord, in Your mercy

C:         hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”  LSB # 790

1    Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!

O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!

Let all who hear Now to His temple draw near,

Joining in glad adoration!

2    Praise to the Lord, who o'er all things is wondrously reigning

And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.

Have you not seen All that is needful has been

Sent by His gracious ordaining?

3    Praise to the Lord, who has fearfully, wondrously, made you,

Health has bestowed and, when heedlessly falling, has stayed you.

What need or grief Ever has failed of relief?

Wings of His mercy did shade you.

4    Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;

Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.

Ponder anew What the Almighty can do

As with His love He befriends you.

5    Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in us adore him!

All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him!

Let the Amen Sound from His people again;

Gladly forever adore him!

Sunday October 2, 2022

Hymn  “Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun”  LSB #868

1    Awake, my soul, and with the sun Thy daily stage of duty run;

Shake off dull sloth and joyful rise To pay thy morning sacrifice.

2    In conversation be sincere, Thy conscience as the noon-day clear;

Think how the all-seeing God thy ways And all thy secret thoughts surveys.

3    All praise to Thee, who safe hast kept And hast refreshed me while I slept;

Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake, I may of endless light partake.

4    Lord, I my vows to Thee renew; Disperse my sins as morning dew;

Guard my first springs of thought and will And with Thyself my spirit fill.

5    Direct, control, suggest this day All I design or do or say

That all my pow'rs with all their might In Thy sole glory may unite.

6    Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;

Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

P:   In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

P:   Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C:   who made heaven and earth.

P:   If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C:   But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P:   Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C:   Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “Holy Spirit, Light Divine”  LSB #496

1 Holy Spirit, light divine, Shine upon this heart of mine;

Chase the shades of night away, Turn the darkness into day.

2 Let me see my Savior's face, Let me all His beauties trace;

Show those glorious truths to me Which are only known to Thee.

3 Holy Spirit, pow'r divine, Cleanse this guilty heart of mine;

In Thy mercy pity me, From sin's bondage set me free.

4 Holy Spirit, joy divine, Cheer this saddened heart of mine;

Yield a sacred, settled peace, Let it grow and still increase.

5 Holy Spirit, all divine, Dwell within this heart of mine;

Cast down ev'ry idol throne, Reign supreme, and reign alone.

(Sung)

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

Good will from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing,

Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.

To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

Have mercy on us, Jesus; Receive our heartfelt cry,

Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high.

For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.

Collect for the day:

O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, by Your grace hear the prayers of Your Church.  Grant that those things which we ask in faith we may receive through Your bountiful mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading  (Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4)

The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

2 O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,

    and you will not hear?

Or cry to you “Violence!”

    and you will not save?

3 Why do you make me see iniquity,

    and why do you idly look at wrong?

Destruction and violence are before me;

    strife and contention arise.

4 So the law is paralyzed,

    and justice never goes forth.

For the wicked surround the righteous;

    so justice goes forth perverted.

I will take my stand at my watchpost

    and station myself on the tower,

and look out to see what he will say to me,

    and what I will answer concerning my complaint.

2 And the Lord answered me:

“Write the vision;

    make it plain on tablets,

    so he may run who reads it.

3 For still the vision awaits its appointed time;

    it hastens to the end—it will not lie.

If it seems slow, wait for it;

    it will surely come; it will not delay.

4 “Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,

    but the righteous shall live by his faith.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (2 Timothy 1:1-14)

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,  To Timothy, my beloved child:

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

3 I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. 6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, 10 and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 11 for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me. 13 Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 14 By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 17th chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord.

(Luke 17:1-10)

[Jesus] said to his disciples, “Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! 2 It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. 3 Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, 4 and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 6 And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.

7 “Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and recline at table’? 8 Will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9 Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? 10 So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C:  Praise to You, O Christ.

Confession of Faith  --  Nicene Creed

C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth

            and of all things visible and invisible.

      And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

            the only‐begotten Son of God,

            begotten of His Father before all worlds,

            God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

            begotten, not made,

            being of one substance with the Father,

            by whom all things were made;

            who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

            and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

            and was made man;

            and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

            He suffered and was buried.

            And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

                        and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

            And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

            whose kingdom will have no end.

      And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

            the Lord and giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

            who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

            who spoke by the prophets.

            And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church

            I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

            and I look for the resurrection of the dead

            and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Hymn “I Know My Faith Is Founded”  LSB #587

1 I know my faith is founded On Jesus Christ, my God and Lord;

And this my faith confessing, Unmoved I stand on His sure Word.

Our reason cannot fathom The truth of God profound;

Who trusts in human wisdom Relies on shifting ground.

God's Word is all-sufficient, It makes divinely sure;

And trusting in its wisdom, My faith shall rest secure.

2 Increase my faith, dear Savior, For Satan seeks by night and day

To rob me of this treasure And take my hope of bliss away.

But, Lord, with You beside me, I shall be undismayed;

And led by Your good Spirit, I shall be unafraid.

Abide with me, O Savior, A firmer faith bestow;

Then I shall bid defiance To ev'ry evil foe.

3 In faith, Lord, let me serve You; Though persecution, grief, and pain

Should seek to overwhelm me, Let me a steadfast trust retain;

And then at my departure, Lord, take me home to You,

Your riches to inherit As all You said holds true.

In life and death, Lord, keep me Until Your heav'n I gain,

Where I by Your great mercy The end of faith attain.

Sermon

Offering

Prayer of the Church

P:         Lord, in Your mercy

C:         hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn  “O God of God, O Light of Light”  LSB # 810

1 O God of God, O Light of Light, O Prince of Peace and King of kings:

To You in heaven's glory bright The song of praise forever rings.

To Him who sits upon the throne, The Lamb once slain but raised again,

Be all the glory He has won, All thanks and praise! Amen, amen.

2 For deep in the prophets' sacred page, And grand in poets' winged word,

Slowly in type, from age to age The nations saw their coming Lord;

Till through the deep Judean night Rang out the song, "Good will to men!"

Sung once by first-born sons of light, It echoes now, "Good will!" Amen.

3 That life of truth, those deeds of love, That death so steeped in hate and scorn--

These all are past, and now above He reigns, our King once crowned with thorn.

Lift up your heads, O mighty gates! So sang that host beyond our ken.

Lift up your heads, your King awaits. We lift them up. Amen, amen.

4 Then raise to Christ a mighty song, And shout His name, His mercies tell!

Sing, heav'nly host, your praise prolong, And all on earth, your anthem swell!

All hail, O Lamb for sinners slain! Forever let the song ascend!

Worthy the Lamb, enthroned to reign,  All glory, pow'r! Amen!

Sunday September 18, 2022

Hymn “The Lord, My God, be Praised”  LSB # 794

1    The Lord, my God, be praised, My light, my life from heaven;

My maker, who to me Has soul and body given;

My Father, who will shield And keep me day by day

And make each moment yield New blessings on my way.

2    The Lord, my God, be praised, My trust, my life from heaven,

The Father's own dear Son, Whose life for me was given,

Who for my sin atoned With His most precious blood

And gives to me by faith The highest heav'nly good.

3    The Lord, my God, be praised, My hope, my life from heaven,

The Spirit, whom the Son In love to me has given.

His grace revives my heart And gives my spirit pow'r,

Help, comfort, and support In sorrow's gloomy hour.

4    The Lord, my God, be praised, My God, the ever-living,

To whom the heav'nly host Their laud and praise are giving.

The Lord, my God, be praised, In whose great name I boast,

God Father, God the Son, And God the Holy Ghost.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C:   who made heaven and earth.

P:   I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C:   and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   O almighty God, merciful Father,

C:   I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You, and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P:   Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “You Are the Way, through You Alone”  LSB # 526

1 You are the way; through You alone  Can we the Father find;

In You, O Christ, has God revealed His heart and will and mind.

2 You are the truth; Your Word alone True wisdom can impart;

You only can inform the mind And purify the heart.

3 You are the life; the empty tomb Proclaims Your conqu'ring arm,

And those who put their trust in You Not death nor hell shall harm.

4 You are the way, the truth, the life; Grant us that way to know,

That truth to keep, that life to win Whose joys eternal flow.

The Introit is read…

(Sung)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

The Antiphon is read…

(Sung)

Lord, have mercy upon us.  Christ have mercy upon us.  Lord, have mercy upon us.

(Glory be to God on high)

…and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.  We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.  O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.  O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.  Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.  For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.  Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.

Collect of the Day:

P:   Let us pray.  O Lord, keep Your Church in Your perpetual mercy; and because without You we cannot but fall, preserve us from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament (Amos 8:4-7)

Hear this, you who trample on the needy

    and bring the poor of the land to an end,

5 saying, “When will the new moon be over,

    that we may sell grain?

And the Sabbath,

    that we may offer wheat for sale,

that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great

    and deal deceitfully with false balances,

6 that we may buy the poor for silver

    and the needy for a pair of sandals

    and sell the chaff of the wheat?”

7 The Lord has sworn by the pride of Jacob:

“Surely I will never forget any of their deeds.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (1 Timothy 2:1-15)

First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 7 For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling; 9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 15 Yet she will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 16th chapter.

C:  (sung) Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

(Luke 16:1-15)

          [Jesus] also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. 15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.
                             

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (sung) Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day  “What Is the World to Me”  LSB #730

1 What is the world to me With all its vaunted pleasure

When You, and You alone, Lord Jesus, are my Treasure!

You only, dearest Lord, My soul's delight shalt be;

You are my peace, my rest. What is the world to me!

2 The world seeks to be praised And honored by the mighty

Yet never once reflects That they are frail and flighty.

But what I truly prize Above all things is He,

My Jesus, He alone. What is the world to me!

3 The world seeks after wealth And all that mammon offers

Yet never is content Though gold should fill its coffers.

I have a higher good, Content with it I'll be:

My Jesus is my wealth. What is the world to me!

4 What is the world to me! My Jesus is my treasure,

My life, my health, my wealth, My friend, my love, my pleasure,

My joy, my crown, my all, My bliss eternally.

Once more, then, I declare: What is the world to me!

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Apostles’ Creed

C:   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth.
And 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.
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. Amen.

Offertory

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence,

And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,

And uphold me with Thy free Spirit.  Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in your mercy,

C:   Receive our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn  “Take My Life and Let It Be”  LSB #783

1 Take my life and let it be Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments and my days, Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

2 Take my hands and let them move At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be Swift and beautiful for Thee.

3 Take my voice and let me sing Always, only for my King;

Take my lips and let them be Filled with messages from Thee.

4 Take my silver and my gold, Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect and use Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.

5 Take my will and make it Thine, It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own, It shall be Thy royal throne.

6 Take my love, my Lord, I pour At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself, and I will be Ever, only, all for Thee.

Sunday September 11, 2022

Hymn  “All Glory Be to God on High”  LSB # 947

1 All glory be to God on high And thanks for all His favor;

No harm can touch or terrify A child of God forever.

God shows His good and gracious will And grants His peace, the world to fill

All strife at last has ended.

2 We praise and laud and worship You; We give You thanks forever,

O Father, for Your rule is true And just and changes never.

With boundless pow’r, Your mighty reign

Fulfills whatever You ordain. Lord, grant us ev’ry blessing!

3 O Jesus Christ, the only Son Begotten of the Father,

Your saving death has made us one With God and with each other.

O Lamb of God, to You on high In our distress we sinners cry,

Have mercy on us, amen!

4 O Holy Spirit, our delight And source of consolation,

Protect us from the devil’s might Through Jesus, our salvation,

Who by His death upon a tree Has rescued us from misery:

To this we hold forever.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.  As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “Shepherd of Tender Youth”  LSB #864

1    Shepherd of tender youth, Guiding in love and truth

Through devious ways; Christ, our triumphant king,

We come Your name to sing And here our children bring

To join Your praise.

2    You are our holy Lord, The all-subduing Word,

Healer of strife. Yourself You did abase

That from sin's deep disgrace You so might save our race

And give us life.

3    You are the great High Priest; You have prepared the feast

Of holy love; And in our mortal pain

None calls on You in vain; Our pleas do not disdain;

Help from above.

4    O ever be our guide, Our shepherd, and our pride,

Our staff and song. Jesus, O Christ of God,

By your enduring Word Lead us where You have trod;

Make our faith strong.

5    So now, and till we die, Sound we Your praises high

And joyful sing: Infants, and all the throng,

Who to the Church belong, Unite to swell the song

To Christ, our king!

(Sung)

P:   In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C:   Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.  Almighty and merciful God, it is by Your grace that we live as Your people who offer acceptable service.  Grant that we may walk by faith, and not by sight, in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

First Reading  (Ezekiel 34:11-24)

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

17 “As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

20 “Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (1 Timothy 1:12-17)

I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

All: Alleluia.  Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Alleluia, alleluia.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 15th chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord.

(Luke 15:1-10)

Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

8 “Or what woman, having ten silver coins, if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it? 9 And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ 10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day  “By Grace I’m Saved”  LSB # 566

1 By grace I'm saved, grace free and boundless; My soul, believe and doubt it not.

Why stagger at this word of promise? Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?

No! Then this word must true remain; By grace you too will life obtain.

2 By grace! None dare lay claim to merit; Our works and conduct have no worth.

God in His love sent our Redeemer, Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;

His death did for our sins atone, And we are saved by grace alone.

3 By grace God's Son, our only Savior, Came down to earth to bear our sin.

Was it because of your own merit That Jesus died your soul to win?

No, it was grace, and grace alone, That brought Him from His heav'nly throne.

4 By grace! This ground of faith is certain; So long as God is true, it stands.

What saints have penned by inspiration, What in His Word our God commands,

Our faith in what our God has done Depends on grace--grace through His Son.

5 By grace to timid hearts that tremble, In tribulation's furnace tried,

By grace, in spite of fear and trouble, The Father's heart is open wide.

Where could I help and strength secure If grace were not my anchor sure?

6 By grace! On this I'll rest when dying; In Jesus' promise I rejoice;

For though I know my heart's condition, I also know my Savior's voice.

My heart is glad, all grief has flown Since I am saved by grace alone.         

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Nicene Creed

C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth

            and of all things visible and invisible.

      And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

            the only‐begotten Son of God,

            begotten of His Father before all worlds,

            God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

            begotten, not made,

            being of one substance with the Father,

            by whom all things were made;

            who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

            and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

            and was made man;

            and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

            He suffered and was buried.

            And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

                        and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

            And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

            whose kingdom will have no end.

      And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

            the Lord and giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

            who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

            who spoke by the prophets.

            And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church

            I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

            and I look for the resurrection of the dead

            and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P:         Lord, in Your mercy

C:         hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise”  LSB # 917

1 Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise

      With one accord our parting hymn of praise;

      Once more we bless Thee ere our worship cease,

      Then, lowly bending, wait Thy word of peace.

2 Grant us thy peace upon our homeward way;

      With Thee began, with Thee shall end, the day.

      Guard Thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,

      That in this house have called upon Thy name.

3 Grant us Thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;

      Turn Thou for us its darkness into light.

      From harm and danger keep Thy children free;

      For dark and light are both alike to Thee.

4 Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life,

      Our balm in sorrow and our stay in strife;

      Then, when Thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,

      Call us, O Lord, to Thine eternal peace.

Sunday August 28, 2022

PRESERVICE MUSIC / PIANO DUET            “Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise"

WELCOME

OPENING HYMN                                             Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now            LSB 902

1 Lord Jesus Christ, be present now; Our hearts in true devotion bow.

    Your Spirit send with light divine, And let Your truth within us shine.

2 Unseal our lips to sing Your praise In endless hymns through all our days.
    Increase our faith and light our minds; And set us free from doubt that blinds.

3 Then shall we join the hosts that cry, "O holy, holy Lord Most High!"
     in the light of that blest place We then shall see You face to face.

4 All glory to the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One!
    To You, O blessed Trinity, Be praise throughout eternity

INVOCATION

P             In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C             Amen.

OPENING SENTENCES     Psalm 124:8; 130:3–4

P             Our help is in the name of the LORD,

C             who made heaven and earth.

P             If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

C             But with You there is forgiveness, that You may be feared.

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESS

P             The Spirit of God calls forth sacrifices pleasing to God: brotherly love, hospitality to strangers, care for all in need, faithfulness in marriage and the family, fearless joy in the Lord, right faith, and right worship. Let us ask God to forgive our sinful neglect of faith’s power to have free course in our life.

C             Almighty God, we confess to You that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed. We have not loved You with our entire being, and we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Alone we remain without hope, health, or help. Have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P             May the God of peace equip you with everything good that you may do His will. In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C             Amen.

INTROIT                                                                           Psalm 75:1–2, 6, 9; antiphon: v. 7

P             It is God who executes judgment,

C             putting down one and lifting up another.

P             We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near.

C             We recount your wondrous deeds.

P             At the set time that I appoint

C             I will judge with equity.

P             For not from the east or from the west

C             and not from the wilderness comes lifting up.

P             But I will declare it forever;

C             I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

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             It is God who executes judgment,

C             putting down one and lifting up another.

HYMN OF PRAISE                                           Earth and All Stars           LSB 817

1 Earth and all stars, loud rushing planets, sing to the Lord a new song!

O victory, loud shouting army, sing to the Lord a new song!

He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!

2 Hail, wind, and rain, loud blowing snowstorms, sing to the Lord a new song!

Flowers and trees, loud rustling leaves, sing to the Lord a new song!

He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!

3 Trumpet and pipes, loud clashing cymbals, sing to the Lord a new song!

Harp, lute, and lyre, loud humming cellos, sing to the Lord a new song!

He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!                   

4 Engines and steel! Loud pounding hammers! Sing to the Lord a new song!
Limestone and beams! Loud building workers! Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things.  I, too, will praise him with a new song!                  

5. Classrooms and labs!  Loud boiling test tubes!  Sing to the Lord a new song!
Athlete and band! Loud cheering people! Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!

6.  Knowledge and truth! Loud sounding wisdom! Sing to the Lord a new song!
Daughter and son! Loud praying members! Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!

7. Children of God, Dying and rising, Sing to the Lord a new song!
Heaven and earth, Hosts everlasting, Sing to the Lord a new song!
He has done marvelous things. I, too, will praise him with a new song!

SALUTATION & COLLECT OF THE DAY

P             The Lord be with you.

C             And also with you.

P             Let us pray.

All:         Lord Jesus, Good Shepherd of the sheep, give to us the power of Your Spirit and equip us with everything good that we may do Your will in lives that are pleasing in Your sight; for You live and reign with the Father and the same Holy Spirit, One God, now and forever. Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING          Proverbs 25:2–10

2It is the glory of God to conceal things,

               but the glory of kings is to search things out.

3As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,

               so the heart of kings is unsearchable.

4Take away the dross from the silver,

               and the smith has material for a vessel;

5take away the wicked from the presence of the king,

               and his throne will be established in righteousness.

6Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence

               or stand in the place of the great,

7for it is better to be told, “Come up here,”

               than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

What your eyes have seen

               8do not hastily bring into court,

for what will you do in the end,

               when your neighbor puts you to shame?

9Argue your case with your neighbor himself,

               and do not reveal another’s secret,

10lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,

               and your ill repute have no end.

L             This is the Word of the Lord.          C   Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE                                                             Hebrews 13:1–17

               1Let brotherly love continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6So we can confidently say,

“The Lord is my helper;

               I will not fear;

what can man do to me?”

               7Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. 9Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them. 10We have an altar from which those who serve the tent have no right to eat. 11For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp. 12So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood. 13Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. 14For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. 15Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. 16Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

               17Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

A             This is the Word of the Lord.          C   Thanks be to God.

ALLELUIA VERSE               Luke 14:11

All:         Alleluia. Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL                                   Luke 14:1–14

P             The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the fourteenth chapter.

C             Glory to You, O Lord.

               1One Sabbath, when [Jesus] went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. 2And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. 3And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” 4But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. 5And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” 6And they could not reply to these things.

               7Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8“When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

               12He said also to the man who had invited him, “When you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid. 13But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.”

P             This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN OF THE DAY                         Son of God, Eternal Savior            LSB 842

1 Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,

Word made flesh, whose birth among us Hallows all our human race,

You our Head, who, throned in glory, For Your own will ever plead:

Fill us with Your love and pity, Heal our wrongs, and help our need.

2 As You, Lord, have lived for others, So may we for others live.

Freely have Your gifts been granted; Freely may Your servants give.

Yours the gold and Yours the silver, Yours the wealth of land and sea;

We but stewards of Your bounty Held in solemn trust will be.

3 Come, O Christ, and reign among us, King of Love and Prince of Peace;

Hush the storm of strife and passion, Bid its cruel discords cease.

By Your patient years of toiling, By Your silent hours of pain,

Quench our fevered thirst of pleasure, Stem our selfish greed of gain.

4 Son of God, eternal Savior, Source of life and truth and grace,

Word made flesh, whose birth among us Hallows all our human race:

By your praying, by Your willing, That Your people should be one,

Grant, O grant our hope’s fruition; Here on earth Your will be done.                        

SERMON                                                           “WHAT SACRIFICE LOOKS LIKE”  Hebrews 13:1-17

I.             In the Old Testament, many animals were sacrificed for forgiveness, leading up to Jesus’ final sacrifice for sin on the cross.

II.           We no longer offer sacrifices to gain forgiveness.  Instead, we offer sacrifices of time, talent and treasure to serve God and our neighbor.

APOSTLE’S CREED

C             I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.  And 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 there He will come to judge the living and the dead.  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.  Amen.

OFFERING / HANDBELL SELECTION           “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

OFFERTORY                                      I Love You, Lord

BLESSING FOR RENEE ORTADO

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P             Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we give You thanks for all the goodness and loving kindness You have bestowed on us, especially for redeeming us through the great sacrifice of the death and resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and for giving us the gift of true repentance, faith, hope, and love by Your Holy Spirit. Work in us a right understanding of Your will, and grant us hearts, lips, and lives that show forth true thanksgiving in all we say and do. Lord, in Your mercy,          C   hear our prayer.

P             Guide and govern Your Church throughout the world that all may walk in the way of truth and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Send Your grace on all ministers of the Gospel and upon the congregations committed to their care that they may please You in all things. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             Have mercy upon all who are in authority over us, those who keep watch over our souls, as well as those in the authority of worldly government that we may have free course to live as Your redeemed people and serve one another in love. Bless all who serve to protect us in our nation and our community. Lord, in Your mercy,          C   hear our prayer.

P             Preserve those who travel and help all who call upon You in any need, [especially…] that they may have patience and trust in the midst of suffering and, according to Your will, be released from their afflictions. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             We remember with thanksgiving those who have loved and served You in Your Church on earth, who now rest from their labors. Keep us in fellowship with all Your saints and bring us at last to the joys of Your heavenly kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy,

C             hear our prayer.

P             Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.          C   Amen.

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.

BENEDICTION                                  Numbers 6:24-26

P             The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you His peace.

C   Amen.

CLOSING HYMN                               Lord of All Nations           LSB 844

1.      Lord of all nations, grant me grace Too love all people, every race;

And in each person may I see My kindred, loved, redeemed by Thee.

2.      Break down the wall that would divide Thy children, Lord, on every side.

My neighbor’s good let me pursue; Let Christian love bind warm and true.

3.   Forgive me, Lord, where I have erred By loveless act and thoughtless word.
Make me to see the wrong I do Will grieve my wounded Lord anew.

4.   Give me Thy courage, Lord, to speak Whenever strong oppress the weak.

Should I myself the victim be, Help me forgive, rememb’ring Thee.

5.   With Thine own love may I be filled And by Thy Holy Spirit willed,
That all I touch, where’er I be, May be divinely touched by Thee.

Sunday August 21, 2022

Hymn “Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”  LSB # 793

1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven; To His feet your tribute bring;

Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Evermore His praises sing:

Alleluia, alleluia! Praise the everlasting King.

2 Praise Him for His grace and favor To His people in distress;

Praise Him still the same as ever, Slow to chide and swift to bless:

Alleluia, alleluia! Glorious in His faithfulness.

3 Father-like He tends and spares us; Well our feeble frame He knows;

In His hand He gently bears us, Rescues us from all our foes.

Alleluia, alleluia! Widely yet His mercy flows.

4 Angels, help us to adore Him; You behold Him face to face;

Sun and moon, bow down before Him, All who dwell in time and space.

Alleluia, alleluia! Praise with us the God of grace.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins.  To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit.  May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

C:   Amen.

Matins (sung)

P     O Lord, open my lips,

C     and my mouth will declare Your praise.

P     Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

C     make haste to help me, O Lord.

C     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.
Praise to You, O Christ, Alleluia. (Common response)

Psalmody (Psalm 95) (sung)

P:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

O come, let us sing to the Lord. 
Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving,
Let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise.
For the Lord is a great God and a great king above all gods.
The deep places of the earth are in His hands;
The strength of the hills is His also.
The sea is His, for He made it, and His hand formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker.
For He is our God, And we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep of His hand.  

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:   Blessed be God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

C:   O come, let us worship Him.

Scripture Readings

First Reading (Isaiah 66:18-23)

“For I know their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory, 19 and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations. 20 And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord. 21 And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord.

22 “For as the new heavens and the new earth

    that I make

shall remain before me, says the Lord,

    so shall your offspring and your name remain.

23 From new moon to new moon,

    and from Sabbath to Sabbath,

all flesh shall come to worship before me,

declares the Lord.

P:   O Lord, have mercy on us..

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Hebrews 12:4-24)

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?

“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,

    nor be weary when reproved by him.

6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and chastises every son whom he receives.”

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

P:      O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 13th chapter.

C:  (Sung) Glory to You, O Lord.

(Luke 13:22-30)

[Jesus] went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (Sung) Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn “A Multitude Come from the East and the West”  LSB # 510

1 A multitude comes from the east and the west To sit at the feast of salvation

With Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the blest, Obeying the Lord's invitation.

Have mercy upon us, O Jesus!

2 O God, let us hear when our Shepherd shall call In accents persuasive and tender,

That while there is time we make haste, one and all, And find Him, our mighty Defender.

Have mercy upon us, O Jesus!

3 All trials shall be like a dream that is past, Forgotten all trouble and mourning.

All questions and doubts have been answered at last, When rises the light of that morning.

Have mercy upon us, O Jesus!

4 The heavens shall ring with an anthem more grand Than ever on earth was recorded.

The blest of the Lord shall receive at His hand The crown to the victors awarded.

Have mercy upon us, O Jesus!

Sermon

Te Deum (Sung)

We praise You, O God; we acknowledge You to be the Lord.

All the earth now worships You, the Father everlasting.

To You all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the pow'rs therein.

To You cherubim and seraphim continually do cry:

      Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Sabaoth;

      heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory.

The glorious company of the apostles praise You.

The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise You.

The noble army of martyrs praise You.

The holy Church throughout all the world does acknowledge You.

The Father of an infinite majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son;

      also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. You are the king of glory, O Christ;

      You are the everlasting Son of the Father.

When You took upon Yourself to deliver man,

You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin.

When You had overcome the sharpness of death,

You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father.

We believe that You will come to be our judge.

We therefore pray You to help Your servants,

whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood.

Make them to be numbered with Your saints in glory everlasting.

O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage.

Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify You.

And we worship Your name forever and ever.

Grant, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin.

O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us.

O Lord, let Your mercy be upon us, as our trust is in You.

O Lord, in You have I trusted; let me never be confounded.

Offertory

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in Your mercy,

C:  hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn  “Jerusalem, My Happy Home”  LSB # 673

1 Jerusalem, my happy home, When shall I come to thee?
When shall my sorrows have an end? Thy joys when shall I see?

2 O happy harbor of the saints, O sweet and pleasant soil!
In thee no sorrow may be found, No grief, no care, no toil.

3 Thy gardens and thy gallant walks Continually are green;
There grow such sweet and pleasant flow'rs As nowhere else are seen.

4 There trees forevermore bear fruit And evermore do spring;
There evermore the angels dwell And evermore do sing.

5 Apostles, martyrs, prophets, there Around my Savior stand;
And soon my friends in Christ below Will join the glorious band.

6 O Christ, do Thou my soul prepare For that bright home of love
That I may see Thee and adore With all Thy saints above.

Sunday August 14, 2022

Hymn “Come, Thou Almighty King”  LSB # 905

1 Come, Thou almighty King, Help us Thy Name to sing: Help us to praise;
Father all-glorious, O’er all victorious,
Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days.

2 Come, Thou incarnate Word, Gird on Thy mighty sword; Our prayer attend.

Come and Thy people bless, And give Thy Word success,

And let Thy righteousness On us descend.

3 Come, holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear In this glad hour!

Thou, who almighty art, Now rule in ev'ry heart,

And ne’er from us depart, Spirit of pow'r.

4 To Thee, great One in Three, Eternal praises be Hence evermore!

Thy sov'reign majesty May we in glory see,

And to eternity Love and adore.

P:   In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. 

C:   Amen.

P:   Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C:   who made heaven and earth.

P:   I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C:   and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   O almighty God, merciful Father,

C:   I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You, and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

P:   Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

The Introit is read…

(Sung)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost;

as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.

Amen.

The Antiphon is read…

(Sung)

Lord, have mercy upon us.  Christ have mercy upon us.  Lord, have mercy upon us.

(Glory be to God on high)

…and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.  We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory.  O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.  O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.  Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.  For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.  Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father.  Amen.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.

Collect of the Day:

P:   Let us pray.  Merciful Lord, cleanse and defend Your Church by the sacrifice of Christ.  United with Him in Holy Baptism, give us grace to receive with thanksgiving the fruits of His redeeming work and daily follow in His way; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”  LSB # 655

1 Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word; Curb those who by deceit or sword

Would wrest the kingdom from Your Son And bring to naught all He has done.

2 Lord Jesus Christ, Your pow'r make known, For You are Lord of lords alone;

Defend Your holy Church that we May sing your praise eternally.

3 O Comforter of priceless worth, Send peace and unity on earth;

Support us in our final strife And lead us out of death to life.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament (Jeremiah 23:16-29)

Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

18 For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord

    to see and to hear his word,

    or who has paid attention to his word and listened?

19 Behold, the storm of the Lord!

    Wrath has gone forth,

a whirling tempest;

    it will burst upon the head of the wicked.

20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back

    until he has executed and accomplished

    the intents of his heart.

In the latter days you will understand it clearly.

21 “I did not send the prophets,

    yet they ran;

I did not speak to them,

    yet they prophesied.

22 But if they had stood in my council,

    then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,

and they would have turned them from their evil way,

    and from the evil of their deeds.

23 “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord. 25 I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, 27 who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? 28 Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. 29 Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Hebrews 11:17-31; 12:1-3)

y faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.

23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.

29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 12th chapter.

C:  (sung) Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

(Luke 12:49-53)

          “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled! 50 I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished! 51 Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
                             

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   (sung) Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day  “God Has Spoken by His Prophets”  LSB #583

1 God has spoken by His prophets, Spoken His unchanging Word;
   Each from age to age proclaiming God the one, the righteous Lord.
   In the world's despair and turmoil One firm anchor holds us fast:
   God is king, His throne eternal; God the first, and God the last.

2 God has spoken by Christ Jesus, Christ, the everlasting Son,
   Brightness of the Father's glory, With the Father ever one;
   Spoken by the Word Incarnate, God of God, before time was;
   Light of Light, to earth descending, He reveals our God to us.

3 God is speaking by His Spirit, Speaking to our hearts again,
   In the ageless Word declaring His own message, now as then.
   Through the rise and fall of nations One sure faith yet standing fast;
   God abides, His Word unchanging; God the first, and God the last.

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Apostles’ Creed

C:   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

      maker of heaven and earth.
And 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.
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. Amen.

Offertory

Create in me a clean heart, O God,

And renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence,

And take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation,

And uphold me with Thy free Spirit.  Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P:   Lord, in your mercy,

C:   Receive our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn  “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”  LSB #923

1       Almighty Father, bless the Word Which through Your grace we now have heard.
         Oh, may the precious seed take root,   Spring up, and bear abundant fruit!

2       We praise You for the means of grace As homeward now our steps we trace.
         Grant, Lord, that we who worshiped here May all at last in heav'n appear.

3       Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise Him, all creatures here below;
         Praise Him above, ye heav'nly host: Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Sunday August 7, 2022

Hymn of the Day  “Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng”  LSB #813

1    Rejoice, O pilgrim throng! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;

      Your festal banner wave on high, The cross of Christ, your king.

      Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

2 With voice as full and strong As ocean's surging praise,

      Send forth the sturdy hymns of old, The psalms of ancient days.

      Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

3 With all the angel choirs, With all the saints on earth

      Pour out the strains of joy and bliss, True rapture, noblest mirth.

      Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

4 Yet on and onward still, With hymn and chant and song,

      Through gate and porch and columned aisle The hallowed pathways throng.

      Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

5 Still lift your standard high, Still march in firm array,

      As pilgrims through the darkness wend Till dawns the golden day.

      Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

6 At last the march shall end; The wearied ones shall rest;

      The pilgrims find their home at last, Jerusalem the blest.

      Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

7 Praise Him who reigns on high, The Lord whom we adore;

      The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God forevermore.

      Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

P:   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C:   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.   (1 John 1:8-9)

(We reflect on God’s Word and examine ourselves)

P:   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C:   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.  As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn “We Sing for All the Unsung Saints”  LSB # 678

1 We sing for all the unsung saints, That countless, nameless throng,

Who kept the faith and passed it on With hope steadfast and strong

Through all the daily griefs and joys No chronicles record,

Forgetful of their lack of fame, But mindful of their Lord.

2 Though uninscribed with date or place, With title, rank, or name,

As living stones their stories join To form a hallowed frame

Around the myst'ry in their midst: The Lamb once sacrificed,

The Love that wrested life from death, The wounded, risen Christ.

3 So we take heart from unknown saints Bereft of earthly fame,

Those faithful ones who have received A more enduring name:

For they reveal true blessing comes When we our pride efface

And offer back our lives to be The vessels of God's grace.

(Sung)

P:   In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C:   Lord, have mercy.

P:   Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C:   Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are his.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation.
Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

For the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.  Almighty and merciful God, it is by Your grace that we live as Your people who offer acceptable service.  Grant that we may walk by faith, and not by sight, in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

First Reading  (Genesis 15:1-6)

After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision: “Fear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.” 2 But Abram said, “O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?” 3 And Abram said, “Behold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.” 4 And behold, the word of the Lord came to him: “This man shall not be your heir; your very own son shall be your heir.” 5 And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” 6 And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Hebrews 11:1-16)

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. 7 By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 11 By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.

13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

All: Alleluia.  Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  Alleluia, alleluia.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 12th chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord.

(Luke 12:22-34)

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. 24 Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! 25 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 26 If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? 27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28 But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! 29 And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. 30 For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

32 “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C:   Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day  “Fight the Good Fight”  LSB # 664

1 Fight the good fight with all your might; Christ is your strength, and Christ your right.

Lay hold on life, and it shall be Your joy and crown eternally.

2 Run the straight race through God's good grace; Lift up your eyes, and seek His face.

Life with its way before us lies; Christ is the path, and Christ the prize.

3 Cast care aside, lean on your guide; His boundless mercy will provide.

Trust, and enduring faith shall prove Christ is your life and Christ your love.

4 Faint not nor fear, His arms are near; He changes not who holds you dear;

Only believe, and you will see That Christ is all eternally.
                                                    

Sermon

Confession of Faith  --  Nicene Creed

C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth

            and of all things visible and invisible.

      And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

            the only‐begotten Son of God,

            begotten of His Father before all worlds,

            God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

            begotten, not made,

            being of one substance with the Father,

            by whom all things were made;

            who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

            and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

            and was made man;

            and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

            He suffered and was buried.

            And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

                        and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

            And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

            whose kingdom will have no end.

      And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

            the Lord and giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

            who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

            who spoke by the prophets.

            And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church

            I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

            and I look for the resurrection of the dead

            and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P:         Lord, in Your mercy

C:         hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn  “Sing Praise to the God of Israel”  LSB #936

1.   Sing praise to the God of Israel! Sing praise for His visitation!

      Redeeming His people from their sin, Accomplishing their salvation,

      Upraising a mighty horn within The house of His servant David.

2.   God spoke by the prophets long ago, His promise an oath recalling

      To Abraham made in former years; Of vanquishing foes appalling,

      That those He delivered from their fears Might gladly and truly serve Him.

3.   You, child will go on before the Lord As prophet, His way preparing;

      To speak on behalf of God Most High, His counsel of truth declaring;

      Rich mercy and grace for all whereby Iniquity is forgiven.

4.   O, bright, rising Sun, now shine on us In need of illumination;

      Come scatter the shades of sin and death And shatter their domination.

      Be guiding our footsteps on the path, of peace, in Your presence dawning!

Sunday July 31, 2022

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.     

Sunday July 24, 2022

Hymn  “Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good”  LSB #819

1    Sing praise to God, the highest good, The author of creation.

The God of love who understood Our need for His salvation.

With healing balm our souls He fills And ev'ry faithless murmur stills:

To God all praise and glory!

2    What God’s almighty pow'r has made, In mercy He is keeping.

By morning glow or evening shade His eye is never sleeping.

Within the kingdom of His might All things are just and good and right:

To God all praise and glory!

3    We sought the Lord in our distress; O God, in mercy hear us.

Our Savior saw our helplessness And came with peace to cheer us.

For this we thank and praise the Lord, Who is by one and all adored:

To God all praise and glory!

4    He never shall forsake His flock, His chosen generation;

He is their refuge and their rock, Their peace and their salvation.

As with a mother's tender hand, He leads His own, His chosen band:

To God all praise and glory!

5    All who confess Christ’s holy name, Give God the praise and glory.

Let all who know His pow'r proclaim Aloud the wondrous story.

Cast ev'ry idol from its throne, For God is God, and He alone:

To God all praise and glory!

P:   In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

P:   Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C:   who made heaven and earth.

P:   If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C:   But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P:   Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C:   Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

C:   Amen.

Hymn  “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”  LSB #770

1 What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear–

All because we do not carry Ev'rything to God in prayer!

2 Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged–Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our ev'ry weakness–Take it to the Lord in prayer.

3 Are we weak and heavy-laden, Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge–Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He'll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.

(Sung)

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

Good will from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing,

Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.

To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

Have mercy on us, Jesus; Receive our heartfelt cry,

Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high.

For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.

P:   The Lord be with you.

C:   And also with you.

P:   Let us pray.

Collect for the day:

O Lord, let Your merciful ears be attentive to the prayers of Your servants, and by Your Word and Spirit teach us how to pray that our petitions may be pleasing before You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C:   Amen.

Scripture Readings

Old Testament Reading  (Genesis 18:20-33)

Then the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave, 21 I will go down to see whether they have done altogether according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.”

22 So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham drew near and said, “Will you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?” 26 And the Lord said, “If I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Abraham answered and said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. 28 Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?” And he said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 Again he spoke to him and said, “Suppose forty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of forty I will not do it.” 30 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.” He answered, “I will not do it, if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “Behold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.” 32 Then he said, “Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.” He answered, “For the sake of ten I will not destroy it.” 33 And the Lord went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading    (Colossians 2:6-15)

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

P:   This is the Word of the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

P:  The holy Gospel according to St. Luke the 11th chapter.

C:  Glory to You, O Lord.

(Luke 11:1-13)

Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” 2 And he said to them, “When you pray, say:

“Father, hallowed be your name.

Your kingdom come.

3 Give us each day our daily bread,

4 and forgive us our sins,

    for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.”

5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

P:   This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C:  Praise to You, O Christ.

Confession of Faith  --  Nicene Creed

C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

            maker of heaven and earth

            and of all things visible and invisible.

      And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

            the only‐begotten Son of God,

            begotten of His Father before all worlds,

            God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

            begotten, not made,

            being of one substance with the Father,

            by whom all things were made;

            who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

            and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

            and was made man;

            and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

            He suffered and was buried.

            And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

                        and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

            And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

            whose kingdom will have no end.

      And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

            the Lord and giver of life,

            who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

            who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

            who spoke by the prophets.

            And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church

            I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

            and I look for the resurrection of the dead

            and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Hymn “Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation”  LSB #909

1 Christ is made the sure foundation, Christ, our head and cornerstone,

Chosen of the Lord and precious, Binding all the Church in one;

Holy Zion’s help forever And our confidence alone.

2 To this temple, where we call You, Come, O Lord of hosts, and stay;

Come with all Your lovingkindness, Hear Your people as they pray;

And Your fullest benediction Shed within these walls today.

3 Grant, we pray, to all Your faithful All the gifts they ask to gain;

What they gain from You, forever With the blessed to retain;

And hereafter in Your glory Evermore with You to reign.

4 Praise and honor to the Father, Praise and honor to the Son,

Praise and honor to the Spirit, Ever three and ever one:

One in might and one in glory While unending ages run!

Sermon

Offering

Prayer of the Church

P:         Lord, in Your mercy

C:         hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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

Benediction

P:  The Lord bless you and keep you.

      The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

      The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Closing Hymn  “Lord, Dismiss Us with Your Blessing”  LSB # 924

1    Lord, dismiss us with Your blessing; Fill our hearts with joy and peace;
      Let us each, Your love possessing, Triumph in redeeming grace.
      O refresh us, O refresh us, Trav'ling through this wilderness.

2    Thanks we give and adoration For Your Gospel's joyful sound.
      May the fruits of Your salvation In our hearts and lives abound.
      Ever faithful, ever faithful To Your truth may we be found.

3    Savior, when Your love shall call us From our struggling pilgrim way,
      Let not fear of death appall us, Glad Your summons to obey.
      May we ever, may we ever Reign with You in endless day.