April 19, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

April 19, 2026 Easter 3

HE LIVES TO RESTORE MY HOPE

WELCOME – All responses will be spoken today. Hymns in RED HYMNAL HYMN 159 “Morning Breaks upon the Tomb” (Please stand for last stanza) 

INVOCATION & CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. 

L: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who comforts us in our troubles, C: So that we can comfort others in their troubles with the same comfort we  ourselves have received from God. 

L: For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, 

C: So also through Christ our comfort overflows to others. 

L: Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. C: One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of your  mighty acts. 

L: Our God is a God who saves. 

C: He does not treat us as our sins deserve. 

L: For God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, 

C: So that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 

L: Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for 

 all, and therefore all died. 

C: And He died for all that those who live should no longer live for themselves,  but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 

L: May His Spirit inspire our giving thanks for all of His blessings to us, 

C: And make us able to serve Him throughout our lives. 

L: Let us pray. 

O God, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world from the despair of death. By  his resurrection to life, grant your faithful people gladness of heart and the hope of eternal joys;  through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and  forever. C: Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Acts 2:14a,32-41

The message of Christ crucified and risen gives the certain hope of forgiveness to sinners. 

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and spoke loudly and clearly to  them:…32 “This Jesus is the one God has raised up. We are all witnesses of that. 33 So, after  he was exalted to the right hand of God and after he received the promised Holy Spirit from  the Father, he poured out what you are now seeing and hearing. 34 “For David did not ascend  into heaven, and yet he says: The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make  your enemies a footstool under your feet. 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for  certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now  when the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other  apostles, “Gentlemen, brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter answered them, “Repent and  be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your[l]sins,  and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your  children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 He testified  solemnly with many other words and was appealing to them, saying, “Save yourselves from  this crooked generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and that day  about three thousand people were added. 

L: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Peter 1:17-21 

Our hope and expectation is joining our Savior in the glory of heaven. Until that day, we live as pilgrims  heading toward home. 

17 If you call on the Father who judges impartially, according to the work of each person,  conduct yourselves during the time of your pilgrimage in reverence, 18 because you know that  you were redeemed from your empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,  not with things that pass away, such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ,  like a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was chosen before the foundation of the world but  revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you are believers in God, who  raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 

L: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

L: Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. Our hearts were burning within us while he  talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us. Alleluia. Please stand for the Gospel.  

GOSPEL: Luke 24:13-35 

Jesus restored the hope of two disciples as he explained the Scriptures. 

13 Now, on that same day, two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven  miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about all of these things that had  happened. 15While they were talking and discussing this, Jesus himself approached and began  to walk along with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 He said to them,  “What are you talking about as you walk along?” Saddened, they stopped. 18 One of them, 

named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who does not know  the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked them. They  replied, “The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet, mighty in deed  and word before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over  to be condemned to death. And they crucified him. 21 But we were hoping that he was going  to redeem Israel. Not only that, but besides all this, it is now the third day since these things  happened. 22Also some women of our group amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning. 23When they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen  a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the  tomb. They found it just as the women had said, but they did not see him.” 25 He said to them,  “How foolish you are and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did  not the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter his glory?” 27 Then beginning with  Moses and all the prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures  concerning himself. 28As they approached the village where they were going, he acted as if he  were going to travel farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, since it is  almost evening, and the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he  reclined at the table with them, he took the bread, blessed it, broke it, and began giving it to  them. 31 Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. Then he vanished from  their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was  speaking to us along the road and while he was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 They  got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those who were  with them assembled together. 34 They were saying, “The Lord really has been raised! He has  appeared to Simon.” 35 They themselves described what had happened along the road, and  how they recognized him when he broke the bread. 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 167 “Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense” 

SERMON: (written by Circuit Pastor John Eich) 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER - page 42  

HYMN 141 “At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: Amen.) 

BLESSING - page 44 C: Amen.  

HYMN 166 “The Day of Resurrection” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

NO CONFIRMATION or ADULT BIBLE STUDY this week,

Service of Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

April 12, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

April 12, 2026 Easter 2

HE LIVES TO GIVE ME PROOF AND PEACE 

WELCOME – All responses will be spoken today. Hymns in RED HYMNAL HYMN 160 “This Joyful Easter Tide” (Please stand for last stanza) 

INVOCATION & CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: In the name of the Father, and of the Son (+), and of the Holy Spirit. 

C: Amen. 

L: Christ is risen! 

C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

L: I will exult you, LORD, 

C: for you lifted me out of the depths. 

L: LORD, my God, I called to you for help, 

C: and you healed me. 

L: O LORD, you brought me up from the grave; 

C: You spared me from going down into the pit. 

L: Sing to the LORD, you saints of his; 

C: Praise his holy name. 

L: For his anger lasts only a moment, 

C: but his favor lasts a lifetime. 

L: Christ is risen! 

C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

L: Let us pray. 

O risen Lord, you came to your disciples and took away their fears with your word of peace.  Come to us also by your Word and sacrament, and banish our fears with the comforting  assurance of your abiding presence; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,  one God, now and forever. C: Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Acts 2:14a,22-32 

The living Lord appeared to many eyewitnesses so they could testify to the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. 

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and spoke loudly and clearly to  them:…22 “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus the Nazarene was a man recommended 

to you by God with miracles, wonders, and signs that God did through him among you,  as you yourselves know. 23 This man, who was handed over by God’s set plan and  foreknowledge, you[d]killed by having lawless men nail him to a cross. 24 He is the one  God raised up by freeing him from the agony of death, because death was not able to hold  him in its grip. 25 Indeed, David says concerning him: I saw the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart was glad, and  my tongue rejoiced. My flesh also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon my  life to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 28 You have made known to  me the paths of life. You will fill me with joy in your presence. 29 Gentlemen, brothers, I  can speak confidently to you about the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried,  and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Since he was a prophet and knew that God had  sworn to him with an oath that he would seat one of his descendants on his throne,31 he  saw what was coming and spoke about the resurrection of Christ, saying that he was  neither abandoned to the grave nor did his flesh see decay. 32 This Jesus is the one God  has raised up. We are all witnesses of that.” 

L: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Peter 1:3-9 

St. Peter points to the resurrection as proof of the hope we have. 

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us  a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the  dead, 4into an inheritance that is undying, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for  you. 5 Through faith you are being protected by God’s power for the salvation that is  ready to be revealed at the end of time. 6 Because of this you rejoice very much, even  though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various kinds of  trials 7so that the proven character of your faith—which is more valuable than gold, which  passes away even though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise, glory, and  honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him.  Though you do not see him now, yet by believing in him, you are filled with a joy that is  inexpressible and filled with glory, 9because you are receiving the goal of your faith, the  salvation of your souls. 

L: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

L: Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. Blessed are those who have not seen  and yet have believed. Alleluia. Please stand for the Gospel.  

GOSPEL: John 20:19-31 

Jesus gave the proof that led to peace for Thomas. 

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked 

doors because of their fear of the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them,  “Peace be with you!” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. So the  disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.” 22 After saying this, he breathed on  them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are  forgiven. Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” 24 But Thomas, one  of the Twelve, the one called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the  other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I  see the nail marks in his hands, and put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my  hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26After eight days, his disciples were inside again,  and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among  them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and  look at my hands. Take your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue to doubt, but  believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Because  you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have  believed.” 30 Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, did many other miraculous signs that  are not written in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is  the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. 

L: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 165 (1-4) “O Sons and Daughters of the King” 

SERMON: “The Difference is Peace” (written by Circuit Pastor John Eich) APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER - page 42  

HYMN 165 (5-9) “O Sons and Daughters of the King” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: Amen. (spoken) 

BLESSING - page 44 C: Amen. (spoken) 

HYMN 158 “I Am Content! My Jesus Lives Again” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S 

❖ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “Taboo” at the parsonage 

❖ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house ❖ Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on Romans at Pastor’s house 

❖ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

❖ Sunday, 10 am – WORSHIP

Service of Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

April 5, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

April 5, 2026 Easter Sunday

JESUS LIVES TO TAKE ME FROM DEATH TO LIFE WELCOME 

GREETING 

M: The Lord is risen! 

C: He is risen indeed! 

HYMN 157 “Jesus Christ is Risen Today” - please stand for last stanza 

CONFESSION OF SINS 

M: Dear Friends, let us approach God with a true heart and confess our sins, asking him in  the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to forgive us. 

C: Lord of life, I confess that I am by nature dead in sin. For faithless  worrying and selfish pride, for sins of habit and sins of choice, for evil I  have done and the good I have failed to do, You should cast me away  from your presence forever. O Lord, I am sorry for my sins. Forgive  me, for Jesus’ sake. 

ABSOLUTION 

M: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. In his great mercy, God made us  alive in Christ even when we were dead in our sins. Hear the word of Christ through his  called servant: I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and the Son and of  the Holy Spirit. 

C: Amen. 

SONG: “My Sins Have Been Forgive, Forgotten, for Good” SS Children & Teachers 

RESURRECTION DIALOGUE 

M: Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

M: This is the day the Lord has made. 

C: We will rejoice and be glad in it.

M: I will sing to the Lord, for he is highly exalted. The Lord is my strength and my song; he  has become my salvation. 

C: Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music  and song. 

M I will not die, but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. 

C: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. 

M: The Lord’s right hand is majestic in power. The Lord’s right hand has shattered the enemy. In the greatness of his majesty he threw down those who opposed him. C: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 

M: The Lord will not abandon me to the grave. He has made known to me the path of life. C: Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. M: Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? 

C: Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus  Christ. 

M: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. C: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of  his Christ, and he will reign forever and ever. 

M: Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. C: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and  wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise! 

M: Alleluia! Christ is risen! 

C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

M: Almighty God, through your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, you overcame death and  opened to us the gate of everlasting life. We humbly pray that we may live before you in  righteousness and purity forever; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and  reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

C: Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Job 19:23-27  

23 Oh how I wish that my words were written down. Oh how I wish that they were  inscribed in bronze, 24 that they would be engraved in rock forever with an iron tool  and letters filled with lead. 25 As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the  end of time he will stand over the dust. 26 Then, even after my skin has been destroyed,  nevertheless, in my own flesh I will see God. 27 I myself will see him. My own eyes will  see him, and not as a stranger. My emotions are in turmoil within me. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 

1 Brothers, I am going to call your attention to the gospel that I preached to you. You  received it, and you took your stand on it. 2 You are also being saved by that gospel that 

was expressed in the words I preached to you, if you keep your hold on it—unless you  believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that  Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he  was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to  Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6After that he appeared to over five hundred brothers at  the same time, most of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he  appeared to James, and then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, he appeared also to me, the  stillborn child, so to speak. 9For I am the least of the apostles, and I am not worthy to  be called an apostle, because I persecuted God’s church. 10 But by the grace of God I am  what I am, and his grace toward me was not ineffective. On the contrary, I worked  more than all of them (and yet it wasn’t my doing, but it was the grace of God, which  was with me, that did it). 11 So whether it is I or they, that is what we preach, and that is  what you believed. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY 

M: Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. 

 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia. 

GOSPEL: Matthew 28:1-10 

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other  Mary went to look at the tomb. 2Suddenly, there was a great earthquake! For an angel  of the Lord came down from heaven, and going to the tomb, he rolled away the stone  and was sitting on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing was as white as  snow. 4 The guards were so terrified of him that they shook and became like dead  men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for  Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here. He has risen, just as he said. Come, see the  place where the Lord lay. 7 Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead!  And look, he is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him.’ See, I have told  you!” 8 They hurried away from the tomb, with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” They approached, took hold  of his feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go, tell  my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” 

P: Here ends the Gospel. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 143 “He’s Risen, He’s Risen” 

SERMON: I Know that My Redeemer Lives! Job 19:23-27  HYMN 152 (1,2,5,7,8) “I Know that My Redeemer Lives” 

CONFESSION OF FAITH – The Apostles’ Creed

M: Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty? 

C: Yes, I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. M: 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 be  heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.  From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. 

M: Do 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. Amen. 

HYMN 453 “The Tomb Is Empty” Sharon Spencer (1,2) Congregation (Refrain, 3-5) 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH 

M: Heavenly Father, God of grace, you have brought us into a new and living hope by the  resurrection of Jesus from the dead. 

C: Christ is risen! 

M: For as in Adam all died, so in Christ all will be made alive. 

C: He is risen indeed! 

M: He was delivered over to death for our sins and raised to life for our justification. C: Alleluia! 

M: We marvel at the love you showed by your willingness to sacrifice your Son to pay for  our sins; we bow down in adoration at your mighty power, which raised him from the  dead. 

C: We praise you for sending the true Life and Light into the world. M: Lord Jesus, God of grace, you have filled our hearts with resurrection joy by your victory  over sin, death, and the grave. 

C: You have conquered the darkness and given us comfort and hope. M: With the Church of every age, we offer you unending praise, for you have crushed  Satan’s head and have removed our guilt. 

C: You are risen! 

M: Dear Savior, we who are weary and burdened come to you for rest, knowing that  because of your perfect redemption there is now no condemnation for us. C: You are risen indeed! 

M: Take away our doubts and fears, and daily renew in us the joy of our salvation. C: Alleluia! 

M: Holy Spirit, God of grace, you have called us by the gospel and brought us to   saving faith in our risen Lord. 

C: We glorify you for opening our eyes to see the light of life. M: Keep us with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.

C: He is risen! 

M: As we journey through life, make us yearn for the day when you will give eternal   life to us and all believers in Christ. 

C: He is risen indeed! 

Special prayers and intercessions may be offered here. 

M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions. 

Silent prayer. 

M: Work through us as we proclaim the saving message of the crucified and risen Jesus  near and far, so that many others may hear your call, obtain the salvation that is in  Christ Jesus, and join us before the throne of our God and of the Lamb. 

C: Alleluia! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Alleluia! Amen. 

LORD’S PRAYER 

M: In Easter joy we also join to pray: 

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed by 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. 

THE SACRAMENT  

WORDS OF INSTITUTION 

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION 

CLOSE COMMUNION: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church believes according to the  Bible the participation in the Lord's Supper is both a confession of faith and an expression of  our unity in that faith. When you commune with us you are saying that you agree with the  Biblical teachings concerning the Lord's Supper and all the other teachings of the Bible. If you  have never communed with us before, we ask that you speak with Pastor Himm to learn how  you can establish a communing fellowship with us. We are eager to enjoy this close fellowship  with you! Thank you for understanding. 

HYMN OF RESPONSE 316 

O Jesus, blessed Lord, to thee 

My heartfelt thanks forever be, 

Who hast so lovingly bestowed 

On me thy body and thy blood. 

Break forth, my soul, for joy and say: 

What wealth is come to me this day! 

My Savior dwells within my heart— 

How blest am I! How good thou art!

PRAYER 

M: Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you conquered death  and opened the gate to eternal life. Grant that we, who have been raised with him  through baptism, may walk in the newness of life and ever rejoice in the hope of sharing  his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit be  dominion and praise now and forever.  

C: Amen. 

BLESSING 

M: The Lord is risen! 

C: He is risen indeed! 

M: The Lord bless you and keep you. 

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

The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.  

C: Amen.  

HYMN 162 “He’s Risen! Glorious Word 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

I know that my Redeemer lives! 

THANK YOU to all those who made our Easter Brunch possible for all who attended.  What a joy it is to gather with fellow believers on this Easter morning. Thanks also to  our Sunday School children and Sharon Spencer for singing, Nancy Skory as the pianist,  and Kay Himm who served as our organist. 

OFFERING BASKET BY THE WATER COOLER The members of St Paul's &  the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to do the  Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to  participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the  entryway by the stairs going to the basement.

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S 

❖ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “Taboo” at the parsonage ❖ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house ❖ Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on Romans at Pastor’s house 

❖ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

❖ Sunday, 10 am – WORSHIP

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

March 29, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

March 29, 2026 Palm Sunday

LOOK & SEE YOUR KING 

WELCOME – we will be using the BLUE HYMNAL today. 

HYMN 412 “All Glory, Laud, and Honor” - please stand for last stanza

THE SERVICE – Setting Two - page 172ff  

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

We praise you, O God, for the great acts of love by which you have redeemed us through  your Son, Jesus Christ. As he was acclaimed by those who scattered their garments and  branches of palms in his path, so may we always hail him as our King and follow him with  perfect confidence; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and  forever. Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Zechariah 9:9,10 

The prophet Zechariah draws our attention to a Savior King who will rule with gentleness and bring  peace. 

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter of Zion! 

 Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! 

 Look! Your King is coming to you. 

 He is righteous and brings salvation. 

 He is humble and is riding on a donkey, 

 on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 

10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim 

 and the horse from Jerusalem. 

 The battle bow will be taken away, 

 and he will proclaim peace to the nations. 

 His kingdom will extend from sea to sea, 

 from the River to the ends of the earth. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 24 “Welcome the King of Glory” 

Welcome the King of glory, each tribe and nation! He is the LORD Almighty, bringing salvation. Refrain - sung 

Verses - spoken responsively 

Glory be the Father - spoken in union 

SECOND LESSON: Hebrews 12:1-3 

The cloud of witnesses (heroes of faith) urges us to keep our eyes on Jesus. 

1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us get rid  of every burden and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with patient  endurance the race that is laid out for us. 2Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who  is the author of our faith and the one who brings it to its goal. In view of the joy set  before him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the  right hand of God’s throne. 3 Carefully consider him who endured such hostility against  himself from sinful people, so that you do not grow weary and lose heart. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

P: The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – sung (page 179) 

Praise to you, Lord Je-sus Christ, King of endless glory. 

The reason the Son of God ap-peared was to destroy the dev-il’s work. Praise to you, Lord Je-sus Christ, King of endless glory. 

GOSPEL: Matthew 21:1-11 

Lift up your head to join the chorus of praise for King Jesus. 

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus  sent two disciples, 2telling them, “Go to the village ahead of you. Immediately you will  find a donkey tied there along with her colt. Untie them and bring them to me. 3If  anyone says anything to you, you are to say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will send  them at once.” 4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 Tell  the daughter of Zion:  

Look, your King comes to you, humble,  

and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.  

6 The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey  and the colt, laid their outer clothing on them, and he sat on it. 8 A very large crowd  spread their outer clothing on the road. Others were cutting branches from the trees  and spreading them out on the road. 9 The crowds who went in front of him and those  who followed kept shouting,

Hosanna to the Son of David! 

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!  

Hosanna in the highest! 

10 When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, asking, “Who is  this?” 11 And the crowds were saying, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in  Galilee.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ. 

HYMN 413 “Hosanna, Loud Hosanna” 

SERMON: Hebrews 12:1-3  

Keep Your Eyes on Jesus! 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH - page 182 

HYMN 414 “No Tramp of Soldiers’ Marching Feet” 

PRAYER: C: Amen. 

LORD’S PRAYER 

BLESSING: C: Amen.  

HYMN 411 (1,4,5) “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

NEXT SUNDAY: You, your family, friends, and neighbors are cordially invited to join us for  the celebration of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. We will begin with an Easter potluck  brunch at 9 am, followed by our Easter service at 10 am. Remember to extend the  invitation, you may be surprised who accepts it and comes

Christian Worship Hymnal © 2021 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

March 22, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis Himm

(810) 252-5821 

March 22, 2026 Lent 5

EXACTLY WHAT I NEED: Life 

WELCOME - we will be using the RED HYMNAL today. 

HYMN 606 “For Me to Live Is Jesus” (Please stand for the last verse) SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Eternal God and Father, help us to remember Jesus, who obeyed your will and bore the cross for our  salvation that through his anguish, pain, and death we may receive forgiveness of sins and inherit  eternal life; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,  one God, now and forever. (Sung) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: 2 Kings 4:17-37 

The LORD enables the prophet Elisha to prove to a grieving mother that God can and will raise people  from the dead. 

17 But the woman conceived, and she gave birth to a son at that same time of year, just as  Elisha said to her. 18 The boy grew up, and one day he went out to his father, who was with  the reapers. 19 Then he said to his father, “My head! My head!” His father said to his servant,  “Carry him to his mother.” 20 So he picked him up and carried him to his mother, and the  boy sat on her lap until noon. Then he died. 21 Then she went up and laid him on the bed of  the man of God. She shut the door behind her and went out. 22 Then she called to her husband  and said, “Send one of the servants to me with one of the donkeys, so that I can run to the  man of God and come back.” 23 He said, “Why are you going to him today? It’s not the new  moon, and it’s not the Sabbath.” But she said, “It’s all right.” 24 Then she saddled the donkey  and said to her servant, “Lead the way. Don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she  went to the man of God at Mount Carmel. When the man of God saw her from a distance,  he said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! That’s the woman from Shunem! 26 Now run to meet  her and say, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your son all right?’” She answered,  “We’re all right.” 27 Then she came to the man of God at the mountain, and she grasped his  feet. Gehazi stepped forward to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone,  for her soul is in distress, but the Lord has hidden it from me. He has not told me.” 28 Then she said, “Did I ask my lord for a son? Didn’t I say, ‘Don’t give me false hope’?” 29 Then Elisha  said to Gehazi, “Hike up your garments for travel, and take my staff in your hand and go! If  you meet someone, do not greet him, and if someone greets you, do not answer. Put my staff  on the boy’s face.” 30 But the boy’s mother said, “As surely as the Lord lives and your soul  lives, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her. 31 Gehazi went ahead of them and  put the staff on the boy’s face. But there was no sound, and there was no response. So he  went back to Elisha and told him, “The boy did not wake up.” 32When Elisha came to the  house, there the boy was—dead, lying on his bed. 33 So he went in and he shut the door  behind the two of them. Then he prayed to the Lord. 34 He got up and lay down on top of  the boy. He put his mouth to the boy’s mouth, his eyes to the boy’s eyes, his palms to the  boy’s palms. Then he bent down over him, and the boy’s flesh became warm. 35 He went back  into the house and paced back and forth. Then he went up and bent down over him, and the  boy sneezed seven times. Then the boy opened his eyes. 36 Then Elisha called Gehazi and said,  “Call the woman of Shunem!” So he called her, and she came in. He said, “Pick up your  son.” 37 So she came in and fell at Elisha’s feet and bowed down to the ground. Then she  picked up her son and went out. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 116 – page 1107 

I will walk in the presence of the Lord, in the land of the living. 

SECOND LESSON: Romans 8:11-19 

The Father promises to raise me from the dead and make me an heir of everlasting glory. 

11And if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who  raised Christ from the dead will also make your mortal bodies alive through his Spirit, who  is dwelling in you. 12 So then, brothers, we do not owe it to the sinful flesh to live in harmony  with it. 13 For if you live in harmony with the sinful flesh, you are going to die. But if by the  Spirit you put to death the actions of the body, you will live. 14 Indeed, those who are led by  the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery so that you  are afraid again, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we call out, “Abba,  Father!” 16 The Spirit himself joins our spirit in testifying that we are God’s children. 17 Now  if we are children, we are also heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, since we  suffer with him, so that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I conclude that our sufferings  at the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to  us. 19 In fact, creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: NOTE: Alleluias are omitted during the season of Lent. The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  

GOSPEL: John 11:17-27,38-45  

A corpse responds to the empowering command of Christ, proving that Jesus is the Lord of life.

17When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles away. 19 Many Jews had come to Martha and  Mary to comfort them concerning their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was  coming, she went to meet him, while Mary was sitting in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus,  “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that  whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise  again.” 24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the Last Day.” 25 Jesus  said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me will live, even if he  dies. 26And whoever lives and believes in me will never perish. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes,  Lord,” she told him. “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come  into the world.”….38 Jesus was deeply moved again as he came to the tomb. It was a cave,  and a stone was lying against it. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. Martha, the dead man’s  sister, told him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, because it has been four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So  they took away the stone. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you heard  me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the crowd standing  here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43After he said this, he shouted with a loud  voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The man who had died came out with his feet and his hands  bound with strips of linen and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus told them, “Loose him and  let him go.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who came to Mary and saw what Jesus did believed  in him. 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 211 “I Know of a Sleep in Jesus’ Name” 

SERMON: “Jesus Changes Everything” John 11:17-27,38-45 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 510 “In Christ Alone”  

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 219 “Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

OFFERING BASKET BY DOOR NEAR WATER COOLER 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. The basket is  located next to the water dispenser. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

MIDWEEK WORSHIP: at 1:30 pm at Redeemer, Scottville. A luncheon will be held at  12:30 pm. All are welcome. 

EASTER BREAKFAST: We will have our annual Easter Breakfast at 9 am on Easter Sunday,  April 5. Please bring a dish to pass and remember to invite your family and friends.

Service of Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

March 15, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

March 15, 2026 Lent 4

EXACTLY WHAT I NEED: Sight 

WELCOME – We will be using the Blue Hymnal today 

HYMN 517 “Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness” 

(Please stand for the last stanza) 

THE SERVICE: Setting 2 – page 172 ff 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

O Lord Jesus Christ, by your almighty power you opened the eyes of the blind and showed yourself to  them. Turn our eyes away from worthless things, and lead us to love you sincerely; for you live and  reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 42:14-21 

God promises to lead the blind to safety and turn their darkness to light. 

14 I have been silent for a long time. I have kept still. I have restrained myself. But now, like a  woman giving birth, I will scream. I will gasp and pant. 15 I will dry up mountains and hills. I will  make all their grass wither. I will turn rivers into islands. I will dry up pools. 16 I will lead the  blind on a way they do not know. Along paths they do not know I will direct them. Ahead of  them I will turn darkness into light and rough places into level ground. These are the things I  will accomplish for them. I will not abandon them. 17 They will be turned back and completely  disgraced—those who trust in an idol, those who say to molten images, “You are our gods.” 18 You deaf ones, listen! You blind ones, watch carefully so that you can see! 19Who is as blind  as my servant? Who is as deaf as my messenger whom I sent? Who is as blind as my associate. 

as blind as the servant of the Lord? 20 You, Israel, see many things, but you do not observe. Israel opens his ears, but he does not hear. 21 Because of his own righteousness, the Lord was  pleased to make his law great and glorious. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM OF THE DAY – Psalm 67 

Let the peoples praise you, O God, let all the peoples praise you.

SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 5:8-14 

Once I have seen the light of Christ, I strive to leave deeds of darkness behind. 

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9for  the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. 10 Try to learn what is  pleasing to the Lord, 11 and do not participate in fruitless deeds of darkness. Instead, expose  them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention the things that are done by people in secret. 13 But  everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes things  visible. 14 Therefore it is said, “Awake, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on  you.” 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

P: Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION: page 179 (sung) 

Praise to you, Lord Je-sus Christ, King of endless glo-ry. 

The reason the Son of God ap-peared was to destroy the dev-il’s work. Praise to you, Lord Je-sus Christ, King of endless glo-ry. 

GOSPEL: John 9:1-7,13-17,34-39 

Jesus enables a man who had been born blind to see him both physically and spiritually. 

1As Jesus was passing by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi,  who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was not  that this man sinned, or his parents, but that God’s works might be revealed in connection  with him. 4I must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no  one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.” 6After saying this,  Jesus spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and spread the mud on the man’s  eyes. 7“Go,” Jesus told him, “wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means “Sent”). So he went  and washed and came back seeing…. 

13 They brought this man who had been blind to the Pharisees. 14 Now it was a Sabbath day  when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15 So the Pharisees also asked him how he  received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man told them. “I washed, and now I see.” 16 Then some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God because he does not keep the  Sabbath.” Others were saying, “How can a sinful man work such miraculous signs?” There  was division among them, 17 so they said to the blind man again, “What do you say about him,  because he opened your eyes?” The man replied, “He is a prophet.”…. 

34 They answered him, “You were entirely born in sinfulness! Yet you presume to teach us?”  And they threw him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out. When he found him,  he asked, “Do you believe in the Son of God?” 36 “Who is he, sir,” the man replied, “that I  may believe in him?” 37 Jesus answered, “You have seen him, and he is the very one who is  speaking with you.” 38 Then he said, “Lord, I believe!” and he knelt down and worshipped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, in order that those who do not see will  see, and those who do see will become blind.”

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 515 “Christ Is the World’s Light” 

SERMON: When You’re Able to See the Light John 9:1-7,13-17,34-39  HYMN 576 (1,2) “Amazing Grace” 

NICENE CREED - pages 180.181 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH – page 182 

THE SACRAMENT - pages 183-186 

NOTE: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church believes that participation in the  Lord's Supper is both a confession of faith and an expression of our unity in that faith. When you commune with us you are saying that you agree with the Biblical teachings about the Lord's  Supper and all the other teachings of the Bible. If you have never communed with us before, we ask that  you speak with Pastor Himm to learn how you can establish a communing fellowship with us. We are  eager to enjoy that fellowship with you! 

BLESSING C: Amen.  

HYMN 713 "I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light" 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. The basket is  located next to the water dispenser. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

LENTEN WEDNESDAY: You are cordially invited to join the members of Redeemer,  Scottville, for their midweek Lenten worship at 1:30 pm. There is no luncheon this week. 

EASTER SUNDAY: Please make plans to attend our Easter Sunday Service, April 5. We  will serve a potluck breakfast at 9 am (no Bible Class or Sunday School). More details will be  share in the coming weeks. Easter is a wonderful time to invite you family and friends.

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S 

➢ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “TABOO” at the parsonage 

➢ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house 

➢ Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on ROMANS at Pastor’s house 

➢ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

➢ Sunday, 10 am - WORSHIP

Christian Worship Hymnal – Service 2 © 2021 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

March 8, 2026

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660   

 website: StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook: SPLCManistee  

 Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

March 8, 2026 Lent 3

EXACTLY WHAT I NEED: Water 

WELCOME – We will be using the RED HYMNAL today. 

HYMN 338 “I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say” – please stand for last stanza

SERVICE OF WORD - page 38 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from your  ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the  unchangeable truth of your Word; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with  you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Exodus 17:1-7 

In his grace, God gives undeserving people water from a stone. 

1 The entire Israelite community set out on their journey from the Wilderness of Sin as  the Lord had commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people  to drink. 2So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses said  to them, “Why are you quarreling with me? Why are you testing the Lord?” 3 But the people  were thirsty for water there, so they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you ever  bring us up out of Egypt to let us, our children, and our livestock die of thirst?” 4 Moses cried  out to the Lord, “What shall I do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me!” 5 The Lord said to Moses, “Go in front of the people, and take the elders of Israel with you.  Also take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Watch me. I will  stand there in front of you on the rock in Horeb. You are to strike the rock. Water will come  out of it, and the people will drink.” Moses did that in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 He  named the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled, and because they  tested the Lord by saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?” 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: Romans 5:1-8 

God’s love is poured into my heart like living water.

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord  Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we also have obtained access by faith into this grace in which we  stand. And we rejoice confidently on the basis of our hope for the glory of God. 3 Not only  this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces  patient endurance, 4and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character  produces hope. 5And hope will not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured  out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who was given to us. 6For at the appointed time, while  we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7It is rare indeed that someone will die  for a righteous person. Perhaps someone might actually go so far as to die for a person who  has been good to him. 8 But God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners,  Christ died for us. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

NOTE: Alleluias are omitted during the season of Lent. 

Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water  I give them will never thirst.”.  

GOSPEL: John 4:5-26 

Jesus calls a Samaritan woman to faith, providing living water for her soul. 

4 He had to go through Samaria. 5So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the piece  of land Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there. Then Jesus, being tired from the  journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7A woman from Samaria came to  draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(His disciples had gone into town to buy food.) 

9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a  Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered her, “If you  knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked  him, and he would have given you living water.” 11 “Sir,” she said, “you don’t even have a bucket,  and the well is deep. So where do you get this living water? 12 You are not greater than our father  Jacob, are you? He gave us this well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his animals.” 13 Jesus answered her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, 14 but whoever drinks  the water I will give him will never be thirsty ever again. Rather, the water I will give him will  become in him a spring of water, bubbling up to eternal life.” 15 “Sir, give me this water,” the  woman said to him, “so I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” 16 Jesus  told her, “Go, call your husband, and come back here.” 7“I have no husband,” the woman  answered. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say, ‘I have no husband.’ 18 In fact, you have  had five husbands, and the man you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 “Sir,” the woman replied, “I see that you are a prophet. 20 Our fathers worshipped on this  mountain, but you Jews insist that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 Jesus said  to her, “Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will not worship the Father on this  mountain or in Jerusalem. 22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know. We worship what  we do know, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But a time is coming and now is here when  the real worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for those are the kind of 

worshippers the Father seeks. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit  and in truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (the one called Christ).  “When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I, the one speaking to  you, am he.” 27 Just then his disciples returned and were surprised that he was talking to a woman.  Yet no one asked, “What do you want?” or “Why are you talking to her?” 28 Then the woman  left her water jar and went back into town. She said to the people, 29 “Come, see the man who  told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” 30 They left the town and came to him. 31 Meanwhile, the disciples kept urging him, “Rabbi, eat.” 32 But Jesus said to them, “I have food  to eat that you do not know about.” 33 Then the disciples said to each other, “Did anyone bring  him something to eat?” 34 Jesus told them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to  finish his work. 35 Do you not say, ‘Four more months and the harvest will be here’? Pay attention  to what I am telling you. Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are already ripe for  harvest. 36 The reaper is getting paid and is gathering grain for eternal life, so that the sower and  the reaper may rejoice together. 37 Indeed in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows, and another  reaps.’ 38 I sent you to reap a harvest for which you did no hard work. Others have done the hard  work, and you have benefitted from their labor.” 39 Many Samaritans from that town believed in  him because of the woman’s testimony: “He told me everything I ever did.” 40 So when the  Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them. And he stayed there two days. 41 Many  more believed because of his message. 42 They told the woman, “We no longer believe because  of what you said. Now we have heard for ourselves. And we know that this really is the Savior  of the world.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 339 “Today Your Mercy Calls Us” 

SERMON: John 4:5-26 sermon by Circuit Pastor John Eich 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 339 “Today Your Mercy Calls Us” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

BLESSING (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen. 

HYMN 316 “O Jesus, Blessed Lord to Thee” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to 

do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate  in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP: You are cordially invited to join the members of  Redeemer, Scottville, for their Wednesday Lenten worship service at 1:30 pm. This no luncheon  this week. 

Service of the Word & Sacrament © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

BLESSING (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen. 

HYMN 316 “O Jesus, Blessed Lord to Thee” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to  do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate  in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

MIDWEEK LENTEN WORSHIP: You are cordially invited to join the members of  Redeemer, Scottville, for their Wednesday Lenten worship service at 1:30 pm. This no luncheon  this week.

Service of the Word & Sacrament © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

March 1, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

March 1, 2026 Lent 2

EXACTLY WHAT I NEED: Faith 

WELCOME – All responses will be spoken today. RED HYMNAL HYMN 283 “Speak, O Savior; I Am Listening” (Please stand for last stanza) 

INVOCATION & CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen. 

L: Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who comforts us in our troubles, C: So that we can comfort others in their troubles with the same comfort we  ourselves have received from God. 

L: For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, 

C: So also through Christ our comfort overflows to others. 

L: Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. C: One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of your  mighty acts. 

L: Our God is a God who saves. 

C: He does not treat us as our sins deserve. 

L: For God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, 

C: So that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. 

L: Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. C: And He died for all that those who live should no longer live for them-selves,  but for Him who died for them and was raised again. 

L: May His Spirit inspire our giving thanks for all of His blessings to us, 

C: And make us able to serve Him throughout our lives. 

L: Let us pray. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God, you see that we have no power to defend ourselves. Guard and keep us both outwardly  and inwardly from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may  assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy  Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 12:1-8

The Lord gave Abram the gift of faith to believe the promise that one of his descendants would be a gift  for the whole world. 

1 Now the Lord said to Abram, “Get out of your country and away from your relatives and  from your father’s house and go to the land that I will show you. 2I will make you a great  nation. I will bless you and make your name great. You will be a blessing. 3I will bless those  who bless you, and I will curse anyone who dishonors you. All of the families of the earth will  be blessed in you.” 4So Abram went, as the Lord had told him. Lot went with him. Abram  was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.5Abram took Sarai his wife, Lot his  brother’s son, and all the possessions they had accumulated and the people that they had  acquired in Haran, and they set out to travel to the land of Canaan. Eventually they arrived in  the land of Canaan. 6Abram passed through the land until he came to the Oak of Moreh at  the place called Shechem. The Canaanites were in the land at that time. 7 The Lord appeared  to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your descendants.” Abram built an altar there to  the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8 He moved on from there to the hill country east of  Bethel and pitched his tent there, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built  an altar to the Lord and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: Romans 4:1-5,13-17 

Abraham is an example of how salvation is received as a gift through faith.. 

1What then will we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered according to the flesh? 2If  indeed Abraham had been justified by works, he would have had a reason to boast—but not  before God. 3For what does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God and it was credited to  him as righteousness.” 4Now to a person who works, his pay is not counted as a gift but as  something owed. 5 But to the person who does not work but believes in the God who justifies  the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness….13 Indeed, the promise that he  would be the heir of the world was not given to Abraham or his descendants through the  law, but through the righteousness that is by faith. 14 To be sure, if people are heirs by the  law, faith is empty and the promise is nullified. 15 For law brings wrath. (Where there is no  law, there is no transgression.) 16 For this reason, the promise is by faith, so that it may be  according to grace and may be guaranteed to all of Abraham’s descendants—not only to the  one who is a descendant by law, but also to the one who has the faith of Abraham. He is the  father of us all. 17As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” In the presence  of God, Abraham believed him who makes the dead alive and calls non-existing things so that  they exist.  

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: NOTE: Alleluias are omitted during the season of Lent. Jesus humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. 

GOSPEL: John 3:1-17 

By sharing the good news of God’s love for the world, Jesus gave the gift of faith.

1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling  council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher  who has come from God, for no one can do these miraculous signs you are doing unless God  is with him.”3Jesus replied, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless someone is born from above, he  cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when  he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 5Jesus answered, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit,  he cannot enter the kingdom of God! 6Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. Whatever is  born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be surprised when I tell you that you must be born from  above. 8 The wind blows where it pleases. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it  comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9“How  can these things be?” asked Nicodemus. 10“You are the teacher of Israel,” Jesus answered,  “and you do not know these things? 11Amen, Amen, I tell you: We speak what we know, and  we testify about what we have seen. But you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have  told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly  things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven, except the one who descended from heaven, the  Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the  Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him hall not perish but have  eternal life.16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever  believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the  world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 391 “God Loved the World So that He Gave” 

SERMON: (written by Circuit Pastor John Eich) 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER - page 42  

HYMN 403 “I Know My Faith Is Founded” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: Amen. (spoken) 

BLESSING - page 44 C: Amen. (spoken) 

HYMN 402 “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

LORD’S SUPPER: We will celebrate the Lord’s Supper next Sunday. 

NO CATECHISM CLASS and TUESDAY EVENING BIBLE CLASS this week.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

February 22, 2026

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

February 22, 2026 Lent 1

EXACTLY WHAT I NEED: A Champion 

WELCOME - we will be using the RED HYMNAL today. 

HYMN 106 “Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain” (Please stand for the last verse) SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Lord our strength, the battle of good and evil rages within and around us, and our ancient foe  tempts us with his deceits and empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your Word, and when we  fall, raise us up again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns  with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sung) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3:1-15 

God promised to send a champion to do what I could not, defeating my greatest enemy. 

1 Now the serpent was more clever than any wild animal which the Lord God had made.  He said to the woman, “Has God really said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the  garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees of the  garden, 3but not from the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden. God has  said, ‘You shall not eat from it. You shall not touch it, or else you will die.’” 4 The serpent  said to the woman, “You certainly will not die. 5In fact, God knows that the day you eat  from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 

6 When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was appealing to the  eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took some of its fruit and ate.  She gave some also to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 The eyes of both  of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves  together and made coverings for their waists.8 They heard the voice of the Lord God,  who was walking around in the garden during the cooler part of the day, and the man and  his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 The Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10 The man said, “I  heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, so I hid myself.”

11 God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree from  which I commanded you not to eat?” 12 The man said, “The woman you gave to be with  me—she gave me fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” 13 The Lord God said to the woman,  “What have you done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 

14 The Lord God said to the serpent: Because you have done this, you are cursed more  than all the livestock, and more than every wild animal. You shall crawl on your belly, and  you shall eat dust all the days of your life. 15 I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 130 – page 114 

Remember your mercy, O Lord; remember your mercy and love. 

SECOND LESSON: Romans 5:12-19 

Adam’s defeat meant death for me. Christ’s victory means life for me. 

12 So then, just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, so also  death spread to all people because all sinned. 13 For even before the law was given, sin  was in the world. Now, sin is not charged to one’s account if there is no law, 14 and yet  death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those whose sin  was not like the transgression of Adam, who is a pattern of the one who was to come. 

15 But the gracious gift is not like Adam’s trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of  this one man, it is even more certain that God’s grace, and the gift given by the grace of  the one man Jesus Christ, overflowed to the many! 16 And the gift is not like the effect of  the one man’s sin, for the judgment that followed the one trespass resulted in a verdict  of condemnation, but the gracious gift that followed many trespasses resulted in a verdict  of justification. 17 Indeed, if by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through the one  man, it is even more certain that those who receive the overflowing grace of the gift of  righteousness will reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ! 18 So then, just as one  trespass led to a verdict of condemnation for all people, so also one righteous verdict led  to life-giving justification for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of one man  the many became sinners, so also through the obedience of one man the many will  become righteous. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: NOTE: Alleluias are omitted during the season of Lent. It is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.” 

GOSPEL: Matthew 4:1-11 

The champion of demons and the champion of mankind do battle. Jesus wins. 

1 Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil. 2After  he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. 3 The Tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.” 4 But Jesus  answered, “It is written: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes  out of the mouth of God.” 5 Then the Devil took him into the holy city. He placed him on  the pinnacle of the temple, 6and he said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself  down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you. And they will lift you  up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” 7Jesus said to him,  “Again, it is written: You shall not test the Lord your God.” 8 Again the Devil took him to  a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 He  said to him, “I will give you all of these things, if you will bow down and worship me.” 10 Then Jesus said to him, “Go away, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God,  and serve him only.” 11 Then the Devil left him, and just then angels came and served him. 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 378 “All Mankind Fell in Adam’s Fall” 

SERMON: “Christ is our Champion” Romans 5:12-19 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 201 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 431 (1,5) “I Walk in Danger All the Way” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

OFFERING BASKET BY DOOR NEAR WATER COOLER 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. The basket is  located next to the water dispenser. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

THIS WEDNESDAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY: You are cordially invited to join the members  of Redeemer, Scottville, for their midweek Lenten worship at 1:30 pm. This week a luncheon will be held at 12:30 pm.

LORD’S SUPPER: Since Pastor Himm will be gone next week the Lord’s Supper will be served  on March 8 (the 2nd Sunday) instead of March 1 (the 1st Sunday).  

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S 

➢ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “TABOO” at the parsonage 

➢ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house 

➢ Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on ROMANS at Pastor’s house 

➢ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

➢ Sunday, 10 am - WORSHIP

Service of Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

February 15, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

February 15, 2026 Transfiguration Sunday

JESUS IS THE SON OF GOD IN GLORY 

NOTE: The last Sunday of Epiphany is traditionally known as Transfiguration Sunday. It is the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, when Lent begins.

WELCOME - we will be using the RED HYMNAL today. 

HYMN 95 “How Good, Lord, to be Here” (Please stand for the last verse) SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Lord God, before the suffering and death of your one and only Son, you revealed his glory on  the holy mountain. Grant that we who bear his cross on earth may behold by faith the light  of his heavenly glory and so be changed into his likeness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who  lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sung) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Exodus 24:9-18 

On Mount Sinai, Moses saw the glory of the Lord’s law. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses would  see the glory of the Lord’s gospel. 

9 Then Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went  up. 10 They saw the God of Israel. Under his feet they saw what looked like a pavement  of sapphire as clear as the sky. 11 The Lord did not lay his hand on the dignitaries of  the people of Israel. They gazed at God, and they ate and drank. 12 The Lord said to  Moses, “Come up to me on the mountain. Wait there, and I will give you the stone  tablets with the law and the commands that I have written, so that you can teach  them.” 13 Moses set out with his assistant Joshua and went up onto the mountain of  God. 14 He said to the elders, “Wait here for us, until we come back to you. Look,  here are Aaron and Hur. They will be with you. Whoever is involved in a dispute can  go to them.” 15 Moses went up onto the mountain, and the cloud covered the  mountain. 16 The Glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered the  mountain for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses out of the middle 

of the cloud. 17 The appearance of the Glory of the Lord looked like a devouring fire  on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18 Moses entered into  the middle of the cloud and climbed up the mountain. Moses was on the mountain  forty days and forty nights. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 148 – page 121 

Forever let us sing the goodness of the Lord. 

SECOND LESSON: 2 Peter 1:16-21 

As an eyewitness to the majesty and glory of Jesus, St. Peter testifies to the reliability of the Christian faith. 

16 To be sure, we were not following cunningly devised fables when we made known  to you the powerful appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses  of his majesty. 17 For he received honor and glory from God the Father, when the  voice came to him from within the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I  love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We heard this voice, which came out of heaven  when we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 We also have the completely reliable  prophetic word. You do well to pay attention to it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place,  until the day dawns and the Morning Star rises in your hearts, 20 since we know this  above all else: No prophecy of Scripture comes about from someone’s own  interpretation. 21 In fact, no prophecy ever came by the will of man, but men spoke  from God as they were being carried along by the Holy Spirit. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. A voice came from the cloud: “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!” Alleluia.  (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

These words are written that we may believe  

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

GOSPEL: Matthew 17:1-9 

The transfiguration of our Lord. 

1Six days later Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John the brother of James; and  he led them up onto a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured in  front of them. His face was shining like the sun. His clothing became as white as the  light. 3Just then, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Jesus. 4Peter said to  Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, I will make three shelters here:  one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5 While he was still speaking, suddenly  a bright cloud overshadowed them. Just then, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, 

“This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him.” 6 When the  disciples heard this, they fell face down and were terrified. 7Jesus approached and as  he touched them, he said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.” 8 When they opened their  eyes, they saw no one except Jesus alone. 9 As they were coming down the mountain,  Jesus commanded them, “Do not tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man  has been raised from the dead.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 97 “Down from the Mount of Glory” 

SERMON: “The Glorious Reappearing of Christ” 2 Peter 1:16-21

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 9 “Jesus, Your Church with Longing Eyes” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 25 “The King Shall Come” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

OFFERING BASKET BY DOOR NEAR WATER COOLER 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. The basket  is located next to the water dispenser. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

THIS WEDNESDAY IS ASH WEDNESDAY: You are cordially invited to join the  members of Redeemer, Scottville, for their midweek Lenten worship at 1:30 pm.  NOTE: Meals will be served at 12:30 pm on February 25, March 11, and March 25. 

This year’s theme is: “It is Finished”. The series of sermons will take us through the  prophecies of Zechariah that relate to Holy Week. Plan to attend as we deepen our  understanding of what those prophecies mean for us.

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S 

➢ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “TABOO” at the parsonage 

➢ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house 

➢ Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on ROMANS at Pastor’s house 

➢ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

➢ Sunday, 10 am - WORSHIP

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

February 8, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

February 8, 2026 Epiphany 5

JESUS CALLS YOU SALT AND LIGHT 

WELCOME – we will be using the BLUE HYMNAL today. 

HYMN 582 “Not Unto Us”  

THE SERVICE – Setting Two - page 172ff  

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God, you sent your one and only Son as the Word of life for our eyes to see and our  ears to hear. Help us to believe what the Scriptures proclaim about him and do the things  that are pleasing in your sight; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns  with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Exodus 19:1-8 

God made something special out of Israel, a nation of slaves. 

1In the third month after the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, on that same day of  the month, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai. 2 After they set out from Rephidim  and came to the Wilderness of Sinai, they camped in the wilderness. Israel camped  there in front of the mountain. 3 Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him  from the mountain, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and to tell the  people of Israel: 4‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on  eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will carefully listen to my voice  and keep my covenant, then you will be my special treasure out of all the nations,  although the entire earth is mine. 6 You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy  nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 Moses went  and summoned the elders of the people, and he set before them all these words that  the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, “Everything that  the Lord has said, we will do.” 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 112 “Light Dawns in the Darkness” 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Peter 2:9-12 

St. Peter encourages us to be what God has declared us to be. 

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, the people who are  God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you  out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 At one time you were not a people, but  now you are the people of God. At one time you were not shown mercy, but now  you have been shown mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and temporary  residents in the world, to abstain from the desires of the sinful flesh, which war against  your soul. 12 Live an honorable life among the Gentiles so that even though they  slander you as evildoers, when they observe your noble deeds, they may glorify God  on the day he visits us. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify  your Father in heaven. Alleluia. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – sung (page 179) 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus is the light – of the world; - in him we have the – light of life Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

GOSPEL: Matthew 5:13-20 

Jesus explains that his disciples are blessings to this dark, decaying world. 

13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its flavor, how will it become salty  again? Then it is no good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled on by  people. 14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be  hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp and put it under a basket. No, they put it on a  stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 In the same way let your light  shine in people’s presence, so that they may see your good works and glorify your  Father who is in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the  Prophets. I did not come to destroy them but to fulfill them. 18 Amen I tell you: Until  heaven and earth pass away, not even the smallest letter, or even part of a letter, will  in any way pass away from the Law until everything is fulfilled. 19 So whoever breaks  one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be  called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches them will be  called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 Indeed I tell you that unless your  righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and experts in the law, you will never  enter the kingdom of heaven.

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ. 

HYMN 630 “Thy Strong Word” 

SERMON: Know Who You Are & What You Are Matthew 5:13-16  APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH - page 182 

HYMN 697 “May We Your Precepts, Lord, Fulfill” 

PRAYER: C: Amen. 

LORD’S PRAYER 

BLESSING: C: Amen.  

HYMN 770 “God of Grace and God of Glory” 

WELS Connection Video 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

ASH WEDNESDAY, February 18 – You are cordially invited to join the  members of Redeemer, Scottville, for their midweek Lenten worship. Worship is  on Wednesdays at 1:30 pm. Meals will be served at 12:30 pm on February 25,  March 11, and March 25 

This year’s theme is: “It is Finished”. The series of sermons will take us through  the prophecies of Zechariah that relate to Holy Week. Plan to attend as we deepen  our understanding of what those prophecies mean for us. 

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S

➢ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “Taboo” at the parsonage 

➢ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house 

➢ Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on Romans at Pastor’s house 

➢ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

➢ Sunday, 10 am - WORSHIP 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

➢ Saturday, February 21 – Men Alive Rally – in Bay City  

➢ Friday – Sunday, April 10-12 – Sisters in Christ Retreat – in Traverse City

Christian Worship Hymnal © 2021 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

February 1, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

February 1, 2026 Epiphany 4

JESUS CALLS YOU BLESSED 

WELCOME – NOTE: we will be using the RED HYMNAL today. HYMN 234 “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (Please stand for last stanza) COMMON SERVICE - page 15 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty and everlasting God, look with mercy on our weaknesses, and in all our dangers and  needs stretch out the right hand of your majesty to help and defend us; through your Son,  Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and  forever. (Sung) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Zephaniah 2:3,3:11-13 

The Lord promises that those who trust him will not be put to shame. 

3Seek the Lord, all you humble people of the earth who have carried out his  commands. Seek righteousness. Seek humility. Maybe then you will be sheltered in the  day of the Lord’s anger….311 In that day you will no longer bear the shame of your  rebellions against me. Then I will remove the proud boasters from among you, and  you will never again be arrogant on my holy hill. 12 But I will leave among you the  people who are humble and weak. They will seek refuge in the name of  the Lord. 13 The Israelites who remain will no longer act unjustly. They will not lie, and  a deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouth. Instead, they will graze peacefully  like sheep and lie down. No one will terrify them. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 1 – page 64 

Blessed are they who hope, who hope in the Lord. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 

God changes how we view ourselves by connecting us to Christ Jesus. 

26 For example, consider your call, brothers. Not many of you were wise from a human  point of view, not many were powerful, and not many were born with high  status. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to put to shame those who  are wise. God chose the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are  strong, 28 and God chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things, and the  things that are not, to do away with the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast  before God. 30 But because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us the  wisdom from God, namely, our righteousness and sanctification and  redemption. 31 God did this so that, just as it is written, “Let the one who boasts boast  in the Lord.” 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia. (sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-12 

In the Beatitudes, our Savior turns the ideas of the world upside down. 

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up onto a mountain. When he sat down, his  disciples came to him. 2 He opened his mouth and began to teach them. He said these  things: 

3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

4 Blessed are those who mourn, because they will be comforted. 

5 Blessed are the gentle, because they will inherit the earth. 

6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, because they will be filled. 

7 Blessed are the merciful, because they will receive mercy. 

8 Blessed are the pure in heart, because they will see God. 

9 Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God. 

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted   because of righteousness, because theirs is the  kingdom of heaven. 

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds  of evil against you because of me.

12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward  in heaven. In fact, that is how they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ! 

NICENE CREED – pages 18,19 

HYMN 395 “Seek Where You May to Find a Way” 

SERMON: 1 Corinthians 1:26-31 “Foolish Believers” 

SONG OF RESPONSE “Create in Me a Clean Heart” – page 20 PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER 

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 21-23 

God’s Word clearly teaches the Real Presence of Christ body and blood, and the fellowship  connected with the Lord’s Supper, and that a person could receive it to their judgment, we  kindly request that only WELS and ELS communicant members receive this Sacrament.  For more information, please contact Pastor Himm.  

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION 

SONG OF SIMEON - page 24 

PRAYER - page 24 C: Amen. (sung) 

BLESSING - page 25 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 383 “Blessed Are They, Forever Blest” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

OFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S 

➢ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “Taboo” at the parsonage 

➢ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house ➢ Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on Philippians at Pastor’s house 

➢ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

➢ Sunday, 10 am - WORSHIP 

UPCOMING EVENTS 

➢ Saturday, February 21 – Men Alive Rally – in Bay City  

▪ LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER – www.menalive-balm.org 

➢ Friday – Sunday, April 10-12 – Sisters in Christ Retreat – in Traverse City

Common Service © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) Used by permission

January 25, 2026

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

January 25, 2025 Epiphany 3

JESUS IS THE LIGHT 

WELCOME – we will be using the BLUE HYMNAL today. 

HYMN 792 “O Trinity, Most Blessed Light” - please stand for last stanza THE SERVICE – Setting Two - page 172ff  

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God, you sent your Son to proclaim your kingdom and to teach with authority. Anoint  us with the power of your Spirit that we, too, may bring good news to the afflicted, bind up  the brokenhearted, and proclaim liberty to the captive; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our  Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 8:19-9:4 

The prophet foretold that people walking in darkness would see a great light. 

19 When they tell you, “Consult the mediums and the spiritists, who whisper and  mutter,” shouldn’t a people consult their God? Should they consult the dead on behalf  of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If people do not speak according to  this word, there will be no dawn for them. 21 They will pass through the land,  distressed and starving, but when this takes place and they are starving, they will be  frustrated, and they will curse their king and their God. They will turn their faces  upward, 22 and then they will look down to the ground, but I tell you, they will see  only distress, darkness, and the gloom that brings anguish. They will be banished into  thick darkness 91 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for the land that was in  anguish. In former times, he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but  in the latter time he will cause it to be glorious, along the way of the sea, beyond the  Jordan, in Galilee of the Gentiles.2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great  light. For those living in the land of the shadow of death, the light has dawned. 3 You  have multiplied the nation. You have increased its joy. They rejoice before you like the  joy at harvest time, like the celebration when people divide the plunder. 4For you have  shattered the yoke that burdened them. You have broken the bar on their shoulders 

and the rod of their oppressor, As you did in the day of Midian. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 27 “The LORD Is My Light” 

The LORD is my light, the LORD is my help, the LORD is my salvation. 

Refrain - sung 

Verses - spoken responsively 

Glory be the Father - spoken in union 

SECOND LESSON: 1 John 2:3-11 

God’s children walk in the light of Christ by living in love for God and for one another. 

3 This is how we know that we have known him: if we keep his commands. 4 The one  who says, “I know him,” but does not keep his commands is a liar, and the truth is not  in him. 5If anyone keeps God’s word, the love of God is truly made complete in him.  This is how we know that we are in him: 6 The one who says he remains in him should  walk as Jesus walked. 7 Dear friends, I am not writing you a new command but an old  one that you have had since the beginning. The old command is the message you  heard. 8 At the same time, the command I am writing is new—it is true in Jesus and in  you, because the darkness is passing away, and the true light is already shining. 9 The  one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10 The  one who loves his brother remains in the light, and nothing causes him to  stumble. 11 The one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness  and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land  of deep darkness a light has dawned. Alleluia. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – sung (page 179) 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

Jesus is the light / of the world / 

in him we have the / light of life. 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

GOSPEL: Matthew 4:12-17 

Jesus preached the light of the gospel to a world in the darkness of unbelief. 

12 When Jesus heard that John was put in prison, he withdrew into Galilee. 13 He left  Nazareth and went to live in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun  and Naphtali. 14 He did this to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:

15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, along the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, 16 the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and  on those dwelling in the region and the shadow of death a light has dawned.17 From  that time, Jesus began to preach: “Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ. 

HYMN 904 “O Christ, Our True and Only Light” 

SERMON: Matthew 4:12-17  

Light Repentance 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH - page 182 

HYMN 381 “The People Who in Darkness Walked” 

PRAYER: C: Amen. 

LORD’S PRAYER 

BLESSING: C: Amen.  

HYMN 376 “Rise Up and Shine” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

THIS WEEK AT ST. PAUL’S 

➢ Tuesday, 10 am - Ladies’ Book Study – “Taboo” at parsonage 

➢ Tuesday, 3:30 pm - Youth Confirmation Class at Pastor’s house ➢

Tuesday, 7 pm - Bible Study on Philippians at Pastor’s house 

➢ Sunday, 9 am - Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

➢ Sunday, 10 am - WORSHIP

UPCOMING EVENTS 

➢ Saturday, February 21 – Men Alive Rally – in Bay City  

➢ Friday – Sunday, April 10-12 – Sisters in Christ Retreat – in Traverse City

Christian Worship Hymnal © 2021 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

January 18, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

January 18, 2026

Confession of Peter 

JESUS IS THE CHRIST,  THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD 

WELCOME – we will be using the blue hymnal today. 

HYMN 510 “In Christ Alone”  

THE SERVICE – Setting Two - page 172ff  

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God, you inspired Simon Peter to confess Jesus as the Messiah and Son of the living  God. Keep your church firm on the rock of this faith that in unity and peace it may proclaim  one truth and follow one Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,  one God, now and forever. Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Acts 4:8-13 

Saint Peter preaches that salvation comes only through Jesus. 

8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders  of Israel,9if we are being questioned today for a kind act that was done for the lame  man, as to how this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the  people of Israel that it was by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you  crucified, whom God raised from the dead! By him this man stands before you healed. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you builders, which has become the  cornerstone. 12There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under  heaven given to people by which we must be saved.” 13 When they saw the boldness  of Peter and John and found out that they were uneducated and untrained men, they  were astonished and took note of the fact that these men had been with Jesus. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 42 “As the Deer”

SECOND LESSON: 1 Peter 3:15,16 

Saint Peter urges all of us to be prepared to confess Jesus Christ. 

15 But regard the Lord, the Christ, as holy in your hearts. Always be prepared to give  an answerto everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 But  speak with gentleness and respect, while maintaining a clear conscience, so that those  who attack your good way of life in Christ may be put to shame because they slandered  you as evildoers. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God.\ 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Alleluia. 

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION – sung (page 179) 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

Your words - are my joy - and my - heart’s delight. 

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. 

GOSPEL: Matthew 16:13-19 

Saint Peter is commended for his confession of faith. 

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who  do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say  Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 He said to them, “But you, who  do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the  living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood  did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you  are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not  overpower it.19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind  on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in  heaven.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ. 

HYMN 892 (1,10,3) “By All Your Saints Still Striving” 

SERMON: 1 Peter 3:15,16  

Prepared to Confess Jesus Christ 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH - page 182

HYMN 861 “Lord Jesus Christ, the Church’s Head” 

PRAYER: C: Amen. 

LORD’S PRAYER 

BLESSING: C: Amen.  

HYMN 744 “Rise, Shine, You People” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

Christian Worship Hymnal © 2021 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®)  

January 11, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

January 11, 2026 Epiphany 1 

JESUS’ BAPTISM - THE LAMB OF GOD 

WELCOME 

HYMN 75 “Father, Let Me Dedicate” 

(Please stand for the last verse) 

SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44 (Red Hymnal) 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God, you gave your one and only Son to be the light of the world. Grant that your people,  illumined by your Word and sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may  be known, worshiped, and believed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with  you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. (Sung) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 49:1-6 

The salvation won by the Lamb would be brought to the ends of the earth. 

1Listen to me, you coastlands. Pay attention, you faraway peoples! The Lord called me from  the womb. When I was inside my mother, he mentioned my name. 2 He made my mouth like  a sharpened sword. He hid me in the shadow of his hand. He made me a polished arrow. He  concealed me in his quiver. 3 He said to me, “You are my servant Israel, in whom I will display  my glory.” 4 But I said to myself, “I have labored in vain. I spent my strength and came up  empty, with nothing. Yet a just verdict for me rests with the Lord, and my reward is with my  God.” 5 But now the Lord, who formed me from the womb to be his servant, to turn Jacob  back to him, so that Israel might be gathered to him, so that I will be honored in the eyes of  the Lord, because my God has been my strength— 6the Lord said: It is too small a thing that you should just be my servant to raise up only the tribes of Jacob and to restore the ones I  have preserved in Israel, so I will appoint you to be a light for the nations, so that my salvation  will be known to the end of the earth. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 89 – page 98

At the work of your hands, O Lord, I lift up my voice in song; 

I sing for joy. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Corinthians 1:1-9 

The burden of our sins had been picked up and carried by the Lamb of God, so that we will be  blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus. 

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes, 2 To the church of God in Corinth—those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, who are  called as saints—along with all in every place who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,  their Lord and ours: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! 4I always thank my God for you because of the grace of God given to you in Christ Jesus. 5 You  were enriched in him in every way, in all your speaking and all your knowledge, 6because the  testimony about Christ was established in you. 7As a result you do not lack any gift as you  eagerly wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8 He will also keep you strong until  the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful,  who called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. He said to me, “You are my servant in whom I will display my splendor.” Alleluia.  (Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

These words are written that we may believe  

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

GOSPEL: John 1:29-41 

Christ is the fulfillment of all the sacrifices of the Old Testament, from Yom Kippur’s goat to the Passover  Lamb and every sin and guilt offering in between. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of  the world. 

29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God, who  takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘The one  coming after me outranks me because he existed before me.’ 31 I myself did not know who  he was, but I came baptizing with water so that he would be revealed to Israel.” 32 John also  testified, “I saw the Spirit descend like a dove from heaven and remain on him. 33 I myself did  not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on  whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy  Spirit.’ 34 I saw this myself and have testified that this is the Son of God.” 35 The next day, John  was standing there again with two of his disciples. 36When John saw Jesus passing by, he said,  “Look! The Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38When Jesus turned around and saw them following him, he asked, “What are you looking  for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 

39 He told them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying. They  stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was 

one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find  his own brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated  “the Christ”). 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 89 “To Jordan’s River Came Our Lord” 

SERMON: “Thanking God for You!” 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 91 “The Star Proclaims the King Is Here” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 94 "O Jesus, King of Glory" 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. The basket  is located next to the water dispenser. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

DEDECORATING TODAY: Please stay to help put away our Advent & Christmas  decorations. Many hands make for light work. 

SUNDAY SCHEDULE 

9 am – Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

10 am – WORSHIP 

TUESDAY SCHEDULE 

4:30 pm – Youth Confirmation Class 

7:00 pm – Adult Bible Class at Pastor Himm’s home

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

January 4, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

   website: StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook: SPLCManistee  

 Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

January 4, 2026 Epiphany

JESUS IS THE SAVIOR FOR ALL NATIONS 

WELCOME 

HYMN 83 “As With Gladness Men of Old” 

– please stand for last stanza 

SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT - page 26 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Lord God, by the leading of a star, you once made known to the nations your one and only Son.  Guide us, also, who know him now by faith to come at last to the perfect joy of your heavenly  glory; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,  one God, now and forever. (Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 60:1-6 

The prophet foretold that one born king of the Jews would draw kings from distant nations to the light of  his glory. 

1 Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is dawning upon you.  2Look, darkness covers the earth, and deep darkness covers the peoples, but  the Lord will dawn upon you, and his glory will be seen over you. 3 Nations will walk to  your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. 4Look up. Look all around and see!  All of them have been gathered. They are coming to you. Your sons will come from far  away, and people will carry your daughters on their side. 5 Then you will look and be  radiant. Your heart will race with excitement and burst with joy. For great riches from  the sea will be delivered to you. The wealth of the nations will come to you. 6 Caravans  of camels will cover your land, young camels from Midian and Ephah. All those from Sheba  will come. They will carry gold and incense, and they will announce the good news of the  praise of the Lord. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

HYMN 79 (1,2) “How Lovely Shines the Morning Star”

SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 3:2-12 

Paul explains that that people from all nations are united as equals in the Savior’s kingdom of grace. 

2Surely you have heard of the administration of God’s grace given to me for you, 3namely,  that the mystery was made known to me by revelation (as I have already written  briefly). 4When you read this, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery  of Christ. 5 This mystery was not made known to people in past generations as it has now  been revealed by the Spirit to his holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that in  Christ Jesus the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and people who  also share in the promise through the gospel. 7I became a servant of this gospel, in keeping  with the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of his power. 8 To me— even though I am the very least of all the saints—was given this grace: to preach to the  Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 9and to enlighten everyone about the  administration of this mystery. In past ages this mystery remained hidden in God, who  created all things. 10 He did this so that, through the church, the multifaceted wisdom of  God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This  was done according to the eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our  Lord. 12 In him we can freely approach God with confidence through faith in him. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose  and have come to worship him. Alleluia.  

(Sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

These words are written that we may believe  

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

GOSPEL: Matthew 2:1-12 

Magi from the east were the first in a long line of Gentiles would join Israel in worshiping Jesus as King. 

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from  the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the  Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When King Herod  heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all  the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was  to be born. 5“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has  written: 6“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of  Judah for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’” 7 Then Herod called  the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He  sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find  him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.” 9After they had heard the king,  they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were  overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they  bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him  with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to  go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route. 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 67 “What Child Is This?” 

SERMON: Making the Time to Worship Matthew 2:1-12  

NICENE’ CREED - page 31 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER (traditional) 

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 33-35 

Because God’s Word clearly teaches the Real Presence of Christ body and blood, and the  fellowship connected with the Lord’s Supper, we kindly request that only WELS and ELS  communicant members receive this Sacrament. For more information, please contact Pastor  Himm.  

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION 

THANK THE LORD & PRAYER - pages 36 

BLESSING (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen. 

HYMN 92 “Brightest and Best” 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not  expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement.

Service of the Word & Sacrament © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

All Scripture readings are from the EHV ® Used by permission.

December 28, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

December 28, 2025 Christmas

CHRISTMAS GIFTS GIVEN BY GOD 

WELCOME 

HYMN 41 “Let All Together Praise Our God” 

(Please stand for the last verse) 

SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God, the martyred innocents of Bethlehem showed forth your praise not by speaking but in  their death. Put to death in us all that conflicts with your will that our lives may bear witness to the  faith we profess with our lips; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you  and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sung) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 63:7-9 

The kindness of the Lord is seen in sending a Savior to redeem those who turn away from him. 

7I will tell about the Lord’s mercies, about the praises of the Lord, about all that the Lord has  done for us, about his great goodness to the house of Israel, which he performed for them  according to his abundant compassion, and according to his great mercy. 8 He said, “Surely  they are my people, children who will not deal falsely,” so he became their Savior. 9In all their  anguish he felt anguish. and the Angel of his Presence saved them. In his love and in his pity  he himself redeemed them, and he took them up and carried them all the days of old. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 2 – page 65 

Great are the works of the Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!  

Great are the works of the Lord. 

SECOND LESSON: Galatians 4:4-7 

Redeemed by God’s true Son, we can call God our “Father.”

4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son to be born of a woman, so that he  would be born under the law, 5in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would  be adopted as sons. 6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts  to shout, “Abba, Father!” 7So you are no longer a slave, but a son. And if you are a son, then  you are also an heir of God through Christ. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Sing to the Lord a new song; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.  Alleluia. 

(Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

These words are written that we may believe  

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

GOSPEL: Matthew 2:13-23 

God saves his Son from an early death. God’s plan was to save the world by having his Son die on the  cross when the time had fully come. 

13After the Wise Men were gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a  dream. He said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I  tell you, because Herod will search for the child in order to kill him.”14 Joseph got up, took  the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death  of Herod. This happened to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet: “Out  of Egypt I called my son.” 16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Wise  Men, he was furious. He issued orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and in all the  surrounding countryside, from two years old and under. This was in keeping with the exact  time he had learned from the Wise Men. 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the  prophet was fulfilled: 18A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel  weeping for her children, and she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.  19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt.  The angel said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those  who were trying to kill the child are dead.” 21 Joseph got up, took the child and his mother,  and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus, Herod’s son, had  succeeded his father as ruler in Judea, he was afraid to go there. Since he had been warned in  a dream, he went to the region of Galilee. 23When he arrived there, he settled in a city called  Nazareth. So what was spoken through the prophets was fulfilled: “He will be called a  Nazarene.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 35 “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” 

SERMON: Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, 2 which  he promised in advance through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures. 3 This gospel is about his  Son—who in the flesh was born a descendant of David, 4 who in the spirit of holiness was  declared to be God’s powerful Son by his resurrection from the dead—Jesus Christ, our  Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and the call to be an apostle on behalf of his name, to  bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, 6including you, who were called by  Jesus Christ. 7 To all those loved by God who are in Rome, called to be saints: Grace to you  and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

"Christmas Greetings to You from God:"  

Grace & Peace 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 50 “Once in Royal David’s City” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 64 "Let Us All with Gladsome Voice" 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are  not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  The basket is located next to the water dispenser. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

SUNDAY SCHEDULE 

9 am – Sunday School & Adult Bible Class 

10 am - WORSHIP

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Christmas Eve 2026

   PROPHECIES   FULFILLED  told by the children  

Christmas Eve 2025 

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

  website: StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook: SPLCManistee  

 Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

December 24, 2025 Christmas Eve 

WELCOME – all the hymns are from the Red Hymnal 

HYMN 52 “On Christmas Night All Christians Sing” 

CALL TO WORSHIP 

L: For to us a child is born! 

C: To us a son is given! 

L: The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders.  

C: He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Ever-lasting Father,  Prince of Peace. 

L: There will be no limit to his authority and no end to the peace he brings 

C: He will rule on David’s throne and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold  it with justice and righteousness from now on, into eternity. 

ALL: The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

L: Almighty God, grant that the birth of your one and only Son in the flesh may set us free  from our old bondage under the yoke of sin; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and  reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

P: Amen. 

SONG: “Good News! Go, Tell!” Children 1. THE SAVIOR WOULD COME THROUGH ADAM 

➢ PROPHECY - Genesis 3:15 

I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will  crush your head, and you will crush his heel. 

➢ FULFILLMENT - Galatians 4:4,5  

But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son to be born of a woman, so that he would  be born under the law, in order to redeem those under the law, so that we would be adopted as  sons. 

SOLO: “Mary Did You Know” Sharon Spencer

2. THE SAVIOR WOULD BE OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS 

➢ PROPHECY - Jeremiah 23:5-6  

Listen, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, who will reign wisely as king and establish justice and righteousness on earth. In his days Judah will  be saved and Israel will dwell securely. This is his name by which he will be called: The Lord Our  Righteousness. 

➢ FULFILLMENT - 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 

1As a result, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we knew Christ  according to the flesh, we no longer know him that way. So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a  new creation. The old has passed away. The new has come! And all these things are from God,  who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. That is,  God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them.  And he has entrusted to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for  Christ, inasmuch as God is making an appeal through us. We urge you, on Christ’s behalf: Be  reconciled to God. God made him, who did not know sin, to become sin for us, so that we might  become the righteous-ness of God in him. 

HYMN 63 “Angels We Have Heard on High” 

3. THE SAVIOR WOULD BE THE PRINCE OF PEACE 

➢ PROPHECY - Isaiah 9:6-7  

For to us a child is born. To us a son is given. The authority to rule will rest on his shoulders. He  will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. There will  be no limit to his authority and no end to the peace he brings. He will rule on David’s throne and  over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from now on, into  eternity. The zeal of the LORD of Armies will accomplish this. 

➢ FULFILLMENT - Ephesians 2:14-22  

For he himself is our peace. He made the two groups one by destroying the wall of hostility that  divided them when he abolished the law of commandments and regulations in his flesh. He did this  to create in himself one new person out of the two, in this way making peace. And he did this to  reconcile both to God in one body through the cross by putting the hostility to death on it. He  also came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For  through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. 

HYMN 65 “O Little Town of Bethlehem 

4. THE SAVIOR WOULD BE BORN OF A VIRGIN 

➢ PROPHECY - Isaiah 7:13-14  

So Isaiah said: Listen now, you house of David. Is it not enough for you to test the patience of men?  Will you test the patience of my God as well? Therefore, the Lord himself will give a sign for all of  you. Look! The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and name him Immanuel. 

➢ FULFILLMENT - Luke 1:26-38

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, to  a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s  name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord  is with you. Blessed are you among women.” But she was greatly troubled by the statement and  was wondering what kind of greeting this could be. The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,  because you have found favor with God. Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you  are to name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God  will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his  kingdom will never end.” Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel  answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will  overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Listen, Elizabeth, your  relative, has also conceived a son in her old age even though she was called barren, and this is her  sixth month. For nothing will be impossible for God.” Then Mary said, “See, I am the Lord’s servant.  May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. 

HYMN 68 “Away in a Manger” 

THE CHRISTMAS ACCOUNT – Luke 2:1-20 

L: In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was  the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 

C: And everyone went to register, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up  from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to the town of David, which  is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of David. 

L: He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting  a child. 

C: And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. And  she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him  in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 

L: There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock at  night. 

C: An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around  them, and they were terrified! But the angel said to them, 

L: “Do not be afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: Today in  the town of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You  will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly, there was with the  angel a multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 

C: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward mankind.” L: When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 

C: “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord  has made known to us.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the  baby, who was lying in the manger. 

L: When they had seen him, they told others the message they had been told about this child. And all who  heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to them. 

C: But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. And the  shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had  heard and seen, which were just as they had been told. 

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE – written by Pastor Himm 

HYMN 62 “Joy to the World” 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

BLESSING 

HYMN 60 “Silent Night! Holy Night” 

ANNOUCEMENTS 

OFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s  and synod’s ministries. The basket is located next to the water dispenser. 

FOR OUR VISITORS, PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

THANK YOU for worshipping with us today. If you are without a church home, St. Paul’s  would welcome to opportunity to serve your spiritual needs. Sunday School & Bible Class  at 9 am & Worship at 10 am. 

SERVING YOU TONIGHT: We thank our children for reading and singing today: Camille De La Garza, Davina De La Garza, Isaac Keson, Levi Keson, & Sebastian; Soloist  Sharon Spencer; Organist Nancy Skory; and our Worship Leader Russ Wrzesinski. 

CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP: You are invited to the 10 am Christmas Day worship  service at Redeemer Ev, Lutheran Church in Scottville.  

Merry Christmas!

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) 

December 21, 2026

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

 Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

December 21, 2025 Advent 4

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM CHRIST(MAS)? 

WELCOME 

HYMN 8 “Come, O Precious Ransom, Come” (please stand for last stanza) 

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.  M: When God created the world, he made the crown of his creation—the human race—in his image.  Perfect people lived in a perfect world in a perfect relationship with God.  

C: But mankind rebelled against God, bringing sin into the world and death to all.  God declared the wages of sin to be death. We too are guilty, and we confess our  sinful thoughts, words, and actions.  

M: However, God—who is Love—did not want to be separated from his children forever. He promised  a Savior who would bear the punishment for sin, defeat the devil, and break the bonds of death. 

C: (Sung) O, come, O, come, Emmanuel,  

And ransom captive Israel  

That mourns in lowly exile here  

Until the Son of God appear.  

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel  

Shall come to you, O Israel! 

M: When the time had fully come, God sent his Son. Jesus, our Savior, has paid the ransom for your debt;  your sins are forgiven. Though we have not seen Jesus, we love him; and even though we do not see  him now, we believe in him.  

C: And we are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for we are receiving the  end result of our faith, the salvation of our souls.  

 (Sung) O, come, our Joy, whose love forgives— 

Whose death assures that we will live!  

Move us to heed the call, “Repent!”  

And trust, for your sake, God relent.  

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel  

Shall come to you, O Israel!  

M: In the joy of God we go to the world—to our friends, relatives, acquaintances, and neighbors. We  regard no one from a worldly point of view. If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. All this 

is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.  C: God has committed to us the ministry of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s  ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. Jesus, who had  no sin, became sin for us; in him we have become the righteousness of God.   (Sung) Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel  

 Shall come to you, O Israel!  

M: Hear our prayers, Lord Jesus Christ, and come with the good news of your mighty deliverance. Drive  the darkness from our hearts and fill us with your light; for you live and reign with the Father and the  Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 35:1-10 

The season of Advent reminds us that the LORD will make all things new. 

1 The wilderness and the desert will be glad. The wasteland of the Arabah will rejoice and  blossom like a crocus. 2It will bloom lavishly, and there will be great joy and singing. The glory  of Lebanon will be given to it. It will be excellent like Carmel and Sharon. They will see the  glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. 3Strengthen the weak hands, and make the shaky  knees steady. 4 Tell those who have a fearful heart: Be strong. Do not be afraid. Look! Your  God will come with vengeance. With God’s own retribution, he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be unplugged. 6 The  crippled will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute will sing for joy. Waters will flow in  the wilderness, and streams in the wasteland. 7 The burning sand will become a pool, and in  the thirsty ground there will be springs of water. There will be grass, reeds, and rushes where  the haunts of jackals once lay. 8A highway will be there, a road that will be called the holy  way. The impure will not walk there. It will be reserved for those who walk in that holy way. Wicked fools will not wander onto it. 9 No lion will be there, nor will any ferocious animal go  up on it. They will not be found there, but only the redeemed will walk there. 10 Then those  ransomed by the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with a joyful shout, and everlasting  joy will crown their heads. Happiness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will  flee away. 

M: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: James 5:7-11 

Patience is a Christian virtue as we eagerly await our Savior. 

7 Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for  the valuable harvest from the ground, patiently waiting for it, until it receives the early and late  rain. 8 You be patient too. Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near. 9 Do  not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look! The Judge is  standing at the doors! 10 Brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an  example of suffering with patient endurance. 11 See, we consider those who endured to be  blessed. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and have seen what the Lord did in  the end, because the Lord is especially compassionate and merciful. 

M: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

M: Alleluia. I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.  Alleluia.  

(Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

These words are written that we may believe  

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

GOSPEL: Matthew 11:2-11 

This question that the imprisoned John the Baptist asks is one that we all need to hear answered. 

2While John was in prison, he heard about the things Christ was doing. He sent two of his  disciples 3to ask him, “Are you the Coming One or should we wait for someone else?” 4Jesus  answered them, “Go, report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the  lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the  gospel is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the one who does not take offense at me.” 7As  these two were leaving, Jesus began to talk to the crowds about John. “What did you go out  into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8What did you go out to see? A man  dressed in soft clothing? No, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ than a prophet. 10 This  is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who  will prepare your way before you.’ 11Amen I tell you: Among those born of women there has  not appeared anyone greater than John the Baptist. Yet whoever is least in the kingdom of  heaven is greater than he. 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 12 “Hark the Glad Sound! The Savior Comes" 

SERMON: Matthew 11:2-11 What Do You Expect From Christ(mas)?

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

BLESSING C: Amen.  

HYMN 6 "Come, O Long-Expected Jesus" 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The free-will offering basket is located next to the water dispenser. 

Our visitors are not expected to give to help fund our ministry here at St. Paul’s and beyond. CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP – 5 PM. Join us at 5 pm on Christmas Eve as we celebrate

our newborn King and Savior. The children will enhance this service with words and song. Please  invite family, friends, and neighbors. 

There is no Christmas Day service at St. Paul’s. However, you are cordially invited to travel to Redeemer  Lutheran Church in Scottville for their 10 am Christmas Day worship service. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement. 

Scripture readings are from the Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) Bible.

December 14, 2025

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

www.StPaulsManistee.com 

facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821 

December 14, 2024 Advent 3 

ADVENT – THE IMMENENT ARRIVAL 

OF THE BRANCH OF PEACE 

WELCOME 

HYMN 16 “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” (Stand for the last verse) SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to prepare the way for your only Son. By his coming, give us strength  in our conflicts, and shed light on our path through the darkness of this world; through your Son,  Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  (Sung) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 11:1–10 

Through God’s Word and the messengers who proclaim it, the Lord encourages his people to return to  him in humble repentance. 

1 A shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear  fruit. 2 The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him: the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.3 He will  be delighted with the fear of the LORD. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, nor will he render decisions based on what he hears with his ears, 4but with righteousness  he will judge the poor, and he will render fair decisions in favor of the oppressed on the  earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath from his lips  he will put the wicked to death. 5 Righteousness will be the belt around his waist, and  faithfulness the belt around his hips. 6 The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard  will lie down with the young goat, the calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf together, and a little child will lead them. 7 The cow and the bear will graze together, and their  young ones will lie down together. The lion will eat straw like the cattle. 8 The nursing  child will play near a cobra’s hole, and the weaned child will put his hand into a viper’s  den. 9 They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain, for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

PSALM 24 – page 73 

Let the LORD enter; He is the King of Glory! 

SECOND LESSON: Romans 15:4–13 

We have endurance, encouragement, and hope through the Scriptures knowing that God’s good news is  for both Jew and Gentile. This continues to be our joy in Christ. 

4Indeed, whatever was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that,  through patient endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we would have  hope. 5 And may God, the source of patient endurance and encouragement, grant that  you agree with one another in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6so that with one mind, in  one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7For this reason,  accept one another as Christ also accepted you to the glory of God. 8For I am saying that  Christ became a servant of those who are circumcised for the sake of God’s truth, to  confirm the promises made to the patriarchs. 9 He also did this so that the Gentiles would  glorify God for his mercy, as it is written: For this reason I will praise you among the Gentiles, and I will sing to your name.10 And again it says: Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people. 11And  again: Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples give him praise. 12And again Isaiah  says: There will be a Root of Jesse, and he is the one who will rise up to rule the Gentiles; on him  the Gentiles will place their hope.13 Now may the God of hope fill you with complete joy  and peace as you continue to believe, so that you overflow with hope by the power of  the Holy Spirit. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. And all people will see  God’s salvation. Alleluia.  

(Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!  

These words are written that we may believe  

that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.  

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

GOSPEL: Matthew 3:1-12 

John the Baptist prepared people to meet their Savior by preaching a message of repentance and  forgiveness. 

1 In those days, John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and  saying, 2“Repent, because the kingdom of heaven is near!” 3 Yes, this is he of whom this  was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: A voice of one crying out in the wilderness, “Prepare  the way of the Lord. Make his paths straight.”4John wore clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem, all  of Judea, and all the region around the Jordan were going out to him. 6 They were baptized  by him in the Jordan River as they confessed their sins. 7 But when he saw many of the  Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers,  who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 8 Therefore produce fruit in keeping with  repentance! 9 Do not think of saying to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For  I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones. 10Already  the ax is ready to strike the root of the trees. So every tree that does not produce good  fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I baptize you with water for repentance. But  the one who comes after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He  will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing shovel is in his hand, and  he will thoroughly clean out his threshing floor. He will gather his wheat into the barn,  but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ! 

HYMN 47 “Behold, a Branch is Growing” 

SERMON: Isaiah 11:1–10 (written by our Circuit Pastor John Eich) 

The Branch of Peace 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 23 “Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel” 

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 14 "Arise, O Christian People" 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined  together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are  not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  The basket is located next to the water dispenser. 

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING. 

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement.

CHRISTMAS EVE WORSHIP: Join us at 5 pm on Wednesday, December  24th for our celebration of our Savior’s birth. Remember to invite your family,  friends, and neighbors for the service of Word, songs, and praise. 

CHRISTMAS DAY WORSHIP: You are invited to Redeemer Ev. Lutheran  Church in Scottville for their joint Christmas worship service with the members  of Our Savior in Hart. The service is at 10 am.

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version ® (EHV ®) All rights reserved. Used by permission.