St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

website: StPaulsManistee.com

facebook: SPLCManistee

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821

August 3, 2025 Pentecost 7

THE PRIVILEGE AND PURPOSE OF PRAYER

WELCOME – We will be using the red hymnal today.

HYMN 409 “Come, My Soul, with Every Care” – please stand for last stanza SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT – page 26

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

God of all power and might, you are the giver of all that is good. Help us love you with all our heart, strengthen us in true faith, provide us with all we need, and keep us safe in your care; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

(Sing) Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 18:20-32

Abraham prays on the basis of what he knows about the LORD: that the LORD is a just judge, that the LORD shows mercy, and that the LORD invites us to be bold in our prayers.

20 So the Lord said, “Because the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very flagrant, 21 I will go down now and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has come to me. If not, I will know.” 22 The two men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Abraham approached him and said, “Will you really sweep away the righteous along with the wicked? 24What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep them away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it? 25 You would never do such a thing, killing the righteous along with the wicked, treating the righteous the same as the wicked. You would never do such a thing. The Judge of all the earth should do right, shouldn’t he?” 26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people within the city of Sodom, then I will spare the entire place for their sake.”27 Abraham answered, “See now, I who am but dust and ashes have taken it on myself to speak to my Lord. 28 What if there are five fewer than fifty righteous? Will you destroy the entire city if the number is five short?” He said, “I will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.” 29 He spoke to him yet again and said, “What if only forty are found there?” He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty.” 30 He said, “Please, do not be angry, my Lord, but I will speak again. What if thirty are found there?” He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.” 31 He said, “See now, I have taken it upon myself to speak to my Lord. What if there are twenty found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.” 32 He said, “Please, do not be angry, my Lord, but I will speak just once more. What if ten are found there?” He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

P: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

SECOND LESSON: 1 Timothy 2:1-7

Paul teaches us that the ultimate purpose for everything we ask is that God’s will would be done.

1First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2for kings and all those who are in authority, in order that we might live a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and dignity. 3 This is good and pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time. 7For this testimony, I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I speak the truth; I am not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.

P: The Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. Happy are they who hear the Word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. 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: Luke 11:1-13

Jesus teaches us how to pray and how our Father will answer.

1 On another occasion, Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John also taught his disciples.”2 He said to them, “When you pray, say, ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4Forgive us our sins, as we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’” 5 He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine who is on a journey has come to me, and I do not have anything to set before him.’ 7 And the one inside replies, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you.’ 8I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his bold persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs. 9“I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives. The one who seeks finds. And

to the one who knocks, it will be opened. 11 “What father among you, if your son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, would give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?”

P: The Gospel of the Lord. C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN 411 “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

SERMON: Psalm 67:1-7

1 May God be gracious to us and bless us. May his face shine on us—2so that your way may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. 3 May the peoples praise you, O God. May the peoples praise you—all of them. 4 May the countries be glad and sing for joy, because you rule the peoples with fairness, and you guide the countries of the earth. 5 May the peoples praise you, O God. May the peoples praise you—all of them. 6 The earth will yield its harvest. God, our God, will bless us. 7 God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear him.

Dear God: "Sorry, Thanks, and Please"

NICENE CREED – page 31

PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) – page 32

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 33-35

Because God’s Word clearly teaches us about the Real Presence and the fellowship connected with the Lord’s Supper, we kindly ask that only WELS and ELS communicant members come forward to receive the Lord’s body and blood in this Sacrament. Pastor Himm offers a free class so you can become a communicant member.

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION

THANK THE LORD & PRAYER - pages 36

BLESSING pages 37 (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.

HYMN 406 “This is the Threefold Truth”

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

is located at the back door near 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.

SERVING US TODAY: Pastor Joshua Free serve as one of three pastors at St. Paul's in Livonia, MI, since 2021. Before Livonia, he served at Abiding Peace in Elgin, IL for ten years. His wife, Joanna (Joey), works part time as a RN so she care for the kids and house. She also volunteers at our church and school. Their oldest daughter is Eloise (Ellie) is 11. She loves reading, music, and making videos. Their second oldest, Olive, is 8. She also loves reading, music, and making videos. Ellie and Olive are best buddies. Their son, Henry, is 5 years-old and loves playing all sports, especially golf. Heny often has his set of clubs with him, and he and his Dad were able to golf a round in the Manistee area, Henry starts Kindergarten in the fall. The Free family cherishes this trip to Manistee every summer! This is our 4th summer here! May the Lord continue to bless the Frees and their work at St. Paul’s, Livonia.

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