St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821

July 20, 2025 Pentecost 6

Take Up Your Cross

WELCOME

HYMN 238 “Oh, Bless the Lord, My Soul” (Please stand for the last stanza)

SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

O God, you have prepared joys beyond understanding for those who love you. Pour into our hearts such love for you that, loving you above all things, we may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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: Ruth 1:1-19a

The LORD moves a Moabite woman named Ruth to care for her widowed mother-in law, even though it meant leaving her people, her country, and her way of life behind.

1 During the days of the judges, a famine occurred in the land. So a man left Bethlehem in Judah to stay awhile in the territoryof Moab—he, his wife, and his two sons. 2 The man’s name was Elimelek, his wife’s name was Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Kilion. They were from the clan of Ephrath from Bethlehem in Judah. They entered the territory of Moab and remained there. 3 But Elimelek, Naomi’s husband, died, so she was left with her two sons. 4 They then married Moabite wives. The name of the first was Orpah, and the name of the second was Ruth. They lived there for about ten years. 5 But Naomi’s sons, Mahlon and Kilion, also died. So the woman was left without her two children and without her husband. 6 Then Naomi set out with her daughters-in-law to return from the territory of Moab, because while she was in the territory of Moab, she had heard that the Lord had graciously visited his people by providing them with food. 7So she left the place where she had been, and her two daughters-in-law left with her. They set out on the road to return to the land of Judah. 8 But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, “Go back. Both of you return to your mother’s house. May the Lord show you kindness[e]as you have shown kindness to the dead and to me. 9 May the Lord grant that each of you finds security[f]in the house of a husband.” Then she kissed them, and they wept loudly. 10 But they said to her, “No, we will return with you to your people.” 11 Then Naomi said, “Turn back, my daughters. Why should you go with me? Am I going to give birth to any more sons[g] who could become your husbands? 12 Turn back, my daughters. Go! For I am too old to be married to another husband. Suppose I say, ‘I have hope, and I will be married to another husband tonight, and I will even give birth to sons.’ 13Would you wait for them until they grow up? On the basis of that hope would you give up the chance to marry another husband? No, my daughters. It is much more bitter for me than for you, because the hand of the Lord has reached out against me.” 14 They once again wept loudly. Then Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth would not let her go. 15 Naomi said, “Look, your sister-in-law has returned to her people and to her gods. Go back! Follow your sister-in-law.” 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to abandon you or to turn back from following you. Because wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you make your home, I will make my home. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely and double it if anything but death[i]separates me from you.” 18When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she stopped urging her. 19 Then the two of them traveled until they arrived at Bethlehem.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 118 - pages 108

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!

SECOND LESSON: Galatians 5:1,13-25

Those who have been set free from the law by Christ naturally bear fruit that benefits their neighbor.

1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not allow anyone to put the yoke of slavery on you again….13After all, brothers, you were called to freedom. Only do not use your freedom as a starting point for your sinful flesh. Rather, serve one another through love. 14 In fact, the whole law is summed up in this one statement: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you keep on biting and devouring one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. 16What I am saying is this: Walk by the spirit, and you will not carry out what the sinful flesh desires. 17 For the sinful flesh desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit what is contrary to the sinful flesh. In fact, these two continually oppose one another, so that you do not continue to do these things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the spirit, you are not under the control of the law. 19 Now the works of the sinful flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, complete lack of restraint, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, discord, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things similar to these. I warn you, just as I also warned you before, that those who continue to do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the spiriy is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the spirit, let us also walk in step with it.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 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 9:21-27

One sister served Jesus, which was lovely. The other sister wanted to be served by Jesus, which is the one thing needed..

21 He gave them a strict command not to tell this to anyone. 22 He said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and experts in the law. He must be killed and be raised on the third day.” 23 Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25After all, what will it benefit a man if he gains the whole world, but destroys himself or is lost? 26 In fact, whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. 27 I am telling you the truth: There are some standing here who will certainly not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

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

HYMN 453 "Come, Follow Me, the Savior Spoke"

SERMON: Luke 9:21-27 “Take Up Your Cross”

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41

PRAYER

LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional)

HYMN 465 "Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken"

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen.

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

HYMN 582 “Awake, My Soul, and with the Sun”

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.

SERVING US TODAY: Pastor Joel Krieger, a son of St. Paul’s, serves as School Pastor at St. Marcus Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he has joyfully ministered for the past three years. He is married to Kate, who serves as Ministries Coordinator at St. Marcus, and they are the proud parents of three children: Reuben (8, entering 3rd grade), Armin (5, starting kindergarten), and Ramona (3). May the Lord continue to bless the ministries of the Kriegers at St. Marcus, along with their children. Thank you for serving us, today.

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