St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821

June 29, 2025 Pentecost 2

THE MISSION RIGHT BEFORE US

WELCOME – We will be using the Blue Hymnal today

HYMN 738 “The Son of God, Our Christ” (Please stand for the last stanza)

THE SERVICE: Setting 2 – page 172

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

O God, you rule over all things in wisdom and kindness. Take away everything that may be harmful and give us whatever is good; 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: Isaiah 43:8-13

Those who have seen what the Lord has done are witnesses who testify on his behalf right where they live.

8 Bring out the people who are blind, though they have eyes, and the people who are deaf, though they have ears. 9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let peoples be assembled. Who among them has declared this? Who has made known to us the former things? Let them produce their witnesses to show that they were right, so that people can hear and say, “This is truth.” 10 You are my witnesses, declares the Lord. You are my servant, whom I have chosen, so that you may know me and believe in me, so that you will understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, and after me there will not be another. 11 I, yes I, am the Lord, and apart from me there is no savior. 12 I myself declared it. I brought salvation, and I announced it. It was not some strange god among you. You are my witnesses, declares the Lord, and I am God. 13 Indeed, from the first day, I am he. There is no one who can deliver anyone from my hand I act, and who can reverse it?

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM OF THE DAY – Psalm 63

The Cantor will sing the refrain and then the Congregation will sing it.

The Cantor will sing the verses and the Congregation will sing the refrain.

SECOND LESSON: 2 Timothy 1:3-10

The grace of God has been revealed to all in Jesus Christ; all who have seen it serve as witnesses of God’s grace in their various callings.

3I thank God, whom I serve with a clean conscience as my ancestors did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day. 4When I remember your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5I remember your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am convinced that it also lives in you. 6For this reason I am reminding you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God did not give us a timid spirit, but a spirit of power and love and sound judgment. 8So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Instead, join with me in suffering for the gospel while relying on the power of God. 9 He saved us and called us with a holy calling, not because of our works, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 10 and it has now been revealed through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION:

(sung) Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

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

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

GOSPEL: Luke 8:26-39

Jesus sets a demon-possessed man free then instructs the man to return to his home and be a witness to the goodness of God.

26 They sailed down to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped ashore, a man from the town met him. He was possessed by demons and for a long time had not worn any clothes. He did not live in a house but in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. In fact, the unclean spirit had seized him many times. He was kept under guard, and although he was bound with chains and shackles, he would break the restraints and was driven by the demon into deserted places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” because many demons had gone into him. 31 They were begging Jesus that he would not order them to go into the abyss. 32A herd of many pigs was feeding there on the mountain. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33 The demons went out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. 34When those who were feeding the pigs saw what happened, they ran away and reported it in the town and in the countryside. 35 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet. He was clothed and in his right mind, and the people were afraid. 36 Those who saw it told them how the demon-possessed man was saved. 37 The whole crowd of people from the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were gripped with great fear. As Jesus got into the boat and started back, 38 the man from whom the demons had gone out begged to be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home and tell how much God has done for you.” Then he went through the whole town proclaiming what Jesus had done for him.

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN 744 “Rise, Shine, You People”

SERMON: Luke 8:26-39 “Jesus has Power over Evil!”

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181

PRAYER

HYMN 813 "He Will Hold Me Fast"

The Cantor will sing stanzas 1 and 2 with the Refrain

The Congregation is welcome to join with the Cantor for the 3rd stanza.

After the 3rd stanza the refrain is sung twice.

PRAYER - page 171 C: Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional)

BLESSING C: Amen.

HYMN 932 "Sent Forth by God’s Blessing"

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 Brad Krause and his wife Heidi have been living in Appleton, WI since 2016 where he has served as a campus pastor at Fox Valley Lutheran high school. He previously served as an instructor and dorm supervisor at Nebraska Lutheran High School from 2007-2009. He and Heidi were married in the summer of 2009 and then went to Mexico where he served as a missionary to Mexico until 2016. God has blessed them with five children: Sienna (12 years old), Natalia (11), Leonardo (9), Owen (7) and Caleb (4). The children attend Mount Olive Lutheran School in Appleton where the family are members. Thank you, Pastor Krause for serving us and God bless your family & ministry!

THANK YOU to Kay Himm (organ) & her daughters for helping us with our music this morning: Rachel Kolterjahn (preservice), Bekah Schaffer (pianist), and Abby Koehler (Cantor).

Have a blessed 4th of July as we honor & celebrate our American freedoms.

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