St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street

Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

October 26, 2025 Reformation

HOLDING TO THE TRUTH OFTEN LEADS TO PERSECUTION

WELCOME – we will be using the blue hymnal today.

HYMN 870 “O Church, Arise” (Please stand for last stanza)

THE SERVICE – Setting Two - page 172ff

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Gracious Lord, our refuge and strength, pour out your Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep them steadfast in your Word, protect and comfort them in all temptations, defend them against all their enemies, and bestow on the church your saving peace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Jeremiah 31:31-34

The truth of God’s new covenant of grace transforms our hearts so we freely and gladly follow God’s will.

31 Yes, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers, when I took them by the hand and led them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant of mine, although I was a husband to them, declares the Lord. 33 But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put my law in their minds, and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will each one teach his neighbor, or each one teach his brother, saying, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their guilt, and I will remember their sins no more.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 42

SECOND LESSON: Galatians 5:1-6

St. Paul encourages us to stand firm in the freedom that we receive in the truth about Jesus Christ.

1It 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. 2Look, I, Paul, tell you that if you allow yourselves to be circumcised, Christ will be of no benefit to you. 3I testify again to every man who allows himself to be circumcised that he is obligated to do the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be declared righteous by the law are completely separated from Christ. You have fallen from grace. 5Indeed, through the Spirit, we by faith are eagerly waiting for the sure hope of righteousness. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision matters. Rather, it is faith working through love that matters.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 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 10:16-22

Jesus reminds us that as we hold to the truth there will be persecution from many different sources. Don’t fear. Endure to the end.

16 “Look, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves. So be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. 17 Be on guard against people. They will hand you over to councils, and they will whip you in their synagogues. 18 You will be brought into the presence of governors and kings for my sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19Whenever they hand you over, do not be worried about how you will respond or what you will say, because what you say will be given to you in that hour. 20 In fact you will not be the ones speaking, but the Spirit of your Father will be speaking through you. 21 “Brother will hand over his brother to death, and a father will do the same with his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by all people because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

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

HYMN 877 “Reformation Song”

Sharon Spencer: Stanza 1 & Refrain, and stanza 2

Congregation: Refrain after stanza 2 till the end.

SERMON: Matthew 10:16-22

Lord, Keep Us Faithful to Your Word even in the Face of Persecution HYMN 862 “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 181

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH - page 182

LORD’S PRAYER

BLESSING: C: Amen.

HYMN 864 “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”

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.

OCTOBER 31, 6 PM – We will not be nailing 95 Theses on the church door like Martin Luther did in 1517, but we will be handing out treats to those who are out trick-or-treating. Please join us to help greet our costumed visitors or come and get a treat yourself. Bring family and friends. All are welcome.

TIME CHANGE – Set you clocks back one-hour next Saturday night before you go to bed. You don’t want to arrive to church an hour before we begin Bible Class / Sunday School at 9 and worship at 10 am. That would be embarrassing.

Speaking of TIME CHANGE, the Tuesday Confirmation Class will begin at 5 pm starting this Tuesday until further notice. Class will stop at 6:30 pm.

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