August 20, 2023

Leading worship and Bible study today is Tim Redfield. He is one of three pastors serving St Luke's Watertown WI.

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

Pentecost 12 -  Sustaining Faith

August 21, 2023

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, You have given me the wonderful gift of faith in Jesus Christ, my Savior.  So many things wear on it.  Please continue to work in my heart through Word & Sacrament so that my faith in You doesn’t ever waver or falter.  I am calling on You to keep Your promises about this to me.  

Hymn 433  

Common Service,  front of hymnal,  page 15

Prayer: Almighty & everlasting God,/ You are always more ready to hear than we to pray,/ & to give more than we either desire or deserve.  Pour upon us the abundance of Your mercy,/ forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,/ & giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask,/ except through the merits & mediation of Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, / who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever.  (Sing) Amen.  

Old Testament Lesson: I Kings 19:9-18

The gentle whisper of the Gospel,(not wind, earthquake or fire) creates & maintains faith in the Savior God.  In spite of appearances Elijah was not the only believer, whose faith the Lord had maintained, left in Israel. 

And the word of the Lord came to him: “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 13 When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He replied, “I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, torn down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too.” 15 The Lord said to him, “Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. 16 Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. 18 Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel—all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and whose mouths have not kissed him.”

Psalm 73, front of hymnal, page 94

  We may lean on the Lord for security.

Epistle: Romans 9:1-5

Paul grieved over the descendants of Abraham who had lost their faith in the Savior God even though they had been so richly blessed by the Lord.  God forbid that we despise the richer blessings of the New Testament.  I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

Verse: Alleluia. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what    we do not see (Hebr 11:1) Alleluia!  (Sing) Alleluia....... front of hymnal, pg 18

Gospel: Matt 14:22-33

   The disciples are terrified by Jesus’ walking on the water.  Jesus’ words restore & even embolden their faith.  Jesus’ almighty power is there to rescue us when  our faith shrinks amidst life’s fears, doubts & distractions.  

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat was already a considerable distance[a] from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.  25 During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.  27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”  28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”    29 “Come,” he said.    Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”  32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Apostles' Creed, pg 19

Hymn 439

Sermon

(sing) Create in me........pg 20

Thankoffering

The members of  St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that everyone to sign the guest register.  

Prayer of the church, pg 121

Special prayers

Lord's Prayer, pg 20

Hymn 415

Continue pg 25

Hymn 451

August 13, 2023

Leading our worship and Bible study is Josh Krieger.  He is one of three pastors serving St Paul's, Livonia, MI. 

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

Pentecost 11 – Jesus is the Source

August 13, 2023

Prayer Before Worship -  LORD Jesus direct me away from all the other sources of "truth."   Keep me close to You the TRUTH. Amen.

Hymn  339 (OT Lesson)

Morning Praise, front of hymnal page 45

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 55:1-5

The Messiah is commissioned to call the nations into the mercies promised to David.  The Gospel invitation is pure grace.  We can’t pay for anything that satisfies our souls.  The new covenant says: “Come, buy without money.  Listen that your soul may live.” Jesus is the Source of grace. 

1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread,  and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good,  and your soul will delight in the richest of fare. 3 Give ear and come to me; hear me, that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. 4 See, I have made him a witness to the peoples,  a leader and commander of the peoples. 5 Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.” 

Psalm 42-43, front of hymnal, page 82

We confidently await restoration of full fellowship with God after turmoil.

 Epistle: 1 Timothy 4:4,5

If God is the Source, then what He delivers is good. 

4 For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5 because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer. 

Hymn 769

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

After the disciples assess their meager resources, the Lord of creation gives thanks & produces more than enough to satisfy the crowd. 

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”  16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”  17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. 18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children. 

Hymn  353 (Gospel)

Sermon 

Hymn  395 (replaces pages 48-49)

Thankoffering 

The members of  St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that everyone to sign the guest register.  

Continue page 50

Lord’s Prayer

Prayer: O God,/ You reveal Your mighty power chiefly in showing mercy & kindness.  Grant us the full measure of Your grace/ that we may obtain Your promises & become partakers of Your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, how & forever.  

Special Prayers

Continue Prayer of Grace, page 50 front of hymnal

Hymn 565:1 (“Bread” from the source)

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again Kindly sign our guest register.  Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family.

July 23, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Telephone: 231-299-1022

Pastor Joshua Free is leading worship and Bible Study today. He is one of the pastors serving St Paul's Livonia MI. 

July 23, 2023 Pentecost 8 – Word/Seed/Fruit

Prayer Before Worship - 

Lord, the seeds I planted in April & May are now producing beans, lettuce, etc.  Lord, the seed You planted in my heart is also producing fruit. That makes me able to cope with life much better.

Hymn 544

Service of the Word, front of hymnal page 38

Prayer: God of all power & 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.  Keep us safe in your care/  through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with  You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Isaiah 55:10-11

 Just as rain & snow water the earth so it brings forth bread for today & seed for next season, so God’s Word always brings the results He desires. 10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 

Psalm 65, front of hymnal, page 89

God has shown His goodness to all by producing bountiful harvests.

Epistle Acts 18:1-11                                                                              

Paul planted the seed of the Word in Corinth.   He switched fields. He went to the Gentiles.   God promised fruit. 

1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, 3 and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. 4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.  5 When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.  6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”  7 Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God. 8 Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized.  9 One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. 

Verse: Alleluia! The word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.   Alleluia!

 (Sing)  Alleluia!......pg 40

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

God plants His Word in our hearts.  It produces saving faith & fruits of faith.  Any failure lies in an unreceptive heart.

1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.”  18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Hymn  568

Sermon 

Apostles’ Creed, front of hymnal, page 41

Thankoffering & Guest Register

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that our visitors sign the guest register.

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 42  

Special Prayers

Lord’s Prayer, page 43

Hymn 255     

Continue page 43, front of hymnal    

Hymn  324

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again.  Kindly sign our guest register.  Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family.

July 16, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

July 16, 2023 - Pentecost 7 - Rest

Leading our service today is Pastor Dennis Himm

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, sometimes it feels really good to just lie down and take a nap.  Thank You for giving me the wonderful good feeling of being able to just lie down in Your arms to take a spiritual nap.  Resting on Your Words & Promises makes everything else in life a little easier.

Hymn 336(Gospel) 

Common Service, front of hymnal, page 15

Prayer: God of all power & 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.  Keep us safe in your care/  through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with  You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen. Old Testament 

Lesson:  Joshua 23:1-11

God gave His people rest. They were to maintain it by trusting, obeying, serving and holding fast to the LORD. 

1 After a long time had passed and the LORD had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then old and well advanced in years, 2 summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: “I am old and well advanced in years. 3 You 

yourselves have seen everything the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the LORD your God who fought for you. 4 Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Great Sea[a] in the west. 5 The LORD your God himself will drive them out of your way. He will push them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the LORD your God promised you.   6 “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. 7 Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. 8 But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now.  9 “The LORD has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. 10 One of you routs a thousand, because the LORD your God fights for you, just as he promised. 11 So be very careful to love the LORD your God. 

Psalm 145, front of hymnal, pg 119

The LORD's mercy toward us is the basis for our rest.

Epistle: Hebrews 4:1-11

The ultimate rest is waiting for us with the LORD in eternity. 

1 Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,    “So I declared on oath in my anger, ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”   And yet his work has been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “And on the seventh day God rested from all his work.”] 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”  6 It still remains that some will enter that rest, and those who formerly had the gospel preached to them did not go in, because of their disobedience. 7 Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as was said before: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” 8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.

Verse: Happy are they who hear the Word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.  Alleluia. (Sing) Alleluia! x3 page 18

Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

The wise & learned have no insight into the kingdom of Jesus.  Jesus calls to Himself those who are weary & burdened by their sin.  Jesus  is the rest which their souls need.

25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.    27 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.    28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” 

Hymn 256 (vs three talks about “burden” - reflects Gospel)

Sermon: Matthew 11:25-30    (Retired Pastor Himm) 

The Father Has Given All Power to the Son

  1.  A truth hidden to many

  2.  A truth enjoyed by us

(Sing)  Create in me…. page 20, front of hymnal

Thankoffering & Guest Register

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that  guests sign the guest  register

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 127

Special prayers

Lord’s Prayer, front of hymnal, page 20 

Hymn 372 

Continue, page 25

Hymn 329

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again.  Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family. 

July 9, 2023

Leading us in worship Bible study today is Brian Schmidt.  He is one of two pastors serving Trinity, Caledonia WI. 

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

July 9, 2023 - Pentecost 6 – Loss and Strife

Prayer before worship: Lord, thank you for letting us lean on You for salvation and everything else.

Hymn  233

Morning Praise, front of hymnal page 45

Old Testament Lesson: Exodus 32:15-29

Moses insisted that the true God and His truth cannot be compromised.  This caused conflict and ultimately loss of life.   15 Moses turned and went down the mountain with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands. They were inscribed on both sides, front and back. 16 The tablets were the work of God; the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets.  17 When Joshua heard the noise of the people shouting, he said to Moses, “There is the sound of war in the camp.”  18 Moses replied: “It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.”  19 When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. 20 And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it.  21 He said to Aaron, “What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?”  22 “Do not be angry, my lord,” Aaron answered. “You know how prone these people are to evil. 23 They said to me, ‘Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.’ 24 So I told them, ‘Whoever has any gold jewelry, take it off.’ Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf!”  25 Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies. 26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me.” And all the Levites rallied to him.  27 Then he said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Each man strap a sword to his side. Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbor.’” 28 The Levites did as Moses commanded, and that day about three thousand of the people died. 29 Then Moses said, “You have been set apart to the LORD today, for you were against your own sons and brothers, and he has blessed you this day.” 

Psalm 89, front of hymnal, page 98

  The Lord is faithful in His love. 

Epistle: 1 John 2:15-17

While we live on this earth, there is an ongoing internal strife.  Do we focus on what we do and have or on the LORD?  

15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. 17 The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever. 

Verse: “If anyone wants to follow me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34b)

Gospel: Matthew 10:34-42

This doesn’t sound good.  Following Jesus brings hostility.   We know, however, that our eternity is secure because of Jesus

34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn “‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— 36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’    37 “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; 38 and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.    40 “He who receives you receives me, and he who receives me receives the one who sent me. 41 Anyone who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and anyone who receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.” 

Hymn  453 

Sermon  Text - Old Testament Lesson  Ex 32:15-29. 

Theme : "You have been set apart to the Lord today"

Hymn  422 (replacs Te Deum)

Thankoffering & Guest Register

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that guests sign the guest register.  

Continue page 50, front of hymnal

Lord’s Prayer 

Prayer: 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 & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, ,/ one God, now & forever.

Special Prayers

Continue page 50, front of hymnal

Hymn 331

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family. 

July 2, 2023

Leading our service today is Pastor Dennis Himm, recently retired from Gloria Dei, in Grand Blanc, MI and now residing in Manistee. Welcome Pastor Himm and wife Kay !

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

July 2, 2023 - Pentecost 5 - Persecution/Temptation

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, it’s nice to be part of Your family. Thanks for adopting me.  Sometimes other people try to make me miserable because I am Yours.  Help me remember being Yours is a wonderful blessing.

Hymn 472 (refers to sources of temptation/persecution)

Service of Word and Sacrament , front of hymnal, page 26

Prayer: Lord, our God,/ govern the nations on earth/ & direct the affairs of this world/ so that we may worship You in peace & joy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with  You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever.  (sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Jeremiah 20:7-13

Jeremiah proclaimed God’s judgment vs. sin. He wanted to quit preaching to avoid persecution, but he could not hold back.  He turned to the Lord for help, confidently committing his cause to the Lord who rescues from oppressors.

 7 O LORD, you deceived me, and I was deceived;    you overpowered me and prevailed. I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me. 8 Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.  9 But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,” his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot. 10 I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!   Report him! Let’s report him!”  All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, “Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him.”  11 But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior;  so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten. 12 O LORD Almighty, you who examine the righteous and probe the heart and mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.  13 Sing to the LORD! Give praise to the LORD! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.

Hymn 419:1-3

Epistle: Romans 5:12-15

All of us descended from Adam die as Adam did because we inherited Adam’s sin.  Jesus the second Adam restored holiness and life to all.

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned— 13 for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come. 15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!

Hymn 419: 4-6

Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

We can expect the world to treat us no better than it treated our Master.  What a comfort to know that God gives loving attention to the smallest details of our lives.  Therefore, we are bold in proclaiming His Gospel.

24 “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. 25 It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! 26 “So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Hymn 770  

Sermon: Gospel

Theme:  "Bold to Speak the Truth" (Retired Pastor Himm)

Nicene Creed, front of hymnal, page 31 

Thankoffering 

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that everyone sign the guest register.  

Prayer of the church, pg 32

Special Prayers

Lord’s Prayer, page 32

Continue page 33

Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of St. Paul's & other  WELS or   ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith (1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with the worship leader after worship.  We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord, with us and with our congregation                       

Hymn 447 during distribution

(refers to sources of temptation/persecution)

Continue page 36                                 

Hymn 419, verse 7

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again. Kindly sign our friendship register.  Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family

June 25, 2023

Leading us in worship and Bible study today is Brad Krause. He serves at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, WI.

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 25, 2023 - Pentecost 4 Theme: The Father’s Love

Prayer Before Worship - Heavenly Father, thank You for freely giving me forgiveness, righteousness &  eternal life.  Help me to freely give those same gifts to the people in my life.

Hymn 576 ( Verses 1,5,6 = Gospel; verses 2 & 3 = Epistle) 

Service of Word, front of hymnal, page 38 

Prayer: O God,/ Protector of all the faithful,/ You alone make strong; You alone make holy.  Show us Your mercy/ & forgive our sins day by day.  Guide us through our earthly lives/ that we do not lose the things You have prepared for us in heaven;  through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with  You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen. 

Old Testament Lesson: Exodus 19:2-8

In love God rescued Israel from Egypt, carried them on eagles’ wings to Himself & set them apart for the purpose of bringing the Savior into the world.  God’s love motivates us to say: “We will do everything the Lord has said.” 

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.” Moses brought back the people’s words to the Lord. 

Psalm 100, front of hymnal, page 104

In love God created us and called us to be His sheep.  So we praise Him.

Epistle: Romans 5:6-11

God in love reconciles to Himself the “powerless, ungodly, sinners, His enemies”(us).  He will also take us to enjoy eternity with Him.

6 For at the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 It 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. 9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 

10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God 

by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 And not only is this so, but we also go on rejoicing confidently in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received this reconciliation.

Verse: Alleluia!  May Your priests be clothed with righteousness; may Your saints sing for joy. Alleluia.  (Sing) Alleluia.....p 40 

Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:8

Jesus out of love for the crowds told His disciples to pray for workers.     Then He sent them out as the workers. 

35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest.”10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to himself and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not enter any 

town of the Samaritans. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the 

house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Cleanse lepers. Drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Hymn 578 (reflects the Gospel)

Sermon 

Apostles' Creed, front of hymnal, page 41

Thankoffering 

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that  everyone sign the  guest register.  

Prayer of the Church, front of hymnal, page 42  

Special Prayers, Lord's Prayer

Hymn 573 (vs 1 reflects the Gospel)

Continue page 43 front of hymnal                 

Hymn 559 (Gospel)

June 18, 2023

Leading us in worship and Bible study today is Adam Zimpelmann. He is one of two pastors serving Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, WI.

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 18, 2023- Pentecost 3 - God's Choice

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, thank You for showing me Your mercy by teaching me that I am a sinner and that You are my Savior.  Help me to show the same mercy to others by bringing them the Law and the Gospel 

Hymn 380 

Common Service, front of hymnal, page 15

Prayer: O God, the strength of all who trust in You,/ mercifully hear  our prayers.  Be gracious to us in our weakness/ & give us strength to keep Your commandments in all we say & do;/ through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with  You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Exodus 3:1-15

The LORD chose Moses to play a pivotal role in carrying out God's plan to have the Savior come from Abraham's descendants.  

 Now Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, a priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but the bush was not burning up. 3 So he said, “I will go over and look at this amazing sight—to find out why the bush is not burning up.” 4 When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to take a look, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!” Moses said, “I am here.” 5 The Lord said, “Do not come any closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He then said, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The Lord said, “I have certainly seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry for help because of their slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now indeed, the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me. Yes, I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Come now, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 So he said, “I will certainly be with you. This will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain.” 13 But Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I say to them?” 14 So God replied to Moses, “I am who I am.”[b] He also said, “You will say this to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also told Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’

Psalm 119c,  front of hymnal, page 111 

 Those who rejoice in the Lord’s salvation find His Word to be welcome refreshment.  It gives life, fellowship, insight, protection, & guidance.

Epistle: Romans 4:18-25

God chose Abraham as the one from whom the Savior would come. God's promise: Abram would have a son.  Done.  God’s promise: In Christ people are credited with righteousness.  Done.  God’s promise: Jesus will rise from the dead. Done.  Our message to others: God’s promises are as good as done for them too.

Hoping beyond what he could expect, (Abraham) he believed that he would become the father of many nations, just as he was told: “This is how many your descendants will be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith, even though he considered his own body as good as dead (because he was about one hundred years old), and even though he considered Sarah’s womb to be dead. 20 He did not waver in unbelief with respect to God’s promise, but he grew strong in faith, giving glory to God 21 and being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 Now the statement “it was credited to him” was not written for him alone, 24 but also for us to whom it would be credited, namely, to us who believe in the one who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead. 25 He was handed over to death because of our trespasses and was raised to life because of our justification.

Apostles' Creed, pg 19

Hymn 304

Sermon Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

Jesus chose Matthew to follow Him

{9:9}  As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. {10} While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. {11} When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" {12} On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {13} But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

(Sing) Create in me.... pg 20

Thankoffering The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that  everyone sign the guest register

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 127          

Special Prayer, Lord's Prayer pg 20

Hymn 460

Continue  front of hymnal, page 25                 

Hymn 552:1, 18, 3

June 11, 2023

Leading us in worship and Bible study today is Joel Krieger. He is one of three pastors serving St Marcus Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI.

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 11, 2023 Pentecost 2 - Righteousness from God

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, I want to be right with You.  Please forgive me for my failures to achieve that on my own.  Thank You for declaring me to be right with You because of Jesus.  Thank You for leading me here today to have my relationship with You strengthened through Word & Sacrament.  Without that happening on a regular basis I know I would drift away from You and lose my status of being right with You.  

Hymn 382 (Gospel)

Morning Praise, front of hymnal page 45

Hymn 334 replaces the “Oh Come Let us Sing....pg 46

Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 11:18 - 21, 26-28

God commands us to make His Word the guiding principle in our lives. It is the  best inheritance we can give to our children because it is essential for spiritual  well being.  We can avoid God’s anger & enjoy God’s blessings by keeping His commands.  Only in Jesus can we be viewed by God as people who keep His commands. 

18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. 26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.

Psalm 78, front of hymnal, page 95 

God’s Word tells His commands & His salvation.

Epistle: Romans 3:21-25, 27, 28

All break God’s Law & are condemned. God provides righteousness, takes away sin because of Jesus, &declares s just.  We are free to live for Him & with Him.  We are freed from the need to boast.

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.

Hymn 753

Gospel: Mark 10:27-37

 Humans could make themselves righteous before God if we could keep God's commandments.  Problem:  We can't.  Solution: God can declare us to be righteous before Him by applying the righteousness which Jesus lived as our Substitute. With God this is possible. 

17 As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ 20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22 At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!”

24 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Hymn  416   

Sermon: Gospel 

Hymn  386  (replaces pgs 48-49)

Thankoffering 

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Continue pg 50:  Lord, have mercy.....Lord's Prayer

Prayer of the day: O God,/ You rule over all things in wisdom & kindness.  Take    away everything that may be harmful/ & give us whatever is good; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever.  

Special prayers

Prayer of Thanksgiving: 65 years of marriage

Pastor Phil and Sue Kuckhahn

Congregational song:

1 O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou in sacred vow dost join in one. 

2 O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears no pain or death. 

3 Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife;
grant them the vision of the glorious morrow
that will reveal eternal love and life. 

Continue Prayer for grace, page 50 bottom and page 51

Hymn 319

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again Kindly sign our guest register.  Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family. 

June 4, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 4, 2023 – Trinity Sunday 

Prayer Before Worship – Please read Hymn 192

Hymn 191

Service of Word and Sacrament, front of hymnal, page 26

Prayer: Almighty God & Father,/ dwelling in majesty & mystery,/ filling & renewing all creation by Your eternal Spirit,/ & manifesting Your saving grace through our Lord Jesus Christ:/ in mercy cleanse our hearts & lips/ that, free from doubt & fear,/ we may ever worship 

You,/ one true immortal God, with Your Son & the Holy Spirit,/ living & reigning, now & forever. (sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 

The Triune God says: “Let us make man in our image.”  The Father,                 the Word (John 1:3) and the Spirit act to accomplish the creation.

      1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good,and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.  6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.  9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.  14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.  20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.  24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.  2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.

Hymn 724

Epistle: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Fellowship with others is only possible because of fellowship with our gracious, loving Triune God.  

  11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.  12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.  14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 

Psalm 150, front of hymnal, page 122

We praise our Triune God for creating and saving us

Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus gives His command to us about bringing the Holy Trinity into the lives of people.

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Hymn 194

Sermon Text: Epistle: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Sermon Theme: Our Triune God Who Gives Us Gifts

               1.  Grace   2.  Love   3.  Fellowship

Athanasian Creed, front of hymnal, page 132

Thankoffering The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.

Prayer of the church, page 32

Continue page 33

Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of St. Paul's & other  WELS or   ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith ( 1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with te worship leader after worship.  We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord, with us and with our congregation.  

Hymn 195 during distribution

Continue on page 36, front of hymnal

Hymn 193

May 28, 2023

Leading our worship and Bible study today is Joel Pankow.  He is one of two pastors serving at Trinity, Bay City MI.   Welcome TO MANISTEE Pastor Pankow and family !

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Telephone: 231-299-1022

Pentecost – Festival of the Holy Spirit

May 28, 2023 

Prayer Before Worship - Please read Hymn 177

Hymn 183            

Service of the Word, front of hymnal page 38

Prayer Hymn 184

Old Testament Lesson: Joel 2:28,29

Joel foretells the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which will show itself in  visions & dreams, but especially in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus.

28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

Hymn 747 

Epistle: Acts 2:1-21

The outpouring of the promised Holy Spirit.

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of

fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says,  I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Hymn 190

Gospel: John 16:5-11

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit who will give consolation and empowerment. He will also judge unbelief which rejects the Son. 

But now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Hymn 176

Sermon 

Confession of Faith

         Explanation of the 3rd article of the Apostles’ Creed

               (from Luther’s Small Catechism)

I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing/ believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.  But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel,/ enlightened me with His gifts/ sanctified & kept me in the true faith.  In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens & sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth,/ & keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.  In this Christian church He daily & fully forgives all sins to me & all believers.  On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead.  And He will give eternal life to me & all believers in Christ.  This is most certainly true.   

Thankoffering 

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Prayer of church, pg 42

Special Prayers

Lord’s Prayer

Hymn 181 

Continue page 43

Hymn 185

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again.   Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family. 

May 21, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Telephone: 231-299-1022

May 21, 2023 Easter 7 - The Lord’s Care Sustains

Prayer Before Worship:   Lord, I get sad when I think You are not here any longer as You were once for 33 years.  Help me to get over that by talking to You & by listening to You talk to me through the Bible.

Hymn 558

Common Service , front of hymnal page 15

Prayer: Almighty God,/ Your Son our Savior was taken up in glory/ &   intercedes for us at Your right hand.  Through Your living & abiding Word,/ give us hearts to know Him/ & faith to follow where He has gone; who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever.      (Sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: 1 Samuel 1:21-28

The Lord’s presence sustained Hannah while she was childless.   She responded to the LORD’s blessing by dedicating Samuel to the LORD.  

 21 When the man Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, 22 Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, “After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always.”  23 “Do what seems best to you,” Elkanah her husband told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him.  24 After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. 25 When they had slaughtered the bull, they brought the boy to Eli, 26 and she said to him, “As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. 27 I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there. 

Psalm 8, front of hymnal, page 67 

       We praise the Lord’s majesty and His grace to us.  

Epistle - I Peter 4:12-17, 5:6-11

We who are connected with Christ and His resurrection through Baptism look on our sufferings with eyes of faith, and trust in the eternal goodness of God.  That sustains is in difficult times. 

 12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 5: 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.  8 Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.  10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. 

Verse: Alleluia! Alleluia!  Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia.  I will not leave your as orphans; I will come to you.  Alleluia. (Sing) Alleluia!.....pg 18 front of hymnal

Gospel: John 17:1-11  

Jesus prepared His disciples and us for His ascension with words like these.  Because of Him, God the Son, we are members of the same family of which He is a member.  This knowledge sustains us.        

1 After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed:  “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. 2 For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3 Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4 I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began. 6 “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7 Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8 For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9 I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name—the name you gave me—so that they may be one as we are one.

Apostles' Creed, pg 19

Hymn 174

Sermon Text: 1Pet 5:6-11

Sermon Theme: NOW THAT JESUS ISN’T HERE

            1  Resist the Devil

            2  Cast Your Anxiety on the Lord

            3 Trust God’s Promises

Prayer: LORD JESUS, help me resist the devil, cast my anxiety on You, and trust in Your promises.

(Sing) Create in me......pg 20

Thankoffering The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 126 

Special Prayers

Lord’s Prayer, page 20

 Hymn 172

Continue page 25, front of hymnal

Hymn  359

May 14, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

May 14,  2023  Easter 6 - Giving Answers

Prayer Before Worship - Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me answers, especially about my life with You now & forever.  Help me to take my responsibility seriously to give answers to people who ask me questions about You.

Hymn 146    

Morning Praise, front of hymnal, page 45

Lesson: Acts 17:22-31

Paul shows that giving answers may take on creative, thought provoking forms.  He informs the Greeks about a God, unknown to them who made the world & calls all to repentance & faith in the One whom He raised from the dead. 

 22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.   24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ 29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.” 

Hymn 751:3

Epistle: 1 Peter 3:15-22                                                                            Peter encourages us to be ready to confess the hope we have in Christ Jesus even amidst hardship & persecution. In doing so we show we have  been connected to Christ & His resurrection.                                          

  15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17 For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— 20 to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, 21 and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Hymn 148

Sermon Text: Gospel: John 14:15-21

Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to His us.  He also promised not to leave us alone & to return to us.  He encourages us to lovingly obey His commands.

15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

Sermon Theme:  Why do we obey Jesus’ commands

                          1. We realize who Jesus is     

(John 10:30) “I and the Father are one,”

 the crowds (31) “picked up stones to stone him........(33) for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”  

 (John 6:66) many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.”  

(John 14:5) “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

“I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, is my LORD.”   

                           2. We get help from the Holy Spirit  

“not despise preaching and His Word but regard it as holy and gladly hear and learn it”

“Use My Word.”

                            3. We love Jesus

"Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality.” (Eph 5:3)

Prayer: LORD JESUS, thank You for Your promise:/ “You will do what I command.”  Through Your Word please keep reminding us who You are,/ and sending the Holy Spirit so we keep loving You and doing what You command.

Hymn 158

Thankoffering & Guest Register

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that everyone take sign the guest register

Continue page 50

Prayer: Father of lights, every good & perfect gift comes from You./  Inspire us to think those things that are true/ & long for those things that are good,/ that we may always make our petitions according to Your gracious will; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. 

Continue pg 50 bottom                                 Hymn 153 

May 7, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

May 7,  2023  Easter 5 -  Built on a Rock

Prayer Before Worship: Lord, thank You for being the Way, the Truth, the Life and the Living Stone for me.  

Hymn 585 

Word and Sacrament, front of hymnal page 26

Prayer: O God,/ You form the minds of Your faithful people into a single will.  Make us love what You command/ & desire what You promise,/ that among the many changes of this world,/ our hearts may ever yearn for the lasting joys of heaven; through Your Son,  Jesus Christ our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now & forever.  (sing)Amen.

Lesson: Acts 17:1-12

In Thessalonica some received the Word with joy, others with anger.  The Bereans compared Paul’s message with the Word.  In doing so they found Christ to be the Rock on which to build their faith.  

When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2 As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women. 5 But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, 7 and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” 8 When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. 9 Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go. 10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. 11 Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. 12 As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Hymn 247:5

Gospel: John 14:1-12                                                                          

Knowing and trusting Jesus, we have every spiritual blessing and have seen the Father. 

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”  5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”  6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”  9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Hymn 379

Sermon Text: Epistle: 1 Peter 2:4-10

Christ, the Living Stone,” builds up His people like living stones into a spiritual house.  In mercy He makes us into a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation,” that we may declare His praises now & forever.

  4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For in Scripture it says:    “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  7 Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe,  “The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, 8 and, “A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.  9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 

Theme: We are priests

               1  We are a spiritual house built on a rock

Prayer: Lord, thank You for loving me so much,/ even though I don’t deserve it,/ that I haven’t stumbled and fallen over You,/ but You have made me a stone in Your spiritual house,/ built on a Rock.  

               2   We offer spiritual sacrifices     

Nicene Creed, page 31

Thankoffering & Guest Register

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that our guests sign our guest register.  

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 32 

Special Prayers; Lord’s Prayer, page 32; Continue  pg 33

Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of  St Paul's & other  WELS or   ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith ( 1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with the usher.  We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord,  with us and with our congregation.

Hymn 432 during distribution

Continue page 36                                  Hymn 333

April 30, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

April 30, 2023 Easter 4 –  Good Shepherd Sunday

Prayer Before Worship -  Lord, thank You for making me Your sheep, nurturing me, nourishing me and guiding me.

Hymn 374            

Service of Word, front of hymnal page 38

Prayer: O Lord Jesus Christ,/ You are the Good Shepherd who laid down Your life for the sheep.  Lead us now to the still waters of Your life-giving Word/ that we may abide in Your Father’s house        forevermore; for you live & reign with Him & the Holy Spirit, one  God, now & forever.  (Sing) Amen.  

 Old Testament Lesson: 1 Samuel 17:34-37

David describes what a shepherd is supposed to do   

 34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, 35 I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. 36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The LORD who rescued me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will rescue me from the hand of this Philistine.”  Saul said to David, “Go, and the LORD be with you. 

Psalm 23, front of hymnal, page 72 

Gospel: John 10:1-10                                                                           Jesus is recognized by the sheep, and leads us to pasture

1 “Very truly I tell you Pharisees, anyone who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. 2 The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” 6 Jesus used this figure of speech, but the Pharisees did not understand what he was telling them. 7 Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Hymn 442

Sermon Text: 1 Peter 2:19-25

19 For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God. 20 But how is it to your credit if you receive a beating for doing wrong and endure it? But if you suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” 25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

 Theme: The Way of the Good Shepherd is for you

1. For your salvation

Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”  

2. For our Imitation

Prayer:.  LORD JESUS, please keep me walking on the way of the Good Shepherd.

Apostles’ Creed, front of hymnal, page 41

Thankoffering 

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 42 

Special Prayers

Lord’s Prayer, page 43

Hymn 432 

Continue page 43

Hymn 436

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again Kindly sign our friendship register.  Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family. 

April 23, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

April 23 Easter 3 -Speaking of Resurrection

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, sometimes my own enthusiasm about

Your resurrection isn’t shared by the people around me.  That intimidates me.  Please don’t let that happen.  If I don’t speak about Your resurrection, those around me are never going to share my enthusiasm. 

Hymn 160            

Common Service, front of hymnal, page 15

Prayer: 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/ & hope of eternal joys; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.  

Lesson: Acts 2: 14, 36-47

Peter preaches the risen Christ.  Many are added to the disciples.   Blessings follow from the Spirit through Word & Sacrament.

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 36 “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” 37 When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” 40 With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” 41 Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Psalm 67, front of hymnal, page 91

  We sing, asking the Lord to bless His church with growth to His glory. 

Epistle: 1 Peter 1:17-21

We live as strangers & in reverent fear.  We are in awe of Christ’s  death & His resurrection.   Faith & hope are the essence of our lives.

17 Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear. 18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God. 

Verse: Alleluia.  Alleluia.  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed! Alleluia.  Our hearts were burning within us while He talked with us on the road & opened the Scriptures to us. Alleluia! (Sing) Alleluia.......p 30

Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

 Jesus appeared to two disciples on Easter eve as they went to Emmaus.   He opened the Scriptures for them, rebuked their doubt & restored their  joy.   Our hope & faith are renewed through Word & Sacrament. 

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

Apostles’ Creed, front of hymnal, page 18

Hymn 143 

Sermon Text: Luke 24:13-35  

Theme: Jesus Rose - It is True

 1. He can be with us                  

 2. He can instruct us                                                 

 3. He can set us on fire

Prayer: Lord Jesus, please make our hearts burn within us so that we are eager to run to share with others what we know about You.

Thankoffering 

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry

Prayer of the Church, front of hymnal, page 126

Lord's Prayer pg 20  

Hymn 147  Continue page 25 front of hymnal 

Hymn 162

April 16, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

April 16, 2023 Easter 2: Testimonies of Resurrection 

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, thank You for not only rising from death but also appearing to people who could tell me about that wonderful event.

Hymn 150

Morning Praise, front of hymnal page 45

Lesson: Acts 2: 14, 22-32

Peter testifies that Jesus suffering, death & resurrection occurred according to God’s set purpose in fulfillment of the Scriptures.  To this testimony Peter adds his own.  “We are witnesses of the fact.”

14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23 This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25 David said about him:    “‘I saw the Lord always before me.    Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest in hope, 27 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not 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 “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30 But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31 Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. 32 God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it.

Hymn 719

Epistle: 1 Peter 1:3-9

Jesus’ resurrection gives us new birth & a living hope.  This confidence  leads us through the problems of this life to our heavenly goal.

 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when  Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Hymn 165: 1-3

Gospel: John 20:19-31

Jesus appeared to His disciples on Easter eve.  Then to Thomas a week  later.  We believe even though we haven’t seen. 

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.  21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”  24 Now Thomas (also known as Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”  But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”  26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”  28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”  29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Hymn 165, verses 4-9

Sermon Text: Gospel

Theme: DID YOU HAVE A PEACEFUL EASTER?

1   Sin Robs us of our Peace

2  Forgiveness gives Peace

3  Jesus’ Presence Gives Peace

Hymn 145

Thankoffering 

The members of St. Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Continue, page 50

Prayer: O Risen Lord,/ You came to Your disciples & took away their    fear with Your word of peace.  Come to us also by Word & sacrament,/ & banish our fears with the comforting assurance of Your abiding presence; for You live & reign with the Father & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now and   forever.    

Continue page 50 bottom

Hymn 552:24

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again Kindly sign our friendship register.  Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family.

April 9, 2023 Easter Sunday

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

April 9, 2023 - The Resurrection of our LORD 

Prayer Before Worship: Read Hymn 161:1

Hymn 153

Invitation to Celebrate      

John 11:25  "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; {26} and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

Rev 1:17-18  "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. {18} I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive forever and ever!

Rom 1:4  Jesus Christ our Lord was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead.

Rom 6:45  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the  dead  through

the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. 

Phil 3:10-11  I want to know Christ & the power of his resurrection & the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, {11} and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Rom 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you. 

1 Pet 1:3-4 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, {4} and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you.

Hymn 150:1

Prayer: Almighty God,/ by the glorious resurrection of Your Son Jesus  Christ,/ You conquered death & opened the gate to eternal life.  Grant that we, who have been raised with Him through baptism,/ may walk in newness of life,/ & ever rejoice in the hope of sharing His glory; /through Jesus Christ our Lord, who, with You & the Holy Sprit be dominion & praise now & forever.    (Sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Job 19:23-27

   Because Jesus lives, we too will be raised to live with Him 

23 ““Oh, that my words were recorded, that they were written on a scroll, 24 that they were inscribed with an iron tool on lead, or engraved in rock forever! 25 I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth. 26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; 27 I myself will see him with my own eyes——I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!

Hymn 150:2 

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:51-57

   Jesus conquered death for us.  We will be raised to live  forever. 

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: ““Death has been swallowed up in victory.””55 ““Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?””56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hymn 150:3

Gospel: Matthew 28:1-10

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

Hymn 150: 4 

Confession of faith: I believe that Jesus Christ, true God,/ begotten of the Father from eternity,/ & also true man, born of the Virgin Mary,/ is my Lord.  He has redeemed me, a lost & condemned creature,/ purchased & won me from all sins, from death & from the power of the devil,/ not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood & with His innocent suffering & death.  All this He did that I should be His own, & live under Him in His kingdom, / & serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence & blessedness,/ just as He has risen from death lives & rules eternally.  This is most certainly true.

Hymn 158

Sermon Text:  Matthew 28:8-10

Theme: Free to Live 

1. Without any doubt about Jesus  

Response: YES! 

Proof? He rose from the dead       

Hymn 152: 1-3 

1. Without any doubt about the Gospel     

Hymn 152: 4 -6 

3. Without any doubt about the future   

Prayer: LORD JESUS, please help us to celebrate Easter every day by living free from doubt about Jesus, about the Gospel,  and about the future. 

 Hymn 152:7-8

Thankoffering 

Prayer of the Church, pg 126

Special Prayers 

Lord's Prayer. 

Benediction: 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.

All: AMEN. 

Hymn 149

April 2, 2023 Palm Sunday

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

April 2, 2023 – Palm Sunday 

Welcome to our visitors.

May the Lord bless you through His Word together with us today.  

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, following You on Palm Sunday is fun. Make it fun for me all the time even in the midst of sorrow.

Hymn 134

Service of the Word & Sacrament, front of hymnal, page 26

Prayer: 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 & branches in His path,/ so may we always hail Him as our King/ & follow Him with perfect confidence;/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God now & forever.   (Sing) Amen.   

Old Testament Lesson: Zechariah 9:9-10

The prophet foretells the coming of Zion’s King in humility &   lowliness. He enters “righteous & having salvation.”  He brings peace between God & humans.   

9 Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion!    Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. 10 I will take away the chariots from Ephraim and the warhorses from Jerusalem, and the battle bow will be broken. He will proclaim peace to the nations. His rule will extend from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.

Hymn 716 

Epistle: Philippians 2:5-11

 We are to imitate the attitude of Jesus who humbled Himself to death on the cross.  But Jesus is also right called “LORD” because He is fully God and to Him all creation will bow.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:  6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 

Hymn 130 

Gospel: Matthew 21:1-11

   The Palm Sunday entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.

1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”  4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:  5 “Say to Daughter Zion, ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”  6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest heaven!”  10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”  11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” 

Hymn 133

Sermon Text: John 12:1-11

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.

  Theme: On Palm Sunday, we get ready

1. For a meal with Jesus

2. For the death of Jesus

3.   To see a risen dead man

Nicene Creed, front of hymnal, page 31

Thankoffering & Guest Register

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area & around the world.  Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  However, we do ask that our guests sign our guest register.  

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 32 

Special Prayers; Lord’s Prayer, page 32; Continue  pg 33

Distribution of Lord’s Supper to the members of  St Paul's & other  WELS or   ELS congregations who by their membership have indicated they are qualified to examine themselves (1 Cor 11:27-29) & to express oneness in faith ( 1 Cor 10:17). If you are a guest today & haven’t yet had the chance to express your agreement with us & would like to receive the Lord’s Supper together with us in the future, please speak with the usher.  We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord,  with us and with our congregation.

Hymn 131 during distribution

Continue page 36                                  Hymn 132

March 26, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

March 26, 2023 Lent 5: Life and Death

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, thank You for giving me life.  Help me face my death with the confidence that You have given me eternal life.

Hymn 226                       Service of Word, front of hymnal page 38

Prayer: Eternal God & Father,/ help us to remember Jesus,/ who        obeyed Your will & bore the cross for our salvation/ that through His anguish, pain, & death/ we may receive forgiveness of sins & inherit eternal life; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit,/ one God, now and forever.

(Sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: 2 Kings 4:18-37

God through His prophets displays His power over death so we can trust that He can deliver on His promises to us.

      18 The child grew, and one day he went out to his father, who was with the reapers. 19 He said to his father, “My head! My head!”    His father told a servant, “Carry him to his mother.” 20 After the servant had lifted him up and carried him to his mother, the boy sat on her lap until noon, and then he died. 21 She went up and laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out.  22 She called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and a donkey so I can go to the man of God quickly and return.”  23 “Why go to him today?” he asked. “It’s not the New Moon or the Sabbath.”    “That’s all right,” she said.  24 She saddled the donkey and said to her servant, “Lead on; don’t slow down for me unless I tell you.” 25 So she set out and came to the man of God at Mount Carmel.    When he saw her in the distance, the man of God said to his servant Gehazi, “Look! There’s the Shunammite! 26 Run to meet her and ask her, ‘Are you all right? Is your husband all right? Is your child all right?’”    “Everything is all right,” she said.  27 When she reached the man of God at the mountain, she took hold of his feet. Gehazi came over to push her away, but the man of God said, “Leave her alone! She is in bitter distress, but the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me why.” 28 “Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”  29 Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. Don’t greet anyone you meet, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy’s face.”  30 But the child’s mother said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.  31 Gehazi went on ahead and laid the staff on the boy’s face, but there was no sound or response. So Gehazi went back to meet Elisha and told him, “The boy has not awakened.”  32 When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his couch. 33 He went in, shut the door on the two of them and prayed to the LORD. 34 Then he got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, hands to hands. As he stretched himself out on him, the boy’s body grew warm. 35 Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room and then got on the bed and stretched out on him once more. The boy sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.  36 Elisha summoned Gehazi and said, “Call the Shunammite.” And he did. When she came, he said, “Take your son.” 37 She came in, fell at his feet and bowed to the ground. Then she took her son and went out. 

Psalm 116, front of hymnal, page 107

The LORD has delivered us from death as punishment for sin by giving us salvation through Jesus.

Epistle: Romans 8:11-19

Our lives as believers are closely connected with the life of Christ. Christ    gives us the status of sonship established by the Spirit & the obligation to live as is fitting for those led by the Spirit as the children of God.

      11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.  12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. 14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.

Verse: 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                                                                           Jesus equips us so we might comfort those around us who have lost loved ones.  We comfort them by pointing them to Jesus who is the Resurrection and the Life.  

17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.  21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”  23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”  24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”  25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”  27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 38 Jesus,  once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said.    “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”  40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”  41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”  43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.   Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” 45 Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

Hymn 398

Sermon Text: Psalm 116

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. 2 Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live. 3 The cords of death entangled me, the anguish of the grave came over me;  I was overcome by distress and sorrow. 4 Then I called on the name of the Lord: “Lord, save me!” 5 The Lord is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion. 6 The Lord protects the unwary; when I was brought low, he saved me.7 Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you.8 For you, Lord, have delivered me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling, 9 that I may walk before the Lord in the land of the living.10 I trusted in the Lord when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”; 11 in my alarm I said, “Everyone is a liar.” 12 What shall I return to the Lord for all his goodness to me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord.14 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful servants.  .16 Truly I am your servant, Lord; I serve you just as my mother did; you have freed me from my chains.17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you and call on the name of the Lord.18 I will fulfill my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people, 19 in the courts of the house of the Lord—  in your midst, Jerusalem. Praise the Lord.

Theme: It's a Matter of death and life

1  Jesus' death  helps us handle death

 “Neither death.... nor anything else will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD.” (Rom 8:38-39).

2  Our lives help others live……….

To love, be faithful to cherish, support, & help in sickness & in health.

Live as if fitting for a child of God, and in faith, word, and deed remain true to the Triune God, even unto death.

To shape your life with God’s Word, to hear it proclaimed every week, to study it with your fellow Christians at every opportunity, to use the LORD’s Supper whenever it is offered.

Prayer: LORD Jesus, You are right.  It’s matter death and life.  

Your death helps us handle death.  Please use our lives to help others have life.   

Apostles' Creed, front of hymnal, page 41

 Thankoffering 

Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 42 

Special Prayers; Lord’s Prayer, page 43

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