December 3, 2023

 St Paul’s  

 Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 Pastor Dennis J. Himm - 810-252-5821 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

December 3, 2023 Advent 1 

The Christian Church Year 

The Christian Church Year is divided into two parts. The first half is called the Festival Half. It is arranged according to the events of Christ’s life. The second half is called the Non-Festival Half. Although the Non-Festival Half has no special theme, it often focuses on the spiritual life of the believer in Christ. We pray that our service this morning will better help you understand the Christmas Church Year and its colors.

WELCOME 

HYMN: 71 (1-3) please stand for the last stanza 

CALL TO WORSHIP  

M: The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the  

 fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you 

C: And also with you. 

M: God, our Father, each day is a gift of your grace. 

C: Your mercies are new every morning. 

M: Guide our steps by the light of your Word. 

C: Shield us from harm and keep us from evil. 

M: Better than life is your love. 

C: Put joy in our hearts and praise on our lips. Alleluia! 

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

M: Lord, as we begin another Christian Church Year we are reminded on how much we need you. Be  merciful and forgive us. Bless our bodies and souls, and all we own. Renew me in the knowledge  of the promise you made to us in our baptism. Fill us with confidence throughout this year that  you will be with us and bless us. May this year be a time which draws us ever closer to you. This  we ask in Jesus’ name. 

C: Amen. 

FESTIVAL HALF OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH YEAR 

HYMN 23 (1,2) Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel

ADVENT (Coming) Blue / Purple Luke 1:26-38 

26 In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to  a virgin pledged in marriage to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s  name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord  is with you. Blessed are you among women.” 29 But she was greatly troubled by the statement and was  wondering what kind of greeting this could be. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,  because you have found favor with God. 31 Listen, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you  are to name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God  will give him the throne of his father David. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his  kingdom will never end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel  answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow  you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Listen, Elizabeth, your relative, has  also conceived a son in her old age even though she was called barren, and this is her sixth  month. 37 For nothing will be impossible for God.” 38 Then Mary said, “See, I am the Lord’s servant.  May it happen to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her. 

HYMN 68 (1,3) Away in a Manger 

CHRISTMAS (Birth) White Luke 2:1-20 

1In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This  was the first census taken while Quirinius was governing Syria. 3And everyone went to register, each  to his own town. 4And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the town of Nazareth, into Judea, to  the town of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was from the house and family line of  David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, his wife, who was pledged to him in marriage and was  expecting a child. 6And so it was that while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7And  she gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling cloths, and laid him in a manger, because  there was no room for them in the inn. 8 There were in the same country shepherds staying out in the  fields, keeping watch over their flock at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory  of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified! 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be  afraid. For behold, I bring you good news of great joy, which will be for all people: 11 Today in the town  of David, a Savior was born for you. He is Christ the Lord. 12And this will be a sign for you: You will  find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a  multitude from the heavenly army, praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on  earth peace, good will toward mankind.” 15When the angels went away from them into heaven, the  shepherds said to one another, “Now let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened,  which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the  baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they told others the message they had  been told about this child. 18And all who heard it were amazed by what the shepherds said to  them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20And the shepherds  returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, which were just  as they had been told. 

HYMN 83 (1,2) As With Gladness Men of Old 

EPIPHANY (Appearing) White & Green Matthew 2:1-12

1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, when Herod was king, Wise Men from the east came to  Jerusalem. They asked, 2“Where is he who has been born King of the Jews? We saw his star when it  rose and have come to worship him.” 3When King Herod heard this, he was alarmed, and all Jerusalem  with him. 4 He gathered together all the people’s chief priests and experts in the law. He asked them  where the Christ was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, because this was written  through the prophet: 6 You, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are certainly not least among the rulers  of Judah: because out of you will come a ruler, who will shepherd my people, Israel.” 7 Then Herod  secretly summoned the Wise Men and found out from them exactly when the star had appeared. 8 He  sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report  to me, so that I may also go and worship him.” 9After listening to the king, they went on their way.  Then the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them, until it stood still over the place where  the child was. 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with overwhelming joy. 11After they went into  the house and saw the child with Mary, his mother, they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they  opened their treasures and offered him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 Since they had been  warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they went back to their own country by another route. 

HYMN 104 (1,2) Go to Dark Gethsemane 

LENT (Suffering & Death) Purple  Mark 15:1-15 

1As soon as it was morning, the chief priests, along with the elders, the experts in the law, and the  whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to  Pilate. 2Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” He answered him, “It is as you say.” 3 The  chief priests accused him of many things. 4Pilate questioned him again, “Are you not going to answer  anything? See how many charges they are bringing against you!” 5 But Jesus still did not answer anything,  so Pilate was amazed. Barabbas or Jesus? 6At each Festival, Pilate used to release to the people one  prisoner whom they requested. 7 There was one named Barabbas, who was imprisoned with the rebels  and had committed murder in the rebellion. 8 The crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do for  them what he usually did. 9Pilate replied, “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?” 10 In  fact, he knew that it was because of envy that the chief priests had handed him over. 11 But the chief  priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas to them instead. 12Again, Pilate replied to  them, “Then what do you want me to do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 “Crucify him!”  they shouted back. 14 But Pilate said to them, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they shouted  even louder, “Crucify him!” 15 Since he wanted to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them.  After he had Jesus flogged, he handed him over to be crucified. 

HYMN 157 (1,2) Jesus Christ Is Risen Today 

EASTER (Resurrection) White John 20:1-18 

1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb. She saw  that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2So she left and ran to Simon Peter and the other  disciple, the one Jesus loved. “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,” she told them, “and we  don’t know where they put him!” 3So Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the  tomb. 4 The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb  first. 5 Bending over, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who  was following him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there. 7 The cloth  that had been on Jesus’ head was not lying with the linen cloths, but was folded up in a separate place 

by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who arrived at the tomb first, also entered. He saw and  believed. 9(They still did not yet understand the Scripture that he must rise from the dead.) 10 Then  the disciples went back to their homes. 11 But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, weeping. As she  wept, she bent over, looking into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white clothes sitting where the  body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why  are you weeping?” She told them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where  they have laid him.” 14After she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she  did not know it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking  for?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you carried him off, tell me where you laid  him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and replied in  Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means, “Teacher”). 17 Jesus told her, “Do not continue to cling to me, for  I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my  Father and your Father—to my God and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the  disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” She also told them the things he said to her. 

HYMN 171 (1,2) A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing 

ASCENSION (Return to Heaven) White Luke 24:50-53 

50 He led them out as far as the vicinity of Bethany. He lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51And  while he was blessing them, he parted from them and was taken up into heaven. 52 So they worshipped  him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 They were continually in the temple courts, praising  and blessing God. Amen. 

HYMN 182 (1,3) Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling 

PENTECOST (Sending the Holy Spirit) Red Acts 2:1-21 

1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the  rushing of a violent wind came from heaven, and it filled the whole house where they were  sitting. 3 They saw divided tongues that were like fire resting on each one of them. 4 They were all filled  with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, since the Spirit was giving them the ability  to speak fluently. 5 Now there were godly Jewish men from every nation under heaven living in  Jerusalem. 6When this sound was heard, a crowd came together and was confused, because each one  heard them speaking in his own language. 7They were completely baffled and said to each  other,[a]“Look, are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears  them speaking in his own native language? 9Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia,  and of Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt, and the parts of Libya  around Cyrene; visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes; 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them  declaring in our own languages the wonderful works of God.” 12 They were all amazed and perplexed.  They kept saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocked them and said, “They  are full of new wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice, and spoke loudly and  clearly to them: “Men of Judea, and all you residents of Jerusalem, understand this, and listen closely  to my words. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the  day.[b] 16 On the contrary, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 This is what God says will  happen in the last days: I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your 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 sky above, and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and a rising cloud 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. 21And this will happen: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be  saved. 

NON-FESTIVAL HALF OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH YEAR HYMN 195 (1,2) Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty 

TRINITY SUNDAY White Isaiah 6:1-8 

1In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and exalted, and the train  of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two they  covered their faces. With two they covered their feet. With two they flew. 3 One called to another  and said, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies! The whole earth is full of his glory!” 4 The foundations  of the thresholds shook at the voice of the one who called, and the temple was filled with smoke.  5 Then I said, “I am doomed! I am ruined, because I am a man with unclean lips, and I dwell among a  people with unclean lips, and because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Armies!” 6 Then one  of the seraphim flew to me, carrying a glowing coal in his hand, which he had taken from the altar with  tongs. 7 He touched my mouth with the coal and said, “Look, this has touched your lips, so your guilt  is taken away, and your sin is forgiven.” 8 Then I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send?  Who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!” 

HYMN 394 (1,3) Blessed Are the Saints of God 

SUNDAYS AFTER PENTECOST Green Matthew 5:14-16 

14 You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 People do not light a lamp  and put it under a basket. No, they put it on a stand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 In  the same way let your light shine in people’s presence, so that they may see your good works and  glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER - page 32 

WORDS OF INSTITUTION 

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION 

PRAYER 

BLESSING 

A Special Festival We Observe 

REFORMATION Red Ephesians 2:8-10

8Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the  gift of God—9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in  Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them. 

HYMN 200 (1,2) A Mighty Fortress Is Our God 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

Sunday, December 24 

– no morning classes nor service. 6 pm Christmas Eve Service 

Sunday, December 31 

– regular schedule: 9 am Sunday School & Adult Bible Class; 10 am Worship

Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® 

(EHV®) copyright © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. www.wartburgproject.org

November 26, 2023

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660   

 website: StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

 phone: 231-299-1022 

November 26, 2023 Christ the King Sunday Lord, keep us joyful in Christ our King! 

May Christ the Lord bless your worship. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 370 – please stand for last stanza 

COMMON SERVICE - page 15 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Lord Jesus Christ, by your victory you have broken the power of the evil one. Fill our hearts with joy  and peace as we look with hope to that day when every creature in heaven and earth will acclaim you  King of kings and Lord of lords to your unending praise and glory; for you live and reign with the Father  and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Ezekiel 34:11-16,23,24  

Since the time of David, Israel had called her kings “shepherds.” Rejoice in the Christ the King who shepherds his  flock day by day! 

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after  them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my  sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and  darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring  them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the  settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be  their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich  pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the  Sovereign LORD.16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and  strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice…. 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and  be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I  the LORD have spoken. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 If the story of Christ ended on Good Friday, there could be no joy at all. Rejoice in ChristtheKing who will conquer all our enemies! 

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For  since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in  Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when  he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to  God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he  has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put  everything under his feet.”[a] Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear  that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28When he has done this,  then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be  all in all. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Alleluia.  (Sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Matthew 27:27-31 

Joyful? How can this reading make us rejoice? Rejoice in Christ the King who came as our sacrifice. 

27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of  soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together  a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of  him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and  struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put  his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 

HYMN 216 

SERMON: Matthew 27:27-31 

We Have Joy in the Sorrow of Our King 

Sermon written by Circuit Pastor John Eich 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 19 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

HYMN 351 

PRAYER - page 25 

HYMN 341 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around 

the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which  supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign our Guest Book in the entryway. 

CHURCH TREE TRIM  

– after church today, please stay and help. 

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE  

– Saturday, December 2, from 12 noon – 2 pm 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Adult Bible Class: Danny Wrzesinski  

• Sunday School: Sharon Spencer 

• Worship Leader: Matt Keson 

• Hymnsoft Player: Chris Wrzesinski 

• Sermon written by Circuit Pastor John Eich – read by Danny Wrzesinski

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

Thanksgiving Eve 11/22/2023

 St Paul’s   Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660 

 Pastor Dennis J. Himm - 810-252-5821 

 www.StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

November 22, 2023

Thanksgiving Eve 

WELCOME

OPENING HYMN 234

“Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”  - please stand for last stanza 

1 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation! 

O my soul, praise him, for he is your health and salvation! 

Let all who hear Now to his temple draw near, 

Joining in glad adoration! 

2 Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning 

And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining. 

Have you not seen All that is needful has been 

Sent by his gracious ordaining? 

3 Praise to the Lord, who has fearfully, wondrously, made you, 

Health has bestowed and, when heedlessly falling, has stayed you. What need or grief Ever has failed of relief? 

Wings of his mercy did shade you. 

4 Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you; Surely his goodness and mercy shall daily attend you. 

Ponder anew What the Almighty can do 

As with his love he befriends you. 

Please stand 

5 Praise to the Lord! Oh, let all that is in me adore him! 

All that has life and breath, come now with praises before him! 

Let the Amen Sound from his people again; 

Gladly forever adore him! 

CALL TO WORSHIP 

M: It is a good thing to give thanks to the LORD,  and to sing praise to your name, O Most High. 

C: For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD. 

M: Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation, Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.

C: For the LORD is a great God, the great King above all Gods. 

M: In his hands are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. 

C: Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker, let us sing praise to the LORD our God. 

HYMN OF WORSHIP 611 “For the Fruit of His Creation” 

1 For the fruit of his creation, Thanks be to God. 

For his gifts to ev’ry nation, Thanks be to God. 

For the plowing, sowing, reaping,  

Silent growth while we are sleeping, 

Future needs in earth’s safekeeping, Thanks be to God. 

2 In the just reward of labor, God’s will be done. 

In the help we give our neighbor, God’s will be done. 

In our worldwide task of caring  

For the hungry and despairing, 

In the harvests we are sharing, God’s will be done. 

3 For the harvests of the Spirit, Thanks be to God. 

For the good we all inherit, Thanks be to God. 

For the wonders that astound us,  

For the truths that still confound us, 

Most of all that Love has found us, Thanks be to God. 

THANKSGIVING PRAYER 

M: In all things, O Lord, grant to us grace not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought, but to honor You above  all and to love our neighbors as ourselves. On our own we have nothing that will endure, but You have granted to us  all things in Christ and the life that does not end. Hear Your people for the sake of and in the name of our Lord,  Jesus Christ, with whom, in whom and through whom all honor and glory is Yours, almighty Father, with the Holy  Spirit, one God, now and forever.  

C: Amen. 

WORD OF GOD 

FIRST LESSON: Deuteronomy 8:10-18 

10 Then you will eat, and you will be filled, and you will praise the LORD your God for the good land that  he has given you. 11 Be very careful so that you do not forget the LORD your God by not keeping his  commandments and ordinances and his statutes that I am commanding you today. 12 When you eat and are  satisfied, and you build nice houses and move into them, 13and your herds and your flocks multiply, and  your silver and gold increase, and everything that you have prospers, 14 watch out so that your heart does  not become arrogant and forget the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, where  you were slaves. 15 Do not forget the LORD, who led you in the great and terrifying wilderness, where  there were venomous snakes and scorpions, where the thirsty ground had no water, but the LORD made  water come out of a flint rock for you. 16 Do not forget the LORD, who in the wilderness fed you manna,  which your fathers had not known before, to humble you and to test you so that it would be good for you  later on. 17 You might say in your heart, “My ability and the power of my hand have earned this wealth for  me.” 18 But then you are to remember that the LORD your God is the one who gives you the ability to produce wealth, to confirm his covenant that he promised to your fathers with an oath, as he does to this  day. 

M: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: Philippians 4:10-20 

10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord now that you have revived your concern for me once again. Actually, you  were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I lack anything; in  fact, I have learned to be content in any circumstances in which I find myself. 12 I know what it is to live in  humble circumstances, and I know what it is to have more than enough. I have learned the secret of being  content in any and every situation, while being full or hungry, while having plenty or not enough. 13 I can do  all things through Christ, who strengthens me. 14 Nevertheless, you did well by becoming partners with me  in my affliction. 15 You Philippians know that in the beginning of your experience with the gospel, when I left  Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you alone. 16 Even  while I was in Thessalonica, you sent help more than once for my needs. 17 Not that I am seeking a gift, but I  am seeking the fruit that adds to your account. 18 I have been paid in full, and I have more than enough. I am  fully supplied since I’ve received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling  fragrance, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will fully supply your every need, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever!  Amen. 

M: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

GOSPEL: Luke 17:11-19 

11 On another occasion, as Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem, he was passing along the border between  Samaria and Galilee. 12 When he entered a certain village, ten lepers met him. Standing at a distance, 13 they  called out loudly, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves  to the priests.” As they went away they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed,  turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. 16 He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, thanking him. And he was  a Samaritan. 17 Jesus responded, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found  to return and give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go your way.  Your faith has saved you.” 

M: The Word of the Lord 

C: Praise be to you, O Christ. 

CONFESSION OF FAITH 

The First Article of the Apostles’ Creed & Explanation 

M: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. What does this mean? C: I believe that God created me and all that exists, and that he gave me my body and soul,  eyes, ears and all my members, my mind and all my abilities. 

And I believe that God still preserves me by richly and daily providing clothing and shoes,  food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle and all I own, and all  that I need to keep my body and life. God also preserves me by defending me against all  danger, guarding and protecting me from all evil.  

All this God does only because he is my good and merciful Father in heaven, and not  because I have earned or deserve it. For all this I ought to thank and praise, to serve and  obey him. This is most certainly true. 

HYMN OF REPSONSE 610 “Now Thank We All Our God” 

1 Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices, 

Who wondrous things has done, In whom his world rejoices, 

Who from our mother’s arms Has blessed us on our way 

With countless gifts of love And still is ours today. 

2 Oh, may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us, 

With ever-joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us 

And keep us in his grace And guide us when perplexed 

And free us from all ills In this world and the next. 

3 All praise and thanks to God The Father now be given, 

The Son, and him who reigns With them in highest heaven, 

The one eternal God, Whom earth and heav’n adore! 

For thus it was, is now, And shall be evermore. 

THANKSGIVING MESSAGE 

Give Thanks – For What ? 

Habakkuk 3:17-20 

17 The fig tree may have no buds. 

 The vines may have no grapes. 

 The olive tree may fail to produce. 

 The fields may yield no food. 

 The sheep may be cut off from their flock, 

 and there may be no cattle in the barns, 

18 but I will delight in the LORD 

 and rejoice in God who saves me. 

19 The LORD God is my strength. 

 He will give me feet like a deer 

 and make me leap along the high hills. 

THANKSGIVING LITANY 

Responses sung to the tune: “Old Hundredth” 

M: We give thanks, heavenly Father, for all the material blessings with which you continue to strengthen and support  our lives. We give you thanks for food, for clothing, for shelter: 

We praise you, God, enthroned above, 

For ev’ry token of your love 

That crowns our lives through all our days. 

Accept our grateful songs of praise. 

M: For the gifts of families and those who share their lives with us and who give our lives purpose and directions, we  give you thanks:

Our fam’lies are your blessing, too. 

Keep all to one another true, 

That we may each, in word in deed, 

Bring your support in time of need. 

M: For the opportunities to be part of your creative and redemptive plan, by giving us opportunities for employment and  for service, we offer our thanks: 

For daily work, the jobs we do, 

We raise our voice in thanks to you. 

At home, at work, at play may we 

Reflect your cre-a-tiv-ity. 

M: For the privilege and responsibility of living in a land blessed with freedom, striving for justice, we give you thanks: 

We praise you, God, you make us free 

And give the gift of liberty. 

May we in turn this gift extend 

To those whose bondage knows no end. 

M: Throughout the year, many of our lives have been touched by gifts or healing or wholeness or nearness to you, O  Lord. For such a time we give you thanks: 

When lives are touched by healing, Lord, 

We see your hand and hear your Word. 

For those called home and those restored, 

We join to praise your name, O Lord. 

M: And most especially, O Lord, we bring you thanks and praise for blessing our lives with the promise of your precious  Gospel. Make us faithful witnesses of your love, grace, and truth: 

You give us Word and Sacrament, 

Our spirit’s one sure nourishment. 

We join your saints in ev’ry place 

To thank your for these Means of Grace. 

M: For every gift and goodness, Lord, as well as, for every demonstration of your overflowing love, we offer you our  grateful hearts and highest praise: 

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; 

Praise him, all creatures here below; 

Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; 

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Amen. 

LORD’S PRAYER 

BLESSING (Philippians 4:19,20) 

M: And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus. C: To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN 617 

“Christ, by Heav’nly Host Adored” 

1 Christ, by heav’nly hosts adored, Gracious, mighty, sov’reign Lord, 

God of nations, King of kings, Head of all created things, 

By the Church with joy confessed, God o’er all, forever blest— 

Pleading, at your throne we stand: Save your people, bless our land. 

2 On our fields of grass and grain Send, O Lord, the kindly rain; 

O’er our wide and goodly land Crown the labors of each hand. 

Let your kind protection be O’er our commerce on the sea. 

Open, Lord, your bounteous hand; Bless your people, bless our land. 

3 Give us rulers who will be Known for love and honesty; 

Let the pow’rs that you ordained Be in righteousness maintained. 

In the people’s hearts increase Love of piety and peace. 

Thus united, we shall stand One wide, free, and happy land. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

➢ Church Tree Trim 

 – after church this Sunday 

➢ Manistee Sleighbell Open House 

 – Saturday, December 2, 12 noon – 2 pm 

SERVING TODAY 

• Organist: Kay Himm

Bible Class & Sunday School – 9 am 

Sunday Worship – 10 am 

November 19, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

  Telephone: 810-252-5821  

November 12, 2023

November 19, 2023 Saints Triumphant Lord, keep us watchful and hopeful for our eternal triumphant. 

May the LORD, who gives eternal life, bless your worship. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 7 – please stand for last stanza 

SERVICE OF THE WORD - page 38 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God and Savior, you have set the final day and hour when we shall be delivered  from this world of sin and death. Keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that  we may sit with him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven; through your  Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,  now and forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 52:1-6 

“Awake!” the prophet cries and hear God’s promise of coming triumph that will give you strength to face  your present problems. 

521 Awake, awake, Zion, 

 clothe yourself with strength! 

Put on your garments of splendor, 

 Jerusalem, the holy city. 

The uncircumcised and defiled 

 will not enter you again. 

2Shake off your dust; 

 rise up, sit enthroned, Jerusalem. 

Free yourself from the chains on your neck, 

 Daughter Zion, now a captive. 

3For this is what the LORD says:

“You were sold for nothing, 

 and without money you will be redeemed.” 

4For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: 

“At first my people went down to Egypt to live; 

 lately, Assyria has oppressed them. 

5“And now what do I have here?” declares the LORD. 

“For my people have been taken away for nothing, 

 and those who rule them mock,[a]” 

declares the LORD. 

“And all day long 

 my name is constantly blasphemed. 

6 Therefore my people will know my name; 

 therefore in that day they will know 

that it is I who foretold it. 

 Yes, it is I.” 

PSALM 84, page 96 

Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Encourage each other with the hope of saints triumphant so that there is neither ignorance nor hopeless  grief, but rather faithful, expectant watching for the triumph we know is coming. 

13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in  death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we  believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus  those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we  who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede  those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a  loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the  dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught  up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with  the Lord for-ever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple.  Alleluia.  

(Sing) Alleluia.....page 40 

GOSPEL: Matthew 25:1-13 

Jesus’ parable of the Ten Virgins calls for the waiting Church to be the watchful Church. Keep watch for  you do not know the day or the hour! 

251“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and  went out to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The 

foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones,  however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in  coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s  the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’7 Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their  lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going  out.’ 9‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to  those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 But while they were on their way to  buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the  wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they  said, ‘open the door for us!’ 12 But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 13 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. 

HYMN 206 

SERMON: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 

Don’t Be Uninformed About Death & The Resurrection 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

HYMN 728 

Liturgy continues on pages 43,44 

HYMN 551 (1,2,4,6) 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and  around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this  offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway. 

➢ THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP  

- 2 pm Wednesday, November 22 

➢ CHURCH TREE TRIM  

– after church next Sunday 

➢ ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE  

– Noon-2 pm Saturday, December 2

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Pastor Dennis J. Himm 

• Organist Kay Himm

Service of Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

November 12, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

  Telephone: 810-252-5821  

November 12, 2023

Last Judgment Lord, keep us mindful of the Last Day. May the LORD, who will come to judge  

the living and the dead, bless your worship. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 29 – please stand for last stanza. 

SERVICE OF THE WORD - page 38 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Lord God Almighty, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that  we may always look forward to the end of this present evil age and to the day of your  righteous judgment. Keep us steadfast in true and living faith and present us at last holy  and blameless before you; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and  reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Daniel 7:9,10 

Daniel sees a vision of the Last Judgment that is filled with thrones and fire and books. 

9 As I looked, thrones were set in place, 

 and the Ancient of Days took his seat. 

His clothing was as white as snow; 

 the hair of his head was white like wool. 

His throne was flaming with fire, 

 and its wheels were all ablaze. 

10A river of fire was flowing, 

 coming out from before him. 

Thousands upon thousands attended him; 

 ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.

The court was seated, 

 and the books were opened. 

PSALM 16, page 68 

I will walk in the presence of the LORD, in the land of the living. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 

Being mindful of the judgment means living according to God’s Word, not according to what the world  says. 

51 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2for  you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While  people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor  pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are  not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of  the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6So  then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7For those  who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we  belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope  of salvation as a helmet. 9For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive  salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake  or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build  each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Watch, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Alleluia.  (Sing) Alleluia.....page 40 

GOSPEL: Matthew 25:31-46 

The Son of Man will sit on his throne, and all the nations will be brought before him to be judged. In this  judgment, you are either a sheep or a goat—there is no third option. 

31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on  his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will  separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the  goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 Then the King will  say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your  inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was  hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to  drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I  was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37 Then the  righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty  and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in,  or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to 

visit you? ’40 The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least  of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41 Then he will say to those on his  left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil  and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you  gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed  clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after  me.’ 44 They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger  or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45 He will reply, ‘Truly I  tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46 Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” 

HYMN 208 

SERMON: Daniel 7:9,10 

Thrones, Fire, & Books 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

HYMN 306 

Liturgy continues on pages 43,44 

HYMN 240 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and  around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this  offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway. 

THANKSGIVING EVE WORSHIP: This year we will gather at 2 pm on  Wednesday, November 22, to give thanks to the LORD. Please invite family and friends to  this service of thanks and celebration. 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Pastor Dennis J. Himm 

• Organist Nancy Skory

Service of Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

November 5, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

  Telephone: 810-252-5821  

November 5, 2023 Pentecost 23 God calls us to be holy. 

May the holy LORD God bless your worship 

and encourage you with his Word and Sacrament. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 195 – please stand for last stanza 

COMMON SERVICE - page 15 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Merciful and gracious Lord, you cause your Word to be proclaimed in every generation. Stir up our  hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit that we may receive this proclamation with humility and finally  be exalted at the coming of your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the  Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Leviticus 19:1,2,15-18 

God expects his people to be holy and to do his will perfectly. 

1 The LORD said to Moses, 2“Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because  I, the LORD your God, am holy. 

15 ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your  neighbor fairly. 16 Do not go about spreading slander among your people Do not do anything that  endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the LORD.17 Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke  your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. 18 Do not seek revenge or bear a  grudge against anyone among your people but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.’” 

PSALM 90, page 99 

In every age O LORD, you have been our refuge. 

SECOND LESSON: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 

Be imitators of fellow Christians as they imitate the Lord as you serve the living and true God. 

4For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came  to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You 

know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you  welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so  you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s mes-sage rang out from  you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore, 

we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave  us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his  Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.  Alleluia. 

(Sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40  

The LORD gave 10 Commandments. Which one is the most important? 

34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert  in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your  mind.’38 This is the first and greatest command-ment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor  as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 

NICENE CREED – pages 18, 19 

HYMN 497 

SERMON: 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 

Be a Model Christian: Imitate - Serve - Wait 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

COMMUNION LITURGY – pages 21-23 

DISTRIBUTION 

SONG OF SIMEON – pages 24 

PRAYER – page 25 

BLESSING  

 (Sing) Amen. Amen. Amen. 

HYMN 584 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the  world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports  our church’s ministry. 

Guests, please sign our Guest Book in the entryway. 

THANK YOU to all of you who helped distribute candy and items this past Tuesday for Trick or-Treat.  

FALL FEST FELLOWSHIP EVENT IN HART 

Our Savior Lutheran Church in Hart invites you to join them for their Fall Potluck and Silent  Auction. It will be on Saturday, November 11th, at 5:00pm. Supper starts around 5:30. The auction of the white elephant items will benefit Our Savior’s Women’s Circle.  

It’s an evening of good fellowship and food. You do not need to bring any dish to pass. If you’d like  to anyway, you certainly may, but you do not need to bring anything. The church in Hart would  just like to enjoy your company. All are welcome! 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Pastor Dennis Himm 

• Organist Nancy Skory

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

Reformation Sunday 10/29/2023

Festival of the  Lutheran Reformation 

This is the motto of the Lutheran Reformation, a confident expression of the enduring power  and authority of God’s Word. It first appeared in the court of Frederick the Wise in 1522. It  became the official motto of the Smalcald League and was used on flags, banners, swords, and  uniforms as a symbol of the unity of the Lutherans who struggled to defend their beliefs,  communities, families, and lives against those who were intent on destroying them. 

St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church 

313 Fourth Street, Michigan 48439 

www.StPaulsManistee.com facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

Pastor Dennis J. Himm (810) 252-5821 

THEME: It is the gospel of Jesus Christ that brings true freedom. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 201 “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” 

A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon; 

He helps us free from ev'ry need That has us now o'ertaken. 

The old evil foe Now means deadly woe; 

Deep guile and great might Are his dread arms in fight; 

On earth is not his equal. 

With might of ours can naught be done; Soon were our loss effected. 

But for us fights the valiant one Whom God himself elected. 

You ask, "Who is this?" Jesus Christ it is, 

The almighty Lord. And there's no other God; 

He holds the field forever. 

Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, 

We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow'r us. 

This world's prince may still Scowl fierce as he will, 

He can harm us none. He's judged; the deed is done! 

One little word can fell him. 

Please stand 

The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it; 

He's by our side upon the plain With his good gifts and Spirit. 

And do what they will – Hate, steal, hurt, or kill – 

Though all may be gone, Our victory is won; 

The kingdom's ours forever! 

CALL TO WORSHIP 

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 

C: Amen. 

M: Brothers and sisters in Christ, once again today God assures us his love and forgiveness through the gospel. He  empowers us to be his people and equips us to share his precious gospel of forgiveness with all people. C: We are not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of  everyone who believes.  

HYMN & RESPONSE (based on Ephesians 2:1-10) 

God rest you merry Christians all, Let nothing you dismay, 

Rejoicing in our heritage this Reformation Day. 

By grace we’re saved through faith in Christ; 

There is no other way! 

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy…. 

M:1You were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked when you followed the ways of this  present world. You were following the ruler of the domain of the air, the spirit now at work in the people who  disobey.3Formerly, we all lived among them in the passions of our sinful flesh, as we carried out the desires of  the sinful flesh and its thoughts. Like all the others, we were by nature objects of God’s wrath. 

From God’s good Word our hearts have heard  

A lesson to be learned, 

Committed to our memory, and on our conscience burned: 

Salvation is a gift of God, not merited or earned. 

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy…. 

M: 4But God, because he is rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 made us alive with  Christ even when we were dead in trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! 6He also raised us up with  Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. 7He did this so that, in the coming ages, he  might demonstrate the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 

From God, our gracious Father, redemption’s light has shone: 

Upon the cross our Savior died God’s children to atone. 

By grace we’re saved through faith in Christ– 

by grace, through faith alone. 

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy….

M:8Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good  works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them. 

Our hope for everlasting life in Jesus Christ we place, 

By whom our eyes are blessed to see our loving Father’s face. 

Rejoice, believers, that you all are justified by grace. 

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy…. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY 

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

C: Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Jeremiah 31:31-34 

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

VERSE OF THE DAY 

M: Alleluia. If you continue in my Word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will  make you free. Alleluia. 

God's Word is our great heritage And shall be ours forever;  

To spread its light from age to age Shall be our chief endeavor.  

Through life it guides our way; In death it is our stay.  

Lord, grant, while worlds endure, We keep its teachings pure  

Throughout all generations. 

GOSPEL: John 8:31-36 

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you remain in my word, you are really my  disciples. 32 You will also know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”33 “We are Abraham’s  descendants,” they answered, “and we have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say, ‘You will be  set free’?”34 Jesus answered, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Everyone who keeps committing sin is a slave to  sin. 35 But a slave does not remain in the family forever. A son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son sets  you free, you really will be free. 

HYMN 390 (1-5) ”Salvation unto Us has Come” 

SERMON: Romans 3:19-28 

19 Now we know that whatever the law says is addressed to those who are under the law, so that every  mouth will be silenced and the whole world will be subject to God’s judgment. 20 For this reason, no one will be declared righteous in his sight by works of the law, for through the law we become aware of sin. 21 But now, completely apart from the law, a righteousness from God has been made known. The Law and 

the Prophets testify to it. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and  over all who believe. In fact, there is no difference, 23 because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of  God 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God  publicly displayed as the atonement seat through faith in his blood. God did this to demonstrate his  justice, since, in his divine restraint, he had left the sins that were committed earlier unpunished. 26 He did  this to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so that he would be both just and the one who  justifies the person who has faith in Jesus.27What happens to boasting then? It has been eliminated. By  what principle—by the principle of works? No, but by the principle of faith. 28 For we conclude that a  person is justified by faith without the works of the law. 

The Gospel Brings True Freedom. 

CONFESSION OF FAITH - From Luther’s Small Catechism 

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

PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH – with responsive hymn verses  

M: Eternal Father, gracious Lord, you responded to the first sin by promising to free mankind from slavery to Satan.  Throughout history you preserved a remnant of faithful people who opposed Satan’s work and trusted in the  promised Messiah. You used your servant Martin Luther to restore the pure preaching of the gospel of salvation  by grace alone through faith in Jesus Christ. You mercifully guided our Wisconsin Synod to proclaim your saving  truth in the face of false doctrine and physical hardship. Now graciously defend us from heresy, from pride, and  from fear. Oppose those who would remove Christ from his throne as Ruler over your Church and your world. 

C: (sing) Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word; 

Curb those who by deceit or sword 

Would seek to overthrow your Son 

And to destroy what he has done. 

M: Dearest Jesus, God from eternity, when you entered this world to become one of us, you humbled yourself to live  under law and to die an accursed death as the Substitute for every sinner. You crushed the power of Satan  forever and by your resurrection gave proof that we too shall rise from the sleep of death. Now, as our ascended  Lord, you rule over all things. Graciously put an end to wars, inequity and injustice which hinder your kingdom's  advance. Shelter us, your chosen brothers and sisters, as we fulfill our priestly duties of worship and praise.  According to your gracious promise give us life like yours that we may adore you forever. 

C: (sing) Lord Jesus Christ, your power make known, 

For you are Lord of lords alone; 

Defend your Christendom that we 

May sing your praise eternally. 

M: Holy Spirit, divine Counselor, at Pentecost you filled the disciples' hearts with courage and their tongues with a  message of repentance and faith, a message of forgiveness and hope. Fill people everywhere with the knowledge  of the truth. Mercifully lead us ever to repent of our sins and to cling to Jesus as our only Savior. Grant your  people to be of one mind, and unite them in their confession of the truth you have revealed. Bless all our  attempts to express this fellowship on earth in love, forgiveness and encouragement. Be with all who are ill, 

lonely or grieving. Especially when our hearts are troubled or when our remaining days are few, remind us of  your Baptismal promise, the gracious water of life that granted us a second birth for eternity.  

C: (sing) O Comforter of priceless worth,  

Send peace and unity on earth. 

Support us in our final strife,  

And lead us out of death to life. 

M: Lord God, our hearts are moved to endless praise as we review hundreds of years of your love. You gave ministers  as gifts to your Church. You sent reformers and men of vision to call your people closer to you. For 172 years you  have blessed our synod through your Word and Sacraments. Be with the leaders of our church--synod, district,  congregations, and schools--and with all its members, so that we diligently proclaim the Gospel of truth. Keep us  faithful to the teaching of Holy Scripture, as stated in the Lutheran Confessions, that all who walk together in our  synodical flock may confess with Luther:  

C: (spoken) The kingdom’s ours forever! 

LORD’S PRAYER 

BENEDICTION 

M: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: Amen. (spoken) 

HYMN “In Christ Alone” 

In Christ alone my hope is found; 

He is my light, my strength, my song; 

This cornerstone, this solid ground, 

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm. 

What heights of love, what depths of peace, 

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease! 

My comforter, my all in all— 

Here in the love of Christ I stand. 

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh, 

Fullness of God in helpless babe! 

This gift of love and righteousness, 

Scorned by the ones He came to save. 

Till on that cross as Jesus died, 

The wrath of God was satisfied; 

For ev'ry sin on Him was laid— 

Here in the death of Christ I live. 

There in the ground His body lay, 

Light of the world by darkness slain; 

Then bursting forth in glorious day, 

Up from the grave He rose again! 

And as He stands in victory, 

Sin's curse has lost its grip on me; 

For I am His and He is mine— 

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death— 

This is the pow'r of Christ in me; 

From life's first cry to final breath, 

Jesus commands my destiny. 

No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man, 

Can ever pluck me from His hand; 

Till He returns or calls me home— 

Here in the pow'r of Christ I'll stand. 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around  the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which  supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway. 

INVITE AND SERVE: Please share the invite that St. Paul’s will be handing out treats this Tuesday  from 6-8 pm for all Trick-or-Treaters. Come meet the people of our community and share some  treats with them. 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Pastor Dennis J. Himm 

• Organist Kay Himm 

REFORMATION: Lutherans celebrate October 31 as the Reformation for it was on October 31,  1517, when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses (statements) on the door of the Castle Church in  Wittenberg, Germany, opposing the sale and use of indulgences (the purchasing of forgiveness of  sins).

October 22, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

  Telephone: 810-252-5821  

October 22, 2023 Pentecost 21 

We are citizens of two kingdoms. Honor and serve both. 

May the LORD, who rules all things, bless your worship. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 580 – please stand for last stanza 

SERVICE OF THE WORD - page 38 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

O Lord our God, so govern the nations on earth and direct the affairs of this world that  your church may worship you in peace and joy; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,  who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Daniel 1:3-21 

Although in a foreign heathen country, Daniel and others lived their faith and served the government  faithfully. 

3 Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s  service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— 4young men without  any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed,  quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the  language and literature of the Babylonians. 5 The king assigned them a daily amount of food  and wine from the king’s table. They were to be trained for three years, and after that  they were to enter the king’s service. 6Among those who were chosen were some from  Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 7 The chief official gave them new names: to  Daniel, the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to  Azariah, Abednego. 8 But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and  wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. 9 Now  God had caused the official to show favor and compassion to Daniel, 10 but the official told  Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned yourfood and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have  my head because of you.”11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had  appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, 12 “Please test your servants for  ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then compare our  appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants  in accordance with what you see.” 14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten  days.15At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of  the young men who ate the royal food. 16 So the guard took away their choice food and  the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead. 17 To these four young  men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And  Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18At the end of the time set by  the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to  Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel,  Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of  wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten  times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom. 21 And Daniel  remained there until the first year of King Cyrus. 

PSALM 96, page 102 

Sing to the LORD a new song. 

SECOND LESSON: Romans 13:1-7 

The LORD God who established government for our benefit tells us how we can honor it and those who  serve in it. 

1Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except  that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God  has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3For rulers hold  no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free  from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4For  the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for  rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to  bring punishment on the wrong-doer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the  authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. 

6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full  time to governing. 7 Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if  revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. In Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power  and authority. Alleluia.  

(Sing) Alleluia.....page 40 

GOSPEL: Matthew 22:15-22 

Taxes may not be popular, but the child of God gives to “Caesar the things that are Caesar’s”.

15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their  disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a  man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You  aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then,  what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus,  knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show  me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” 21 “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said  to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” 22When  they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. 

HYMN 617 

SERMON: Matthew 22:15-22 

A Taxing Question 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

HYMN 620 

Liturgy continues on pages 43,44 

HYMN 484 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and  around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this  offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway. 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Pastor Dennis J. Himm 

• Organist Nancy Skory

October 15, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

  Telephone: 810-252-5821  

October 15, 2023 Pentecost 20 Our God patiently seeks fruit. 

May the LORD, who is long-suffering, bless your worship. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 234 – please stand for last stanza 

SERVICE OF THE WORD - page 38 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty God, in your bountiful goodness keep us safe from every evil of body and  soul. Make us ready, with cheerful hearts, to do whatever pleases you; through Jesus  Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one  God, now and forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 5:1-7 

Let us never receive God’s grace in vain, but pray that we might produce the fruits that our beloved seeks. 

1Let me sing for my loved one a song about my loved one’s vineyard. My loved one  had a vineyard on a fertile ridge.2 He dug it up and gathered the stones out of it. He  planted it with the best vines. He built a tower in the middle of it. He also cut a  winepress into it. He expected it to produce clusters of sweet grapes, but it produced  only sour grapes. 3So now, you residents of Jerusalem and you men of Judah, judge  between me and my vineyard. 4 What more could have been done for my vineyard 

that I have not already done for it? When I expected it to produce clusters of sweet  grapes, why did it produce sour grapes? 5 Now, let me tell you what I will do to my  vineyard. I will take away its hedge, and it will become a pasture. I will break down its  wall, and it will be trampled down. 6I will make it a wasteland. It will not be pruned or  hoed. So briers and thorns will shoot up. I will also command the clouds not to pour  rain on it. 7 Yes, the vineyard of the LORD of Armies is the house of Israel, and the 

men of Judah are the planting that was pleasing to him. He expected justice, but instead  there was oppression. He expected righteousness, but there was an outcry. 

PSALM 103, page 105 

I will hear what the LORD proclaims: peace to his people. 

SECOND LESSON: Philippians 3:12-21 

God has given us the kingdom of heaven by faith. We are the people he promised would produce its  fruits. So let us do exactly that. 

12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal, but I press  on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus also took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do  not consider myself to have taken hold of it yet, but there is one thing I do: Forgetting  the things that are behind and straining toward the things that are ahead, 14 I press on  toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore,  let all of us who are mature continue to think this way. And if you think differently  about anything, God will reveal this to you too. 16 Only let us think the same thing and walk in line with what we already have attained. 17 Brothers, join together in imitating  me and in paying attention to those who are walking according to the pattern we gave  you.18 To be sure, many walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. I told you about them  often, and now I am saying it while weeping. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is  their appetite, and their glory is in their shame. They are thinking only about earthly  things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven. We are eagerly waiting for a Savior from  there, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 By the power that enables him to subject all things to  himself, he will transform our humble bodies to be like his glorious body. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. I will proclaim your name to my people; in the midst of the congregation I  will praise you. Alleluia.  

(Sing) Alleluia.....page 40 

GOSPEL: Matthew 21:33-43 

In the Parable of the wicked tenants Jesus highlights the patience of our God as he seeks fruits of faith.  Could God have done anything more for Israel? 

33 “Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a  fence around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a watchtower. He leased it out to some  tenant farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the time approached to harvest  the fruit, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. 35 The tenant farmers  seized his servants. They beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then the  landowner sent even more servants than the first time. The tenant farmers treated  them the same way. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he  said. 38 But when the tenant farmers saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the  heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance!’ 39 They took him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 So when the landowner comes, what will he do to those  tenant farmers?” 41 They told him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end.  Then he will lease out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his fruit when  it is due.” 42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone the  builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing, and it is 

marvelous in our eyes?43 “That is why I tell you the kingdom of God will be taken  away from you and given to a people that produces its fruit. 

HYMN 125 

SERMON: Matthew 21:33-43 

How Do You Treat the Son? 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

HYMN 486  

Liturgy continues on pages 43,44 

HYMN 355 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area  and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in  this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign the Guest Book in the entryway. 

VOTERS’ MEETING today after refreshments. 

THANK YOU to all the ladies who cleaned the parsonage this past week. 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Pastor Dennis J. Himm 

• Organist Nancy Skory

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

October 8, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

  Telephone: 231-299-1022   

October 8, 2023 Pentecost 19 Our God wants real repentance that leads to true obedience. 

May the LORD’s full and free forgiveness produce joy & peace. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 304 (1-5) – please stand for last stanza 

COMMON SERVICE - page 15 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Mercifully grant, O God, that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our  hearts, for without your help we are unable to please you; through Jesus Christ, your  Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and  forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32  

Ezekiel brings a strong warning for Christians who grow lax in their faith or dismissive of their sin. Repent  and live! 

1“The word of the LORD came to me: 2“What do you people mean by quoting this  proverb about the land of Israel: ‘The parents eat sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are  set on edge’? 3“As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, you will no longer  quote this proverb in Israel. 4For everyone belongs to me, the parent as well as the  child—both alike belong to me. The one who sins is the one who will die…. 25 “Yet  you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear, you Israelites: Is my way unjust? Is it  not your ways that are unjust? 26 If a righteous person turns from their righteousness  and commits sin, they will die for it; because of the sin they have committed they will  die. 27 But if a wicked person turns away from the wickedness they have committed  and does what is just and right, they will save their life. 28 Because they consider all the  offenses they have committed and turn away from them, that person will surely live; 

they will not die. 29 Yet the Israelites say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Are my  ways unjust, people of Israel? Is it not your ways that are unjust? 30 “Therefore, you  Israelites, I will judge each of you according to your own ways, declares the  Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your  downfall. 31 Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new  heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, people of Israel? 32 For I take no pleasure in  the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live! 

PSALM 25, page 74 

We lift up our souls and trust in the LORD God. 

SECOND LESSON: Philippians 2:1-11 

Paul quotes a hymn of humiliation and exultation as a model to shape our attitudes. 

1 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any  comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and  compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love,  being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain  conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4not looking to your own  interests but each of you to the interests of the others. 5In 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; 

7rather, 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. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, and every tongue confess that  Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Alleluia.  

(Sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32 

True obedience, however, in not merely saying what God wants to hear, but doing what God wants done. 

28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and  said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard. 29 ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he  changed his mind and went. 30 Then the father went to the other son and said the same  thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 Which of the two did what his  father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the  tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of  you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not 

believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw  this, you did not repent and believe him. 

HYMN 306 

SERMON: Galatians 2:11-16 

Spiritual Insincerity or Honesty 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 19 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER 

HYMN 458 

PRAYER - page 25 

HYMN 394 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this  area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to  participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign our Guest Book in the entryway. 

VOTERS’ MEETING next Sunday after worship. 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

• Pastor John Eich – Circuit Pastor from Good Shepherd, Alma 

• Organist: Nancy Skory

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

October 1, 2023

                             St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

  Telephone: 231-299-1022                            

 October 1, 2023                                                                   Pentecost 18 

Our God is inconceivably gracious.

May the LORD, the gracious God, bless your worship.

WELCOME

HYMN 339 – please stand for last stanza

SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT - page 26

PRAYER OF THE DAY: 

Lord God, you call us to work in your kingdom and leave no one standing idle. Help us to order our lives by your wisdom and to serve you in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 55:6-9

God’s plan to forgive and save sinners by grace soars above all that we could conceive or imagine.

6 Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

PSALM 27 - page 75

The LORD is my light and my salvation. I will not fear.

SECOND LESSON: Philippians 1:18-27

Paul’s confident words remind us that because of God’s inconceivable grace, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.  20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me. 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel.

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Alleluia. 

(Sing) Alleluia.....page 30

Gospel: Matthew 20:1-16

This parable carries both warning and promise for us—a warning that all comparisons based on merit or work do not belong in God’s kingdom; a promise that our relationship with God is based solely on grace which he lavishes in abundance.

1 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire workers for his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.3 About nine in the morning he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went. He went out again about noon and about three in the afternoon and did the same thing. 6 About five in the afternoon he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’ 9 The workers who were hired about five in the afternoon came and each received a denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the land-owner. 12 ‘These who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous? 16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

HYMN 338

SERMON: Isaiah 55:6-9    Something Worth Seeking

NICENE’ CREED - page 31

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 33-35

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION 

St. Paul’s practice the Biblical teaching of Close Communion.  Members of St. Paul’s and other WELS congregations are invited to receive the Lord’s body and blood together with the bread and wine.

THANK THE LORD & PRAYER - pages 36

BLESSING pages 37

(sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.

HYMN 316

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. 

Guests, please sign our Guest Book in the entryway.

CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING will take place after worship today.  If you have anything you would like the Council to discuss please talk to Harold Rhodea, Russ Wrzesinski, or Jerry Wright.

SERVING YOU TODAY: 

• Pastor Dennis Himm

• Organist Nancy Skory

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

September 17, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

 September 17, 2023                                 Pentecost 16 

The Church fulfills her role as her brother’s keeper.

May the LORD, the God of love and mercy, bless your worship.

WELCOME

HYMN 521 – please stand for last stanza

COMMON SERVICE - page 15

PRAYER OF THE DAY: 

Let your continual mercy, O Lord, cleanse and defend your Church; and because it cannot continue in safety without your help, protect and govern it always by your goodness; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

  (Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Ezekiel 33:7-11 

We are a watchman for our brother. If we fail to do the job God has assigned us, God will hold us accountable.

7 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved. 10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

PSALM 51a, page 86

May David’s sincere prayer of confession also be ours.

SECOND LESSON: Galatians 2:11–16

Being your brother’s keeper will lead at times to uncomfortable situations or even confrontations.

11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray. 14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, “You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs? 15 “We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[a] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Alleluia. 

(Sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 

Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20

“Matthew 18” has become shorthand for Christian church discipline. The motivation is always love with the goal being repentance.

15 “If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.18 “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. 19 “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”

HYMN 405 

SERMON: Galatians 2:11-16

THE CHURCH THAT GOD BUILDS

– is willing to say the hard things

Sermon written by Circuit Pastor John Eich

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 19

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER

HYMN 303 

PRAYER - page 25

HYMN 493

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. 

Guests, please sign our Guest Book in the entryway.

SUNDAY SCHOOL has resumed for the school year. Please encourage parents and invite children to take advantage of this great opportunity.  It is held before worship at 9 am – the same time as Adult Bible Class

SERVING YOU TODAY: 

• Adult Bible Class: Danny Wrzesinski 

• Sunday School: Jesse Keson

• Worship Leader: Russ Wrzesinski 

• Organist: Nancy Skory

• Sermon written by Circuit Pastor John Eich – 

read by Danny Wrzesinski

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

September 3, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

September 3, 2023                                                                           Pentecost 14 

The Church will stand forever.

May the LORD, “I AM who I AM, bless your worship.

WELCOME

HYMN 238 – please stand for last stanza

SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT - page 26

PRAYER OF THE DAY: 

Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Exodus 6:2-8

The LORD identifies himself as “I AM who I AM.” meaning that he is the living God who will preserve his Church forever.

2 God also said to Moses, “I am the Lord. 3 I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my name the Lord I did not make myself fully known to them.

4 I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, where they resided as foreign-ers 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6 “Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8 And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the Lord.’”

PSALM 31 - page 77

The LORD is our refuge and fortress. 

SECOND LESSON: Romans 11:33-36

Paul records a great doxology fit for our Redeemer God.

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia. 

(Sing) Alleluia.....page 30

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20

Who do people say the Son of Man is? That question is as applicable today as it was in Matthew’s Gospel. 

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

HYMN 76

SERMON: Matthew 15:21-28  

Who Is Jesus?

NICENE’ CREED - page 31

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 33-35

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION 

THANK THE LORD & PRAYER - pages 36

BLESSING pages 37

(sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.

HYMN 528

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. 

Guests, please sign our Guest Book in the entryway.

NO SERVICE AT ST. PAUL’S

NEXT SUNDAY

• NEXT SUNDAY we will travel to Our Savior Ev. Lutheran Church in Hart to join them for their Mission Festival.  Worship is at 10:30 am with a potluck to follow.  Please bring a dish to pass.   All are welcome!

Our Savior Ev. Lutheran Church

2087 N Water Rd
Hart, MI 49420

SERVING YOU TODAY: 

• Pastor Em. Dennis Himm

• Organist Nancy Skory

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved.

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission.

St Paul’s  Evangelical Lutheran Church 

 313 4th Street

Manistee, MI 49660 

website: StPaulsManistee.com 

 facebook.com/SPLCManistee 

 phone: 231-299-1022 

September 3, 2023 Pentecost 14 The Church will stand forever. 

May the LORD, “I AM who I AM, bless your worship. 

WELCOME 

HYMN 238 – please stand for last stanza 

SERVICE OF WORD & SACRAMENT - page 26 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us  love what you command; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,  now and forever. 

(Sing) Amen. 

FIRST LESSON: Exodus 6:2-8 

The LORD identifies himself as “I AM who I AM.” meaning that he is the living God who will preserve his Church forever. 

2 God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD.3I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by my  name the LORD I did not make myself fully known to them.4I also established my covenant with them to give them the land of  Canaan, where they resided as foreign-ers 5 Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are  enslaving, and I have remembered my covenant. 6“Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from  under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and  with mighty acts of judgment. 7I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am  the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. 8And I will bring you to the land I swore with uplifted hand to give to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD.’” 

PSALM 31 - page 77 

The LORD is our refuge and fortress.  

SECOND LESSON: Romans 11:33-36 

Paul records a great doxology fit for our Redeemer God. 

33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond  tracing out! 34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”35 “Who has ever given to God, that  God should repay them?” 36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia.  (Sing) Alleluia.....page 30 

Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20 

Who do people say the Son of Man is? That question is as applicable today as it was in Matthew’s Gospel.  

13When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 “But what  about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in  heaven. 18 And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome  it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you  loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. 

HYMN 76 

SERMON: Matthew 15:21-28  

Who Is Jesus? 

NICENE’ CREED - page 31 

PRAYERS & LORD’S PRAYER

COMMUNION LITURGY - pages 33-35 

COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION 

THANK THE LORD & PRAYER - pages 36 

BLESSING pages 37 

(sung) Amen. Amen. Amen. 

HYMN 528 

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS 

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR 

The members of St Paul's have joined together to do the Lord’s work in this area and around the world. Our guests may but are  not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.  

Guests, please sign our Guest Book in the entryway. 

NO SERVICE AT ST. PAUL’SNEXT SUNDAY 

➢ NEXT SUNDAY we will travel to Our Savior Ev. Lutheran Church in Hart to join them for their Mission  Festival. Worship is at 10:30 am with a potluck to follow. Please bring a dish to pass. All are welcome! 

Our Savior Ev. Lutheran Church 

2087 N Water Rd 

Hart, MI 49420 

SERVING YOU TODAY:  

➢ Pastor Em. Dennis Himm 

➢ Organist Nancy Skory

Service of the Word © 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. All rights reserved. 

All Scripture readings are from the NIV 2011. Used by permission

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