St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660

www.StPaulsManistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821

July 28, 2024 9th Sunday after Pentecost

JESUS MODELS A COMPASSIONATE

SHEPHERD’S HEART

WELCOME

HYMN 436 “Jesus, Shepherd of the Sheep”

(please stand for last stanza)

SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Grant us, Lord, the spirit to think and do what is right that we, who cannot do anything that is good without you, may by your help be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Spoken) Amen.

FIRST LESSON: Jeremiah 23:1-6

The LORD chastises spiritual shepherds for not bestowing care and compassion on their flock and promises to raise up good shepherds who would tend God’s people.

1“Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scatter-ing the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares the Lord. 3“I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number. 4I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares the Lord. 5“The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.6In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

PSALM 23 – page 72 (spoken responsively)

The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

SECOND LESSON: Hebrews 13:7,8,17-21

In the first reading, the Lord promised to raise up faithful shepherds. That promise is kept when the Lord provides spiritual leaders who point us to the great Shepherd.

7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever…. 17 Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. 18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon. 20 Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

P: The Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

VERSE OF THE DAY:

Alleluia. My Word will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve

the purpose for which I sent it. Alleluia.

GOSPEL: Mark 6:30-34

Jesus is filled with compassion for those who go through life like sheep without a shepherd.

30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33 But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.

P: The Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise be to you, O Christ!

HYMN 360 “The Lord’s My Shepherd; I’ll Not Want”

SERMON: Mark 6:30-34

The Good Shepherd for Good Reason

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional)

HYMN 375 “The King of Love My Shepherd Is”

PRAYER - page 43 C: (spoken) Amen.

BLESSING - page 44 C: (spoken) Amen.

HYMN 508 “Gracious Savior; Gentle Shepherd”

ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS

THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR

The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry.

PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING.

It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement.

TODAY’S GUEST PASTOR is Pastor Joshua Free. He and Joanna (Joey) have been married 15 years. Joey is a registered nurse. They have 3 children: Eloise (Ellie) (10); Olive (7); and Henry (4). Pastor Free served Abiding Peace in Elgin, IL from 2012-2022. Since then, he has been serving as one of three pastors at St. Paul’s in Livonia, MI. This is the 3rd summer for the Free family, who love every minute of their stay!

NEXT SUNDAY: Pastor Ian Headrick from St. Paul Ev. Lutheran Church in Mount Calvary, WI.

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