St Paul’s
Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th Street, Manistee, MI 49660
www.StPaulsManistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Pastor Dennis Himm (810) 252-5821
October 13, 2024
20th Sunday after Pentecost
The End of the World Highlights the Importance of Forgiveness
WELCOME
HYMN 383 "Blessed Are They, Forever Blest"
(Please stand for the last stanza)
SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44
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. (Sung) Amen.
FIRST LESSON: Genesis 28:10-17
The account of Jacob’s ladder
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
P: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
SECOND LESSON: Ephesians 4:17-28
Paul urges us to put off the sinful flesh and put on the new-self found in Christ’s forgiveness
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed. 20 That, however, is not the way of life you learned 21 when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 28 Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need.
P: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
VERSE OF THE DAY:
Alleluia. I will proclaim your name to my people; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you. Alleluia.
(Sung) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
These words are written that we may believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
GOSPEL: Matthew 9:1-8
Jesus forgives the paralytic and shows his divine authority to by healing him
1Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2Some men brought to him a paralyzed man, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: (sung) Praise be to you, O Christ!
HYMN 235 "Praise the Almighty; My Soul, Adore Him"
SERMON: Matthew 9:1-8
The Surprising Comfort of God's Forgiveness
APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41
PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional)
HYMN 391 "God Loved the World so that He Gave"
PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen.
BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.
HYMN 332 "Go, My Children, with My Blessing"
ANNOUNCEMENTS & REFRESHMENTS
THANKOFFERING BASKET BY DOOR
The members of St Paul's & the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) have joined together to do the Lord’s work here and around the world. Our guests may but are not expected to participate in this offering which supports our church’s ministry. The basket is located next to the water dispenser.
PLEASE SIGN OUR GUEST BOOK IF YOU ARE VISITING.
It’s located in the entryway by the stairs going to the basement.
SERVING US TODAY is Rev. Joshua Becker from Christ Lutheran Church in Shields (near Saginaw). He and Erin are here with their five children: Julia (16), Lydia (15), John (13), Anna (10), and Claudia (8). Pastor Becker enjoys woodworking, family hikes, and games. He also serves as chairman of our Northern Conference Steering Committee. Thank you for serving us and blessings on your family and ministry.
VOTERS MEETING will be held next Sunday after worship.
TRICK OR TREAT – St Paul’s will be distributing candy and other items on Thursday, October 31 to those in our community. Come lend a helping hand, or stop by if you are out with your children or grandchildren.