October 20, 2024

 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 20, 2024

21st Sunday after Pentecost

FOLLOWERS OF CHRIST MAINTAIN PROPER PRIORITIES 

WELCOME 

HYMN 477 “What Is the World to Me” (Stand for the last verse) 

SERVICE OF THE WORD - pages 38-44 

PRAYER OF THE DAY:  

Grant, O merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all  their sins and serve you with a quiet mind; 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: 2 Kings 5:14-27 

The prophet Elisha’s servant, Gehazi, prioritized riches over God. 

14 So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told  him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy. 15 Then Naaman  and all his attendants went back to the man of God. He stood before him and said, “Now I  know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your  servant.” 16 The prophet answered, “As surely as the LORD lives, whom I serve, I will not  accept a thing.” And even though Naaman urged him, he refused. 17 “If you will not,” said  Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much earth as a pair of mules can carry,  for your servant will never again make burnt offerings and sacrifices to any other god but  the LORD.18 But may the LORD forgive your servant for this one thing: When my master  enters the temple of Rimmon to bow down and he is leaning on my arm and I have to bow  there also—when I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant  for this.” 19 “Go in peace,” Elisha said. After Naaman had traveled some distance, 20 Gehazi,  the servant of Elisha the man of God, said to himself, “My master was too easy on Naaman,  this Aramean, by not accepting from him what he brought. As surely as the LORD lives, I will  run after him and get something from him.” 21 So Gehazi hurried after Naaman. When  Naaman saw him running toward him, he got down from the chariot to meet him. “Is  everything all right?” he asked. 22 “Everything is all right,” Gehazi answered. “My master sent  me to say, ‘Two young men from the company of the prophets have just come to me from  the hill country of Ephraim. Please give them a talent of silver and two sets of clothing.’” 23 “By all means, take two talents,” said Naaman. He urged Gehazi to accept them, and then tied up  the two talents of silver in two bags, with two sets of clothing. He gave them to two of his  servants, and they carried them ahead of Gehazi. 24When Gehazi came to the hill, he took  the things from the servants and put them away in the house. He sent the men away and they  left. 25When he went in and stood before his master, Elisha asked him, “Where have you  been, Gehazi?” “Your servant didn’t go anywhere,” Gehazi answered. 26 But Elisha said to him,  “Was not my spirit with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this  the time to take money or to accept clothes—or olive groves and vineyards, or flocks and  herds, or male and female slaves? 27 Naaman’s leprosy will cling to you and to your  descendants forever.” Then Gehazi went from Elisha’s presence and his skin was leprous—it  had become as white as snow. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

SECOND LESSON: Hebrews 4:12,13 

God’s Word is like a sword. It cuts through our pretentions and pride and exposes our true priorities. 

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it  penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and  attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is  uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 

P: The Word of the Lord. 

C: Thanks be to God. 

VERSE OF THE DAY: 

Alleluia. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation. 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: Mark 10:17-27 

Jesus helps a young man see a problem deeper than his failure to keep God’s law perfectly—that he  prioritized his wealth above the call to follow Christ. 

17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good  teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me  good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. 19 You know the  commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal,  you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’”  20 “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.” 21 Jesus looked at him and  loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the  poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22At this the man’s face  fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. 23 Jesus looked around and said to his  disciples, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 The disciples were  amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is  rich to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each  other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is  impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.” 

P: The Gospel of the Lord. 

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

HYMN 421 “All Depends on Our Possessing” 

SERMON: 2 Kings 5:14-27 

Paying the Price 

APOSTLES’ CREED - page 41 

PRAYER & LORD’S PRAYER (Traditional) 

HYMN 401 “Your Works, Not Mine, O Christ " 

PRAYER - page 43 C: (sung) Amen. 

BLESSING - page 44 C: (sung) Amen. Amen. Amen.  

HYMN 482 "Forgive Us, Lord" 

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. 

VOTERS’ MEETING – The Voters will meet after refreshments.