Leading us in worship and study today is Pastor Garrett Alford from Winona MN . He serves Goodview Trinity Lutheran Church which has 389 members. Welcome Pastor Alford and family !
St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church
313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901
website: stpaulsmanistee.com
facebook.com/SPLCManistee
Telephone: 231-299-1022
Pentecost 13 - Sept 4, 2022
Sunday Theme: – The Word Divides
Prayer Before Worship Lord, thank You for Your Word. Please help me to be subject to it rather than to insert my opinions in it.
Hymn 413 (Faithfulness to Word causes difficulty)
Service of Word and Sacrament, front of hymnal, page 26
Prayer: Almighty & merciful God,/ it is only by Your gift of grace that we come into Your presence/ & offer true & faithful service. Grant that our worship on earth may always be pleasing to You/ & in the life to come/ give us the fulfillment of what You have promised;/ 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 23:23-29
We should proclaim the Word faithfully in the face of opposition since God’s truth has the inherent power to crush false doctrine.
23 “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, “and not a God far away? 24 Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. 5 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds? 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces.
Hymn 746
Gospel: Luke 12: 49-53
The truth about Christ will cause divisions. This truth must be maintained & proclaimed at all costs.
49 “I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and what constraint I am under until it is completed! 51 Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division. 52 From now on there will be five in one family divided against each other, three against two and two against three. 53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”
Hymn 523 (Epistle)
Epistle: Hebrews 12:1-13 (Sermon Basis:1-3)
Hardship which we endure because of the Gospel is loving discipline from the heavenly Father.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined —and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. 12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
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.
Prayer of the Church, front of hymnal, page 32
Special prayers
Lord’s Prayer, bottom of page 32
Continue page 33 front of hymnal
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 someone after worship or during the week. We would be delighted to help you come to appreciate a “close” relationship with your Lord, with us and with our congregation
Hymn 504 during distribution
Continue page 36, front of hymnal
Hymn 420 (Epistle)