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

June 25, 2023

Leading us in worship and Bible study today is Brad Krause. He serves at Fox Valley Lutheran High School in Appleton, WI.

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 25, 2023 - Pentecost 4 Theme: The Father’s Love

Prayer Before Worship - Heavenly Father, thank You for freely giving me forgiveness, righteousness &  eternal life.  Help me to freely give those same gifts to the people in my life.

Hymn 576 ( Verses 1,5,6 = Gospel; verses 2 & 3 = Epistle) 

Service of Word, front of hymnal, page 38 

Prayer: O God,/ Protector of all the faithful,/ You alone make strong; You alone make holy.  Show us Your mercy/ & forgive our sins day by day.  Guide us through our earthly lives/ that we do not lose the things You have prepared for us in heaven;  through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with  You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen. 

Old Testament Lesson: Exodus 19:2-8

In love God rescued Israel from Egypt, carried them on eagles’ wings to Himself & set them apart for the purpose of bringing the Savior into the world.  God’s love motivates us to say: “We will do everything the Lord has said.” 

2 After they set out from Rephidim and came to the Wilderness of Sinai, they camped in the wilderness. Israel camped there in front of the mountain. 3 Moses went up to 

God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, “This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and to tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now if you will carefully listen to my voice and keep my covenant, then you will be my special treasure out of all the nations, although the entire earth is mine. 6 You will be my kingdom of priests and my holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.” 7 Moses went and summoned the elders of the people, and he set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 8 All the people answered together, “Everything that the Lord has said, we will do.” Moses brought back the people’s words to the Lord. 


Psalm 100, front of hymnal, page 104

In love God created us and called us to be His sheep.  So we praise Him.


Epistle: Romans 5:6-11

God in love reconciles to Himself the “powerless, ungodly, sinners, His enemies”(us).  He will also take us to enjoy eternity with Him.

6 For at the appointed time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 It is rare indeed that someone will die for a righteous person. Perhaps someone might actually go so far as to die for a person who has been good to him. 8 But God shows his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Therefore, since we have now been justified by his blood, it is even more certain that we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. 

10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God 

by the death of his Son, it is even more certain that, since we have been reconciled, we will be saved by his life. 11 And not only is this so, but we also go on rejoicing confidently in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received this reconciliation.


Verse: Alleluia!  May Your priests be clothed with righteousness; may Your saints sing for joy. Alleluia.  (Sing) Alleluia.....p 40 


Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:8

Jesus out of love for the crowds told His disciples to pray for workers.     Then He sent them out as the workers. 


35 Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were troubled and downcast, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Therefore pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into his harvest.”10 Jesus called his twelve disciples to himself and gave them authority to drive out unclean spirits and to heal every disease and every sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James the son of Zebedee and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. 5 Jesus sent these twelve out and commanded them, “Do not go among the Gentiles, and do not enter any 

town of the Samaritans. 6 Go instead to the lost sheep of the 

house of Israel. 7 As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near!’ 8 Heal the sick. Raise the dead. Cleanse lepers. Drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.


Hymn 578 (reflects the Gospel)


Sermon 


Apostles' Creed, front of hymnal, page 41


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, front of hymnal, page 42  

Special Prayers, Lord's Prayer


Hymn 573 (vs 1 reflects the Gospel)

Continue page 43 front of hymnal                 

Hymn 559 (Gospel)













June 18, 2023

Leading us in worship and Bible study today is Adam Zimpelmann. He is one of two pastors serving Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, WI.



St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 18, 2023- Pentecost 3 - God's Choice

Prayer Before Worship - Lord, thank You for showing me Your mercy by teaching me that I am a sinner and that You are my Savior.  Help me to show the same mercy to others by bringing them the Law and the Gospel 

Hymn 380 

Common Service, front of hymnal, page 15

Prayer: O God, the strength of all who trust in You,/ mercifully hear  our prayers.  Be gracious to us in our weakness/ & give us strength to keep Your commandments in all we say & do;/ through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with  You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever. (Sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Exodus 3:1-15

The LORD chose Moses to play a pivotal role in carrying out God's plan to have the Savior come from Abraham's descendants.  

  

 Now Moses was shepherding the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, a priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw that the bush was on fire, but the bush was not burning up. 3 So he said, “I will go over and look at this amazing sight—to find out why the bush is not burning up.” 4 When the Lord saw that Moses had gone over to take a look, God called to him from the middle of the bush and said, “Moses! Moses!” Moses said, “I am here.” 5 The Lord said, “Do not come any closer. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 6 He then said, “I am the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. 7 The Lord said, “I have certainly seen the misery of my people in Egypt, and I have heard their cry for help because of their slave drivers. Yes, I am aware of their suffering. 8 So I have come down to deliver them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. 9 Now indeed, the Israelites’ cry for help has come to me. Yes, I have seen how the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 Come now, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.” 11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” 12 So he said, “I will certainly be with you. This will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will serve God on this mountain.” 13 But Moses said to God, “If I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what should I say to them?” 14 So God replied to Moses, “I am who I am.”[b] He also said, “You will say this to the Israelites: I am has sent me to you.” 15 God also told Moses, “Say this to the Israelites: ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is how I am to be remembered from generation to generation.’

Psalm 119c,  front of hymnal, page 111 

 Those who rejoice in the Lord’s salvation find His Word to be welcome refreshment.  It gives life, fellowship, insight, protection, & guidance.


Epistle: Romans 4:18-25

God chose Abraham as the one from whom the Savior would come. God's promise: Abram would have a son.  Done.  God’s promise: In Christ people are credited with righteousness.  Done.  God’s promise: Jesus will rise from the dead. Done.  Our message to others: God’s promises are as good as done for them too.

Hoping beyond what he could expect, (Abraham) he believed that he would become the father of many nations, just as he was told: “This is how many your descendants will be.” 19 He did not weaken in faith, even though he considered his own body as good as dead (because he was about one hundred years old), and even though he considered Sarah’s womb to be dead. 20 He did not waver in unbelief with respect to God’s promise, but he grew strong in faith, giving glory to God 21 and being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.” 23 Now the statement “it was credited to him” was not written for him alone, 24 but also for us to whom it would be credited, namely, to us who believe in the one who raised our Lord Jesus from the dead. 25 He was handed over to death because of our trespasses and was raised to life because of our justification.


Apostles' Creed, pg 19

Hymn 304




Sermon Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

Jesus chose Matthew to follow Him


{9:9}  As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. {10} While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. {11} When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" {12} On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. {13} But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."


(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 sign the guest register


Prayer of the church, front of hymnal, page 127          

Special Prayer, Lord's Prayer pg 20

Hymn 460


Continue  front of hymnal, page 25                 

Hymn 552:1, 18, 3



June 11, 2023

Leading us in worship and Bible study today is Joel Krieger. He is one of three pastors serving St Marcus Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, WI.

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

 Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 11, 2023 Pentecost 2 - Righteousness from God


Prayer Before Worship - Lord, I want to be right with You.  Please forgive me for my failures to achieve that on my own.  Thank You for declaring me to be right with You because of Jesus.  Thank You for leading me here today to have my relationship with You strengthened through Word & Sacrament.  Without that happening on a regular basis I know I would drift away from You and lose my status of being right with You.  


Hymn 382 (Gospel)

Morning Praise, front of hymnal page 45

Hymn 334 replaces the “Oh Come Let us Sing....pg 46


Old Testament Lesson: Deuteronomy 11:18 - 21, 26-28

God commands us to make His Word the guiding principle in our lives. It is the  best inheritance we can give to our children because it is essential for spiritual  well being.  We can avoid God’s anger & enjoy God’s blessings by keeping His commands.  Only in Jesus can we be viewed by God as people who keep His commands. 

18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 20 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, 21 so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the land the LORD swore to give your ancestors, as many as the days that the heavens are above the earth. 26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the LORD your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the LORD your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.


Psalm 78, front of hymnal, page 95 

God’s Word tells His commands & His salvation.


Epistle: Romans 3:21-25, 27, 28

All break God’s Law & are condemned. God provides righteousness, takes away sin because of Jesus, &declares s just.  We are free to live for Him & with Him.  We are freed from the need to boast.

21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. 27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. 28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law.


Hymn 753


Gospel: Mark 10:27-37

 Humans could make themselves righteous before God if we could keep God's commandments.  Problem:  We can't.  Solution: God can declare us to be righteous before Him by applying the righteousness which Jesus lived as our Substitute. With God this is possible. 

17 As 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.” 22 At 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.”


Hymn  416   


Sermon: Gospel 


Hymn  386  (replaces pgs 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.  


Continue pg 50:  Lord, have mercy.....Lord's Prayer


Prayer of the day: O God,/ You rule over all things in wisdom & kindness.  Take    away everything that may be harmful/ & give us whatever is good; through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord,/ who lives & reigns with You & the Holy Spirit, one God, now & forever.  

Special prayers


Prayer of Thanksgiving: 65 years of marriage

Pastor Phil and Sue Kuckhahn

Congregational song:

1 O perfect Love, all human thought transcending,
lowly we kneel in prayer before thy throne,
that theirs may be the love which knows no ending,
whom thou in sacred vow dost join in one. 

2 O perfect Life, be thou their full assurance
of tender charity and steadfast faith,
of patient hope and quiet, brave endurance,
with childlike trust that fears no pain or death. 

3 Grant them the joy which brightens earthly sorrow;
grant them the peace which calms all earthly strife;
grant them the vision of the glorious morrow
that will reveal eternal love and life. 


Continue Prayer for grace, page 50 bottom and page 51

Hymn 319


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. 


June 4, 2023

St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church

313 4th St, Manistee, MI 49660-2901

website: stpaulsmanistee.com

facebook.com/SPLCManistee

Telephone: 231-299-1022

June 4, 2023 – Trinity Sunday 

Prayer Before Worship – Please read Hymn 192

Hymn 191

Service of Word and Sacrament, front of hymnal, page 26

Prayer: Almighty God & Father,/ dwelling in majesty & mystery,/ filling & renewing all creation by Your eternal Spirit,/ & manifesting Your saving grace through our Lord Jesus Christ:/ in mercy cleanse our hearts & lips/ that, free from doubt & fear,/ we may ever worship 

You,/ one true immortal God, with Your Son & the Holy Spirit,/ living & reigning, now & forever. (sing) Amen.

Old Testament Lesson: Genesis 1:1 - 2:3 

The Triune God says: “Let us make man in our image.”  The Father,                 the Word (John 1:3) and the Spirit act to accomplish the creation.

 

      1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good,and he separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.  6 And God said, “Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water.” 7 So God made the vault and separated the water under the vault from the water above it. And it was so. 8 God called the vault “sky.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the second day.  9 And God said, “Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good. 11 Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day.  14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth.” And it was so. 16 God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. 17 God set them in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fourth day.  20 And God said, “Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky.” 21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth.” 23 And there was evening, and there was morning—the fifth day.  24 And God said, “Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind.” And it was so. 25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”  27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”  29 Then God said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. 30 And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds in the sky and all the creatures that move along the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day. 1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.  2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.


Hymn 724


Epistle: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Fellowship with others is only possible because of fellowship with our gracious, loving Triune God.  


  11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.  12 Greet one another with a holy kiss. 13 All God’s people here send their greetings.  14 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 


Psalm 150, front of hymnal, page 122

We praise our Triune God for creating and saving us


Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

Jesus gives His command to us about bringing the Holy Trinity into the lives of people.

  

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”


Hymn 194

Sermon Text: Epistle: 2 Corinthians 13:11-14

Sermon Theme: Our Triune God Who Gives Us Gifts

               1.  Grace   2.  Love   3.  Fellowship


Athanasian Creed, front of hymnal, page 132

        

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, 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 te 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 195 during distribution

                  

Continue on page 36, front of hymnal

Hymn 193










May 28, 2023

Leading our worship and Bible study today is Joel Pankow.  He is one of two pastors serving at Trinity, Bay City MI.   Welcome TO MANISTEE Pastor Pankow 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 – Festival of the Holy Spirit

May 28, 2023 


Prayer Before Worship - Please read Hymn 177


Hymn 183            

Service of the Word, front of hymnal page 38


Prayer Hymn 184


Old Testament Lesson: Joel 2:28,29

Joel foretells the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which will show itself in  visions & dreams, but especially in the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus.


28 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.  Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.


Hymn 747 


Epistle: Acts 2:1-21

The outpouring of the promised Holy Spirit.

1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of

fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren’t all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “‘In the last days, God says,  I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and 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 heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows 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. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Hymn 190

Gospel: John 16:5-11

Jesus promises the Holy Spirit who will give consolation and empowerment. He will also judge unbelief which rejects the Son. 

But now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.

Hymn 176

 

Sermon 

Confession of Faith

         Explanation of the 3rd article of the Apostles’ Creed

               (from Luther’s Small Catechism)

I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing/ believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him.  But the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel,/ enlightened me with His gifts/ sanctified & kept me in the true faith.  In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens & sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth,/ & keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.  In this Christian church He daily & fully forgives all sins to me & all believers.  On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead.  And He will give eternal life to me & all believers in Christ.  This is most certainly true.   

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 church, pg 42

Special Prayers

Lord’s Prayer

Hymn 181 

Continue page 43

Hymn 185

All our guests are welcome to worship Jesus the Savior with us again.   Graciously receive the greetings & introductions of our church family.