October 1, 2023 10:45 Worship Service

WELCOME & GREETINGS OF PEACE

OPENING HYMN: “Come, Thou Almighty King”

Come, Thou almighty King,

Help us Thy name to sing;

Help us to praise;

Father all glorious,

O’er all victorious,

Come and reign over us,

Ancient of Days.

Come, Thou incarnate Word,

Gird on Thy mighty sword;

Our prayer attend.

Come and Thy people bless,

And give ThyWord success,

And let Thy righteousness

On us descend.

Come, holy Comforter,

Thy sacred witness bear

In this glad hour!

Thou, who almighty art,

Now rule in ev’ry heart,

And ne’er from us depart,

Spirit of pow’r.

To thee, great One in Three,

Eternal praises be

Hence evermore!

Thy sov’reign majesty

May we in glory see,

And to eternity

Love and adore.

INVOCATION & OPENING SENTENCES

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

Pastor: God shall arise, His enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate Him shall flee before Him!

People: But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

Pastor: Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation.

People: Our God is a God of salvation, and to God, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

Pastor: Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.

People: Awesome is God from His sanctuary; the God of Israel—He is the one who gives power and strength to His people. Blessed be God!

CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION

Pastor: Let us humble ourselves before God, confess our sins to Him, and ask His gracious forgiveness.

People: We now confess to God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven and before one another, that we are sinful human beings by nature and by deed. We have not always put God first and have too much followed the desires of our own hearts. We have used His holy name in ways that do not honor Him. We have been careless in our devotion and have not always honored those in authority over us. We have done violence to others in word and deed and have not always kept our thoughts, words, and deeds pure and honorable. We have taken what is not ours and have spoken that which is not helpful or true. We have wished for that which is not rightfully ours and have not put the best construction on all things and on all people. We pray God to have mercy on us, to forgive us all our sins, and to bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

Pastor: Spare them, O God, who confess their faults. Restore those who are penitent, according to Your promises declared in Jesus Christ, our Lord. The almighty and merciful Lord grant us pardon, forgiveness, and remission of all our sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

SALUTATION

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Let us pray.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: God of love, by Your grace we have come to hear Your Word. Grant that we may ever find in it our greatest treasure and hold fast to it as a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen

OLD TESTAMENT READING: Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32

The word of the Lord came to me: ²“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge’? ³As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. ⁴Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. ²⁵“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? ²⁶When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. ²⁷Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. ²⁸Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ²⁹Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? ³⁰“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. ³¹Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? ³²For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE READING: Philippians 2:1–4, 14–18

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ²complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ¹⁴Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

RESPONSIVE PSALM: Psalm 25:1-10

Pastor: To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

People: O my God, in You I trust; let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

Pastor: Indeed, none who wait for You shall be put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

People: Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths.

Pastor: Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all the day long.

People: Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old.

Pastor: Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember me, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord!

People: Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way.

Pastor: He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way.

People: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and His testimonies.

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the

beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Pastor: To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

THE NICENE CREED

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 21:23-27(28-32)

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” ²⁴Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.²⁸“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ ²⁹And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. ³⁰And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. ³¹Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. ³²For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.

Pastor: This is the Gospel of Our Lord. People: Praise to You, O Christ

CHILDREN’S SERMON

SERMON HYMN: “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word”

Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word;
Curb those who by deceit or sword
Would wrest the kingdom from your Son
And bring to nought all he has done.

Lord Jesus Christ, your power make known,
For you are Lord of lords alone;
Defend your holy Church that we
May sing your praise triumphantly.

O Comforter of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth;
Support us in our final strife
And lead us out of death of life.

SERMON

THE GIVING OF OUR OFFERINGS TO THE LORD

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

THE LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father who art in heaven,

hallowed be Thy name,

Thy kingdom come,

Thy will be done on earth

as it is in heaven;

give us this day our daily bread;

and forgive us our trespasses

as we forgive those

who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For Thine is the kingdom

and the power and the glory

forever and ever. Amen.

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

COMMUNION HYMN: “O God, My Faithful God”

O God, my faithful God,
True fountain ever flowing,
Without whom nothing is,
All perfect gifts bestowing:
Give me a healthy frame,
And may I have within
A conscience free from blame,
A soul unstained by sin.

Grant me the strength to do
With ready heart and willing
Whatever You command,
My calling here fulfilling;
That I do what I should
While trusting You to bless
The outcome for my good,
For You must give success.

Keep me from saying words
That later need recalling;
Guard me lest idle speech
May from my lips be falling;
But when within my place
I must and ought to speak,
Then to my words give grace
Lest I offend the weak.

Lord, let me win my foes
With kindly words and actions,
And let me find good friends
For counsel and correction.
Help me, as You have taught,
To love both great and small
And by Your Spirit's might
To live in peace with all.

Let me depart this life
Confiding in my Savior;
By grace receive my soul
That it may live forever;
And let my body have
A quiet resting place
Within a Christian grave;
And let it sleep in peace.

And on that final day
When all the dead are waking,
Stretch out Your mighty hand,
My deathly slumber breaking.
Then let me hear Your voice,
Redeem this earthly frame,
And bid me to rejoice
With those who love Your name.

DISTRIBUTION

BENEDICTION

Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

People: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN: “Renew Me, O Eternal Light”

Renew me, O eternal Light,
And let my heart and soul be bright,
Illumined with the light of grace
That issues from Your holy face.

Remove the pow’r of sin from me

And cleanse all my impurity

That I may have the strength and will

Temptations of the flesh to still.

Create in me a new heart, Lord,
That gladly I obey your Word.
Let what You will be my desire,
And with new life my soul inspire.

Grant I only You may love
And seek those things which are above
Till I behold You face to face,
O Light eternal, through Your grace.

DISMISSAL

Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God!

Sunday Bulletin

October 1, 2023 10:45 Worship Service