The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost and LWML Sunday

Divine Service

 

The Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is an official  auxiliary of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Since 1942, the LWML has focused on affirming each woman’s relationship with Christ, encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to support global missions.  As Lutheran Women in Mission, we joyfully proclaim Christ, support missions, and equip women to honor God by serving others. 

 

Ruth 1:1-19a  

2 Timothy 2:1-13     

Luke 17:11-19

 

Almighty God, You show mercy to Your people in all their troubles. Grant us always to recognize Your goodness, give thanks for Your compassion, and praise Your holy name; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

“On Budding Hearts God Wrote the Law”     OAR 346

“For All the Faithful Women”     LSB 855, sts. 1, 7, 3 & 4  

“Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing”     LSB 525

“From Depths of Woe I Cry to Thee”     LSB 607

“Once He Came in Blessing”   LSB 333

“Serve the Lord with Gladness”

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost – Prayer and Preaching

 

Faith does not preclude Christians from adversity and persecution.  Faith arms believers with Christlike tenacity, equipping us to persevere in prayer and joy, continually confessing Jesus as the source of life and immortality.  Temptations will come; believing saints will sin; yet repentant sinners will be forgiven.  Satan will surely seek to undermine our faith, yet Christ Jesus in unrelenting mercy and forgiveness will guard us until the day of salvation. 

 

 

O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, by Your grace hear the prayers of Your Church. Grant that those things which we ask in faith we may receive through Your bountiful mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

 

“On Budding Hearts God Wrote the Law”   OAR 346

“I Know My Faith Is Founded”     LSB 587  

“Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive”     LSB 843

 

The flowers last Sunday were given by Tim and Barb Yeadon in memory of Erich Yeadon. 

The Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Service

 

Christ mediates the chasm between faith and faithlessness, mercy and judgement, life and death!  Overseers and deacons are caretakers of this delicate balance between Law and Gospel.  Their biblical qualifications for office require faithful service that is blameless, dignified, and godly.  Preachers and teachers of God’s Word are to be above reproach, clinging to faith in Christ.  In faith, we all fight the good fight and make the good confession as did Moses, the prophets, and the saints before us.        

 

 

O God, You are the strength of all who trust in You, and without Your aid we can do no good thing. Grant us the help of Your grace that we may please You in both will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

 

Hymns

“Lift High the Cross”     LSB 837

“Lord, Thee I Love with all My Heart”     LSB 708   (sung by choir)

“All You Works of God, Bless the Lord”     LSB 930

“Lord Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor”     LSB 534

“Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven”     LSB 793

“Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing”     LSB 686

“Glory Be to God the Father”     LSB 506

 

 

The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Divine Service

 

Faithful stewards of God’s gifts anchor themselves in constant prayer, intercession, and thanksgiving.  Meager gifts of the poor ought to be intentionally safeguarded; the position and wealth of kings are to be highly regarded.  Yet we know wealth belongs to a fallen world.  Obsession with riches threatens our loyalty to God.  Christ surpasses the value of all material possessions.  He is our lasting treasure, who paid the greatest price – ransoming our lives at the cost of His own.   

 

Amos 8:4-7  

1 Timothy 2:1-15     

Luke 16:1-15

 

Collect of the Day:
O Lord, keep Your Church in Your perpetual mercy; and because without You we cannot but fall, preserve us from all things hurtful, and lead us to all things profitable to our salvation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

“Lift High the Cross”     LSB 837

“Seek Where You May to Find a Way”     LSB 557

“Salvation Unto Us Has Come”     LSB 555

“Jesus Thy Blood and Righteousness”     LSB 563

“O Light Whose Splendor”     LSB 891

“By Grace I’m Saved”     LSB 566

The Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Prayer and Preaching

 

The unrelenting mercy of God seeks out the foremost sinner of men.  In all unlikely circumstances, God’s shepherding vigilance is persistent. One lost sheep requires the Lord’s attention.  One lost coin requires a woman’s diligence.  Wayward sinners ensnared in ignorance and worldly values necessitate the unrivaled strength of Christ Jesus.  By His grace, sinners are found and saved.  By His mercy, sinful opposition is assuaged with perfect patience and forgiveness.  Rejoice!  

 

Ezekiel 34:11-24 

1 Timothy 1:12-17   

Luke 15:1-10

 

Blessed Lord, You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

 

“Lift High the Cross”     LSB 837

“Jesus Sinners Doth Receive”     LSB 609

“Lamb of God”     LSB 550

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Service     

 

Love the Lord first, last, temporally – eternally!  This commandment intimately connects us to incalculable blessings of knowing and being known by Jesus.  Where there is love for the Lord, life pulsates in joy, obedience, and commitment to His Word.  Christians gravitate to other believers who love is grounded in Christ.  In the face of adversity, love builds up.  In the face of hatred, love boasts of triumph, refreshing the heart, revitalizing faith, comforting with peace.

 

Philemon 1-21     

 

O merciful Lord, You did not spare Your only Son but delivered Him up for us all. Grant us courage and strength to take up the cross and follow Him, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

“Lift High the Cross”     LSB 837

“The King of Love My Shepherd Is”     LSB 709

“Eat This Bread”     LSB 638

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”     LSB 425

“Dear Christians, One and All, Rejoice”     LSB 556

“Oh, That the Lord Would Guide My Ways”     LSB 707

“Take My Life and Let It Be”     LSB 783 

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost – Divine Service     

 

Before kings, authorities, and leaders, we are not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought.  Rather, we should posture ourselves to be humble servants, ready to hope for and receive gestures of grace, hospitality, and wisdom.  Divine love permeates actions;  divine speech evokes truth; divine contentment curbs the propensity toward avarice.  Divine forgiveness destroys sin’s consequence.  Without merit, we receive the grace of Christ – grace that invites us to His feast of forgiveness.

 

Proverbs 25:2-10  

Hebrews 13:1-17     

 

Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

 

“Christ the Eternal Lord”     LSB 829

“Son of God, Eternal Savior”     LSB 842

“Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace”     LSB 844

“Not for Tongues of Heaven’s Angels”     LSB 695

“Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng”     LSB 813

“When Morning Gilds the Skies”     LSB 807

“God of Grace and God of Glory”     LSB 850 

The Lord makes all things new in heaven and on earth.  We struggle against sin; Jesus sheds bloods to acquit.  Sons and daughters rebel; the Lord disciplines and loves.  Punishment is temporal; peaceful righteousness is forever.  We are heirs of this new paradox worthy of disdain; but in Christ we inherit His divine favor.  Believers do not weep and gnash their teeth.  But in heaven, faith-filled tongues and hearts will be engaged in unbridled confession and worship of Jesus.

 

 

O Lord, You have called us to enter Your kingdom through the narrow door. Guide us by Your Word and Spirit, and lead us now and always into the feast of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

“Christ the Eternal Lord”     LSB 829

“A Multitude Comes from the Est and the West”     LSB 510

“Not All the Blood of Beasts”     LSB 431

“Come, Let Us Eat”     LSB 626

“Today Your Mercy Calls Us”     LSB 915

“The Bridegroom Soon Will Call Us”     LSB 514

“Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise”     LSB 680