Confession and Absolution

515 Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers                                                            LSB 515

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C   who made heaven and earth.

P   If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C   But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P   Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C   Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P   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.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                                     Ps. 84:1, 9–12; antiphon: Ps. 84:3

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may | lay her young,*

at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King | and my God.

How lovely is your | dwelling place,*

O | Lord of hosts!

Behold our shield, | O God;*

look on the face of your a- | nointed!

For a day in your courts is better than a thousand | elsewhere.*

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of | wickedness.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and | honor.*

No good thing does he withhold from those who walk up- | rightly.

O | Lord of hosts,*

blessèd is the one who | trusts in you!

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 204

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 204

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter into His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                  Amos 5:18–24

¹⁸Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord!

Why would you have the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, and not light,

¹⁹as if a man fled from a lion,

and a bear met him,

or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall,

and a serpent bit him.

²⁰Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

²¹“I hate, I despise your feasts,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

²²Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the peace offerings of your fattened animals,

I will not look upon them.

²³Take away from me the noise of your songs;

to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

²⁴But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                              1 Thessalonians 4:13–18

¹³But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                               Matthew 25:1–13

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-fifth chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

 ¹“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, ⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. ⁸And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ ¹⁰And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. ¹¹Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹²But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ ¹³Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed                                                                                    LSB 207

C   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Sit

516 Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying                                                    LSB 516

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 209

C   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.

Offering – placed on the altar.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A   Let us pray.

Lord of the Church, in whose name all who oversee and serve Your flock have been called, grant Your servants all the gifts necessary for the godly administration of their duties for the upbuilding of Your Church that they may bring glory to Your name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Benedicamus and Benediction

A   Let us bless the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

P   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 T give you peace.

C   Amen.

763 When Peace, like a River                                                               LSB 763

THANK YOU to everyone who contributed monetary donations, packed shoeboxes online and returned filled shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child!  A live streaming event hosted by Pastor Kevin of shoeboxes being packed with items purchased using the monetary donations will take place on November 7th at 10:00 am.  Will we make the 140 Gospel opportunity goal?  Stay tuned……

Confession and Absolution

677 For All the Saints                                                                  LSB 677 sts. 1–4

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C   who made heaven and earth.

P   If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C   But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P   Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C   Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P   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.

C   Amen.

(Dismissal of Sunday school children – 2^nd service)

Introit                                                                                                         

These are the ones coming out of the great tribu- | lation.*

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood | of the Lamb.

In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be | put to shame;*

in your righteousness de- | liver me.

For you are my rock and my | fortress;*

and for your name’s sake you lead me and | guide me.

Into your hand I commit my | spirit;*

you have redeemed me, O Lord, | faithful God.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 204

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 204

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 C      Amen.

Sit

First Reading                                                                            Revelation 7:9–17

⁹After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹²saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵“Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

¹⁷For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                           1 John 3:1–3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ³And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                                Matthew 5:1–12

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fifth chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

¹Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

²And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed                                                                                      LSB 206

C   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 T of the world to come. Amen.

Sit

725 Children of the Heavenly Father                                                     LSB 725

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Offering – Placed on altar.

Service of the Sacrament

Stand

Preface                                                                                              LSB 208

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Lift up your hearts.

C   We lift them to the Lord.

P   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C   It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P   It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

Sanctus                                                                                               LSB 208

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                                  

P   Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

By faith the saints of old held fast to Your promise of things hoped for though not yet seen, leaving an example and encouragement for us who walk now by faith and not by sight.

Grant that we may faithfully eat and drink this Holy Supper of Your Son’s body and blood and in the union of His mystical body, the Church, be joined in unending praise with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Moses, Elijah, and all the faithful prophets; the blessed apostles and evangelists, the holy martyrs, and all the saints in glory who fought the good fight of faith before us.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 209

C   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.

The Words of Our Lord                                                                                  

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 209

P   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C   Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 210

Distribution

White as Snow

White as snow, white as snow,

thought my sins were as scarlet,
Lord I know, Lord I know,

that I’m clean and forgiven.
Through the power of Your blood,

through the wonder of Your love,
through faith in you I know that I can be
white as snow.

Wonderful, Merciful Savior

Wonderful merciful savior

Precious redeemer and friend

Who would have thought that a lamb could

Rescue the souls of man

Oh you rescue the souls of man.

You are the one that we praise

You are the one we adore.

You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for

Oh our hearts always hunger for.

Counselor comforter keeper

Spirit we long to embrace

You offer hope when our hearts have

Hopelessly lost our way

Oh we’ve hopelessly lost the way.

You are the one that we praise

You are the one we adore.

You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for

Oh our hearts always hunger for.

Oh mighty infinite father

Faithfully loving your own

Here in our weakness you find us

Falling before your throne

Oh were falling before your throne

You are the one that we praise

You are the one we adore.

You give the healing and grace our hearts always hunger for

Oh our hearts always hunger for.

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                      LSB 211

Post-Communion Collect                                                                               

A   Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Benedicamus and Benediction

A   Let us bless the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

P   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 T give you peace.

C   Amen.

677 For All the Saints                                                                  LSB 677 sts. 5–8

ST. PAUL’S AND HANDS OF GRACE are participating in a Thrivent Financial challenge!!   Collect 500 food items from now until October 30th.  The first 100 entries to collect 500 items will receive $500.00 from Thrivent which will be given to Hands of Grace!  Items may be brought to St. Paul’s and left in the bins in the narthex.  We will count as we collect and a tally will be sent to Thrivent Financial.  If you have any questions, please contact Marge Veronesi.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX COLLECTION is well underway.  It’s exciting to think that each shoebox recipient will have an opportunity to hear about Jesus!  Shoeboxes are due back by, next Sunday, November 1st.  A collection box is located in the narthex.  To pack a shoebox online, use this link:  https://build-a-shoebox.samaritanspurse.org/view/33b160aa-9e9f-42e4-8695-c7042c5323a6.  How close to our goal of 140 shoebox Gospel opportunities will we be? 

TAG SALE at HANDS OF GRACE, Saturday, October 31^st, 9:00am to 1:00pm.

Confession and Absolution

657 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God                                                  LSB 657 sts. 1–4

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.  For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.  Amen.

P   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.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                              Ps. 34:1–2, 11, 22; antiphon: Ps. 119:46

I will speak of your testimonies before kings, | [O Lord,]*

and shall not be | put to shame.

I will bless the Lord at | all times;*

his praise shall continually be | in my mouth.

My soul makes its boast | in the Lord;*

let the humble hear | and be glad.

Come, O children, lis- | ten to me;*

I will teach you the fear | of the Lord.

The Lord redeems the life of his | servants;*

none of those who take refuge in him will | be condemned.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 168

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 170

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

First Reading                                                                            Revelation 14:6–7

⁶Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. ⁷And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                       Romans 3:19–28

¹⁹Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

²¹But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²²the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: ²³for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

²⁷Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. ²⁸For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                                   John 8:31–36

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the eighth chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

³¹So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³²and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” ³³They answered him, “We are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, ‘You will become free’?”

³⁴Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. ³⁶So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed                                                                                            

C   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Sit

571 God Loved the World So That He Gave                                            LSB 571

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 179

P   Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C   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.

Offering – Placed on the altar.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A   Let us pray.

Lord Jesus, when You were lifted up on the cross, the entire world experienced birth pains as the cosmos was rocked as Your death gave birth to a new creation. Focus our eyes on Your holy cross that we may see it as a tree of life preparing us for Your final coming in judgment as the Son of Man; for You live and reign with the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 183

P   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 T give you peace.

C   Amen.

744 Amazing Grace                                                                     LSB 744 sts. 1–5

NOTICES

ST. PAUL’S AND HANDS OF GRACE are participating in a Thrivent Financial challenge!!   Collect 500 food items from now until October 30th.  The first 100 entries to collect 500 items will receive $500.00 from Thrivent which will be given to Hands of Grace!  Items may be brought to St. Paul’s and left in the bins in the narthex.  We will count as we collect and a tally will be sent to Thrivent Financial.  If you have any questions, please contact Marge Veronesi.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX COLLECTION is well underway.  It’s exciting to think that each shoebox recipient will have an opportunity to hear about Jesus!  Shoeboxes are due back by, next Sunday, November 1st.  A collection box is located in the narthex.  To pack a shoebox online, use this link:  https://build-a-shoebox.samaritanspurse.org/view/33b160aa-9e9f-42e4-8695-c7042c5323a6.  How close to our goal of 140 shoebox Gospel opportunities will we be? 

TAG SALE at HANDS OF GRACE, Saturday, October 31^st, 9:00am to 1:00pm.

REMINDER – Monetary donations for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes are due today.  Please make checks payable to “St. Paul’s Lutheran Church” with a designation to “Samaritan’s Purse” on the memo line.  If you are packing a shoebox, please bring it to church by November 1st.  A collection box is located in the narthex.  To pack a shoebox online, use this link:  https://build-a-shoebox.samaritanspurse.org/view/33b160aa-9e9f-42e4-8695-c7042c5323a6.  Our goal this year is 140 shoebox Gospel opportunities.  

ST. PAUL’S AND HANDS OF GRACE are participating in a Thrivent Financial challenge!!   Collect 500 food items from now until October 30th.  The first 100 entries to collect 500 items will receive $500.00 from Thrivent which will be given to Hands of Grace!  Items may be brought to St. Paul’s and left in the bins in the narthex.  We will count as we collect and a tally will be sent to Thrivent Financial.  If you have any questions, please contact Marge Veronesi.

SINCE DAUGHTERS OF FAITH will not be meeting until the spring; the leaders of DoF are preparing a decorative box with fall treats and the next Fruit of the Spirit Bible study (Peace) for our young ladies. The boxes will be on the serving table in the church kitchen on Sunday, October 25th.  On the last Sunday of November and December, there will be a box or basket with the next Fruit of the Spirit Bible study and goodies for our lovely young ladies.  Thank you, Judy Byrne

SONS OF THUNDER will be collecting empty bottles next Sunday between services.

Confession and Absolution

966 Before You, Lord, We Bow                                                             LSB 966

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.  For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.  Amen.

P   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.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                                 Ps. 121:1–4, 7–8; antiphon: Ps. 121:5

The Lord is your | keeper;*

the Lord is your shade on your | right hand.

I lift up my eyes | to the hills.*

From where does my | help come?

My help comes | from the Lord,*

who made | heaven and earth.

He will not let your | foot be moved;*

he who keeps you will not | slumber.

Behold, he who keeps | Israel*

will neither slum- | ber nor sleep.

The Lord will keep you from all | evil;*

he will | keep your life.

The Lord will keep your going out and your | coming in*

from this time forth and for- | evermore.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 168

This is the Feast                                                                                  LSB 171

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

O God, the protector of all who trust in You, have mercy on us that with You as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                  Isaiah 45:1–7

¹Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped,

to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings, to open doors before him that gates may not be closed: ²“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, ³I will give you the treasures of darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. ⁴For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen,

I call you by your name, I name you, though you do not know me. ⁵I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, ⁶that people may know, from the rising of the sun

and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. ⁷I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                               1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

¹Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

²We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, ³remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁴For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, ⁵because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. ⁶And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, ⁷so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. ⁸For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. ⁹For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 22:15–22

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-second chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

¹⁵Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle [Jesus] in his talk.

¹⁶And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true and teach the way of God truthfully, and you do not care about anyone’s opinion, for you are not swayed by appearances. ¹⁷Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?” ¹⁸But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? ¹⁹Show me the coin for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. ²⁰And Jesus said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” ²¹They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” ²²When they heard it, they marveled. And they left him and went away.

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed                                                                                               

C   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 T of the world to come. Amen.

940 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name                                                       LSB 940

                             

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Offering

Service of the Sacrament

Preface                                                                                              LSB 177

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Lift up your hearts.

C   We lift them to the Lord.

P   Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C   It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Proper Preface                                                                                             

P   It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.  Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

Sanctus                                                                                               LSB 178

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                         LSB 178

P   Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior.  With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.

Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit.  Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament.  Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end.  Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us.  To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 179

P   Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C   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.

The Words of Our Lord                                                                         LSB 179

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 180

P   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C   Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 180

Sit

Distribution

623 Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray                                                 LSB 623

570 Just as I Am, without One Plea                                                       LSB 570

Stand

Communion Dismissal

Now the true body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and preserve you in body and soul to life everlasting. Depart with His peace and joy. You are free.

Thank the Lord                                                                                    LSB 181

Post-Communion Collect                                                                               

A   Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 183

850 God of Grace and God of Glory                                                       LSB 850

REMINDER – Monetary donations for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes are due by October 18th.  Please make checks payable to “St. Paul’s Lutheran Church” with a designation to “Samaritan’s Purse” on the memo line.  If you are packing a shoebox, please bring it to church by November 1st.  To fill a shoebox online, use this link:  https://build-a-shoebox.samaritanspurse.org/view/33b160aa-9e9f-42e4-8695-c7042c5323a6.  Our goal this year is 140 shoebox Gospel opportunities.

SOME EXCITING changes coming to our Sunday mornings!  Service times will be changing.  On October 18th service will begin at 8:00am for our regular service.  From 9:15 to 10:15am there will be an in-person Bible study in the lower fellowship room. To allow for this, the second service will begin at 10:30am.  AND during the 10:30am service we will be having Sunday school led by the board of Christian Ed. This will be the same format as we have had in the past along with an online option for our children.  Thank you Emily Jury for all of your work putting this option together!

REMINDER – Monetary donations for Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes are due by October 18th.  Please make checks payable to “St. Paul’s Lutheran Church” with a designation to “Samaritan’s Purse” on the memo line.  If you are packing a shoebox, please bring it to church by November 1st.  To fill a shoebox online, use this link:  https://build-a-shoebox.samaritanspurse.org/view/33b160aa-9e9f-42e4-8695-c7042c5323a6.  Our goal this year is 140 shoebox Gospel opportunities.

FOR YOUNG FAMILIES, Kids for Christ Sunday School will kick off during the 10:30am service on Sunday, October 18th. We are also offering an online option for families who choose to remain at home. For more information, please check out our new website: www.stpaulsnewhartfordyouthcom. We are so excited to see you guys again!  Thank you, Emily Jury

ST. PAUL’S AND HANDS OF GRACE are participating in a Thrivent Financial challenge!!   Collect 500 food items from now until October 30th.  The first 100 entries to collect 500 items will receive $500.00 from Thrivent which will be given to Hands of Grace!  Items may be brought to St. Paul’s and left in the bins in the narthex.  We will count as we collect and a tally will be sent to Thrivent Financial.  If you have any questions, please contact Marge Veronesi at sveronesi5078@charter.net.

Confession and Absolution

785 We Praise You, O God                                                                    LSB 785

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.  For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.  Amen.

P   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.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                                          Is. 61:10; antiphon: Ps. 146:2

I will praise the Lord as long | as I live;*

I will sing praises to my God while I have my | being.

I will greatly rejoice | in the Lord;*

my soul shall exult | in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of sal- | vation;*

he has covered me with the robe of | righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful | headdress,*

and as a bride adorns herself | with her jewels.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 168

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 170

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Almighty God, You invite us to trust in You for our salvation. Deal with us not in the severity of Your judgment but by the greatness of Your mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                  Isaiah 25:6–9

⁶On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

⁷And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

⁸He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the Lord has spoken.

⁹It will be said on that day,

“Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the Lord; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                    Philippians 4:4–13

⁴Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; ⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

¹⁰I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹²I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                               Matthew 22:1–14

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-second chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

¹ Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

²“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, ³and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. ⁴Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ ⁵But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. ⁷The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. ⁸Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ ¹⁰And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. ¹²And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴For many are called, but few are chosen.”

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

Stand

Apostles’ Creed                                                                                            

C   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

772 In Holy Conversation                                                                      LSB 772

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 179

P   Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C   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.

Offering – The offering is placed on the altar

Closing Collect                                                                                                                          

A     Let us pray.

Gracious Lord and Shepherd, grant to those entrusted with special responsibilities zeal and faithfulness to perform the task of building up Your Church, bringing glory to Your saving name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C     Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 183

P   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 T give you peace.

C   Amen.

803 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee                                                        LSB 803