Confession and Absolution

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

Stand

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.

Service of the Word

Introit                                                                         Ps. 92:1–4; antiphon: Ps. 92:5

How great are your works, | O Lord!*

Your thoughts are | very deep!

It is good to give thanks | to the Lord,*

to sing praises to your name, | O Most High;

to declare your steadfast love in the | morning,*

and your faithful- | ness by night,

to the music of the lute | and the harp,*

to the melody | of the lyre.

For you, O Lord, have made me glad | by your work;*

at the works of your hands I | sing for joy.

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 152

Hymn of Praise

This Is the Feast                                                                                  LSB 155

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Let us pray.

O God, from whom all good proceeds, grant to us, Your humble servants, Your holy inspiration, that we may set our minds on the things that are right and, by Your merciful guiding, accomplish them; 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                                                                 Ezekiel 33:7–9

⁷“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. ⁸If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. ⁹But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                       Romans 13:1–10

¹Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. ²Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. ³For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, ⁴for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. ⁵Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. ⁶For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. ⁷Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

⁸Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. ⁹The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁰Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                               Matthew 18:1–20

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

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

¹At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” ²And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them ³and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. ⁴Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

⁵“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, ⁶but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

⁷“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! ⁸And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. ⁹And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

¹⁰“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. ¹²What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? ¹³And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. ¹⁴So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

¹⁵“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. ¹⁶But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. ¹⁷If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. ¹⁸Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. ¹⁹Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. ²⁰For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

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.

611 Chief of Sinners Though I Be                                                          LSB 611

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Service of the Sacrament

Preface                                                                                              LSB 160

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, 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 saying:

Sanctus                                                                                               LSB 161

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                         LSB 161

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 162

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 162

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 163

P  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C  Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 210

Sit

Distribution

902 Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now                                                  LSB 902

915 Today Your Mercy Calls Us                                                              LSB 915

Stand

Post-Communion Canticle

Thank the Lord                                                                                    LSB 164

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 166

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.

711 Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us                                                      LSB 711

ANNOUNCEMENTS: 

DO YOU NEED some work done around your home? Eliott’s Handyman Business is here to help you with all of your outside needs from stacking wood to gardening and weed whacking etc. Give him a call at 860-489-7947.

DAUGHTERS OF FAITH – After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Thank you, Judy Byrne.

LADIES AID Social Distance Get-Together will meet Saturday, September 12^th, at 10:00am on the front lawn of the church.  Please bring a lawn chair and mask.  In case of rain, the event is cancelled.

ST. PAUL’S SINGLE LADIES VISIT will take place at Cheryl Lowman’s house, outside, distancing style, on Wednesday, September 16^th at 1:00pm.  Cheryl is inviting the Single Gals of the church to come and enjoy a short devotion about Friendship and just time connecting with each other.    Cheryl’s heart is connected by her own experience of being a single adult for 7 years and how important connections with other singles really are.

LADIES BIBLE STUDY will not be meeting until further notice. 

PASTOR MONGEAU has office hours at St. Paul’s on Thursdays 9:00am to 2:00pm.  If you would like to stop by for a visit and have Communion, please do!  Also, you may call him at 860-379-3172 or 860-480-5357 to set up an appointment to come to you for a visit. 

THE “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on Sunday, August 30th. The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

DO YOU NEED some work done around your home? Eliott’s Handyman Business is here to help you with all of your outside needs from stacking wood to gardening and weed whacking etc. Give him a call at 860-489-7947.

Confession and Absolution

425 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross                                                 LSB 425

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.

Stand

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. 37:5–7; antiphon: Ps. 37:4

Delight yourself | in the Lord,*

and he will give you the desires | of your heart.

Commit your way | to the Lord;*

trust in him, and | he will act.

He will bring forth your righteousness | as the light,*

and your justice as the | noonday.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently | for him;*

fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil de- | vices!

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 God, Your Son willingly endured the agony and shame of the cross for our redemption. Grant us courage to take up our cross daily and follow Him wherever He leads; 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                                                            Jeremiah 15:15–21

¹⁵O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me,

and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance take me not away;

know that for your sake I bear reproach.

¹⁶Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name,

O Lord, God of hosts.

¹⁷I did not sit in the company of revelers,

nor did I rejoice;

I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,

for you had filled me with indignation.

¹⁸Why is my pain unceasing,

my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,

like waters that fail?

¹⁹Therefore thus says the Lord:

“If you return, I will restore you,

and you shall stand before me.

If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,

you shall be as my mouth.

They shall turn to you,

but you shall not turn to them.

²⁰And I will make you to this people

a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you,

but they shall not prevail over you,

for I am with you

to save you and deliver you,

declares the Lord.

²¹I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                       Romans 12:9–21

⁹Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹²Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be conceited. ¹⁷Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 16:21–28

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

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

²¹From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. ²²And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” ²³But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

²⁴Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life? ²⁷For the Son of Man is going to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay each person according to what he has done. ²⁸Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.”

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

531 Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus                                                      LSB 531

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Following the prayers, the people may greet one another in the name of the Lord, saying, “Peace be with you,” as a sign of reconciliation and of the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Matt. 5:22–24; Eph. 4:1–3).

Sit

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 – Offering plate is in the narthex. Thank you.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A   Let us pray.

Almighty, everlasting God, Your Son has assured forgiveness of sins and deliverance from eternal death. Strengthen us by Your Holy Spirit that our faith in Christ may increase daily and that we may hold fast to the hope that on the Last Day we shall be raised in glory to eternal life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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.

722 Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me                        LSB 722

Announcements

STARTING IN AUGUST the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans TODAY, Sunday, August 30th. The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

DO YOU NEED some work done around your home? Eliott’s Handyman Business is here to help you with all of your outside needs from stacking wood to gardening and weed whacking etc. Give him a call at 860-489-7947.

• Starting in August the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on the last Sunday (next Sunday) of the month. The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

• To Our Daughters of Faith – After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Please RSVP Judy Byrne. And, of course, invite your friends!!!

• Pastor Mongeau will be on vacation beginning Monday, August 24th to Wednesday, September 2nd. There will be NO Bible Study on August 24th or August 31st and NO Wednesday Night Service on August 26th or September 2nd. He will be back in the church office on Thursday, September 3rd.  President Timothy Yeadon will be preaching on Sunday, August 30th. 

Confession and Absolution

644 The Church’s One Foundation                                                LSB 644 sts. 1–5

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 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. 2:6–7; Ps. 117; antiphon: Ps. 115:18

But we will | bless the Lord*

from this time forth and forevermore. | Praise the Lord!

As for me, I have | set my King*

on Zion, my | holy hill.

I will tell of | the decree:*

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have be- | gotten you.”

Praise the Lord, all | nations!*

Extol him, all | peoples!

For great is his steadfast | love toward us,*

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. | Praise the Lord!

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 God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us to know Your Son, Jesus, to be the way, the truth, and the life that we may boldly confess Him to be the Christ and steadfastly walk in the way that leads to life eternal; 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                                                                  Isaiah 51:1–6

¹“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

you who seek the Lord:

look to the rock from which you were hewn,

and to the quarry from which you were dug.

²Look to Abraham your father

and to Sarah who bore you;

for he was but one when I called him,

that I might bless him and multiply him.

³For the Lord comforts Zion;

he comforts all her waste places

and makes her wilderness like Eden,

her desert like the garden of the Lord;

joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and the voice of song.

⁴“Give attention to me, my people,

and give ear to me, my nation;

for a law will go out from me,

and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.

⁵My righteousness draws near,

my salvation has gone out,

and my arms will judge the peoples;

the coastlands hope for me,

and for my arm they wait.

⁶Lift up your eyes to the heavens,

and look at the earth beneath;

for the heavens vanish like smoke,

the earth will wear out like a garment,

and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;

but my salvation will be forever,

and my righteousness will never be dismayed.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                  Romans 11:33—12:8

³³Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

³⁴“For who has known the mind of the Lord,

or who has been his counselor?”

³⁵“Or who has given a gift to him

that he might be repaid?”

³⁶For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

¹I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. ²Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

³For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 16:13–20

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

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

¹³Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.

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

645 Built on the Rock                                                                          LSB 645

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.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A  Let us pray.

O Gracious Father, You led Your holy apostles to ordain ministers for the proclamation of Your Word and the faithful administration of the Sacraments of Christ. Grant to this congregation the guidance of the Holy Spirit to choose a suitable pastor according to Your will for the blessing of Your Church in this place; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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.

818 In Thee Is Gladness                                                                        LSB 818

Announcements

• Starting in August the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on the last Sunday (next Sunday) of the month. The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

• To Our Daughters of Faith – After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Please RSVP Judy Byrne. And, of course, invite your friends!!!

• Pastor Mongeau will be on vacation beginning Monday, August 24th to Wednesday, September 2nd. There will be NO Bible Study on August 24th or August 31st and NO Wednesday Night Service on August 26th or September 2nd. He will be back in the church office on Thursday, September 3rd.  President Timothy Yeadon will be preaching on Sunday, August 30th. 

• Starting in August the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on the last Sunday of the month. The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

• Reminder – St. Paul’s is on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday evenings at 7:00p.m. for worship.

• Hands of Grace has a short devotional on Facebook Thursdays at 12:30p.m. centered on the devotional of the day in “Our Daily Bread”. Please join us.

• Monday night Bible study continues to look at the Gospel of Luke at 7:00p.m. A zoom link is sent out through the church office. Please feel free to join us and share the link to others.

• To Our Daughters of Faith – After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Please RSVP Judy Byrne by text or phone (860-693-1402). And, of course, invite your friends!!!

• Pastor Mongeau will be on vacation beginning Monday, August 24th to Wednesday, September 2nd. There will be NO Bible Study on August 24th or August 31st and NO Wednesday Night Service on August 26th or September 2nd. He will be back in the church office on Thursday, September 3rd.  President Timothy Yeadon will be preaching on Sunday, August 30th. 

901 Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty                                                      LSB 901

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.

Introit                                                                    Ps. 28:1–2, 6–7; antiphon: Ps. 28:8

The Lord is the strength of his | people;*

he is the saving refuge of his a- | nointed.

To you, O Lord, I call; my rock, be not | deaf to me,*

lest, if you be silent to me, I become like those who go down | to the pit.

Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy, when I cry to | you for help,*

when I lift up my hands toward your most holy sanctu- | ary.

Blessèd | be the Lord!*

For he has heard the voice of my pleas for | mercy.

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and | I am helped;*

my heart exults, and with my song I give | thanks to him.

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 Father, You give Your children many blessings even though we are undeserving. In every trial and temptation grant us steadfast confidence in Your loving-kindness and 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 56:1, 6–8

¹Thus says the Lord:

“Keep justice, and do righteousness,

for soon my salvation will come,

and my deliverance be revealed.

⁶“And the foreigners who join themselves to the Lord,

to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord,

and to be his servants,

everyone who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it,

and holds fast my covenant—

⁷these I will bring to my holy mountain,

and make them joyful in my house of prayer;

their burnt offerings and their sacrifices

will be accepted on my altar;

for my house shall be called a house of prayer

for all peoples.”

⁸The Lord God,

who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares,

“I will gather yet others to him

besides those already gathered.”

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                      Romans 11:1–2a, 13–15, 28–32

¹I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. ²God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel?

¹³Now I am speaking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry ¹⁴in order somehow to make my fellow Jews jealous, and thus save some of them. ¹⁵For if their rejection means the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance mean but life from the dead?

²⁸As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. ²⁹For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ³⁰Just as you were at one time disobedient to God but now have received mercy because of their disobedience,

³¹1so they too have now been disobedient in order that by the mercy shown to you they also may now receive mercy.

³²For God has consigned all to disobedience, that he may have mercy on all.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 15:21–28

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

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

 ²¹ Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district of Tyre and Sidon.

²²And behold, a Canaanite woman from that region came out and was crying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David; my daughter is severely oppressed by a demon.” ²³But he did not answer her a word. And his disciples came and begged him, saying, “Send her away, for she is crying out after us.” ²⁴He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” ²⁵But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.” ²⁶And he answered, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.” ²⁷She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” ²⁸Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly.

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.

770 What a Friend We Have in Jesus                                                     LSB 770

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Offering – Offering plates are in the narthex. Thank you!

Service of the Sacrament

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 saying:

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.

In Your righteous judgment You condemned the sin of Adam and Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit, and You justly barred them and all their children from the tree of life.  Yet, in Your great mercy, You promised salvation by a second Adam, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and made His cross a life-giving tree for all who trust in Him.

We give You thanks for the redemption You have prepared for us through Jesus Christ.  Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may faithfully eat and drink of the fruits of His cross and receive the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that come to us in His body and blood.

 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                                                                                  

P  Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

P  In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 209

P  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C  Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 210

Sit

Distribution

Distribution Hymn – You Are My All in All

[Verse 1]
You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all

[Verse 2]
Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

[Chorus]
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is your name

[Verse 3]
Taking my sin my cross my shame
Rising again I bless your name
You are my all in all

[Verse 4]
When I fall down you pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

[Chorus]
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is your name

Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is your name
Jesus Lamb of God
Worthy is your name

623 Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray                                                 LSB 623

Stand – Communion Dismissal

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.

832 Jesus Shall Reign                                                                           LSB 832

Announcements

• Starting in August the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on the last Sunday of the month. The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

• Reminder – St. Paul’s is on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday evenings at 7:00p.m. for worship.

• Hands of Grace has a short devotional on Facebook Thursdays at 12:30p.m. centered on the devotional of the day in “Our Daily Bread”. Please join us.

• Monday night Bible study continues to look at the Gospel of Luke at 7:00p.m. A zoom link is sent out through the church office. Please feel free to join us and share the link to others.

• To Our Daughters of Faith – After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Please RSVP Judy Byrne by text or phone (860-693-1402). And, of course, invite your friends!!!

• Pastor Mongeau will be on vacation beginning Monday, August 24th to Wednesday, September 2nd. There will be NO Bible Study on August 24th or August 31st and NO Wednesday Night Service on August 26th or September 2nd. He will be back in the church office on Thursday, September 3rd.  President Timothy Yeadon will be preaching on Sunday, August 30th.

• Starting in August the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on the last Sunday of the month.    The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

• Reminder – St. Paul’s is on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday evenings at 7:00p.m. for worship.

• Hands of Grace has a short devotional on Facebook Thursdays at 12:30p.m. centered on the devotional of the day in “Our Daily Bread”. Please join us.

• Monday night Bible study continues to look at the Gospel of Luke at 7:00p.m. A zoom link is sent out through the church office. Please feel free to share the link.

• TO OUR DAUGHTERS OF FAITH:  After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Please RSVP to church at 860-379-3172 or slutheranchurch@snet.net. And, of course, invite your friends!!!

• Starting in August the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on the last Sunday of the month.  The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

• Reminder – St. Paul’s is on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm for worship.

• Hands of Grace has a short devotional on Facebook Thursdays at 12:30pm centered on the devotional of the day in “Our Daily Bread”.  Please join us.

• Monday Night Bible Study continues to look at the Gospel of Luke at 7:00pm. A Zoom link is sent out through the church office.  Please feel free to share the link.

• A big thank you to all who have given to provide for others through the Benevolence Fund! The Lord loves a cheerful giver.

• Ladies Aid is having a “Social Distance Get-together” on the front lawn of the church on Saturday, August 8^th, at 10:00am.  All women of the church are invited to attend.  Please bring a mask and a lawn chair.  In case of rain, the event is cancelled.

• TO OUR DAUGHTERS OF FAITH:  After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Please RSVP to 860-379-3172 or slutheranchurch@snet.net. And, of course, invite your friends!!!

Confession and Absolution

864 Shepherd of Tender Youth                                                             LSB 864

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.

Kneel/Stand

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. 105:39–43; antiphon: Ps. 105:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call up- | on his name;*

make known his deeds among the | peoples!

He spread a cloud for a | covering,*

and fire to give | light by night.

They asked, and he | brought quail,*

and gave them bread from heaven in a- | bundance.

He opened the rock, and water | gushed out;*

it flowed through the desert like a | river.

For he remembered his holy | promise,*

and Abraham, his | servant.

So he brought his people | out with joy,*

his chosen ones with | singing.

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.

Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and 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.

C  Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                  Isaiah 55:1–5

¹“Come, everyone who thirsts,

come to the waters;

and he who has no money,

come, buy and eat!

Come, buy wine and milk

without money and without price.

²Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

and delight yourselves in rich food.

³Incline your ear, and come to me;

hear, that your soul may live;

and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

my steadfast, sure love for David.

⁴Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

a leader and commander for the peoples.

⁵Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,

and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,

because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

for he has glorified you.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                         Romans 9:1–5

¹I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying; my conscience bears me witness in the Holy Spirit— ²that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. ³For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh. ⁴They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. ⁵To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 14:13–21

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

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

¹³Now when Jesus heard [about the death of John], he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

¹⁴When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. ¹⁵Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” ¹⁶But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” ¹⁷They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” ¹⁸And he said, “Bring them here to me.” ¹⁹Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. ²⁰And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. ²¹And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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

618 I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table                                                       LSB 618

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Service of the Sacrament

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.

In Your righteous judgment You condemned the sin of Adam and Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit, and You justly barred them and all their children from the tree of life.  Yet, in Your great mercy, You promised salvation by a second Adam, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and made His cross a life-giving tree for all who trust in Him.

We give You thanks for the redemption You have prepared for us through Jesus Christ.  Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may faithfully eat and drink of the fruits of His cross and receive the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that come to us in His body and blood.

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

Sit

Distribution

Distribution Hymn

Distribution Hymn

Communion Dismissal

Stand

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.

895 Now Thank We All Our God                                                            LSB 895

Announcements

• Starting in August the “Sons of Thunder” will be collecting returnable bottles and cans on the last Sunday of the month.  The boys will be at church between services for your convenience to collect the donations. Thank you!

• Reminder – St. Paul’s is on Facebook and YouTube on Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm for worship.

• Hands of Grace has a short devotional on Facebook Thursdays at 12:30pm centered on the devotional of the day in “Our Daily Bread”.  Please join us.

• Monday Night Bible Study continues to look at the Gospel of Luke at 7:00pm. A Zoom link is sent out through the church office.  Please feel free to share the link.

• A big thank you to all who have given to provide for others through the Benevolence Fund! The Lord loves a cheerful giver.

• Ladies Aid is having a “Social Distance Get-together” on the front lawn of the church on Saturday, August 8^th, at 10:00am.  All women of the church are invited to attend.  Please bring a mask and a lawn chair.  In case of rain, the event is cancelled.

• TO OUR DAUGHTERS OF FAITH:  After months of not getting together, I’m excited to let you know that on Saturday, September 12^th, from 2:00-3:30pm, we will be having an outside with social distancing meeting. We will be studying the Fruit of the Spirit “Joy,” making ice cream sundaes, and a time for fellowship and prayer. Please RSVP Judy Byrne by text or phone (860-693-1402). And, of course, invite your friends!!!