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

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.

INDOOR TAG SALE at Hands of Grace, 8 Wickett St., New Hartford, Saturday, October 17th, 9:00am – 1:00pm.  Masks required.  Social distancing observed.  Something for everybody! 

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!

HAVE YOU thought about sharing the Great News of Jesus Christ with a child through Operation Christmas Child?  There are many ways to participate.  You can pack a shoebox and return it by November 1st, pack a shoebox online, make a monetary donation by October 18th with checks payable to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and a designation to Samaritan’s Purse on the memo line, or pray for this mission project and the shoebox recipients.  If you have any questions, Travis (tpoudin@gmail.com) or Emily Poudin (epoudin2@gmail.com) will be happy to help. 

DO YOU ENJOY MUSIC?  Would you like to get together couple times a month to just play and have fun?  We are looking for someone who can play a keyboard or a djembe (hand drum) or any other instrument to join and have some fun. This will not be for worship but for fellowship and the joy of music. If you are interested please contact Pastor K. and we will go from there! Thank you.

SINGLES AND WIDOWS CONNECT – Monday October 5th from 1:00 to 2:30pm.  Bring your own drink and snack if you like.  Keeping it simple with a little devotion and time to be friends.  Feel free to bring any single or widowed friends.  It’s nothing fancy, no big deal, just a time to connect before the cooler weather sets in. We’ll be “spaced out” on the lawn (lol! distancing style).  RSVP please to Cheryl.           

Confession and Absolution

825 Rise, Shine, You People                                                                 LSB 825

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.

Kneel/Stand

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. 118:22–24; antiphon: Ps. 118:1

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for | he is good;*

for his steadfast love endures for- | ever!

The stone that the builders re- | jected*

has become the | cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s | doing;*

it is marvelous | in our eyes.

This is the day that the | Lord has made;*

let us rejoice and be | glad in it.

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

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.

Gracious God, You gave Your Son into the hands of sinful men who killed Him. Forgive us when we reject Your unfailing love, and grant us the fullness of Your salvation; 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 5:1–7

¹Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard:

My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

²He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines;

he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it;

and he looked for it to yield grapes,

but it yielded wild grapes.

³And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem

and men of Judah,

judge between me and my vineyard.

⁴What more was there to do for my vineyard,

that I have not done in it?

When I looked for it to yield grapes,

why did it yield wild grapes?

⁵And now I will tell you

what I will do to my vineyard.

I will remove its hedge,

and it shall be devoured;

I will break down its wall,

and it shall be trampled down.

⁶I will make it a waste;

it shall not be pruned or hoed,

and briers and thorns shall grow up;

I will also command the clouds

that they rain no rain upon it.

⁷For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts

is the house of Israel,

and the men of Judah

are his pleasant planting;

and he looked for justice,

but behold, bloodshed;

for righteousness,

but behold, an outcry!

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                  Philippians 3:4b–14

⁴though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: ⁵circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; ⁶as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness, under the law blameless. ⁷But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— ¹⁰that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

¹²Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. ¹³Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 21:33–46

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

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

³³[Jesus said:] “Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.

³⁴When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit. ³⁵And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them. ³⁷Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ³⁸But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ ³⁹And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. ⁴⁰When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ⁴¹They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

⁴²Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

⁴³Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. ⁴⁴And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”

⁴⁵When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he was speaking about them. ⁴⁶And although they were seeking to arrest him, they feared the crowds, because they held him to be a prophet.

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.

691 Fruitful Trees, the Spirit’s Sowing                                                   LSB 691

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Offering – The offering is brought to the altar.

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 saying:

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

Distribution

628 Your Table I Approach                                                                   LSB 628

425 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross                                                  LSB 425

Communion Dismissal

Post-Communion Canticle

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

912 Christ Is Our Cornerstone                                                               LSB 912

Have you thought about sharing the Great News of Jesus Christ with a child through Operation Christmas Child?  There are many ways to participate.  You can pack a shoebox and return it by November 1st, pack a shoebox online, make a monetary donation by October 18th with checks payable to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and a designation to Samaritan’s Purse on the memo line or pray for this mission project and the shoebox recipients.  If you have any questions, Travis  (tpoudin@gmail.com) or Emily Poudin (epoudin2@gmail.com) will be happy to help.