OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD shoebox collection is underway.  Please consider sharing the Great News of Jesus Christ with a child.  There are ways to participate.  You can pack a shoebox and return it by November 1^st, make a monetary donation by October 18^th checks payable to “Paul’s Lutheran Church” with 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.

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! 

OUR NEXT Singles Distancing Connection will take place on Monday, October 5th at 1 p.m.  All Singles, widows and their friends are welcome.  We “space out”  at Cheryl’s Ratlum Mountain yard to share our hearts in Friendship.  A short devotion will begin our time.  For planning purposes, our visit will wrap up around 2:30 p.m. 

Confession and Absolution

900 Jesus! Name of Wondrous Love                                                      LSB 900

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. 147:1–5; antiphon: Ps. 147:6

The Lord lifts up the | humble;*

he casts the wicked | to the ground.

Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises | to our God;*

for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is | fitting.

The Lord builds up Je- | rusalem;*

he gathers the outcasts of | Israel.

He heals the broken- | hearted*

and binds | up their wounds.

He determines the number | of the stars;*

he gives to all of | them their names.

Great is our Lord, and abun- | dant in power;*

his understanding is beyond | measure.

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

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 154

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; 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                                                         Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32

¹The word of the Lord came to me: ²“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? ³As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. ⁴Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.

²⁵“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? ²⁶When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. ²⁷Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. ²⁸Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. ²⁹Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?

³⁰“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. ³¹Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? ³²For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                             Philippians 2:1–4, 14–18

¹So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ²complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

¹⁴Do all things without grumbling or questioning, ¹⁵that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. ¹⁷Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

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 21:23–27

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

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

²³ When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?”

²⁴Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” ²⁷So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

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.

655 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word                                             LSB 655

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Offering – The offering is brought forward to be placed on the altar.

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.

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.

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.

525 Crown Him with Many Crowns                                                         LSB 525

It’s a wonderful time of the year!  OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD SHOEBOX COLLECTION begins today.  Would you please consider packing a shoebox?  There are many children who have never received a gift.  Just think of the joy a child will feel when receiving a box filled with happy surprises.  Most important though, is that every shoebox gives an opportunity to share the Great News of Jesus Christ with a child.  Our goal this year is 140 Shoebox Gospel opportunities.  If you prefer to make a monetary donation to purchase items and cover shipping expenses for the shoeboxes, please make checks payable to “St. Paul’s Lutheran Church” with a designation to “Samaritan’s Purse” on the memo line. Monetary donations are due by October 18th.  If you have any questions, Travis (tpoudin@gmail.com) or Emily Poudin (epoudin2@gmail.com) will be happy to help. 

SONS OF THUNDER will be collecting returnable bottles and cans next Sunday, September 27^th, between services. 

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! 

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.

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.

Confession and Absolution

827 Hark, the Voice of Jesus Calling                                                      LSB 827

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. 116:12–13, 15–16; antiphon: Ps. 116:17

I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanks- | giving*

and call on the name | of the Lord.

What shall I render | to the Lord*

for all his bene- | fits to me?

I will lift up the cup of sal- | vation*

and call on the name | of the Lord.

Precious in the sight | of the Lord*

is the death | of his saints.

O Lord, I am your | servant;*

I am your servant, the son of your maidservant. You have | loosed my bonds.

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

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.

Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding grace and live according to Your Word; 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 55:6–9

⁶“Seek the Lord while he may be found;

call upon him while he is near;

⁷let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,

and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                          Philippians 1:12–14, 19–30

¹²I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, ¹³so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. ¹⁴And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

¹⁹for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, ²⁰as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. ²²If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. ²³I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. ²⁴But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. ²⁵Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, ²⁶so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

²⁷Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. ²⁹For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                               Matthew 20:1–16

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

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

¹“For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. ²After agreeing with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. ³And going out about the third hour he saw others standing idle in the marketplace, ⁴and to them he said, ‘You go into the vineyard too, and whatever is right I will give you.’ ⁵So they went. Going out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour, he did the same. ⁶And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ ⁷They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’ ⁸And when evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last, up to the first.’ ⁹And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius. ¹⁰Now when those hired first came, they thought they would receive more, but each of them also received a denarius. ¹¹And on receiving it they grumbled at the master of the house, ¹²saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ ¹³But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? ¹⁴Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this last worker as I give to you. ¹⁵Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or do you begrudge my generosity?’ ¹⁶So the last will be first, and the first last.”

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.

555 Salvation unto Us Has Come                                                   LSB 555 sts. 1–4

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Offering – The offering is brought forward to be placed on the altar.

Stand

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

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.”

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 163

P  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C  Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 163

Sit

Distribution

Distribution Hymn – The Heart of Worship

When the music fades,

all is stripped away,

And I simply come;

Longing just to bring

something that’s of worth

That will bless Your heart.

I’ll bring You more than a song,

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required.

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear;

You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship

And it’s all about You,

All about You, Jesus.

I’m sorry, Lord for the thing I’ve made it,

When it’s all about You,

All about You, Jesus.

King of endless worth,

no one could express

How much You deserve.

Though I’m weak and poor,

all I have is Yours,

Every single breath.

I’ll bring You more than a song,

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required.

You search much deeper within

Through the way things appear;

You’re looking into my heart.

I’m coming back to the heart of worship

And it’s all about You,

All about You, Jesus.

I’m sorry, Lord for the thing I’ve made it,

When it’s all about You,

All about You, Jesus.

783 Take My Life and Let It Be

5        

6       

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

Hymn – You are My All in All

You are my strength when I am weak.
You are the treasure that I seek.
You are my All in All.
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.

Taking my sin,  my cross,  my shame
Rising again I bless Your name.
You are my All in All
When I fall down You pick me up.
When I am dry You fill my cup.
You are my All in All.

Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Worthy is Your name.

THE SONS OF THUNDER had their first meeting outdoors at the church last Monday with a hot dog cookout.  We are planning a boating event at West Branch Reservoir (Hog Back) on Sunday, September 13^th at 1:00pm.  The can collections last Sunday went well. Thank you to everyone who donated.  The next collection date will be Sunday, September 27th in between services.  The next tentative meeting date is Monday, October 5^th, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.  Thank you.

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.

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.

ST. PAUL’S SINGLE LADIES VISIT will take place at Cheryl Lowman’s house, outside, distancing style, on Wednesday, September 16th 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.

Confession and Absolution

849 Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness                                         LSB 849

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. 143:1–2; antiphon: Ps. 143:9

Deliver me from my enemies, | O Lord!*

I have fled to you for | refuge!

Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for | mercy!*

In your faithfulness answer me, in your | righteousness!

Enter not into judgment with your | servant,*

for no one living is righteous be- | fore you.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 152

Hymn of Praise

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 154

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, hear the devout prayers of Your Church, especially in times of persecution, and grant that what we ask in faith we may obtain; through 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                                                              Genesis 50:15–21

¹⁵When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” ¹⁶So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, ¹⁷‘Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” ¹⁹But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? ²⁰As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. ²¹So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                       Romans 14:1–12

¹As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. ²One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. ³Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. ⁴Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

⁵One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. ⁶The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. ⁷For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. ⁸If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

¹⁰Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; ¹¹for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,

and every tongue shall confess to God.”

¹²So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 18:21–35

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

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

 ²¹ Peter came up and said to [Jesus], “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?”

²²Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

²³“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.

³²Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

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.

606 I Lay My Sins on Jesus                                                                    LSB 606

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

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

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 162

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.

Let the incense of our repentant prayer ascend before You, O Lord, and let Your loving-kindness descend on us that, with purified minds, we may sing Your praises with the Church on earth and the whole heavenly host and may glorify You 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.

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

NOTICES

THE SONS OF THUNDER had their first meeting outdoors at the church last Monday with a hot dog cookout.  We are planning a boating event at West Branch Reservoir (Hog Back) on Sunday, September 13^th at 1:00pm.  The can collections last Sunday went well. Thank you to everyone who donated.  The next collection date will be Sunday, September 27th in between services.  The next tentative meeting date is Monday, October 5^th, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm.  Thank you.

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.

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.

ST. PAUL’S SINGLE LADIES VISIT will take place at Cheryl Lowman’s house, outside, distancing style, on Wednesday, September 16th 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.

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. Please RSVP Judy Byrne by text or phone (860-693-1402). And, of course, invite your friends!!!  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. 

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.