Loving People To Christ
16th Sunday of Pentecost, September 24th
Prayer
When did you see a hurt or need that, with compassion, you helped solve? How did your compassion make you feel? All around us are needs, and God will bring them to our attention. Those needs can motivate us to put our compassion into action, and those actions will encourage others as we show them the love of Christ.
Collect
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. Amen
Old Testament Reading Psalm 22
Epistle Reading Philippians 4: 10-13
Holy Gospel John 6: 1-14
Worship Theme " When Life Languishes" Sermon Psalm 22
15th Sunday of Pentecost, September 17th
Prayer
Lord Jesus, walk with us on this journey of life. Show us Your way of love and mercy. For Jesus walked the path chosen by His father to give us sinful creatures forgiveness through Him. Let us remember to help one another and show compassion, forgiveness, and mercy. Let our faith be strong as we walk each day with our Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
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. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Psalm 92
Epistle Reading Ephesians 3: 14-21
Holy Gospel John 10: 7-18
Sermon Psalm 92
14th Sunday of Pentecost, September 10th
Prayer
Lord our God and our Father, we thank You for all the light you let shine on earth to gladden our hearts. Your light shows us how to live in Your creation with open eyes and open hearts, accepting in a childlike way all the good gifts from Your hand. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Collect
Old Testament Reading
Epistle Reading
Holy Gospel
Sermon
12th Sunday of Pentecost, August 20th
Prayer
This is comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life. Lord, turn my eyes to my Redeemer that I may have hope. For this is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
Almighty and everlasting Father, You give Your children many blessings even though we are undeserving. In every trial and temptation grant us steadfast confidence in Your loving kindness and mercy. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8
Epistle Reading Romans 11: 1-2, 13-15, 28-32
Holy Gospel St. Matthew 15: 21-28
Sermon "Dogs, Bread, and Mercy"
Eleventh Sunday of Pentecost, August 13th
Prayer
When we consider the sums of our lives, we are clearly a mixture of success and failures, pleasure and pain, wins and losses. Even on this side of our Baptism, and our making the good confession of Christ as our Savior, we struggle. We are simultaneously saint as much as we are sinner. Thank You, Jesus, that nothing can separate me from the life I have in You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Collect
Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Job 38: 4-18
Epistle Reading Romans 10: 5-17
Holy Gospel Matthew 14: 22-33
Sermon "The Saving Message of Christ"
Tenth Sunday of Pentecost, August 6th
Prayer
Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Blessed Savior, let me be a fragrant offering and sacrifice toward the women and men in my life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 55: 1-5
Epistle Reading Romans 9: 1-13
Holy Gospel Matthew 14: 13-21
Sermon "Feed Them"
Ninth Sunday of Pentecost, July 30th
Prayer
Have you ever felt the force of waves? They throw us off balance or even carry us out to sea. We have to fight against them to stay on our feet. Paul compares being carried away from Jesus by false teachings to a child tossed in the the waves. Jesus spoke the full truth of our sinfulness, and yet He loved us. Anchored to Jesus, we too can speak the truth in love to those who need Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love, that, receiving what You have promised, we may love what you have commanded. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Deuteronomy 7: 6-9
Epistle Reading Romans 8: 28-39
Holy Gospel Matthew 13: 44-52
Sermon "Parables of the Kingdom"
Eighth Sunday of Pentecost, July 23rd
Prayer
This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life. Lord, turn my eyes to my Redeemer that I may have hope. For this is my comfort in my affliction, that Your promise gives me life. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You in perfect joy hereafter. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 44: 6-8
Epistle Reading Romans 8: 18-27
Holy Gospel Matthew 13: 24-30, 36-43
Sermon "As in the Days of Noah"
Seventh Sunday of Pentecost, July 16th
Prayer
They cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress. As we turn to God and begin relying on His wisdom and strength, things often begin to shift and reshape. We discover the God who alone is capable of profoundly transforming our most dire predicaments and answering our most vexing questions. God brings hope out of despair and beauty out of ruin.
God, I need Your transforming work. Please change what only You can change, in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear him, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 55: 10-13
Epistle Reading Romans 8: 12-17
Holy Gospel Matthew 13: 1-9, 18-23
Sermon "Mercy...Not Sacrifice"
Sixth Sunday of Pentecost, July 9th
Prayer
Prayer is hard and yet it's not. God knows our weaknesses and delights to intercede for us. Jesus stepped into this world to carry our sins to the cross, now he intercedes on our behalf before the throne of God. What glorious love that the Lord not only hears our prayers but even helps us pray. When the words are a jumbled mess in our heads, the Holy Spirit steps in to make sense of them. Lord Jesus, thank You for interceding to do for us that which we cannot do ourselves. Hear our needs both spoken and unspoken. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Collect
Gracious God, our Heavenly Father, Your mercy attends to us all our days. Be our strength and support amid the wearisome changes of this world, and at life's end, grant us Your promised rest and the full joys of Your salvation. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Zechariah 9: 9-12
Epistle Reading Romans 7: 14-25
Holy Gospel Matthew 11: 25-30
Sermon "Come to me...I will give you rest!"
Fifth Sunday of Pentecost, July 2nd
Prayer
Father, only You could take something as horrific as the cross and turn it into a thing of beauty! By the blood that was spilled on that instrument of torture, I am made whole and pure. You stretched out Your lavish mercy through the nail-pierced hands of Your Son, ushering me into a right relationship with You. I am forever grateful for the beauty of the cross. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Collect
Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 28: 5-9
Epistle Reading Romans 7: 1-13
Holy Gospel Matthew 10: 34-42
Sermon "This Means War!"
Fourth Sunday of Pentecost, June 25th
Prayer
Lord, You created a world that is an exciting place with so much to do, but let it never take me away from my faith. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
O God, because Your abiding presence always goes with us, keep us aware of Your daily mercies that we may live secure and intent with Your eternal love. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Jeremiah 20: 7-13
Epistle Reading Romans 6: 12-23
Holy Gospel Matthew 10: 5a, 21-33
Sermon "Why Doesn't the World Like Me?"
Third Sunday of Pentecost, June 18th, Father's Day!
Prayer
I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in Heaven and on earth derives its name. Father God, help me nurture and protect our children and others today , revealing Your good qualities to them. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
Collect
Almighty, eternal God, in the Word of Your apostles and prophets You have proclaimed to us Your saving will. Grant us faith to believe Your promises that we may receive eternal salvation. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Exodus 19: 2-8
Epistle Reading Romans 5: 6-15
Holy Gospel St Matthew 9: 35- 10: 8
Sermon "Go! Make Disciples! Baptize! Teach!"
Second Sunday of Pentecost, June 11th
Prayer
Lord, Life is hard. Help me have hope that it won't always be like this. Let the Holy Spirit be the driver in my life, taking me to the good that Jesus has for me. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
Almighty and most merciful God, You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, to seek and to save the lost. Graciously open our ears and our hearts to hear His call and to follow Him by faith that we may feast with Him forever in His kingdom. Through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Hosea 5: 15 - 6: 6
Epistle Reading Romans 4: 13-24
Holy Gospel St Matthew 9: 9-13
Sermon "Follow Me!"
Trinity Sunday, June 4th
Prayer
Whoever does not take up their cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Heavenly Father, forgive me when I shrink back in fear and betray You by my words and actions. I need Your strength to live boldly as a believer in Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities, for You, O Father, Son and Holy Spirit, live and reign. jOne God, now and forever. Amen.
Old Testament Reading Genesis 1:1 - 2:4
Epistle Reading Acts 2:14a - 22:36
Holy Gospel St Matthew 28: 16-20
Sermon "Go! Make Disciples! Baptize! Teach!"
Pentecost Sunday, May 28th
Prayer
Most gracious God, we praise You for the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives so that we may give witness to the life-giving work of Jesus, our Redeemer. You have blessed our lives with the gospel and You give us to one another in community for mutual support. Receive our offerings as gifts of grateful hearts. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Collect
O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation. Through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Old Testament Reading Numbers 11: 24-30
Epistle Reading Acts 2: 1-21
Holy Gospel John 7: 37-39
Sermon "Moses Gets His Wish"