ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH

Transcription

1 ! ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH CHURCH OF THE LUTHERAN CONFESSION LAKEWOOD, COLORADO 14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST AUGUST 26,

2 ST. PAUL EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH 2470 Wadsworth Blvd, Lakewood, CO (303) Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) Thomas Schuetze, pastor ( ) Larry Reed, president Mike Sprengeler, SS Superintendent Ruth Greening, Suzannah Miller, Lisa Sprengeler, organists ORDER OF WORSHIP: SERVICE OF THE WORD (printed on liturgy insert inside front cover of maroon hymnal) Pre-Service Devotion: Psalm 1 (pew bible, p.481) The Hymns: 869, 663, 702, 707 Scripture Lessons: Proverbs 9:1-6, John 6:51-58 Psalm of the Day: From Psalm 36 Sermon Text Ephesians 5:15-20 LIVE THE WISE LIFE 1. Understand God s will for your life: your sanctification. 2. Seize every opportunity He gives you to be strengthened and built up by the Means of Grace. Offering of Our Hearts and Gifts Prayers & the Lord s Prayer Benediction & Closing Hymn (707) A WARM WELCOME IN CHRIST TO OUR WORSHIP GUESTS! We are glad for the opportunity to share with you the Gospel of forgiveness through Jesus! Please introduce yourself to the pastor and sign our guest book. We invite you to come worship with us again. If you would like to know more about St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church and our national organization, the Church of the Lutheran Confession, please speak with the pastor. He will be happy to call on you to share our confession and mission with you. 2

3 TODAY S SCRIPTURES First Lesson Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. Let all who are simple come in here! she says to those who lack judgment. Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding. Psalm of the Day From Psalm 36 P An oracle is within my heart concerning the sinfulness of the wicked: C There is no fear of God before his eyes. P For in his own eyes he flatters himself too much: C To detect or hate his sin. P The words of his mouth are wicked and deceitful: C He has ceased to be wise and to do good. P He commits himself to a sinful course: C And does not reject what is wrong. P Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens: C Your faithfulness to the skies. P How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men: C Find refuge in the shadow of your wings. P They feast on the abundance of your house: C You give them drink from your river of delights. P For with you is the fountain of life: C In your light we see light. P Continue your love to those who know you: C Your righteousness to the upright in heart. Second Lesson John 6:51-58 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? Jesus said to them, I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your forefathers ate manna and died, but he who feeds on this bread will live forever. 3

4 Sermon Text Ephesians 5:15-20 Be very careful, then, how you live not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved ANNOUNCEMENTS Today (8/26) Wed Sun (9/2) 8:30 am Elders Meeting 9:30 am Worship Service 10:45 am Bible Class 6:30 pm Elders Meeting at the parsonage 9:30 am Worship Service with Holy Communion EXTENDED CALENDAR Installation of the Sunday School Staff: Sunday, Sept.9 Sunday School & Bible Class Resume: Sunday, Sept.9, 10:45 am West-Central Pastoral Conference, Watertown, SD: Sept Chadron, Nebraska Ladies Retreat: Sept Fall Clean-Up Day: Saturday, Sept.22 Area Mission Festival hosted by Redeemer, Cheyenne: Sunday, Sept.30, 3:00 pm (followed by mission presentation and potluck). Pastor Joel Fleischer of Berea Lutheran, Sioux Falls, SD will be the guest speaker. SERVING US AT GOD S HOUSE DURING AUGUST Ushers: Larry Reed, Ed Chiappetti Elder: Mike Sprengeler Communion Assistant: Ed Chiappetti DURING SEPTEMBER Ushers: Mike Sprengeler, Don Claeys Elder: Larry Reed Communion Assistant: Mike Sprengeler 4

5 SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAY (ANNIVERSARY) BLESSINGS TO... Ed Chiappetti, Sept 1 Courtney Wamboldt, Sept 24 Brandi Erwin, Sept 3 (Don & Ruth Claeys, Sept 3) Ashley Wamboldt, Sept 4 (Jim & Linda Wamboldt, Sept 9) Pastor Schuetze, Sept 9 (Jon & Michelle Norberg, Sept 12) Chuck Seelye, Sept 16 Kathy Souchek, Sept 17 Joyce Maulis, Sept 19 HYMN SING INVITATION: Redeemer Lutheran of Cheyenne will conduct a hymn sing worship service on Wednesday, September 5, at 7:00 pm. The service will consist of Bible readings, the singing of hymn favorites (including Hark! The Herald Angels Sing; Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness; A Mighty Fortress, and Abide with Me, Fast Falls the Eventide), as well as the sharing of stories behind the hymns. Members of St. Paul are invited. LAST SUNDAY INFORMATION WAS SHARED about a special event that will take place in Loveland on Sunday, September 23. Answer in Genesis forensic scientist, Jennifer Hall Rivera, will give a presentation in the Community Room of Affinity Loveland titled God s Fingerprint Design. Those interested in attending this event are requested to RSVP at this number: The event is free. Donations are welcome to help with travel and lodging costs. For more information see the poster on the bulletin board. MEN FROM CLC CONGREGATIONS across the country are invited to attend the annual Man Up! retreat to be held October at Wyalusing State Park near Prairie du Chien, WI. It affords an opportunity for men to be encouraged in their faith through study of God's Word, in their God-given roles as men of Christ s church, and to build relationships with other men who share their faith and the struggles of living in a sin-filled world. For more information, see the poster on the bulletin board. If you have questions, contact Pastor Nathanael Mayhew (ndmayhew@att.net, ) or visit: CALL NEWS: Mark Gullerud, pastor of the dual parish Redeemer Lutheran in Bowdle, SD, and Zion Lutheran in Ipswich SD, has announced his retirement from the full-time public ministry effective October

6 DAILY BIBLE READINGS FOR HOME DEVOTIONS AUGUST 27 SEPTEMBER 1 Mon 2 Samuel 2:12-3:39 acquaints us with Abner, Saul s five-star general of the North/Israel. He made a treaty with David (3:6-21), but Joab (five-star general of the South) was not as forgiving as David was. Behind David s back, Joab tricked Abner into a parley and murdered him in cold blood for which David cursed him for assassinating a prince and a great man. Lesson: An enemy who becomes an ally should be honored, not humiliated. Tues 2 Samuel 7 God directed Nathan, the royal chaplain, to straighten David out on a national building project: God would build a house for David, not the other way around (1-17). God intended to establish David s line of heirs culminating in Jesus. David s devout response merits attention at every anniversary, synod convention, and church or school dedication. With Your blessing, let the house of Your servant be blessed forever. Glory be to God! Wed 2 Samuel 11 For all that, Satan tripped David with a favorite trick. One lazy evening David turned predator, had sex with the wife of a military man on deployment, and she became pregnant. To make matters worse, David was more intent on avoiding public disgrace than on repenting, so he tried to cover their crime by a stratagem that backfired, for Uriah was more intent on being a good soldier than on being a good husband. So David got rid of Uriah (14-25) and married his widow. (Now, what would God do about that?) Thurs 2 Samuel 12:1-24 God did not abandon David but sent Nathan to nail him on the cross of his own injustice and despising of God s blessings. David broke down, repented, and God forgave him (6-13); nonetheless, his sin impacted his life, his baby, and its mother. Lesson: Since Jesus has borne the punishment for our sins (the wages of sin is death), via Jesus we will rise from our graves to be reunited with God s dear children. Hallelujah! Fri 2 Samuel 14 Absalom had assassinated his half-brother and had fled the country. Although David missed his son, it took some maneuvering for David to grant amnesty to Absalom, and after a few more years, they reunited. Lord, forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those (wayward children) who have trespassed against us and bring them back to You and home to us. Sat 2 Samuel 15 David had more ups-and-downs, mostly because his son was a nasty upstart. In order to avoid confrontation with his rebellious son and the bloodshed of another civil war, David abdicated his throne and headed out of town. When we read the heart-wrenching scene as David left the capital via the Mount of Olives (30), we are reminded of David s greater Son in His similar circumstances rejected and burdened with sorrow. Jesus, we thank You for being so self-sacrificing for us rebels. Amen! 6

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