SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY
“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”
January 18, 2026
AS WE GATHER: Our Life Sunday 2026 theme is based on Psalm 139:13-14: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
This Word of God reveals the care and intention that God takes in the creation of each and every human being. It teaches us that from the very first moments of our conception, God’s hands are upon us, carefully and lovingly crafting each one of us through our fathers and mothers. And while each person is created by God with their own unique characteristics and personalities, the care that God takes in creating each person shows us that every person, from the moment of fertilization on, is precious to God regardless of their age, size, condition, or ability.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Take a moment to notice the * at the beginning of various portions of the order of service. The * indicates the place where it is inappropriate to enter or leave the sanctuary because it marks a time of prayer or respect for the Word of the Lord. Please be considerate of others around you by honoring these notations.
OPENING HYMN: “Sovereign Ruler of the Skies”
Sovereign Ruler of the skies, Ever gracious, ever wise,
All my times are in your hand, All events at your command.
He that formed me in the womb Guides my footsteps till the tomb;
All my times shall ever be Ordered by his wise decree.
Mortal dangers round me fly; Till he bids, I cannot die;
Not a single arrow hits Till, in love, our God permits.
God all-gracious, wise and just, In your hands my life I trust;
You at all times I will bless: Having you, I all possess.
*INVOCATION
Pastor In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People Amen.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION (Psalm 139)
Pastor O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
People You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
Pastor You search out my path and my lying down
People and are acquainted with all my ways.
Pastor Even before a word is on my tongue,
People behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
Pastor You hem me in, behind and before,
People and lay your hand upon me.
Pastor Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
People it is high; I cannot attain it.
Pastor Almighty and Everlasting God, Your understanding comprehends all things. You see how Your creatures have departed from Your wise design. You know the desires of all humankind have become entirely unrighteous. Our thoughts, words, and deeds worship us above You and serve self instead of one another. Yet Your Son has assumed our feeble nature and feels our weakness and need. For the sake of His sacrifice, remember us in mercy. Lay not Your hand of reckoning upon us and grant remission of all our sins.
People Amen.
Pastor Where shall I go from your Spirit?
People Or where shall I flee from your presence?
Pastor If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
People If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
Pastor If I take the wings of the morning
People and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Pastor even there your hand shall lead me,
People and your right hand shall hold me.
Pastor If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
People and the light about me be night,”
Pastor even the darkness is not dark to you;
People the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you.
Pastor O Lord, our Heavenly Father, You pursue us in jealousy to the ends of the heavens and earth. We cannot flee from Your judgment nor hide from the punishments we deserve. But Your Son, our Savior Christ Jesus, has traded our guilt in exchange for His glory. His death and resurrection have brought us the light of life everlasting. Drive our evils away from us with repentance, forgiveness, and faith, that we may behold Your goodness now and evermore.
People Amen.
Pastor For you formed my inward parts;
People you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
Pastor I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
People Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Pastor My frame was not hidden from you,
People when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Pastor Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,
People the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Pastor How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
People How vast is the sum of them!
Pastor If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
People I awake, and I am still with you.
Pastor Children of men, do not fear! Incarnate Christ Jesus has come among us, sharing both womb and world, plumbed the depths of the earth, plundered death and the tomb. Take heart, for the Almighty Maker has created, redeemed, and called you His own. Upon your confession, in the stead and by the command of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People Amen.
Pastor Oh, that you would slay the wicked, O God!
People O men of blood, depart from me!
Pastor They speak against you with malicious intent;
People your enemies take your name in vain.
Pastor Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?
People And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?
Pastor I hate them with complete hatred;
People I count them my enemies.
Pastor Search me, O God, and know my heart!
People Try me and know my thoughts!
Pastor And see if there be any grievous way in me,
People and lead me in the way everlasting!
People Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Pastor Lord God, our Father and Savior, open our hearts to receive and delight in Your wonders. Open our lips to rejoice and proclaim all Your works. Strengthen us in flesh and spirit to refuse wickedness and replace the lust for control with Your own truth and love. Give us courage to rescue the vulnerable and compassion to relieve the victim that together we may share Your life.
People Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE: “How Great Thou Art”
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the works Thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
But when I think that God, His Son not sparing,
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in—
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim: “My God, how great Thou art!”
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee,
How great Thou art! How great Thou art!
OLD TESTAMENT Job 10:9-13 Pew Bible Page 800
Leader This is the Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
EPISTLE Hebrews 2:5-18 Pew Bible Page 1864
Leader This is the Word of the Lord.
People Thanks be to God.
*ALLELUIA AND VERSE:
Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.
*HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 10:24-33 Pew Bible Page 1511
Pastor The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the tenth chapter.
People Glory to You, O Lord.
After the reading:
Pastor This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People Praise to You, O Christ.
*APOSTLES’ CREED:
People: 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 everlasting. Amen.
Sermon Hymn: “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is your health and salvation!
Let all who hear Now to His temple draw near
Joining in glad adoration!
Praise to the Lord, who o’er all things is wondrously reigning
And, as on wings of an eagle, uplifting, sustaining.
Have you not seen All that is needful has been
Sent by His gracious ordaining?
Praise to the Lord, who has fearfully, wondrously made you,
Health has bestowed and, when heedlessly falling, has stayed you.
What need or grief Ever has failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade you.
Praise to the Lord, who will prosper your work and defend you;
Surely His goodness and mercy shall daily attend you.
Ponder anew What the Almighty can do
As with His love He befriends you.
Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that has life and breath, come now with praises before Him!
Let the Amen Sound from His people again;
Gladly forever adore Him!
SERMON
OFFERING HYMN: “Gracious Savior, Gentle Shepherd”
Gracious Savior, gentle Shepherd,
Children all are dear to you;
May your loving arms enfold them
In your care their whole life through.
By your tending and protecting
Keep them safe in all they do.
Tender Shepherd, never leave them,
Never let them go astray;
By your warning love directed,
May they walk the narrow way.
Thus direct them, thus defend them
Lest they fall an easy prey.
By your holy Word instruct them,
Fill their minds with heav’nly light;
By your pow’rful grace convince them
Always to approve what’s right.
Let them feel your yoke is easy,
Let them find your burden light.
Taught to love the holy praises
Which on earth your children sing,
With their lips and hearts, sincerely,
Glad thank-off’rings may they bring,
Then with all the saints in glory
Join to praise their Lord and King.
*PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
O Almighty Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, You have fearfully and wonderfully made us, created, redeemed, and called every member of our race from fertilization to forever, no matter what age, appearance, or ability. Lend us Your Holy Spirit that our lips may sound it forth with courage and our lives may show it forth in compassion. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
In Your book are written, Lord God, every one of our days. Receive our thankfulness for the birthdays and anniversaries celebrated among us this week (especially [name(s)]), and graciously strengthen us by these blessings to appreciate each neighbor as a gift and privilege. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
You have searched us and see every grievous way in us. Forgive us for any hesitance in assisting our neighbors endangered by sinful measures such as abortion and assisted suicide. Grant the vulnerable ones protection and rescue, grant our land reprieve from these evils, and grant repentance to all who permit or promote them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Your all-encompassing presence and power hems us in behind and before. Work wisdom, commitment, and integrity in our officials and elected representatives that they may exercise Your authority to restrain vice and reward virtue. Secure for us a safe, free, and fair nation wherein we implement the sanctity of every human life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Dear Father in heaven, even the darkness is as light to You. Let Your relief and healing rest upon those among our number with injuries, illnesses, and any other ailments of body or soul. Draw near in consolation to those of us experiencing surprise pregnancy, terminal diagnosis, infertility, abuse, or abandonment, that they may find hope and joy in Your kingdom. For Jesus’ sake, take away the guilt and shame of hearts broken by the abortion of their own children. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lead us, O Lord and Savior, in the way everlasting. Unite us in Your Son as brothers and sisters sharing faith and fellowship unto abundant and eternal life, through the same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
*LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Taught by our Lord and trusting His promises, we are bold to pray:
People: 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
BENEDICTION
Pastor The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.
People Amen.
CLOSING HYMN: “God, Who Made the Earth and Heaven”
God, who made the earth and heaven, Darkness and light:
You the day for work have given, For rest the night.
May Your angel guards defend us,
Slumber sweet Your mercy send us,
Holy dreams and hopes attend us, All through the night.
And when morn again shall call us To run life’s way.
May we still, whate’er befall us, Your will obey.
From the pow’r of evil hide us,
In the narrow pathway guide us,
Never be Your smile denied us All through the day.
Guard us waking, guard us sleeping, And when we die,
May we in Your mighty keeping All peaceful lie.
When the last dread call shall wake us,
Then, O Lord, do not forsake us,
But to reign in glory take us With You on high.
Δ Holy Father, throned in heaven, All-holy Son,
Holy Spirit, freely given, Blest Three in One:
Grant us grace, we now implore You,
Till we lay our crowns before You
And in worthier strains adore You While ages run.
POSTLUDE
PARTICIPATING:
Worship Leader/Preaching Pastor Justin D. Kane
Organist Mrs. Kolleen Hosford
Worship Elder Mr. Alan Kleinendorst
Lay Reader Mrs. Nancy McHone
Greeters Steve and Arleen Block
Door Greeter Brian Williams
SANCTITY OF LIFE SUNDAY
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
1024 West Eighth Street, Waterloo Iowa