TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
God Declares Us Righteous Unsheathing His Word Against All Evil
October 20, 2024
AS WE GATHER: “’Let there be light,’ and there was light” (Gen. 1:1--2:3). The Father speaks, and it is so. His Word accomplishes what it says. He created all things out of nothing through His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father’s creative Word became flesh in Jesus Christ, that He might restore fallen creation and save fallen man. To the nobleman whose son was deathly ill, Jesus says, “Go; your son will live” (John 4:46-54). And in the very hour Jesus spoke, the nobleman’s son was made well. The Word of Christ still accomplishes what it says. In baptism, absolution, and the Lord’s Supper, He declares His life-giving forgiveness to you, and it is so. This saving Word of God is the sword of the Spirit by which you are able to fight off all the onslaughts of the devil (Eph. 6:10-17). “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, That you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”
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.
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Matins
Organ Prelude
Announcements
Opening Hymn LSB 668 “Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You”
*CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION:
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father,
beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.
Pastor: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
People: who made heaven and earth.
Pastor: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.
People: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Pastor: O almighty God, merciful Father,
People: I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have
ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am
heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless
mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be
gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.
Pastor: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word,
announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my 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.
"O Lord, open my lips…” LSB 219
PSALMODY
Venite: LSB 220ff
READINGS
Catechism Review Question #62 How does this commandment apply to some specific issues today?
Old Testament: Genesis 1:1-2:3 Pew Bible Page 1
Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-17 Pew Bible Page 1824
*Holy Gospel: John 4:46-54 Pew Bible Page 1653
*Common Responsory LSB 221
Office Hymn: LSB 575 “My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less”
Sermon
Offertory. LSB 666 “O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe”
*Te Deum LSB 223
PRAYER
*Kyrie: LSB 227
*Lord’s Prayer: LSB 227
*Prayer of the Church
Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
20 October 2024
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Lord of hosts, Your Word is a weapon that teaches our hands to war and our fingers to fight. Strengthen us for every spiritual battle, and establish us to resist the lies and temptations of the old evil foe. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Defend Your Church against the schemes of the devil. Equip Your Church, and especially all pastors, with the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, that Your creation may be recalled from futility back to its Creator. Outfit Your saints with the full armor of God, with salvation, faith, peace, righteousness, truth and every benefit that comes from Christ Jesus, that we may be able to stand firm to the end. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, You entrusted Your creation to man to tend, subdue and keep. Bless the farmers who tend the land for its increase. Grant them a rich harvest and so provide for us also, as each lives out his particular calling according to Your will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, You have said by Your apostle that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities and cosmic powers over this present darkness and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Lead us to respect godly authorities, to oppose what stands against Your Word and to see every unbelieving person as Your creature for whom Christ has died. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, do not despise our prayers because of our weak faith. Grant life and healing to those who are troubled, ill or at the point of death. Free us from all adversities to serve You devoutly in all good works. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty and everlasting God, in Your Son You have promised us the forgiveness of sins, righteousness and everlasting life. Enliven our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that in daily prayer we may seek help from Christ against all temptations and, believing His promises, obtain that for which we pray and be saved at the last; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
*COLLECT OF THE DAY:
Pastor: O Lord,
People: keep Your household, the Church, in continual godliness that through Your protection she may be free from all adversities and devoutly given to serve You in good works; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
*Collect for Grace: LSB 228
*Benedicamus/Benediction: LSB 228
Closing Hymn: LSB 661 “The /son of God Goes Forth to War”
Please help us keep our prayer requests current by calling the office (235.6705) with updates – especially with our long term requests and military personnel.
TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
1024 West Eighth Street, Waterloo Iowa
319.235.6705