St. Paul Lutheran Church and Child Development Center - San Antonio TX

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The Ringing of the Bells and The Welcome

 

Opening Hymn: Before You Lord We Bow (966)

Before You, Lord, we bow, Our God who reigns above

And rules the world below, Boundless in pow'r and love.

Our thanks we bring, In joy and praise,

Our hearts we raise, To You, our King!

The nation You have blest, May well Your love declare,

From foes and fears at rest, Protected by Your care.

For this bright day, For this fair land,

Gifts of Your hand–Our thanks we pay.

May ev'ry mountain height, Each vale and forest green,

Shine in Your Word's pure light, And its rich fruits be seen!

May ev'ry tongue, Be tuned to praise

And join to raise, A grateful song.

Earth, hear your Maker's voice; Your great Redeemer own;

Believe, obey, rejoice, And worship Him alone.

Cast down your pride, Your sin deplore,

And bow before, The Crucified.

And when in pow'r He comes, Oh, may our native land

From all its rending tombs, Send forth a glorious band,

A countless throng, With joy to sing

To heav'n's high King, Salvation's song!

 

Invocation

Pastor:           In the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

People:          Amen.

 

Confession and Forgiveness

Pastor:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:         Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:           Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:         Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:         Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

 

(Silent Prayer) (Momento de Oración Personal)

 

Pastor:           If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

People:          But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pastor:           Let us then confess our sins to God our Father:

People:          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. 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.

Pastor:           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 Son and of                             the Holy Spirit.

People:         Amen.

           

The Prayer of the Day

God, our light and salvation: illuminate our lives that we may see your goodness and look upon your beauty to be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Scripture Readings (After each reading:)

Reader:          This is the Word of the Lord.

People:          Thanks be to God!

 

Isaiah 45:1–7

This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains[ ; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron.  I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting people may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Paul, Silas and Timothy,To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. Thanksgiving for the Thessalonians’ Faith. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You known how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a models to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia; your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from dead; Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

 

Matthew 22:15–22

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are.  Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.

 

The Apostle’s Creed

    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.

 

Kid Sermon

 

Sermon Hymn: Take My Life and Let It Be (783)

Take my life and let it be,

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Take my moments & my days,

Let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands and let them move,

At the impulse of Thy love;

Take my feet and let them be,

Swift and beautiful for Thee.

Take my voice and let me sing,

Always, only for my King;

Take my lips and let them be,

Filled with messages from Thee.

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold;

Take my intellect and use,

Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour,

At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself, and I will be,

Ever, only, all for Thee.

 

Sermon

 

The Prayers

 

Service of the Sacrament

Pastor:            The Lord be with you.

People:          And also with you.

Pastor:            Lift up your hearts.

People:          We lift them to the Lord. 

Pastor:            Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:         It is right to give Him thanks and praise.       

Pastor:            It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should   always sing of your glory, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. For you are the hope of the nations, the builder of the city that is to come. Your love made visible in Jesus Christ brings home the lost, restores the sinner and gives dignity to the despised. In his face your light shines out, flooding lives with goodness and truth, and making us all, a divided and broken humanity, forever one in your kingdom.

People:          Amen.

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

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 to faithfully eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us to in His own testament. Gather us together 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. Receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone be all glory, honor, and worship, now and forever. Amen

 

Lamb of God

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

grant us peace.

 

Consecration & Distribution

 

Post Communion Song   

Thank the Lord and sing His praise;

tell everyone what He has done.

Let everyone who seeks the Lord,

rejoice and proudly bear His name.

He recalls His promises, and leads His people forth in joy

with shouts of thanksgiving.  Alleluia, alleluia.

 

Post-Communion Prayer

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 in faith toward You and in 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. Amen.

 

Closing Hymn: Give Thanks With A Grateful Heart (806)

Give thanks with a grateful heart,

Give thanks to the Holy One,

Give thanks because He’s given

Jesus Christ His Son.

And now let the weak say “I am strong,”

Let the poor say “I am rich,”

Because of what the Lord has done for us.

Give thanks, give thanks.

 

The Blessing

 

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Watch Video

 

 

The Ringing of the Bells and The Welcome

Opening Hymn: IN Christ Alone

In Christ alone my hope is found;

He is my light, my strength, my song;

This cornerstone, this solid ground,

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.

What heights of love, what depths of peace,

When fears are stilled, when strivings cease!

My comforter, my all in all; Here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, Who took on flesh,

Fullness of God in helpless babe!

This gift of love and righteousness,

Scorned by the ones He came to save.

Till on that cross as Jesus died,The wrath of God was satisfied;

For ev’ry sin on Him was laid; Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,

Light of the world by darkness slain;

Then bursting forth in glorious day,

Up from the grave He rose again!

And as He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;

For I am His and He is mine;

Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death; This is the pow’r of Christ in me;

From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny.

No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,

Can ever pluck me from His hand;

Till He returns or calls me home;

Here in the pow’r of Christ I stand.

Invocation

Pastor:           In the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

People:          Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Pastor:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:         Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:           Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:         Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:         Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

(Silent Prayer) (Momento de Oración Personal)

Pastor:           If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

People:          But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Pastor:           Let us then confess our sins to God our Father:

People:          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. 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.

Pastor:           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 Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People:         Amen.

           

The Prayer of the Day

Loving and graciosus God, teach us to be open to your truth and to trust in your love, that we may live each day with confidence in the salvation which is given through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Scripture Readings (After each reading:)

Reader:          This is the Word of the Lord.

People:          Thanks be to God!

 

Isaiah 25:6-9

⁶ Here on Mount Zion the Lord Almighty will prepare a banquet for all the nations of the world—a banquet of the richest food and the finest wine. ⁷ Here he will suddenly remove the cloud of sorrow that has been hanging over all the nations. ⁸ The Sovereign Lord will destroy death for ever! He will wipe away the tears from everyone’s eyes and take away the disgrace his people have suffered throughout the world. The Lord himself has spoken!  ⁹ When it happens, everyone will say, “He is our God! We have put our trust in him, and he has rescued us. He is the Lord! We have put our trust in him, and now we are happy and joyful because he has saved us.”

 

Philippians 4:4-13

⁴ May you always be joyful in your union with the Lord. I say it again: rejoice!  ⁵ Show a gentle attitude towards everyone. The Lord is near. ⁶ Don’t worry about anything, but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a thankful heart. ⁷And God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, will keep your hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.  ⁸ In conclusion, my brothers and sisters, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable. ⁹ Put into practice what you learned and received from me, both from my words and from my actions. And the God who gives us peace will be with you.  ¹⁰ In my life in union with the Lord it is a great joy to me that after so long a time you once more had the chance of showing that you care for me. I don’t mean that you had stopped caring for me—you just had no chance to show it. ¹¹ And I am not saying this because I feel neglected, for I have learned to be satisfied with what I have. ¹² I know what it is to be in need and what it is to have more than enough. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether I am full or hungry, whether I have too much or too little. ¹³ I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.

 

Matthew 22:1-14

¹ Jesus again used parables in talking to the people. ²“The Kingdom of heaven is like this. Once there was a king who prepared a wedding feast for his son. ³He sent his servants to tell the invited guests to come to the feast, but they did not want to come. ⁴So he sent other servants with this message for the guests: ‘My feast is ready now; my steers and prize calves have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast!’ ⁵But the invited guests paid no attention and went about their business: one went to his farm, another to his shop, ⁶while others grabbed the servants, beat them, and killed them. ⁷The king was very angry; so he sent his soldiers, who killed those murderers and burnt down their city. ⁸Then he called his servants and said to them, ‘My wedding feast is ready, but the people I invited did not deserve it. ⁹Now go to the main streets and invite to the feast as many people as you find.’ ¹⁰So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, good and bad alike; and the wedding hall was filled with people.  ¹¹ “The king went in to look at the guests and saw a man who was not wearing wedding clothes. ¹²‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ the king asked him. But the man said nothing. ¹³ Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him up hand and foot, and throw him outside in the dark. There he will cry and grind his teeth.’ ”  ¹⁴ And Jesus concluded, “Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

 

The Apostle’s Creed

    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.

 

Kid Sermon

Sermon Hymn: Lord, Whose Love In Humble Service (848)

Lord, whose love through humble service 

Bore the weight of human need, 

Who upon the cross, forsaken, Offered mercy’s perfect deed,

We, Your servants, bring the worship

Not of voice alone, but heart,

Consecrating to Your purpose,

Ev’ry gift that you impart.

Still Your children wander homeless;

Still the hungry cry for bread;

Still the captives long for freedom;

Still in grief we mourn our dead.

As, O Lord, Your deep compassion

Healed the sick and freed the soul,

Use the love Your Spirit kindles

Still to save and make us whole.

As we worship, grant us vision,

Till Your love’s revealing light

In its height and depth and greatness,

Dawns upon our quickened sight,

Making known the needs and burdens

Your compassion bids us bear,

Stirring us to tireless striving,

Your abundant life to share.

Called by worship to Your service,

Forth in Your dear name we go,

To the child, the youth, the aged,

Love in living deeds to show;

Hope and health, goodwill and comfort,

Counsel, aid, and peace we give,

That Your servants, Lord, in freedom

May Your mercy know and live.

Sermon

The Prayers

Padre Nuestro

Padre Nuestro, que estás en el Cielo

Santificado, santificado sea tu nombre

Vénganos tu reino, Señor.  Hágase tu santa voluntad

En la tierra como en el Cielo se hace tu santa voluntad.

Padre nuestro.....

Danos hoy, danoslo Señor, nuestro pan, el pan de cada día.

Y perdona nuestras deudas así como nosotros perdonamos.

Padre nuestro.....

No nos dejes caer en tentación, antes bien líbranos del mal.

No nos dejes caer en tentación, líbranos del mal.

Padre nuestro.....

Service of the Sacrament

Pastor:            The Lord be with you.

People:          And also with you.

Pastor:            Lift up your hearts.

People:          We lift them to the Lord. 

Pastor:            Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:         It is right to give Him thanks and praise.       

Pastor:            It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should   always sing of your glory, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. For you are the hope of the nations, the builder of the city that is to come. Your love made visible in Jesus Christ brings home the lost, restores the sinner and gives dignity to the despised. In his face your light shines out, flooding lives with goodness and truth, and making us all, a divided and broken humanity, forever one in your kingdom.

People:          Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

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 to faithfully eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us to in His own testament. Gather us together 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. Receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone be all glory, honor, and worship, now and forever. Amen

 

Lamb of God

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

grant us peace.

Consecration & Distribution

Post Communion Song     

Thank the Lord and sing His praise;

tell everyone what He has done.

Let everyone who seeks the Lord,

rejoice and proudly bear His name.

He recalls His promises, and leads His people forth in joy

with shouts of thanksgiving.  Alleluia, alleluia.

Post-Communion Prayer

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 in faith toward You and in 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. Amen.

 

Closing Hymn: Rejoice, O Pilgrim Throng  (813)

Rejoice, O pilgrim throng! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing;

Your festal banner wave on high, The cross of Christ, your king.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing!

With voice as full and strong, As ocean's surging praise,

Send forth the sturdy hymns of old, The psalms of ancient days.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing

With all the angel choirs, With all the saints on earth

Pour out the strains of joy and bliss, True rapture, noblest mirth.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing

At last the march shall end; The wearied ones shall rest;

The pilgrims find their home at last, Jerusalem the blest.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing

Praise Him who reigns on high, The Lord whom we adore;

The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, One God forevermore.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice, give thanks, and sing.

 

The Blessing

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Watch Video

 

The Ringing of the Bells and The Welcome

Opening Hymn: #507 (vs. 1-3), “Holy, Holy, Holy”

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,

Which wert and art and evermore shall be.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,

Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,

Perfect in power, in love and purity.

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Invocation

Pastor: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness

Pastor: Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People: Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor: Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

People: Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor: Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People: Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

(Moment of Silent Prayer) (Momento de Oración Personal)

 

Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

People: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse

us from all unrighteousness.

Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God:

People: 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. 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.

 

Pastor: 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 Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

 

The Prayer of the Day

Almighty, eternal God, all good things come from you, and every new day reveals your glory. Receive our worship, and enable us also to reveal your glory in each step we take as we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Amen.

 

Scripture Readings (After each reading:)

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God!

Psalm 118:21-29

²¹ I will give you thanks, O Lord, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. ²² The stone the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone; ²³ the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. ²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ²⁵ O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. ²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. ²⁷ The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. ²⁸ You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. ²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

 

Philippians 3:4b-14

⁴ If anyone thinks they can trust in human credentials, I have even more reason to feel that way. ⁵ I was circumcised when I was a week old. I am an Israelite by birth, of the tribe of Benjamin, a pure-blooded Hebrew. As far as keeping the Jewish Law is concerned, I was a Pharisee, ⁶ and I was so zealous that I persecuted the church. As far as a person can be righteous by obeying the commands of the Law, I was without fault. ⁷But all those things that I once counted as important I now consider as worthless for Christ’s sake. ⁸Not only those things; I consider everything as worthless when compared with what is so much more valuable, knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have thrown everything away; I consider it all as mere garbage, so that I may gain Christ ⁹and be united with him. I no longer have a righteousness of my own, the kind that is gained by obeying the Law. I now have the righteousness that is given through faith in Christ, the righteousness that comes from God and is based on faith. ¹⁰ All I want is to know Christ and to experience the power of his resurrection, to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death, ¹¹ in the hope that I myself will be raised from death to life. ¹² I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect. But I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Of course, my brothers and sisters, I really do not think that I have already taken hold of it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and strain forward towards what is ahead. ¹⁴ So I run straight towards the goal in order to win the prize, which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.

 

Matthew 21:33-46

³³ “Listen to another parable,” Jesus said. “There was once a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the winepress, and built a watchtower. Then he let out the vineyard to tenants and went on a journey. ³⁴When the time came to gather the grapes, he sent his servants to the tenants to receive his share of the harvest. ³⁵The tenants seized his servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned another. ³⁶Again the man sent other servants, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. ³⁷Last of all he sent his son to them. ‘Surely they will respect my son,’ he said. ³⁸But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the owner’s son. Come on, let’s kill him, and we will get his property!’ ³⁹So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. ⁴⁰ “Now, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” Jesus asked. ⁴¹ “He will certainly kill those evil men,” they answered, “and let the vineyard out to other tenants, who will give him his share of the harvest at the right time.” ⁴² Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read what the Scriptures say? ‘The stone which the builders rejected as worthless turned out to be the most important of all. This was done by the Lord; what a wonderful sight it is!’ ⁴³ “And so I tell you,” added Jesus, “the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the proper fruits.” ⁴⁵ The chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables and knew that he was talking about them, ⁴⁶so they tried to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

 

The Apostle’s Creed

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.

Kid Sermon

Hymn: "O God, You Are My God"

(by Beaker, c. 1991 Kid Brothers of St. Frank Publishing, with permission, CCLI #535024)

O God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you.

O God, you are my God, and I will ever praise you.

I will seek you in the morning, and I will learn to walk in your ways;

And step by step you lead me, and I will follow you all of my days.

And I will follow you all of my days,

And I will follow you all of my days,

And step by step you lead me, and I will follow you all of my days.

Sermon

A Prayer Song: “¿Que Sería de Mi?”/“What Would Be of My Life?”

(by Jesús Adrián Romero, c. 1998, Vástago Music)

¿Que sería de mí si no me hubieras alcanzado?

¿Donde estaría hoy si no me hubieras perdonado?

Tendría un vacío en mi corazón.

Vagaría sin rumbo, sin dirección.

Si no fuera por tu gracia y por tu amor.

Si no fuera por tu gracia y por tu amor.

Sería como pájaro herido que se muere en el suelo.

Sería como ciervo que brama por agua en el desierto.

Si no fuera por tu gracia y por tu amor.

Si no fuera por tu gracia y por tu amor.

What would be of my life if you had never come to love me?

Where would I be right now if you had never forgiven me?

My heart would be filled with an empty space,

And my life with no aim and no hope would race....

If it wasn’t for your grace and your love for me!

If it wasn’t for your grace and your love for me!

I’d be like a wounded bird lying helpless on the ground.

I’d be like a deer seeking water where none can be found.

If it wasn’t for your grace and your love for me!

If it wasn’t for your grace and your love for me!

The Prayers

The Lord’s Prayer

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.

 

Service of the Sacrament

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

Pastor: Lift up your hearts.

People: We lift them to the Lord.

Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

Pastor: It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should always sing of your glory, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord. For you are the hope of the nations, the builder of the city that is to come. Your love made visible in Jesus Christ brings home the lost, restores the sinner and gives dignity to the despised. In his face your light shines out, flooding lives with goodness and truth, and making us all, a divided and broken humanity, forever one in your kingdom.

People: Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

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 to faithfully eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us to in His own testament. Gather us together 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. Receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone be all glory, honor, and worship, now and forever. Amen.

 

Lamb of God

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

grant us peace.

Consecration & Distribution

Post Communion Song

Thank the Lord and sing His praise;

tell everyone what He has done.

Let everyone who seeks the Lord

rejoice and proudly bear His name.

He recalls His promises

and leads His people forth in joy

with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.

Post-Communion Prayer

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 in faith toward You and in 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. Amen.

 

Closing Hymn: “My Hope is Built...” (# 575)

My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

No merit of my own I claim but wholly lean on Jesus’ name.

[Refrain] On Christ the solid rock I stand;

All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness veils his lovely face,

I rest on his unchanging grace;

In every high and stormy gale

my anchor holds within he veil. [Refrain]

His oath, his covenant, his blood sustain me in the raging flood;

When all supports are washed away,

He then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]

When he shall come with trumpet sound,

Oh, may I then in him be found,

Clothed in his righteousness alone,

Redeemed to stand before the throne! [Refrain]

The Blessing