Service Outline for Sunday, October 26, 2025

                             Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church!

PRELUDE                    “A Mighty Fortress”                                    Arr. Alice Jordan

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

Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Most merciful God,

we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the  Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.  

HYMN                  A Mighty Fortress is Our God                                     #504

GREETING

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

KYRIE

HYMN OF PRAISE                              

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Children's message

First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34

³¹ The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. ³² It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the Lord. ³³ But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ³⁴ No longer shall they teach one another or say to each other, “Know the Lord,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God  

Psalm: Psalm 46

¹ God is our refuge and strength, a very present ^| help in trouble.
² Therefore we will not fear, though the ^| earth be moved,
  and though the mountains shake in the depths ^| of the sea;
³ though its waters ^| rage and foam, and though the mountains tremble ^| with its tumult.
⁴ There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
  the holy habitation of ^| the Most High.
⁵ God is in the midst of the city; it shall ^| not be shaken; God shall help it at the ^| break of day.
⁶ The nations rage, and the ^| kingdoms shake; God speaks, and the earth ^| melts away. 
⁷ The Lord of ^| hosts is with us; the God of Jacob ^| is our stronghold.
⁸ Come now, regard the works ^| of the Lord, what desolations God has brought upon the earth;
⁹ behold the one who makes war to cease in ^| all the world;
  who breaks the bow, and shatters the spear, and burns the ^| shields with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, then, and know that ^| I am God;
  I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted ^| in the earth.”
¹¹ The Lord of ^| hosts is with us; the God of Jacob ^| is our stronghold. 

Second Reading: Romans 3:19-28

¹⁹ Now we know that, whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For no human will be justified before him by deeds prescribed by the law, for through the law comes the knowledge of sin. ²¹ But now, apart from the law, the righteousness of God has been disclosed and is attested by the Law and the Prophets, ²² the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction, ²³ since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; ²⁴ they are now justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a sacrifice of atonement by his blood, effective through faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over the sins previously committed; ²⁶ it was to demonstrate at the present time his own righteousness, so that he is righteous and he justifies the one who has the faith of Jesus. ²⁷ Then what becomes of boasting? It is excluded. Through what kind of law? That of works? No, rather through the law of faith. ²⁸ For we hold that a person is justified by faith apart from works prescribed by the law.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God  

 GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Gospel: John 8:31-36

³¹ Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples, ³² and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” ³³ They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” ³⁴ Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. ³⁵ The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. ³⁶ So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 

 SERMON

 HYMN             The Church of Christ in Every Age                    #790

APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended  into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the           forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.   Amen

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, PEACE, OFFERING, COMMUNION PRAYER

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

 

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION

HYMN                                                    Amazing Grace                                             #779

POST COMMUNION PROCLAMATION AND PRAYER

BLESSING

HYMN                      Built on a Rock                                   #773                           

 

 DISMISSAL 

 POSTLUDE                            “If You But Trust God to Guide You”           Walter Pelz

  Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659

Service Outline for Sunday, October 19, 2025

                             Welcome to worship at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church! 

PRELUDE                     “Give Me Jesus”                     Richard Billingham

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

Amen.

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

Most merciful God,

we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the  Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

HYMN                          Jesus, Still Lead On                               #624

GREETING

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God, and communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

 KYRIE

HYMN OF PRAISE                              

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Children's message

First Reading: Genesis 32:22-31

²² The same night [Jacob] got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. ²³ He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise     everything that he had. ²⁴ Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” ²⁷ So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” ²⁹ Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. ³⁰ So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” ³¹ The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God  

Psalm: Psalm 121

¹ I lift up my eyes ^| to the hills; from where is my ^| help to come?
² My help comes ^| from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.
³ The Lord will not let your ^| foot be moved
  nor will the one who watches over you ^| fall asleep.
⁴ Behold, the keeper of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep; 
⁵ the Lord watches ^| over you; the Lord is your shade at ^| your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not strike ^| you by day, nor the ^| moon by night.
⁷ The Lord will preserve you ^| from all evil and will ^| keep your life.
⁸ The Lord will watch over your going out and your ^| coming in,
  from this time forth forevermore. 

 Second Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5

¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for   teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. ^4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: ² proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching. ³ For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires ⁴ and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. ⁵ As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God  

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Gospel: Luke 18:1-8

The Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke the 18th chapter.  Glory to you O Lord.

¹ Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. ² He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. ³ In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ ⁴ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, ⁵ yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” ⁶ And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. ⁷ And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? ⁸ I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 

SERMON

HYMN                     Day by Day                                         #790

APOSTLES CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended  into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the           forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.   Amen

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE, PEACE, OFFERING, COMMUNION PRAYER

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

 

DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION

HYMN                                                    What a Friend We Have in Jesus                           #742

POST COMMUNION PROCLAMATION AND PRAYER

BLESSING

HYMN              Precious Lord, Take My Hand                                                    #773                           

Precious Lord, take my hand,

Lead me on, let me stand,

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light:

 

Refrain

Take my hand, pre­cious Lord,

Lead me home.

 

When my way grows drear,

Precious Lord, lin­ger near,

When my life is al­most gone,

Hear my cry, hear my call,

Hold my hand lest I fall:

Refrain

 

When the dark­ness ap­pears

And the night draws near,

And the day is past and gone,

At the riv­er I stand,

Guide my feet, hold my hand:

Refrain

DISMISSAL 

POSTLUDE                            “If You But Trust God to Guide You”           Walter Pelz

 Liturgy and hymns printed and streamed with permission through OneLicense. A-710659