15th Sunday After Trinity ~ 2025

 

Today's Service Leader Rev. Michael W. Mohr, Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church & CID President

 

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service THREE, page 184ff.

 

596 All Christians Who Have Been Baptized

 

5 O Christian, firmly hold this gift
    And give God thanks forever!
It gives the power to uplift
    In all that you endeavor.
When nothing else revives your soul,
Your Baptism stands and makes you whole
    And then in death completes you.

 

6 So use it well! You are made new—
    In Christ a new creation!
As faithful Christians, live and do
    Within your own vocation,
Until that day when you possess
His glorious robe of righteousness
    Bestowed on you forever!

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76; tr. Jon D. Vieker, 1961
Tune: Etlich Cristlich lider, 1524, Wittenberg
Text: © 2004 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Exhortation LSB 184

P 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.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

 

Kneel/Stand

 

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

 

Confession of Sins LSB 184

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C 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.

 

Absolution LSB 185

P 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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 

Stand

 

 

Introit Psalm 86:4, 6, 15a, 16; antiphon: vv. 1a, 2b, 3

Incline your ear, O Lord, and | answer me,*
save your servant, who trusts in you—you | are my God.
Be gracious to me, | O Lord,*
for to you do I cry | all the day.
Gladden the soul of your | servant,*
for to you, O Lord, do I lift | up my soul.
Give ear, O Lord, | to my prayer;*
listen to my | plea for grace.
But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and | gracious;*
turn to me and be gra- | cious to me;
give your strength to your | servant,*
and save the son of your maid- | servant.
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
Incline your ear, O Lord, and | answer me,*
save your servant, who trusts in you—you | are my God.
Be gracious to me, | O Lord,*
for to you do I cry | all the day.

 

Kyrie LSB 186

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P O Lord, we implore You, let Your continual pity cleanse and defend Your Church; and because she cannot continue in safety without Your aid, preserve her evermore by Your help and goodness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Sit

 

Old Testament Reading 1 Kings 17:8–16

⁸Then the word of the Lord came to [Elijah], ⁹“Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” ¹⁰So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” ¹¹And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” ¹²And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” ¹³And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. ¹⁴For thus says the Lord the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” ¹⁵And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. ¹⁶The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual ~ Saturday Night Psalm 118:8–9

C It is better to take refuge | in the Lord*
than to | trust in man.
It is better to take refuge | in the Lord*
than to trust in | princes.

 

Holy Cross Choir ~ Count Your Blessings ~ on Sunday

 

Epistle Galatians 5:25—6:10

²⁵If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

¹Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. ²Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ³For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. ⁴But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. ⁵For each will have to bear his own load.

⁶One who is taught the word must share all good things with the one who teaches. ⁷Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. ⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. ⁹And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. ¹⁰So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia LSB 190

 

 

Proper Verse Psalm 95:1

P Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

 

Alleluia LSB 190

 

Holy Gospel Matthew 6:24–34

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the sixth chapter.

²⁴[Jesus said:] “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

³⁴“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Apostles’ Creed

C 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 T everlasting. Amen.

 

Sit

 

760 What God Ordains Is Always Good

 

5 What God ordains is always good:
    Though I the cup am drinking
Which savors now of bitterness,
    I take it without shrinking.
        For after grief
        God gives relief,
My heart with comfort filling
And all my sorrow stilling.

 

6 What God ordains is always good:
    This truth remains unshaken.
Though sorrow, need, or death be mine,
    I shall not be forsaken.
        I fear no harm,
        For with His arm
He shall embrace and shield me;
So to my God I yield me.

Text: Samuel Rodigast, 1649–1708; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.
Tune: Severus Gastorius, 1646–82, alt.
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Sermon - Ever Spending, Never Spent - 1 Kings 17:8-16 - Rev. Michael W. Mohr, Associate Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church & CID President

 

The Fourth Petition

Give us this day our daily bread.

Give us today our daily bread.

What does this mean?

God certainly gives daily bread to everyone without our prayers, even to all evil people, but we pray in this petition that God would lead us to realize this and to receive our daily bread with thanksgiving.

What is meant by daily bread?

Daily bread includes everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body, such as food, drink, clothing, shoes, house, home, land, animals, money, goods, a devout husband or wife, devout children, devout workers, devout and faithful rulers, good government, good weather, peace, health, self-control, good reputation, good friends, faithful neighbors, and the like.

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 192

 

Sit

 

Offering

 

Stand

 

Prayer of the Church

P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Heavenly Father, we know that You are near and that we need not be anxious about anything. Grant us the faith to rejoice in all things, including sickness, injury, stress and need. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, You have poured out Your Spirit on Your Church, that the Gospel of Your kingdom would be believed throughout the world. Bless the proclamation of Your Word by the pastors and missionaries You have sent, that many would hear and believe. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Eternal Lord, in view of every current distress as the present form of this world passes away, give constancy and contentment to Your people in their God-given stations. Give comfort and faithfulness to the married, and strengthen them to pass on the faith to the next generation. Show kindness also to the unmarried and assure them of the holiness of their place in life, that they would be freed from anxiety and attend to holiness in body and spirit, undividedly devoted to You. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly King, You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us good government and faithful rulers, while reminding us always that all provision comes from You. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Merciful Father, according to Your will give power to the faint and increase the strength of the sick and afflicted [especially _____________]. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty God, You have planted us in Christ by Your Word and Spirit through the waters of Holy Baptism. May those who partake of His body and blood this day be firmly rooted and built up in Your Son, that established in the faith, we may walk in Him and abound in thanksgiving. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Gracious Lord, You sustained Elijah and Your saints of old through weal and woe, plenty and scarcity. Inspire us in the light of their faith to walk through all circumstances until we join them at Your unending banquet. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, give us such joy in pursuing what is true, just, pure and worthy of praise, that spurning the temptations of this world, we would suffer no anxiety. Let our trust be placed fully in Christ, and let our hope rest in the life of the world to come; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

Preface LSB 194

 

Proper Preface

P It is truly meet, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, having created all things, took on human flesh and was born of the virgin Mary. For our sake He died on the cross and rose from the dead to put an end to death, thus fulfilling Your will and gaining for You a holy people. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

 

Sanctus LSB 195

 

Lord's Prayer

C 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.

 

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

 

Pax Domini LSB 197

 

Agnus Dei LSB 198

 

Sit

 

Distribution Hymns

 

712 Seek Ye First

Text and tune: Karen Lafferty, 1948
Text and tune: © 1972 Maranatha! Music, admin. EMI. Used by permission: Michael Mohr no. Personal Permission

 

641 You Satisfy the Hungry Heart

Text: Omer E. Westendorf, 1916–97
Tune: Robert E. Kreutz, 1922–96
Text and tune: © 1977 Archdiocese of Philadelphia, admin. International Liturgy Publications. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

 

809 Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Text: Thomas O. Chisholm, 1866–1960
Tune: William M. Runyan, 1870–1957
Text: Public domain
Tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB 199

 

Thanksgiving LSB 200

 

Post-Communion Collect

A Let us pray.

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 through the same 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.

 

Salutation LSB 201

 

Benedicamus LSB 202

 

Benediction LSB 202

 

797 Praise the Almighty

Text: Johann Daniel Herrnschmidt, 1675–1723; tr. Alfred E. R. Brauer, 1866–1949, alt.
Tune: New-vermehrte Christliche Seelenharpf, 1665, Ansbach
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2025 Concordia Publishing House.