22nd Sunday After Trinity ~ 2025

 

Today's Liturgist Rev. Brett Cornelius, Pastor, Holy Cross Lutheran Church

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

 

 

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

 

981 To Your Temple, Lord, I Come

 

5 While I listen to Your Law,
Fill my soul with humble awe
Till Your Gospel bring to me
Life and immortality.

 

6 While Your ministers proclaim
Peace and pardon in Your name,
Through their voice, by faith, may I
Hear You speaking from the sky.

 

7 From Your house when I return,
May my heart within me burn,
And at evening let me say,
“I have walked with God today.”

Text: James Montgomery, 1771–1854, alt.
Tune: Geist-reiches Gesang-Buch, 1704, Halle, ed. Johann A. Freylinghausen, alt.
Text and 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 130:1–2, 7–8; antiphon: vv. 3–4

If you, O Lord, should mark in- | iquities,*
O Lord, | who could stand?
But with you there is for- | giveness,*
that you | may be feared.
Out | of the depths*
I cry to you, | O Lord!
O Lord, | hear my voice!*
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for | mercy!
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is | steadfast love,*
and with him is plentiful re- | demption.
And he will redeem | Israel*
from all his in- | iquities.
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.
If you, O Lord, should mark in- | iquities,*
O Lord, | who could stand?
But with you there is for- | giveness,*
that you | may be feared.

 

Kyrie LSB 186

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P O God, our refuge and strength, the author of all godliness, hear the devout prayers of Your Church, especially in times of persecution, and grant that what we ask in faith we may obtain; 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 Micah 6:6–8

⁶“With what shall I come before the Lord,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
⁷Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”
⁸He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual Psalm 133:1, 3b

C Behold, how good and pleas- | ant it is*
when brothers dwell in | unity!
For the Lord has commanded the | blessing,*
life for- | evermore.

 

Epistle Philippians 1:3–11

³I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, ⁵because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. ⁶And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. ⁷It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ⁸For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. ⁹And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia and Verse LSB 190

 

Psalm 147:3

P He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

 

LSB 190

 

Holy Gospel Matthew 18:21–35

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

²¹Peter came up and said to [Jesus], “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” ²²Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

²³“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. ²⁵And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. ²⁶So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ ²⁷And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. ²⁸But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ ²⁹So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ ³⁰He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. ³¹When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. ³²Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. ³³And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ ³⁴And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. ³⁵So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Sit

 

764 When Aimless Violence Takes Those We Love

Text: Joy F. Patterson, 1931
Tune: Alfred M. Smith, 1879–1971
Text: © 1994, 1997 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: © 1990 Church of the Ascension, Atlantic City, N.J. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

 

Sermon - Rev. Michael W. Mohr, Associate Pastor - Matthew 18:21-35

 

Stand

 

Offertory LSB 192

 

Sit

 

HCL Choir ~ “The Venite”

 

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.

O Lord, with You there is forgiveness; therefore, You are feared. In love, You have forgiven the debt of our sin through the cross of Your Son. Create in us hearts that forgive our brother for his offenses against us, that Your love would lead to grateful love in us also. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord God, inspire Your Church by the mercies of Christ to live in forgiveness with one another and to hold out Your forgiveness for all people. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, You establish our families on the foundation of Your forgiveness toward us and of us toward one another. Fix our hearts together on the sacrifice of Christ, and lead us after His humble example. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty God, You guide the nations and judge the peoples with equity. Give those who govern wisdom to enact laws without sinful bias and to foster charity among the citizens of our land. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Gracious Lord, as You have restored our souls by Your forgiveness, extend Your remedy to those whose bodies are suffering [especially _____________]. Stir up in them the praise of Your temporal and eternal healing. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Mighty God, You have shown us Your great mercy through the death of Your Son. May all who partake of His Supper come with repentant and humble hearts to taste the body and blood of Christ, which was given and shed for our life. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Holy Father, our prayers are filled with joy because of the good work You have begun in us through Baptism, making us partakers of Your grace and adorning us with Christ’s righteousness. By Your Holy Spirit, grant us to grow in knowledge and discernment of Your Word and to abound in love, that we may approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless before You. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O almighty God, we confess that we are poor sinners and could not give an answer if You should contend with us. Yet do we thank You with all our hearts that You have taken our guilt from us and laid it upon Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, who has atoned for it. Graciously sustain us in this faith. Govern us by Your Holy Spirit, that we may live according to Your will in love and service to our neighbors. Do not let us give way to wrath or revenge, and so incur Your wrath, but let us always find in You a gracious Father; through 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, out of love for His fallen creation, humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross. Risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting. 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

 

616 Baptismal Waters Cover Me

Text: Kurt E. Reinhardt, 1969
Tune: Sammlung alter und neuer . . . Melodien, 1742
Text: © 2003 Kurt E. Reinhardt. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

659 Lord of Our Life

Text: Matthäus Apelles von Löwenstern, 1594–1648; tr. Philip Pusey, 1799–1855, alt.
Tune: Antiphoner, 1746, Poitiers
Text and tune: Public domain

 

620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing

 

5 Let me praise God’s boundless favor,
Whose own feast of love I savor,
    Bidden by His gracious call.
Wedding garments He provides me,
With a robe of white He hides me,
    Fits me for the royal hall.

 

6 Now have I found consolation,
Comfort in my tribulation,
    Balm to heal the troubled soul.
God, my shield from ev’ry terror,
Cleanses me from sin and error,
    Makes my wounded spirit whole.

Text: Heinrich Puchta, 1808–58; tr. David W. Rogner, 1960
Tune: Johann Löhner, 1645–1705; adapt. Johann Balthasar König, 1691–1758
Text: © David W. Rogner. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
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

 

Closing Hymn

 

754 Entrust Your Days and Burdens

 

5 O blessèd heir of heaven,
    You’ll hear the song resound
Of endless jubilation
    When you with life are crowned.
In your right hand your maker
    Will place the victor’s palm,
And you will thank Him gladly
    With heaven’s joyful psalm.

 

6 Our hands and feet, Lord, strengthen;
    With joy our spirits bless
Until we see the ending
    Of all our life’s distress.
And so throughout our lifetime
    Keep us within Your care
And at our end then bring us
    To heav’n to praise You there.

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607–76; (sts. 1–5): tr. F. Samuel Janzow, 1913–2001, alt.; (st. 6): tr. Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Tune: Stephen R. Johnson, 1966
Text (sts. 1–5): © 1982 Concordia Publishing House; (st. 6): © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: © 2002 Stephen R. Johnson. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

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.