Presentation of the Augsburg Confession

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting Three, LSB pages 184ff.

 

Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word LSB #655

Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.
Tune: Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert, 1543, Wittenberg, ed. Joseph Klug
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 p. 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.

 

Confession of Sins LSB p. 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 p. 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.

 

Introit Psalm 119:46; 46:1–3, 7; 119:46

⁴⁶I will also speak of your testimonies be- | fore kings*
and shall not be | put to shame,

¹God is our ref- | uge and strength,*
a very present help in | trouble.
²Therefore we will not fear though the | earth gives way,*
though the mountains be moved into the heart | of the sea,
³though its waters | roar and foam,*
though the mountains tremble at its | swelling.

⁷The Lord of hosts is | with us;*
the God of Jacob is our | fortress.

 

 

⁴⁶I will also speak of your testimonies be- | fore kings*
and shall not be | put to shame.

 

Kyrie LSB p. 186

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB p. 187

 

Collect

P O Lord God, heavenly Father, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people, keep them steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and comfort them in all temptation, defend them against all enemies of Your Word, and bestow on Christ's Church Militant Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Sit

 

Catechesis - Table of Duties - Of Civil Government

P Today's catechetical reading continues our reading of the Table of Duties. What are the duties of civil government?

C Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God's wrath on the wrongdoer. –Romans 13:1-4 (4 & 5)

(K-3 no assignment this week)

 

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 55:1–11

¹“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
²Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
³Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
⁴Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
⁵Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.

⁶“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
⁷let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

¹⁰“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual

C Blessed is he whose help is the God of | Jacob,*

     Whose hope is in the | LORD his God.

The LORD takes delight in His | people;*

     He crowns the humble with sal- | vation.

 

Epistle Romans 10:5–17

⁵Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. ⁶But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷or “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. ¹¹For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” ¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. ¹³For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

¹⁴But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? ¹⁵And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” ¹⁶But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” ¹⁷So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia and Verse LSB p. 190

 

P O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in You.

 

 

Holy Gospel John 15:1–11

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fifteenth chapter.

¹“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. ²Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. ³Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. ⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. ⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. ⁷If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. ⁹As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

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

 

Lord Ever Keep for Us Secure

 

23 Thus is our doctrine summarized.
If you would be of more apprised,
Read Holy Scripture, as you can,
And guard yourself from lore of man.

 

24 O God, let all authority
In this confession steadfast be,
That our descendants may enjoy
Their doctrine pure without alloy.

 

D 25 Amen, O Holy Trinity:
All glory ever be to Thee,
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
You teach the faith we need the most.

Text: © 2010 Matthew Carver reprinted by permission under Creative Common License 3.0 http://matthaeusglyptes.blogspot.com. Used by permission: Michael Mohr no. Personal Permission
Tune: Public domain

 

Sermon - Always Connected - John 15:1-11

Stand

 

Offertory LSB p. 192

 

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.

Brief silence

Heavenly Father, we give You thanks for bringing us, who were once far off, near to You by the blood of Christ. Remove from us all pride and vanity, and give to us humble hearts that recognize that You have made us members of Your household solely by grace. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Gracious Father, You send Your servants throughout the world to graciously invite all sinners to come to Your great banquet. Continue to raise up faithful men for this task, and fill Your banquet hall with sinners redeemed by Christ the crucified. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Eternal Father, bless the churches of the Augsburg Confession throughout the world with continued zeal for the truth of Your Word. Keep them steadfast in the faith and devoted to the proclamation of the pure Gospel and the administration of the Sacraments according to Christ’s institution. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Merciful Father, look upon the poor, hungry, homeless and unemployed with compassion, and tend to their needs. Remove from us any excess love of earthly treasures, that we would be moved to provide assistance when able. Bless the charitable organizations and social agencies of our land, that relief would be found in them for those who need it. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Loving Father, have mercy on all who are suffering and desire Your aid at the present time [especially _____________]. According to Your gracious will, heal their infirmities and give them strength to bear all their crosses in Christian patience. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Holy Father, here at the holy altar we are blessed to receive a foretaste of the feast to come at Your great banquet. As we partake of the very body and blood of Christ, which is, for us, the medicine of immortality, forgive our sins and preserve us in body and soul unto life everlasting. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, we remember all who rest in Your nearer presence, especially those in our families who have gone before us in the faith. Prepare us every day to fall asleep in the wounds of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, that we may rise with them in glory at our Savior’s return to judge the living and the dead. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C Amen.

 

The offering is presented.

 

Preface LSB p. 194

 

Proper Preface LSB p. 194

P It is truly meet, right, and salutary . . . evermore praising You and saying:

 

 

Sanctus LSB p. 195

 

Lord’s Prayer LSB p. 196

 

The Words of Our Lord LSB p. 197

 

Pax Domini LSB p. 197

 

Agnus Dei LSB p. 198

 

Sit

 

Distribution

 

Lord Jesus Christ, We Humbly Pray LSB #623

Text: Henry E. Jacobs, 1844–1932, alt.
Tune: Cantionale Germanicum, 1628, Gochsheim
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Seek Ye the Lord

Text: Michael Mohr
Tune: William H. Havergal; The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: © 1999 Michael Mohr. Used by permission: Michael Mohr no. Personal Permission
Tune: Public domain

 

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God LSB #657

Text: tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978
Text and tune: Martin Luther, 1483–1546
Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

 

Built on the Rock LSB #645

Text: Nikolai Fredrik Severin Grundtvig, 1783–1872, abr.; tr. Carl Döving, 1867–1937, alt.
Tune: Ludvig M. Lindeman, 1812–87
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Stand

 

Nunc Dimittis LSB p. 199

 

Thanksgiving LSB p. 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 201

 

Benedicamus LSB p. 202

 

Benediction LSB p. 202

 

O God, Our Help in Ages Past LSB #733

 

5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
    Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten as a dream
    Dies at the op’ning day.

 

6 O God, our help in ages past,
    Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while troubles last
    And our eternal home!

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, alt.
Tune: William Croft, 1678–1727
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Acknowledgments

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.

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