Sexagesima Sunday - 2023

Today's Service Leader and Speaker - Rev. G. Robert Heimgartner, Emeritus

Today's liturgy is the Divine Service, Setting Four, LSB pages 205ff.

427 In the Cross of Christ I Glory

Text: John Bowring, 1792–1872
Tune: Ithamar Conkey, 1815–67
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 203

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Confession of Sins LSB 203

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Prayer for Forgiveness

P Almighty God, merciful Father, in Holy Baptism You declared us to be Your children and gathered us into Your one, holy Church, in which You daily and richly forgive us our sins and grant us new life through Your Spirit. Be in our midst, enliven our faith, and graciously receive our prayer and praise; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C Amen.

Introit Psalm 44:1–2, 7–8; antiphon: vv. 23, 25a, 26a

Awake! Why are you sleeping, | O Lord?*
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us for- | ever!
For our soul is bowed down | to the dust.*
Rise up; come | to our help!
O God, we have heard with our ears, our fathers have | told us,*
what deeds you performed in their days, in the | days of old:
you with your own hand drove out the nations, but them you | planted;*
you afflicted the peoples, but them you | set free.
But you have saved us | from our foes*
and have put to shame those who | hate us.
In God we have boasted con- | tinually,*
and we will give thanks to your name for- | ever.
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.
Awake! Why are you sleeping, | O Lord?*
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us for- | ever!
For our soul is bowed down | to the dust.*
Rise up; come | to our help!

Kyrie LSB 204

The "Gloria in Excelsis" is omitted during the Gesimatide and Lent.

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O God, the strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Sit

Catechesis - Sixth Petition

P Today's catechetical reading is the Sixth Petition of the Lord's Prayer. What is the Sixth Petition?

C And lead us not into temptation. (K)

P What does this mean?

C God tempts no one.  We pray in this petition that God would guard and keep us so that the devil, the world, and our sinful nature may not deceive us or mislead us into false belief, despair, and other great shame and vice.  Although we are attacked by these things, we pray that we may finally overcome them and win the victory. (3)

P What passages of Holy Scripture inform us and convince us of this truth?

C My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. –Proverbs 1:10 (1)

The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. –Psalm 34:7 (2)

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability… –1 Corinthians 10:13b (4)

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. –1 Peter 5:8 (4)

We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed…–2 Corinthians 4:8-9 (5)

Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!  –Matthew 18:7 (5)

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 55:10–13

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.
¹²“For you shall go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
shall break forth into singing,
and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual Romans 10:8b, 10

The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart,
the word of faith that we proclaim.
For with the heart one believes and is justified,
and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Epistle 2 Corinthians 11:19—12:9

¹⁹For you gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves! ²⁰For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. ²¹To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that!

But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. ²²Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. ²³Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. ²⁴Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; ²⁷in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. ²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?

³⁰If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. ³¹The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³²At Damascus, the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of Damascus in order to seize me, ³³but I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.

¹I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. ²I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. ³And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— ⁴and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. ⁵On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. ⁶Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. ⁷So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Stand

Tract Psalm 60:1–2, 5

O God, you have rejected us, broken our defenses;
you have been angry; oh, restore us.
You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open;
repair its breaches, for it totters.
That your beloved ones may be delivered,
give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

Holy Gospel Luke 8:4–15

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the eighth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

⁴When a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to [Jesus], he said in a parable: ⁵“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. ⁶And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. ⁷And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. ⁸And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

⁹And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, ¹⁰he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ ¹¹Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹²The ones along the path are those who have heard. Then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. ¹⁴And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. ¹⁵As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

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

824 May God Bestow on Us His Grace

Text: Martin Luther, 1483–1546; tr. Richard Massie, 1800–87, alt.
Tune: David Lee, 1956
Text: Public domain
Tune: © 2004 David Lee. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

Sermon - "Keep God's Word Close at Hand" - Rev. G. Robert Heimgartner, Emeritus

Stand

Offertory

Prayer of the Church

P In peace, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the faithful gathered here, that our almighty Maker would give us hearts to receive His gifts with thanksgiving; that He would free us from the cares of this world and fix our eyes on the saving work of Jesus Christ; and that He would root us deeply in His Word so we would look to Him for all our needs of body and soul, remaining faithful until death, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the proclamation of the Gospel, that wherever the seed of God’s Word is sown, He would bring forth a bountiful harvest for His kingdom, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the Church, that all the baptized would continue to hear the Word of God, hold it fast in good and honest hearts, and bear fruit with patience, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this nation, that God would grant wisdom to our elected officials in their pursuit of policies for the common good; that He would protect those who serve in our armed forces; and that He would thwart all forces of injustice and tyranny here and in every place, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those in any need, [especially _____________,] let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all who participate in the Sacrament of the Altar, that God would strengthen and preserve us faithfully to receive Jesus’ body and blood for the forgiveness of sins, and so obtain everlasting life, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank You that through Your Son, Jesus Christ, You have sown Your Holy Word among us. Prepare our hearts by Your Holy Spirit, that we may diligently and reverently hear Your Word, keep it in good hearts, and bring forth fruit with patience; and that we may not incline to sin, but subdue it by Your power, and in all persecutions comfort ourselves with Your grace and continual help; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the same Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Sit

The offering is gathered.

Stand

Preface LSB 208

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. 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 208

Text: Stephen P. Starke

Prayer of Thanksgiving

P Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

As the glory of Your presence once filled Your ancient temple, so in the incarnation of Your Son, Jesus Christ, You manifested the fullness of Your glory in human flesh.

We give You thanks that in His most Holy Supper You reveal Your glory to us. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood so that we may one day behold Your glory face to face.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

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.”

834 O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth

Text: Martin H. Franzmann, 1907–76, alt.
Tune: Jan O. Bender, 1909–94
Text and tune: © 1967 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

835 On Galilee’s High Mountain

5 That ev’ryone He chooses,
    For reasons of His own,
Will find in Christ his calling
    To live His love alone.
His presence always leads us
    Till time no more shall be;
Christ’s strength, His love, His comfort
    Give us His victory.

D 6 Lord, gather all Your children,
    Wherever they may be,
And lead them on to heaven
    To live eternally
With You, our loving Father,
    And Christ, our brother dear,
Whose Spirit guards and gives us
    The joy to persevere.

Text: Henry L. Lettermann, 1932–96
Tune: Lowell Mason, 1792–1872
Text: © 1982 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

577 Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast

Text: John Cawood, 1775–1852, alt.
Tune: The Whole Booke of Psalmes, 1562, London
Text and tune: Public domain

Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

Agnus Dei LSB 210

Text: Stephen P. Starke

Sit

Distribution

834 O God, O Lord of Heaven and Earth

Text: Martin H. Franzmann, 1907–76, alt.
Tune: Jan O. Bender, 1909–94
Text and tune: © 1967 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518

835 On Galilee’s High Mountain

5 That ev’ryone He chooses,
    For reasons of His own,
Will find in Christ his calling
    To live His love alone.
His presence always leads us
    Till time no more shall be;
Christ’s strength, His love, His comfort
    Give us His victory.

D 6 Lord, gather all Your children,
    Wherever they may be,
And lead them on to heaven
    To live eternally
With You, our loving Father,
    And Christ, our brother dear,
Whose Spirit guards and gives us
    The joy to persevere.

Text: Henry L. Lettermann, 1932–96
Tune: Lowell Mason, 1792–1872
Text: © 1982 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110001518
Tune: Public domain

577 Almighty God, Your Word Is Cast

Text: John Cawood, 1775–1852, alt.
Tune: The Whole Booke of Psalmes, 1562, London
Text and tune: Public domain

Distribution Hymn

Stand

Nunc Dimittis LSB 211

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.

C Amen.

Benedicamus LSB 212

A Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.

426 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748
Tune: Second Supplement to Psalmody in Miniature, 1778, London; adapt. Edward Miller, 1731–1807
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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