St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Sunday ~ 2025

 

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

 

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 92:1–5; antiphon: Matthew 9:13b, c

I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.
For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.
It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.
How great are your works, O Lord!
Your thoughts are very deep!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.
For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.

 

Kyrie LSB 186

 

Gloria in Excelsis LSB 187

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P O Son of God, our blessed Savior Jesus Christ, You called Matthew the tax collector to be an apostle and evangelist. Through his faithful and inspired witness, grant that we also may follow You, leaving behind all covetous desires and love of riches; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

 

Sit

 

Old Testament Reading Ezekiel 2:8—3:11

⁸“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” ⁹And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. ¹⁰And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

¹And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” ²So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. ³And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

⁴And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. ⁵For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— ⁶not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. ⁷But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me. Because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart. ⁸Behold, I have made your face as hard as their faces, and your forehead as hard as their foreheads. ⁹Like emery harder than flint have I made your forehead. Fear them not, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house.” ¹⁰Moreover, he said to me, “Son of man, all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. ¹¹And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God,’ whether they hear or refuse to hear.”

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Gradual ~ on Saturday Psalm 92:1–2

It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night.

 

Holy Cross Choir - Count Your Blessings ~ on Sunday

 

Epistle Ephesians 4:7–16

⁷But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. ⁸Therefore it says,

“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men.”

⁹(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? ¹⁰He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) ¹¹And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, ¹²to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

Stand

 

Alleluia LSB 190

 

Holy Gospel Matthew 9:9–13

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

⁹As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

¹⁰And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. ¹¹And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” ¹²But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. ¹³Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

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

 

730 What Is the World to Me

Text: Georg Michael Pfefferkorn, 1645–1732; tr. August Crull, 1845–1923, alt.
Tune: Ahasverus Fritsch, 1629–1701
Text and tune: Public domain

 

Sermon ~ Rev. Brett E. Cornelius, Pastor Holy Cross Lutheran Church

 

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 glorify You for Your sustaining love. We especially thank and praise You for the gift of Your Son, in whom we have redemption and forgiveness of sins; for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter; for the companionship of Your Holy Church; and for the hope of the age to come. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Almighty God, bless Matthew, our Synod president; _____________, our district president; and all servants of Your Word. Keep them strong in their witness to Your grace. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Gracious Lord, Your Son called Matthew from his tax booth to be an apostle who proclaimed salvation. Continue to call men into Your Holy Ministry, and endow them with every good gift to proclaim Your Word and administer Your Sacraments in righteousness. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, open wide the hearts of Christians to one another, especially within the home and between neighbors. Let love be genuine, speech truthful and patience constant. Let us commend ourselves in everything as those known by God’s love and, therefore, unashamed to serve one another. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Father in heaven, look favorably on all public servants, giving them wisdom and courage to serve according to Your will. Guard all members of our armed forces, covering them with Your protecting hand. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Father of compassion, be near to those who cry out to You in time of need [especially _____________]. Grant healing to the sick, according to Your will, and comfort the mourning with Christ’s victory over death and the grave. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, how lovely is the dwelling place of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who gives us sinners to eat and to drink of His flesh and blood here at the holy altar. Grant to all who come to this feast today repentant and believing hearts, that in the blessed Sacrament they would receive forgiveness, life and salvation, and be strengthened in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Heavenly Father, Your Son chose to dine with tax collectors and sinners such as St. Matthew. As we remember him this day, grant that we might rejoice that Christ still chooses to dine with us sinners in His own feast of forgiveness. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and 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; for You have mightily governed and protected Your holy Church, in which the blessed apostles and evangelists proclaimed Your divine and saving Gospel. Therefore with patriarchs and prophets, apostles and evangelists, with Your servant Matthew, 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 ~

 

632 O Jesus, Blessed Lord, to Thee

Text: Thomas Hansen Kingo, 1634–1703; tr. Arthur J. Mason, 1851–1928
Tune: Trente quatre Pseaumes de David, 1551, Geneva, ed. Louis Bourgeois
Text and tune: Public domain

 

609 Jesus Sinners Doth Receive

 

5 Oh, how blest it is to know:
    Were as scarlet my transgression,
It shall be as white as snow
    By Thy blood and bitter passion;
For these words I now believe:
Jesus sinners doth receive.

 

6 Now my conscience is at peace;
    From the Law I stand acquitted.
Christ hath purchased my release
    And my ev’ry sin remitted.
Naught remains my soul to grieve:
Jesus sinners doth receive.

 

7 Jesus sinners doth receive;
    Also I have been forgiven;
And when I this earth must leave,
    I shall find an open heaven.
Dying, still to Him I cleave:
Jesus sinners doth receive.

Text: tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, alt.; Erdmann Neumeister, 1671–1756
Tune: Neu-verfertigtes Darmstädtisches Gesang-Buch, 1699, Darmstadt
Text and tune: Public domain

 

743 Jesus, Priceless Treasure

 

5 Evil world, I leave thee;
Thou canst not deceive me,
    Thine appeal is vain.
Sin that once did blind me,
Get thee far behind me,
    Come not forth again.
        Past thy hour,
        O pride and pow’r;
Sinful life, thy bonds I sever,
Leave thee now forever.

 

6 Hence, all fear and sadness!
For the Lord of gladness,
    Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Father,
Though the storms may gather,
    Still have peace within.
        Yea, whate’er
        I here must bear,
Thou art still my purest pleasure,
Jesus, priceless treasure!

Text: Johann Franck, 1618–77; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.
Tune: Johann Crüger, 1598–1662
Text and 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

 

666 O Little Flock, Fear Not the Foe

Text: Jacob Fabricius, 1593–1654; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, alt.
Tune: German, 1534, Nürnberg
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.