First Sunday after Pentecost/ Holy Trinity Sunday 5/31/26
Holy Trinity 5.31.26. PDF DS 4
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
THE HOLY TRINITY
MAY 31, 2025
IN THE NAME OF JESUS, WELCOME TO ST. PAUL’S!
✠ ✠ ✠
THE ENTRANCE RITE
PRELUDE Prelude in C Major BWV 547 Johann Sebastian Bach
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN Holy, Holy, Holy LSB 507
1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!
2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,
Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.
3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 203
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.
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.
Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
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.
Amen.
KYRIE LSB 204
Lord, have mercy;
Christ, have mercy;
Lord, have mercy.
HYMN OF PRAISE – “Gloria in Excelsis” LSB 204
1 To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth;
Goodwill from God in heaven
Proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!
We praise and bless You, Father;
Your holy name, we sing—
Our thanks for Your great glory,
Lord God, our heav’nly King.
2 To You, O sole-begotten,
The Father’s Son, we pray;
O Lamb of God, our Savior,
You take our sins away.
Have mercy on us, Jesus;
Receive our heartfelt cry,
Where You in pow’r are seated
At God’s right hand on high—
3 For You alone are holy;
You only are the Lord.
Forever and forever,
Be worshiped and adored;
You with the Holy Spirit
Alone are Lord Most High,
In God the Father’s glory.
“Amen!” our glad reply.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God,
You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the
confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine
Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for
You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
✠ ✠ ✠
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Genesis 1 and 2 (selected verses)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear. And let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(8:00) ANTHEM Jubilation Choir Love Divine, All Loves Excelling Setting: G Winston Cassler
1 Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heav’n, to earth come down!
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter ev’ry trembling heart.
2 Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit
Into ev’ry troubled breast;
Let us all in Thee inherit;
Let us find Thy promised rest.
Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be;
End of faith, as its beginning,
Set our hearts at liberty.
3 Come, Almighty, to deliver;
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return, and never,
Nevermore Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love.
4 Finish then Thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation
Perfectly restored in Thee,
Changed from glory into glory,
Till in heav’n we take our place,
Till we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love, and praise!
PSALM 8 (Sung responsively)
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babes and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.
O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
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.
SECOND LESSON Acts 2:14a, 22-36
Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, . . .
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,
“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’
“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,
“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.’
Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand)
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 28:16-20
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 28th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON (Be seated)
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ.
As you probably know, pastors routinely borrow sermon material from other sources. I try not to do this too often – preferring instead to share my own thoughts. But many of the thoughts and ideas I read from others deserve to be shared. And I know that you need more creativity and content than I could possibly come up with just on my own.
With that said, today’s sermon will rely heavily on thoughts, ideas, and language from a sermon titled: Dance: a homily for Holy Trinity by Pastor Richard Johnson. Pastor Johnson is the longtime editor of a publication called The Lutheran Forum. He is also an excellent writer.
The Festival of the Holy Trinity, he reminds us, is not the most popular day of the Christian year. We love Christmas with its beautiful story of the birth of Christ. We’re thrilled by Holy Week and Easter as we hear of Christ’s passion and death and resurrection. Even Pentecost – though it comes amidst busy times and isn’t quite as easy to visualize – is exciting too, especially with its festive red paraments. But Trinity, well… it doesn’t have the same pull on our hearts.
The reasons for this seem clear enough. Trinity doesn’t mark a particular event in the life of our Lord Jesus or his church. Rather, it is devoted to a doctrine, which makes it more difficult to address in a sermon. Word on the streets is that Trinity Sundays are usually assigned to assistant pastors or vicars or guest pastors. More than one pastor finds a reason to take a vacation on this day.
But this is certainly a shame. For the doctrine of the Trinity is critical to the faith. And it has real implications for the life of a Christian.
Sometimes you will hear people denigrate the doctrine of the Trinity. They’ll say: “The word never appears in the Bible.” Or “I don’t care anything about abstract doctrine or dogma; all that really matters is following the teachings of Jesus.” So many people make these statements and share these beliefs that whole religious groups have arisen from them.
They are right, of course, that the word “Trinity” does not appear in the Bible. But the teaching clearly does.
The earliest Christians, as they grappled with the question of who Jesus is, began to realize that there were hints throughout the Bible of the “triune nature” of God. One hint appears in our reading from Genesis. There God refers to his Spirit and reveals himself as plural by saying “Let us.” Another appears in our reading from Acts, where Peter says of Jesus: “Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.” A very direct clue is given in our Gospel reading, where Jesus tells his disciples to baptize “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Historians know that in the first centuries after Christ, the decision of how to best speak about the doctrine of the Trinity consumed a great deal of time and energy. If you take a class on the Early Church, you’ll probably spend half your time or more hearing about the various proposals that were made.
The church’s most extensive and conclusive statement on the Trinity, and the one we will confess after the sermon, is found in the Athanasian Creed. This creed probably didn’t get developed until the sixth century. But most of its principles were already in place well before this. We see these principles in the Nicene Creed, written much earlier. The Nicene Creed, by the way, celebrated its seventeen hundredth anniversary just last year.
Each phrase in our creeds has a very specific meaning. And most were designed to combat ancient teachings which are contrary to Christian belief. Some of these teachings – heresies, we call them – have been so thoroughly and effectively opposed by the church that they have long ceased to be a threat. Others, however, keep creeping back in, rather like weeds in your garden. The creeds serve as an important standard against which to measure these recycled ideas which continue to arise.
As for those who claim that a personal relationship with God is what matters most, the church readily acknowledges that a personal relationship is extremely important and matters a great deal. But there is more to God than his relationship to any individual person. And knowing about God in his depth and detail matters a great deal too.
The great British writer C. S. Lewis, in his classic book Mere Christianity, offered a very useful analogy that speaks to this. Doctrines like the Trinity, he said, are not God any more than a map of the ocean is the real ocean. If you stand on the beach in Europe and view the Atlantic, you will have an incredible experience of power and beauty. But if you look at a map of the same ocean, all you will see is a piece of colored paper, or as is the case today, a screen.
However, said Lewis, you must also remember two things. First, that map you hold is based on the actual experience of thousands of people who have encountered the real Atlantic Ocean. The map represents all their experiences put together while your vantage point on the beach only shows you one tiny part. If you wish to understand the ocean from a larger perspective, the map is going to help you far more than your walk on the beach.
What’s more, if you want to travel anywhere by ocean, a map is absolutely necessary. And walking on a beach might be fun, but travelling to different places brings even greater rewards.
Doctrines are important. And not everyone will be an expert in doctrine, just as not everyone who sails the sea is an expert in reading maps. But you don’t want to go to sea without a map reader. And you shouldn’t go through life without people who know the scriptures and their teachings.
The details of Christian doctrine can sometimes seem overwhelming. But the church has come up with many images that are helpful to our understanding. It’s worth exploring these, with the caveat that all images and metaphors for the Holy Trinity ultimately fall short.
St. Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians with a benediction that says: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” In this Trinitarian statement we see that the words grace, love, and communion are all words of relationship; words that denote connection with others. And this teaches us that God, at his very heart, is all about making and sustaining relationships. This is the thought which caused St. Augustine and others to suggest that we think of the Father as the one who loves, the Son as the one who is loved, and the Holy Spirit as the love which binds them together.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Here we can note that a more literal translation of that Greek instruction calls us to baptize “into” the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The word “into” suggests that in Holy Baptism we are not just drawing on God’s name for its strength and power, but also being drawn into the mystery of God, into the love of God, and into a relationship with the One who’s very being is a relationship.
One of the most famous icons that pictures and represents the Holy Trinity is the one by Andrei Rublev, the 15th century Russian artist. His icon depicts representations of each person of the Trinity seated on three sides of a square table. The fourth and open side of the table is the one facing the viewer. And this represents the Trinity’s invitation to join with him in fellowship. The icon makes it very clear that God loves extending this kind of welcome.
But perhaps the most interesting of all Trinitarian images is another one that comes from those stodgy and doctrinaire church fathers. When describing this great teaching, a few of the fathers would use the Greek word “perichoresis.” Among other things, this was a word used to describe various dances. And not individual dances like ballet, or couples’ dances like ballroom, but circular ones, where everybody is invited to join in and participate.
The contemporary hymn writer Richard Leach, well aware of this image, has written a hymn that features this idea of a Trinitarian dance. Among its stanzas is the line: “Come, join the dance of Trinity, before all worlds begun, the interweaving of the Three, the Father, Spirit, Son.”
From what we know of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit via the pages of holy scripture, picturing them together in a dance of joy and invitation fits very well. For our God is a God of movement, for sure. And he is also a God that loves to engage in relationship.
When we remember that Jesus invites us to come to him with the faith of a child, we might also consider how children’s games mirror this same dancing experience. Whether it’s the Farmer in the Dell or Duck, Duck, Goose, children moving around, taking turns, and having fun is the same dancelike expression. And the children, more often than not, are even better at extending the welcome.
In the dance of the Holy Trinity, God says: “Come and join in! Be a part of this wonderful creation I have made for you, this wonderful life to which I’ve invited you! Don’t just stand there watching! Join the dance!”
Dancing can make some of us feel awkward. And so can following the Lord God. We worry about looking soft or silly. And we get confused about who’s leading and who’s following.
If dancing isn’t your thing, that’s a little sad, but it’s still okay. However, refusing the Lord’s invitation is not okay. God calls us to a life which joins him in bringing good to the world – one which reflects his holiness and his desire for right relationships.
Too often we refuse his invitation in that we choose the less holy and more selfish path. These are the times we sin in thought, word or deed – those times when we fail in our love for God and neighbor.
Thankfully, the Son has earned our redemption from sin’s bondage by giving his life on the cross. Those who turn to him in faith can be confident that their sins are forgiven and that their relationship with their Maker has been restored.
With sins forgiven, we no longer need to dance around the big questions of life such as “who am I” and “where am I going.” Instead, we can go forward in life with confidence, knowing that we are a redeemed child of God.
Our God is the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. He is our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier. And he is the one who loves us and wants us to be with him forever.
Let us then live – even dance – in joy! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest LSB 498
1 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav’nly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.
2 To You, the Counselor, we cry,
To You, the gift of God Most High;
The fount of life, the fire of love,
The soul’s anointing from above.
3 In You, with graces sevenfold,
We God’s almighty hand behold
While You with tongues of fire proclaim
To all the world His holy name.
4 Your light to ev’ry thought impart,
And shed Your love in ev’ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.
5 Drive far away our wily foe,
And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide,
No evil can with us abide.
6 Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless
And in our lives the truth confess.
7 Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow!
ATHANASIAN CREED LSB 319
Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith.
Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.
And the catholic faith is this,
that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the
persons nor dividing the substance.
For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another.
But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory
equal, the majesty coeternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit:
the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated;
the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite;
the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.
And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal,
just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite.
In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;
and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God;
and yet there are not three Gods, but one God.
So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord;
and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.
Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords.
The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone.
The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone.
The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor
begotten, but proceeding.
Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.
And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another;
but the whole three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped.
Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.
But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.
He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age:
perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;
equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.
Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:
one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God;
one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.
For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ,
who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead,
ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account
concerning their own deeds.
And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.
This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For the Church of God, called out of darkness into His marvelous light and purchased with the precious blood of Christ, that she would be kept in the true faith, without error, schism or compromise, until He welcomes her home as His spotless bride, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For our Synod and all who prepare for its upcoming convention, that we would walk together in a manner worthy of Christ and be guided by God’s Word throughout our labors so that the Lord’s good and gracious will may be done among us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For creation and the good gift of man and woman with whom God has crowned it, let us give thanks to the Lord; and for His continued blessing of marriage with its callings and promises, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For nations, governments, leaders and civil servants, that peace and justice may abide in our land and throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For those afflicted in body or mind, soul or spirit, including those on our prayer list and those we name in our hearts at this time… that the Lord would extend his healing and give them grace to entrust themselves to their Savior’s loving hands to await relief according to His good and gracious will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For all who receive the blessed Sacrament, that they may show forth the fruits of the Spirit in lives of faith, repentance and goodness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
For wisdom, that as faithful stewards we may govern His creation well and use the earth’s resources in a God-pleasing manner, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.
Lord God, heavenly Father, You have called Your Church from every tribe and nation. Grant that Your people throughout the world would rejoice in the death and resurrection of Christ and live as those who have died and risen with Him in Holy Baptism; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful (LSB 955)
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
And fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
That we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;
Unite them with the prayers we offer now.
Grace our table with Your presence, and give us
A foretaste of the feast to come.
✠ ✠ ✠
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
PREFACE (Stand) LSB 208-210
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
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 LSB 208
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;
Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.
Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;
Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
LORD’S PRAYER
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
PAX DOMINI
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 210
1 O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
You take the sin of the world away;
O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray.
2 O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God,
You take the sin of the world away;
Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ,
And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray.
THE COMMUNION (Be seated)
Those wishing to commune at the foot of the steps should come forward first. Those wishing to commune at the altar rail should come forward after these, front rows first, from both sides of the aisle. After receiving, all should return to their seats. A common dismissal will be given at the end.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence LSB 621
1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in His hand
Christ our God to earth descending
Comes our homage to demand.
2 King of kings yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
In the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav’nly food.
3 Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way
As the Light of Light, descending
From the realms of endless day,
Comes the pow’rs of hell to vanquish
As the darkness clears away.
4 At His feet the six-winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid LSB 500
1 Creator Spirit, by whose aid
The world’s foundations first were laid,
Come, visit ev’ry humble mind;
Come, pour Your joys on humankind;
From sin and sorrow set us free;
May we Your living temples be.
2 O Source of uncreated light,
The bearer of God’s gracious might,
Thrice-holy fount, thrice-holy fire,
Our hearts with heav’nly love inspire;
Your sacred, healing message bring
To sanctify us as we sing.
3 Giver of grace, descend from high;
Your sev’nfold gifts to us supply;
Help us eternal truths receive
And practice all that we believe;
Give us Yourself that we may see
The glory of the Trinity.
4 Immortal honor, endless fame
Attend the_almighty Father’s name;
The Savior-Son be glorified,
Who for all humankind has died;
To You, O Paraclete, we raise
Unending songs of thanks and praise.
NUNC DIMITTIS LSB 211
1 O Lord, now let Your servant
Depart in heav’nly peace,
For I have seen the glory
Of Your redeeming grace:
A light to lead the Gentiles
Unto Your holy hill,
The glory of Your people,
Your chosen Israel.
2 All glory to the Father,
All glory to the Son,
All glory to the Spirit,
Forever Three in One;
For as in the beginning,
Is now, shall ever be,
God’s triune name resounding
Through all eternity.
PRAYER (Stand)
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise LSB 802
1 Immortal, invisible,
God only wise,
In light inaccessible
hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious,
the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious,
Thy great name we praise.
2 Unresting, unhasting,
and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting,
Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains
high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains
of goodness and love.
3 To all life Thou givest—
to both great and small—
In all life Thou livest,
the true Life of all;
We blossom and flourish
as leaves on the tree
And wither and perish—
but naught changes Thee.
4 Great Father of glory,
pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee,
all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render:
O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor
of light that hides Thee.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Setting: Michael Burkhart
FELLOWSHIP: Boards of Finance and Stewardship
Those serving:
Sunday, 8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Comm. assist: Jim Easterly
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Charles Fisher
Comm. assist: Dan Buuck
Reader: Charles Fisher
Acolyte: Ian Lynch
AV Assistants: Hannes Buuck, Andreas Buuck
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. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2026 Concordia Publishing House.
955 Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful Text: John W. Arthur, 1922–80 Tune: Richard W. Hillert, 1923–2010 Tune: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
507 Holy, Holy, Holy Text: Reginald Heber, 1783–1826 Tune: John B. Dykes, 1823–76 Text and tune: Public domain
498 Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest Text: attr. Rabanus Maurus, 776–856; tr. Edward Caswall, 1814–78, alt. Tune: Geistliche Lieder auffs new gebessert, 1533, Wittenberg, ed. Joseph Klug Text and tune: Public domain
621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Text: Liturgy of St. James, 5th cent.; tr. Gerard Moultrie, 1829–85, alt. Tune: French, 17th cent. Text and tune: Public domain
500 Creator Spirit, by Whose Aid Text: attr. Rabanus Maurus, 776–856; tr. John Dryden, 1631–1700, alt. Tune: Gesangbuch . . . Psalmen, Geistliche Lieder, 1541, Strassburg, alt. Text and tune: Public domain
802 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Text: W. Chalmers Smith, 1824–1908, alt. Tune: Welsh Text and tune: Public domain
