https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3DDThTmQWdY

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST— September 24, 2023

ZION EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH – LCMS – 700 Main St.  P.O. Box 220   Clyman, WI  53016

Times of Imprisonment, or times of Persecution because of living our faith in Christ, are all times we can use to share the message of Christ!  Paul’s example for us this week!

 Pastor Dan 1-(920)-341-2025 –  shepherdatzion@gmail.com

Bulletin Announcement email: zionclyman@gmail.com

Guests.  Welcome to Zion.  We are glad to have you with us.  Please sign our guestbook located in the Narthex.  About Holy Communion:  We welcome to the Lord’s Table all who have repented of their sins and seek to amend their sinful life; all who believe that Jesus is truly present in, with, and under the bread and the wine; and all who believe that through the words “given and shed for you” forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given.  If this is your confession and you are a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, then come with a thankful heart and join us.   If you are a visitor and would like to commune, please talk with Pastor Dan before the service.  To help in preparing to receive Holy Communion open the front cover of the Burgundy hymnal or turn to pages 329 & 330.  Gluten free wafers are available, please talk with an Elder or Pastor before the service if you would appreciate them.  

 AS WE GATHER –  When Paul wrote about his imprisonment being a blessing, most would not understand.  Paul saw it as an opportunity to share the message of Christ as he knew when Christ returned it would be too late for people to believe and be saved.  Isaiah wrote, “Seek the Lord while he may be found.”      There is a limit to God’s grace!  Paul wrote to Christians in Philippi, “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ” and “For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”  If we live our faith in front of the world, we will be persecuted, Paul said it and so did Christ.  To see our persecution as an opportunity to share Christ as Paul did  is a great way to endure the persecution and shine the light of Christ in a sin darkened world.

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

 Hymn  “In God, My Faithful God”     vs. 3          LSB 745

We Welcome into the family of God through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism – Owen Rico Coley, son of Anthony and Summer Coley

Invocation – In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.    Amen

Opening Sentences Psalm 67:1–5, 7 –  May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your saving power among all nations.  Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!  Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.     Let the peoples praise You, O God; let all the peoples praise You!  God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear Him!

 Confession and Absolution –  It is good and right that we should make confession of our sins and hear the words of absolution that assure us of God’s forgiveness.     Confession has two parts.   First, that we confess our sins, and second, that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven.       Humble yourselves then before God, confess your sins to Him, and implore His forgiveness      O almighty God, merciful Father, I, a troubled and repentant sinner, confess to You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your present and eternal punishment.  By nature, I am a sinful creature.  By thought, word, and deed I have continually transgressed Your law.  For the sake of the sufferings and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, be gracious and merciful to me, a penitent and contrite being.  Forgive me all my sins and grant me the power of Your Holy Spirit that I may amend my sinful life.      God be gracious to you and strengthen your faith.    Amen.    As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit.   Amen.    Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your lives reflect His forgiveness. Be at peace!      Amen.

Introit Psalm 27:1–6  –   The Lord is my light and my salvation–whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life–of whom shall I be afraid?  When evil men advance against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble and fall.  Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.  One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.  For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.  Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord.     

Kyrie – In peace let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.   For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.  For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.  For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.  Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.  Amen

Salutation – The Lord be with you.         And also with you.

Prayer of the Day –  Lord God, heavenly Father, since we cannot stand before You relying on anything we have done, help us trust in Your abiding presence and care that confidently we may live according to Your Word, learning of You at all times and ever growing in Your grace and mercy; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.       Amen.

Old Testament Reading   Isaiah 55:6–9 – (The prophet encourages God’s people.)    Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts.  Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Epistle  Philippians 1:12–14, 19–30  (Paul writes that to live is Christ.)    Vs12-14   Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.  As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.   Vs19-30   for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.  I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.  For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.  If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me.  Yet what shall I choose?  I do not know!  I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;  but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.  Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.  Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.  Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.  This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved–and that by God.  For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Gradual and Verse – Psalm 34:9, 19 alt.; Ephesians 2:8    Fear the LORD, you His saints, for those who fear Him lack nothing!       Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.   Alleluia.     By grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel           Matthew 20:1–16   (The parable of the laborers in the vineyard.)

 The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twentieth chapter.       Glory to You, O Lord.    “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard.  He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.  “About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing.  He told them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’  So they went. “He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing.  About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?’  ‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered.  “He said to them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’  “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.’  “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius.  So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more.  But each one of them also received a denarius.  When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner.  ‘These men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’  “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you.  Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius?  Take your pay and go.  I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you.  Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money?  Or are you envious because I am generous?’  “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”     This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to You, O Christ.

(Wednesday Only)  Catechism –  The Third Article –     The Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed outlines the work of the Holy Spirit and presents the ways in which the Spirit commends the love of God to us and for us and in us in this world and in the one that is to come.            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 everlasting. Amen.      What does this mean?      I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith.     In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.   In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.
On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ.    This is most certainly true.

Hymn “For Me to Live is Jesus”                           LSB 742

Sermon

Prayers of the Church

(Wednesday Only)       The 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.

 We Gather our Tithes and Offerings

 Service of the Sacrament

Preface   2 Timothy 4:22 –   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.

Proper Preface – It is truly good, right, and proper that we should give thanks to You, Lord our God, for You continually strengthen us with Your abiding presence as we witness to You in word and deed, and we rejoice in Your promise to receive our prayers and petitions.  Continue to bless Your people in Your Holy Church that we may know the truth that is found in Christ alone.  Unite our praises with those of all the faithful joining them in the unending praise of the angels and archangels and all the company of heaven.   

Sanctus – Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, Lord God of power and might:  Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.  Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is He who come in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna in the highest. 

Prayer of Thanksgiving –   Blessed are You, O Lord, our God, King of all creation.   Gathered at Your Table, grant that we receive Your body and blood, and through this sacred eating and drinking be strengthened for lives of witness and service.  Unite us with thankful hearts in the unending praise of Your glory and grant us in this blessed Sacrament a foretaste of the feast to come.    Amen

The Words of Our Lord – Consecration of the Elements

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.  Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.  Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

We Celebrate our Lord’s Supper

 Distribution Hymns: “The Man is Ever Blessed”   LSB 705   “Thy Works, Not Mine, O Christ”   LSB 565      “Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise”   LSB 680

Post-Communion Canticle –    Nunc Dimittis     Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled.  My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of all people:  A light to reveal You to the nations, and the glory of Your people Israel.  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

Post-Communion Thanksgiving –   Heavenly Father, we thank You for having fed us with Your life-giving food.  Strengthen us through this meal especially in times of challenge or persecution, and grant us a portion with the saints in light eternal.  This we ask through Jesus Christ, our everlasting High Priest, who with You and the Holy Spirit are one God, world without end.     Amen.

 Benediction      Numbers 6:24–26 –  The grace of our Lord X Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.              Amen.

Hymn *vs1&4*  “Seek Where You May…”        LSB 557

_______________________________________________

 *Announcements*

From the Board of Stewardship and Evangelism: –   Matthew 20:9 – “And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.” Behold the generosity of God! He gives out of His grace, not what we deserve to receive. Living a godly life means living in imitation of God — and surely one of the foundations of God’s being is His generosity.

The Pewpoint – THEME OF THE DAY  –  Disciples Live in Their Vocations by Grace through Faith in Christ.     Those who are sent as “laborers for his vineyard” (Matt. 20:1) depict the wide diversity of vocations to which the disciples of Christ Jesus are called. Whatever our particular stations in life may be, we are called to live and serve by faith in His promises. Our labors do not merit anything before Him, for He is already generous to one and all without partiality. In mercy, He has chosen to bear “the burden of the day and the scorching heat” on our behalf, to make us equal to Himself and to give us what belongs to Him, that is, the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 20:12–15). This way of the Lord is foolishness to the world and foreign to our thoughts, but He draws near, so that “he may be found” (Is. 55:6), “have compassion” and “abundantly pardon” (Is. 55:7). So it is that we are found in Christ Jesus, and He is honored in our bodies, “whether by life or by death” (Phil. 1:20), by “fruitful labor” (Phil. 1:22) or by suffering. It is by faith in His forgiveness that our works are “worthy of the gospel” (Phil. 1:27).

YES IN CHRIST  —  Saying Yes With Our Treasures –   Needed per week to make budget: $3,072               Sunday Envelopes $2,395

Attendance:  Mid-Week Service: 9/13 – 12    Communed: 11      Sunday Service:  45  Communed:   37                        Mid-Week Service:  11   Communed:   11

Our next quilting meeting will be September 28^th from 11am to 2pm

 Brothers and sisters in Christ to lift up in prayer!

• We rejoice with Jeff and Kasandra Miescher as Kendra.Violet was born September 12^th. She weighed in at 9 lbs. 5 ounces and was 21 inches long.
• We rejoice with members Dan Ruppel and Jennifer Furlong as they were married on September 16^th..
• Ron and DeeDee and all in our congregation who are facing health challenges or are in need to God’s healing in their lives.

Wish these members a Happy Bithday

Daniel C	9/25
Michael Z	9/28
Dawn P	9/28
Mae S	9/28
AJ B	10/4
Betty H	10/9
Jordan S	10/9
KateLee-Ann B	10/10
Janet O	10/13
Doyle R	10/17
Ashley B	10/18
DeeDee W	10/20
Steven D	10/24
Lisa J	10/28
Chris S	10/28

Happy Anniversary to these couples!

Dick & Nancy B	9/29
Gary & Beth B	10/3
Daniel & Laurel F	10/7
Lonnie & Faye H	10/16
Mark & Lisa F	10/17
Ralph & Nancy K	10/23

 Many milestone Anniversaries this month!  God’s continued and rich blessings to all these couples!

 Gary & Beth Baehmann are celebrating 15 years together. Please wish them many more.

30 years or marriage for Lonnie and Faye Hoeft – if you happen to see them, wish them many more.

 45 years of marriage for Dan & Laurel Finger – if you have a chance please congratulate them. 

Dick & Nancy Basol are celebrating their 50th Anniversary.

 It’s that time of the year people. If you have any ideas for our mission work for 2024 please contact Connie Kreitzman no later than Oct 1^st so your suggestions can be considered at the Council meeting on October 5^th.If you have a suggestion please also have a short description of the mission work that you are suggesting. You can give them to Connie in church or send it to her email address conniek@voclyman.com.

The Chosen Bible Study is scheduled to start October 3rd! Ron and Dee continue to heal after their accident. Please keep them in prayer.

The bible Study will be held at 6pm at the Parsonage/Office next to the church. It will begin at 6pm!

Mark your calendars as classes will be held October 3rd, 17th and 31st. November 7th, 21st, December 5th, and 19th! Class will then take a break until the new year! God’s richest blessings to you all and thank you once again to Ron for offering this study.

ANNUAL TURKEY DINNER FUNDRAISER –   Immanuel Lutheran Church, 210 Lincoln Avenue in Reeseville will be serving their annual turkey dinner on Sunday, October 1^ST, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  This year’s dinner will again be CARRY-OUT ONLY.  Each carry-out will contain roast turkey, homemade mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetable, cranberries, dinner rolls and coleslaw.  Also included will be your choice of either pumpkin, apple or cherry pie.  Each carry out will cost $13.00.  Pre-orders are strongly encouraged and may be ordered by calling the church at 920-927-5734.  Phone orders will be accepted through Friday, September 29.  Walk-up orders placed on the day of the dinner will be filled only if food is still available.

The New Portals of Prayer are available for you to take a copy home. There are some large print if needed.  

Council meeting is October 5^th @ 6pm.