https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–SL5432oPM

NINETEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST— October 8, 2023

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

Promised, Sent, Rejected, but God made His Son the Cornerstone of Faith!

 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 –  We all have a sinful nature which looks at what God offers to us, and often we reject it for what the world offers.  God chose the children of Israel and made them a nation.  He  blessed them, protected them, sent prophet after prophet to call them to repentance, but they refused to listen or repent.  God took His protection(walls) away and allowed them to be overrun and punished them through slavery in exile.  He sent His Son to the children of Israel.  Maybe His children would listen to Him, repent and believe in Him.  The children of Israel rejected the Son, (threw Him out of the vineyard) and crucified Him outside the walls of Jerusalem!  The world continues to reject the Son God sent to save it, and the Father has made Him the foundation stone for all faith.  Those who reject that foundation stone, it will crush.  Those who repent as that stone crushes them with the law, will live secure and be given life in heaven.

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

 Hymn  “O Day of Rest and Gladness”                 LSB 906

Invocation – Confession and Absolution –   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, O Lord 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       Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins.  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 + Son and of the Holy Spirit.     Amen

Introit      Psalm 80:7-19   Restore us, O God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.   Men:  You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.   Women: You cleared the ground for it, and it took root and filled the land.   Men: The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.  Women: Why have you broken down its walls so that all who pass by pick its grapes?  Men: Return to us, O God Almighty!  Look down from heaven and see!   Women:  Watch over this vine, the root your right hand has planted, the son you have raised up for yourself.  Men:  Your vine is cut down, it is burned with fire;  Women:  at your rebuke your people perish.   Let your hand rest on the man at your right hand, the son of man you have raised up for yourself.  Then we will not turn away from you; revive us, and we will call on your name.  Restore us, O LORD God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.

Hymn of Praise – Gloria in Excelsis  LSB 204

 Prayer of the Day – Merciful Father, in Your abundant love You redeemed us from our sin and restored us as Your own children in Christ. As You have crowned us with love and mercy, keep us in this grace and favor that we may strive to complete the race and receive from Your hand the crown of everlasting life; 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 5:1–7  (The prophet gives words of warning.)    I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.  He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines.  He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well.  Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.  “Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.  What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it?  When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?  Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed;  I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.  I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there.  I will command the clouds not to rain on it.”  The vineyard of the Lord Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight.
And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.

Epistle Philippians 3:4b–14  (“I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God.”)   If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.  But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ–the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

 Verse            Matthew 21:42b –  Alleluia. The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;    this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Alleluia.

Holy Gospel           Matthew 21:33–46   (The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.)

 The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-first chapter.       Glory to You, O Lord.      “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard.  He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower.  Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.  When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.  “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.  Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.  Last of all, he sent his son to them.  ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.  “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir.  Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’  So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.    “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”  They replied, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”  Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: “‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?  “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.  He who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”  When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them.  They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.  This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed – 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 X of the world to come.    Amen.

Hymn:  “Christ Is Our Cornerstone”                   LSB 912

Sermon

Prayers of the Church

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 and Proper Preface –   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 good and right, to offer You praise and thanksgiving at all times and in all places, O holy, almighty Father, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.     Therefore, with the angels and archangels, and with all our loved ones and all the saints who worship you in heaven, we laud and magnify Your glorious name, joining them in unending praise by singing:

Sanctus   LSB 208

 Prayer of Thanksgiving –   Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior.      Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit.  Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament.  Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end.  Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us.  To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen

The Words of Our Lord – Consecration of the Elements

Pax Domini – The peace of the Lord be with you always.    Amen.

Agnus Dei LSB 210

 We Celebrate our Lord’s Supper

 Distribution Hymns:  “All Glory Be to God Alone”  LSB 948   “With the Lord Begin Your Task”   LSB 869 “Christ, the Word of God Incarnate”   LSB 540

Post-Communion Canticle –  Nunc Dimittis LSB 211

 Post-Communion Thanksgiving –   Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever!       We give You thanks, O Lord our God, for having us made us Your own in Christ, and we pray You to send us Your Holy Spirit that we may inherit the everlasting life Christ has put in place for all who believe in Him as their Lord and Savior.  We pray this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction      Numbers 6:24–26 –  The Lord bless you and keep you.  The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.  The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.             Amen.

Hymn:  “Now Thank We All Our God”                LSB 895

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 *Announcements*

From the Board of Stewardship and Evangelism: –    Matthew 21:43 – “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.” The Pharisees were not bearing fruit. Though they were faithful to the letter of the Law in keeping the Sabbath, tithing, and all the rest, they neglected the heart of God’s will. The grace of God belongs at the center. Our giving and all our other good works flow forth from receiving God’s grace and living in that grace on a daily basis.

The Pewpoint –  THEME OF THE DAY – The True Vine Redeems the Vineyard of the LORD of Hosts

 “The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel” (Is. 5:7), which He planted “on a very fertile hill” (Is. 5:1). He did everything for His vineyard, not only clearing it of stones and planting it with “choice vines,” but also building the “watchtower” of His prophets and hewing out the “wine vat” of His priesthood in its midst (Is. 5:2). But when “he looked for it to yield grapes,” there were only “wild grapes” of bloodshed and unrighteousness (Is. 5:2, 7). The Lord Jesus likewise described the unfaithfulness of those who were called to care for His vineyard (Matt. 21:33–35). But in this He also describes His cross and Passion (Matt. 21:38–39), by which He has redeemed the vineyard for Himself. He is the true Vine, planted by death into the ground, and in His resurrection He brings forth “the fruits in their seasons” (Matt. 21:41). Among those good grapes of the true Vine is the apostle Paul. Once a zealous persecutor of the Church, he “suffered the loss of all things” in order to “gain Christ and be found in him,” to “know him and the power of his resurrection” (Phil. 3:8–10).

YES IN CHRIST  —  Saying Yes With Our Treasures     Needed per week to make budget: $3,072                Sunday Envelopes $3,785   Plate $15   In Honor of Dick & Nancy Basol’s 50^th $50                                                       General Memorial – Eli Dornfeld $100

Attendance:  Sunday Service: 51     Communed:   42     Mid-week Service:  9    Communed: 8                                     Bible Class  16

Brothers and sisters in Christ to lift up in prayer!

• Ron, DeeDee, and all in our congregation who are facing health challenges or are in need of God’s healing and strength in their lives.
• Betty Hoeft whom is home recuperating from a fall.

Wish these members a Very Happy Birthday!

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

These Couples are Celebrating another year of God’s blessings in their Marriage!

Lonnie & Faye H	10/16
Mark & Lisa F	10/17
Ralph & Nancy K	10/23

A Special Anniversary being celebrated! 

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

 Just received the October Lutheran Witness. Pick up a copy in the back of church or in the narthex.

The Chosen Bible Study started this past Tuesday! If you missed it and want to be a part of the study, the next class will be October 17^th! The Bible Study meets at 6pm at the Parsonage/Office next to the church.        Mark your calendars as classes will also be held October 31st. November 7th, 21st, December 5th, and 19th! Class will then take a break until the new year!

Dates to Remember:  

Oct. 12^th – Quilting  11am to 2pm

Oct. 15^th – Voice Choir immediately after church

Oct. 29^th – Zion Cemetery meeting immediately

after church

Nov. 5^th   Clocks will fall back!!  Pastor always says if you forget to change your clocks and you come early – he’ll have the coffee ready.

Nov. 5^th   Semi Annual Meeting immediately after church

Nov 12^th – Last day for Shoe boxes

 Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes have arrived.  Please take how many you want to make some child feel special. Zion will be covering the $10.00 shipping cost for up to 50 shoe boxes. We encourage you to participate in this project by picking up a box in the narthex (or use your own), fill it with appropriate age items and attach the label on the outside of the box. Please place your box(es) on the altar, on or before Sunday November 12^th.

Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift. You can include a personal note or photo and the child may write back.

 Questions? Contact Tracy Schwartz @ 262-366-2069

Shoebox Gift Suggestions – there are printouts in the narthex by the shoeboxes if you want to pick one up.