https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii9SDLLcZ-Q

NINTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST—The Kingdom of Heaven: He died for it!  July 30, 2023

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

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

 Bulletin Announcement email: zionclyman@gmail.com

AS WE GATHER 

Jesus’ parables about the kingdom of heaven are a bit difficult to understand.  In the first it is hidden like treasure in a field.  In the second it is extremely costly, like a large, perfect pearl.  And we rejoice that we have found the Kingdom and value it above all.  But what about the third, in which angels sort evil and righteous people like fish being burned or saved?  Can we sinner-saints be confident of heaven as that day approaches? We can, as our being included in the Kingdom is not because of anything we have done.  First, God chose us to be a people for His treasured possession, the Old Testament Reading. Then, explains the Epistle, “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34).  Our heavenly Father sent His Son to give us His righteousness.  For our Lord, securing for us a place in the kingdom of heaven was something He was willing to die for.

Ringing of the Bell and Welcome

 This week is a Fifth Sunday so those present will be picking the Hymns.  It’s stump the Organist week

Hymn 

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

 Confession and Absolution – If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.      But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.     Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean.  We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.  We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves.  We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment.  For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us.  Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.  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 X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.        Amen.

Psalm 125 – Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the LORD surrounds His people, from this time forth and forevermore.  For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest on the land allotted to the righteous, lest the righteous stretch out their hands to do wrong.  Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts!  But those who turn aside to their crooked ways the LORD will lead away with evildoers!      Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.  Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.  Amen 

Kyrie – In peace, let us pray to the Lord.    Lord, have mercy.  For God’s peace upon us and all who call out to Him, let us pray to the Lord.  For peace among this world’s people, for whom Christ died, let us pray to the Lord.  Lord, have mercy.  For this Holy house and for all who worship and for the Church around the world, gathered around Christ’s Word and Sacrament, let us pray to the Lord.      Lord, have mercy.  Help us, heavenly Father, save us, gracious Lord, comfort us, O Holy Spirit, and defend us according to Your gracious will, O God.       Amen.

Hymn of Praise – Gloria in Excelsis                                                         LSB 154

Salutation – The Lord be with you.     And with thy spirit.

 Prayer of the Day – Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love, that, receiving what You have promised,    we may love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.       Amen.

Hymn

Old Testament Reading   Deuteronomy 7:6–9 – (In His steadfast love, God keeps His promises.) 

For you are a people holy to the Lord your God.  The Lord  your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.  The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the Lord loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.

 

Epistle  Romans 8:28–39 – (All things work together for those who love God.)  

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.  For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.  What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?  Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is to condemn?  Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?  As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”  No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gradual and Verse       Romans 11:33, 36; Matthew 13:35b –    Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways!  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be glory forever. Amen. 

 Holy Gospel – Matthew 13:44–52  (The parables of the hidden treasure, pearl of great price, and catch of fish)

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the thirteenth chapter.       Glory to You, O Lord.                                  “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.  “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls.  When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.  “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.  When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore.  Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets but threw the bad away.  This is how it will be at the end of the age.  The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.  “Yes,” they replied.  He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”     This is the Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn 

Sermon

Apostles’ Creed –   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 everlasting. Amen.

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   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 salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God.  Therefore, with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with all the angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

Sanctus    LSB 161

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.  With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.  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

 Proclamation of Christ     1 Corinthians 11:26; Revelation 22:20 –   As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.          Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.   

 Pax Domini – LSB 163  –  P    The peace of the Lord be with you always.

Agnus Dei LSB 163

We Celebrate our Lord’s Supper

 Distribution Hymns:  (3)

Post-Communion Canticle

 Nunc Dimittis   LSB 165

 Post-Communion Thanksgiving –   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.             Amen.

Benediction     

Hymn           

_______________________________________________

 

*Announcements*

From the Board of Stewardship and Evangelism:  Matthew 13:45–46 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Indeed, Jesus redeemed us, purchased us back from sin and death, with all that He had. We belong to Him now. Our generosity ought to imitate the out-sized generosity of Jesus.

The Pewpoint – THEME OF THE DAY – The Son of God Has Redeemed Us for Himself with His Holy and Precious Blood.    The Lord our God has chosen us to be “his treasured possession,” not because of any strength in us, but solely “because the Lord loves” us (Deut. 7:6–8). He is faithful, and He “keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments” (Deut. 7:9). He has searched for us and found us in love, and He has bestowed on us “great value” by the great price that He has paid on the cross (Matt. 13:45–46). In His joy, He has redeemed us by His cross and gathered us into His kingdom by the Gospel. Now we are “hidden in a field,” covered by the cross and subject to the persecution of the world (Matt. 13:44), not for destruction, but “to be conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). Since we “are called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28), and because Christ Jesus died, rose again and lives to intercede for us “at the right hand of God” (Rom. 8:34), there is nothing in all creation that can separate us from “the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:39).

YES IN CHRIST  —  Saying Yes With Our Treasures –  Needed per week to make budget: $3,072                            Sunday Envelopes $1,415    Plate $45    Pew Fund Memorial: Eli Dornfeld $50    Carleen Rettschlag $25  eneral Memorial: Carleen Rettschlag $1,200  Music Fund:  Carleen Rettschlag$ 35   Cemetery Fund:  Carleen Rettschlag $75

Attendance:   Sunday Service:  49   Communed:   42   Mid-Week Service:   13   Communed:   12

Brothers and sisters in Christ to lift up in prayer!                                                                                                  RAIN, RAIN, RAIN – thank you God                                                                                                                                            Those in our congregation who are facing health challenges and are in need of God’s strength, healing and presence.  Lana Sterwald, Phyliss sister of Felix and Janet Ortega, Sharon niece of Felix & Janet Ortega as they are healing after surgeries.

Next Council Meeting – August 3rd at 6pm

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to these members!

Allison B	8/2
David H	8/5
Adrianne B	8/6
Colton D	8/6
Crosley G	8/7
Theresa B	8/10
Harley B	8/11
Tim D	8/12
Mark F	8/14
Alexan S	8/17
Ainsley A	8/17
Jessica A	8/19
Nathan C	8/22
Griffin J	8/24
Martha C	8/25
Bentley H	8/25
Craig K	8/26
Beverly S	8/28
Carmella M	8/29
Dick B	8/31
Elizabeth G	8/31
Serene S	8/31

HAPPY ANNIVERSERY to these Members

 

Chris & Serene S	8/11
Ron & Kim L	8/22
Richard & Carmella M	8/24
Kyle & Kate B	8/26

 

The Gathering Source is collecting school supplies. We have a bin on the altar and a listing of the supplies needed are in the back or on Zion’s Facebook page. . You also can put in money towards the supplies if you want by making out a check to The Gathering Source and putting in the subject that it is for school supplies.. All supplies will be delivered to The Gathering Source on Monday August 7^th.

Please consider buying supplies for the kids or just supplying the money. Anything is welcome…..