{"id":1377,"date":"2023-10-23T11:29:41","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/?page_id=1377"},"modified":"2026-03-03T14:05:50","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:05:50","slug":"sermons-and-readings","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/?page_id=1377","title":{"rendered":"Sermons and Special Services With Readings"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Recent Services, Sermons and \nReadings and Special Services<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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All the readings up to Christmas 2026 are listed here (opens in browser and you can download the PDF): Click here.<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sunday, March 1, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 12:1-9<\/strong><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/span>Now the Lord<\/span> said[a<\/a>]<\/sup> to Abram, \u201cGo from your country[b<\/a>]<\/sup> and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.\u201d[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>So Abram went, as the Lord<\/span> had told him, and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed from Haran.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s son, and all their possessions that they had gathered, and the people that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out to go to the land of Canaan. When they came to the land of Canaan,<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>Abram passed through the land to the place at Shechem, to the oak[d<\/a>]<\/sup> of Moreh. At that time the Canaanites were in the land.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Then the Lord<\/span> appeared to Abram and said, \u201cTo your offspring I will give this land.\u201d So he built there an altar to the Lord<\/span>, who had appeared to him.<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>From there he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. And there he built an altar to the Lord<\/span>and called upon the name of the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And Abram journeyed on, still going toward the Negeb.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: Romans 4:1\u20138, 13\u201317<\/strong><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/span>What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh?<\/span>2\u00a0<\/sup>For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.<\/span>3\u00a0<\/sup>For what does the Scripture say? \u201cAbraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness.\u201d<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And to the one who does not work but believes in[a<\/a>]<\/sup> him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:<\/span><\/p>

7\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and whose sins are covered;<\/span><\/span>
8\u00a0<\/sup>blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.<\/span><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/sup>That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring\u2014not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>as it is written, \u201cI have made you the father of many nations\u201d\u2014in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

Holy Gospel: John 3:1\u201317<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

3\u00a0<\/span>Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>This man came to Jesus[a<\/a>]<\/sup> by night and said to him, \u201cRabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.\u201d<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered him, \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again[b<\/a>]<\/sup> he cannot see the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/span><\/span>4\u00a0<\/sup>Nicodemus said to him, \u201cHow can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?\u201d<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered, \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.<\/span><\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Do not marvel that I said to you, \u2018You[d<\/a>]<\/sup> must be born again.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>The wind[e<\/a>]<\/sup> blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>Nicodemus said to him, \u201cHow can these things be?\u201d<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered him, \u201cAre you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?<\/span><\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you[f<\/a>]<\/sup> do not receive our testimony.<\/span><\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?<\/span><\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,<\/span><\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.[h<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFor God so loved the world,[i<\/a>]<\/sup> that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.<\/span><\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday, February 22, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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As of Monday afternoon, the livestream is still not available for download for me to make the video.<\/p>

Here is the link to the livestream: https:\/\/youtube.com\/live\/oemr1SoDlFw \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/a><\/p>

Here’s the video with captions, followed by the readings:<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 3:1\u201321<\/strong><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/span>Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord<\/span>God had made.<\/span><\/p>

He said to the woman, \u201cDid God actually say, \u2018You[a<\/a>]<\/sup> shall not eat of any tree in the garden\u2019?\u201d<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And the woman said to the serpent, \u201cWe may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden,<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>but God said, \u2018You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.\u2019\u201d<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>But the serpent said to the woman, \u201cYou will not surely die.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.\u201d<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise,[b<\/a>]<\/sup> she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>And they heard the sound of the Lord<\/span> God walking in the garden in the cool[c<\/a>]<\/sup> of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord<\/span>God among the trees of the garden.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>But the Lord<\/span> God called to the man and said to him, \u201cWhere are you?\u201d[d<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>And he said, \u201cI heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.\u201d<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u201cWho told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?\u201d<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>The man said, \u201cThe woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.\u201d<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>Then the Lord<\/span> God said to the woman, \u201cWhat is this that you have done?\u201d The woman said, \u201cThe serpent deceived me, and I ate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

14\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord<\/span> God said to the serpent,<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBecause you have done this,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>cursed are you above all livestock<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and above all beasts of the field;<\/span><\/span>
on your belly you shall go,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and dust you shall eat<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>all the days of your life.<\/span><\/span>
15\u00a0<\/sup>I will put enmity between you and the woman,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and between your offspring[e<\/a>]<\/sup> and her offspring;<\/span><\/span>
he shall bruise your head,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and you shall bruise his heel.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

16\u00a0<\/sup>To the woman he said,<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI will surely multiply your pain in childbearing;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in pain you shall bring forth children.<\/span><\/span>
Your desire shall be for[f<\/a>]<\/sup> your husband,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and he shall rule over you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

17\u00a0<\/sup>And to Adam he said,<\/span><\/p>

\u201cBecause you have listened to the voice of your wife<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and have eaten of the tree<\/span><\/span>
of which I commanded you,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u2018You shall not eat of it,\u2019<\/span><\/span>
cursed is the ground because of you;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;<\/span><\/span>
18\u00a0<\/sup>thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and you shall eat the plants of the field.<\/span><\/span>
19\u00a0<\/sup>By the sweat of your face<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you shall eat bread,<\/span><\/span>
till you return to the ground,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>for out of it you were taken;<\/span><\/span>
for you are dust,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and to dust you shall return.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

20\u00a0<\/sup>The man called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living.[g<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span>21\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord<\/span> God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: Romans 5:12\u201319<\/strong><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[e<\/a>]<\/sup> because all sinned\u2014<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>for sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law.<\/span>14\u00a0<\/sup>Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.<\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, as one trespass[f<\/a>]<\/sup> led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness[g<\/a>]<\/sup> leads to justification and life for all men.<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 4:1\u201311<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

4\u00a0<\/span>Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And the tempter came and said to him, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.\u201d<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>But he answered, \u201cIt is written,<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201c\u2018Man shall not live by bread alone,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

5\u00a0<\/sup>Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple<\/span>6\u00a0<\/sup>and said to him, \u201cIf you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written,<\/span><\/p>

\u201c\u2018He will command his angels concerning you,\u2019<\/span><\/p><\/div>

and<\/span><\/p>

\u201c\u2018On their hands they will bear you up,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>lest you strike your foot against a stone.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

7\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus said to him, \u201cAgain it is written, \u2018You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to him, \u201cAll these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.\u201d<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Then Jesus said to him, \u201cBe gone, Satan! For it is written,<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201c\u2018You shall worship the Lord your God<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and him only shall you serve.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

11\u00a0<\/sup>Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday, February 15. 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Exodus 24:8\u201318<\/strong><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, \u201cBehold the blood of the covenant that the Lord<\/span> has made with you in accordance with all these words.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went up,<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>And he did not lay his hand on the chief men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.<\/span><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord<\/span> said to Moses, \u201cCome up to me on the mountain and wait there, that I may give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.\u201d<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>So Moses rose with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to the elders, \u201cWait here for us until we return to you. And behold, Aaron and Hur are with you. Whoever has a dispute, let him go to them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.<\/span>16\u00a0<\/sup>The glory of the Lord<\/span> dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>Now the appearance of the glory of the Lord<\/span> was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel.<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>Moses entered the cloud and went up on the mountain. And Moses was on the mountain forty days and forty nights.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 2 Peter 1:16\u201321<\/strong><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/sup>For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, \u201cThis is my beloved Son,[i<\/a>]<\/sup> with whom I am well pleased,\u201d<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation.<\/span>21\u00a0<\/sup>For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 17:1\u20139<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

17\u00a0<\/span>And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>And Peter said to Jesus, \u201cLord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.\u201d<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, \u201cThis is my beloved Son,[a<\/a>]<\/sup> with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.\u201d<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>But Jesus came and touched them, saying, \u201cRise, and have no fear.\u201d<\/span><\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.<\/span><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, \u201cTell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The installation of Pastor Joseph McCalley, \n February 11, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sunday Service, February 8, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 58:3\u20139a<\/strong><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>\u2018Why have we fasted, and you see it not?<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?\u2019<\/span><\/span>
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and oppress all your workers.<\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and to hit with a wicked fist.<\/span><\/span>
Fasting like yours this day<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>will not make your voice to be heard on high.<\/span><\/span>
5\u00a0<\/sup>Is such the fast that I choose,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>a day for a person to humble himself?<\/span><\/span>
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?<\/span><\/span>
Will you call this a fast,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and a day acceptable to the Lord<\/span>?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

6\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIs not this the fast that I choose:<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to loose the bonds of wickedness,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to undo the straps of the yoke,<\/span><\/span>
to let the oppressed[b<\/a>]<\/sup> go free,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and to break every yoke?<\/span><\/span>
7\u00a0<\/sup>Is it not to share your bread with the hungry<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and bring the homeless poor into your house;<\/span><\/span>
when you see the naked, to cover him,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?<\/span><\/span>
8\u00a0<\/sup>Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and your healing shall spring up speedily;<\/span><\/span>
your righteousness shall go before you;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the glory of the Lord<\/span> shall be your rear guard.<\/span><\/span>
9\u00a0<\/sup>Then you shall call, and the Lord<\/span> will answer;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you shall cry, and he will say, \u2018Here I am.\u2019<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 2:1\u201312<\/strong><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/span>And I, when I came to you, brothers,[a<\/a>]<\/sup> did not come proclaiming to you the testimony[b<\/a>]<\/sup> of God with lofty speech or wisdom.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men[c<\/a>]<\/sup> but in the power of God.<\/span><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/sup>Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.<\/span>8\u00a0<\/sup>None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>But, as it is written,<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWhat no eye has seen, nor ear heard,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>nor the heart of man imagined,<\/span><\/span>
what God has prepared for those who love him\u201d\u2014<\/span><\/p><\/div>

10\u00a0<\/sup>these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:13\u201320<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

13\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

14\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.<\/span><\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.<\/span><\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b<\/a>]<\/sup> they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cDo not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.<\/span><\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.<\/span><\/span>19\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.<\/span><\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Service, February 1, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sunday Service, January 25, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 9:1-4<\/strong><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/span>But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.[b<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>[c<\/a>]<\/sup> The people who walked in darkness<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>have seen a great light;<\/span><\/span>
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>on them has light shone.<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>You have multiplied the nation;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you have increased its joy;<\/span><\/span>
they rejoice before you<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>as with joy at the harvest,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>as they are glad when they divide the spoil.<\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>For the yoke of his burden,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the staff for his shoulder,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the rod of his oppressor,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you have broken as on the day of Midian.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:10\u201318<\/strong><\/p>

10\u00a0<\/sup>I appeal to you, brothers,[a<\/a>]<\/sup> by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For it has been reported to me by Chloe’s people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>What I mean is that each one of you says, \u201cI follow Paul,\u201d or \u201cI follow Apollos,\u201d or \u201cI follow Cephas,\u201d or \u201cI follow Christ.\u201d<\/span>13\u00a0<\/sup>Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 4:12\u201325<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

12\u00a0<\/sup>Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:<\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThe land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles\u2014<\/span><\/span>
16\u00a0<\/sup>the people dwelling in darkness<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>have seen a great light,<\/span><\/span>
and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>on them a light has dawned.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

17\u00a0<\/sup>From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, \u201cRepent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.\u201d[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen.<\/span>19\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cFollow me, and I will make you fishers of men.\u201d[b<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>20\u00a0<\/sup>Immediately they left their nets and followed him.<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.<\/span><\/p>

23\u00a0<\/sup>And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people.<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis, and from Jerusalem and Judea, and from beyond the Jordan.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Service. January 18, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 49:1-7<\/strong><\/p>

49\u00a0<\/span>Listen to me, O coastlands,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and give attention, you peoples from afar.<\/span><\/span>
The Lord<\/span> called me from the womb,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>from the body of my mother he named my name.<\/span><\/span>
2\u00a0<\/sup>He made my mouth like a sharp sword;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in the shadow of his hand he hid me;<\/span><\/span>
he made me a polished arrow;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in his quiver he hid me away.<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to me, \u201cYou are my servant,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Israel, in whom I will be glorified.\u201d[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>But I said, \u201cI have labored in vain;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;<\/span><\/span>
yet surely my right is with the Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and my recompense with my God.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

5\u00a0<\/sup>And now the Lord<\/span> says,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,<\/span><\/span>
to bring Jacob back to him;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and that Israel might be gathered to him\u2014<\/span><\/span>
for I am honored in the eyes of the Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and my God has become my strength\u2014<\/span><\/span>
6\u00a0<\/sup>he says:<\/span>
\u201cIt is too light a thing that you should be my servant<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to raise up the tribes of Jacob<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and to bring back the preserved of Israel;<\/span><\/span>
I will make you as a light for the nations,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

7\u00a0<\/sup>Thus says the Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,<\/span><\/span>
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nation,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the servant of rulers:<\/span><\/span>
\u201cKings shall see and arise;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>princes, and they shall prostrate themselves;<\/span><\/span>
because of the Lord<\/span>, who is faithful,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 1:1\u20139<\/strong><\/p>

1\u00a0<\/span>Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes,<\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:<\/span><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge\u2014<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you\u2014<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ,<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span>9\u00a0<\/sup>God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: John 1:29\u201342a<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

29\u00a0<\/sup>The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, \u201cBehold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>This is he of whom I said, \u2018After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.\u2019<\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.\u201d<\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>And John bore witness: \u201cI saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.<\/span> 33\u00a0<\/sup>I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, \u2018He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.\u2019<\/span> 34\u00a0<\/sup>And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son[i<\/a>]<\/sup> of God.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

35\u00a0<\/sup>The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples,<\/span> 36\u00a0<\/sup>and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, \u201cBehold, the Lamb of God!\u201d<\/span> 37\u00a0<\/sup>The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus.<\/span> 38\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, \u201cWhat are you seeking?\u201d<\/span> And they said to him, \u201cRabbi\u201d (which means Teacher), \u201cwhere are you staying?\u201d<\/span> 39\u00a0<\/sup>He said to them, \u201cCome and you will see.\u201d<\/span> So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.[j<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 40\u00a0<\/sup>One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus[k<\/a>]<\/sup> was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.<\/span> 41\u00a0<\/sup>He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, \u201cWe have found the Messiah\u201d (which means Christ).<\/span>42\u00a0<\/sup>He brought him to Jesus.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Service, January 11, 2026<\/a><\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sunday Service, January 4, 2026<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 42: 1\u20139<\/strong><\/p>

42\u00a0<\/span>Behold my servant, whom I uphold,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>my chosen, in whom my soul delights;<\/span><\/span>
I have put my Spirit upon him;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>he will bring forth justice to the nations.<\/span><\/span>
2\u00a0<\/sup>He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>or make it heard in the street;<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>a bruised reed he will not break,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>he will faithfully bring forth justice.<\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>He will not grow faint or be discouraged[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>till he has established justice in the earth;<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the coastlands wait for his law.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

5\u00a0<\/sup>Thus says God, the Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>who created the heavens and stretched them out,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>who spread out the earth and what comes from it,<\/span><\/span>
who gives breath to the people on it<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and spirit to those who walk in it:<\/span><\/span>
6\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cI am the Lord<\/span>; I have called you[b<\/a>]<\/sup> in righteousness;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will take you by the hand and keep you;<\/span><\/span>
I will give you as a covenant for the people,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>a light for the nations,<\/span><\/span>
7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to open the eyes that are blind,<\/span><\/span>
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>from the prison those who sit in darkness.<\/span><\/span>
8\u00a0<\/sup>I am the Lord<\/span>; that is my name;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>my glory I give to no other,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>nor my praise to carved idols.<\/span><\/span>
9\u00a0<\/sup>Behold, the former things have come to pass,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and new things I now declare;<\/span><\/span>
before they spring forth<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I tell you of them.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: Romans 6:1\u201311<\/strong><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/span>What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.<\/span><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/sup>For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>We know that our old self[a<\/a>]<\/sup> was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>For one who has died has been set free[b<\/a>]<\/sup> from sin.<\/span>8\u00a0<\/sup>Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 3:13\u201317<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

13\u00a0<\/sup>Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him.<\/span>14\u00a0<\/sup>John would have prevented him, saying, \u201cI need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?\u201d<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>But Jesus answered him, \u201cLet it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.\u201d<\/span> Then he consented.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him,[c<\/a>]<\/sup> and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him;<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>and behold, a voice from heaven said, \u201cThis is my beloved Son,[d<\/a>]<\/sup> with whom I am well pleased.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Service, December 28, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 3:4\u201315<\/strong><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place. Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>At Gibeon the Lord<\/span> appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, \u201cAsk what I shall give you.\u201d<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And Solomon said, \u201cYou have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And now, O Lord<\/span> my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in.<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

10\u00a0<\/sup>It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>And God said to him, \u201cBecause you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right,<\/span>12\u00a0<\/sup>behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: Ephesians 1:3\u201314<\/strong><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>he predestined us[b<\/a>]<\/sup> for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,<\/span>8\u00a0<\/sup>which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>making known[c<\/a>]<\/sup> to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ[d<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.<\/span><\/p>

11\u00a0<\/sup>In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>who is the guarantee[e<\/a>]<\/sup>of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it,[f<\/a>]<\/sup> to the praise of his glory.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 2:40\u201352<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

40\u00a0<\/sup>And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.<\/span><\/p>

41\u00a0<\/sup>Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.<\/span> 42\u00a0<\/sup>And when he was twelve years old, they went up according to custom.<\/span> 43\u00a0<\/sup>And when the feast was ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents did not know it,<\/span> 44\u00a0<\/sup>but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances,<\/span> 45\u00a0<\/sup>and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him.<\/span> 46\u00a0<\/sup>After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.<\/span> 47\u00a0<\/sup>And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers.<\/span> 48\u00a0<\/sup>And when his parents[g<\/a>]<\/sup> saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, \u201cSon, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.\u201d<\/span>49\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cWhy were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?\u201d[h<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span> 50\u00a0<\/sup>And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them.<\/span> 51\u00a0<\/sup>And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.<\/span><\/p>

52\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature[i<\/a>]<\/sup> and in favor with God and man.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 63:7-14<\/strong><\/p>

7\u00a0<\/sup>I will recount the steadfast love of the Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the praises of the Lord<\/span>,<\/span><\/span>
according to all that the Lord<\/span> has granted us,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the great goodness to the house of Israel<\/span><\/span>
that he has granted them according to his compassion,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>according to the abundance of his steadfast love.<\/span><\/span>
8\u00a0<\/sup>For he said, \u201cSurely they are my people,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>children who will not deal falsely.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>And he became their Savior.<\/span><\/span>
9\u00a0<\/sup>In all their affliction he was afflicted,[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the angel of his presence saved them;<\/span><\/span>
in his love and in his pity he redeemed them;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

10\u00a0<\/sup>But they rebelled<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and grieved his Holy Spirit;<\/span><\/span>
therefore he turned to be their enemy,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and himself fought against them.<\/span><\/span>
11\u00a0<\/sup>Then he remembered the days of old,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>of Moses and his people.[d<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
Where is he who brought them up out of the sea<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>with the shepherds of his flock?<\/span><\/span>
Where is he who put in the midst of them<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>his Holy Spirit,<\/span><\/span>
12\u00a0<\/sup>who caused his glorious arm<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to go at the right hand of Moses,<\/span><\/span>
who divided the waters before them<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to make for himself an everlasting name,<\/span><\/span>
13\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>who led them through the depths?<\/span><\/span>
Like a horse in the desert,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>they did not stumble.<\/span><\/span>
14\u00a0<\/sup>Like livestock that go down into the valley,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the Spirit of the Lord<\/span> gave them rest.<\/span><\/span>
So you led your people,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to make for yourself a glorious name.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: Galatians 4:4\u20137<\/strong><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, \u201cAbba! Father!\u201d<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 2:13\u201323<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

13\u00a0<\/sup>Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, \u201cRise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.\u201d<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, \u201cOut of Egypt I called my son.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/sup>Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cA voice was heard in Ramah,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>weeping and loud lamentation,<\/span><\/span>
Rachel weeping for her children;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>she refused to be comforted, because they are no more.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

19\u00a0<\/sup>But when Herod died, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u201cRise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead.\u201d<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>And he rose and took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel.<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there, and being warned in a dream he withdrew to the district of Galilee.<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>And he went and lived in a city called Nazareth, so that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled, that he would be called a Nazarene.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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The Annual Chirstmas Pageant, December 21, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Advent Service, December 19, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Sunday Service, December 14, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Advent Service, December 12, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Recording of Full Service, November 30, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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The entire Sunday service will be livestreamed each Sunday.\u00a0<\/p>

To join it, open it in the YouTube app or window. and search for our channel (Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar City, Utah) You should be able to find our livestream.<\/p>

An edited video will be available on the website Monday morning.<\/p>

Here is this week’s video.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 2:1\u20135<\/strong><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/span>The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.<\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>It shall come to pass in the latter days<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>that the mountain of the house of the Lord<\/span><\/span><\/span>
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and shall be lifted up above the hills;<\/span><\/span>
and all the nations shall flow to it,<\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and many peoples shall come, and say:<\/span><\/span>
\u201cCome, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to the house of the God of Jacob,<\/span><\/span>
that he may teach us his ways<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and that we may walk in his paths.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
For out of Zion shall go forth the law,[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the word of the Lord<\/span> from Jerusalem.<\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>He shall judge between the nations,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and shall decide disputes for many peoples;<\/span><\/span>
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and their spears into pruning hooks;<\/span><\/span>
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>neither shall they learn war anymore.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

5\u00a0<\/sup>O house of Jacob,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>come, let us walk<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in the light of the Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: Romans 13;8\u201314<\/strong><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>For the commandments, \u201cYou shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,\u201d and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.<\/span><\/p>

11\u00a0<\/sup>Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy.<\/span>14\u00a0<\/sup>But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 21:1\u201311<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

21\u00a0<\/span>Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples,<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>saying to them, \u201cGo into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Untie them and bring them to me.<\/span><\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, \u2018The Lord needs them,\u2019 and he will send them at once.\u201d<\/span><\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, saying,<\/span><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cSay to the daughter of Zion,<\/span>
\u2018Behold, your king is coming to you,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>humble, and mounted on a donkey,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>on a colt,[a<\/a>]<\/sup> the foal of a beast of burden.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

6\u00a0<\/sup>The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>They brought the donkey and the colt and put on them their cloaks, and he sat on them.<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>Most of the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, \u201cHosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!\u201d<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>And when he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up, saying, \u201cWho is this?\u201d<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>And the crowds said, \u201cThis is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Recording of Full Service, November 16, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Malachi 4:1\u20136<\/strong><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/span>\u201cFor behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord<\/span> of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord<\/span>of hosts.<\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cRemember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules[b<\/a>]<\/sup> that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.<\/span><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBehold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord<\/span> comes.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 2 Thessalonians 3:6\u201313<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/sup>Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you,<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.[d<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 21:5\u201328<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

5\u00a0<\/sup>And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cAs for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.\u201d<\/span><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And they asked him, \u201cTeacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?\u201d<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>And he said, \u201cSee that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, \u2018I am he!\u2019 and, \u2018The time is at hand!\u2019 Do not go after them.<\/span><\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

Jesus Foretells Wars and Persecution<\/span><\/h3>

10\u00a0<\/sup>Then he said to them, \u201cNation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.<\/span><\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.<\/span><\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake.<\/span><\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>This will be your opportunity to bear witness.<\/span><\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,<\/span><\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict.<\/span><\/span>16\u00a0<\/sup>You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers[c<\/a>]<\/sup> and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death.<\/span><\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>You will be hated by all for my name’s sake.<\/span><\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>But not a hair of your head will perish.<\/span><\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>By your endurance you will gain your lives.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

20\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBut when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near.<\/span><\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it,<\/span><\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written.<\/span><\/span>23\u00a0<\/sup>Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people.<\/span><\/span>24\u00a0<\/sup>They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

25\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cAnd there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves,<\/span><\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.<\/span><\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.<\/span><\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, November 9, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Exodus 3:1\u201315<\/strong><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/span>Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And the angel of the Lord<\/span> appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And Moses said, \u201cI will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.\u201d<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>When the Lord<\/span> saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, \u201cMoses, Moses!\u201d And he said, \u201cHere I am.\u201d<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>Then he said, \u201cDo not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.\u201d<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And he said, \u201cI am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.\u201d And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.<\/span><\/p>

7\u00a0<\/sup>Then the Lord<\/span> said, \u201cI have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,<\/span>8\u00a0<\/sup>and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And now, behold, the cry of the people of Israel has come to me, and I have also seen the oppression with which the Egyptians oppress them.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.\u201d<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>But Moses said to God, \u201cWho am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?\u201d<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u201cBut I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>Then Moses said to God, \u201cIf I come to the people of Israel and say to them, \u2018The God of your fathers has sent me to you,\u2019 and they ask me, \u2018What is his name?\u2019 what shall I say to them?\u201d<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>God said to Moses, \u201cI am who I am<\/span>.\u201d[a<\/a>]<\/sup> And he said, \u201cSay this to the people of Israel: \u2018I am<\/span> has sent me to you.\u2019\u201d<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>God also said to Moses, \u201cSay this to the people of Israel: \u2018The Lord<\/span>,[b<\/a>]<\/sup> the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.\u2019 This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 2 Thessalonians 2:1\u20138, 13\u201317<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/span>Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers,[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness[b<\/a>]<\/sup> is revealed, the son of destruction,[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way.<\/span>8\u00a0<\/sup>And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.<\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits[d<\/a>]<\/sup> to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.<\/span><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/sup>Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace,<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 20:27\u201340<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

27\u00a0<\/sup>There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection,<\/span>28\u00a0<\/sup>and they asked him a question, saying, \u201cTeacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man[f<\/a>]<\/sup> must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children.<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>And the second<\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died.<\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>Afterward the woman also died.<\/span>33\u00a0<\/sup>In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

34\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus said to them, \u201cThe sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,<\/span><\/span>35\u00a0<\/sup>but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage,<\/span><\/span> 36\u00a0<\/sup>for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons[g<\/a>]<\/sup> of the resurrection.<\/span><\/span> 37\u00a0<\/sup>But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.<\/span><\/span> 38\u00a0<\/sup>Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.\u201d<\/span><\/span> 39\u00a0<\/sup>Then some of the scribes answered, \u201cTeacher, you have spoken well.\u201d<\/span>40\u00a0<\/sup>For they no longer dared to ask him any question.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, November 2, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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First Reading: Revelation 7:9\u201317<\/strong><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,<\/span>10\u00a0<\/sup>and crying out with a loud voice, \u201cSalvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!\u201d<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God,<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u201cAmen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, \u201cWho are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?\u201d<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>I said to him, \u201cSir, you know.\u201d And he said to me, \u201cThese are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.<\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cTherefore they are before the throne of God,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and serve him day and night in his temple;<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.<\/span><\/span>
16\u00a0<\/sup>They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the sun shall not strike them,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>nor any scorching heat.<\/span><\/span>
17\u00a0<\/sup>For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and he will guide them to springs of living water,<\/span><\/span>
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 1 John 3:1\u20133<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/span>See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears[a<\/a>]<\/sup> we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Matthew 5:1\u201312<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

5\u00a0<\/span>Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.<\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:<\/span><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

7\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a<\/a>]<\/sup> of God.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

10\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

11\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBlessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.<\/span><\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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First Reading: Revelation 14:6\u20137<\/strong><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/sup>Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And he said with a loud voice, \u201cFear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: Romans 3:19\u201328<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

19\u00a0<\/sup>Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>For by works of the law no human being[c<\/a>]<\/sup> will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.<\/span><\/p>

21\u00a0<\/sup>But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it\u2014<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.<\/span>26\u00a0<\/sup>It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.<\/span><\/p>

27\u00a0<\/sup>Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith.<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also,<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>since God is one\u2014who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.<\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: John 8:31\u201336<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

31\u00a0<\/sup>So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, \u201cIf you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,<\/span><\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.\u201d<\/span><\/span>33\u00a0<\/sup>They answered him, \u201cWe are offspring of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How is it that you say, \u2018You will become free\u2019?\u201d<\/span><\/p>

34\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered them, \u201cTruly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave[b<\/a>]<\/sup> to sin.<\/span><\/span> 35\u00a0<\/sup>The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever.<\/span><\/span> 36\u00a0<\/sup>So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 3=32:22\u201330<\/strong><\/p>

22\u00a0<\/sup>The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children,[e<\/a>]<\/sup> and crossed the ford of the Jabbok.<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had.<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day.<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him.<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>Then he said, \u201cLet me go, for the day has broken.\u201d But Jacob said, \u201cI will not let you go unless you bless me.\u201d<\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to him, \u201cWhat is your name?\u201d And he said, \u201cJacob.\u201d<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>Then he said, \u201cYour name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel,[f<\/a>]<\/sup> for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.\u201d<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>Then Jacob asked him, \u201cPlease tell me your name.\u201d But he said, \u201cWhy is it that you ask my name?\u201d And there he blessed him.<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel,[g<\/a>]<\/sup> saying, \u201cFor I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 2 <\/span>Timothy 3:14\u20134:5<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

14\u00a0<\/sup>But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom[a<\/a>]<\/sup> you learned it<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.<\/span>16\u00a0<\/sup>All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>that the man of God[b<\/a>]<\/sup> may be complete, equipped for every good work.<\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/span>I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>For the time is coming when people will not endure sound[c<\/a>]<\/sup> teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>But as for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 18:1\u20138<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

18\u00a0<\/span>And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u201cIn a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man.<\/span><\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, \u2018Give me justice against my adversary.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, \u2018Though I neither fear God nor respect man,<\/span><\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord said, \u201cHear what the unrighteous judge says.<\/span><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them?<\/span><\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, October 12, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Ruth 1:1\u201319a<\/strong><\/p>

1\u00a0<\/span>In the days when the judges ruled there was a famine in the land, and a man of Bethlehem in Judah went to sojourn in the country of Moab, he and his wife and his two sons.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>The name of the man was Elimelech and the name of his wife Naomi, and the names of his two sons were Mahlon and Chilion. They were Ephrathites from Bethlehem in Judah. They went into the country of Moab and remained there.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>But Elimelech, the husband of Naomi, died, and she was left with her two sons.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>These took Moabite wives; the name of the one was Orpah and the name of the other Ruth. They lived there about ten years,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>and both Mahlon and Chilion died, so that the woman was left without her two sons and her husband.<\/span><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/sup>Then she arose with her daughters-in-law to return from the country of Moab, for she had heard in the fields of Moab that the Lord<\/span> had visited his people and given them food.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>So she set out from the place where she was with her two daughters-in-law, and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>But Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, \u201cGo, return each of you to her mother’s house. May the Lord<\/span> deal kindly with you, as you have dealt with the dead and with me.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord<\/span> grant that you may find rest, each of you in the house of her husband!\u201d Then she kissed them, and they lifted up their voices and wept.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>And they said to her, \u201cNo, we will return with you to your people.\u201d<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>But Naomi said, \u201cTurn back, my daughters; why will you go with me? Have I yet sons in my womb that they may become your husbands?<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>Turn back, my daughters; go your way, for I am too old to have a husband. If I should say I have hope, even if I should have a husband this night and should bear sons,<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>would you therefore wait till they were grown? Would you therefore refrain from marrying? No, my daughters, for it is exceedingly bitter to me for your sake that the hand of the Lord<\/span> has gone out against me.\u201d<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>Then they lifted up their voices and wept again. And Orpah kissed her mother-in-law, but Ruth clung to her.<\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>And she said, \u201cSee, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.\u201d<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>But Ruth said, \u201cDo not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.<\/span>17\u00a0<\/sup>Where you die I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord<\/span> do so to me and more also if anything but death parts me from you.\u201d<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>And when Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more.<\/span><\/p>

19\u00a0<\/sup>So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. <\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 2 <\/span>Timothy 2:1\u201313<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/span>You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men,[a<\/a>]<\/sup> who will be able to teach others also.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.<\/span>6\u00a0<\/sup>It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound!<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>The saying is trustworthy, for:<\/span><\/p>

If we have died with him, we will also live with him;<\/span>
12\u00a0<\/sup>if we endure, we will also reign with him;<\/span>
if we deny him, he also will deny us;<\/span>
13\u00a0<\/sup>if we are faithless, he remains faithful\u2014<\/span><\/p><\/div>

for he cannot deny himself.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 17:11\u201319<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

11\u00a0<\/sup>On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers,[f<\/a>]<\/sup> who stood at a distance<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>and lifted up their voices, saying, \u201cJesus, Master, have mercy on us.\u201d<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>When he saw them he said to them, \u201cGo and show yourselves to the priests.\u201d<\/span>And as they went they were cleansed.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>Then Jesus answered, \u201cWere not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?<\/span><\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?\u201d<\/span><\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to him, \u201cRise and go your way; your faith has made you well.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, October 5, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Habakkuk 1:1\u20134; 2:1\u20134<\/strong><\/p>

1\u00a0<\/span>The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.<\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>O Lord<\/span>, how long shall I cry for help,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and you will not hear?<\/span><\/span>
Or cry to you \u201cViolence!\u201d<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and you will not save?<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>Why do you make me see iniquity,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and why do you idly look at wrong?<\/span><\/span>
Destruction and violence are before me;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>strife and contention arise.<\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>So the law is paralyzed,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and justice never goes forth.<\/span><\/span>
For the wicked surround the righteous;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>so justice goes forth perverted.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/span>I will take my stand at my watchpost<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and station myself on the tower,<\/span><\/span>
and look out to see what he will say to me,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and what I will answer concerning my complaint.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

2\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord<\/span> answered me:<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWrite the vision;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>make it plain on tablets,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>so he may run who reads it.<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>For still the vision awaits its appointed time;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>it hastens to the end\u2014it will not lie.<\/span><\/span>
If it seems slow, wait for it;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>it will surely come; it will not delay.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

4\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBehold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but the righteous shall live by his faith.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle: 2 <\/span>Timothy 1:1\u201314<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

1\u00a0<\/span>Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of the life that is in Christ Jesus,<\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>To Timothy, my beloved child:<\/span><\/p>

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.<\/span><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands,<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>who saved us and called us to[a<\/a>]<\/sup> a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,[b<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span>10\u00a0<\/sup>and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span>13\u00a0<\/sup>Follow the pattern of the sound[d<\/a>]<\/sup> words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 17:1\u201310<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

17\u00a0<\/span>And he said to his disciples, \u201cTemptations to sin[a<\/a>]<\/sup> are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!<\/span><\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.[b<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,<\/span><\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, \u2018I repent,\u2019 you must forgive him.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/sup>The apostles said to the Lord, \u201cIncrease our faith!\u201d<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord said, \u201cIf you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, \u2018Be uprooted and planted in the sea,\u2019 and it would obey you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

7\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWill any one of you who has a servant[c<\/a>]<\/sup> plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, \u2018Come at once and recline at table\u2019?<\/span><\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>Will he not rather say to him, \u2018Prepare supper for me, and dress properly,[d<\/a>]<\/sup> and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink\u2019?<\/span><\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?<\/span><\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, \u2018We are unworthy servants;[e<\/a>]<\/sup> we have only done what was our duty.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, September 28, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Amos 6:1\u20137<\/strong><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWoe to those who are at ease in Zion,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria,<\/span><\/span>
the notable men of the first of the nations,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to whom the house of Israel comes!<\/span><\/span>
2\u00a0<\/sup>Pass over to Calneh, and see,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and from there go to Hamath the great;<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>then go down to Gath of the Philistines.<\/span><\/span>
Are you better than these kingdoms?<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Or is their territory greater than your territory,<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>O you who put far away the day of disaster<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and bring near the seat of violence?<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

4\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWoe to those who lie on beds of ivory<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and stretch themselves out on their couches,<\/span><\/span>
and eat lambs from the flock<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and calves from the midst of the stall,<\/span><\/span>
5\u00a0<\/sup>who sing idle songs to the sound of the harp<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and like David invent for themselves instruments of music,<\/span><\/span>
6\u00a0<\/sup>who drink wine in bowls<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and anoint themselves with the finest oils,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but are not grieved over the ruin of Joseph!<\/span><\/span>
7\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore they shall now be the first of those who go into exile,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the revelry of those who stretch themselves out shall pass away.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>1 Timothy 3:1\u201313<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/span>The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore an overseer[a<\/a>]<\/sup> must be above reproach, the husband of one wife,[b<\/a>]<\/sup> sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued,[c<\/a>]<\/sup> not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>Their wives likewise[d<\/a>]<\/sup>must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and their own households well.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 16:19\u201331<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

19\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThere was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day.<\/span><\/span>20\u00a0<\/sup>And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,<\/span><\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores.<\/span><\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.[f<\/a>]<\/sup> The rich man also died and was buried,<\/span><\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.<\/span><\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>And he called out, \u2018Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>But Abraham said, \u2018Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.<\/span><\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>And he said, \u2018Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house\u2014<\/span><\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>for I have five brothers\u2014so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>But Abraham said, \u2018They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>And he said, \u2018No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>He said to him, \u2018If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, September 21, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Amos 8:4\u20137<\/strong><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>Hear this, you who trample on the needy<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and bring the poor of the land to an end,<\/span><\/span>
5\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u201cWhen will the new moon be over,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>that we may sell grain?<\/span><\/span>
And the Sabbath,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>that we may offer wheat for sale,<\/span><\/span>
that we may make the ephah small and the shekel[d<\/a>]<\/sup> great<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and deal deceitfully with false balances,<\/span><\/span>
6\u00a0<\/sup>that we may buy the poor for silver<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the needy for a pair of sandals<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and sell the chaff of the wheat?\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

7\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord<\/span> has sworn by the pride of Jacob:<\/span>
\u201cSurely I will never forget any of their deeds.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>1 Timothy 2:1\u201315<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/span>First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people,<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior,<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[a<\/a>]<\/sup> Christ Jesus,<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>For this I was appointed a preacher and an apostle (I am telling the truth, I am not lying), a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;<\/span>9\u00a0<\/sup>likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>but with what is proper for women who profess godliness\u2014with good works.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>For Adam was formed first, then Eve;<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>Yet she will be saved through childbearing\u2014if they continue in faith and love and holiness, with self-control.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 16:1\u201315<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

16\u00a0<\/span>He also said to the disciples, \u201cThere was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions.<\/span><\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And he called him and said to him, \u2018What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And the manager said to himself, \u2018What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg.<\/span><\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>So, summoning his master’s debtors one by one, he said to the first, \u2018How much do you owe my master?\u2019<\/span><\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u2018A hundred measures[a<\/a>]<\/sup> of oil.\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Then he said to another, \u2018And how much do you owe?\u2019 He said, \u2018A hundred measures[b<\/a>]<\/sup> of wheat.\u2019 He said to him, \u2018Take your bill, and write eighty.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world[c<\/a>]<\/sup> are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.<\/span><\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth,[d<\/a>]<\/sup> so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

10\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cOne who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.<\/span><\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?<\/span><\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?<\/span><\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

14\u00a0<\/sup>The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cYou are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, September 14, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 34:11\u201324<\/strong><\/p>

11\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFor thus says the Lord God<\/span>: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God<\/span>.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy.[a<\/a>]<\/sup> I will feed them in justice.<\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cAs for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God<\/span>: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats.<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet?<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?<\/span><\/p>

20\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cTherefore, thus says the Lord God<\/span> to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad,<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>I will rescue[b<\/a>]<\/sup> my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep.<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd.<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>And I, the Lord<\/span>, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord<\/span>; I have spoken.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>1 Timothy 1:12\u201317<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service,<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief,<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever.[d<\/a>]<\/sup> Amen.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 15:1\u201310<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

15\u00a0<\/span>Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, \u201cThis man receives sinners and eats with them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>So he told them this parable:<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWhat man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?<\/span><\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.<\/span><\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, \u2018Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

The Parable of the Lost Coin<\/span><\/h3>

8\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cOr what woman, having ten silver coins,[a<\/a>]<\/sup> if she loses one coin, does not light a lamp and sweep the house and seek diligently until she finds it?<\/span><\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And when she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, \u2018Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, September 7, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 30:15\u201320<\/strong><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cSee, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>If you obey the commandments of the Lord<\/span> your God[a<\/a>]<\/sup> that I command you today, by loving the Lord<\/span> your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules,[b<\/a>]<\/sup> then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord<\/span>your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them,<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess.<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>loving the Lord<\/span>your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord<\/span> swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Philemon 1-21<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

1\u00a0<\/sup>Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,<\/span><\/p>

To Philemon our beloved fellow worker<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:<\/span><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.<\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required,<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you\u2014I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus\u2014<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus,[b<\/a>]<\/sup> whose father I became in my imprisonment.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>(Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel,<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>no longer as a bondservant[c<\/a>]<\/sup> but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother\u2014especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.<\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me.<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it\u2014to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.<\/span><\/p>

21\u00a0<\/sup>Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 14:25-35<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

25\u00a0<\/sup>Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them,<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cIf anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.<\/span><\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.<\/span><\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?<\/span><\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him,<\/span><\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>saying, \u2018This man began to build and was not able to finish.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?<\/span><\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.<\/span><\/span> 33\u00a0<\/sup>So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

34\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cSalt is good, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored?<\/span><\/span> 35\u00a0<\/sup>It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Old Testament Reading: Proverbs 25:2\u201310<\/strong><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>It is the glory of God to conceal things,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>but the glory of kings is to search things out.<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>As the heavens for height, and the earth for depth,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>so the heart of kings is unsearchable.<\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>Take away the dross from the silver,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the smith has material for a vessel;<\/span><\/span>
5\u00a0<\/sup>take away the wicked from the presence of the king,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and his throne will be established in righteousness.<\/span><\/span>
6\u00a0<\/sup>Do not put yourself forward in the king’s presence<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>or stand in the place of the great,<\/span><\/span>
7\u00a0<\/sup>for it is better to be told, \u201cCome up here,\u201d<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

What your eyes have seen<\/span>
8\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>do not hastily bring into court,[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
for[b<\/a>]<\/sup> what will you do in the end,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>when your neighbor puts you to shame?<\/span><\/span>
9\u00a0<\/sup>Argue your case with your neighbor himself,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and do not reveal another’s secret,<\/span><\/span>
10\u00a0<\/sup>lest he who hears you bring shame upon you,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and your ill repute have no end.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Hebrews 13:1\u201317<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/span>Let brotherly love continue.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, \u201cI will never leave you nor forsake you.\u201d<\/span>6\u00a0<\/sup>So we can confidently say,<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe Lord is my helper;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I will not fear;<\/span><\/span>
what can man do to me?\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div>

7\u00a0<\/sup>Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, which have not benefited those devoted to them.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>We have an altar from which those who serve the tent[a<\/a>]<\/sup>have no right to eat.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy places by the high priest as a sacrifice for sin are burned outside the camp.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.<\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 14:1\u201314<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

14\u00a0<\/span>One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, \u201cIs it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?\u201d<\/span><\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cWhich of you, having a son[a<\/a>]<\/sup> or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?\u201d<\/span><\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And they could not reply to these things.<\/span><\/p>

7\u00a0<\/sup>Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them,<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWhen you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him,<\/span><\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>and he who invited you both will come and say to you, \u2018Give your place to this person,\u2019 and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place.<\/span><\/span>10\u00a0<\/sup>But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, \u2018Friend, move up higher.\u2019 Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you.<\/span><\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>He said also to the man who had invited him, \u201cWhen you give a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or your brothers[b<\/a>]<\/sup> or your relatives or rich neighbors, lest they also invite you in return and you be repaid.<\/span><\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,<\/span><\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the just.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, August 24, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 66:18\u201323<\/strong><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFor I know[b<\/a>]<\/sup> their works and their thoughts, and the time is coming[c<\/a>]<\/sup> to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory,<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>and I will set a sign among them. And from them I will send survivors to the nations, to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, who draw the bow, to Tubal and Javan, to the coastlands far away, that have not heard my fame or seen my glory. And they shall declare my glory among the nations.<\/span>20\u00a0<\/sup>And they shall bring all your brothers from all the nations as an offering to the Lord<\/span>, on horses and in chariots and in litters and on mules and on dromedaries, to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the Lord<\/span>, just as the Israelites bring their grain offering in a clean vessel to the house of the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>And some of them also I will take for priests and for Levites, says the Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

22\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFor as the new heavens and the new earth<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>that I make<\/span><\/span>
shall remain before me, says the Lord<\/span>,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>so shall your offspring and your name remain.<\/span><\/span>
23\u00a0<\/sup>From new moon to new moon,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and from Sabbath to Sabbath,<\/span><\/span>
all flesh shall come to worship before me,<\/span>
declares the Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Hebrews 12:4\u201324<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.<\/span>5\u00a0<\/sup>And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?<\/span><\/p>

\u201cMy son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>nor be weary when reproved by him.<\/span><\/span>
6\u00a0<\/sup>For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and chastises every son whom he receives.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

7\u00a0<\/sup>It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.<\/span><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no \u201croot of bitterness\u201d springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest<\/span>19\u00a0<\/sup>and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>For they could not endure the order that was given, \u201cIf even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.\u201d<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, \u201cI tremble with fear.\u201d<\/span>22\u00a0<\/sup>But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>and to the assembly[a<\/a>]<\/sup> of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 13:22\u201330<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

22\u00a0<\/sup>He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>And someone said to him, \u201cLord, will those who are saved be few?\u201d And he said to them,<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cStrive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.<\/span><\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, \u2018Lord, open to us,\u2019 then he will answer you, \u2018I do not know where you come from.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>Then you will begin to say, \u2018We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>But he will say, \u2018I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!\u2019<\/span><\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.<\/span><\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.<\/span><\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, August 17, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23:16\u201329<\/strong><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/sup>Thus says the Lord<\/span> of hosts: \u201cDo not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>They say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord<\/span>, \u2018It shall be well with you\u2019; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, \u2018No disaster shall come upon you.\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>For who among them has stood in the council of the Lord<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to see and to hear his word,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>or who has paid attention to his word and listened?<\/span><\/span>
19\u00a0<\/sup>Behold, the storm of the Lord<\/span>!<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Wrath has gone forth,<\/span><\/span>
a whirling tempest;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>it will burst upon the head of the wicked.<\/span><\/span>
20\u00a0<\/sup>The anger of the Lord<\/span> will not turn back<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>until he has executed and accomplished<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>the intents of his heart.<\/span><\/span>
In the latter days you will understand it clearly.<\/span><\/p><\/div>

21\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cI did not send the prophets,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>yet they ran;<\/span><\/span>
I did not speak to them,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>yet they prophesied.<\/span><\/span>
22\u00a0<\/sup>But if they had stood in my council,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>then they would have proclaimed my words to my people,<\/span><\/span>
and they would have turned them from their evil way,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and from the evil of their deeds.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

23\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cAm I a God at hand, declares the Lord<\/span>, and not a God far away?<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord<\/span>. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>I have heard what the prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, \u2018I have dreamed, I have dreamed!\u2019<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart,<\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal?<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord<\/span>, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Hebrews 11:17\u201331; 12:1\u20133<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son,<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>of whom it was said, \u201cThrough Isaac shall your offspring be named.\u201d<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau.<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff.<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones.<\/span><\/p>

23\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.<\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them.<\/span><\/p>

29\u00a0<\/sup>By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned.<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.<\/span>31\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.<\/span><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/span>Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.<\/span><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 12:49\u201353<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

49\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cI came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!<\/span><\/span> 50\u00a0<\/sup>I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until it is accomplished!<\/span><\/span> 51\u00a0<\/sup>Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.<\/span><\/span> 52\u00a0<\/sup>For from now on in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three.<\/span><\/span> 53\u00a0<\/sup>They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, August 10, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 15:1\u20136<\/strong><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/span>After these things the word of the Lord<\/span> came to Abram in a vision: \u201cFear not, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great.\u201d<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>But Abram said, \u201cO Lord God<\/span>, what will you give me, for I continue[a<\/a>]<\/sup>childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?\u201d<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And Abram said, \u201cBehold, you have given me no offspring, and a member of my household will be my heir.\u201d<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, the word of the Lord<\/span> came to him: \u201cThis man shall not be your heir; your very own son[b<\/a>]<\/sup> shall be your heir.\u201d<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And he brought him outside and said, \u201cLook toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.\u201d Then he said to him, \u201cSo shall your offspring be.\u201d<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And he believed the Lord<\/span>, and he counted it to him as righteousness.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Hebrews 11:1\u201316<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

11\u00a0<\/span>Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>For by it the people of old received their commendation.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.<\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks.<\/span>5\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household. By this he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised.<\/span>12\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.<\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 12:22\u201334<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

22\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to his disciples, \u201cTherefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.<\/span><\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.<\/span><\/span>24\u00a0<\/sup>Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds!<\/span><\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest?<\/span><\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.<\/span><\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!<\/span><\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried.<\/span><\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.<\/span><\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>Instead, seek his[d<\/a>]<\/sup> kingdom, and these things will be added to you.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

32\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.<\/span><\/span> 33\u00a0<\/sup>Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.<\/span><\/span> 34\u00a0<\/sup>For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, August 3, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12\u201314; 2:18\u201326<\/strong><\/p>

Vanity[b<\/a>]<\/sup> of vanities, says the Preacher,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>vanity of vanities! All is vanity.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And I applied my heart[f<\/a>]<\/sup> to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity[g<\/a>]<\/sup> and a striving after wind.<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me,<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>and who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity.<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>So I turned about and gave my heart up to despair over all the toil of my labors under the sun,<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>because sometimes a person who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave everything to be enjoyed by someone who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil.<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>What has a man from all the toil and striving of heart with which he toils beneath the sun?<\/span>23\u00a0<\/sup>For all his days are full of sorrow, and his work is a vexation. Even in the night his heart does not rest. This also is vanity.<\/span><\/p>

24\u00a0<\/sup>There is nothing better for a person than that he should eat and drink and find enjoyment[k<\/a>]<\/sup> in his toil. This also, I saw, is from the hand of God,<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>for apart from him[l<\/a>]<\/sup> who can eat or who can have enjoyment?<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>For to the one who pleases him God has given wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner he has given the business of gathering and collecting, only to give to one who pleases God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Colossians 3:1\u201311<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/span>If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>When Christ who is your[a<\/a>]<\/sup> life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.<\/span><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/sup>Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:[b<\/a>]<\/sup> sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>On account of these the wrath of God is coming.[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>In these you too once walked, when you were living in them.<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self[d<\/a>]<\/sup>with its practices<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,[e<\/a>]<\/sup>free; but Christ is all, and in all.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 12:13\u201321<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

13\u00a0<\/sup>Someone in the crowd said to him, \u201cTeacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.\u201d<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>But he said to him, \u201cMan, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?\u201d<\/span><\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cTake care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.\u201d<\/span><\/span>16\u00a0<\/sup>And he told them a parable, saying, \u201cThe land of a rich man produced plentifully,<\/span><\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>and he thought to himself, \u2018What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?\u2019<\/span><\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>And he said, \u2018I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.<\/span><\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And I will say to my soul, \u201cSoul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.\u201d\u2019<\/span><\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>But God said to him, \u2018Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?\u2019<\/span><\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, July 27, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 18:20\u201333<\/strong><\/p>

20\u00a0<\/sup>Then the Lord<\/span> said, \u201cBecause the outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great and their sin is very grave,<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>I will go down to see whether they have done altogether[g<\/a>]<\/sup> according to the outcry that has come to me. And if not, I will know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

22\u00a0<\/sup>So the men turned from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham still stood before the Lord<\/span>.<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>Then Abraham drew near and said, \u201cWill you indeed sweep away the righteous with the wicked?<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>Suppose there are fifty righteous within the city. Will you then sweep away the place and not spare it for the fifty righteous who are in it?<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?\u201d<\/span>26\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord<\/span> said, \u201cIf I find at Sodom fifty righteous in the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

27\u00a0<\/sup>Abraham answered and said, \u201cBehold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord, I who am but dust and ashes.<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>Suppose five of the fifty righteous are lacking. Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five?\u201d And he said, \u201cI will not destroy it if I find forty-five there.\u201d<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>Again he spoke to him and said, \u201cSuppose forty are found there.\u201d He answered, \u201cFor the sake of forty I will not do it.\u201d<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>Then he said, \u201cOh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak. Suppose thirty are found there.\u201d He answered, \u201cI will not do it, if I find thirty there.\u201d<\/span>31\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u201cBehold, I have undertaken to speak to the Lord. Suppose twenty are found there.\u201d He answered, \u201cFor the sake of twenty I will not destroy it.\u201d<\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>Then he said, \u201cOh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again but this once. Suppose ten are found there.\u201d He answered, \u201cFor the sake of ten I will not destroy it.\u201d<\/span>33\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord<\/span> went his way, when he had finished speaking to Abraham, and Abraham returned to his place.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Colossians 2:6\u201315<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.<\/span><\/p>

8\u00a0<\/sup>See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits[a<\/a>]<\/sup> of the world, and not according to Christ.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>He disarmed the rulers and authorities[b<\/a>]<\/sup> and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 11:1\u201313<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

11\u00a0<\/span>Now Jesus[a<\/a>]<\/sup> was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, \u201cLord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.\u201d<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cWhen you pray, say:<\/span><\/span><\/p>

\u201cFather, hallowed be your name.<\/span><\/span>
Your kingdom come.<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>Give us each day our daily bread,[b<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>and forgive us our sins,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us.<\/span><\/span><\/span>
And lead us not into temptation.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

5\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to them, \u201cWhich of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, \u2018Friend, lend me three loaves,<\/span><\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him\u2019;<\/span><\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>and he will answer from within, \u2018Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything\u2019?<\/span><\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence[c<\/a>]<\/sup> he will rise and give him whatever he needs.<\/span><\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.<\/span><\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.<\/span><\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>What father among you, if his son asks for[d<\/a>]<\/sup> a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;<\/span><\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?<\/span><\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, July 20, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 18:1\u201310a<\/strong><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/span>And the Lord<\/span> appeared to him by the oaks[a<\/a>]<\/sup> of Mamre, as he sat at the door of his tent in the heat of the day.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>He lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing in front of him. When he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them and bowed himself to the earth<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>and said, \u201cO Lord,[b<\/a>]<\/sup> if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your servant.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>while I bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh yourselves, and after that you may pass on\u2014since you have come to your servant.\u201d So they said, \u201cDo as you have said.\u201d<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And Abraham went quickly into the tent to Sarah and said, \u201cQuick! Three seahs[c<\/a>]<\/sup> of fine flour! Knead it, and make cakes.\u201d<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And Abraham ran to the herd and took a calf, tender and good, and gave it to a young man, who prepared it quickly.<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>Then he took curds and milk and the calf that he had prepared, and set it before them. And he stood by them under the tree while they ate.<\/span><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>They said to him, \u201cWhere is Sarah your wife?\u201d And he said, \u201cShe is in the tent.\u201d<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>The Lord<\/span> said, \u201cI will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife shall have a son.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Colossians 1:21\u201329<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

21\u00a0<\/sup>And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds,<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation[g<\/a>]<\/sup> under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.<\/span><\/p>

24\u00a0<\/sup>Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church,<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known,<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.<\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.<\/span>28\u00a0<\/sup>Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 10:38\u201342<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

38\u00a0<\/sup>Now as they went on their way, Jesus[d<\/a>]<\/sup> entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.<\/span> 39\u00a0<\/sup>And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.<\/span> 40\u00a0<\/sup>But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, \u201cLord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.\u201d<\/span> 41\u00a0<\/sup>But the Lord answered her, \u201cMartha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,<\/span><\/span> 42\u00a0<\/sup>but one thing is necessary.[e<\/a>]<\/sup> Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, July 13, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Leviticus 19:9\u201318<\/strong><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cWhen you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap your field right up to its edge, neither shall you gather the gleanings after your harvest.<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>And you shall not strip your vineyard bare, neither shall you gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard. You shall leave them for the poor and for the sojourner: I am the Lord<\/span> your God.<\/span><\/p>

11\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; you shall not lie to one another.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired worker shall not remain with you all night until the morning.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>You shall not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind, but you shall fear your God: I am the Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life[a<\/a>]<\/sup> of your neighbor: I am the Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cYou shall not hate your brother in your heart, but you shall reason frankly with your neighbor, lest you incur sin because of him.<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord<\/span>.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Colossians 1:1\u201314<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

1\u00a0<\/span>Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,<\/span><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/sup>To the saints and faithful brothers[a<\/a>]<\/sup> in Christ at Colossae:<\/span><\/p>

Grace to you and peace from God our Father.<\/span><\/p>

3\u00a0<\/sup>We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you,<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel,<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing\u2014as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth,<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant.[b<\/a>]<\/sup> He is a faithful minister of Christ on your[c<\/a>]<\/sup> behalf<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>and has made known to us your love in the Spirit.<\/span><\/p>

9\u00a0<\/sup>And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>giving thanks[d<\/a>]<\/sup> to the Father, who has qualified you[e<\/a>]<\/sup> to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: Luke 10:25\u201337<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

25\u00a0<\/sup>And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, \u201cTeacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?\u201d<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>He said to him, \u201cWhat is written in the Law? How do you read it?\u201d<\/span><\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>And he answered, \u201cYou shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to him, \u201cYou have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

29\u00a0<\/sup>But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, \u201cAnd who is my neighbor?\u201d<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus replied, \u201cA man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.<\/span><\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.<\/span><\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.<\/span><\/span> 33\u00a0<\/sup>But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.<\/span><\/span> 34\u00a0<\/sup>He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.<\/span><\/span> 35\u00a0<\/sup>And the next day he took out two denarii[c<\/a>]<\/sup> and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, \u2018Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.\u2019<\/span><\/span> 36\u00a0<\/sup>Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?\u201d<\/span><\/span> 37\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u201cThe one who showed him mercy.\u201d And Jesus said to him, \u201cYou go, and do likewise.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, July 6, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 66:10\u201314<\/strong><\/p>

10\u00a0<\/span>\u201cRejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>all you who love her;<\/span><\/span>
rejoice with her in joy,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>all you who mourn over her;<\/span><\/span>
11\u00a0<\/span>that you may nurse and be satisfied<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>from her consoling breast;<\/span><\/span>
that you may drink deeply with delight<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>from her glorious abundance.\u201d[a<\/a>]<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

12\u00a0<\/span>For thus says the\u00a0Lord<\/span>:<\/span>
\u201cBehold, I will extend peace to her like a river,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream;<\/span><\/span>
and you shall nurse, you shall be carried upon her hip,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and bounced upon her knees.<\/span><\/span>
13\u00a0<\/span>As one whom his mother comforts,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>so I will comfort you;<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.<\/span><\/span>
14\u00a0<\/span>You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice;<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>your bones shall flourish like the grass;<\/span><\/span>
and the hand of the\u00a0Lord<\/span>\u00a0shall be known to his servants,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/span>Galatians 6:1\u201310, 14\u201318<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/span>Brothers,[a<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.<\/span>\u00a02\u00a0<\/span>Bear one another\u2019s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.<\/span>\u00a03\u00a0<\/span>For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.<\/span>\u00a04\u00a0<\/span>But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor.<\/span>\u00a05\u00a0<\/span>For each will have to bear his own load.<\/span><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/span>Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.<\/span>\u00a07\u00a0<\/span>Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.<\/span>\u00a08\u00a0<\/span>For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.<\/span>\u00a09\u00a0<\/span>And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.<\/span>\u00a010\u00a0<\/span>So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.<\/span><\/p>

14\u00a0<\/span>But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which[b<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.<\/span>\u00a015\u00a0<\/span>For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.<\/span>\u00a016\u00a0<\/span>And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.<\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/span>From now on let no one cause me trouble, for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/span>The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel:\u00a0Luke 10:1-20<\/strong><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

10\u00a0<\/span>After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a<\/a>]<\/span>\u00a0others and sent them on ahead of him, two by two, into every town and place where he himself was about to go.<\/span>\u00a02\u00a0<\/span>And he said to them,\u00a0\u201cThe harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.<\/span><\/span>3\u00a0<\/span>Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.<\/span>\u00a04\u00a0<\/span>Carry no moneybag, no knapsack, no sandals, and greet no one on the road.<\/span>\u00a05\u00a0<\/span>Whatever house you enter, first say, \u2018Peace be to this house!\u2019<\/span>\u00a06\u00a0<\/span>And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if not, it will return to you.<\/span>\u00a07\u00a0<\/span>And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages. Do not go from house to house.<\/span>\u00a08\u00a0<\/span>Whenever you enter a town and they receive you, eat what is set before you.<\/span>9\u00a0<\/span>Heal the sick in it and say to them, \u2018The kingdom of God has come near to you.\u2019<\/span>\u00a010\u00a0<\/span>But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say,<\/span>\u00a011\u00a0<\/span>\u2018Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.\u2019<\/span>\u00a012\u00a0<\/span>I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.<\/span><\/p>

13\u00a0<\/span>\u201cWoe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.<\/span>\u00a014\u00a0<\/span>But it will be more bearable in the judgment for Tyre and Sidon than for you.<\/span>\u00a015\u00a0<\/span>And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades.<\/span><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/span>\u201cThe one who hears you hears me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/span>The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, \u201cLord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!\u201d<\/span>\u00a018\u00a0<\/span>And he said to them,\u00a0\u201cI saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.<\/span><\/span>\u00a019\u00a0<\/span>Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you.<\/span>\u00a020\u00a0<\/span>Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, June 29, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: 1 Kings 19:9b\u201321<\/strong><\/p>

And behold, the word of the Lord<\/span> came to him, and he said to him, \u201cWhat are you doing here, Elijah?\u201d<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u201cI have been very jealous for the Lord<\/span>, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.\u201d<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>And he said, \u201cGo out and stand on the mount before the Lord<\/span>.\u201d And behold, the Lord<\/span> passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord<\/span>, but the Lord<\/span> was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord<\/span> was not in the earthquake.<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord<\/span>was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper.[a<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said, \u201cWhat are you doing here, Elijah?\u201d<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>He said, \u201cI have been very jealous for the Lord<\/span>, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my life, to take it away.\u201d<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord<\/span>said to him, \u201cGo, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria.<\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>And Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>And the one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

19\u00a0<\/sup>So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him.<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, \u201cLet me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.\u201d And he said to him, \u201cGo back again, for what have I done to you?\u201d<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/strong>Galatians 5:1, 13\u201325<\/b><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/span>For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.<\/p>

13\u00a0<\/sup>For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: \u201cYou shall love your neighbor as yourself.\u201d<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another.<\/span><\/p>

Keep in Step with the Spirit<\/span><\/h3>

16\u00a0<\/sup>But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.<\/span>19\u00a0<\/sup>Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,<\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>envy,[d<\/a>]<\/sup> drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do[e<\/a>]<\/sup> such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,<\/span>23\u00a0<\/sup>gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.<\/span><\/p>

25\u00a0<\/sup>If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel:\u00a0<\/strong>Luke 9:51\u201362<\/b><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

51\u00a0<\/sup>When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.<\/span> 52\u00a0<\/sup>And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him.<\/span>53\u00a0<\/sup>But the people did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem.<\/span>54\u00a0<\/sup>And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, \u201cLord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?\u201d[e<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 55\u00a0<\/sup>But he turned and rebuked them.[f<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 56\u00a0<\/sup>And they went on to another village.<\/span><\/p>

The Cost of Following Jesus<\/span><\/h3>

57\u00a0<\/sup>As they were going along the road, someone said to him, \u201cI will follow you wherever you go.\u201d<\/span> 58\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus said to him, \u201cFoxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.\u201d<\/span><\/span> 59\u00a0<\/sup>To another he said, \u201cFollow me.\u201d<\/span> But he said, \u201cLord, let me first go and bury my father.\u201d<\/span> 60\u00a0<\/sup>And Jesus[g<\/a>]<\/sup> said to him, \u201cLeave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/span><\/span> 61\u00a0<\/sup>Yet another said, \u201cI will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.\u201d<\/span> 62\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus said to him, \u201cNo one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Sunday Sermon, June 22, 2025<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
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Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 65:1\u20139<\/strong><\/p>

65\u00a0<\/span>I was ready to be sought by those who did not ask for me;<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>I was ready to be found by those who did not seek me.<\/span><\/span>
I said, \u201cHere I am, here I am,\u201d<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to a nation that was not called by[a<\/a>]<\/sup> my name.<\/span><\/span>
2\u00a0<\/sup>I spread out my hands all the day<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to a rebellious people,<\/span><\/span>
who walk in a way that is not good,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>following their own devices;<\/span><\/span>
3\u00a0<\/sup>a people who provoke me<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>to my face continually,<\/span><\/span>
sacrificing in gardens<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and making offerings on bricks;<\/span><\/span>
4\u00a0<\/sup>who sit in tombs,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and spend the night in secret places;<\/span><\/span>
who eat pig\u2019s flesh,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and broth of tainted meat is in their vessels;<\/span><\/span>
5\u00a0<\/sup>who say, \u201cKeep to yourself,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>do not come near me, for I am too holy for you.\u201d<\/span><\/span>
These are a smoke in my nostrils,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>a fire that burns all the day.<\/span><\/span>
6\u00a0<\/sup>Behold, it is written before me:<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>\u201cI will not keep silent, but I will repay;<\/span><\/span>
I will indeed repay into their lap<\/span>
7\u00a0<\/sup>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>both your iniquities and your fathers\u2019 iniquities together,<\/span><\/span>
says the Lord<\/span>;<\/span><\/span>
because they made offerings on the mountains<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and insulted me on the hills,<\/span><\/span>
I will measure into their lap<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>payment for their former deeds.\u201d[b<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

8\u00a0<\/sup>Thus says the Lord<\/span>:<\/span>
\u201cAs the new wine is found in the cluster,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and they say, \u2018Do not destroy it,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>for there is a blessing in it,\u2019<\/span><\/span>
so I will do for my servants\u2019 sake,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and not destroy them all.<\/span><\/span>
9\u00a0<\/sup>I will bring forth offspring from Jacob,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and from Judah possessors of my mountains;<\/span><\/span>
my chosen shall possess it,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and my servants shall dwell there.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/strong>Galatians 3:23\u20134:7<\/b><\/p>

23\u00a0<\/sup>Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed.<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.<\/span>25\u00a0<\/sup>But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian,<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.<\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave[g<\/a>]<\/sup> nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>And if you are Christ\u2019s, then you are Abraham\u2019s offspring, heirs according to promise.<\/span><\/p>

4\u00a0<\/span>I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,[h<\/a>]<\/sup> though he is the owner of everything,<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles[i<\/a>]<\/sup> of the world.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, \u201cAbba! Father!\u201d<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel:\u00a0<\/strong>Luke 8:26\u201339<\/b><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

26\u00a0<\/sup>Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,[c<\/a>]<\/sup> which is opposite Galilee.<\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>When Jesus[d<\/a>]<\/sup> had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs.<\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, \u201cWhat have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.\u201d<\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.)<\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus then asked him, \u201cWhat is your name?\u201d<\/span> And he said, \u201cLegion,\u201d for many demons had entered him.<\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.<\/span> 32\u00a0<\/sup>Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.<\/span> 33\u00a0<\/sup>Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.<\/span><\/p>

34\u00a0<\/sup>When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.<\/span> 35\u00a0<\/sup>Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.<\/span> 36\u00a0<\/sup>And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed[e<\/a>]<\/sup> man had been healed.<\/span> 37\u00a0<\/sup>Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.<\/span>38\u00a0<\/sup>The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,<\/span> 39\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cReturn to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.\u201d<\/span> And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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Old Testament Reading: Genesis 11:1\u20139<\/strong><\/p>

11\u00a0<\/span>Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And as people migrated from the east, they found a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And they said to one another, \u201cCome, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.\u201d And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>Then they said, \u201cCome, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.\u201d<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord<\/span> came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of man had built.<\/span>6\u00a0<\/sup>And the Lord<\/span> said, \u201cBehold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>Come, let us go down and there confuse their language, so that they may not understand one another\u2019s speech.\u201d<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>So the Lord<\/span> dispersed them from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Therefore its name was called Babel, because there the Lord<\/span>confused[a<\/a>]<\/sup> the language of all the earth. And from there the Lord<\/span> dispersed them over the face of all the earth.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Epistle:\u00a0<\/strong>Acts 2:1\u201321<\/b><\/p>

2\u00a0<\/span>When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested[a<\/a>]<\/sup> on each one of them.<\/span>4\u00a0<\/sup>And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.<\/span><\/p>

5\u00a0<\/sup>Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven.<\/span> 6\u00a0<\/sup>And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language.<\/span> 7\u00a0<\/sup>And they were amazed and astonished, saying, \u201cAre not all these who are speaking Galileans?<\/span> 8\u00a0<\/sup>And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language?<\/span> 9\u00a0<\/sup>Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,<\/span> 10\u00a0<\/sup>Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome,<\/span> 11\u00a0<\/sup>both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians\u2014we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.\u201d<\/span> 12\u00a0<\/sup>And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, \u201cWhat does this mean?\u201d<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>But others mocking said, \u201cThey are filled with new wine.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

14\u00a0<\/sup>But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: \u201cMen of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.[b<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span> 16\u00a0<\/sup>But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:<\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>\u201c\u2018And in the last days it shall be, God declares,<\/span>
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,<\/span>
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and your young men shall see visions,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and your old men shall dream dreams;<\/span><\/span>
18\u00a0<\/sup>even on my male servants and female servants<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.<\/span><\/span>
19\u00a0<\/sup>And I will show wonders in the heavens above<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and signs on the earth below,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;<\/span><\/span>
20\u00a0<\/sup>the sun shall be turned to darkness<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and the moon to blood,<\/span><\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.<\/span><\/span>
21\u00a0<\/sup>And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.\u2019<\/span><\/p><\/div>

Holy Gospel:\u00a0<\/strong>John 14:23\u201331<\/b><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

23\u00a0<\/sup>Jesus answered him, \u201cIf anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.<\/span><\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father\u2019s who sent me.<\/span><\/span><\/p>

25\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cThese things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.<\/span><\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.<\/span><\/span> 27\u00a0<\/sup>Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.<\/span><\/span> 28\u00a0<\/sup>You heard me say to you, \u2018I am going away, and I will come to you.\u2019 If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I.<\/span><\/span> 29\u00a0<\/sup>And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.<\/span><\/span> 30\u00a0<\/sup>I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,<\/span><\/span> 31\u00a0<\/sup>but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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First Reading: Acts 1:12\u201326<\/strong><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day\u2019s journey away.<\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James.<\/span> 14\u00a0<\/sup>All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.[c<\/a>]<\/sup><\/span><\/p>

15\u00a0<\/sup>In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said,<\/span>16\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBrothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus.<\/span> 17\u00a0<\/sup>For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.\u201d<\/span> 18\u00a0<\/sup>(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong[d<\/a>]<\/sup> he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out.<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)<\/span> 20\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cFor it is written in the Book of Psalms,<\/span><\/p>

\u201c\u2018May his camp become desolate,<\/span>
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>and let there be no one to dwell in it\u2019;<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div>

and<\/span><\/p>

\u201c\u2018Let another take his office.\u2019<\/span><\/p><\/div>

21\u00a0<\/sup>So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,<\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us\u2014one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.\u201d<\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias.<\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>And they prayed and said, \u201cYou, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen<\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.\u201d<\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.<\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Second Reading: <\/strong>Revelation 22:1\u20136, 12\u201320<\/b><\/p>

22\u00a0<\/span>Then the angel[a<\/a>]<\/sup> showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb<\/span> 2\u00a0<\/sup>through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life[b<\/a>]<\/sup> with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.<\/span> 3\u00a0<\/sup>No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him.<\/span> 4\u00a0<\/sup>They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.<\/span> 5\u00a0<\/sup>And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.<\/span><\/p>

6\u00a0<\/sup>And he said to me, \u201cThese words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

12\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cBehold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done.<\/span><\/span> 13\u00a0<\/sup>I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

14\u00a0<\/sup>Blessed are those who wash their robes,[c<\/a>]<\/sup> so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.<\/span> 15\u00a0<\/sup>Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.<\/span><\/p>

16\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cI, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>

17\u00a0<\/sup>The Spirit and the Bride say, \u201cCome.\u201d And let the one who hears say, \u201cCome.\u201d And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.<\/span><\/p>

18\u00a0<\/sup>I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book,<\/span> 19\u00a0<\/sup>and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.<\/span><\/p>

20\u00a0<\/sup>He who testifies to these things says, \u201cSurely I am coming soon.\u201d<\/span> Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!<\/span><\/p>

Holy Gospel: <\/strong>John 17:20\u201326<\/b><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

20\u00a0<\/sup>\u201cI do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word,<\/span><\/span> 21\u00a0<\/sup>that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.<\/span><\/span> 22\u00a0<\/sup>The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,<\/span><\/span> 23\u00a0<\/sup>I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.<\/span><\/span> 24\u00a0<\/sup>Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.<\/span><\/span> 25\u00a0<\/sup>O righteous Father, even though the world does not know you, I know you, and these know that you have sent me.<\/span><\/span> 26\u00a0<\/sup>I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Recent Services, Sermons and Readings and Special Services All the readings up to Christmas 2026 are listed here (opens in browser and you can download the PDF): Click here. Sunday, March 1, 2026 https:\/\/youtu.be\/GNzdaRn-AEQ Old Testament Reading: Genesis 12:1-9 12\u00a0Now the Lord said[a] to Abram, \u201cGo from your country[b] and your kindred and your father’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1377","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1377","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1377"}],"version-history":[{"count":784,"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1377\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3806,"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1377\/revisions\/3806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cedarlutheran.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1377"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}