Worship Service for September 10, 2023, at 11 AM

Invocation (stand)

Confession and Forgiveness: (stand)

P: As we gather, today, let us cleanse our hearts and our consciences by confessing our sin to God.

(Time of silence for reflection and confession)

C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you and against our neighbor in our thoughts, words, and actions.  We are truly sorry for our sins and sincerely repent of them. We ask for Your mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ’s bitter suffering and death, please forgive us and renew us that we may walk in Your Spirit to the glory of Your holy name. Amen

P: The Lord has heard your confession. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Lord, in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen

Songs of Praise – You Are Holy (Prince Of Peace) (sit)

Verse:

You are holy. (Women echo)          You are mighty. (Women echo)

You are worthy, (Women echo)     Worthy of praise (Women echo)

I will follow. (Women echo)            I will listen. (Women echo)

I will love You, (Women echo)        All of my days. (Women echo)

Chorus:

(MEN)                                                                   (WOMEN)

I will sing to                                      He is Lord of Lords

And worship                                    He is King of Kings

The King who                                              He is mighty God

Is worthy                                          Lord of everything

I will love and                                              He’s Emmanuel

Adore Him                                        He’s the Great I am

And I will bow down                                 He’s my Prince of peace

before Him                                       Who is the Lamb

I will sing to                                      He’s my living God

And worship                                    He’s my saving grace

The King who                                              He will reign forever

Is worthy                                          He is ancient of days

I will love and                                              He is alpha, omega

Adore Him                                        beginning and end

And I will bow down                                 He’s my Savior, Messiah

Before Him                                       Redeemer and friend

All: He’s my Prince of Peace, and I will live my life for Him.
                                                                                                                                                          © 1994 Imboden Music and Martha Jo Publishing

Epistle Reading: Romans 13:1-10

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading – Matthew 18:1-20

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to You, o Christ.

Sermon Song – It Is Well with My Soul

When peace like a river attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll,

Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,

“It is well, it is well with my soul.”

Chorus:

It is well (it is well) with my soul. (with my soul)

It is well. It is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet tho’ trials may come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

(Chorus)

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought,

My sin not in part but in whole,

Is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more.

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord oh my soul!

(Chorus)

And Lord haste the day when the faith shall be sight.

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll.

The trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend.

Even so, it is well with my soul.

(Chorus)                                                                                                  © Public Domain

Sermon – “Submit to the Government? What?!”

Prayers

Apostles’ Creed (stand)

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth,
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (stand)

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.  Amen

Benediction (stand)

Closing Song: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (stand)

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen                                                                                                     © Public Domain

Offering