08/09/26

As We Gather

The rule of God is so far above us that we cannot comprehend it. He has all power throughout all time and eternity. Although God rules in might, He demonstrated this by sending His Son, our Lord Jesus, to become one of us to die and rise for us. But God’s rule is thwarted in the lives of those who do not know about our Savior. Paul in the Epistle points out that “faith comes from hearing” and earnestly desires that all his fellow Jews might hear the Gospel and be saved (Romans 10:17). God, speaking to us through Paul is urging us to get the Good News to people’s ears so they may hear and believe.” He has destroyed death itself in Jesus’ resurrection. And we already live in His eternal kingdom. Thanks be to God!

Children Activity Bags We value children in our worship services. If needed, there is a family room available for families with children. The family room has a diaper changing table, a closed-circuit TV to watch the worship service, toys and books for children. The family room is located across from the kitchen in the long hallway, the first door on the right, just past the bathrooms. There are “King’s Kids” bags with activities for children to help them worship. They are near the usher’s station on a small rack. Please return the bag to the rack after the service.

Holy Communion The Scripture teaches the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this Sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused, and that participation in the Lord’s Supper is an act of confession of faith, we ordinarily commune those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. If you have a question, please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, there is grape juice at the center of each tray. Those not receiving the Sacrament, including children, are invited to come to the altar, cross their arms over their chest, and receive a special blessing.

 God Chooses to Work Through Means “God wants to give the Holy Spirit through the Word, and without the Word He does not want to do it.”  What Luther Says #2051

Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost

August 09, 2026

Welcome 

Opening Hymn                   Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Sky           LSB 873

Invocation, Confession and Absolution 

P:   We gather in the name and at the invitation of our great and gracious triune God;

C:   In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P:   The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,

C:   and exalted be the God of my salvation.

P:   I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

C:   and I am saved from my enemies.

P:   In my distress I called upon the Lord;

C:   to my God I cried for help.

P:   From His temple He heard my voice,

C:   and my cry to Him reached His ears.

P:   The Lord lives, and blessed be my rock,

C:   and exalted be the God of my salvation.

P:   Heavenly Father, we come before you confessing,

C:   that like Job, we become angry at times with what You have allowed in our lives and we have wondered why. Unlike Paul, we have neglected people around us who have not accepted Your sacrifice for them. And like Peter, we have failed to trust You in all things and have been overwhelmed by the storms of life. Forgive our pride, self-centeredness and inaction. Move us to tell others the Good News as You provide opportunity. Forgive our weakness of faith and enable us to follow where You lead the way. Amen

(Silence for Meditation)

P:   All things in heaven and earth are under God’s rule. He sent His Son into this fallen world to destroy the powers of sin, death, and the devil. Your pride, self-centeredness, weakness of faith, and anything else that would separate you from His great love have been forgiven for Jesus’ sake. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Praise                      O God of Love, O King of Peace             LSB 751  Tune 563

Prayer of the Day

All:   Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Commissioning of Ascension Lutheran School Teachers   (10:30am)

OT Lesson                                        (God questions Job.)                             Job 38:4–18

“Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone— while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken. “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. 

NT Lesson     (Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.)   Rom. 10:5–17

Moses describes in this way the righteousness that is by the law: “The man who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” But not all the Israelites accepted the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.

Gospel Lesson     (Jesus walks on water and rescues sinking Peter.)    Matthew 14:22–33

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” 

Message Song                              My Worth is Not in What I Own             Getty/Kendrick

My worth is not in what I own; not in the strength of flesh and bone.

But in the costly wounds of love, at the cross.

My worth is not in skill or name;  in win or lose on pride or shame

But in the blood of Christ that flowed   at the cross

Chorus    I rejoice in my Redeemer, Greatest treasure, Well-spring of my soul

I will trust in Him, no other; my soul is satisfied in Him alone. 

As summer flowers we fade and die: Fame, youth and beauty hurry by.

But life eternal calls to us    at the cross.

I will not boast in wealth or might,  or human wisdom’s fleeting light.

                         But I will boast in knowing Christ   at the cross.           Chorus

Two wonders here that I confess: My worth and my unworthiness.

                          My value fixed – my ransom paid    at the cross             Chorus

©Getty Music Publishing – Used by Permission  CCLI # 11390779

Message                                                     That If You Confess…

A Christian’s Confession 

1.      is Spirit        given        through the Word and denounces      human works as the means by which we are saved     .   John 14: 16, 26; 16: 13-14; 1 Cor. 2: 6, 12-13

2.      is always to be connected    to the   Gospel     of      Christ    for our    justification   before         Christ   .  Romans 1: 16-17

3.      includes the godly      works    that follow our faith in our life’s    vocation      . James 1: 27; Gal. 5:6

Notes:

Nicene Creed

 C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary  and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.  And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. 

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life ✠ of the world to come. Amen.

Offering

Offertory                              Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow              LSB  805      

Prayers of the Church  

After each petition:

 P:  Lord, in your mercy,

 C:  hear our prayer.   

The Lord’s Prayer

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

The Lord’s Supper

Preface                                                                      page 194 in the hymnal

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  ♪ And with thy spirit.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  ♪ We lift them up unto the Lord.

P:  Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C:  ♪ It is meet and right so to do.

P:  It is truly good, right, and salutary …. And with the host of heaven we sing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                          page 195 in the hymnal

C:  ♪ Ho -ly, ho-ly, ho-ly Lord God of Sa – ba – oth. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.   

          Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is

          He who cometh in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

The Words of Institution (Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper)

Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord                    page 197 in the hymnal

P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:  ♪ Amen.

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                            page 198 in the hymnal                                      

C:  ♪ O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world; 

         grant us Thy peace.  A – men.

Distribution Hymn                 May We Thy Precepts, Lord Fulfill                        LSB  698

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                   page 199 in the hymnal        

C: ♪ Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.                                                                                                                                          

 Post Communion Collect

All:   We give You thanks, heavenly Father, that You have given us Your Son’s body and blood in this Sacrament. Strengthen us thereby that we may serve You in loving obedience throughout all our days; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Benediction                                                                                                      

P:   The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and ✠ give you peace.

C:   Amen.

Sending Hymn      Eternal Father, Strong to Save                            LSB 717

Announcements 

Dismissal

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God! 

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”