10/18/26

As We Gather

One of the most famous sayings of Jesus appears to provide a neat and tidy divide between the worldly power of government and the spiritual power of the Church. The things that belong to Caesar appear to be valuable in the moment but are temporary and temporal. The things of God are everything—all things in heaven and earth. They are eternal. In reality, there is nothing that does not belong to God, although the Lord assigns different people with the different responsibilities of church and state. In this question of who is in charge, God makes it clear that He is always in charge and always working for our salvation.

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 ( 1 Cor: 11:27), 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.

The State is Ruled by Laws, Not by the Gospel “Christian and brotherly treatment is a conduct that does not belong into worldly government… Christian and evangelical treatment is to be used only in the rule of conscience. But sharp and strict laws are required to rule the world in order to check that wickedness of which all are full. However, in order to achieve this checking, the pious, who do not need it, must also observe its regulations for the sake of the common peace.”  

                                                                                               What Luther Says # 1780

Scriptures – New International Version ©1984

Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost

October 18, 2026

Welcome 

Opening Hymn                        Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us                          LSB 851

Invocation, Confession and Absolution     (Psalm 121)

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:   I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? 

C:   My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 

P:   He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; 

C:   indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 

P:   The Lord watches over you— the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 

C:   the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 

P:   The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; 

C:   the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore. 

All: We confess to You, God Almighty, before the whole company of heaven and to this assembly, that we have sin in thought, word, and deed.  By our own fault, our own fault, our own most grievous fault; wherefore we pray God Almighty to have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Amen.

(Silence is kept for meditation and reflection.)

P: Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. He who began this good work within you will bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ; in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:    Amen.

Hymn of Praise                         Jesus Lives! The Victory’s Won                 LSB 490  vs 1-3                      

Prayer of the Day

All:  Almighty God, Your Word and will are accomplished despite the enemies of Your purpose and through the unlikely means of those indifferent to You. Encourage us when we are quick to judge and slow to believe, that we may never forget the triumph of Your saving purpose in Your Son; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

OT Lesson                         (“I am the Lord, and there is no other.”)               Isaiah 45:1–7

“This is what the Lord says to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I take hold of to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their armor, to open doors before him so that gates will not be shut: I will go before you and will level the mountains; I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name. For the sake of Jacob my servant, of Israel my chosen, I summon you by name and bestow on you a title of honor, though you do not acknowledge me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting men may know there is none besides me. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I form the light and create darkness, I bring prosperity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things. 

NT Lesson               (Become imitators of us and of the Lord.)      1 Thessalonians 1:1–10

Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Gospel Lesson    (“Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and God what is God’s”  Matthew 22:15–22

Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren’t swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are. Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, “You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? Show me the coin used for paying the tax.” They brought him a denarius, and he asked them, “Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied. Then he said to them, “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away. 

Message Song                                     Shout to the North                                         Martin Smith

Men of faith rise up and sing Of the great and glorious King
You are strong when you feel weak  In your brokenness complete

Chorus     Shout to the north and the south Sing to the east and the west
Jesus is Savior to all  Lord of heaven and earth

Rise up women of the truth Stand and sing to broken hearts
                  Who can know the healing pow’r  Of our glorious King of love   Chorus

We’ve been through fire  We’ve been through rain
We’ve been refined  By the pow’r of His name
We’ve fallen deeper  In love with You
                    You’ve burned  The truth on our lips     Chorus

Rise up church with broken wings  Fill this place with songs again
                      Of our God who reigns on high  By His grace again we’ll fly         Chorus

He is Lord of heaven and earth   He is Lord of heaven and earth!

Copyright:  1995 Curious? Music UK CCLI ©11390779

Living in obedience to faith requires

1.      Trusting God’s promises in Jesus for our salvation       and life     . 

                                                                          John 8: 31-32; 20: 30-31

2.      Obedience to the authorities God has given for our good    , safety    , peace       , and protection       .  Romans 13

3.       Promoting the general        welfare     and justice       all people need for a beneficial and fruitful life. Taxes are part of that plan.   Romans 13

Creedal Song             We All Believe in One True God                                LSB 953

We all believe in one true God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,

Ever present help in need, Praised by all the heav’nly host;

All He made His love enfolds,  All creation He upholds.

We all believe in Jesus Christ,  Son of God and Mary’s son,

Who descended from His throne  And for us salvation won;

By whose cross and death are we  Rescued from all misery.

We all confess the Holy Ghost,  Who from both in truth proceeds,

Who sustains and comforts us  In all trials, fears, and needs.

Blessed, holy, Trinity,  Praise forever be to Thee!

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                     Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense               LSB  741  vs 1-4

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                   page 211 in the hymnal        

C: ♪ O Lord, now let Your servant      Depart in heav’nly peace,    For I have seen the glory     Of Your redeeming grace:     A light to lead the Gentiles    Unto Your holy hill,    The glory of Your people,   Your chosen Israel.  All glory to the Father,   All glory to the Son,  All glory to the Spirit,    Forever Three in One;    For as in the beginning,    Is now, shall ever be,   God’s triune name resounding    Through all eternity.

 Post Communion Collect

All:  Eternal Lord, ruler of all, graciously regard those who have been set in positions of authority among us that, guided by Your Spirit, they may be high in purpose, wise in counsel, firm in good resolution, and unwavering in duty, and that Your Church be blessed equally with wise and faithful leaders who will accomplish all things as You command for our temporal blessing and for our eternal good; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 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                                     Fight the Good Fight                                      LSB 664   

 Announcements
Dismissal

P:  Go in peace as you serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God!

Postlude 

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.”