The Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity Sunday
September 15, 2024
also the Eighteenth Sunday of the Pentecost Season
2000 years ago Paul proclaimed in Athens the Reality of Jesus’ Resurrection as the Foundation of our Christian Faith….and so do we today!
As Vice President, George Bush represented the U.S. at the funeral of former Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in 1982., Bush was deeply moved by a silent protest carried out by Brezhnev’s widow. She stood motionless by the coffin until seconds before it was closed. Then, just as the soldiers touched the lid, Brezhnev’s wife performed an act of great courage and hope, a gesture that must surely rank as one of the most profound acts of civil disobedience ever committed: She reached down and made the sign of the cross on her husband’s chest. There in the citadel of secular, atheistic power, the wife of the man who had run it all, nevertheless hoped that her husband was wrong. She hoped that there was another life, and that that life was best represented by Jesus Who, as God in human form, lived a perfect life to credit sinners with His holiness, Who died on the cross as the supreme payment for the sins of the world, and Who rose bodily from the grave as the proof of His deity, of the success of His redeeming work, and as the “First-fruits” of our own resurrection one day. It was her hope that this Jesus might yet have mercy on her husband. But, of course, Leonid Brezhnev was an avowed atheist, and so lacked saving faith in the one true God, because he unswervingly rejected Jesus as his LORD and Savior.
So did many of the people that Paul spoke to twenty centuries ago at the Areopagus in Athens, Greece. The Apostle boldly preached the crucified and resurrected Christ to some of the greatest intellectuals and scholars of his day. He wanted them to be saved – just like Brezhnev’s widow somehow hoped, through her making the sign of the cross over
Leonid’s dead body, that he would be saved. Paul wanted the men of Athens to be saved because God wants everyone to be saved (which is why He sent Jesus to earth to be the world’s Savior), and so do we. That is why, by God’s grace, through faith, today we preach – and believe in – Christ crucified and risen as the Savior for everyone…..including us. It is the foundation of our Christian faith! And that’s what you will hear today.
Today’s Scripture Lessons
Our First Lesson and Sermon Text for this morning comes from the book of Acts. Personally-speaking, it is one of my favorite Bible stories: the account of the Apostle Paul preaching the Gospel before the Aeropagus in Athens….in other words, before the world’s so-called wisest intellectuals. Paul’s approach was a stroke of genius. Instead of immediately rebuking them for their abundant idolatry, he used one of their many statues and altars to their pagan deities as an object lesson – the one dedicated to “The Unknown God.” You see, the ancient Greeks were astute enough to recognize that they just might not know everything….and that they might not have yet encountered every – and particularly the most powerful – deity. So, to “cover their bases,” they set up an altar to The Unknown God. Paul used that altar, and their concept of an “unknown” god, to preach first about the one, true God as the Creator and Sustainer of everything and everyone. So, He proclaimed the LORD’s superiority over the entire creation and the Greek’s so-called deities. He spoke about how all of them were this unknown God’s offspring, how they all had a special accountability to Him, and how He was not pleased when men fabricated objects of gold and silver to worship false deities instead of Him. Then Paul preached about the impending judgement of the world by this unknown God, a judgment that would be carried out through the One He has appointed for that task: Jesus Christ, Whom God designated as the world’s Savior and His Representative by raising Him from the dead.
In Athens, as today, the men of the Aeropagus were open to the concept of a “divine authority” ruling over them, but their human reason, or “intelligence,” kept the majority of them from accepting the truth of Jesus’ resurrection. And so they dismissed the reality of the risen Christ, as many still do….always to their eternal detriment, since rejecting the risen Christ also means rejecting the salvation He came to give all people.
Today’s Epistle Reading comes from the Great Resurrection chapter of the Bible, I Corinthians 15. Here Paul raises the question of the reality of the resurrection of the body. Is it possible? What if it is not true? Then, he concludes, the Christian faith is worthless. Then Christian preachers are lying about God because they claim He raised Christ from the dead. And especially, then we are all lost in our sins and damned to hell. But – praise God! – Christ did indeed rise from the dead. And since He is the “Firstfruits” in connection with the resurrection of the body, His resurrection means that we will also one day be raised from our graves by His power and His grace, for everlasting life in heaven.
Our Gospel Lesson comes from Matthew 22. It was spoken on Tuesday of Holy Week to a group of Sadducees who were directly asking Jesus about something called “the Levirate Law,” but they were actually challenging Him about the reality of the resurrection of the body – something they, as Spiritual liberals, rejected, as well as any belief in the “after-life” (they believed this life was all there was). The Levirate Law (from Dt 25) requires a man’s brother(s) to marry his wife and produce an heir for him, if the man dies without offspring. The Sadducees asked Jesus what would happen if a married man who died had six other brothers, and all of them married the same woman, but died without producing a male child. Specifically, they asked, whose wife would the woman be in the resurrection? Again…the Sadducees didn’t believe in the resurrection. They were trying to “stump” – and embarrass – Jesus with one of those “Is God so powerful that He can create a rock too heavy for Himself to lift” questions. Our brilliant Savior starts by rebuking them, saying, “You don’t know the Bible or the power of God.” Next He informs them that marriage is an earthly institution and will not be part of our experience in heaven. Finally, He goes on to prove the reality of eternal life in heaven, and so also the reality of the resurrection, by quoting God, Who said that He IS the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob….indicating that they are still alive and in heaven….even though their bodies have died (thought are awaiting their own resurrections on the Last Day).
Finally, today’s Children’s Lesson is based on Jesus’ dialog with Martha after her brother, Lazarus had died….but before Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Though grieving – like we do when a loved one dies – she expressed her confidence in eternal life for the soul and the resurrection of the body through faith in Jesus. And Jesus commends her faith in Him and the resurrection, just as He commends our faith in Him and our confidence in the eventual resurrection of our bodies.
Pre-Service Prayer – In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen. I thank You my Heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your Son, for keeping me through the night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. Into Your hands I commit my body and soul and all things. Let your holy angel be with me, that the Devil may have no power over me. Amen.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Pre-service Prayer Pre-service Music
We Praise Our God
The Greeting and Invitation to Worship
following which, the Congregation will rise for the invocation
The Invocation
In the name of the Father
Who created and preserves this world and every one of us,
Who gave His Son into death for us
and Who raised Him in glory on the third day;
And of the Son,
Who became fully human in order to be our Savior-Substitute,
Who laid down His life only to take it up again on the third day,
Who rules over all things from heaven for the good of His Church,
and Who will return in glory on the Last Day to deliver that Church;;
And of the Holy Spirit
through Whom Christ was made alive,
Who has worked and sustains saving faith in our hearts,
Who lives in us now through the Word,
and Who will one day give life to our mortal bodies.
Amen.
The Psalm for Today Psalm 16
P: Guard me, O God, for I take refuge in You.
C: I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord. + I have no good apart from You.”
P: The holy ones who are in the land are glorious. All my delight is in them.
C: Those who chase after another god will increase their sorrows. + I will not pour out their drink offerings of blood. + I will not take up their names on my lips.
P: Lord, You are the Cup that has been given to me. You have secured an allotment for me. 6 The property lines chosen for me fall in pleasant places. Yes, a delightful inheritance is mine.
C: I will bless the Lord, Who guides me. + Even at night my heart instructs me.
P: I have set the Lord always before me. + Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
C: Therefore my heart is glad, + and my whole being rejoices. + Even my flesh will dwell securely
P: because You will not abandon my life to the grave. You will not let your Favored One see decay.
C: You have made known to me the path of life, + fullness of joy in Your presence, + pleasures at Your right hand forever.
After which the Congregation may be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 230 “Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now”
1 Lord Jesus Christ, be present now; Our hearts in true devotion bow.
Your Spirit send with grace divine, And let your truth within us shine.
2 Unseal our lips to sing your praise; Our souls to you in worship raise.
Make strong our faith; increase our light That we may know your name aright
3 Until we join the hosts that cry, “Hosanna to the Lord most high.”
Then in the light of that blest place We shall behold you face to face.
4 Glory to God the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To you, O blessed Trinity, Be praise throughout eternity!
After which the Congregation will rise
The Confessional Order
Pastor O Lord, open my lips.
Congregation And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
Pastor – Hasten, O God, to deliver me.
Congregation Hasten to help me, O LORD.
Pastor The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit.
Congregation A broken and a contrite heart, O God
You will not despise.
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. Hallelujah!
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
Pastor I now ask you before God, who searches your heart, do you confess that you have sinned against God and deserve His wrath and punishment? Then declare so by saying, “I do confess.”
Congregation “I do confess.”
Pastor Truly you should confess, for the Holy Scriptures say, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.”
Second, do you, with all your heart, repent of all your sins, committed in thought, word, and deed? Then declare so by saying, “I do repent.”
Congregation “I do repent.”
Pastor Truly, you should repent, as other penitent sinners have done: King David, who prayed for a contrite heart; Peter, who wept bitterly; the sinful woman, the prodigal son, and others.
Third, do you sincerely believe that God, by grace, for Jesus’ sake, will forgive you all your sins?
Then declare so by saying, “I do believe.”
Congregation “I do believe.”
Pastor Truly you should so believe, for the Holy Scriptures say, “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Fourth, do you promise that with the help of the Holy Ghost, you will, from this time
forward, reform your sinful life? Then declare it by saying, “I do promise.”
Congregation “I do promise.”
Pastor Truly, you should so promise, for Christ, the Lord says: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Finally, do you believe that through me, a called servant of God, you will receive from God
the forgiveness of all your sins? Then declare it by saying, “I do believe.
Congregation “I do believe.”
The Absolution
Pastor Upon this, your confession, I, because of my office as a called and ordained servant of God’s Word, announce the grace of God to all of you. And, in the place, 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 Ghost. Peace be with you. Amen.
After which the Congregation may be seated
Feed Us, Lord
The First Lesson Acts 17:16-34
16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was very distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he led a discussion in the synagogue with the Jews and those who feared God, as well as with those who happened to be in the marketplace every day.
18 Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also debated with him. Some said, “What is this seed picker trying to say?” Others said, “He seems to be someone who is proclaiming foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection.
19 They took him and brought him to the council of the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are talking about? 20 You seem to be bringing in some ideas that are strange to our ears, so we want to know what these things mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there enjoyed doing nothing more than telling or listening to something new.)
22 Then Paul stood up in front of the council of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that you are very religious in every way. 23 For as I was walking around and carefully observing your objects of worship, I even found an altar on which had been inscribed, ‘To an unknown god.’ Now What you worship as unknown—This is what I am going to proclaim to you.
24 “The God Who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made with hands. 25 Neither is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, since He Himself gives all people life and breath and everything they have. 26 From one man, He made every nation of mankind to live over the entire face of the earth. He determined the appointed times and the boundaries where they would live. 27 He did this so they would seek God and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 28 ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘Indeed, we are also His offspring.’
29 “Therefore, since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by human skill and planning. 30 Although God overlooked the times of ignorance, He is now commanding all people everywhere to repent, 31 because He has set a day on which He is going to judge the world in righteousness by the Man He appointed. He provided proof of this to everyone by raising Him from the dead.”
32 When they heard about the resurrection from the dead, some of them started to scoff. But others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 So Paul left the council. 34 However, some men became followers of Paul and believed. Among them were Dionysius (a member of the council of the Areopagus) and a woman named Damaris, as well as others with them.
The Epistle Lesson I Corinthians 15:12-23
12 Now if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is pointless, and your faith is pointless too. 15 Then we are even guilty of giving false testimony about God, because we testified about God that He raised Christ, Whom He did not raise, if it were true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then it also follows that those who fell asleep in Christ perished. 19 If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead also is going to come by a Man. 22 For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ as the Firstfruits and then Christ’s people, at His coming.
after which the Congregation will rise out of respect for
the words of our Savior as we give our attention to
The Gospel Lesson Matthew 22:23-33
23 That same day some Sadducees (who say there is no resurrection) came to Him. They asked Him a
question: 24 “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies without having children, his brother should marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one died after he married her, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 It was the same with the second brother, the third, and all the way to the seventh. 27 Last of all, the woman died. 28 So then, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since they all married her?”
29 “You are mistaken,” Jesus replied, “since you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 In fact, in the resurrection people neither marry nor are given in marriage. Instead they are like the angels of God in heaven. 31 And concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you never read what was spoken to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 When the crowds heard His answer, they were amazed at His teaching.
The Nicene Creed
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 Ghost 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 sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe 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.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Children’s Lesson John 11:23-27
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever You ask from God, God will give You.”
23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha replied, “I know that he will rise in the resurrection on the Last Day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even if he dies. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me will never perish. Do you believe this?”
27 “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, Who was to come into the world.”
Do You Believe in the Resurrection?
Hymn of the Day Hymn 152 “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”
Verses 1-2, 7-8
1 I know that my Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever-living Head!
2 He lives triumphant from the grave; He lives eternally to save.
He lives all-glorious in the sky; He lives exalted there on high.
7 He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring my safely there.
8 He lives, all glory to his name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: “I know that my Redeemer lives!”
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Pre-Sermon Salutation
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ, our Lord! May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
The Sermon Text Acts 17:16-34
(today’s First Lesson)
Paul’s Powerful Sermon on the Resurrection
after the Sermon, the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, Who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, now encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. Amen.
We Present our Offerings to the Lord
Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship. However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash, please) to our church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745); or
2) You can donate through our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
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Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
after the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation will rise as
We Offer Our Prayers to the Lord
Petitions of Intercession on behalf of:
Tim Pfortmiller, who is continuing to receive treatments
to eliminate the cancer that is afflicting him;
and
Ruth Strackbein, (Cynthia Tragasz’ mother) who is in hospice care;
plus
a Prayer of Thanksgiving for Ceilidh and Jeremiah Tabor
whose wedding anniversary is this coming Tuesday.
The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation; But deliver us from evil; For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation (Sung) And also with You
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation (Sung) We lift them up unto the Lord
Pastor – Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.
Congregation (Sung) It is good and right so to do.
Consecration of the Elements
Pastor – The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation – (Sung) Amen.
Self-Examination Before Receiving The Lord’s Supper
Pastor Let us now examine ourselves in preparation for receiving this Sacrament of our Lord, as the inspired Apostle Paul so instructs us in I Corinthians 11, where he writes, “…whoever eats the bread and drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgement upon himself.”
Pastor Accordingly, are you sincerely sorry for your sins and determined, with God’s help, to change your sinful ways?
Congregation Yes, I am sorry for my sins and desire to serve Jesus and not a sinful lifestyle.
Pastor Do you believe that here in the Lord’s Supper you will receive, along with the bread and wine, the true body and blood of your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
Congregation Yes, I believe that I will be receiving the true body and blood of my Lord and Savior, which was given into death for my sins.
Pastor Are you coming to the Lord’s table as one in the faith with this Christian congregation, as the Scriptures teach?
Congregation Yes I have studied the teachings of this congregation concerning God’s Word; I agree with them; And am one in faith with them, as the Scriptures command me to be before I come to the Lord’s table with anyone.
Pastor Finally, do you recognize your need for forgiveness and do you believe that you will receive through the Lord’s Supper the full and free forgiveness of all your sins?
Congregation Yes, I have examined my life, see the need for God’s forgiveness and believe that I will receive complete forgiveness for all my sins, as my Savior has promised.
Pastor Having examined yourselves and confessed your sins, come now with confidence and joy to your Lord’s table and receive here, through His body and blood, the guarantee that your sins are all forgiven, and that eternal life and salvation are surely yours.
After which the Congregation may be seated for
The Distribution of the Sacrament
The Distribution Hymn “I Stand Here Before You”
Sung to the melody of “How Firm A Foundation”
I stand here before You, O mightiest One
In need of forgiveness for wrongs I have done.
Oh, grant me Your pardon, my spirit now pleads
Forgive my transgressions in thoughts, words, and deeds.
The Tempter keeps taunting me day after day,
I often succumb and submit to his way.
From birth I’ve been evil — my mortal flesh weak,
I do not abide by the words that You speak.
I humbly confess with the deepest of shame
The times I abused Your magnificent Name.
In spite of Your right to demand faithfulness,
My life’s often guided by my selfishness.
I covet, I slander, I look with lust, too.
I fail to give honor where honor is due.
I steal and I gossip…..so far do I fall –
Your perfect commandments: I’ve broken them all.
Right here at Your table forgiveness is found
In Christ’s holy blood that flowed down to the ground,
His body and blood in the bread and the wine
A marvel of love that is truly divine!
That blood of Your Chosen was shed to erase
The sins of the world. How I cherish that grace!
Dear God I am thankful to be such a one,
Washed clean by the blood of my Savior, Your Son.
Second Distribution Hymn Hymn 312
“Lord, Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared”
(If utilized; vs 1-4; vs 5-8)
1 Lord Jesus Christ, you have prepared This feast for our salvation;
It is your body and your blood, And at your invitation
As weary souls, with sin oppressed, We come to you for needed rest,
For comfort, and for pardon.
2 Although you did to heav’n ascend, Where angel hosts are dwelling,
And in your presence they behold Your glory, all excelling,
And though your people shall not see Your glory and your majesty
Till dawns the judgment morning,
3 Yet, Savior, you are not confined To any habitation,
But you are present ev’rywhere And with your congregation.
Firm as a rock this truth shall stand, Unmoved by any daring hand
Or subtle craft and cunning.
4 We eat this bread and drink this cup, Your precious Word believing
That your true body and your blood Our lips are here receiving.
This Word remains forever true, And there is naught you cannot do,
For you, Lord, are almighty.
5 Though reason cannot understand, Yet faith this truth embraces:
Your body, Lord, is ev’rywhere At once in many places.
I leave to you how this can be; Your Word alone suffices me;
I trust its truth unfailing.
6 Lord, I believe what you have said; Help me when doubts assail me.
Remember that I am but dust, And let my faith not fail me.
Your supper in this vale of tears Refreshes me and stills my fears
And is my priceless treasure.
7 Grant that we worthily receive Your supper, Lord, our Savior,
And, truly grieving for our sins, May prove by our behavior
That we are thankful for your grace And day by day may run our race,
In holiness increasing.
8 For your consoling supper, Lord, Be praised throughout all ages!
Preserve it, for in ev’ry place The world against it rages.
Grant that this sacrament may be A blessed comfort unto me
When living and when dying.
At the close of the distribution of communion
the Pastor will invite the congregation to rise as
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look with favor upon you, and give you His peace. Amen.
Closing Hymn Hymn 334 “Praise God, From Whom All Blessings Flow”
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost!
silent prayer, announcements
post-service music
+ + + Thank You and God Bless You + + +
Thank you for being a part of our worshiping assembly this morning.
We invite you to join those around you for some good conversation and fellowship at the conclusion of today’s announcements. We also invite you to join us for some good conversation, coffee, juice, and other refreshments in our gymnasium/fellowship hall. Finally, we encourage you to remain afterwards with us for further study in the Word of our Lord through our Bible Classes and Sunday School.
May the comfort of God’s love and His forgiveness through Jesus Christ
be with you throughout this day and this week.
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