The Festival of the Holy Trinity – May 31, 2026
The Second Sunday of the Pentecost Season
Pre-Service Prayer – Heavenly Father, guide us through Your Holy Word this morning, that we may grow stronger in our faith in You, and in Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through Your Holy Spirit, help us to be on guard against any and everything that seeks to harm our salvation, and please lead us all to live in the same unselfish love toward each other that Christ extends to us. In Jesus’ name I ask this. Amen.
Welcome to Grace Lutheran Church If you are a first-time guest today, we are honored that you’ve chosen to worship with us this morning. If you’ve been with us before, we’re glad to have you back! If we can do anything to make your time among us more edifying and enjoyable, please speak with one of our ushers, our Pastor, or the person sitting near you. We’ll be pleased to serve you in whatever way we can. Finally, we invite you to join us on future Sundays as we worship our Lord together. May the comfort of God’s love and His forgiveness through Jesus Christ bring you peace and be with you throughout this day and this week.
God in Three Persons, Blessed Trinity
…..is a phrase in this morning’s Opening Hymn, which is one of our hymnal’s “Trinity emphasis” hymns. It serves
as our “Worship Theme” today because you and I are celebrating “The Festival of the Holy Trinity.” Trinity Sunday is that occasion on the church calendar when Christians traditionally concentrate their attention on the mysterious, yet marvelous doctrine of our Triune God. Although the Scriptures nowhere contain either the word “Trinity” or the word “Triune,” the teaching that our God is a “three-in-one God” is thoroughly Biblical, being evidenced frequently in both the Old and New Testaments. As Christians what we believe and teach is that our God is one “Essence,” (or Being) Who reveals Himself through three distinct, unique Persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
As we’ll see in our Scripture readings today, this doctrine of the Trinity is clearly set forth throughout the Scriptures. In addition to the Trinity-emphasis found in today’s hymns, we’re also making use of the Athanasian Creed, in today’s worship service, Dating back to the 5-6th century A.D., the Athanasian Creed is a detailed statement of belief that focuses extensively on the Biblical doctrine of the Trinity. Our Psalm Reading for this Trinity Sunday, Psalm 67, expresses a believer’s earnest desire that all people might know, believe in, and praise the One true God. The Children’s Lesson, using the traditional Christian symbol for the Trinity of the combined triangle and circle will talk about the “separate-sameness” of our three-in-one God – the only true God. Instead of our usual Old Testament, Epistle, and Gospel Lessons, today’s Scripture Lesson consists of selected Bible passages which speak about the responsibilities and functions of the three Persons of the Trinity. The readings are separated into three parts, referring to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, respectively. Following each reading, we will give our attention to the words from our Small Catechism which offer Martin Luther’s explanations to the first, second, and third articles of the Apostles’ Creed. Finally our Sermon is based on Numbers 6:22-27, and is sometimes known as “the Aaronic blessing.” We typically (including today) close our worship services with this blessing from the Lord. The blessing is divided into three parts, which describe the work of the three persons of our Triune God. First, regarding the Father (the Lord bless you and keep you); then, the Son (the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you…..thus, saving you); and, finally, the Holy Spirit (the Lord look upon you with favor and grant you His peace).
The Athanasian Creed
The Athanasian Creed is the third, the longest, and the least used of the three “ecumenical” (accepted church-wide) creeds of the Christian Church. The other two ecumenical Christian creeds (a creed is “a statement of what we believe”) are the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed. While we are not certain of the name of the person who “authored” this creed, we do know that it received the designation “Athanasian” as a tribute to Athanasius, one of the prominent, orthodox leaders of the early Christian Church. Athanasius lived from 293-373 A.D. Not only was he very influential in supporting and defending the doctrines of the Nicene Creed, he also prominently and personally was involved in the actual development of that statement of belief. (The Nicene Creed was prepared in its initial form for the 1st Ecumenical Council of the Christian Church held at Nicea in 325. The “improved” version, which we use today [with the 591 A.D. addition of the term “filioque” (“and the son”) which expresses the truth that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son] is actually the Niceno-Constantinopolitan version. It was developed by the 2nd Ecumenical Council of the Church, at Constantinople in 381 A.D.)
The best information we have today about the date and place of origin of the Athanasian Creed suggests that it was written possibly in North Africa, but more likely in southern France sometime between 435 and 570 (when Venatius Fortunatus of Poitiers wrote a short commentary on the creed).
The writing of the Athanasian Creed was made necessary because orthodox (true-teaching) Christians were forced increasingly to defend the Church’s Biblical doctrine concerning the God it worshiped. Consequently, the post-Nicean Christian Church felt compelled to develop this written statement of what the Scriptures teach about the true God specifically for this reason: a number of false beliefs and teachings (various forms of Unitarianism and tri-theism) about God were being vigorously promoted by certain individuals and groups desiring to operate under the umbrella of the Church. However, while they might have technically been “in” the church, in reality through their heretical teachings those individuals and groups had already departed from the Christian Church (and were misleading others with their false, damnable beliefs).
The Athanasian Creed’s primary purpose was to set down in detail what the Scriptures specifically teach about the Triune God and about the incarnation of God (that is to say, the Second Person of the Trinity’s becoming truly human while at the same time remaining entirely divine). The Creed emphasizes the Unity of the Godhead……that we worship ONE God. However, it carefully points out the Plurality of that One divine Essence…..that there are three distinct persons of the Godhead….Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In so doing, this longest of the three Ecumenical (accepted Church-wide) Creeds meticulously states the differences and distinctions that the Bible teaches concerning those three persons of that one God….the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This is a most complicated doctrine, one not understood by our human reason, but rather one which is simply presented to us in Scripture as fact, and which is to be accepted by us by faith.
Because it focuses in greater detail on the various characteristics of the Triune God Whom we worship, the Athanasian Creed is traditionally recited by Christian Churches on Trinity Sunday as our confession of our faith in the one, true God. Following that centuries-old practice, we will make use of this statement of our Christian faith by reading it responsively during this morning’s worship service.
Please Note: The closing words of the Athanasian Creed say that all people will finally “give an account” before the judgment seat of Christ. This phrase comes from Bible passages such as the following:
Matthew 12:36 But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
Romans 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. (Cf. Hebrews 4:13; 13:17; 1 Peter 4:5).
This refers to the fact that all people will rise on the Last Day to appear before Christ, the Judge of all.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Sometimes Christians who know that the way to heaven is by faith in Jesus Christ alone (and not by works – Ephesians 2:8,9) are troubled by the words of the Creed: “And they that have done good will go into life everlasting; and they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.” (See John 5:29). These words do not mean that we earn heaven by good works. Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (Cf. John 3:16-18).
Since faith in the heart is invisible, Christ will prove that believers had faith by
pointing out the “fruits” of that faith (Matthew 25:31-46). Only believers can produce such fruits of faith, done out of love for the Lord, which God recognizes as “good works,” for Hebrews 11:6 declares that “without faith it is impossible to please God.”
Christ kept the commandments for us all, as our Substitute, and by faith His perfect obedience is credited to us as our own obedience. Scripture says that all of our Savior’s righteous works are credited to the account of believers (2 Cor. 5:21). For Jesus’ sake, by God’s grace, our failures have been entirely forgiven; this God promises when He says that He will forget the sins of His believers (Jeremiah 31:34). On Judgment Day, Christ will not mention the sins of believers, but will recognize their fruits of faith in Him (“good works”). Furthermore, He will reveal the “motive of their own works” (that they were moved by Spirit-given faith and love for Him; Matthew 25:40 “Whatever you did…..You did for Me”). On the other hand, Christ will point to the unbelievers’ absence of “Godly,” faith-inspired good works (and not to their secular, and self-serving good deeds which did not flow from faith, in spite of how numerous those good deeds might have been) as the evidence that they did not possess faith in Him and thus, that their eternal condemnation by virtue of their unbelief is warranted. It will be just as Christ said: “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16).
The portions of God’s that are 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
Order of Worship for Trinity Sunday
Silent Prayer Pre-service music
We Praise Our God
At the invitation of the Pastor, the Congregation will rise
Invocation
We begin this service in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Preparatory Psalm Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us + and make his face shine on us + so that your ways may be known on earth, + your salvation among all nations. + May the peoples praise you, God; + may all the peoples praise you. + May the nations be glad and sing for joy, + for you rule the peoples with equity + and guide the nations of the earth. + May the peoples praise you, God; + may all the peoples praise you. + The land yields its harvest; + God, our God, blesses us. + May God bless us still, + so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.
After which the Congregation may be seated
Opening Hymn Hymn 195 Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
1 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
2 Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Who was and is and evermore shall be.
3 Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy; there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
4 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty,
God in three persons, blessed Trinity!
the Congregation will rise to sing the final verse
We Make Confession of Our Sins To God
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation – “Holy and most merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful, and that I have disobeyed You in my thoughts, words, and actions; Each day I turn away from Your Will. I have left undone those things which You have asked me to do, and I have done those things which You tell me not to do. I do not love You or my neighbor the way I should. Because of these, and all of my other sins, too numerous for me to recall, I acknowledge that I deserve nothing less than Your punishment both now and for eternity. But I am truly sorry for the evil that I have thought, spoken, and done, and trusting in the perfect life, and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, forgive me all my sins, restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and strengthen my weak faith through the promises of Your divine Word that I may obtain Your promised grace.
The Assurance Of God’s Forgiveness
Pastor – “Find comfort for your souls, then, in these words of our Lord: “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and
just, and will purify us from all unrighteousness, because we have One Who speaks to the Father in our
defense — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” And now, upon this, your voluntary confession, I, because of my office as a called servant of God’s Word, announce the grace of God to all of you. And, in the place of, and according to 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. May the peace of God be with you. Amen.”
We Respond To God’s Forgiveness (CW 334)
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. Amen.
The Prayer For Trinity Sunday (offered by the Pastor)
Almighty God and Father, dwelling in majesty and mystery, filling and renewing all creation by Your eternal Spirit, and manifesting Your saving grace through our Lord Jesus Christ: in Your mercy cleanse our hearts and lips, so that, free from doubt and fear, we may ever worship You, the one, true, immortal God, together with Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and God the Holy Spirit, living and reigning, now and forever. Amen.
after which the Congregation will be seated
We Hear God’s Word
The Children’s Lesson Matthew 28:19
19 Therefore go and gather disciples from all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
“Three-in-One Does Add Up to our One True God”
The Biblical Doctrine
of the Holy Trinity
We Believe in God the Father Almighty
The Creator I Corinthians 8:5-6
5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as indeed there are many “gods” and many “lords”), 6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from Whom all things came and for Whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through Whom all things came and through Whom we live.
The Preserver Psalm 145:13b-16
The Lord is trustworthy in all He promises and faithful in all He does. 14 The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. 15 The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. 16 You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.
Who sent His Son to be our Savior Romans 8:31-32
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He Who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?
The work that God the Father does for us Luther’s explanation of the
First Article of the Apostles’ Creed
I believe that God made me and all that exists, and that He gave me my body and soul, eyes, ears and all my members, my mind and all my abilities. And I believe that God still preserves me by richly and daily providing clothing and shoes, food and drink, property and home, spouse and children, land, cattle and all I own, and all that I need to keep my body and life. God also preserves me by defending me against all danger, and guarding and protecting me from all evil. All this God does only because He is my good and merciful Father in heaven, and not because I have earned or deserved it. For all this I ought to thank and praise, to serve and obey Him. This is most certainly true.
We Believe in God the Son
He is both true God and true Man Philippians 2:5-11
5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; 7 rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
He is our Savior from sin Titus 3:4-7
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 Whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
The work that God the Son does for us Luther’s explanation to the
Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true Man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord. He has redeemed me a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with His holy precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death. All this He did that I should be His own, and live under Him in His kingdom, and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.
We Believe in God the Holy Spirit
He is our Sanctifier, bringing us to faith
and keeps us in the one true faith II Thessalonians 2:13-15
13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15 So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
He has enlightened the Church with His Gifts I Corinthians 12:4-11
4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
He enriches us with His Fruits Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The work that the Holy Ghost does for us Luther’s explanation to the
Third Article of the Apostles’ Creed
I believe that I cannot by my own thinking or choosing, believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him. But the Holy Spirit has called me by the gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and fully forgives all sins to me and all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true.
after which the Congregation will rise to join in
The Athanasian Creed
P: Whoever will be saved, shall, above all else, hold the true Christian faith.
C: Which faith, except everyone keeps whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish eternally.
P: And the true Christian faith is this,
C: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity, neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.
P For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
C: But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost is all one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.
P: Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.
C: The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Ghost uncreated.
P: The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost incomprehensible.
Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Ghost eternal.
P: And yet they are not three Eternals, but one Eternal.
C: As there are not three Uncreated nor three Incomprehensibles, but one Uncreated and one Incomprehensible.
P: So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Ghost almighty.
C: And yet They are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
P: So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God.
C: And yet They are not three Gods, but one God.
P: So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Ghost Lord.
C: and yet They are not three Lords, but one Lord.
P: For as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge every Person by Himself to be God and Lord,
C: So the true Christian faith forbids us to say that there are three Gods, or three Lords.
P: The Father is made of none: neither created nor begotten.
C: The Son is of the Father alone; not made, nor created, but begotten.
P: The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son: neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.
C: So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
P: And in this Trinity None is before or after other; Nne is greater or less than another;
C: But the whole three Persons are coeternal together, and coequal:
P: So that in all things, as was said before,
C: The Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshiped.
P: He, therefore, that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.
C: Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe faithfully the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
P: For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and Man;
C: God of the Substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and Man of the substance of His mother, born in the world;
P: Perfect God and perfect Man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.
C: Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood;
P: Who, although He is God and Man, yet He is not two but one Christ:
C: One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking the manhood into God;
P: One altogether; not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.
C: For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and Man is one Christ;
P: Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;
C: He ascended into heaven; He sits on the right hand of the Father, God Almighty; from there He will come to judge the living and the dead.
P: At Whose coming all men will rise again with their bodies,
C: And will give an account of their own works.
P: And they that have done good will go into life everlasting;
C: And they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
P: This is the true Christian faith
C: which, except a man believe faithfully and firmly, He cannot be saved.
after which, the Congregation may be seated
The Sermon Hymn God the Father, Gracious Lord meter 7777D
to the tune of “Come You Thankful People, Come” ; by cwh (CW 613)
God the Father, gracious Lord, May Your name be e’er adored.
All exists by Your command In the sky or sea or land.
Precious Father, You know all – When each hair and sparrow fall.
Guide and guard me from all harm
With Your strong, protecting arm.
Jesus Christ, my Lord, God’s Son, Who, for me, salvation won –
You Who hung on Calvary Bore my sins and set me free!
You, my ever-faithful Friend, Who will love me to the end,
By Your grace in heav’n I’ll live. Heart-felt praise to You I give.
Holy Spirit, Light Divine,
Through the Means of Grace, please shine
In my heart again today, Drive sin’s darkness far away.
Keep me in Your Word, so true, Day by day my faith renew.
Use me, Lord, as You know best Serving here – in heav’n to rest.
Blessed Holy Trinity, Glorious in Your majesty,
Father, Spirit and the Son – Savior-God, the Three-in-One –
From sin’s curse You set me free Heaven’s mine – eternally.
All I am, to You I owe, Source from Whom all blessings flow. Amen
after which, the Congregation will be invited to rise for
The Greeting
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has
blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Amen.
The Sermon Text Numbers 6:22-27
22 The Lord told Moses 23 to speak to Aaron and to his sons and to tell them to bless the Israelites with these words:
24 The Lord bless you and keep you.
25 The Lord make His face shine on you
and be gracious to you.
26 The Lord look on you with favor
and give you peace.
27 In this way they will put My name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.
The Triune God Is With Us and For Us…..
To bless us
To save us
To give us true peace
following the sermon, the Congregation will rise for
The Post-Sermon Blessing
May the LORD our God be with us as He was with our fathers; May He never leave us or forsake use. May He turn our hearts to Him, to walk in all His ways. Amen.
after which the Congregation may be seated for
Lord, Receive our Offerings
We offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) Those in the chapel can place their offerings in the offering plates
2) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
3) Or, go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.
after the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation will rise as
We Offer Our Prayers to the Lord
Included in our prayers this morning are the following:
A Prayer of Thanksgiving for Robert Bontke, who is continuing his recovery following surgery two weeks ago;
and
A Prayer of Thanskgiving for Vic Walker, who went through surgery this past Wednesday;
plus
A Prayer of Thanksgiving on behalf of Kelly and Bobby Eicher,
who grandson, Eli Eicher, was born this past Tuesday;
and
A Prayer of Thanksgiving on behalf of Pastor Chuck and Debbie Huebner,
who will celebrate their wedding anniversary this coming Tuesday
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Prayers for this Day
Pastor: Lord God, Almighty Father, You made us the crown of all Your creation, and You graciously preserve us with every good thing, that we may live before You in peace and joy.
Cong: You do this all out of pure Fatherly goodness and mercy, + and not because we have earned or deserve it; + now, for this it is our duty to thank and to praise You, + and to gladly offer all that You have given us, + especially ourselves, to Your service, + and for Your glory.
P: Lord Jesus Christ, God’s only Son from all eternity, You have redeemed us, lost and condemned sinners, with Your holy, precious blood and You have set us free from all sin, from death, and from the power of the Devil.
C: All this You did to make us Your own, + that we may live with You, now and forever, + in perfect joy and endless glory.
P: O Holy Spirit, You have called us out of the darkness of unbelief through the Gospel; You have illumined our hearts by the light of faith and joined us into one sanctified family with our Lord Jesus Christ.
C: You have done all this so that we may be filled with the rich gifts of Your grace: + an unwavering trust in the true God; + the love of Christ that knows no limits; + a strong faith to willingly serve and publicly confess You, + our God, before all people; + and the courage to meet and overcome every trial of life and death.
P: O Triune God, we praise and thank You for all the blessings You have so generously given us, Your unworthy servants. At Your invitation, we now bring all our needs of body and soul to You as we join in praying:
C: 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 Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Benediction
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
And the Love of God the Father
And the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
The Closing Hymn “The Lord, My God, Be Praised”
(melody, CW 610)
The Lord, my God, be praised, My God, the ever-living,
To whom the heav’nly host All praise and honor giving
The Lord, my God, be praised, In Whose great name I boast,
God Father, God the Son, And God the Holy Ghost. Amen.