Pilgrim Lutheran Church in Kenmore, NY

09/13/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19A)
Sept. 13, 2026

"Come Down, O Love Divine" (LSB 501)

1. Come down, O Love divine;
Seek Thou this soul of mine,
And visit it with Thine own ardor glowing;
O Comforter, draw near;
Within my heart appear,
And kindle it, Thy holy flame bestowing.

2. O let it freely burn,
Till worldly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let Thy glorious light
Shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

3. Let holy charity
Mine outward vesture be
And lowliness become mine inner clothing—
True lowliness of heart,
Which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

4. And so the yearning strong,
With which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the pow’r of human telling;
No soul can guess His grace
Till it become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes His dwelling.

09/13/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19A)
Sept. 13, 2026

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For hearts softened by the forgiveness of God, that we may gladly serve and forgive one another, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For our Synod and all who lead it, including Matthew, our Synod president, and our Synod’s Board of Directors, that they and we may be united in witnessing to the love of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the enemies of the Church, that they may be led to true repentance, confess Christ as the only way of salvation, and finally have a share in the eternal life He has prepared for all who trust in Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For likeness to our brother Christ Jesus, the greater Joseph, who extended pardon to His murderous brothers, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, parents and children, that our homes may give witness to the glory of God’s gracious ways, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

That God would raise up new Josephs among us, clothed with His wisdom and might, to forgive their enemies, convert the wicked and preserve order in a fallen world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who suffer in this life, that they would find comfort in Christ who is Lord of goods and ills alike, even of life and death, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the gift of reconciliation, that we may stand before God forgiven and united in faith, doctrine and life; and for the faithful reception of Christ’s Holy Communion, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Merciful Master, You are always ready to forgive, though we deserve only punishment. Press the proclamation of this eager love deeply into our hearts, that we, too, may sincerely forgive and gladly do good to those who sin against us; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

09/13/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 19A)
Sept. 13, 2026

OLD TESTAMENT
Genesis 50:15–21

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died, ‘Say to Joseph, Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

EPISTLE
Romans 14:1–12

As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.

Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written,

“As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall confess to God.”

So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.

GOSPEL
Matthew 18:21–35

Peter came up and said to [Jesus], “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

“Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents. And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made. So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt. But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’ So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place. Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

09/12/2026

09/11/2026

Christ Jesus, the Incarnate God, suffered for us, descended into hell, rose again, and is seated at God's right hand. Hear Christ for you at kfuo.org.

09/11/2026

Each Friday, find a weekly collect to include in your prayers. This week, on the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, pray for those who grieve, those who serve their neighbors and all people.

09/11/2026

In Philippians 3:12-4:1, "Paul holds out before us our upward calling, his example, and the promise of our transformation in the resurrection. In contrast, we often focus on earthly comforts, worldly examples of success, and maintaining a youthful appearance for this life. But, while doing this, we starve our souls. Our citizenship is in heaven! Our life is in Christ, who reigns over all things in heaven and earth."

Dear Lord Jesus, turn us from the destructive ways of our human nature and turn us continually toward the heavenly calling and promises You have set before us. Amen.

(Excerpt from The Lutheran Study Bible)

09/10/2026

Satan cannot threaten us because we are in Christ! Hear Christ for you at kfuo.org.

Lutheran Service Book 508

1 The day is surely drawing near
When Jesus, God's anointed,
In all His power shall appear
As judge whom God appointed.
Then fright shall banish idle mirth,
And flames on flames shall ravage earth
As Scripture long has warned us.

2 The final trumpet then shall sound
And all the earth be shaken,
And all who rest beneath the ground
Shall from their sleep awaken.
But all who live will in that hour,
By God's almighty, boundless pow'r,
Be changed at His commanding.

3 The books are opened then to all,
A record truly telling
What each has done, both great and small,
When he on earth was dwelling,
And ev'ry heart be clearly seen,
And all be known as they have been
In thoughts and words and actions.

4 Then woe to those who scorned the Lord
And sought but carnal pleasures,
Who here despised His precious Word
And loved their earthly treasures!
With shame and trembling they will stand
And at the judge's stern command
To Satan be delivered.

5 My Savior paid the debt I owe
And for my sin was smitten;
Within the Book of Life I know
My name has now been written.
I will not doubt, for I am free,
And Satan cannot threaten me;
There is no condemnation!

6 May Christ our intercessor be
And through His blood and merit
Read from His book that we are free
With all who life inherit.
Then we shall see Him face to face,
With all His saints in that blest place
Which He has purchased for us.

7 O Jesus Christ, do not delay,
But hasten our salvation;
We often tremble on our way
In fear and tribulation.
O hear and grant our fervent plea;
Come, mighty judge, and make us free
From death and ev'ry evil.