St. Paul Lutheran Church

St. Paul Lutheran Church Church Services
Sundays at 10:15 am

05/31/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
The Holy Trinity
May 31, 2026

SECOND READING
Acts 2:14a, 22–36

Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, ...

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.’

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

GOSPEL
Matthew 28:16–20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

05/31/2026

Listen to The Lutheran Hour this Sunday as Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler delivers the sermon "A Friendly Recommendation" at lhm.org/lutheranhour, on our Connected by LHM app, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

05/31/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
The Holy Trinity
May 31, 2026

"Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest" (LSB 498)

1. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav’nly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.

2. To You, the Counselor, we cry,
To You, the gift of God Most High;
The fount of life, the fire of love,
The soul’s anointing from above.

3. In You, with graces sevenfold,
We God’s almighty hand behold
While You with tongues of fire proclaim
To all the world His holy name.

4. Your light to ev’ry thought impart,
And shed Your love in ev’ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

5. Drive far away our wily foe,
And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide,
No evil can with us abide.

6. Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless
And in our lives the truth confess.

7. Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow!

05/31/2026

May 29, 1549: Life for Katie Luther has not been easy since the death of her husband three years earlier. The Smalkaldic War had taken its toll on Wittenberg and the surrounding area. Much of Katie’s farm land was destroyed by the fighters and she even had to rebuild some of the farm buildings. But her main concern was always the welfare of her children. Duke Albrecht of Prussia, a strong supporter of Luther as well as a personal friend, had taken Hans Luther to Königsberg with him so that Hans could continue his studies there. Unfortunately, Hans seems to have been less than a diligent student and word of this made its way back to his mother.

One of the few of Katie’s letters that have survived is her letter to Duke Albrecht on Hans’ behalf:

“May the grace and peace of God, together with my poor prayers, be with your Princely Grace. Most illustrious and highborn Prince and Lord!

“Since Your Princely Grace always showed such benevolence to my dear master, Dr. Martin, of blessed memory, I have never doubted that your Princely Grace would also be especially beneficent to me, just as our dear God taught Your Princely Grace to cherish, protect and hold - also for the sake of my dear blessed master, a true prophet of these recent and turbulent times - taking me and my dear children as bereaved widow and orphans under your gracious protection and sway.

“There is no need to remind Your Princely Grace of the severe plight of my household after the recent wars, and how wretchedly I have hitherto had to nourish and myself and my children from my poor devastated and wasted estates. On the advice of Mr. Philippus [Melanchthon] and following the report of Dr. Sabini as to how well disposed Your Princely Grace is to my children, I dispatched my eldest son Hans to Your Princely Grace, and after Your Princely Grace had most graciously offered to maintain him for some time at his studies, I should most humbly like to thank Your Princely Grace for this same gracious support and care for my poor bereaved children.

“Since, however, this is my son’s first period away from home and since I sent him away primarily so that he could, alongside his studies, learn how to deal with others, so it is my humble plea to Your Princely Grace that you might take this my son, for the sake of my dear deceased husband, into your grace and protection, and since he has not shown himself fully worthy, I beg you graciously to put this down to his ignorance and his being away from home for the first time and to be patient with him. I do not doubt that he will show submissive obedience to Your Princely Grace and due obedience to his mentors, that he will pursue his studies and other duties diligently and show himself honorable and grateful in all submissiveness.

“May our dear Lord richly reward in turn Your Princely Grace’s gracious support. I shall always studiously supplicate God on behalf of Your Princely Grace for a long-lasting reign and well-being. Dated Wittenberg, 29 May in the year 49.

“Your Princely Grace’s
humble and submissive
Katharina, bereaved widow
of the blessed Dr. Martin
Luther”

Shown is a statue of Duke Albrecht as the founder of the University of Königsberg

-Rebecca DeGarmeaux for Katie Luther

05/31/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
The Holy Trinity
May 31, 2026

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

For the Church of God, called out of darkness into His marvelous light and purchased with the precious blood of Christ, that she would be kept in the true faith, without error, schism or compromise, until He welcomes her home as His spotless bride, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the floor committees who prepare the work of our Synod’s convention, that they would walk in a manner worthy of Christ and be guided by God’s Word throughout their labors, so that the Lord’s good and gracious will may be done among us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For creation and the good gift of man and woman with whom God has crowned it, let us give thanks to the Lord; and for His continued blessing of marriage with its callings and promises, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For nations, governments, leaders and civil servants, that peace and justice may abide here in our land and throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those afflicted in body or mind, soul or spirit, that the Lord would give them grace to entrust themselves to their Savior’s loving hands and to await relief according to His good and gracious will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who receive the blessed Sacrament, that they may show forth the fruits of the Spirit in lives of faith, repentance and goodness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For wisdom, that as faithful stewards we may govern His creation well and use the earth’s resources in a God-pleasing manner, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Lord God, heavenly Father, You have called Your Church from every tribe and nation. Grant that Your people throughout the world would rejoice in the death and resurrection of Christ and live as those who have died and risen with Him in Holy Baptism; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

05/24/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
The Day of Pentecost
May 24, 2026

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

For all the baptized, that the baptismal water of life may bring forth its full fruit in all we say, think and do, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For faithful pastors and church workers devoted to the service of God, who delivered His Word through Moses and the prophets and fulfilled it in Christ, who died for our sins and was raised for our justification, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all parents, that God would continue to pour out His Spirit upon them to catechize their children faithfully in His Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For a long memory to recall those who gave the full measure of devotion to our country’s peace and security and served faithfully until death in the protection of our freedom and in the defense of our land, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who face sickness, surgery and pain, that they may not be afraid, and that they might be healed according to the abundance of God’s steadfast love, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who commune at the Lord’s altar this day, that they may receive our Lord Jesus’ gifts in sincere repentance, and through firm faith be raised up from death to life through His forgiveness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

In thanksgiving for the resurrection of the dead and the eternal life in Christ Jesus; and in remembrance of those who have gone before us and are at rest, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Almighty Father, with Your Son, Jesus Christ, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts through Your Word to rule and govern us according to Your will. Comfort us in every temptation and misfortune and defend us against every error, that we may continue steadfast in the faith, increase in love and good works, and — trusting firmly in Your grace — obtain eternal salvation; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

05/24/2026

May 20, 1531: Martin Luther’s mother, Margaret, lies ill and close to death. Although separated from each other by distance, Martin and his mother had remained close. Now he has what may be some of his last words for her. Always a pastor at heart, he writes to her and reminds her not only of the love that he and his family have for her but also her Savior’s love:

“My dearly beloved Mother! I have received my brother James’s letter concerning your illness. Of course, this grieves me deeply, especially since I cannot be with you in person, as I certainly would like to be. Yet I am coming to you personally through this letter, and I, together with all of the members of my family, shall certainly not be absent from you in spirit.

“I trust that you have long since been abundantly instructed, without any help from me, that (God be praised) you have taken [God’s] comforting Word into [your heart], and that you are adequately provided with preachers and comforters. Nevertheless I shall do my part too and, according to my duty, acknowledge myself to be your child, and you to be my mother, as our common God and creator has made us and bound us to each other with mutual ties, so that I shall in this way increase the number of your comforters. . . .

“[Y]ou also know the true center and foundation of your salvation from whom you are to seek comfort in this and all troubles, namely, Jesus Christ, the cornerstone. . . .

“Let us therefore now rejoice with all assurance and gladness, and should any thought of sin or death frighten us, let us in opposition to this lift up our hearts and say: ‘Behold, dear soul, what are you doing? Dear death, dear sin, how is it that you are alive and terrify me? Do you not know that you have been overcome? Do you, death, not know that you are quite dead? Do you not know the One who says of you: “I have overcome the world?” ‘ . . . .

“To such knowledge (I say) God has graciously called you. . . . He says: ‘Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.’ And with this I commend your body and soul to his mercy. Amen.

“All your children and my Katie pray for you; some weep, others say at dinner: ‘Grandmother is very sick.’ God’s grace be with us all. Amen.” (American Edition of Luther’s Works, Vol. 50, pp. 18-21)s

This portrait of Margaret Luther is by Lucas Cranach the Elder from 1527.

-Rebecca DeGarmeaux for Katie Luther

05/24/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
The Day of Pentecost
May 24, 2026

OLD TESTAMENT
Numbers 11:24–30

Moses went out and told the people the words of the Lord. And he gathered seventy men of the elders of the people and placed them around the tent. Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.

Now two men remained in the camp, one named Eldad, and the other named Medad, and the Spirit rested on them. They were among those registered, but they had not gone out to the tent, and so they prophesied in the camp. And a young man ran and told Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” And Joshua the son of Nun, the assistant of Moses from his youth, said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” But Moses said to him, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, that the Lord would put his Spirit on them!” And Moses and the elders of Israel returned to the camp.

SECOND READING
Acts 2:1–21

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
And I will show wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below,
blood, and fire, and v***r of smoke;
the sun shall be turned to darkness
and the moon to blood,
before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.
And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

GOSPEL
John 7:37–39

On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

05/17/2026

Each Friday, find a weekly collect to include in your prayers as well as a relevant resource in the comments below. This week, pray for all mothers, that they would find joy in their vocation, Christ's peace in times of anxiety and sadness, and ample support in their times of need.

For all mothers, that the Lord's favor would rest upon them and that they may rejoice in the blessing of new life He gives to the world through them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

05/17/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
Seventh Sunday of Easter
May 17, 2026

"Christ Is the World’s Redeemer" (LSB 539)

1. Christ is the world’s Redeemer,
The lover of the pure,
The font of heav’nly wisdom,
Our trust and hope secure,
The armor of His soldiers,
The Lord of earth and sky,
Our health while we are living,
Our life when we shall die.

2. Christ has our host surrounded
With clouds of martyrs bright,
Who wave their palms in triumph
And fire us for the fight.
Then Christ the cross ascended
To save a world undone
And, suff’ring for the sinful,
Our full redemption won.

3. Down through the realm of darkness
He strode in victory,
And at the hour appointed
He rose triumphantly.
And now, to heav’n ascended,
He sits upon the throne
Whence He had ne’er departed,
His Father’s and His own.

4. Glory to God the Father,
The unbegotten One,
All honor be to Jesus,
His sole-begotten Son,
And to the Holy Spirit—
The perfect Trinity.
Let all the worlds give answer:
Amen! So let it be.

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