St. Paul Lutheran Church and School

05/30/2026

Dear children of God,
Tomorrow we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Trinity.
Because much of the music that makes up Divine Service, Setting 5 focusses upon the truth of the Triune God and His work among us, Pastor Koester has been planning to use that service tomorrow, as he's done in some previous years. It is based upon the German service used from 1526 in Germany and in the LCMS into the 1960s. While it follows the same basic format as our normal service, it may be unfamiliar in some ways. If you are uncomfortable singing parts you don't know, no worries. Simply listen to the words and appreciate the truths God is teaching you.

Related to that, here's an excerpt from the sermon, based upon John 3:1-15:
"Some individuals crave change... Other persons despise change... I’m sure we all have plenty of examples in our lives both of wanting change and resisting change.
It’s interesting as a pastor, whenever I’m new to a congregation, hearing the multitude of thoughts about what needs to change... and what better not change (especially when those thoughts and opinions conflict with each other–shame on us when we let such conflicts overshadow the unity of the Holy Spirit we learned about last week!). It can be a challenge to balance all of that with what God commands us to teach. It takes time. It requires observation. I know I miss some details. I fear then, looking back on the past several months, that I’ve maybe pushed you a little too hard into some changes. I know: the irony of saying this on the day that I introduce you to Divine Service 5! But that was planned and being prepared before I came to this realization. Except for the misunderstanding about whether or not to stand during the closing hymn, it seemed to me like changes were being mostly well received. I was wrong. If you don’t like Divine Service 5, no worries; we’ll return to Divine Service 3 next week and stay there for a while, simple and familiar. Preference or not, I hope that you can appreciate the beautiful truths that are expressed in today’s service, because that’s what really matters: that you hear God’s truth, learn it, and believe it; that you would be purified by the Spirit, drawn close to the redeeming cross of Christ, and better understand the love of the Father towards you.
This work of the Triune God is found throughout Scripture, including today’s lessons. It’s one constant throughout history in the world, the Church, your life..."

05/30/2026

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Consider including these Scriptures some time in your day today, being Ember Saturday after Pentecost, along with your prayers for God to continue blessing His people through the Holy Spirit.
(NOTE: There are four Ember Saturdays throughout the year. They, along with the occasional Vigil, tend to have more assigned readings than the typical day. Do not be discouraged. As always, read what you are able, and be thankful for the time God has given you to spend in His Word today, full of gratitude that He sends an abundance of His Spirit to you through His Word and Sacraments.)

Psalms 88, 104, 117, 68

Joel 2:28-32a
Thus says the LORD God: 28 I shall pour out My Spirit upon all flesh;
and so your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29 Yes, even upon the men-servants and upon the maid-servants
shall I pour out My Spirit in those days.
30 And I will give forth wonders in the heavens and on the earth,
blood and fire and columns of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness,
and the moon to blood,
before the coming of the great and terrible day of the LORD.
32 And it shall come to be that
all that call on the name of the LORD will be liberated.

Leviticus 23:9–11, 15–17a, 21
In those days: 9 The LORD spoke unto Moses, saying, 10 “Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, ‘When you be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest of it, then you shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: 11 and he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 15 And you shall count unto you from the day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be complete: 16 even unto the day after the seventh Sabbath shall you count, namely fifty days; and you shall offer a new grain offering unto the LORD. 17 You shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two-tenths of an ephah: 20 And the priest shall wave them before the LORD. 21 And you shall proclaim on the same day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: you shall do no servile work in it: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations, says the LORD Almighty.’”

Deuteronomy 26:1–3a, 7b–11a
In those days Moses spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “Hear, O Israel, what I command you this day: 1 And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which the LORD thy God gives to thee for an inheritance, and hast possessed it, and dwelt within it; 2 that thou shalt take of the first of all the fruit of the earth, which thou shalt bring of thy land that the LORD thy God gives to thee, and shalt put it in a basket, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place His name there. 3 And thou shalt go unto the priest that shall be in those days, and say unto him, ‘I profess this day unto the LORD thy God, that He has heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression: 8 and the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror, and with signs, and with wonders: 9 and He has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, even a land that flows with milk and honey. 10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which Thou, O LORD, hast given me.’ And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: 11 and thou shalt rejoice in every good thing which the LORD thy God has given unto thee.”

Leviticus 26:3–12
In those days the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: 3 ‘If you walk in My statutes, and keep My commandments, and do them; 4 then I will give you rain in due season, and the land shall yield her increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. 5 And your threshing shall reach unto the vintage, and the vintage shall reach unto the sowing time: and you shall eat your bread to the full, and dwell in your land safely. 6 And I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid: and I will rid evil beasts out of the land, neither shall the sword go through your land. 7 And you shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. 8 And five of you shall chase an hundred, and an hundred of you shall put ten thousand to flight: and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. 9 For I will have respect unto you, and make you fruitful, and multiply you, and establish My covenant with you. 10 And you shall eat old store, and bring forth the old because of the new. 11 And I will set My tabernacle among you: and My soul shall not abhor you. 12 And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be My people,’ says the LORD Almighty.”

Prayer of Azariah 1:24–29
In those days: The Angel of the Lord came down into the furnace to be with Azariah and his companions, and drove the fiery flame out of the furnace, and made the midst of the furnace like a moist whistling wind, so that the flame streamed out above the furnace forty-nine cubits. And it broke through and burned those of the Chaldeans whom it caught about the furnace, but the fire did not touch the three at all or hurt or trouble them. Then they, as with one mouth, praised and glorified and blessed God in the furnace, saying: “Blessed art Thou, O Lord God of our fathers: and to be praised forever.”

Romans 5:5b; 8:11
The love of God is shed abroad in your hearts, by His Spirit that dwells in you.

Acts 13:44–52
In those days: 44 The whole city together to hear the Word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spoke against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold, and said, “It was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.’” 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the Word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the Word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honorable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Spirit.

Luke 4:38-43a
At that time: 38 Jesus arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they requested Him concerning her. 39 And He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with diverse diseases brought them unto Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, “Thou art Christ the Son of God.” And He rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that He was Christ.
42 And when it was day, He departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought Him, and came unto Him, and detained Him, that He should not depart from them. 43 And He said unto them, “I must preach the Kingdom of God to other cities also.”

05/29/2026

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Consider including these Scriptures some time in your day today, being Ember Friday after Pentecost, along with your prayers for God to continue blessing His people through the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 71 & 146

Acts 2:22–28
In those days Peter opened his mouth, saying: 22 “You men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24 whom God has raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that He should be held by it. 25 For David speaks concerning Him, ‘I foresaw the Lord always before My face, for He is on My right hand, that I should not be moved: 26 therefore did My heart rejoice, and My tongue was glad; moreover also My flesh shall rest in hope: 27 because Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to Me the ways of life; Thou shalt make Me full of joy with Thy presence.’”

Luke 5:17–26
At that time: 17 As Jesuse was teaching, there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man who was paralyzed: and they sought a way to bring him in, and to lay him before Him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when He saw their faith, He said unto him, “Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”
21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this which speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answering said unto them, “Why do you reason in your hearts? 23 Which is easier, to say, ‘Thy sins be forgiven thee’; or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has power upon earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic—“I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go to thine house.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that upon which he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today.”

John 3:8
8 The wind blows where it wills, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell from where it comes, and to where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

05/28/2026

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Consider including these Scriptures for Pentecost Thursday some time in your day today, along with your prayers for God to continue blessing His people through the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 68 & 33

Acts 8:5-8
In those days: 5 Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 6 And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spoke, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7 For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many who had been paralyzed, and that were lame, were healed. 8 And there was great joy in that city.

Luke 9:1-6
At that time: 1 Jesus called His twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And He sent them to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3 And He said unto them, “Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 4 And whatever house you enter into, there abide, and from there depart. 5 And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.” 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the Gospel, and healing everywhere.

05/27/2026

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Consider including these Scriptures some time in your day today, being Ember Wednesday after Pentecost, along with your prayers for God to continue blessing His people through the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 68 & 104

Acts 2:14–21
In those days: 14 Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, “You men of Judæa, and all you that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and heed my words: 15 for these are not drunk, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; 17 ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 18 and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy: 19 and I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and v***r of smoke: 20 the sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable Day of the Lord come: 21 and it shall come to pass, that whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Acts 5:12–16
In those days: 12 By the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders done among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. 13 And of the rest dared no man join himself to them: but the people esteemed them highly. 14 And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) 15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them. 16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

John 6:44–51
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: 44 No man can come to Me, except the Father who has sent Me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, “And they shall be all taught of God.” Every man therefore that has heard, and has learned of the Father, comes unto Me. 46 Not that any man has seen the Father, except He who is of God, He has seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen, I say unto you, He that believes on Me has everlasting life. 48 I AM the Bread of Life. 49 Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 This is the Bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51 I AM the Living Bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this Bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

05/26/2026

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Consider including these Scriptures for Pentecost Tuesday some time in your day today, along with your prayers for God to continue blessing His people through the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 78 & 104

Acts 8:14-17
In those days: 14 Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the Word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: 15 who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit: 16 (for as yet He had fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) 17 Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

John 10:1-10
At that time Jesus said to His disciples: 1 “Amen, amen, I say unto you, He that enters not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. 4 And when he putts forth his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.”
6 Jesus spoke this parable unto them: but they understood not what things they were which He spoke unto them. 7 Then Jesus said unto them again, “Amen, amen, I say unto you, I AM the Door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before Me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I AM the Door: by Me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

05/25/2026

Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Consider including these Scriptures for Pentecost Monday some time in your day today, along with your prayers for God to continue blessing His people through the Holy Spirit.

Psalms 81 & 18

Acts 10:42-48
In those days Peter opened his mouth, saying: “Men, brethren, and fathers: 42 God commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. 43 To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whoever believes in Him shall receive remission of sins."
44 While Peter was speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all them which heard the Word. 45 And the circumcised believers were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because also on the Gentiles was poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 "Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Spirit as well as we?" 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord.

John 3:16-21
16 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 He that believes on Him is not condemned: but he that does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the Light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that does evil hates the Light, neither comes to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that does truth comes to the Light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they have been done in God.

05/25/2026

In this Season of Pentecost, and with Father's Day approaching, consider joining Memento.
Open to all men.
Sample Daily Reflection available at church or upon request.

05/13/2026

"Alleluia! Christ has ascended into heaven! And He will come again! Alleluia!"
Ascension Day is Thursday, May 14th.
Forty days after Jesus rose from the dead, He ascended visibly into heaven. This is an important event in the story of our salvation, so much so that we confess it each week in the Creed.
To celebrate Jesus’ reign as our good and gracious King, we will be having the Divine Service with Holy Communion at 7:00 PM.
Please join us on Thursday night, May 14th as we give thanks for our ascended and reigning Lord!
The Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord
Thursday, May 14 • 7:00 p.m. Divine Service

05/08/2026