Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 27, 2026
Divine Service Setting III – LSB 184
Hymn: Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation LSB 909
Stand
Confession and Absolution
Exhortation (p.184)
Corporate Confession (p.184)
Service of the Word
Introit (responsively) Psalm 147:1–5; antiphon: v. 6
P The Lord lifts up the | humble;*
he casts the wicked | to the ground.
C Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises | to our God;*
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is | fitting.
P The Lord builds up Je- | rusalem;*
he gathers the outcasts of | Israel.
C He heals the broken- | hearted*
and binds | up their wounds.
P He determines the number | of the stars;*
he gives to all of | them their names.
C Great is our Lord, and abun- | dant in power;*
his understanding is beyond | measure.
C Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
P The Lord lifts up the | humble;*
he casts the wicked | to the ground.
Kyrie (p.186)
Gloria in Excelsis (p.187)
Collect of the Day
P Let us pray.
Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
Sit
Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32
1The word of the Lord came to me: 2“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die. . . .
25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
30“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Gradual Psalm 91:11; 103:1
C He will command his angels con- | cerning you*
to guard you in | all your ways.
Bless the Lord, | O my soul,*
and all that is within me, bless his | holy name!
Epistle Reading: Philippians 2:1–18
1If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
14Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
L This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Alleluia (p.190)
Gospel: Matthew 21:23–32
23When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
28“What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.”
L This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.
Nicene Creed (p.191)
Sit
Hymn: All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name LSB 549
Sermon
Stand
Offertory (p.192)
Offering
Prayer of the Church
Service of the Sacrament
Preface (p.194)
Sanctus (p.195)
The Lord’s Prayer (spoken)
The Words of Institution (p.197)
Pax Domini
Agnus Dei (p.198)
Sit
Distribution of the Sacrament
Distribution Hymns
I Lay My Sins on Jesus LSB 606
Lord, Whose Love through Humble Service LSB 848
What a Friend We Have in Jesus LSB 770
At the Name of Jesus LSB 512
Stand
Nunc Dimittis (p.199)
Post Communion Collect (p.201)
Benedicamus & Benediction (p.201)
Sit
Announcements
Hymn: O Jesus, King Most Wonderful LSB 554
Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Three from Lutheran Service Book. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2026 Concordia Publishing House.
Prayers – For the home-bound: Charlotte Scepaniak, Ken Maas, Betty Meints, Lloyd Jerde, Maralyn Hoops, Muriel Pigors, Larry & Sandra Grieben, and Doris Vilhauer.
For those sick, injured, or recovering: Nathaniel Wendt, Michael Wendt, Phyllis Yeske, Kevin Fehn, Daryl Swanhorst, Tom Hanson, Annikki Marttila, Keith Underberg, Doris Larson, Russ Brandt, Kathie Lassanske, Betty Meints, Sheila Christofferson, William Cutler, Keith Jensen, Rachelle Moorman, Rick Grieben, Pastor Jacob Smith, Dan Wolf, and Joyce Hermansen.
For expectant mothers Sydney Hammrich and Alexandra Rausch.
For the children we sponsor through Mission Haiti: Michelet Voltaire, Michel Djoury, and Orgea Djouna.
For Pastor Andreasen & family, and all our LCMS missionaries.
St. John’s
Ushers: Roger & Sharon Zastrow
Next Week: Ray & Cyndy Larson
Last Week: Attendance – 39; Offering – General Fund $2,545; Siding Fund $200
Our Savior
Altar Guild: Rachel Rausch & Trina Tschappat
Acolytes: Jaylynn Siebert & Ella Brick
Greeter: Russell Brandt
Last Week: Attendance – 114; Sunday School – 23
Offering – General Fund $3,738; Sunday School $10;
from St. John’s $3,171.38; Total $6,919.38
Schedule for the Week
Sunday St. John’s Divine Service – 8:00 am
Our Savior Sunday School – 9:30 am
Our Savior Bible Study – 9:45 am
Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
Our Savior By-Laws Review Committee – 2:00 pm
Monday Mat Ladies – 1:00 pm
Tuesday Coffee & Confessions – 6:30 am
Christian Foundations Class – 6:00 pm
Wednesday Catechism Class – 5:00 pm
Prayer Service – 6:00 pm
Bible Study – 6:30 pm
Next Sunday St. John’s Service of the Word – 8:00 am
St. John’s Bible Study – 9:15 am
Our Savior Sunday School – 9:30 am
Our Savior Divine Service – 10:45 am
Our Savior Elders – 12:30 pm
Announcements
Lutheran Witness – The October issue of LW is available in the narthex. The theme is “Faith Alone”. Featured articles include ‘Not Guilty – Because of Jesus’, and ‘Lutheranism Has It All’.
St. John’s Columbia Cemetery requests that all flowers from the gravesites be removed by October 1
st if you want to keep them. Thank You!
LWML Sunday is next week, October 4
th. At Our Savior, the LWML will provide cookies for the coffee hour before the service.
Our Savior LWML “Bakeless Bake Sale” will run through October 4
th. There is a container in the narthex for monetary donations. Thank you to everyone for your generosity in helping with our mission fundraiser.
LWML Aberdeen Zone Fall Gathering – Saturday, October 10, 2026
at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 214 7
th Ave SW, Aberdeen
Hosted by Trinity Mansfield LWML
Registration: 9:00 am, with coffee & goodies
Opening Devotion: 9:30 am
Meeting: Election of officers & standing rules changes
Guest Speaker: Laura Bierman, from Option 1 Women’s Health Center
Closing Devotion
Finishing by Noon
Gifts from the Heart – Items for Option 1 Women’s Health Center: baby/toddler books, feeding supplies, diapers (newborn to size 6, larger sizes preferred), and Walmart gift cards for larger items as needed (such as strollers, car seats, high-chairs)
Saturday Bible Study – October 17
th, 9:30-11:30 am at Our Savior. The topic will be “For All the Saints”: A biblical and Lutheran view of saints.
Our Savior Lost and Found – Everyone please check the coat rack in the fellowship hall and the shelf above it. There are several jackets and other items there. If it’s not yours, did you ever bring a visitor to church who may be missing a jacket? If they are not claimed soon, they will be donated to the Orphan Grain Train.
LCMS Stewardship Ministry – The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 21:26 – “But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd...” Foolish Pharisees! They fear men more than they fear God, and so they miss out on the great blessing of knowing Jesus and His love. All our sins are like this: we fear something more than we fear God. And how foolish that is! Just think of the blessings we miss out on whenever we place our fear or trust in something other than God.
Building Healthy Families – “Love and faithfulness keep a king safe; through love his throne is made secure.” (Proverbs 20:28) Is your marriage a place where both you and your spouse feel safe, respected, and valued? Loving words, faithful actions, and everyday kindness strengthen trust and build safety in relationships. Harsh words, criticism, and hurtful actions destroy them. Which is more prevalent with yours?
Lutheran Family Service www.LutheranFamilyService.org
Email:
info@lutheranfamilyservice.org or call 605-271-1081
Main Street Living – 10:00 AM- This Is the Life –
“The Cup” – The dilemma a trucker must face when a good friend dies trying to protect him. 10:30 AM- Rev. Jacob Smith, pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, presents the message
“Is God Unjust?” based on Ezekiel 18:25. Watch Main Street Living on Sunday mornings on KDLT NBC TV. Past shows are archived at
www.mainstreetliving.com.
The Lutheran Hour – To be a disciple is to be a learner. Jesus loves you enough to make you teachable. Speaker Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler delivers the message
“Teachable” based on Matthew 21:31. Listen to The Lutheran Hour on Sunday mornings at 9:00 on KAWZ 88.1 FM, or on Sirius-XM Family Talk 131 at 9:00 am. Sermons are also archived on the website
www.lutheranhour.org.
EQUIPPING THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS…
Issues, Etc. is a podcast and radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio in Collinsville, IL and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. Recent topics include: How to Read the Bible, Why Men Aren’t Marrying, The No Contact Movement, Debate Over the Location of the Town of Bethsaida and more. You can listen on-demand at
issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app or a podcast provider.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s Statement on Close Communion:
The Lord’s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, Our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but
His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust in His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth His death until He comes.
Because those who eat and drink our Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or
who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, are asked to first speak with the Pastor.
(CTCR,
Admission to the Lord’s Supper, Nov 1999)
