Our Lord Jesus Christ says: “The one who listens to you listens to me, and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”

Luke 10,16

Introitus

I will praise the Lord at all times;  my mouth will continually praise him. 
I will boast in the Lord;  let the oppressed hear and rejoice. 
Magnify the Lord with me. 
Let us praise his name together. 
I sought the Lord’s help and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. 
Look to him and be radiant; do not let your faces be ashamed. 
This oppressed man cried out and the Lord heard; he saved him from all his troubles. 
The angel of the Lord camps around  the Lord’s loyal followers and delivers them. 
Taste and see that the Lord is good. 
How blessed is the one who takes shelter in him. 
Fear the Lord, you chosen people of his, For those who fear him lack nothing.  
Even young lions sometimes lack food and are hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. 
Come children. Listen to me. I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord. 

Psalm 34

Old Testament

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says to the people of Jerusalem: “Do not listen to what those prophets are saying to you.  They are filling you with false hopes.  They are reporting visions of their own imaginations, not something the Lord has given them to say.  They continually say to those who reject what the Lord has said, ‘Things will go well for you!’ They say to all those who follow the stubborn inclinations of their own hearts, ‘Nothing bad will happen to you!’  Yet which of them has ever stood in the Lord’s inner circle  so they could see and hear what he has to say? Which of them have ever paid attention or listened to what he has said? 
But just watch! The wrath of the Lord will come like a storm! Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked.  The anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has fully carried out his intended purposes. In future days you people will come to understand this clearly. 
I did not send those prophets, yet they were in a hurry to give their message. 
I did not tell them anything, yet they prophesied anyway. 
But if they had stood in my inner circle, they would have proclaimed my message to my people.  They would have caused my people to turn from their wicked ways and stop doing the evil things they are doing. Do you people think that I am some local deity and not the transcendent God?” the Lord asks. 
“Do you really think anyone can hide himself where I cannot see him?” the Lord asks. 
“Do you not know that I am everywhere?” the Lord asks. 

The Lord says, “I have heard what those prophets who are prophesying lies in my name are saying. They are saying, ‘I have had a dream! I have had a dream!’ Those prophets are just prophesying lies. They are prophesying the delusions of their own minds. How long will they go on plotting to make my people forget who I am through the dreams they tell one another? That is just as bad as what their ancestors did when they forgot who I am by worshiping the god Baal. Let the prophet who has had a dream go ahead and tell his dream. Let the person who has received my message report that message faithfully. What is like straw cannot compare to what is like grain! I, the Lord, affirm it! My message is like a fire that purges dross. It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces. I, the Lord, so affirm it! 

Jeremia 23, 16-29 (Sermon)

Epistle

By this we know that we reside in God and he in us: in that he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world. If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God resides in him and he in God. And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us. God is love, and the one who resides in love resides in God, and God resides in him. By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love. We love because he loved us first. If anyone says “I love God” and yet hates his fellow Christian, he is a liar, because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And the commandment we have from him is this: that the one who loves God should love his fellow Christian too.

1. John 4, (13-16a) 16b-21

Gospel

“There was a rich man who dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. But at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus whose body was covered with sores, who longed to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. In addition, the dogs came and licked his sores.

“Now the poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. And in Hades, as he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far off with Lazarus at his side. 

So, he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in anguish[ca] in this fire.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things and Lazarus likewise bad things, but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. Besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us, so that those who want to cross over from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 

So the rich man said, ‘Then I beg you, father—send Lazarus to my father’s house (for I have five brothers) to warn them so that they don’t come into this place of torment.’ But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they must respond to them.’ Then the rich man said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ He replied to him, ‘If they do not respond to Moses and the prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”

Luke 16,19-31

Confession of the church

I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Nicene creed

Hymn of the week

1. From God can nothing move me; He will not step aside But gently will reprove me And be my constant guide. He stretches out His hand In evening and in morning, My life with grace adorning
2. Wherever I may stand. When those whom I regarded As trustworthy and sure Have long from me departed, God’s grace shall still endure. He rescues me from sin And breaks the chains that bind me. I leave death’s fear behind me; His peace I have within.
3. The Lord my life arranges; Who can His work destroy? In His good time He changes All sorrow into joy. So let me then be still: My body, soul and spirit His tender care inherit According to His will.
4. Each day at His good pleasure God’s gracious will is done. He sent His greatest treasure In Jesus Christ, His son. He every gift imparts The bread of earth and heaven Are by His kindness given, Praise Him with thankful hearts!
5. Praise God with acclamation And in His gifts rejoice. Each day finds its vocation Responding to His voice. Soon years on earth are past; But time we spend expressing The love of God brings blessing That will forever last. ,
6. Yet even though I suffer The world’s unpleasantness, And though the days grow rougher And bring me great distress, That day of bliss divine, Which know no end or measure, And Christ, who is my pleasure, Forever shall be mine.
7. For thus the Father willed it, Who fashioned us from clay; And His own Son fulfilled it And brought eternal day. The Spirit now has come, To us true faith has given; He leads us home to heaven. praise the Three in One!

Ludwig Helmbold 1532-1598

Prayer of the week

Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

O Lord God, pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us, that like Abraham we may believe Your promises to us in Christ, and it may be counted to us for righteousness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give boldness and diligence to all ministers of Your Church, Matthew (our president and ILSW chairman);  Bishop Juhana Pohjola (ILC chairman); Hans-Jörg (SELK Bishop), Torgy, Michael, Stefan (Propst), Rudolf the local superintendent, pastors like Markus, Johann, Felix, Thomas, Armin, Andreij, Vadim, Don, that they may proclaim the faith once delivered to the saints. Be with all vacant congregations and pastors considering calls. Send forth laborers into Your harvest, and sustain those You have sent in Your mission to the people of this world: Peter, David, Martin, Mark. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Be the defender and shield of all in need: the poor, the hungry and those without homes or proper employment. Provide for their needs, and give them hope in the face of their trials. Stir up in us fervent love for one another, that we would be charitable to bring care and comfort to those around us, since You have shown us perfect charity in Your Son. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Perfect us in Your love, that we may not fear Your condemnation but have confidence in Christ for the Day of Judgment. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give wisdom and patience to all in authority Olaf, Vlodimr, Reiner, Cyril Let them serve with integrity — always for the benefit of those under their leadership, to the maintenance of righteousness, and to the hindrance and punishment of wickedness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give to Your servants all that is needed for this body and life. Heal, strengthen and comfort the sick, the suffering, the sorrowing and the dying, and hear the prayers of all who call upon Your saving name especially Ruth, Karin, Ingrid, June, Annette, Christoph, Carmela,  Teach us to pray so that our hearts may not be undone by anxiety and fear but rejoice in Your grace sufficient for our every need. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Give repentance and faith to all who come to Your altar this day. Grant that we would not come seeking sumptuous earthly food, but instead discern Your holy body and precious blood for the forgiveness of sins and receive it in the unity of a true confession. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving Father, You have kept Your promise to Abraham and brought forth the Offspring in whom all nations are blessed and counted righteous, even Jesus Christ, our Lord. Give to all people saving faith in this promised Savior, and work in them the love that flows from Your love alone; 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.

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

+ Dominum vobiscum +

The Lord bless Thee, and keep Thee;

The Lord make His face shine upon Thee, and be gracious unto Thee;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon Thee + give Thee peace.Numbers 6,24-27

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the triune God give you joy and strength, wisdom, knowledge and insight, that You preach His holy will faithfully and His gracious promises invitingly. His most precious Gospel is “the power of God to save all who believe.” (Rom 1:16) and His good Word remains forever – just as His one, holy Christian Church + Amen.