A crushed reed he will not break, a dim wick he will not extinguish.  (Isaiah 42,3)

Introit

Praise the Lord, for it is good to sing praises to our God. Yes, praise is pleasant and appropriate. The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem and gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the number of the stars; he names all of them. Our Lord is great and has awesome power; there is no limit to his wisdom. The Lord lifts up the oppressed but knocks the wicked to the ground… The Lord takes delight in his faithful followers, and in those who wait for his loyal love.

Psalm 147,1-6.11

Collect of this Sunday

Almighty and merciful God, by Your gift alone Your faithful people render true and laudable service. Help us steadfastly to live in this life according to Your promises and finally attain Your heavenly glory; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Altar Book (Lutheran Service Book) Pg. 922

Old Testament lesson

In just a very short time Lebanon will turn into an orchard, and the orchard will be considered a forest. At that time the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness. The downtrodden will again rejoice in the Lord; the poor among humankind will take delight in the Holy One of Israel. For tyrants will disappear, those who taunt will vanish, and all those who love to do wrong will be eliminated – those who bear false testimony against a person, who entrap the one who arbitrates at the city gate and deprive the innocent of justice by making false charges. So this is what the Lord, the one who delivered Abraham, has said to the family of Jacob: “Jacob will no longer be ashamed; their faces will no longer show their embarrassment. For when they see their children, whom I will produce among them, they will honor my name. They will honor the Holy One of Jacob; they will respect the God of Israel. Those who stray morally will gain understanding; those who complain will acquire insight.

Isaiah 29,17-24 

Gradual

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad.

Psalm 34,1-2

Epistle (Sermon by Dr. Robert Kolb)

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing out threats to murder the Lord’s disciples, went to the high priestand requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any who belonged to the Way, either men or women, he could bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he was going along, approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” So he said, “Who are you, Lord?” He replied, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting! But stand up and enter the city and you will be told what you must do.”(Now the men who were traveling with him stood there speechless, because they heard the voice but saw no one.) So Saul got up from the ground, but although his eyes were open, he could see nothing. Leading him by the hand, his companions brought him into Damascus. Forthree days he could not see, and he neither ate nor drank anything. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. TheLord said to him in a vision, “Ananias,” and he replied, “Here I am, Lord.” Then the Lord told him, “Get up and go to the street called ‘Straight,’ and at Judas’ house look for a man from Tarsus named Saul. For he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and place his hands on him so that he may see again.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many peopleabout this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem, and here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call on your name!” But the Lord said to him, “Go, because this man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before Gentiles and kings and the people of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” So Ananias departed and entered the house, placed his hands on Saul and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he could see again. Hegot up and was baptized,and after taking some food, his strength returned. For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus,and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “This man is the Son of God.” 

Acts 9,1-20

Halleluja Verse

Alleluia. Sing aloud to God our strength; shout for joy to the God of Jacob. Alleluia.

Psalm 81,1

Gospel

Jesus went out again from the region of Tyre and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee in the region of the Decapolis. They brought to him a deaf man who had difficulty speaking, and they asked him to place his hands on him. After Jesus took him aside privately, away from the crowd, he put his fingers in the man’s ears, and after spitting, he touched his tongue. Then he looked up to heaven and said with a sigh, “Ephphatha”. And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his tongue loosened, and he spoke plainly.Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But as much as he ordered them not to do this, they proclaimed it all the more.People were completely astounded and said, “He has done everything well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”

Mark 7,31-37

Luther´s Sermon

Christian Creed

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

My soul, now praise your Maker! Let all within me bless His name Who makes you full partaker Of mercies more than you dare claim. Forget Him not whose meekness Still bears with all your sin, Who heals your ev’ry weakness, Renews your life within; Whose grace and care are endless And saved you through the past; Who leaves no suff’rer friendless But rights the wronged at last.

He offers all His treasure Of justice, truth, and righteousness, His love beyond all measure, His yearning pity o’er distress, Nor treats us as we merit But sets His anger by. The poor and contrite spirit Finds His compassion nigh; And high as heav’n above us, As dawn from close of day, So far, since He has loved us, He puts our sins away.

For as a tender father Has pity on His children here, God in His arms will gather All who are His in childlike fear. He knows how frail our powers, Who but from dust are made. We flourish like the flowers, And even so we fade; The wind but through them passes, And all their bloom is o’er. We wither like the grasses; Our place knows us no more.

His grace remains forever, And children’s children yet shall prove That God forsakes them never Who in true fear shall seek His love. In heav’n is fixed His dwelling, His rule is over all; O hosts with might excelling, With praise before Him fall. Praise Him forever reigning, All you who hear His Word– Our life and all sustaining. My soul, O praise the Lord!

Johann Gramann (1487-1541) tr. Catharine Winkworth 1827-1878.

Sermon text for this week

On a Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, ¹¹ and a woman was there who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not straighten up at all. ¹² When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” ¹³ Then he put his hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and praised God.

¹⁴ Indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, the synagogue leader said to the people, “There are six days for work. So come and be healed on those days, not on the Sabbath.”

¹⁵ The Lord answered him, “You hypocrites! Doesn’t each of you on the Sabbath untie your ox or donkey from the stall and lead it out to give it water? ¹⁶ Then should not this woman, a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be set free on the Sabbath day from what bound her?”

¹⁷ When he said this, all his opponents were humiliated, but the people were delighted with all the wonderful things he was doing.

Luke 13,10-17

Prayer of the church

Lord, You are our help and deliverer. We bring to You the prayers and petitions of Your people, that You may grant us all things needful and guard us against all things harmful. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O God, open the ears of unbelievers to the word of Your salvation. Loose their lips to praise You aright and their mouths to confess that Jesus is Lord. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless all pastors and give them boldness to speak the truth in love and compassion, that they would not break the bruised reed, but lovingly care for all sinners in need of God’s mercy. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, grant Your blessing to all who are imprisoned, and send to them visitors bringing Your Gospel of peace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless all in authority by whose service You provide the gift of order, including parents and family, our government, our police and firemen, our military and our schools. Give them strength and endurance to carry out their duties for the good of those entrusted to their care. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Lord God, You sent Your Son, Jesus, as the Great Physician of body and soul. By His touch, He banished the fear of His disciples. Comfort those in need Christoph, Anette, Paulina with peace in the midst of fear and wholeness of body and soul. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

Bless all who will partake this day of Christ’s most precious body and blood in the Sacrament of the Altar. Give them discernment of His body, that they would come to His table in humility and faith to receive the forgiveness of sins and salvation. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O Lord, heavenly Father, we gratefully remember the sufferings and death of Your dear Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation. Rejoicing in His victorious resurrection from the dead, we draw strength from His ascension before You, where He ever stands for us as our own High Priest. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to You alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

+ Dominum vobiscum +

The Lord bless You, and keep You; The Lord make His face shine upon You, and be gracious unto You; The Lord lift up His countenance upon You + give You peace.

Numbers 6,24-27

If you are called to preach this weekend, may the holy, triune God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – the one true and only God give You His rich measure of faith, hope, love, joy and strength, wisdom, knowledge and insight, clarity of speech, that You preach His holy Will faithfully and His gracious Promises invitingly and faithfully according to His biblical Word recorded by apostles and prophets. His most precious Gospel grants saving grace. It is His “power to save.” (Rom 1:16 cf. 2.Corinthians 12,9). 

God´s Word and Luther´s teaching remain forever just as His, holy Christian Church. Hallelujah + Amen. Amen.