ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
The Lord Lifts Up the Lowly
August 31, 2025
AS WE GATHER: “And the Lord had regard for Abel and his offering, but for Cain and his offering he had no regard” (Gen. 4:1-15). For unlike Abel, Cain’s offering did not proceed from a heart that revered and trusted in the Lord. Thus, the lowly tax collector who prayed, “God be merciful to me, a sinner!” was the one who went down to his house justified before God, not the respectable, outwardly righteous Pharisee who trusted in himself and his own good living (Luke 18:9-14). “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing: it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:1-10). The one who penitently despairs of his own righteousness and relies completely on the atoning mercy of God in Christ is the one who is declared righteous. Gor Christ died for our sins and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:1-10). Therefore, “everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Take a moment to notice the * at the beginning of various portions of the order of service. The * indicates the place where it is inappropriate to enter or leave the sanctuary because it marks a time of prayer or respect for the Word of the Lord. Please be considerate of others around you by honoring these notations.
PARTICIPATING:
Worship Leader/Preacher Pastor Larry Feldt
Organist Mr. Ignatius Hasselbrook
Worship Elder Mr. Alan Kleinendorst
Lay Reader Mr. Levi Carolus
Greeters Steve and Jan Miller
ORDER OF WORSHIP
Matins
Organ Prelude
Announcements
Opening Hymn LSB 903 “This Is the Day the Lord Has Made”
*CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION:
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true
heart and confess our sins unto God our Father,
beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ to grant us forgiveness.
Pastor: Our help is in the name of the Lord,
People: who made heaven and earth.
Pastor: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.
People: and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Pastor: O almighty God, merciful Father,
People: I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You
all my sins and iniquities with which I have
ever offended You and justly deserved Your
temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent
of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent,
bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved
Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful
to me, a poor, sinful being.
Pastor: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office,
as a called and ordained servant of the Word,
announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in
the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus
Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
“O Lord, open my lips…” LSB 219
PSALMODY
Venite: LSB 220ff
Office Hymn: LSB 611 “Chief of Sinners Though I Be”
READINGS
Old Testament: Genesis 4:1-15 Pew Bible Page 6
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Pew Bible Page 1789
*Holy Gospel: Luke 18:9-14 Pew Bible Page 1628
*Common Responsory LSB 221
Sermon Hymn LSB 613 “To Thee, Omniscient Lord of All”
Sermon
Offertory LSB 956 “Create in Me”
*Te Deum LSB 223
PRAYER
*Kyrie: LSB 227
*Lord’s Prayer: LSB 227
*Prayer of the Church
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
O Lord, our God, who raised Your Son from the dead, raise up men in Your Church with the humble conviction of St. Paul to labor abundantly for the sake of preaching Your grace in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Father, You have built Your Church on the witness of Paul and the apostles, that Christ is risen and that we, too, shall rise. Fortify us by this preaching to labor abundantly in our life and conversation for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of all, build up the families of Your Church, that they may share Your own love and provide for their own, in Your name and with Your blessing. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Righteous God, rule for the cause of the needy and the outcast. Set the world’s rulers against oppressors and all evil, that we may live together in peace, joy and holiness. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father of all those in need, settle the solitary into the family of Your Church, and go before all Your people in their trials. Grant them to rejoice in Your goodness and grace. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, as You marked Cain and gave him Your protection despite his sin, we thank You that You have marked us in Holy Baptism and still protect us from spiritual harm despite our sin. We praise You for washing away our sins. Deliver us when sin and Satan attack us, and renew us in faith and life. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.
*COLLECT OF THE DAY:
Pastor: Almighty and everlasting God,
People: always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than we either desire or deserve, pour down upon us the abundance of Your mercy, forgiving those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things that we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediations of Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
*Collect for Grace: LSB 228
*Benedicamus/Benediction: LSB 228
Closing Hymn: LSB 923 “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”
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ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
1024 West Eighth Street, Waterloo Iowa
319.235.6705