Bulletin May 24th

St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
2305 Goshen Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Telephone: (260) 483-9312
Email: pastordale@stmatthewslutheran.com
Website: http://www.stmatthewsfw.org
Ministers: The People Pastor: Dale Henderson
Music Director: Tracy Meihls Sexton: Brock Snyder Day of Pentecost May 24, 2026

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

THANKSGIVING AT THE FONT IV Red Book p. 71
Please Stand
GATHERING HYMN Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart
Red Book # 800
GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.

KYRIE
L: Lord Jesus, seated at the Father’s right hand.
C: Lord, have mercy.
L: Christ Jesus, source of peace that the world cannot give. C: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, pour out the Holy Spirit upon your Church, that your salvation may be known here and throughout the world. C: Lord, have mercy. Amen.

PSALM 103:1-5,10-12
P: Bless the Lord, O my soul.
C: Bless the Lord, O my soul And all that is within me, bless God’s holy name!
L: Bless the Lord, O my soul; and forget not all His benefits.
Who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases. Who redeems your life from the grave; who crowns you with tender mercies and loving kindness.
Who satisfies your mouth with good things; so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
C: Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless God’s holy name!
L: He has not dealt with us according to our sins; nor has he dealt with us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth; so great are His mercies toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west; so far has He removed our transgressions from us. The Lord has established His throne in heaven; and His kingdom rules over all.
C: Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless God’s holy name! Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray… O God, our Creator, the resurrection of your Son offers life to all the peoples of the earth. By your Holy Spirit, kindle in us the fire of your love, empowering our lives for service and our tongues for praise, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen.

Please be seated.
THE READINGS

SERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY Holy Spirit, Truth Divine Red Book # 398

Please stand
CREED: Explanation of the 3rd Article of the Apostles’ Creed
from Luther’s Small Catechism
C: I believe that by my own understanding or strength I cannot believe in Jesus Christ my Lord, or come to him, but the Holy Spirit has called me through the Gospel, enlightened me with his gifts, made me holy and kept me in the true faith, just as he calls, gathers, enlightens and makes holy the whole Christian Church on earth and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. Daily in this Christian church the Holy Spirit abundantly forgives all sins--mine and those of all believers. On the last day the Holy Spirit will raise me and all the dead, and will give to me and all believers in Christ eternal life. This is most certainly true.

THE PRAYERS
L: Trusting in the promise of new life in Jesus Christ, let us pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need. (A brief silence) Come, Holy Spirit. Enliven the church to speak your word of forgiveness and salvation in every language and tongue. Pour out your Spirit to all who preach, teach, and witness to your eternal Truth. Lord, in your mercy, C: HEAR OUR PRAYER.
L: Come, Holy Spirit. We pray for farmers who till the soil. Grant favorable weather, so that seed may be planted and fields may produce a bountiful harvest for the needs of all people. Lord, in your mercy, C: HEAR OUR PRAYER.
L: Come, Holy Spirit. Speak peace into all the world. Bless the leaders of the nations with an understanding of your will and an eagerness to follow it. We pray especially for those who bear office in our land, that we may lead quiet and productive lives, and that liberty and justice may abound. Lord, in your mercy, C: HEAR OUR PRAYER.
L: God of mercy, we pray for all who seek healing, strength, and inner peace. Hear our prayers for those who call upon you in their need, especially… and others whom we name before you... Lord, in your mercy, C: HEAR OUR PRAYER.
P: We commend these and all our prayers to you, O God. Come near to us with your saving help, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. C: AMEN.

Please be seated
OFFERING
Please stand
OFFERTORY PRAYER
P: Merciful Father:
C: receive these gifts, and the offering of our lives, that we may bear witness in the world to your saving grace. Amen.

HOLY COMMUNION Setting Ten Red Book p. 206
COMMUNION SONG (Choir) One Bread, One Body

Please stand.
POST COMMUNION
P: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ, and his most precious blood, strengthen and preserve you in true faith unto everlasting life. C: Amen.
L: Lord Jesus, our gracious host, we thank you for this meal. You have filled us with the signs of your great love for us. Fix our hearts on your mercy and truth, that our lives may reflect your love to others. C: Amen.
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen.
L: Go is peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

PARTING HYMN God Bless Our Native Land Red Book # 891

POSTLUDE

Please gather with us after the service in the Bethany Room
for a Memorial Day Weekend Picnic.

ALTAR FLOWERS are dedicated to the glory of God by Brandy Snyder and Jeremy Becker, celebrating their 2nd anniversary.

TODAY’S SERVERS
Organist: Nicole Busarow Liturgist: Debra Kiefer
Ushers: Lesley Fitzgerald, Dean Drews
Communion Assistants: Kris Carter, Richard Kunkel
Altar Guild: Mercy Joshua

A BABY’S CLOSET - St. Matthew’s Women’s Ministry invites you to please see the special display table in the Bethany Room and pick up a mini-baby bottle to fill with cash, coins, or checks for A Baby’s Closet–a ministry of Associated Churches. ABC assists families experiencing hardship in Fort Wayne by providing essential items for infants. Checks may be made payable to St. Matthew’s with “baby bottle” on the memo line. Please return your bottle with your contribution to the baby doll bed on the display table by Father’s Day, June 21.

LADIES: DEBORAH ESTHER CIRCLE invites you to their next meeting, June 9th, at noon, in Bethany Hall. Bring a sandwich for your lunch, and dessert and beverage will be served.

WOMEN’S SUMMER FUN OUTIING: St. Matthew’s Women’s Ministry invites you to come along on Tuesday, July 14, for lunch at Das Dutchman Essenhaus in Middlebury and viewing of the many quilt gardens and murals in Middlebury and Shipshewana. See details on the bulletin board, and sign up by July 7th.

WE WILL BE HOSTING THE FRANCINE’S FRIENDS MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY UNIT on Wednesday, July 22. Six volunteers will be needed to serve in 2 ¼ hour shifts as monitors in the Bethany Room in the event that someone needs to use the rest room. Please see the bulletin board for more information or to sign up to help.

OUR CHURCH WEBSITE - Have you checked out our church website lately? Many new features have been added, including Luther’s Small Catechism and weekly worship bulletins, sermons, and Taking Faith Home inserts. While you are there, please click on the subscribe button and add your Email address. In the future we hope to add some posts for members only, and we don’t want anyone left out. Important note: More activity on our website increases the possibility of St. Matthew’s appearing on page 1 when people search for Lutheran Churches in Fort Wayne.

PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS:. Dean Drews, Cora Fisher, Lynn Jones, Crystal Huth and family (friend of Doug & Candy Wellman), Mike Volz (brother of Cindy Beard), Pastor Art Klausmeier, Donna Koehler (Nicole Busarow’s mother), Jennifer Coyne (friend of Zach Zipf), Jim Dowling (friend of our congregation), and our homebound members.

(Names normally remain on the prayer list for 6 weeks.
If you would like to add or remove a name.
please speak with Pastor Dale.)

HOLY COMMUNION: All Christian believers are welcome at our Table. We believe and teach that the body and blood of Christ are truly present under the forms of bread and wine. Come, believing the words of Jesus himself: “This is my body given for you…this is my blood shed for you.”
Children who have not received instruction and others who do not wish to receive the sacrament, but who wish to receive a blessing, may indicate so by folding their hands over their heart.

WINE OR GRAPE JUICE Glasses in the center ring of each communion tray contain white grape juice. Glasses in the outer rings contain wine.

Letter of thanks
to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church
from Associated Churches of Fort Wayne & Allen County

Dear friends,

Thank you for your $99.14 gift* to Associated Churches. Your kindness makes a real difference in our community, bringing hope and healing to families who need it most. Because of supporters like you we were able to walk alongside thousands of neighbors in need.
1,501,365 meals served to over 100,000 people, including 33,569 children,
1,492 families received baby essentials through A Baby’s Closet,
90 mothers gained strength through 490 hours of mentoring with Journey Beside Mothers,
278 military families received support during difficult times,
306 young people found healing and hope at The Landing. and
24 schools partnered with local churches through the Rising Stars program.

Each number represents a person–a parent who can feed their child, a mom who found encouragement, a young person who discovered they matter. Your partnership makes these moments possible. Thank you for standing with us and with those we serve.

With gratitude,
Rev. Roger Reece, Executive Pastor

*Associated Churches was the recipient of our congregation’s noisy offering in January.