Bulletin Oct 4th
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
2305 Goshen Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Telephone: (260) 483-9312
Email: office@stmatthewslutheran.com
Website: http://www.stmatthewsfw.org
Ministers: The People Pastor: Dale Henderson
Music Director: Tracy Meihls Sexton: Brock Snyder
19th Sunday after Pentecost October 4, 2026
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Welcome to Rev. David Williamson and thank you for presiding over
our service today.
PRELUDE Elevation ~Marcel Dupre
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS ELW p. 94
Please stand
GATHERING The Church’s One Foundation ELW 654
All vs. 1,3,5
Choir vs. 2,4
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: In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to
the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
L: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the
church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
L: For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship
and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C: Lord, have mercy.
L: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
C: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
L: Almighty God, you provide for your vineyard and protect it
with your constant love. Teach us to bear the fruits of
righteousness, that your name may be glorified in all the
earth, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
C: Amen.
Please be seated
THE READINGS
Isaiah 5: 1-7
RESPONSIVE READING Psalm 80:7-15
Philippians 3:4b-14
Please stand
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ELW Setting 3 p.142
Holy Gospel- Matthew 21:33-46
Please be seated
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY My Hope is Built on Nothing Less ELW 597
Please stand
NICENE CREED ELW p. 104
THE PRAYERS
L: With the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, let us pray for
the church, those in need, and all of God's creation.
(A brief silence is kept for personal reflection.)
L: Protect and renew your church. Send faithful workers into
your harvest, and purge us of wild or bitter fruit so that we
bear the abundant fruit of your righteousness. Lord, in your
mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Gracious God, you have planted us as a beloved vineyard and
nourished us with your word and sacraments. Protect and
renew your church. Send faithful workers into your harvest,
and purge us of wild or bitter fruit so that we bear the
abundant fruit of your righteousness. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Lord of justice, give all worldly authorities and nations a
hunger for righteousness and a true desire for peace. Swiftly
build bridges of respect and concord among people, and turn
leaders away from violence and the weapons of war. Lord, in
your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Healer of our bodies and souls, restore everyone who cries out
to you in distress, sickness, grief, or loneliness. Shine the light
of your countenance upon them, bring them comfort, and
ease their pain, (especially...), and others we name before
you…(brief silence). Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: With gratitude and affection, we entrust our loved ones who
have died into your eternal care. Comfort those who mourn
with the promise of resurrection and reunion in your heavenly
vineyard. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Into your hands, gracious God, we commend all for whom we
pray, trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior
and Lord.
C: Amen.
Please be seated
OFFERING Morning Prayer ~Tchaikovsky
Please stand
OFFERTORY PRAYER
P: God of mercy and grace,
C: The eyes of all wait upon you, and you give them their food
in due season. Sanctify these gifts we bring to your altar, and
use them to feed a hungry world; through Jesus Christ, our
Savior and Lord. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION Setting 3 ELW p. 144
CHOIR ANTHEM Behold The Lamb
POST COMMUNION
P: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ and his most precious
blood strengthen and preserve you in true faith, unto life
everlasting.
C: Amen.
L: Let us pray. Giver of every good gift, in this bread and cup you
have nourished us at your heavenly table. Send us out now as
fruitful branches of your true vine, ready to share your
abundance with a hungry world and live out your
righteousness; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine
upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with
favor and give you peace.
C: Amen.
L: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PARTING HYMN God of Grace and God of Glory ELW 705
POSTLUDE God of Grace ~Setting by Paul Manz
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALTAR FLOWERS are given today to the Glory of God.
TODAY’S SERVERS
Organist: Irene Ator
Liturgist: Ed Stange
Communion Assistant: Sue Bernard
Altar Guild: Debra Kiefer
Ushers: Debra Kiefer, Tony Kiefer
FRIENDSHIP PADS & COMMUNION
Welcome! We are so glad you are worshiping with us today. Please
take a moment to complete the Friendship Pad located at the end of
your pew. If you are participating in Holy Communion today, please
be sure to mark that on the pad as well. Thank you for helping us stay
connected!
OCTOBER NOISY OFFERING Cross Connections- is a professional
Christ-centered counseling service that partners with pastors and
churches in helping provide care for their members.
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Deborah-Esther Circle meets on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 12n-230pm in
Bethany Hall for our 2nd CROCKTOBERFEST. Bring an entree, side or
dessert, cooked in your slow cooker, to share a smorgasbord
luncheon with others at the meeting. Please bring your recipe too, so
we can include it in an upcoming cookbook project.
Thank you to our St. Matthew's family for your generous memorials
honoring past members Carol Skinner and Kay Altekruse. Due to your
generosity, the Circle ladies voted to opt out of a Noisy Offering this
fall. We plan to use some of the memorial funds for updates to the
ladies' restroom. In addition, we will purchase feminine hygiene items
that are desperately needed to re-stock the NALC Disaster Response
district warehouse in Noblesville. If anyone wants to help with this
project, there will be a collection bin in the ladies' restroom through
October.
Our church's mission project of assembling personal care kits and
flood/cleaning buckets for NALC Disaster Response was postponed
from late summer 2026 until early winter 2027. Collection of items
will begin in late January with assembly after worship on SUN, Feb.
14. Watch for details later this year. In the meantime, the source for
inexpensive 5-gallon buckets from which we were going to purchase
no longer offers buckets. If any cat owners use Tidy Cat litter in the
35-pound pail (sample under the bulletin board), those can be used in
place of 5-gallon buckets. Bring empty pails to church; we will store in
the basement until needed for the project.
UPCOMING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES
Reformation Meal On October 18, to celebrate Reformation, we will
be having our traditional Brats & Beer Fellowship Meal. Signup sheets
available 10/4 & 10/11.
Franke Park Conferences We will support the staff with a baked
potato bar. Sign up sheet on October18--their conferences are on
October 29.
Fall Fun Fest October 24th - 4:30 pm - 6:30 pm This event has been
enjoyed by Matthew's House families along with church families. This
year we are asking for additional help with donations due to the rising
cost of groceries. There is a sign up sheet for ingredients along with
sign up sheets for trunkers, workers and if you are attending the
event. These are located in the Bethany Room with other information
about the event. If you have any questions, please see Todd or Vicki
Campbell.
Kindness Kits
On the doughnut table in the Bethany Room you will find special
“Kindness Bags” assembled by the ladies of the Deborah Esther Circle.
Please take one to give to someone who needs a bit of
encouragement or cheer.
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Family of Pastor Dale Henderson,
Josh Merrill (Friend of Ian Webb involved in a farming accident),
Waneta Linton (Lori Powelson’s grandmother), Danica Winters (Kelley
Ahlersmeyer’s sister), Richard Kunkel, Carolyn Drews (Dean Drew's
sister), Larry Campbell, Candy, Wellman, Jamie Sue Becker (4 yr. old
daughter of Karlin & Ellie Becker), Henry Volz (8 year-old great
nephew of Cindy Beard), Jan Diller, Mike Volz (brother of Cindy
Beard), Pastor Art Klausmeier, Theresa Huth (friend of the Wellman
Family}, Bob Powelson (Matt’s father), and our homebound
members.(Names normally remain on the prayer list for 6 weeks.)
