Church Bulletin 10.25.26

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
Reformation Sunday October 25, 2026
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Z: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit.
C: Amen.
Z: Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our
hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may
perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
Z: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth
is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and
just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all
unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Z: Most merciful God,
C: we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free
ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word,

and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left
undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we
have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of
your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us,
renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will
and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name.
Amen.
Z: In his mercy, Almighty God has given his Son to die for us,
and for his sake forgives us all our sins. May he strengthen us
with power through the Holy Spirit, that Christ may dwell in
our hearts by faith.
C: Amen
Please stand
GATHERING The Church’s One Foundation ELW 654
GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the
communion of the Holy Spirit be with us 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: Let us pray. Almighty God, gracious Lord, we thank you that
your Holy Spirit continually renews and preserves your
Church. Open our hearts to the power of your liberating Word,
that we may grow in faith and step forward into the world to
proclaim your unconditional grace; through Jesus Christ, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Please be seated
THE READINGS
Jeremiah 31:31-34
L: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
We will read responsively Psalm 46.
Romans 3:19-28
L: The Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Please stand
Z: The Holy Gospel from the 8th Chapter of John.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
Holy Gospel- John 8:31-36
Z: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
Please be seated
MESSAGE
HYMN OF THE DAY A Mighty Fortress ELW 504
All vs. 1,3,4
Choir v.2

Please stand

APOSTLES CREED ELW p. 105
THE PRAYERS
L: Seeking the Spirit of God who makes all things new, let us
pray for the church, the world, and all people according to their
needs.
(A brief silence is kept for personal reflection.)
L: Almighty God, we give thanks for the witness of Martin Luther
and the reformers of every generation. Keep your church
steadfast in your saving Gospel, and continually empower us
by your Holy Spirit to pursue reform, renewal, and unity in our
own day. Bless our pastors, bishops, teachers, and all the
baptized as they share your grace. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: God our Stronghold, you are a refuge in times of trouble.
Comfort and sustain Christians throughout the world who face
persecution or danger for confessing the name of Jesus. Turn
the hearts of those who oppose the Gospel, and grant courage
to all who speak your truth. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Prince of Peace, look upon a world broken by war, division,
and violence. Exalt yourself among the nations and grant
wisdom to world leaders, our president, and our local officials.
Teach them to execute justice, love mercy, and walk humbly
before you so that neighbors may live free from fear. Lord, in
your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Merciful Advocate, You hear the cries of the suffering. Bring
healing and relief to the sick, the grieving, the lonely, and
those experiencing trauma (especially…), and those we name
now aloud or in our hearts...). Provide hope to families
separated by hardship and bring safety to the vulnerable. Lord,
in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.

L: Gracious Father, we ask your healing blessing upon any who
have been harmed or disillusioned by the church and its
leaders. Let your unconditional promise of grace break down
walls of shame and doubt, ensuring that your truth sets them
completely free. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Trusting in your boundless grace and the promise of
everlasting life, O God, we lift up these spoken prayers and
those hidden deep within our hearts; through Jesus Christ, our
Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Lord’s Prayer
L: Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray,
C: Our Father…
Please be seated
OFFERING
Please stand
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Z: Let us pray,
C: God of all goodness, generations have tasted your grace and
found refuge in your Word. Receive these gifts we bring
today as a sign of our gratitude. Use them, and use us, to
proclaim your Gospel to a world in need of your peace;
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
BLESSING
Z: May the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory in
Christ, establish, strengthen, and settle us in his Holy Word.
And the blessing of God Almighty—the Father, the Son, and
the Holy Spirit—be among us and remain with us always.
C: Amen.

L: Go in peace. You know the truth, and the truth has made you
free. Go and serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PARTING HYMN Only By Grace
Chorus
Only by grace can we enter
Only by grace can we stand
Not by our human endeavour
But by the blood of the Lamb
Into Your presence You call us
You call us to come
Into Your presence You draw us
And now by Your grace we come
Now by Your grace we come repeat

Bridge

Lord if You mark our transgressions
Who would stand

Thanks to Your grace we are cleansed
By the blood of the Lamb repeat

Gerrit Gustafson
CCLI Song #190579
© 1990 The Worship Songbook

For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights

reserved. www.ccli.com
CCLI License #931594

POSTLUDE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ALTAR FLOWERS are given by Nick & Jess King in celebration of
their 14th wedding anniversary.
TODAY’S SERVERS
Pianist: Iris Ji
Leader: Zach Zipf
Liturgist: Michelle Detar
Altar Guild: Debra Kiefer
Ushers: Lesley Fitzgerald
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
Women's Ministry is purchasing 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.

Deborah-Esther Circle next meets Tuesday, Nov. 10 in Bethany Hall
12n-2:30pm. Bring your lunch. Dessert and Beverage provided. We
will be making Christmas placemats for our neighbors at Cedar Creek
Assisted Living. Bring paper cutting scissors (fancy craft scissors too,
if you want). We welcome old Christmas card donations.
Thankoffering the daily practice of giving thanks to God for blessings
received, is at the heart of our lives as women of faith. Many women
save small amounts of money at home throughout the year and then
bring their gifts together with those of other women.St Matthew's
Women's Ministry will hold our Thankoffering service on Dec. 6.
Extra Thankoffering containers are on the donut table in Bethany Hall.
UPCOMING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES
Franke Park Conferences We will support the staff with a baked potato
bar. Sign up sheet on October18--their conferences are on October
29.
Operation Christmas Child Once again this year it's time to start
collecting items and packing shoeboxes to be sent by Samaritans Purse
to third world countries. The collection of items will begin on Sunday,
October 25th and continue until the packing event on November 15th.
Everyone is welcome to help pack shoeboxes after the service on
November 15th. Please see the display table in the Bethany Room for
more information. Any questions can be directed to Todd or Vicki
Campbell.
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Family of Pastor Dale
Henderson, Garland Skinner, Ellen Campbell, Dan Sobieski (Deb
Kiefer’s Brother), Josh Merrill (Friend of Ian Webb involved in a
farming accident), Waneta Linton (Lori Powelson’s grandmother),
Danica Winters (Kelley Ahlersmeyer’s sister), Carolyn Drews (Dean
Drew's sister), Larry Campbell, Jamie Sue Becker (4 yr. old daughter
of Karlin & Ellie Becker), Henry Volz (8 year-old great nephew of
Cindy Beard), 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.)