Good evening. I pray you are enjoying God’s blessings, especially the comfort of His forgiveness granted through His Son, Jesus.
Our local LWML ladies are collecting empty inkjet cartridges. A company will pay the church a recovery fee for the cartridges, and will recycle them. Contact Cindy Boster if you have questions about the program.
All Saints’ Day will be observed November 1. We will name Christian friends and loved ones who have left this life this past year, and now await Jesus’ return and the day of the resurrection of all flesh. Please give Pastor names of those you would like remembered.
On Sunday, October 18 we will follow a modified version of Divine Service Setting One beginning on page 151 of the LSB hymnal. Hymns chosen for the day are #549 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name; #577 Almighty God, You Word Is Cast; #619 Thy Body Given For Me, O Savior; #643 Sent Forth By God’s Blessings. Hymn #822 Alleluia! Let Praises Ring will be sung as the Hymn of Praise.
Scripture lessons assigned to the day, Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 24) are Psalm 96:1-10; Isaiah 45:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 and Matthew 22:15-22.
Jesus’ ministry was constantly opposed by religious leaders. They refused to honor Him as the Son of God and their savior from sin. In Matthew’s gospel account, the religious leaders attempted “to entangle him in his words” by asking about the payment of taxes to Caesar (Matt. 22:15). The Lord responded that people should “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s” (Matt. 22:21). But that leads to other questions—what belongs to Caesar (government), and what belongs to God. Is there anything that is outside of God’s jurisdiction? As descendants of Adam and Eve who were created in the image of God, we must be rendered to God. That “tax” is paid for us by the Lord Jesus. He is the image of God in the flesh, and He made the payment by His self-offering on the cross. And from His cross, as the Lord’s anointed, Jesus reigns as the true ruler over all nations “from the rising of the sun and from the west” (Is. 45:6).
In the prophecy of Isaiah, God announced that He would use Cyrus (the 6th century BC ruler of Persia) to accomplish His goals, including “to subdue nations before him and to loose the belts of kings” (Is. 45:1). God will use even pagans to benefit His people. Whatever political leaders may come and go, the true God, Father Son and Holy Spirit, remains in power over all things. Be sure to honor and serve Him. Just as St. Paul points out to the Thessalonians, by the preaching of the Gospel, “in power and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thess. 1:5), foreigners from all over the world are “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thess. 1:9–10).
COLLECT: O God, Your divine wisdom sets in order all things in heaven and on earth. Put away from us all things hurtful and give us those things that are beneficial for us; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please let me know if you have any prayer requests or questions about the lessons to be read Sunday. God bless you. Pastor Boster
