October 18, 2026 11:15 A.M.
Welcome!
Introduction
In today’s first reading God uses the Gentile ruler Cyrus to accomplish divine purposes. When the Pharisees try to trap Jesus, he tells them to give the emperor what belongs to him and to God what belongs to God. To gather for worship reminds us that our ultimate allegiance is to God rather than to any earthly authority. Created in the image of God, we offer our entire selves in the service of God and for the sake of the world.
(please stand for our opening song)
Hymn: Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good ELW 871
Confession and Forgiveness
P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who pours love into our hearts and healing upon the earth
C: Amen.
P: Confident that God justifies us by grace through faith, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P: Compassionate God,
C: we confess that we struggle to embody your goodness in the world and in our own hearts. Creation groans from overuse. Jealousy and bitterness strain our relationships. Indifference keeps us from seeking justice. Divisions disrupt your call to show genuine love to others. Turn our hearts back to you. Restore our world and reconcile us to one another. Renew us to live as your holy people, following the way of Jesus Christ. Amen.
P: Hear this good news: We have peace with God through ☩ Jesus Christ, in whom there is no condemnation, but only forgiveness and the promise of eternal life. Receive freely this healing gift of grace.
C: Amen.
Prayer of the Day
Sovereign God, raise your throne in our hearts. Created by you, let us live in your image; created for you, let us act for your glory; redeemed by you, let us give you what is yours, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
(Please be seated for the readings)
First Reading: Isaiah 45:1-7
The prophet announces that Cyrus the Persian emperor is the one the Lord has anointed to end Israel’s exile. The Lord makes this choice so that the whole world will recognize this Lord as the only God. Persia had a god of light and a god of darkness; the Lord claims sovereignty over both light and darkness.
R: 1 Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have grasped to subdue nations before him and to strip kings of their robes, to open doors before him— and the gates shall not be closed: 2 I will go before you and level the mountains; I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron; 3 I will give you the treasures of darkness and riches hidden in secret places, so that you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who call you by your name. 4 For the sake of my servant Jacob and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name; I give you a title, though you do not know me.
5 I am the Lord, and there is no other; besides me there is no god. I arm you, though you do not know me, 6 so that they may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is no one besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other. 7 I form light and create darkness, I make weal and create woe; I the Lord do all these things.
…This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Psalmody: Psalm 96:1-9 [10-13]
Ascribe to the Lord honor and power. (Ps. 96:7)
1 Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, bless the name of the Lord; proclaim God’s salvation from day to day.
3 Declare God’s glory among the nations and God’s wonders among all peoples.
4 For great is the Lord and greatly to be praised, more to be feared than all gods.
5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols; but you, O Lord, have made the heavens.
6 Majesty and magnificence are in your presence; power and splendor are in your sanctuary.
7 Ascribe to the Lord, you families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord honor and power.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the honor due the holy name; bring offerings and enter the courts of the Lord.
9 Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; tremble before the Lord, all the earth.
[10 Tell it out among the nations: “The Lord is king! The one who made the world so firm that it cannot be moved will judge the peoples with equity.”
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea thunder and all that is in it; let the field be joyful and all that is therein.
12 Then shall all the trees of the wood shout for joy at your coming, O Lord, for you come to judge the earth.
13 You will judge the world with righteousness and the peoples with your truth.]
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Most likely this letter is the first written by Paul. Paul gives pastoral encouragement and reassurances to new Christians living in an antagonistic environment. Their commitment of faith, love, and hope makes them a model for other new Christian communities.
R: 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2 We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our message of the gospel came to you not in word only but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of persons we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy from the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia but in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it. 9 For they report about us what kind of welcome we had among you and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
…This is the Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God
Gospel: Matthew 22:15-22
After Jesus begins teaching in the temple, religious leaders try to trap him with questions. First they ask if God’s people should pay taxes to an earthly tyrant like Caesar.
R: 15 The Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said. 16 So they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one, for you do not regard people with partiality. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought him a denarius. 20 Then he said to them, “Whose head is this and whose title?” 21 They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s.” 22 When they heard this, they were amazed, and they left him and went away.
…This is the Gospel of the Lord
C: Praise to you, oh Christ
Hymn: Take My Life, That I May Be ELW 685
(please stand)
Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. Amen.
(please be seated for prayers)
Prayers of Intercession
Seeking the Spirit of God who makes all things new, we pray for the church and the world.
A brief silence.
Living and true God, you inspire us to share the message of the gospel. Give your spirit of love to seminarians and those beginning their lives in ordained ministry. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We give you thanks for the majesty of our oceans. Protect the abundant life within them and sustain all those who work to preserve them. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We seek your wisdom in all things. Direct all who hold positions of authority around the world, that they act with compassion, seeking the good of all. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We pray for all people who work in dangerous or degrading environments. Grant them safety and courage, and heal all those who are injured, sick, or suffering (especially). Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We ask your blessing on those who do the quiet, unseen work of the church. Encourage them in their work of faith and labor of love. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
We thank you for our ancestors who have been called home to you. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.
Trusting in your boundless grace, O God, we lift up these spoken prayers and those in our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
(stand)
The Sharing of the Peace:
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with you.
P: We Greet one another with the Peace of Christ
Hymn: You Servants of God ELW 825
Communion
God of creation, you send rain and the earth springs forth abundantly. All blessings are from you; make us generous with what we have. Use our gifts, our abilities, and our hearts in service to you and in love to our neighbors, today and always.
C: Amen.
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P: It is our duty and delight that we should everywhere and always offer thanks and praise to you, O God, through Jesus Christ who calls us to follow his ways of humble service and love and so with the church on earth, all creation and the host of heavens we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.
P: Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.
P: For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
C: Christ has died: Christ is risen: Christ will come again.
P: Let us pray as Jesus taught us:
C: Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Invitation to Communion
Christ invites you to this table. All who are thirsty, all who are hungry, come!
(sit)
Distribution & video
Post-Communion Prayer
P: Sustaining God, with this bread and cup, you nourish us with mercy and abundant life. By your Spirit, send us from this table to serve a needy world. Make us living signs of your liberation, healing, and love, following the way of Jesus, in whose name we pray.
C: Amen.
Blessing
P: The God of love draw you into full accord and one mind, in the body of Christ Jesus.
C: Amen.
P: The God of hope grant you strength and joy in all circumstances through the interceding of the Spirit.
C: Amen.
P: The God of grace ☩ bless you now and forever.
C: Amen.
| Announcements: Birthdays October 18 – Shawn Drum 19 – Stephen Wiltse, David McCoy 20 – Chris Hackett 21 – Sally Schultz, Sarah Perry Anniversaries | Weekly Calendar Wednesday 10am – Bible Study at Immanuel 2:45 – Sonshine 6 pm – prayer gathering Thursday 9 am – Quilting Next Sunday – Reformation Service Oct. 31 – Trunk-or-Treat |
CLOSING HYMN: Give Thanks ELW 839
Dismissal
P: Go out in joy. Be led forth in peace.
C: Thanks be to God.