The Congregation at Prayer

For the Week of Pentecost 17 (September 16-21, 2024)

Invocation: In the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Speak the Apostles’ Creed. 

Verse: James 3:17 – ”The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.”

Hymn of the Week:  Lutheran Service Book #851 “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us”

Hymns for Sunday: 704, 851, 625, 698, 529, 850

Readings for the Week: [The readings for Thursday-Saturday are the Scriptures for this coming Sunday.]

Monday: Psalm 54

Why did the psalmist write these words? What was happening? What confidence does he have? Where is Jesus in these words?

Tuesday: Ezekiel 2:8 - 3:11

How does God want us today to “eat” His Word? Why? How are we being rebellious when we do not? How is this the nutrition we need to be healthy Christians?

Wednesday: Matthew 9:9–13

Saturday is the Commemoration of St. Matthew. Why was Matthew an unlikely candidate to be a disciple of Jesus? In what ways was he a perfect choice to be a disciple of Jesus?

Thursday: Jeremiah 11:18–20

How did the Jews try to destroy Jesus and His fruit? Yet how did Jesus make that tree the tree whose fruit now nourishes us?

Friday: James 3:13 - 4:10

How (and why!) is the world in opposition to God and His ways? How did God come down and draw near to us? How is this our wisdom, righteousness, and peace?

Saturday: Mark 9:30-37

Why was Jesus’ teaching hard for the disciples to understand? How is it hard for us, too? What do we want? What is better?

The Catechism - Baptism: What does such baptizing with water indicate? [Part 1] It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.

Collect for the Week: O God, whose strength is made perfect in weakness, grant us humility and childlike faith that we may please You in both will and deed; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen

The Prayers:  Please pray for . . .

+ yourself and for all in need (remembering especially those on our prayer list).

+ God’s blessing, wisdom, and strength for our congregation’s Sunday School teachers.

+ the American Association of Lutheran Churches, for God’s wisdom, blessing, guidance, and provision.

+ God’s blessing, guidance, and provision for our Synod’s World Relief and Human Care ministry.

Conclude with the Lord’s Prayer and Luther’s Morning or Evening Prayer from the Catechism.

Now joyfully go about your day (or to bed) in good cheer, child of God!

Collect for the Week © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

Lutheran Service Book Hymn License: 110019268