9/13/2026
16th Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 19
Pastor Robert Hetzel
Gathering
Confession and Forgiveness
Celebrant: Remembering our Baptism into Christ's death and resurrection,
we begin: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. Amen.
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. Amen.
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
All: Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned
from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry
and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known
and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do.
Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live
and serve you in newness of life, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and
Lord. Amen.
Celebrant: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us,
and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister
of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the
entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Gathering Song: Let streams of living justice flow..........................ELW 710
Greeting
Celebrant: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion
of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Kyrie/Canticle of Praise.............ELW 203 & 204a
Prayer of the Day
First Reading: Genesis 50:15-21...................Bible 48
Realizing that their father was dead, Joseph's brothers said, "What if Joseph still
bears a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong that we did
to him?" So they approached Joseph, saying, "Your father gave this instruction
before he died, 'Say to Joseph: I beg you, forgive the crime of your brothers and
the wrong they did in harming you.' Now therefore please forgive the crime of
the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
Then his brothers also wept, fell down before him, and said, "We are here as
your slaves." But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid! Am I in the place of God?
Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to
preserve a numerous people, as he is doing today. So have no fear; I myself will
provide for you and your little ones." In this way he reassured them, speaking
kindly to them.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Responsive Reading: Psalm 103:(1-7), 8-13............................ELW Book
Bless the Lord, O my soul,*
and all that is within me, bless his holy Name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,*
and forget not all his benefits.
He forgives all your sins*
and heals all your infirmities;
He redeems your life from the grave*
and crowns you with mercy and loving-kindness;
He satisfies you with good things,*
and your youth is renewed like an eagle's.
The Lord executes righteousness*
and judgement for all who are oppressed.
He made his ways known to Moses*
and his works to the children of Israel.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,*
slow to anger and of great kindness.
He will not always accuse us,*
nor will he keep his anger for ever.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,*
nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,*
so is his mercy great upon those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,*
so far has he removed our sins from us.
As a father cares for his children,*
so does the Lord care for those who fear him.
Second Reading: Romans 14:1-12...........................Bible 163
Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling
over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only
vegetables. Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those
who abstain must not pass judgement on those who eat; for God has
welcomed them. Who are you to pass judgement on servants of another?
It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld,
for the Lord is able to make them stand. Some judge one day to be better
than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced
in their own minds. Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord.
Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God;
while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God.
We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live
to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we
we die, we are the Lord's. For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that
he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. Why do you pass judgement on
our brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgement seat of God.
For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every
tongue shall give praise to God." So then, each of us will be accountable to God.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation: Alleluia! Lord and Savior.............ELW p. 205a
Holy Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35.................Bible 15
Peter came and said to Jesus, "Lord, if another member of the church sins against me,
how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?" Jesus said to him, "Not seven times,
but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared
to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one
who owed him ten thousand talents was brougt to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord
ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and
payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, 'Have patience
with me, and I will pay you everything.' And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave
released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon
one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat,
he said, Pay what you owe.' Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him,
'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.' But he refused; then he went and threw him
into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw that had happened,
they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken
place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked slave! I forgave you
all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your
fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?' And in anger his lord handed him over to be
tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to
every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart."
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you Lord Christ.
The Sermon..................................Pastor Robert Hetzel
Hymn of the Day: O God of every nation......ELW 713
Nicene Creed..........................ELW p.104
Prayers of Intercession
Passing of the Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
Meal
Offertory Hymn: Let us build a house where love can dwell..........ELW 641
Offering Prayer: Let us pray. God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone,
but with words of grace and life. Bless us with these your gifts, which we receive from
your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
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 our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty, and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise. Therefore we praise your name and join in the unending hymn:
Sanctus....................ELW p. 207
You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God. You are most holy, and great is the majesty of
your glory. You so loved the world that you gave your only Son, so that everyone who believes
in him may not perish but have eternal life. We give you thanks for his coming into the world to
fulfill for us your holy will and to accomplish all things for our salvation.
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. 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 all people for the forgiveness
of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from
this cup, we proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Remembering, therefore, his salutary command, his life-giving passion and death, his glorious
resurrection and ascension, and the promise of his coming again, we give thanks to you, O Lord
God Almighty, not as we ought but as we are able; we ask you mercifully to accept our praise and
thanksgiving and with your Word and Holy Spirit to bless us, your servants, and these your own gifts
of bread and wine, so that we and all who share in the body and blood of Christ may be filled with
heavenly blessing and grace and, receiving the forgiveness of sin, may be formed to live as your
holy people and begin our inheritance with all your saints. To you, O God, Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory in your holy church, now and forever. Amen.
Now as Christ has taught us, we are bold to pray,
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth
as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we gorgive those who sin
against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
The Communion
Communion Hymn: Our Father, we have wandered........ELW 606
Post Communion Prayer
We give you thanks, almighty God, tha you have refreshed us through the healing power of
this gift of life. In your mercy, strenghen us through this gift, in faith toward you and in
fervent love toward one another, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Sending
Blessing
Announcements
Sending Hymn: Come! Live in the light!...............................ELW 720
Dismissal
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
Sharing God's love with all people! Alleluia!
