ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCH (AFLC)
Rural Armour
Pastor: Kevin Czymbor
Organist / Violinist: Janett Uttecht, Steve Bamberg,
Renee Engelland, Hannah Lau, Becky Fechner
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18th Sunday after Pentecost September 27, 2026
Welcome & Announcements
*Call to Worship: Psalm 25:1-10 (pg. 541)
*Opening Prayer …………………………………………….. pg. 2
THE OPENING HYMN —————————————— # 154
“Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”
*Confession of Sins ……………….……………….………… pg. 3
*Kyrie …………………………………………………….…. pg. 3
*Declaration of Grace …………………………………..…… pg. 3
HYMN ————————————————————— # 561
“When Peace Like a River”
Scripture Lessons: 1st Reading: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 (pg. 837)
2nd Reading: Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 (pg. 1165)
*The Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32 (pg. 982)
*Response to the Gospel …………………………………..… pg. 3
*Confession of Faith – The Apostles’ Creed .………………… pg. 4
*Gloria Patri …………………………………………………. pg. 4
The Offering
*Response: “Create in Me A Clean Heart O God” ……..….. pg. 17
*Prayers of the Church
HYMN ————————————————————— # 578
“Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound”
Sermon: Acts 20 – “The Whole Counsel of God”
THE CLOSING HYMN ——————————————- # 141
“A Mighty Fortress is Our God”
*The Lord’s Prayer ………………………………………….. pg. 5
*The Benediction ………………………………..…………… pg. 5
*Three-fold Amen ……………………………………………. pg. 5
THE DOXOLOGY ………………………………………….. # 390
Organ Postlude
(* Indicates where congregation should stand if possible)
WE CORDIALLY WELCOME all who have come to worship with us this morning, especially our guests and visitors. May our Father’s mercy in Jesus assure you of the forgiveness of all your sins. If you have not established your church home in our area, we are anxious to share with you all the blessings which God gives us through His Word. We ask that you please sign our guest book, and we hope that you return to worship with us again soon.
Pastor Czymbor’s Cell: 412-420-8867 Church: 605-724-2532
Email: [email protected]
Church website: stpeterarmour.org
Announcements
Monthly hymn #154: “Jesus Shall Reign Where’er the Sun”
Memory verse: Exodus 20:1-3
Rolls will be served today in honor of Louie Bamberg’s 85th Birthday.
Ladies, thank you for your help with fall cleaning. We are very thankful for you!! Renee & Dee
Thank you to all the women who donated tea towels, decorations, food and kitchen items for the WMF Fall Rally basket. It is greatly appreciated
This week’s activities:
3rd – Sat. – Men’s Bible Study, 8:00 am
4th – Sun. – Worship service, 9:00 am, Acts 21
– Sunday School, 10:00 am
CHURCH CLEANING: Sept 28 – Oct 4th Kathy Lau & Nicole Grosz
Usher’s for Sunday, Oct 4th: Richard Luebke & Robert Thies
October Communion Lay Assistant: John Engelland
*Call to Worship: Psalm 25:1-10
25 To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
2 O my God, in you I trust;
let me not be put to shame;
let not my enemies exult over me.
3 Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.
4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
6 Remember your mercy, O Lord, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O Lord!
8 Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
9 He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
10 All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
1st Reading:Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32
18 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3 As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
25 “Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26 When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27 Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
30 “Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31 Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
2nd Reading: Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
*The Gospel: Matthew 21:23-32
23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” 24 Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27 So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.
28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.