BULLETIN

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church—LCMS 
40291 NE 40th Ave., Preston, Kansas 67583
Website: www.stpaulpreston.org              
Telephone: (620) 672-5354
Email: splcms@sctelcom.net (Office)        
mslcms@sctelcom.net (Pastor)
Rev. Michael Schotte, Pastor
Ninth Sunday after Pentecost 
July 26, 2026 
 
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Ephesians 4:29 
 
A PRAYER FOR TODAY: Gracious God our Father, we have the great and blessed promise from Holy Scriptures that nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from Your love in Christ Jesus, Your Son, our Lord. As Jesus gave His life in sacrifice on a cross for us, give us the confidence that our sin has received its sentence and punishment in Him. Assure us that we are redeemed from sin’s curse, from the powers of the devil and hell, and from death and eternal condemnation. As Jesus is risen, lives forever, and is with us always, lead us by Your Holy Spirit to walk in His way, in paths of righteousness, in newness of life, according to Your commandments. Let it be so for Jesus’ sake. Amen 
 
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK: “Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever” (Psalm 125:1). 
• Thanks be to God the Father Who made us, provides for us, and still takes care of us. 
• For the Lord’s protection upon those whose duties require them to work outdoors in the heat of the summer days. 
• For courage and loyalty for those who serve our country in its armed forces, for the peace of Jesus Christ upon families whose loved ones have given their lives in battle, and for patience for families during times of separation which military service requires. • For wisdom and safety for emergency responders as their service brings help in time of need. 
 
THE GRACE OF GOD for new birth and new life is given to Elliott Cory Carey this morning in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism. His parents are Michael and Cari (Hommertzheim) Carey. His baptismal sponsors are Cody and K’Dee Hommertzheim. We pray that as this family seeks fellowship in a new church home, we all together take seriously our responsibility to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). 
 
ORDER OF WORSHIP TODAY: LSB, page 184 ff. 
HYMNS FOR WORSHIP: 592, 713 (1-4, 5-7), 648 
 
On the cover: Treasures catch our eye and capture our attention, even if we don’t have the means to obtain them. We are loved by Jesus and treasured by Him. With His holy, precious blood and bitter suffering and death, He gave His life to obtain us. His resurrection proves His love for us. 
 
Introit 
Psalm 105:2–6; antiphon: v. 1 Oh give thanks to the LORD; call up- | on his name;* make known his deeds among the | peoples! Sing to him, sing prais- | es to him;* tell of all his | wondrous works! Glory in his | holy name;* let the hearts of those who seek the | LORD rejoice! Seek the LORD | and his strength;* seek his presence con- | tinually! Remember the wondrous works that | he has done,* his miracles, and the judgments he | uttered, O offspring of Abraham, his | servant,* children of Jacob, his | chosen ones! Glory be to the Father and | to the Son* and to the Holy | Spirit; as it was in the be- | ginning,* is now, and will be forever. | Amen. Oh give thanks to the LORD; call up- | on his name;* make known his deeds among the | peoples! 
 
Collect of the Day 
Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love, that, receiving what You have promised, we may love what You have commanded; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 
 
Old Testament Reading 
Deuteronomy 7:6–9 “You are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. 7It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations.” 
 
Gradual 
Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowl- | edge of God!* How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable | his ways! For from him and through him and to him are | all things.* To him be glory forever. | Amen. Romans 11:33, 36 
 
Epistle 
Romans 8:28–39 28We know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
 
Holy Gospel 
Matthew 13:44–52 44[Jesus said:] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. 45“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, 46who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it. 47“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. 48When it was full, men drew it ashore and sat down and sorted the good into containers but threw away the bad. 49So it will be at the close of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous 50and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51“Have you understood all these things?” They said to him, “Yes.” 52And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
NEWS AND EVENTS AT ST. PAUL 
July 26, 2026 
 
MEET AND GREET. . . All are invited for cookies and punch following worship today in the church basement. This is to celebrate the baptism of Elliott Carey and to visit with his parents, Michael and Cari (Hommertzheim) Carey. 
 
KANSAS DISTRICT PRESIDENT, Rev. Justin Panzer, will be here this Saturday, August 1st, for a congregational visit to St. Paul. The meeting will take place in the church basement and begin at 10:00 a.m. to conclude by noon. Come a few minutes early for refreshments. Talk to Pastor Schotte for more information. Council members and elders are urged to attend if able, as well as congregation members, including youth. 
 
WORSHIP SERVICES, SESSIONS, PRESENTATIONS, and more, of the 69th Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod are available to view at lcms.org/convention/national/livestream. 
 
FROM LUTHER’S LARGE CATECHISM ON BAPTISM: “Baptism’s power and work . . . is nothing other than putting to death the old Adam and affecting the new man’s resurrection after that [Romans 6:4-6]. . . . But what is the old man? It is what is born in human beings from Adam: anger, hate, envy, unchastity, stinginess, laziness, arrogance—yes, unbelief. The old man is infected with all vices and has by nature nothing good in him [Romans 7:18]. Now, when we have come into Christ’s kingdom [John 3:5], these things must daily decrease. The longer we live the more we become gentle, patient, meek, and ever turn away from unbelief, greed, hatred, envy, and arrogance.” (Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions, A Reader’s Edition of The Book of Concord, pages 429-430) 
 
STEWARDSHIP SENTENCES based on Matthew 13:45–46 – “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it.” Indeed, Jesus redeemed us, purchased us back from sin and death, with all that He had. We belong to Him now. Our generosity ought to imitate the out-sized generosity of Jesus. (lcms.org/stewardship)
 
THE LUTHERAN HOUR - “Worth the Wait” (Matthew 13:44). The certainty that Jesus offers is not theoretical or experimental. It’s the certainty of a promise, of a secure relationship. Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler. 
 
THE ALTAR GUILD serving in the month of August are:Terri Liggett, Kathie Thurman, and Heather Van Slyke. 
 
CHRIST FOR YOU this week on kfuo.org: Our study of the book of Matthew continues on Sharper Iron (weekdays at 8 a.m.). Tune in to "The Reign of Heaven Stands Near" as we look at Matthew 12 and 13. Join us on Thy Strong Word (weekdays at 11 a.m.) as we move forward in our study of Acts. We'll be picking up this week with chapter 21. Don't forget to listen to The Coffee Hour (weekdays at 9 a.m.). This week is Bach Week, and we'll be airing special episodes each day in commemoration of the church musician, J.S. Bach. Find your favorite programs on demand by visiting kfuo.org. 
 
EDUCATING A NEW GENERATION OF LUTHERANS… Issues, Etc. is a podcast and radio talk show produced by Lutheran Public Radio and hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken. Recent show topics include: Pope Leo’s Encyclical on Artificial Intelligence, The Lord’s Prayer in Lutheran Worship, A Lutheran View of the Scholastics, The Population Bust, and more. You can listen on demand at issuesetc.org, the LPR mobile app, or a podcast provider
 
JULY ALTAR COMMITTEE: Leigh Ann Hall Donna Briggeman Jama Hommertzheim
 
HEAD USHER: Gary McGuire 
ELDERS: Derek Liggett, Shan Hullman, Lee Van Slyke 

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