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
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost 
August 23, 2026 
 
This is love, that we walk according to His commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 2 John 6 
 
A PRAYER FOR TODAY: Gracious God, You have declared to us by Your Spirit-inspired holy Word that with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Make bold our confession of Your Son, the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Let us never be ashamed to speak of Him, declaring that He is Your eternal Son Who came in our flesh and blood to suffer and die to pay for our sins and for the sins of the world. With deep humility, yet with enduring confidence, make us to hold fast this treasure of the gift of faith in Jesus. With peace and great joy, help us always to behold the truth that, as the Church is built on Jesus Christ and His life-giving death and resurrection, we are reconciled to You, we have life and salvation, and the gates of hell cannot prevail against us. Thanks be to You, O God, for Jesus’ sake. Amen 
 
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK: “On the day I called, You answered me; my strength of soul You increased” (Psalm 138:3). 
• Thanksgiving to God for gifts of daily bread to all people. 
• For help and healing from the Lord for Brian Houtwed; for recovery and strength for Donna Briggeman after surgery; for the Lord’s will to be done and His peace to be given to Hermina Bornemann (Francie Krusemark’s sister) after serious injury from a tragic accident; for benefit from medical care for Jim Dye; for strength in days of illness for Craig Knoke; for strength for Leo Hergenrader in days of illness and recent hospitalization, and for his wife Cathy as she cares for him. 
• For the Lord’s guidance upon LeadaChild (www.leadachild.org) as this organization shares the Good News of Jesus’ love to children through Christian education in third world countries, and for His guidance upon all Recognized Service Organizations of the LCMS that they, in faithfulness to God’s Word, will support Gospel proclamation in this country and around the world. 
 
ORDER OF WORSHIP TODAY: LSB, page 184 ff. 
HYMNS FOR WORSHIP: 647, 645, 909 
 
Introit Psalm 2:6–7; 117; antiphon: Psalm 115:18 
But we will | bless the LORD* from this time forth and forevermore. | Praise the LORD! As for me, I have | set my King* on Zion, my | holy hill. I will tell of | the decree:* The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have be- | gotten you.” Praise the LORD, all | nations!* Extol him, all | peoples! For great is his steadfast | love toward us,* and the faithfulness of the LORD endures forever. | Praise the LORD! 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. But we will | bless the LORD* from this time forth and forevermore. | Praise the LORD! 
 
Collect of the Day 
Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life, grant us to know Your Son, Jesus, to be the way, the truth, and the life that we may boldly confess Him to be the Christ and steadfastly walk in the way that leads to life eternal; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 
 
Old Testament Reading 
1 “Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the LORD: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. 2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him. 3For the LORD comforts Zion; he comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song. 4 “Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples. 5My righteousness draws near, my salvation has gone out, and my arms will judge the peoples; Isaiah 51:1–6 the coastlands hope for me, and for my arm they wait. 6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but my salvation will be forever, and my righteousness will never be dismayed.” 
 
Gradual 
Fear the LORD, | you his saints,* for those who fear him lack | nothing! Many are the afflictions of the | righteous,* but the LORD delivers him out | of them all. 
 
Epistle Psalm 34:9, 19, alt. Romans 11:33—12:8 
33Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35“Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. 1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. 
 
Holy Gospel Matthew 16:13–20 
13Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20Then he strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ.
NEWS AND EVENTS AT ST. PAUL 
August 30, 2026 
 
ON BEHALF OF THE SCHOTTE FAMILY we say thank you to the congregation of St. Paul as you made possible for us a recent vacation to Branson, Missouri. It was a great joy to have all of the children and grandchildren together for several days where we could stay in an area lodge, enjoy a day at the lake, and explore other fun activities. It was a very memorable time for all and we were truly blessed by your kindness. ~ ~ ~ Pastor and Barb ~ ~ ~ 
 
THANK YOU to the members of St. Paul for our time in Branson. From shared mealtime and coffee hour to seeing all the cousins jump in the lake (and grandpa too), we truly enjoyed a few days of Missouri with everyone together. The memories are still discussed on a daily basis–Heinrich will no doubt expect a game of catch the next time we have dinner rolls! Thanks for your love to our family. ~ ~ ~ Mattias, Catherine, Heinrich and Hans Goldenstein ~ ~ ~ 
 
IMPORTANT TO NOTE - Brittaney Sallee has founded SCK Mother Coalition, a new nonprofit supporting postpartum mothers and families across south central Kansas through meal support, in-home companionship, doula referrals, and diaper and formula assistance. If you’re able to donate, volunteer, or simply want to learn more, please visit sck-mother-support-coalition.netlify.app or talk to Brittaney. Thank you for supporting this important work for local families. 
 
A SINCERE THANK YOU to Terri Liggett and family, Marianne McGuire, Shelley Hullman, Marsha Giggy, Sharon Schwertfeger, Jan Jorns, parents and children, who together presented and learned Bible stories, science experiments, music, and snacks all to share the love of Jesus at Vacation Bible School last Sunday afternoon. 
 
A HEARTY THANK to the Men’s Club and congregation for the food provided at the church picnic in Iuka last Sunday. Taking time to gather as church family was enjoyable, and watching the children have fun with water and the playground and bubbles was a blessing. Thank to Marsha and Dennis Giggy and all who helped. Thanks be to God for a beautiful evening! 
 
MYRON FALK will celebrate his 100th birthday on Saturday, September 5th. If you would like to send a card to join in his celebration the address is: 33 NE 75th Ave., Stafford, KS 67583. 
 
THE LUTHERAN HOUR - “Tell Me a Story!” (Mark 4:1-20, 26-34). Archives August - God lavishly sows the seed of His Word. Responses vary. Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Dale Meyer. 
 
THE ALTAR GUILD serving in the month of September are: Carol Gordon, Coleen Sallee, and Samantha Houtwed. 
 
ITEMS REQUESTED for the Pratt County Food Bank for the month of September are medium egg noodles and Ramen noodles, either beef or chicken. These and other non-perishable food items may be donated in the box in the south entrance of the church. Thank you. 
 
PLAN NOW. . . to attend Higher Things next summer. Only 295 days until the next conference season! The theme, Torah, will be at the following locations: June 22-25, Mequon, WI June 29-July 2, Fort Collins, CO July 2023, Carbondale, IL Matthew 5:17 - “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” Torah means more than just the first five books of the Bible. It means more than just the Law. Torah literally means the teachings of God. It you want to know what the law really looks like, look to Jesus. The law paints a picture of Jesus, who fulfills it for you, even when you could not. The gospel paints a picture of you. Only here does the law look like a lamp to our feet and a light ot our path. Consider attending this youth conference in 2027 to learn more about Torah.

HEAD USHER: Gary McGuire 

ELDERS: Derek Liggett, Shan Hullman, 
Lee Van Slyke 

ALTAR COMMITTEE: Terri Liggett, Heather Van Slyke, Kathie Thurman

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