St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Preston Kansas
BULLETIN
St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran ChurchâLCMSÂ
40291 NE 40th Ave., Preston, Kansas 67583
Â
Website: www.stpaulpreston.org       Â
Telephone: (620) 672-5354
Â
Email: splcms@sctelcom.net (Office)Â Â Â Â Â
mslcms@sctelcom.net (Pastor)
Â
Rev. Michael Schotte, Pastor
Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost âŞÂ
August 9, 2026
40291 NE 40th Avenue ⪠Preston Kansas 67583
(620) 672-5354 ⪠stpaulpreston.org
A Congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Rev. Michael Schotte, Pastor
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and
gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and
establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16â17
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Gracious God, our Father, You hear and answer our prayers in Your time and according to
Your will. In the many changes and challenges that tempt and try is in this world, be
patient and merciful with us. Let our anxieties and worries, our complaints and the
turmoil in our hearts be gathered by Your Holy Spirit to bring to You prayers that are
pleasing and acceptable from Your children who call upon You, our dear Father. Receive
our thoughts, words, and deeds of thanksgiving that for Jesusâ sake we are reconciled to
You as Your Son has redeemed us from sin, death, and the devil. Defend and protect us
from all that would threaten our faith in Christ Jesus, and give us the hope and promise
of eternal life through His resurrection from the dead. Amen
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
âI love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my
rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my strongholdâ (Psalm 18:1-2).
⢠Thanks be to the heavenly Father for every gift of daily bread.
⢠For healing and strength for Donna Briggeman as she anticipates medical care in
days ahead; for recovery from illness for Aubrey Weber as she remains hospitalized
in Wichita; for help and healing for Brian Houtwed as he receives medical
treatment; thanksgiving for improved health for Linda Frey (Sharon
Schwertfegerâs sister) as she has returned home from hospitalization.
⢠For the peace of the Lord Jesus upon the family of Leatha Veatch Beavers at the
time of her death last week.
⢠Thanksgiving for Godâs gifts that come through education; for protection and safety
upon students and teachers who return to school in days ahead; for skills and
wisdom to be instilled in students as they are prepared for responsible citizenship
and for the work the Lord gives them now and in the future.
ORDER OF WORSHIP TODAY: LSB, page 184 ff.
HYMNS FOR WORSHIP: 722, 717, 715
FRONT PAGE PHOTO: Christ walks on water. Erik "Eero" Nikolai Järnefelt (1863 â 1937) was a Finnish
painter and art professor.
Introit Psalm 34:4â8; antiphon: v. 1
I will bless the LORD at | all times;*
his praise shall continually be | in my mouth.
I sought the LORD, and he | answered me*
and delivered me from | all my fears.
Those who look to him are | radiant,*
and their faces shall never | be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD | heard him*
and saved him out of all his | troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who | fear him,*
and de- | livers them.
Oh, taste and see that the | LORD is good!*
Blessèd is the man who takes ref- | uge in him!
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.
I will bless the LORD at | all times;*
his praise shall continually be | in my mouth.
Collect of the Day
Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being
ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done; 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 Job 38:4â18
4[The Lord said to Job:] âWhere were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurementsâsurely you
know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone, 7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of
God shouted for joy? 8âOr who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the
womb, 9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11and said, âThus far shall you
come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayedâ? 12âHave you
commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,
13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.
15From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. 16âHave
you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17Have
the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.â
Gradual Psalm 34:9, 19, alt.
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 Romans 10:5â17
5Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does
the commandments shall live by them. 6But the righteousness based on faith says, âDo not
say in your heart, âWho will ascend into heaven?ââ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or ââWho
will descend into the abyss?ââ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it
say? âThe word is near you, in your mouth and in your heartâ (that is, the word of faith that
we proclaim); 9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one
believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture
says, âEveryone who believes in him will not be put to shame.â 12For there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call
on him. 13For âeveryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.â
14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to
believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone
preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, âHow
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!â 16But they have not all obeyed
the gospel. For Isaiah says, âLord, who has believed what he has heard from us?â 17So faith
comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Holy Gospel Matthew 14:22â33
22Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other
side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up
on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat
by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against
them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But
when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, âIt is a ghost!â
and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, âTake heart; it
is I. Do not be afraid.â
28And Peter answered him, âLord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.â
29He said, âCome.â So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, âLord, save
me.â 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, âO you
of little faith, why did you doubt?â 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And
those in the boat worshiped him, saying, âTruly you are the Son of God.â
40291 NE 40th Avenue ⪠Preston Kansas 67583
(620) 672-5354 ⪠stpaulpreston.org
A Congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Rev. Michael Schotte, Pastor
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and
gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and
establish them in every good work and word.
2 Thessalonians 2:16â17
A PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Gracious God, our Father, You hear and answer our prayers in Your time and according to
Your will. In the many changes and challenges that tempt and try is in this world, be
patient and merciful with us. Let our anxieties and worries, our complaints and the
turmoil in our hearts be gathered by Your Holy Spirit to bring to You prayers that are
pleasing and acceptable from Your children who call upon You, our dear Father. Receive
our thoughts, words, and deeds of thanksgiving that for Jesusâ sake we are reconciled to
You as Your Son has redeemed us from sin, death, and the devil. Defend and protect us
from all that would threaten our faith in Christ Jesus, and give us the hope and promise
of eternal life through His resurrection from the dead. Amen
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK:
âI love You, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my
rock, in Whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation,
my strongholdâ (Psalm 18:1-2).
⢠Thanks be to the heavenly Father for every gift of daily bread.
⢠For healing and strength for Donna Briggeman as she anticipates medical care in
days ahead; for recovery from illness for Aubrey Weber as she remains hospitalized
in Wichita; for help and healing for Brian Houtwed as he receives medical
treatment; thanksgiving for improved health for Linda Frey (Sharon
Schwertfegerâs sister) as she has returned home from hospitalization.
⢠For the peace of the Lord Jesus upon the family of Leatha Veatch Beavers at the
time of her death last week.
⢠Thanksgiving for Godâs gifts that come through education; for protection and safety
upon students and teachers who return to school in days ahead; for skills and
wisdom to be instilled in students as they are prepared for responsible citizenship
and for the work the Lord gives them now and in the future.
ORDER OF WORSHIP TODAY: LSB, page 184 ff.
HYMNS FOR WORSHIP: 722, 717, 715
FRONT PAGE PHOTO: Christ walks on water. Erik "Eero" Nikolai Järnefelt (1863 â 1937) was a Finnish
painter and art professor.
Introit Psalm 34:4â8; antiphon: v. 1
I will bless the LORD at | all times;*
his praise shall continually be | in my mouth.
I sought the LORD, and he | answered me*
and delivered me from | all my fears.
Those who look to him are | radiant,*
and their faces shall never | be ashamed.
This poor man cried, and the LORD | heard him*
and saved him out of all his | troubles.
The angel of the LORD encamps around those who | fear him,*
and de- | livers them.
Oh, taste and see that the | LORD is good!*
Blessèd is the man who takes ref- | uge in him!
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.
I will bless the LORD at | all times;*
his praise shall continually be | in my mouth.
Collect of the Day
Almighty and most merciful God, preserve us from all harm and danger that we, being
ready in both body and soul, may cheerfully accomplish what You want done; 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 Job 38:4â18
4[The Lord said to Job:] âWhere were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurementsâsurely you
know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6On what were its bases sunk,
or who laid its cornerstone, 7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of
God shouted for joy? 8âOr who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the
womb, 9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,
10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11and said, âThus far shall you
come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayedâ? 12âHave you
commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place,
13that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, and the wicked be shaken out of it?
14It is changed like clay under the seal, and its features stand out like a garment.
15From the wicked their light is withheld, and their uplifted arm is broken. 16âHave
you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17Have
the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness?
18Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? Declare, if you know all this.â
Gradual Psalm 34:9, 19, alt.
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 Romans 10:5â17
5Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does
the commandments shall live by them. 6But the righteousness based on faith says, âDo not
say in your heart, âWho will ascend into heaven?ââ (that is, to bring Christ down) 7or ââWho
will descend into the abyss?ââ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8But what does it
say? âThe word is near you, in your mouth and in your heartâ (that is, the word of faith that
we proclaim); 9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in
your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For with the heart one
believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11For the Scripture
says, âEveryone who believes in him will not be put to shame.â 12For there is no distinction
between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call
on him. 13For âeveryone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.â
14But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to
believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone
preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, âHow
beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!â 16But they have not all obeyed
the gospel. For Isaiah says, âLord, who has believed what he has heard from us?â 17So faith
comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Holy Gospel Matthew 14:22â33
22Immediately [Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other
side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up
on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24but the boat
by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against
them. 25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26But
when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, âIt is a ghost!â
and they cried out in fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, âTake heart; it
is I. Do not be afraid.â
28And Peter answered him, âLord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.â
29He said, âCome.â So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, âLord, save
me.â 31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, âO you
of little faith, why did you doubt?â 32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And
those in the boat worshiped him, saying, âTruly you are the Son of God.â
NEWS AND EVENTS AT ST. PAULÂ
 August 9, 2026Â
Â
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED and encouraged to attend the Installation Service and Reception for Pastor Jacob Anderson at Holy Cross, Wichita (600 N. Greenwich) next Sunday, August 16th at 3:00 pm. Join us in welcoming Pastor and his wife Brianna, who are moving from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis Missouri. For more information and to RSVP, please call Holy Cross at 316-684-5201. Thank you and we hope to see you soon!Â
Â
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23rd will be the day for our St. Paul Church Picnic. This will be preceded by an afternoon of VBS Bible lessons and activities for children and families. These events will take place in Iuka at the park and community center. Look for more details in next weeksâ bulletins, and plan now to attend.Â
Â
KANSAS DISTRICT NEWSLETTER: There are a number of exciting activities taking place around the Kansas District! Be sure to check out this month's Workers Together for important information and upcoming events. To view or print the August edition, go to the website at https://kslcms.org. Click on the "Workers Together" large graphic located near the top of the homepage, or scroll down and look for the "Workers Together" small icon. Also visit the Communications page under the About Us tab on the website to view the newsletter and monthly devotions.Â
Â
CHURCH MAILBOXES . . . Make it a weekly habit to check your box in the hallway of the narthex. Quarterly devotional materialsâPortals of Prayer, My Devotions, Happy Timesâare made available there, as well as any information received by the church that is designated for you personally.Â
Â
PRATT COUNTY FOOD BANKâThe item requested for the month of August is Macaroni and Cheese boxes. You may donate these or other non-perishable food items in the box at the south entrance of the church.Â
Â
THE LUTHERAN HOUR - âExtreme Neighborlinessâ (Luke 10:25-37). Archives August Jesus is the ultimate âGood Samaritan,â the unlikely Rescuer who binds our wounds, carries us to safety, and pays the price through His cross. Lutheran Hour Speaker - Rev. Gregory Seltz.Â
Â
A NOTE FROM Circles of Hope in Pratt County . . . We believe that lasting change happens through community. We match our Circle Leaders with Alliesâmiddle-to-upper income community volunteers who offer friendship, encouragement, and practical support with financial budgeting and life goals. We provide full training and ongoing support so you feel confident every step of the way. We are recruiting Ally volunteers for our new Circles leaders. The Commitment: 2 Mondays a month for 18 months (about 10 hours total per month). Meeting Time: 5:30 PM 7:30 PM. Free dinner and free childcare are provided at every meeting. Complete volunteer training and ongoing team guidance is included. Learn more at circlesprattcounty.org, or email with questions to circlesofhopekc@gmail.com.Â
Â
STEWARDSHIP SENTENCES based on Matthew 14:30 â âBut when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, âLord, save me.ââ The world really is a scary place, with natural disasters, disease, terrorism and a hundred other things. But where do we place our hope, our trust, our vision? Where do we look for aid and comfort? When Peterâs eyes were on the Lord, he had confidence. When he turned to look at his problems and took his eyes off the Lord, he fell apart. Sometimes Godâs call to support the work of His church with our offerings makes us nervous. But put your eyes back on your Lord, trust Him, follow His Word and all really will be well. (lcms.org/stewardship.
Â
ALTAR GUILD: Terri Liggett, Kathie Thurman, Heather Van Slyke
Â
HEAD USHER: Gary McGuireÂ
ELDERS: Derek Liggett, Shan Hullman, Lee Van SlykeÂ