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
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost 
September 27, 2026 
For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone. Psalm 91:11–12 
 
A PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, on You I cast my burden— Sink it in the deepest sea! Let me know Your gracious pardon, Cleanse me from iniquity. Let Your Spirit leave me never; Make me only Yours forever. (LSB #608, st. 4) 
 
IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK: “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!” (Psalm 25:7) 
• Thanksgiving to our heavenly Father for gifts which sustain us for temporal and eternal life. 
• For the peace of Jesus Christ crucified and risen to be with families and friends of loved ones whose deaths they mourn; that we would daily be reminded of our own mortality and thus look to Jesus and His grace for the promise of life and salvation.
• For the healing hand of the Lord to bring help for Brian Houtwed as he begins medical treatment this week, and for strength for his family and wisdom for medical workers as they care for him; for good recovery after surgery for Ruth Wiltshire last week; for healing after hospitalization last week for Donna Briggeman; for Lisa Petrowsky (medical testing); for Leo Hergenrader; and for all for whom we pray. 
 
THE MORNING PRAYER from Luther’s Small Catechism: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. 
 
ORDER OF WORSHIP TODAY: LSB, pg. 184 
HYMNS DURING WORSHIP: 496, 655, 698 
CHOIR ANTHEM: “If My People” 
 
Introit Psalm 147:1–5; antiphon: v. 6 The LORD lifts up the | humble;* he casts the wicked | to the ground. Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises | to our God;* for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is | fitting. The LORD builds up Je- | rusalem;* he gathers the outcasts of | Israel. He heals the broken- | hearted* and binds | up their wounds. He determines the number | of the stars;* he gives to all of | them their names. Great is our Lord, and abun- | dant in power;* his understanding is beyond | measure. 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. The LORD lifts up the | humble;* he casts the wicked | to the ground. 
 
Collect of the Day Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; 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 Ezekiel 18:1–4, 25–32 1The 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’? 3As I live, declares the Lord GOD, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Behold, 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? 26When 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. 27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29Yet 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. 31Cast 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? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.” 
 
Gradual Psalm 91:11; 103:1 He will command his angels con- | cerning you* to guard you in | all your ways. Bless the LORD, | O my soul,* and all that is within me, bless his | holy name! 
 
Epistle Philippians 2:1–4, 14–18 1If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. . . . 14Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15that 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, 16holding 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. 17Even 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. 18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. 
 
Holy Gospel Matthew 21:23–27 23When [Jesus] 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?” 24Jesus 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. 25The 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?’ 26But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” 
 
THE HOLY CHURCH CELEBRATES THE FEAST OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS. SEPTEMBER 29TH 
The name of the archangel St. Michael means “Who is like God?” The Book of Daniel in the Bible portrays Michael as the angelic helper of Israel who leads the battle against the forces of evil. In Revelation, Michael and his angels fight against and defeat Satan and the evil angels, driving them from heaven. Their victory is made possible by Christ’s own victory over Satan in His death and resurrection. Tradition names Michael as the patron and protector of the Church, especially as the protector of Christians at the hour of death. 
Ye watchers and ye holy ones, Bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones, Raise the glad strain: "Alleluia!" Cry out, dominions, princedoms, pow'rs, Virtues, archangels, angels' choirs: "Alleluia, alleluia! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!" 
LSB 670 
Everlasting God, You have ordained and constituted the service of angels and men in a wonderful order. Mercifully grant that, as Your holy angels always serve and worship You in heaven, so by Your appointment they may also help and defend us here on earth; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
NEWS AND EVENTS AT ST. PAUL 
September 20, 2026 
 
THE HUTCHINSON ZONE LWML FALL MEETING will be held Saturday, October 17th at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Haven (8513 E. Arlington Rd.). Registration begins at 9:00 am, with the day’s activities starting at 9:30. Gifts from the Heart will be received for the Haven Food Bank. For information about suggested items, or more information about the meeting, see the flyer posted at the church’s south entrance. RSVP is requested by October 11th to 316-215-2853 or jmschmidt74@gmail.com. 
 
A MIDWEEK SUPPER/ADVENT SUPPER SIGN-UP SHEET is located on the table at the south entrance of the church. If there are families or groups at St. Paul who would like to provide suppers for dates indicated there, please sign up. Suppers will be held on most first Wednesdays of each month, as well as after our evening Advent services in December. 
 
MEN’S RETREAT – Registration is open for the 2026 Lutheran Men’s Retreat on October 16th and 17th at Rock Springs Ranch near Junction City, Kansas. This retreat is being organized by Trinity Lutheran Church of Wichita. This year’s speaker will be Rev. Dr. Jordan Cooper of Just And Sinner and AALC. Rev. Dr. Cooper will be giving a 3-part introduction to the fields of Dogmatics, Apologetics, and Polemics. Plan to join Lutheran men of Kansas, young and old, for two days of theological education, discussion, and fellowship. To register: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/mens-retreat--2026-7. 
 
ADULT CHOIR REHEARSALS have begun. Rehearsals are at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings. Everyone is welcome to come join in praising God. 
 
A BENEFIT SOUP DINNER sponsored by BTI for Brian Houtwed and his family will be held Friday, October 2nd beginning at 6:00 pm. This will be held at the Cunningham High School footfall field. For more information see the fliers posted at our church’s entrances. 
 
THE LUTHERAN HOUR - “High Bar to Clay Jar” (Matthew 20:16). In Jesus, we don’t need to compare ourselves to anyone else. Instead, we are free to better appreciate them. Lutheran Hour Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler. 
 
BREAKFAST AT ST. PAUL will take place next Sunday during our Christian Education hour, beginning at 9:00 am. All are welcome. 
 
KFUO Radio, the broadcast voice of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod, shares Christ for you anytime, anywhere on KFUO.org via worship services, Bible and theology studies, practical talk programs, and sacred music. Find programs on demand at kfuo.org and wherever you get your podcasts! Find us on social: @KFUOradio on Facebook, X, and Instagram. 
 
STEWARDSHIP SENTENCES based on Matthew 20:9 – “And when those hired about the eleventh hour came, each of them received a denarius.” Behold the generosity of God! He gives out of His grace, not what we deserve to receive. Living a godly life means living in imitation of God — and surely one of the foundations of God’s being is His generosity. (lcms.org/stewardship) 
 
HEAD USHER: Gary McGuire 
ELDERS: Derek Liggett, Shan Hullman, 
Lee Van Slyke 
 
ALTAR COMMITTEE: Carol Gordan, Coleen Sallee, Samantha Houtwed

Pages