21ST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
21ST SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
10-18-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice In God’s Presence +
THE OPENING RITE (based on PSALM 96):
L Sing to the Lord a new song!
Sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Sing to the Lord and bless God’s holy name!
Let’s all get happy and loud!
Let’s tell of God’s saving power from day to day!
C We’re gonna tell all the nations that God is holy and full of glory!]
We’re gonna tell all the people that God is amazing and full of power!
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice!
Let the sea roar with laughter,
the fields shout in celebration,
and the forests sing with joy!
L For God is greater than anything and everything else!
There is no other “god” to look and long for!
There is no better “god” to follow and trust!
God is here! God is now! And God is magnificent!
C It’s time to break out with joy!
It’s time to sing even if I don’t usually sing!
Give God the honor! Give God the praise!
God is here! God is now! And God is magnificent!
OPENING SONG: “PRAISE TO THE LORD, THE ALMIGHTY” Tan #117
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
What a debt we owe you, dear God!
You have given us all things in Christ Jesus –
And yet we withhold from you the glory and honor that are yours.
This morning we are grateful for the gift of your amazing grace and the power of your Holy Spirit.
And we offer you our sincere love, our trusting faith, our humble obedience, and our entire lives! Amen.
+ We Rejoice in God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 45:1-7
[God chooses and anoints Cyrus the Persian emperor as an amazing “messiah” to end Israel’s evil. There is no other god! God has
power over creation, power over nations and earthly leaders, even the power to create both good and evil.]
SECOND READING: 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10
[Paul commends and reassures these new Christians who face rejection and perhaps persecution in an antagonistic and pagan
World. Their commitment of faith, hope, and love makes them a model for other new Christian communities.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “There is strength in the name of the Lord…
There is power in the name of the Lord…
There is hope in the name of the Lord…
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”
HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 22:15-22
[Responding to one of many questions intended to trap him, Jesus says simply, “Render to Caesar… render to God.”]
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Gwen or Pastor Neil
SONG RESPONSE: “WHAT SHALL I RENDER?” Brown #239
- What shall I render unto God for all his mercies?
What shall I render, tell me, what shall I give?
GOD HAS EV’RYTHING; EV’RYTHING BELONGS TO HIM.
GOD HAS EV’RYTHING; EV’RYTHING BELONGS TO HIM.
WHAT SHALL I RENDER, TELL ME, WHAT SHALL I GIVE?
- All I can render is my body and my soul;
That’s all I can render, that’s all I can give.
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Rejoice in God’s Nourishing Meal +
THE PEACE GREETING… We offer words and signs of GOD’S LOVE alive and real among us!
OFFERING… As Jesus teaches, let us GIVE TO GOD the things that belong to God.
Without Christ we have nothing. With Christ we have everything. Let us offer all that we have to the Lord.
In the Sanctuary, place your offering in the offering plate or scan the QR code on the screen.
At home, mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138 or scan the QR code on the screen. You can also contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select. Or you can text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions for your contribution. Thank God, praise God, and serve God with your faithful giving.
SONG SELECTION ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “More about Jesus would I know, more of his grace to others show,
More of his saving fullness see, more of his love who died for me.
MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS… MORE, MORE ABOUT JESUS…
MORE OF HIS SAVING FULLNESS SEE, MORE OF HIS LOVE WHO DIED FOR ME.
More about Jesus let me learn, more of his holy will discern;
Spirit of God, my Teacher be, showing the things of Christ to me.”
OFFERING PRAYER (see PHILIPPIANS 3:10-11) led by the Communion Assistant:
Dear God, I want to know Christ inside and out. I want to experience the power of his resurrection and join him
in his suffering. I want to be like him in his death and be raised like him from death. As I grow in the grace of
Christ, make me strong in my faith, bold in my witness, and fervent in my servant-love. There is no better life
than life in Christ! Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L We are the Body of Christ! C His Spirit is in us! Alleluia!
L [continues the Preface]… we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
C [singing…] “Holy, holy, holy, holy,
holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
and we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love,
holy, holy, holy, holy.
Precious Jesus, precious Jesus,
We’re so glad that you redeemed us, precious Jesus…
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
come and fill our hearts anew, O Holy Spirit…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! You may come up by the center aisle and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come forward if you want wine from the chalice. We will also have a tray of pre-poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles.
If you cannot physically come to the altar but want to receive Holy Communion, please tell one of our ushers.
COMMUNION SONGS: “YOUR GRACE AND MERCY” Tan #270
“HOW GREAT THOU ART” Tan #148
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor…We are sent forth to be and become the BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING” Tan #540