St. Paul Lutheran Church

St. Paul Lutheran Church Church Services
Sundays at 10:15 am

09/06/2026

September 1524: Poor Katie. Almost one and a half years after she escaped from the convent she was still unmarried. Her first suitor, Jerome Baumgartner, had left Wittenberg promising to return and take her to Nürnberg with him but he never came back. Katie was in real danger of becoming an old maid.

Now, apparently, Martin Luther has a solution - she could marry Dr. Kaspar Glatz. It is not clear whether Glatz was actively courting Katie or if this was merely Luther’s suggestion. Either way, Katie was not thrilled at the prospect. She quickly approached Luther’s friend Nikolaus von Amsdorf and begged him to intercede with Luther on her behalf. She explained that she simply could not marry Glatz and would rather marry him or Luther.

Glatz later married and had children of his own. There are mixed ideas as to why Katie was not interested in him. Some say it was his age. Others that she considered him too much of a tightwad. Others say that she already had her eye on Luther and her remarks were made to Amsdorf knowing that he would never consider her as his wife. History does not record her own thoughts. As for Amsdorf, he died a bachelor.

No picture of Kaspar Glatz seems to have survived to our day, but this picture of Nikolaus von Amsdorf is in the public domain.

-Rebecca DeGarmeaux for Katie Luther

09/06/2026

What was it like to be the child of Martin and Katie Luther? Aside from a few remarks made by Martin in sermons and in his Table Talk, we know very little. One episode exemplifies not only of the parents’ love for their children but also of the children for each other.

At the age of sixteen, the Luthers’ oldest son, Hans, was sent to Torgau to study at the Latin School run by Wittenberg University graduate Marcus Crodel. However, less than two weeks after Hans arrives in Torgau, his father urgently writes to Crodel. Hans’ sister, Magdelena is gravely ill and wants to see her brother. We’ll let Martin’s letter tell the rest of the story:

“Grace and peace!

“My Marcus Crodel! I ask you to be quiet to my son about what I am writing to you: my daughter Magdalen is ill and almost in her last hour; in a short while she might depart to the true Father in heaven, unless God has decreed otherwise. She herself longs so much to see her brother that I feel compelled to send a carriage [for him]. They loved each other so much; perhaps his arrival could bring her some relief. I am doing what I can so that later the knowledge of having left something undone does not torture me. Therefore without giving Hans any reason, order him to fly back in this carriage, he will return soon, when Magdalen either has fallen asleep in the Lord, or has recuperated. Farewell in the Lord! Tell Hans that something is the matter which is to be entrusted to him in secret. Otherwise everything is fine.
September 6, 1542

“Yours,

“Martin Luther.”

(Translation from the American Edition of Luther’s Works, Vol. 50, p. 235)

The portrait by Lucas Cranach the Elder was long thought to be of Magdelena but has been found to be from an earlier date. It is still used to portray Magdelena because it seems to look similar to her.

-Rebecca DeGarmeaux for Katie Luther

09/06/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 18A)
Sept. 6, 2026

OLD TESTAMENT
Ezekiel 33:7–9

“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”

EPISTLE
Romans 13:1–10

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For the same reason you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.

Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

GOSPEL
Matthew 18:1–20

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

“Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.

“Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes! And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life crippled or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.

“See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man came to save the lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

08/30/2026

We invite you to memorize 2 John 6 with us this week.

Memorizing Scripture is a valuable practice for Christians, even in a digital age. Join us each week as we hide God's Word in our hearts.

Learn more at lcms.org/memoryverse.

08/30/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
The Martyrdom of St. John the Baptist
Aug. 29, 2026

GOSPEL
Mark 6:14–29

King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

COLLECT OF THE DAY

Almighty God, You gave Your servant John the Baptist to be the forerunner of Your Son, Jesus Christ, in both his preaching of repentance and his innocent death. Grant that we, who have died and risen with Christ in Holy Baptism, may daily repent of our sins, patiently suffer for the sake of the truth, and fearlessly bear witness to His victory over death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

08/30/2026

Katie Luther must have felt great sorrow and distress when she heard what her nephew Florian von Bora was up to. She had taken responsibility for the boy and now he had stolen a knife from his cousin Paul as he left for Torgau where he was to study with the Luthers’ family friend Marcus Crodel. Florian was an orphan and was known to act up - but never before in the way he had now. Martin wrote a quick note to his friend:

“To the excellent man, Marcus Crodel, a devout and faithful teacher of the young people at Torgau, my dearest friend in the Lord

“Grace and peace! Dear Marcus! I shall be the first to file a complaint against that scoundrel Florian whom I have sent to you along with John. I ask you to have a severe thrashing administered to him daily, on three consecutive days, without any pity as a welcome present. He thinks he has escaped the whip, but the whip shall be his reception committee.

“He should receive the first thrashing because on the way [to Torgau] he brazenly took away the knife or dagger from my [son] Paul; the second, because he lied and said that I presented the knife to him (because of the lie this thrashing should draw blood); the third, because without my knowledge and consent he has thus taken away and stolen the knife from me. This thrashing should be the best one. Or send the scoundrel back here. John should take the knife and look after it. If that rascal were still here I would teach him [what it means] to lie and steal. He did not do it previously.

“With this I commend you to God. Amen.

“August 28, 1542

“MARTIN LUTHER”
(translation from the American Edition of Luther’s Works, Vol. 50, pp. 233 & 234)

The painting of Torgau is a section of a work by Lucas Cranach the Elder from 1544

-Rebecca DeGarmeaux for Katie Luther

08/30/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 17A)
Aug. 30, 2026

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

That we would place all vengeance in the hands of God, who is ever righteous and faithful, and who will always carry out justice and deliver His people out of the hand of the wicked, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all pastors and missionaries, that they might say with Jeremiah, “Hear the Word of the Lord,” and faithfully proclaim that Word to us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the households of this congregation, that all may live in love that issues from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who make, execute and judge our laws, that their eyes may be turned toward the Lord; and that they would receive wisdom and strength to faithfully carry out their duties, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the sick and suffering, that they might have relief from pain and the courage to endure whatever crosses and tribulations the Lord chooses to lay upon them, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who receive the Supper today, that they may faithfully receive it for the forgiveness of sins and be sustained until Christ returns in glory, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those persecuted for the name of Christ, that in communion with all the saints we may bear our crosses faithfully, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

All these things and whatever else You know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God forever. Amen.

08/24/2026

Every Wednesday at lunchtime, join your brothers and sisters in Christ by pausing to pray the Litany. The Litany is an ancient order of prayer that Christians have used for hundreds of years. It is a prayer that is relevant every day of our lives, in times of hope, fear, joy and grief.

Pray the Litany:

Lutheran Service Book, pp. 288–289

Online: https://thelc.ms/4amTz3b

08/24/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 16A)
Aug. 23, 2026

In peace, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the riches and wisdom of the Lord; for knowledge of the Lord through His Word; and for trust in His grace and favor, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the Church, that all servants of the Church may fulfill the ministries committed to them; and that we may each boldly confess Christ before the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all families, that even as God blessed and multiplied Abraham, all mothers with child might be protected and all fathers equipped to lead and raise their households in the fear and love of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For our president, Congress, governor and all civil leaders in their pursuit of peace and unity; and for all judges and magistrates in their pursuit of justice with mercy, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the suffering, that the Lord, our life, would sustain and strengthen them; and for those who mourn, that the Lord would console them with the promise of everlasting life in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For repentance and faith as we approach the Lord’s table, that we may not think more highly of ourselves than is right, but set our hearts and minds on the things of God, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all believers, that we may offer the Lord our very selves as living sacrifices, redeemed in Christ and declared righteous and holy, so that we may glorify God in all we think, say and do, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Be merciful to us, O Lord, and hear our prayers. Grant to us the grace of Your Holy Spirit, that we may be led into all truth and be steadfast in the confession of Christ; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Address

716 N Clay
Memphis, MO
63555

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Tuesday 9:30am - 3pm
Wednesday 9:30am - 3pm
Thursday 9:30am - 3pm

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