St. Paul Lutheran Church

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

06/07/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 5A)
June 7, 2026

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

For repentance, that the Lord who both strikes down and heals would revive us and raise us up to live before Him, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the ongoing call of pastors, that as Matthew left his tax booth for the apostolic ministry, so men in our day would enter into this ministry to proclaim God’s Word and administer His Sacraments in righteousness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For parents, that our Father in heaven would strengthen them to train their children diligently, defend them from discouragement and apathy, and convince them that He is able to do what He has promised, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For peace among the nations, that our Lord, who calls everything into existence and governs it for good, would guide those in authority to reflect His order and purpose in their work, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those suffering from illness, that according to the compassion of our great Physician they might be restored to health and strength; and that they might remain firm in faith and trust in the midst of these difficulties, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who receive the Lord’s Supper this day, that they would hold firmly to the promises of their righteous Savior who was handed over for our trespasses and raised again for our justification; and that the presence of His crucified and risen body would forgive, nourish and strengthen their faith, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For a cheerful and willing spirit, that God would preserve us from a grudging heart and lead us joyfully to pursue good because of the good done for us in Christ, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For His kindness to Abraham, Sarah and all the saints who have received Christ’s eternal promises, let us give thanks to the Lord; and that He would preserve us in faith and righteousness to glorify Him now and forever, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

To Him we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

06/07/2026

June 7, 1526: Katie gave birth to the Luthers' first child Johannes, more commonly known as Hans. He was named after Martin’s father and also great family friend Pastor Johannes Bugenhagen. It was Bugenhagen who lifted the child from the baptismal font as he was baptized by Deacon George Rörer at 4:00 in the afternoon of the day he was born. Young Hans’ other baptismal sponsors, besides Bugenhagen, were Professor Justus Jonas, artist Lucas Cranach, and the wife of Wittenberg Mayor Hohndorf. Sponsors by proxy were Strassburg Professor Nikolaus Gerbel, the Electoral Vice-Chancellor Christian Baier, and Mansfeld Chancellor Müller.

Here’s what Ernst Kroker says about him in his biography of Katie:

This little Luther was a miracle child [Wunderkind]. What firstborn child isn’t? He shows up in letters to his father’s friends, giving and receiving greetings and gifts, before he was even a week old. Although he didn’t tolerate milk well at first and Katie could give him only a little nourishment, in one year he thrived and developed into cute and strong little Hans, so that his father could proudly write about the homo vorax ac bibax, the little man who heartily gobbles and gulps. In good time, at six months, his first little tooth had come, and his mumbling became more intelligible so that it soon sounded like scolding, but sounded delightful indeed. (Kroker: “The Mother of the Reformation” p. 123)

The young boy in red in Lucas Cranach’s famous altar painting in St. Mary’s church in Wittenberg is thought to be Hans Luther.

-Rebecca DeGarmeaux for Katie Luther

06/07/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 5A)
June 7, 2026

OLD TESTAMENT
Hosea 5:15–6:6

I will return again to my place,
until they acknowledge their guilt and seek my face,
and in their distress earnestly seek me.

“Come, let us return to the Lord;
for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.
After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will raise us up,
that we may live before him.
Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
his going out is sure as the dawn;
he will come to us as the showers,
as the spring rains that water the earth.”
What shall I do with you, O Ephraim?
What shall I do with you, O Judah?
Your love is like a morning cloud,
like the dew that goes early away.
Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets;
I have slain them by the words of my mouth,
and my judgment goes forth as the light.
For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice,
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

EPISTLE
Romans 4:13–25

The promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. For if it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression.

That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring—not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all, as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. In hope he believed against hope, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.” He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

GOSPEL
Matthew 9:9–13

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

06/06/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
Second Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 5A)
June 7, 2026

"Let Me Be Thine Forever" (LSB 689)

1. Let me be Thine forever,
My faithful God and Lord;
Let me forsake Thee never
Nor wander from Thy Word.
Lord, do not let me waver,
But give me steadfastness,
And for such grace forever
Thy holy name I’ll bless.

2. Lord Jesus, my salvation,
My light, my life divine,
My only consolation,
O make me wholly Thine!
For Thou hast dearly bought me
With blood and bitter pain.
Let me, since Thou hast sought me,
Eternal life obtain.

3. And Thou, O Holy Spirit,
My comforter and guide,
Grant that in Jesus’ merit
I always may confide,
Him to the end confessing
Whom I have known by faith.
Give me Thy constant blessing
And grant a Christian death.

05/31/2026

+SERVICE OF THE WORD+
The Holy Trinity
May 31, 2026

SECOND READING
Acts 2:14a, 22–36

Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, ...

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,
for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;
therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;
my flesh also will dwell in hope.
For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,
or let your Holy One see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,
Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.’

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

GOSPEL
Matthew 28:16–20

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

05/31/2026

Listen to The Lutheran Hour this Sunday as Rev. Dr. Michael Zeigler delivers the sermon "A Friendly Recommendation" at lhm.org/lutheranhour, on our Connected by LHM app, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

05/31/2026

HYMN OF THE DAY
The Holy Trinity
May 31, 2026

"Come, Holy Ghost, Creator Blest" (LSB 498)

1. Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And make our hearts Your place of rest;
Come with Your grace and heav’nly aid,
And fill the hearts which You have made.

2. To You, the Counselor, we cry,
To You, the gift of God Most High;
The fount of life, the fire of love,
The soul’s anointing from above.

3. In You, with graces sevenfold,
We God’s almighty hand behold
While You with tongues of fire proclaim
To all the world His holy name.

4. Your light to ev’ry thought impart,
And shed Your love in ev’ry heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

5. Drive far away our wily foe,
And Your abiding peace bestow;
With You as our protecting guide,
No evil can with us abide.

6. Teach us to know the Father, Son,
And You, from both, as Three in One
That we Your name may ever bless
And in our lives the truth confess.

7. Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One,
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow!

05/31/2026

May 29, 1549: Life for Katie Luther has not been easy since the death of her husband three years earlier. The Smalkaldic War had taken its toll on Wittenberg and the surrounding area. Much of Katie’s farm land was destroyed by the fighters and she even had to rebuild some of the farm buildings. But her main concern was always the welfare of her children. Duke Albrecht of Prussia, a strong supporter of Luther as well as a personal friend, had taken Hans Luther to Königsberg with him so that Hans could continue his studies there. Unfortunately, Hans seems to have been less than a diligent student and word of this made its way back to his mother.

One of the few of Katie’s letters that have survived is her letter to Duke Albrecht on Hans’ behalf:

“May the grace and peace of God, together with my poor prayers, be with your Princely Grace. Most illustrious and highborn Prince and Lord!

“Since Your Princely Grace always showed such benevolence to my dear master, Dr. Martin, of blessed memory, I have never doubted that your Princely Grace would also be especially beneficent to me, just as our dear God taught Your Princely Grace to cherish, protect and hold - also for the sake of my dear blessed master, a true prophet of these recent and turbulent times - taking me and my dear children as bereaved widow and orphans under your gracious protection and sway.

“There is no need to remind Your Princely Grace of the severe plight of my household after the recent wars, and how wretchedly I have hitherto had to nourish and myself and my children from my poor devastated and wasted estates. On the advice of Mr. Philippus [Melanchthon] and following the report of Dr. Sabini as to how well disposed Your Princely Grace is to my children, I dispatched my eldest son Hans to Your Princely Grace, and after Your Princely Grace had most graciously offered to maintain him for some time at his studies, I should most humbly like to thank Your Princely Grace for this same gracious support and care for my poor bereaved children.

“Since, however, this is my son’s first period away from home and since I sent him away primarily so that he could, alongside his studies, learn how to deal with others, so it is my humble plea to Your Princely Grace that you might take this my son, for the sake of my dear deceased husband, into your grace and protection, and since he has not shown himself fully worthy, I beg you graciously to put this down to his ignorance and his being away from home for the first time and to be patient with him. I do not doubt that he will show submissive obedience to Your Princely Grace and due obedience to his mentors, that he will pursue his studies and other duties diligently and show himself honorable and grateful in all submissiveness.

“May our dear Lord richly reward in turn Your Princely Grace’s gracious support. I shall always studiously supplicate God on behalf of Your Princely Grace for a long-lasting reign and well-being. Dated Wittenberg, 29 May in the year 49.

“Your Princely Grace’s
humble and submissive
Katharina, bereaved widow
of the blessed Dr. Martin
Luther”

Shown is a statue of Duke Albrecht as the founder of the University of Königsberg

-Rebecca DeGarmeaux for Katie Luther

05/31/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
The Holy Trinity
May 31, 2026

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

For the Church of God, called out of darkness into His marvelous light and purchased with the precious blood of Christ, that she would be kept in the true faith, without error, schism or compromise, until He welcomes her home as His spotless bride, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For the floor committees who prepare the work of our Synod’s convention, that they would walk in a manner worthy of Christ and be guided by God’s Word throughout their labors, so that the Lord’s good and gracious will may be done among us, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For creation and the good gift of man and woman with whom God has crowned it, let us give thanks to the Lord; and for His continued blessing of marriage with its callings and promises, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For nations, governments, leaders and civil servants, that peace and justice may abide here in our land and throughout the world, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those afflicted in body or mind, soul or spirit, that the Lord would give them grace to entrust themselves to their Savior’s loving hands and to await relief according to His good and gracious will, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who receive the blessed Sacrament, that they may show forth the fruits of the Spirit in lives of faith, repentance and goodness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For wisdom, that as faithful stewards we may govern His creation well and use the earth’s resources in a God-pleasing manner, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Lord God, heavenly Father, You have called Your Church from every tribe and nation. Grant that Your people throughout the world would rejoice in the death and resurrection of Christ and live as those who have died and risen with Him in Holy Baptism; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

05/24/2026

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
The Day of Pentecost
May 24, 2026

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

For all the baptized, that the baptismal water of life may bring forth its full fruit in all we say, think and do, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For faithful pastors and church workers devoted to the service of God, who delivered His Word through Moses and the prophets and fulfilled it in Christ, who died for our sins and was raised for our justification, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all parents, that God would continue to pour out His Spirit upon them to catechize their children faithfully in His Word, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For a long memory to recall those who gave the full measure of devotion to our country’s peace and security and served faithfully until death in the protection of our freedom and in the defense of our land, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For all who face sickness, surgery and pain, that they may not be afraid, and that they might be healed according to the abundance of God’s steadfast love, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

For those who commune at the Lord’s altar this day, that they may receive our Lord Jesus’ gifts in sincere repentance, and through firm faith be raised up from death to life through His forgiveness, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

In thanksgiving for the resurrection of the dead and the eternal life in Christ Jesus; and in remembrance of those who have gone before us and are at rest, let us pray to the Lord: Lord, have mercy.

Almighty Father, with Your Son, Jesus Christ, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts through Your Word to rule and govern us according to Your will. Comfort us in every temptation and misfortune and defend us against every error, that we may continue steadfast in the faith, increase in love and good works, and — trusting firmly in Your grace — obtain eternal salvation; through the same 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

Opening Hours

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

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