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19th Sunday after Pentecost

Kurt Christenson

Sunday, October 19, 2025

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19th Sunday after Pentecost

Baptism of Madeline Rae Graf

Prelude Children of the Heavenly Father Tryggare Kan Ingen Vara arr. Diane Bish

Children of the heav’nly Father Safely in His bosom gather; Nestling bird nor star in heaven Such a refuge e’er was given.

Welcome & Announcements

*Confession & Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God,

our maker, our helper, and our keeper.

Amen.

Trusting in God’s mercy, let us confess our sin

in the presence of God and of one another.

Merciful and loving God,

we are your stiff-necked people. We trample on the needy.

We grumble about your grace to others. We turn away from the poor. Have mercy on us and forgive our sins. Rejoice over us as ones who were lost and have been found. Amen.

Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful.

Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners.

You who were lost have been found.

In the name of Jesus, your sins are forgiven!

Amen.

*Gathering Hymn Rise Up, O Saints of God

*Prayer of the Day

O Lord God, tireless guardian of your people, you are always ready to hear our cries. Teach us to rely day and night on your care. Inspire us to seek your enduring justice for all this suffering world, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Genesis 32:22-31

22 The same night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket, and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” 27 So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life is preserved.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Psalm 121

1 I lift up my eyes | to the hills;

from where is my | help to come?

2 My help comes | from the Lord,

the maker of heav- | en and earth.

3 The Lord will not let your | foot be moved

nor will the one who watches over you | fall asleep.

4 Behold, the keep- | er of Israel

will neither slum- | ber nor sleep; R

5 the Lord watches | over you;

the Lord is your shade at | your right hand;

6 the sun will not strike | you by day,

nor the | moon by night.

7 The Lord will preserve you | from all evil

and will | keep your life.

8 The Lord will watch over your going out and your | coming in,

from this time forth for- | evermore. R

The Epistle Lesson: 2 Timothy 3:14-17, 4:1-5

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have known sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the person of God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.

4:1 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you: 2 proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. 5 As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

*Gospel Acclamation

congregation repeats alleluia after the cantor’s lead then repeats after the cantor’s verse

The word of God is liv- | ing and active,* able to judge the thoughts

and intentions | of the heart.(Heb. 4:12)

*Gospel: Luke 18:1-8 Glory to you O Lord

1 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ” 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson

*Hymn of the Day Take My Life, That I May Be

Order of Baptism for

Madeline Rae Graf

Presentation & Promises

Godparents - Allison Emery and Robert Adams

Parents - Joe and Marta Graf

Renunciation and Profession of Faith

We turn to the northern wall, blank for us, like the nothingness and empty promises that Satan offers. We raise our hands in defiance as we, together, renounce him.

I ask you, and all of you, to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church.

Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God?

I renounce them.

Do you renounce the powers of this world that rebel against God?

I renounce them.

Do you renounce the ways of sin that draw you from God?

I renounce them.

We return our gaze to the font, the source of life.

Do you believe in God the Father?

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church,

the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Thanksgiving at the Font

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father: We give you thanks, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and you created heaven and earth. By the gift of water you nourish and sustain us and all living things.

Blessed be God now and forever.

By the waters of the flood you condemned the wicked and saved those whom you had chosen, Noah and his family. You led Israel by the pillar of cloud and fire through the sea, out of slavery into the freedom of the promised land.

Blessed be God now and forever.

In the waters of the Jordan your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Spirit. By the baptism of his own death and resurrection your beloved Son has set us free from the bondage to sin and death, and has opened the way to the joy and freedom of everlasting life. He made water a sign of the kingdom and of cleansing and rebirth. In obedience to his command, we make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Blessed be God now and forever.

Pour out your Holy Spirit, so that she who is here baptized may be given new life. Wash away the sin of all those who have been cleansed by this water and bring us forth as inheritors of your glorious kingdom.

To you be given praise and honor and worship through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

The Sacrament of Baptism

Madeline Rae Graf, I baptize you in the name of the Father,

and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

You belong to Christ, in whom you have been baptized.

Alleluia.

Let us pray.

We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give all your daughters and sons new birth, cleanse us from sin, and raise us to eternal life.

Gracious God, sustain Madeline Rae with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever.

Amen.

Madeline Rae Graf, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.

Amen.

Welcome

Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Let us welcome the newly baptized.

We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: join us in giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God's creative and redeeming word to all the world.

The Peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.

*Exchange of Peace

*Prayers of Intercession

Response to each petition:

God of grace, receive our prayer.

Offering

Give online using the button above

Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

Offering Music Make This Child Yours Gloria Lien

sung by Jan Neuhaus

Take this child, make her yours. Make her part of your family. From your love she has come, in your love may she always be. Let not time or age keep her far from your family. May she grow, may she stay close to you.

Offering Prayer

Lord of the harvest, we return to you a portion of what you have given to us. Turn us to set our hope not on the uncertainty of riches, but on you, who richly provides for us. Multiply what we have gathered to bless all who are suffering and in need,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

*The Great Thanksgiving

The Lord be with you. And also with you.

Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.

*Preface

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

*Sanctus

*Eucharistic Prayer

On the night our Lord Jesus was betrayed, …

Remembering, then, his death and resurrection, we take this bread and cup, giving you thanks that you have made us worthy to stand before you and to serve you as your priestly people.

Send your Spirit upon these gifts of your church; gather into one all who share this bread and wine; fill us with your Holy Spirit to establish our faith in truth, that we may praise and glorify you through your Son Jesus Christ; through whom all glory and honor are yours, almighty Father, with the Holy Spirit, in your holy church, both now and forever.

Amen.

*The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

Agnus Dei

Communion Distribution

Communion Hymn Colorful Creator

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

O God, through this meal you have strengthened us and appointed us to be your servants. Send us to do good and to share our possessions with all in need. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

*Sending Hymn Precious Lord, Take My Hand