14th Sunday after PentecostSeptember 15, 2019

SERVICE THEME:The Narrow Door to Salvation

WELCOME — We are so pleased that you have joined us for worship today! If you are a guest with us, please sign our guest register, which is located in the center entryway of the church. We welcome and encourage children to join our worship services! Enclosed “cry rooms” are available in the back of the church near the restrooms, if your child becomes restless. Pictorial children’s Bibles are available for children to use, on the table in the back of church. Please let us know if there is any other way we can be of service to you. Again, welcome! OUR MISSION — The mission of St. Andrew Lutheran Church is to guide people to know Jesus as their Savior, to grow in their faith, and to show Jesus to others. OUR BELIEF — We believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God and the only source of all Christian doctrine and teaching. We believe that the only true God is the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe that we are saved not by anything we do, but only through faith in Jesus Christ, who gave his life for our sins. We will be happy to tell you more about what we believe! OUR HISTORY — St. Andrew Lutheran Church was established in 1888 and is a member of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS), a confessional Lutheran church body with over 1,200 congregations in North America and with more than 30 sister church bodies worldwide.

Church Office: 3650 S. Honore St., Chicago, IL 60609 (next door to church)Website: www.standrewchicago.org Office Phone: 773-376-5370Office Email: churchsecretary@standrewchicago.orgFacebook Page: www.facebook.com/standrewchicago/ Pastor: Adam Gawel, pastor@standrewchicago.org, cell: 773-383-2395

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The way to heaven is narrow. Mere outward attachment to the family of God is not sufficient. Only through faith in Christ can we enter heaven. The door is narrow, and Christ commands us to make every effort to enter it; so, the Church prays, “that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command.” Although the door is narrow, it is open to all, and the saints will come from all nations to behold the glory of the Lord. 

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION TO TODAY’S SERVICE

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUESTS – At this time, anyone may share special prayer requests with the pastor, which he will then pray about later in the worship service, during the Prayer of the Church.  If you prefer to submit a written prayer request, you may do so before the service or hand it to an usher during the offering.  As a family of believers, we want to know each other’s joys and struggles, so that we can pray for each other.

OPENING HYMN – 399 – To God Be the Glory

INVOCATION

M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.C: Amen.

CONFESSION OF SINS

M: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Jesus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

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M: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.C: Amen.

PRAYER AND PRAISE

M: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

We join to sing “Glory to God,” on the next two pages.

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PRAYER OF THE DAY

M: The Lord be with you.C: And also with you.

M: Let us pray.Almighty and everlasting God, give us an increase of faith, hope, and love; and, that we may obtain what you promise, make us love what you command; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

FIRST LESSON – Isaiah 66:18-24 (EHV)

18As for me, because of their works and their thoughts,the time is coming for me to gather people from all nations and all

languages.They will come, and they will see my glory.19Then I will set up a sign among them,and I will send out survivors from among them to the nations,to Tarshish, Pul, and Lud, to those who are archers,to Tubal and Javan, to the distant coastlands,who have not heard my message and have not seen my glory.Then they will declare my glory among the nations.20Then they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as an

offering to the LORD. They will bring them on horses and chariots and wagons and mules and dromedaries to my holy mountain Jerusalem, says the LORD, in the same way that the people of Israel bring an offering in a clean vessel to the LORD’s house.21Even from among these people I will take priests and Levites, says the LORD.

22For just as the new heavens and the new earth that I am making will remain standing before me, declares the LORD, in the same way your offspring and your name will stand. 23As often as one new moon follows another and one Sabbath follows another, all flesh will come to worship before me, says the LORD.

24They will go out, and they will see the corpses of the ones who were rebelling against me, for their worm will not die, and their fire will not be quenched, and all flesh will be horrified by them.

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PSALM OF THE DAY – Psalm 72 – CW p. 93

SECOND LESSON – Romans 9:1-9 (EHV)

I am speaking the truth in Christ—I am not lying—my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit 2that I have great sorrow and continuous pain in my heart. 3For I almost wish that I myself could be cursed and separated from Christ in place of my brothers, my relatives according to the flesh, 4those who are Israelites. Theirs are the adoption as sons, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them, according to the flesh, came the Christ, who is God over all, eternally blessed. Amen.

6This does not mean that God’s word has failed, because not all who are descended from Israel are really Israel, 7and not all who are descended from Abraham are really his children. On the contrary, “Your line of descent will be traced through Isaac.” 8This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are counted as his descendants. 9For this is what the promise said: “I will arrive at this set time, and Sarah will have a son.”

VERSE OF THE DAY

M: Alleluia. Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Alleluia. (1 Timothy 1:10b, NIV)

GOSPEL – Luke 13:22-30 (EHV)

After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sings:

22He went on his way from one town and village to another, teaching, and making his way to Jerusalem. 23Someone said to him, “Lord, are only a few going to be saved?”

He said to them, 24“Strive to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. 25Once the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open for us!’ He will

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tell you in reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27And he will say, ‘I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’ 28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown outside. 29People will come from east and west, from north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30And note this: Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

After the reading of the Gospel, the congregation sings: 

NICENE CREED

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

HYMN OF THE DAY – 431 – I Walk in Danger All the Way

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SERMON – Luke 13:22-30 – The Narrow Door to Salvation

After the sermon, the congregation sings:

OFFERING

Members of St. Andrew Lutheran Church use this time to respond to God’s goodness with gifts of thanks and love.  Our giving is guided by this Word of God: “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:7-8, NIV).  If you are a guest with us today, please do not feel obligated to participate.  Online giving is also 

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available; please see the announcement on page 19 of this service folder for more information.

INSTALLATION OF SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHERS

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH – for the Sundays after Pentecost – CW p. 127 – including the following special prayer:

for the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations:Lord Jesus, we praise you for building your Church despite all

the obstacles the devil and the world try to set up. Thank you for the 34 church bodies in fellowship with WELS around the world. Bless the efforts of the WELS Commission on Inter-Church Relations as they work to establish, preserve, and strengthen the bond of confessional fellowship with these and other churches. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

THE SACRAMENT

Our Lord Jesus has given us a holy Supper in which we receive his true body and blood for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith. In this Supper, we celebrate the gift of his redemption, we bear witness to the fellowship we share as confessors of the truth, and we proclaim his death until he returns.  Following the teaching of the Bible (1 Corinthians 10:17; 11:27-29; etc.), St. Andrew practices “close communion.”  We ask that only those who are communicant members of St. Andrew or another congregation of the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) or Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) partake of the sacrament today.  Our pastor would be happy to speak with you about receiving the Lord’s Supper with us in the future!

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M: The Lord be with you.C: And also with you.M: Lift up your hearts.C: We lift them up to the Lord.M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.C: It is good and right so to do.

M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who promised that wherever two or three come together in his name, there he is with them to shepherd his flock till he comes again in glory. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

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WORDS OF INSTITUTION

M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.C: Amen.

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DISTRIBUTION

Those receiving the common cup are invited to assist the minister in guiding the cup to their lips.  Those who need to receive grape juice instead of wine may take the purple individual cups in the center of the tray.  Gluten-free wafers are available for those who need them; please 

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speak with the pastor before the service, or with an usher, to request one.

M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.C: And his mercy endures forever.

M: We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this holy supper. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.C: Amen.

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M: The Lord bless you and keep you.The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.

C: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN – 405 – Oh, for a Faith that Will Not Shrink

THIS WEEK AT ST. ANDREWSeptember 15-22, 2019

Today 9:30 AM Worship Service w. Communion10:45 AM Sunday School & Bible Study

Friday 10:30 AM Adult Bible Study

Sunday 9:30 AM Worship Service 10:45 AM Sunday School & Bible Study

The paraments are green for the Sundays after Pentecost. Green represents growth. The Sundays after Pentecost emphasize the growth in faith and godly living that the Holy Spirit works in us through the Word of God.

WELCOME, GUESTS! – We are happy to have you with us today! Please sign the guest register in the church entryway so that we have a record of your visit. Our pastor, Adam Gawel, would be happy to meet with you if you would like. Please join us for worship or Bible study again!

SUNDAY SCHOOL AND ADULT BIBLE STUDY TOPICS TODAYIn today’s Sunday school lesson from the series I Spy Salvation’s Story, students will investigate “The Case of the Broken Debris: The Tower of Babel.” They will learn that God calls us to repent of the sinful desire to make a name for ourselves, seeking glory apart from God. Instead, God makes a name for us and blesses us through his Spirit. Parents might ask

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their child at home: “How does God bless us today?” In adult Bible study, we continue a series entitled Sing to the Lord: A Study of Lutheran Hymnody. This Bible study covers many of the great hymns that express the truths of Scripture with beautiful lyrics set to timeless melodies, which make great tools for Christians to confess their faith and sing praises to God. Adults meet for Bible study in the back of the church sanctuary, and children meet for Sunday school in the ministry center next door to church. All are welcome!

WELCOME HOME SUNDAY: OCTOBER 27 TH. WHOM WILL YOU REACH?It happens for a variety of reasons: Christians stop going to church.

Do you know one of the reasons people mention for not coming back to church? Fear. They are afraid they are going to be judged or someone is going to make a joke about their being gone.

Welcome Home Sunday is intended to be a celebration of the blessing of Christian community our God gives to us. He intends his church to be just like a home: a safe place where we can live without fear. He intends believers to love and treat one another as family. Our goal is to have 100% of our members in attendance on that Sunday. Thus, it is the perfect Sunday for someone who has been away from church for a while to come back.

Do you know someone like that? Maybe it’s a sister or a son or a friend. They used to come, but for whatever reason, stopped. Reach out to them. Offer to pick them on that day. If they are afraid, assure them that is unnecessary. We are all sinners who have been redeemed by Jesus. And we are all family. On that day, everyone receives a warm “Welcome home!”

VOTERS’ MEETING – September 29, 10:45A voters’ meeting will be held on September 29 after the worship service (starting about 10:45) to address repairs that need to be made to the church building, especially masonry and roofing work on the front of the building and the two towers. In keeping with God’s instruction to us in his Word (cf., 1 Timothy 2:12; 1 Corinthians 14:33-35), St. Andrew’s constitution and by-laws invites men over the age of 18 who are communicant members of this congregation to participate in voters’ meetings. Anyone who is not a voting member may speak with a voting member or the pastor in advance of the meeting with any suggestions or concerns. Please pray for God’s blessing on this meeting and on the gospel ministry of St. Andrew Lutheran Church!

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PASTOR GAWEL AT CONFERENCE THIS MONDAY TO THURSDAYPastor Gawel will be in Cumberland, WI, for a CrossTrain conference (pastoral coaching network), from Monday (Sept. 16) through Thursday (Sept. 19). If you have need of pastoral assistance during that time, please contact Pastor Gawel on his cell phone (773-383-2395) by call or text, and he will get back to you as soon as he’s able; or call the church office (773-376-5370), and our secretary will help you to contact another pastor in the area for assistance.

LWMS CHICAGO-AREA CIRCUIT FALL RALLY – Sept. 28 (Sat.), Crystal LakeThe fall rally of the Chicago Area Circuit of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society (LWMS) will be held Saturday, September 28th from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. at Lord & Savior Lutheran Church, 9300 Ridgefield Rd., Crystal Lake, IL. All women in an LWMS member congregation (confirmation age and older) are members of LWMS and are encouraged to attend. (St. Andrew is an LWMS member.) Guests are also welcome. The rally theme is “To the Ends of the Earth,” and our speaker, Claudia Rericha, a member of our Chicago circuit, will be presenting on her mission trip to Nepal this past February. Plan to bring friends and family and join us in Crystal Lake for fellowship, fun, and food as we worship and learn how God is working in Nepal. You won’t want to miss it! (Childcare will be provided.)

PRAYER GROUP SEPT. 26 (Thur.), 6:30 PMWe will have a prayer group on Thursday (Sept. 26) at 6:30pm. We will start with a short devotion, and then share and pray about prayer requests for ourselves, our church, and others. All are welcome to attend, and you may participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable.

“EVERY MEMBER VISITS” WITH PASTOR GAWEL IN 2019This year Pastor Gawel would like to meet individually with all the adult members of St. Andrew (or with married couples together), so that he can get to know everyone better and to see if there is any way that he or the church can serve you better spiritually and if there is any way that you would like to be more involved in the ministry of the church. Pastor Gawel is willing to meet with you at your home, at a coffee shop or other venue near your home or workplace, or at our ministry center (next door to church). Please speak with Pastor Gawel, or call or text him at 773-383-2395, to schedule a time for a visit.

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ONLINE GIVING AVAILABLESt. Andrew Lutheran Church is set up to receive online donations. There are a number of ways to do that. Step-by-step instructions with screen-shots are available in the center church entryway, for both the mobile app “Give+” (from Vanco) and the giving page through our church website (go to standrewchicago.org and click on the “Giving” tab). Or, scan this QR code with your smartphone. Please contact St. Andrew’s elder for stewardship, Sam DeLaurentis delaurentis.sam@gmail.com, with any questions.

NEW MEDITATIONS DEVOTION BOOKLETS AVAILABLENew Meditations devotion booklets are available in the information rack in the center entryway. Feel free to take one for use in your personal devotions.

PASTORAL CAREPastor Gawel is available for pastoral care. If you are sick, grieving, having surgery, hospitalized, or in need of any spiritual care or counseling, please call or text Pastor Gawel on his cell phone: 773-383-2395.

SERMONS AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING, DOWNLOAD, AND PODCASTINGIf you miss the Sunday sermon, would like to listen to it again, or would like to share it with a friend, audio recordings of the sermons are archived on our church website, posted weekly to our church Facebook page, and are available for podcasting (quick links and instructions available on our website). Go to http://standrewchicago.org/sermons/ to listen! Service folders are also available for download on our church website: http://standrewchicago.org/bulletins

WEDNESDAY EVENING CHINESE GROUP BIBLE STUDYOn Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm in the ministry center (the house next door to church), there is a Chinese group Bible study. New friends are always welcome to join! Please invite any Chinese friends or neighbors. You may share with them the following invitation: 每周三晚上 7:00，圣安得烈基督教路德宗教会之福音事工中心（教堂隔壁的房子）有成人中文圣经学习。欢迎您参加！事工中心楼上设有活动间供

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儿童使用；欢迎小孩跟家长一起来！地址是 3650 S. Honore St.（在麦金利公园区）。高乐仁牧师的电话号码是 773-383-2395.BIBLE INFORMATION CLASSIn Bible Information Class, we study the main teachings of the Christian faith. Adults and teens who would like to become members of St. Andrew are encouraged to attend this class to learn what St. Andrew teaches according to God’s Word. This class is also open to anyone who is interested in learning more about what the Bible teaches and what Christians believe, with no requirement to join the church after the course is finished. Pastor Gawel is able to teach the class in English and Chinese, and course materials are also available in Spanish and other languages, as an aid for those whose first language is not English or Chinese. If you or someone you know are interested in starting this class, please contact Pastor Gawel to set up a time.

Worship attendance last Sunday: 36Adult Bible study attendance last week: 18

Friday: 2; Sunday: 12; Wednesday: 4Prayer Group: 5

Sunday School: 3Youth Confirmation Class: 3

Income needed each month Offerings received in August$11,840.00 $6,908.78

Offerings received last week: $2,786.14(needed each week: $2,732.31)

Offerings received so far this month: $4,278.85

September head usher: Kris TaylorAssistant ushers: Tom Pindelski & Jason ChengMusic and liturgy printed under OneLicense # A-714339Scripture readings are from the Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2018 by the Wartburg Project, www.wartburgproject.org

PLEASE GREET THOSE AROUND YOUIf you are able, please stay for a time of fellowship after the worship service concludes; greet those around you and introduce yourself to people you don’t know.

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Please take this service folder with you! Continue to meditate on the Bible readings throughout the week, and pray for God’s blessing on the mission and ministry of the church!

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