WELCOME TO WORSHIP
In the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, we welcome you to St. Paul’s. We especially welcome our guests who have joined us today. We pray that your soul will be strengthened by the good news of God’s forgiveness through Jesus.
PRAYER IN PREPARATION FOR TODAY’S WORSHIP
Lord Jesus, in grace you have called me to find rest in you. There are many things in life and also going on in our country that bring fear and worry to my anxious heart. Provide me with the true rest that I need in your forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life. And as I am comforted by your grace today, encourage me to proclaim it to all in our country as I honor the freedoms you have blessed us with all these years. In your name I pray. Amen.
OPENING HYMN 768 Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace
INVOCATION
CONFESSION
ABSOLUTION
LORD, HAVE MERCY
GLORY BE TO GOD ON HIGH
The Word
PRAYER OF THE DAY
FIRST READING Exodus 33:12–23
SECOND READING Romans 7:15–25a
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Matthew 11:28
GOSPEL Matthew 11:25–30
HYMN OF THE DAY 814 Just as I Am, without One Plea
SERMON Matthew 11:25–30 A Refresher in the Father’s Good Pleasure
NICENE CREED
OFFERTORY 750 We Give Thee but Thine Own
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
The Sacrament
PREFACE
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
LORD’S PRAYER
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD
DISTRIBUTION
DISTRIBUTION HYMN 706 Come unto Me, Ye Weary
DISTRIBUTION HYMN 767 Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us
DISTRIBUTION HYMN 770 God of Grace and God of Glory
THANKSGIVING
BLESSING
CLOSING HYMN 774 God Bless Our Native Land
NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
QUARTERLY VOTERS’ MEETING TODAY
We will have our July voters’ meeting today at 11:15 am in the church basement.
ST. PAUL’S @ THE COUNTY FAIR
We will be manning the WELS booth at the La Crosse County Fair on Wednesday, July 15th, from 5:00 until about 9:00 pm. If you are able to help visit with passersby and hand out prizes and Bible-related gifts, come on down to the booth for any amount of time you can give. If you would like to give school supplies, backpacks, or faith-related gifts for the prize wheel, please drop those off in the church lobby any time prior to the 15th.
PASTORAL INSTALLATIONS IN OUR CIRCUIT
The Lord has answered the prayers of congregations in our circuit and has provided them with new pastors for their ministries. Join us as we celebrate with our sister congregations and help them welcome their new pastors at their installation services listed below. The Lord of the Harvest continue to bless our work together in his kingdom!
July 19, 4 pm @ St. Paul, Tomah – Installation of Graduate Jonah Backus
July 26, 4 pm @ St. John’s, Ridgeville – Installation of Pastor John “Jack” Kelly
OUR BIBLE SISTERS
Despite a separation of thousands of years and miles, we’re much more like them than we first realize. This summer, you’re invited to join Women’s Ministry for an online Bible study focusing on “Our Bible Sisters.” Throughout this five-week series, we’ll look at more than just the heroic actions of biblical women. We’ll also consider how our unchanging God met these flawed, real women in their daily struggles and learn to find his grace, faithfulness, and purpose in our own daily realities. Please join us this summer as we get to know five of our Bible sisters better! The study is offered twice each week—8:00 a.m. (Central) on Saturday mornings and 7:00 p.m. (Central) on Monday evenings—starting July 11. Register at: gf.wels.net/womens-ministry-online-class-our-bible-sisters.
WELS/ELS SINGLES RETREAT
If you are an adult WELS/ELS member, single, and would like to join others of the same description for fellowship and activities amidst the natural beauty of central Wisconsin, come to the WELS/ELS Singles Retreat, August 28-30, at Camp Phillip in Wautoma, WI. For more information and to register, visit https://sites.google.com/view/lutheransinglesretreat/. Please register by July 26.
MEN’S RETREAT
Our 18th annual Men’s Retreat, organized by men from Twin Cities area WELS churches, will take place at Camp Croix on September 18-20, 2026. This year’s theme is “Here I Stand: Lutherans find their voice in Christian apologetics.” There are reasons that Lutherans have been quiet in the area of Christian apologetics. But there are even bigger reasons for us to break the silence, given what we uniquely see and understand about arguing for Christ in this skeptical world. Together, we will explore the What and the How of Christian apologetics so as to grow in confidence for our own sake, for the sake of those who do not know Jesus, and for the sake of the most vulnerable among us. This presentation will be led by Martin Luther College Prof. Mark Paustian. Sign up now, while there’s still room, at mensretreat.org! Questions regarding Camp Croix? Call Keith at 218-341-2119. Questions regarding the retreat? Call Clay at 651-231-3237.
PRAYERS
This week we keep in our prayers: Herb Miller, Gary and Christa Lemke, Clarice Koltermann, Dan Chandler, Vivian Havens, Shelly Horstman, and Barb Wittmershaus.
CALENDAR
TODAY 8:00 am Worship with Communion
9:00 am Fellowship Hour
10:00 am Worship with Communion
11:15 am Quarterly Voters’ Meeting
MONDAY 5:00 pm Bible Information Class Begins
7:00 pm Worship with Communion
TUESDAY 2:30 pm Bible Information Class Begins
NEXT SUNDAY 8:00 am Worship
9:00 am Fellowship Hour
10:00 am Worship
NEXT MONDAY 5:00 pm Bible Information Class
7:00 pm Worship
NEXT TUESDAY 2:30 pm Bible Information Class
NEXT WEDNESDAY 5:00 pm St. Paul’s @ County Fair Booth