GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH Proclaiming Christ’s Word through Truth, Innovation & Fellowship.

Celebrating the Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

September 17th & 20th, 2020

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early

in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard…The

workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and

each received a denarius.”

-From Matthew Chapter 20

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GOOD SHEPHERD LUTHERAN CHURCH 2450 West 9th Avenue, Oshkosh, Wisconsin 54904

Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Pastor Greg Koepsell: 920-231-0530 or cell 763-913-8445

or pastor@oshkoshgoodshepherd.org

Web Site: www.goodshepherdinoshkosh.com

E-Mail Address: church@oshkoshgoodshepherd.org

Worship Services: Thursday 6:30 pm; Sunday 8:00 & 10:30 am

Church Office Hours: Monday-Thursday: 8:00-1:00 pm

Pastor visitation office hours: Thursday; 11:30-2:00 & 3:30-5:30

(Pastor always available via cell! Call or text!...763-913-8445)

As We Gather…

A warm & hearty welcome to you! It’s a privilege and honor to worship our Good and Gracious

Triune God with you this Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost. We’re glad to have you here! As always,

make yourself at home, you are among family!

Sometimes God seems distant from the human experience. Especially when surrounded by darkness,

disease, and death, human reason deduces that life in this world could not be more removed from God’s

ways and thoughts. Yet through Christ Jesus, God’s ways are compassion and His thoughts toward all

people are abundant with pardon. In Christ, the God who is higher than the heavens became closer than a

brother. He has entered our human experience as a man and become fully acquainted with our suffering

and pain. This is a great mystery: In Christ, God became last to put people first.

Service Notes…

In preparation for worship: Please take some time to greet the people you are worshiping with! The order of

worship for today is printed for you below, you may want to take a few minutes to look it over as you prepare to

receive the gifts of God and sing His praises. Reminder: If you have a smart phone, and you’re on Facebook,

please “check in” at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church...then turn the sound off! May our Good and Gracious

Shepherd bless your worship this day…this NEW day of salvation!

To Stand or Sit: There are certain parts of the service where you will be invited to stand. Sometimes,

“wrestling” with kids, or a personal health condition makes standing uncomfortable… please know: It is okay

to either stand or sit. Both are appropriate! So please, make yourself comfortable, receive the gifts God

loves to give and BOLDLY sing His praises!

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Guests, Visitors & The Offering: If you are our guest today, you are not expected to contribute monetarily to

God’s work at Good Shepherd … you are our guest! Please take this service as our gift to you! If you choose

to give an offering, know this: The gifts we give back to God are used by His church to transform lives.

(The offering plate is located at the sanctuary entrance)

The Lord’s Supper: Today, Good Shepherd joyfully celebrates the Lord’s Supper, and we do that in the

confession and glad confidence that, as He says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but

His very body and blood to eat and drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and

with one another Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25. Our Lord invites to His table those who

trust His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us,

that they may show forth His death until He comes Matthew 5:23; 18:15-35. Because those who eat and drink our

Lord’s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 and because Holy Communion is a

confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a

confession Matthew 10:32 differing from that of this congregation and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and yet

desire to receive the sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor. For safety precautions we will

commune from a social distanced continuous line. The ushers will assist you. Please note: There are two or

three cups at the center of each tray that are non-alcoholic wine for those who prefer such for personal or

medical reasons (The wine containing alcohol is white, the non-alcohol is red/pink).

Pre-Service Meditation…

Please spend some time in quiet meditation and prayer before we begin…maybe even read this Psalm

(Psalm 29)

Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of hisa holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders,

the Lord thunders over the mighty waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. 6 He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirionb like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning. 8 The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord twists the oaksc and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

Prelude…

Words of Welcome…

a Or LORD with the splendor of b That is, Mount Hermon c Or LORD makes the deer give birth

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We Sing: “Come, Thou Almighty King” [1 Tim. 6:14-16; John 1:14; 14:25-26; Rev. 4:8]

Come Thou almighty King, Help us Thy name to sing;

Help us to praise;

Father all glorious, O’er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days

Come holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear

In this glad hour!

Thou, who almighty art, Now rule in every heart, And ne’er from us depart, Spirit of

pow’r.

(Please Stand)

To Thee, great One in Three, Eternal praises be

Hence evermore!

Thy sov’reign majesty May we in glory see, And to eternity Love and adore.

The Invocation & Opening Verses from Psalm 27

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19b; [18-20]

All: Amen.

Pastor: The Lord is my light and my salvation;

All: whom shall I fear?

Pastor: The Lord is the stronghold of my life;

All: of whom shall I be afraid?

Pastor: Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;

All: be gracious to me and answer me!

We Confess Our Sins [1 John 1:8-9].

Pastor: Almighty God,

All: We confess to You that our ways and thoughts are corrupted by the sinfulness

that pervades our whole being. I am by nature sinful and unclean. We hear in the

Gospel that You are kind, full of love, and always forgiving. Your ways and thoughts are

beyond our comprehension, but not beyond our faith in Your promises made sure

through the life, death, and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Lord. Have mercy on us, O

God, forgive our sins, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit, that we may gladly follow where

Jesus leads.

(Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination)

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We Hear God’s Forgiveness [John 20:19-23]

Pastor: Almighty God, who is filled with compassion, hears your humble confession and speaks to you

words of abundant pardon. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore

forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

We Sing: “Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty” [Ps. 100:4; 118:19-26; Is. 26:2-4; 2 Cor. 6:16]

Open now Thy gates of beauty; Zion, let me enter there,

Where my soul in joyful duty Waits for Him who answers prayer.

Oh, how blessed is this place, Filled with solace, light and grace!

Speak, O God, and I will hear Thee; Let Thy will be done indeed.

May I undisturbed draw near Thee While Thou dost Thy people feed.

Here of life the fountain flows; Here is balm for all our woes.

We Pray

Pastor: The Lord be with you. 2 Timothy 4:22

All: And also with you.

(A prayer is spoken)

+ We Hear God’s Word +

Isaiah 55:6–9 (“Seek the Lord.”)

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. 7 Let the wicked forsake his way and

the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for

he will freely pardon. 8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”

declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts…This is the Word of the Lord

All: Thanks be to God!

Philippians 1:12–14 (19-30) (“To live is Christ, to die is gain.”)

Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the

gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guarda and to everyone else that

a Or whole palace

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(Continued…)

I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been

encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has

happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.c 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be

ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body,

whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in

the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn

between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary

for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue

with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your

joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. 27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a

manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my

absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be

destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of

Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same

struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have…This is the Word of the Lord

All: Thanks be to God!

Pastor: Alleluia! By grace you have been saved through faith. And this not of your own doing;

All: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8 Alleluia!

Matthew 20:1–16 (Parable of the vineyard laborers)

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twentieth chapter.

All: Glory to You, O Lord.

“For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work

in his vineyard. 2 He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3

“About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4 He told

them, ‘You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ 5 So they went.

“He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6 About the eleventh

hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, ‘Why have you been standing

here all day long doing nothing?’ 7 “‘Because no one has hired us,’ they answered. “He said to them,

‘You also go and work in my vineyard.’ 8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his

foreman, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to

the first.’ 9 “The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10

So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also

received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 ‘These

c Or salvation

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men who were hired last worked only one hour,’ they said, ‘and you have made them equal to us who

have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.’ 13 “But he

(Continued…)

answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15 Don’t I

have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ 16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.” …This is the Gospel of the Lord.

All: Praise to You, O Christ!

We Profess our faith in the Triune God with the words of The Apostles’ Creed

(All) I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into

heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to

judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the

forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the + life everlasting. Amen.

Christian: the ancient text reads “catholic,” meaning the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian teaching.

We Sing: “Hark, the Voice of Jesus Crying” [Is. 6:8; Luke 10:2; Matt. 9:37-38; Col. 4:3-4]

Hark, the voice of Jesus crying, “Who will go and work today?

Fields are white and harvests waiting – Who will bear the sheaves away?”

Loud and long the Master calleth; Rich reward He offers thee.

Who will answer, gladly saying, “Here am I, send me, send me”?

Let none hear you idly saying, “There is nothing I can do,”

While the multitudes are dying And the Master calls for you.

Take the task He gives you gladly, Let His work your pleasure be;

Answer quickly when He calleth, “Here ame I, send me, send me!”

The Message: “Death Bed Conversion”

What did God teach you in His Law today (What you should do, or have failed to do for God)?

What did God teach you in His Gospel today (What God has done for you through Christ)?

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What is the main thing you’re taking home from this message today?

Have a comment or question about today’s message? Have any questions about any of this Jesus/Christian stuff? Text

the Pastor @ 763-913-8445 or email him @ pastor@oshkoshgoodshepherd.org. If you’d like to hear Sunday’s message, or

share it with a friend, it posts on our Facebook page and/or Website by 10 am on Monday.

The Prayer of the Church [1 Timothy 2:1-4]

(The Pastor will conclude each petition with the words, “Lord in Your mercy.”

Please respond with, “Hear our prayer.” )

Words of our Lord [Matthew 26:26-28; Mark 14:22-24; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-25]

The Lord’s Prayer All: 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. Matthew 6:9-13 For Thine is the kingdom and the power

and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Peace of the Lord

Pastor: The peace of the + Lord be with you always. John 20:19

All: Amen.

The Distribution… We come forward to receive the Body & Blood of Christ in, with and under the bread and wine for

remembrance; for forgiveness; for the strengthening of our faith. For health and safety reasons, if

you are participating in the Holy Meal, please form one continuous line, and make your way forward

keeping your social distance. The ushers will assist you.

(After communion…)

Post-Communion Prayer… (A prayer is spoken)

The Blessing

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Pastor: May our good and gracious God go before you to lead you; behind you to protect you; beneath

you to uphold you. God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, go with you to bless you now and forever.

All: Amen!

The Closing Song: “Rejoice, My Heart, Be Glad and Sing” [Ps. 28:7; Ps. 27:1-6; Micah 7:18-19; Ps. 73:25-

26]

Rejoice, my heart, be glad and sing,

A cheerful trust maintain;

For God the source of everything,

Your portion shall remain.

Why spend the day in blank despair,

In restless thought the night?

On your Creator cast your care;

He makes your burdens light.

He only will with patience chide,

His rod falls gently down;

And all your sins He casts aside

In ocean depths to drown.

Upon your lips, then lay your hand,

And trust His guiding love;

Then like a rock your peace shall stand

Here and in heav’n above.

Thank you for worshiping with us!...It’s SO MUCH better with you here!

Please stick around for some social distance fellowshipping in the parking lot!

If you are leaving an offering today, please do so in the collection plate at the entrance to

the sanctuary…And please know that the gifts we give back to God are used to transform

lives!

To God Alone all Glory Goes!

Questions about the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod? Check out, www.lcms.org

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Postlude…

Today’s Sanctuary Candles are sponsored by Deb Bochinksi in memory of Lois Bochinski.

Today’s Bulletins are sponsored by Deb Bochinksi in thankfulness for family and friends.

Today’s Altar Flowers are sponsored by Deb Bochinksi in thankfulness for God’s

continued blessings.

Next Week’s Texts: Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32; Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18; Matthew 21:23-27

Search the Scriptures! (John 5:3)

Serving Us Today

Pastor & Celebrant…………….…………………..……………..……...…………………….........Pastor

Koepsell

Organist……….…………………….…….……….………………………Stuart Giese (Thu) Cam Bedroske

(Sun)

Elders..……………………………………..…...Gary Bedroske (Thu) Jerry Ratchman & Craig Mittelstaedt

(Sun)

Ushers…………...…………...………...Mike Kirchoff & Donna Tritt (8:00) Doug Zuhlke & Don Borgen

(10:30) Altar Care…………………….………..………………………….……………………Jacob and Nicole

Schroeder

OUR FATHER’S BUSINESS THIS WEEK

Sunday, September 20 8:00 A.M. Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Holy Communion

Wednesday, September 23 10:30 A.M. Adult Bible Study

6:30-8 P.M. Youth Group

Thursday September 24 6:30 P.M. Worship Service with Holy Communion

Saturday September 26 7-8:00 A.M. Men’s Group

Sunday, September 27 8:00 A.M. Worship Service with Holy Communion

10:30 A.M. Worship Service with Holy Communion

MARK YOUR CALENDARS: The next big thing at Good Shepherd is an outdoor worship service.

Sunday, October 18th we will all be gathering together outside at Good Shepherd to worship. There will

be Voter’s Meeting following the service. More details coming soon. It’s going to be amazing!

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WHAT DOES THE FUTURE LOOK LIKE? Have you wondered what Good Shepherd will look

like next year? In 5 years? In 10 years? Share your opinions and vision for your church. We will be

holding 3 strategic meetings to discuss the identity and goals of Good Shepherd. Meetings are

September 26th, October 24th, and November 14th. We will meet at 10:00 am on the 26th. All members

are welcome and encouraged to attend.

KWIK TRIP: September 5th-25th there is a 9% rebate to the church for all Kwik Trip Scrip cards

purchased. This is more than double the usual rebate. What a great opportunity to buy gift cards for

birthdays, Christmas or simply to fuel up your car. Please talk to Linda Everson with any questions.

BANQUET AND AUCTION: Grace Lutheran Preschool Omro is holding their annual Banquet &

Auction on Saturday, September 26, 2020. It includes social hour, dinner and auction. If you can’t

attend but want to support the preschool, there is also a Facebook Auction beginning on September 20,

2020. For more information please see the poster on the bulletin board or contact Grace Church at (920)

685-2621 or graceomro@att.net

2021 BOARD POSITIONS: Did you know that Good Shepherd is looking for people to fill the

positions of Recording Secretary, Head of Fellowship and Head of Evangelism starting in 2021? If you

want to find out what the responsibilities are of the positions, please go to the Member's Section of our

website at: goodshepherdinoshkosh.com

LLL: Last chance to register for the LLL 2020 Virtual Fall Event held at First Immanuel Lutheran

Church in Cedarburg, WI on Saturday, September 26. Evangelism has changed in the past 25 years.

The ways Christians engage in spiritual conversations and sharing faith are different. Technology and

rapid cultural shifts have redefined the ways we communicate. This new virtual opportunity includes

presentations and training to share the Gospel with others featuring LHM leaders. You can choose to be

at the in-person gathering or participate from your home. The event begins at 8:30 a.m. with the online

presentations beginning at 9:00 a.m. and will conclude at 12:00 noon. Register today at

https://www.lhm.org/LLL2020/. If you have further questions or need more information contact Tom

Beineke, LLL South Wisconsin District President at 414-610-9356, thomas.beineke@yahoo.com or

Karl Rorske Director of Missions and Outreach at First Immanuel at 414-702-0070, kroeske@fils.org.

Online registration is open through September 21, 2020.

LISTEN TO WORLDWIDE KFUO.ORG: This week on KFUO.org, study a curious theological

question with Pastor Tyrel Bramwell on Cross Defense (9/21 at 2:00 p.m. CT), study the practical

application of our Lutheran confessions on Concord Matters with Pastor Sean Smith (9/22 at 2:00 p.m.

CT), and worship with us in daily chapel services at 10:00 a.m. CT. Find your favorite programs on

demand at kfuo.org or wherever you get your podcasts!

Please remember in your prayers:

Church Members:

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Jim and Sharron Ziemer, Rick Koplitz, Ezekiel Charles, Jan Peterson,

Jo Zorr, Faulkner Charles, Rev. Daugherty, Rick Rasmussen, Janet Dunham

The Danula Family and Reverend Reehl.

Friends & Relatives of Church Members:

Al & Valorie Gebel’s son-in-law, Ryan; Jan Peterson’s son, Scot; Gene & Donna Gohlke’s

relatives, Melissa & Sylvia Gohlke; Cam’s mother, Janis; Dorothy Roehlig’s sister, Linda; Joyce

Ludwig’s brother, Glen; Mitzi Papenfuss granddaughter, Jessie; Doug Flouo’s brother, Allen;

Louise Gabert’s mother, Lavilla; and Diane Sheldon’s husband, John.

Homebound Members: Judy Blackmore, Ethel Pollnow, and Jim Warwick.

Military Members & Their Families:

Chad Berry, Alycia Mueller, and Jared Rivera.

Last Week at Good Shepherd…

Attendance: Thursday: 40 Sunday: 75 (8:00 AM); 62 (10:30 AM); TOTAL: 177

Offerings:

o General Fund: $6,903.00

o Debt Fund: $545.00

o Missions: $45.00

o Youth Gathering: $30.00

o Other: $135.00

Total Offerings This Week: $7,658.00

Weekly Budget Needs at Good Shepherd: $6,293.00

(“…So it is with you. Since you are eager to have spiritual gifts, try to excel in gifts that build up the church.”) -1 Corinthians 14:12

Scrip Ordered: $1,900.00 App. Rebate to Church YTD: $1,215.00

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God’s people at Good Shepherd serving next week:

Elders: Rick Dittberner (Thu)

Gary Bedroske & Aaron Bruss (Sunday)

Ushers: Steve Bridwell & Tom Radke (8:00 AM)

Ushers: Mark Stinski & Becky Siegrist (10:30 AM)

Altar Care: Jacob and Nicole Schroeder