Sundays

Why are we here? To lengthen and strengthen Christ's ministry by encouraging, supporting, and participating in the spiritual growth of each other and our neighbors through God's grace, wisdom and guidance.

        Bulletin & Announcements

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church  

Rome, Georgia

Pentecost 14 August 30, 2026   10:30 a.m.

WELCOME!

A special welcome to all visitors and guests who are with us today. We pray that you will hear and receive the Word of God with joy. If you are a guest, please sign our guest book located in the narthex.

HOLY COMMUNION is celebrated on the first and third Sundays of each month.  We invite you to prepare for the Sacrament of Holy Communion with the following personal questions: Am I a believer, confessing Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior?  Do I believe Christ is fully present in the communion meal with His body and blood in the Bread and Wine to forgive sin and restore fellowship with the Father? Do I come with a repentant heart intending to live in obedience to God’s will?  Answering yes to these questions is an indication that one is prepared to receive Holy Communion.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

Matins with Holy Communion

Prelude and Welcome                                 

Matins please stand ……....................................................….page 219

Venite sung…………………………………….………..…… page 220

Common Antiphon……………………….………....….....…page 221

Collect of the Day spoken

Please be seated.

Opening Hymn                              “God Himself Is Present”  # 907

Old Testament Reading                                     Jeremiah 15:15 – 21  

Readings printed on back cover of bulletin.    

Psalm 26

Read responsively, from the hymnal, whole verse by whole verse. 

Epistle Reading                                                         Romans 12:9 – 21

The Holy Gospel please stand                           Matthew 16:21 – 28

Please be seated

Welcome of New Members

The Apostles’ Creed…………………..…inside back cover of hymnal

Hymn of the Day                             “O God, My Faithful God”  # 696

The Sermon               “Cross Focus… Following Jesus”  (Matthew 16)

Jesus: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Canticle: Te Deum (We Praise You, O God) please stand……page 223

The Offering           You may add your prayer request… Please hand your prayer request slip to the usher as the offering is being collected.

The Prayer of The Church please stand………………..……  page 215

After the pastor ends a petition with the words “Lord in Your Mercy,” the congregation responds, “Hear our prayer.” 

The Service of the Sacrament ………………………...…… page 216

The Lord’s Prayer……………………………...………....…page 217

The Words of Our Lord……………………………………..page 217

The Distribution and Hymn  ……………..…….….................. # 688

Post-Communion Collect……………………………………page 218

Benedicamus and Benediction…….………...……........……page 218

Closing Hymn                      “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”  # 923

Acknowledgements   Matins, Lutheran Service Book. 

Divine Service, Setting Five, Lutheran Service Book.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, © 2026 Concordia Publishing House. 

Welcome to Our New Members

Clifton Bode

Garrett Clifton Bourg

Mary Louis Hart

Christopher Dillon Hart

Tyler Drew Johnson

Ken and Brenda Wagener

In the weeks ahead, we’ll update our Member Directory.

Please join us in the Community Room to welcome our fellow saints.

Thanks to Andrea Jones for our Reception cake!

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Rome, Georgia 

August 30, 2026

Serving in our worship today

Pastor  – Ken Wagener

Usher – John Pless

Streaming –  Andrew Syverson

Lector – Luke Syverson

Lector (9/6) – Kathy Smith

Sub. Organist Service – Andrea Jones

Counters (August) – Brittons

Counters (Sept)  – Abby and Sarah Syverson

Fellowship Hosts – Andrea Jones

Fellowship Hosts (9/6) – Brittons

Elders – Paul Flinchbaugh, Luke Syverson, and John Pless

Our Prayer List

Healing, Comfort, and Hope:

Charles Reiper

Rebecca King Ruth Miller

       Kevin Donegan      Scotty Donegan

Paul Syverson      Laura Vitt

Shut-ins:

Jack Karch and Susan Karch    Helen Steele

Kelly Williams  Anna Hawkins  Clifton Bode

Holy Trinity Ministry Update

In Worship (8/23/2026): est 36

In Study (8/23/2026): 18

Offering (8/23/2026): $975

General Fund – $775

Designated Fund - $200

Announcements and Events

Adult Bible Class, 9:30 a.m., meets in the Community Room. This week: Pastor Ken on “Membership Has Its Privileges… and Responsibilities!” Next Week? Our labor!

Women’s Wednesday Morning Bible Study  Wednesdays, 10 a.m., in the Community Room. This Week: A talented woman named “Tabitha”… or “Dorcas.” Check out Acts 9!

New Member Welcome Today!

We welcome one another in Jesus Christ…

We have the privilege to welcome new members formally into membership at Holy Trinity during our worship. Pastor Ken will be honored to invite you to come forward to the chancel rail for a brief rite. Reception follows in the Community Room. Let’s gather to celebrate!

Do You Know? Membership

“Christians are by definition members of the Church, which is the people of God. We are baptized into a people, a kingdom, a body, a huge global family of Christians. To be a Christian is to be a member of a larger group. There is no such thing as Christianity that is simply one-on-one, you and Jesus, independent of other believers. You have a relationship with Jesus, of course, and in a sense, it is an extremely personal relationship—you know Him and He knows you. But that word personal, while true, is not exactly biblical and leaves out so much of what God gives us and how He forms us with the Gospel. Essentially, Christianity is corporate… Your relationship to your heavenly Father is inextricably linked (though many try to extricate it) to your relationship to your brothers and sisters in Christ, your fellow believers. If you have Christ as King, you are part of a kingdom. If you have God as Father, you have brothers and sisters.”

– Peter Speckhard, Connected to Christ:

Why Membership Matters (CPH, 2017)

Labor day weekend, Sept 5 -  7

“The hope and assurance of the resurrection through the grace of God in Christ Jesus our Lord provides the motivation and power for Christian life and service… We do this all in the name of the resurrected Christ.” God bless our Labor Day

On Being Lutheran…

Over the summer, we have explored the heart and center of our Lutheran faith and theology. It’s been a joy to share teaching and discussion in the Community Room. Our Outreach Board is compiling a “video” overview for our narthex monitor and Web site. Some of the topics may capture your interest and spark a desire to learn and know more about our Church’s foundations.

1.  Landmarks in Lutheranism

2.  Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation   

3.  How to Read and Study the Holy Bible

4.  Law and Gospel: Key Insights

5.  Vocation: Living in “Places of Responsibility”

in World and Church

6.  Jesus: Who He Is and What He Has Done

7.  The Drama of Scripture: God’s Grand Story

8.  Election/Chosen in Christ: Predestination

9.  Sacramental Worship and Living

10. Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer

Check out the preview in the narthex today. (In the future, we’ll loop the entire overview in the Community Room during Fellowship Time.)

Watch for “Study Packets” in the future to take and share as we reach out to lengthen and strengthen Christ's ministry in Garden Lakes.

Saturday, October 10

Work Day, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Please pick up a tan flyer on the narthex table today... and note the potential tasks before us. As possible, please sign up on the Work Day Schedule—note the two columns (9 to Noon or Noon to 3). Choose what you want! We’ll plan a light lunch around Noon to “keep us going.”

Sunday, October 25

Fall Festival, 2 – 4 p.m.

A family-friendly event for Garden Lakes families with young children… (True! This event is different from past Oktoberfests.)

The yellow flyer on the narthex table gives an overview of tentative plans and ideas. We’re planning one-hour shifts (2 -3 and 3 -4)… sign up sheets in the narthex next week. Our goal?

Be a Christ-Centered, Gospel-Focused ministry!

From Your Stewardship Board

Based on Psalm 136:1

Now thank we all our God with hearts and hands and voices,

Who wondrous things has done, In whom His world rejoices;

Who, from our mother’s arms Has blessed us on our way

With countless gifts of love And still is ours today.

German pastor, Martin Rinkart, served in the walled town of Eilenburg during the horrors of the Thirty Years War (1618-1648).  Eilenburg became an overcrowded refuge for the surrounding area.   The fugitives suffered from epidemic and famine.  Rinkart, the only surviving pastor, conducted 4,480 funerals in these years, including one for this wife.  In the face of overwhelming pressure, constant risk and horrendous conditions, he never stopped ministering to the people.

After nearly 30 years of struggles, peace was within grasp.  Wanting to give his children a song to sing to God in thanks at the dinner table, he wrote one of the best known Thanksgiving hymns, “Now Thank We All Our God.”

We encourage you to look at this hymn (number 895) in our hymnal.  Be reminded about the horrible conditions under which this hymn of praise and gratitude was written.  Just like Pastor Rinkart 400 years ago everything seems in chaos, but today Christians can still proclaim “Now thank we all our God . . .”  We can be faithful in worship, prayer, and study.  We need to be faithful stewards of our time and abilities to serve.

Oh, may this bounteous God Through all our life be near us,

With ever joyful hearts And blessed peace to cheer us

And keep us in His grace And guide us when perplexed

And free us from all ills In this world and the next!

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church

Website: www.romehtlc.net

3000 Garden Lakes Blvd., Rome, GA 30165 706-232-7257

Email: holytrinitylutheranrome@gmail.com

Vacancy Pastor Ken Wagener

  KennethCWagener@gmail.com   317-650-5843

Lay Officiant Dr. Timothy Furnish

jinnandtonic@yahoo.com

Our Vision is to lengthen and strengthen Christ's ministry by encouraging, supporting, and participating in the spiritual growth of each other and our neighbors through God's grace, wisdom, and guidance.

A congregation of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.