Cherish the Children – Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
“See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their
angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven” Matthew 18:10 (NIV).
Words of Preparation
In ancient times, children were not necessarily presented as the picture of “angelic innocence” we
sometimes portray them as today. Children were seen as weak, vulnerable, and unable to help
themselves. That is precisely why Jesus asks us to become like little children! He asks us to
recognize our sinfulness, our weakness, and our helplessness. Then He declares we “are great”!
Greatness is total dependence on the Great One! He lifts us up in His arms. We receive His
forgiveness. We rely on His strength. He is our ever present help. He cherishes His children!
Prelude
Opening Hymn “Children of the Heavenly Father”
Children of the heav’nly Father, Safely in His bosom gather;
Nestling bird nor star in Heaven, Such a refuge e’er was given.
God His own doth tend and nourish; In His holy courts they flourish;
From all evil things He spares them; In His mighty arms He bears them.
Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely, To preserve them pure and holy.
Praise the Lord in joyful numbers: Your Protector never slumbers.
At the will of your Defender, Ev’ry foeman must surrender.
Invocation
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Remembering how God made us His children in our baptisms, we begin our service
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Confession
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Jesus said that we must “change and become like little children” if we are going to
enter the kingdom of heaven. Like little children who are helpless to do anything for
themselves, we are helpless to do anything about our sinfulness and the sin we
commit in our lives. Let us become like little children before our heavenly Father and
confess our sins to Him, acknowledging our dependence on His mercy.
Father, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We confess we have
had sinful thoughts, we have spoken sinful and hurtful words, we have done
shameful things, and we have failed to do things that are good. We have lived as
if we are not Your children. Like little children, we are helpless to save ourselves
from Your just punishment. But we know that through Jesus You have
promised to hear us and to forgive us. Therefore, in His name, we beg for Your
mercy.
“As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those
who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13 NIV). God has had compassion on you. Jesus took the
punishment you deserved. God’s justice has been satisfied. You have been declared
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Cherish the Children – Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
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His forgiven children. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, I
forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
Amen! We are God’s children!
Verse of Response “Children of the Heavenly Father” last verse
Neither life nor death shall ever, From the Lord His children sever;
Unto them His grace He showeth, And their sorrows all He knoweth.
Entrance Psalm (From Psalm 103)
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The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear
Him;
As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions
from us.
As a father has compassion on His children, so the LORD has compassion on those
who fear Him;
For he knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
The wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear Him,
And His righteousness with their children’s children—
With those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Hymn of Praise “Oh, Worship the King” (LW 458
vs. 1, 5-6)
Oh, worship the King, all glorious above. Oh, gratefully sing His pow’r and His love;
Our shield and defender, the Ancient of Days, Pavilioned in splendor and girded with praise.
Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, In You do we trust, nor find You to fail;
Your mercies, how tender, how firm to the end, Our maker, defender, redeemer, and friend!
O measureless Might, ineffable Love, While angels delight to hymn You above,
The humbler creation, though feeble their lays, With true adoration shall sing to Your praise.
Collect
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The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
Let us pray to the Lord.
Heavenly Father, who cherished us in the helpless state of our sin and declared us to
be Your children through Your Son, Jesus Christ, fill us with Your Son’s Spirit that
we might readily cherish others, especially those who are the most vulnerable and
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helpless; through the same Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen!
Old Testament Reading
Isaiah 1:15-18 (NIV)
“When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide my eyes from you; even if you offer many
prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are full of blood; wash and make yourselves clean. Take
your evil deeds out of my sight! Stop doing wrong, learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the
oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. Come now, let us
reason together,” says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as
snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.
Epistle Reading
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 (NIV)
And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be
patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be
kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all
circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Reading Matthew 18:1-10 (NIV)
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The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 18th chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven?” He called a little child and had him stand among them. And He said: “I tell you the
truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of
heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of
heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me. But if anyone
causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large
millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world
because of the things that cause people to sin! Such things must come, but woe to the man
through whom they come! If your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut if off and throw it
away. It is better for you to enter life maimed or crippled than to have two hands or two feet and
be thrown into eternal fire. And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is
better for you to enter life with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.
See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven
always see the face of My Father in heaven.”
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This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
Creed
Hymn of the Day “Jesus Loves ALL the Children of the World”
[Tune: Jesus Loves the Little Children]
Jesus loves the little children, All the children of the world;
Red and yellow, black and white, They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
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Cherish the Children – Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
Jesus loves His precious children, All the children of the world;
Born and unborn all alike, They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves His precious children of the world.
Jesus loves His special children, All the children of the world;
Doesn’t matter what their age, Aptitude He does not gauge.
Jesus loves His special children of the world.
Jesus died for all the children, All the children of the world;
Young and old, we’re all alike, We are precious in His sight.
Jesus died for all the children of the world.
Jesus rose for all the children, All the children of the world;
Born and unborn, young and old. On the cross His love He told;
Now He lives for ALL the children of the world.
Sermon
Offering
Prayers
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Heavenly Father, thank You for the privilege of being able to call you “Father.” As
Your children, therefore, we can confidently say,
Father, hear our prayer.
Father, we thank You for calling us to be Your children through faith in the saving
work of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we come to You as Your dear
children.
Thank You, Father.
Father, as Your cherished children, we have the responsibility and the privilege to
cherish the children, to cherish those who are in need.
Father, help us cherish the children.
Help us cherish those children not yet born. Restore in us a deep love and respect for
Your gift of life and remove the blinders of political correctness from our eyes that
keep us from seeing the horribleness of abortion. Use us so that this “choice” that
destroys Your little ones will become unthinkable in our society.
Father, help us cherish the children not yet born with a great love.
Help us cherish those children not yet born. Remove our indifference and the fear of
controversy. Give us courage to speak up for these little ones who cannot speak for
themselves and make us bold to defend the right to life that You have given them.
Father, help us cherish the children not yet born and speak up for them.
Help us cherish those experiencing a crisis pregnancy for they are like little children,
vulnerable and fearful, who need our love and understanding. Enable us to help them
in real and practical ways. Help us calm their fears, provide for their every need, and
demonstrate to them Your love and compassion.
Father, help us cherish these children and attend to their needs.
Help us cherish those who were pressured into believing Satan’s lie that abortion
would help them. They are like little children feeling alone and forsaken. They need
to hear Christ’s unconditional love and forgiveness applied to them. They need the
hope and healing only You can give.
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Cherish the Children – Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
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Help us cherish the children who have made mistakes and welcome them as
Your forgiven children.
Help us cherish the frail elderly, people with disabilities, and those near life’s end for
they are often like little children in need of special care and support. Help us value
their lives, give them compassionate care, and honor the purpose You give to them
until You decide to call them home.
Father, help us cherish these children and serve Jesus as we serve them.
Help us cherish one another as God’s dear children. May we weep with those who
weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. (Special petitions may be offered here.)
Into Your hands, heavenly Father, we commend all the children for whom we pray.
Amen! May we cherish all the children!
Lord’s Prayer
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Since we are Your dear children and You are our Father, we are bold to pray . . .
Our Father, who art in heaven . . .
Benediction
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The Lord bless you and keep you as His children. The Lord make His face to shine
upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and
give you peace.
Amen!
Closing Hymn “Lord Jesus Christ, the Children’s Friend” (LW 470 1,4,5-6)
Lord Jesus Christ, the children’s friend, To each of them Your presence send;
Call them by name and keep them true In loving faith, dear Lord, to you.
For by Your Word we clearly see That we have sinned continually;
But show us too, forgiving Lord, Your saving Gospel’s great reward.
That all of us, Your children dear, By Christ redeemed, may Christ revere;
Lead us in joy that all we do, Will witness to our love for You.
Then guard and keep us to the end, Secure in You, our gracious friend,
That in Your heav’nly family, We sing Your praise eternally.
Postlude
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