December 27, 2020
A Service of Lessons & Carols
The First Sunday after Christmas December 27, 2020
This service of nine lessons and carols is inspired by a traditional English Christmas service written by the Rev. Edward White Benson in 1880.
Carol 1 Angels from the Realms of Glory (LSB 367)
Angels from the realms of glory, Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story, Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.
Come and worship, come and worship; Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Shepherds in the field abiding, Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing, Yonder shines the Infant Light.
Come and worship, come and worship; Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Δ All creation, join in praising, God the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising, To th’ eternal Three in One.
Come and worship, come and worship; Worship Christ, the newborn King.
Invocation
P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C: Amen.
Confession and Holy Absolution
P: Let us confess our sins to God our Father.
C: Lord of heaven and earth, no secrets are hidden from Your sight. You know our sins: our rebellions of thought,
word, and deed; our failure to do what You command. We admit that we have sinned against You and deserve nothing but Your eternal anger and punishment. But we are sorry for our sins and repent of them. Forgive us, we pray, for the sake of Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Savior, and fill us with Your Holy Spirit that we may live to Your praise and glory. Amen.
P: In love and mercy God sent His only Son for you, who was born in human flesh to be your Savior. By His death on the cross, Jesus Christ made full atonement for your sins and by His resurrection from the dead He has sealed the triumph of eternal life to you and to all believers. May the Lord who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C: Amen.
The Collect for the First Sunday after Christmas P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray.
C: O God, our Maker and Redeemer, You wonderfully created us and in the incarnation of Your Son yet more wondrously restored our human nature. Grant that we may ever be alive in Him who made Himself to be like us; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The First Lesson Micah 5:2-5a
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. 3 Therefore He shall give them up until the time when she who is in labor has given birth; then the rest of His brothers shall return to the people of Israel. 4 And He shall stand and shepherd His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God. And they shall dwell secure, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth. 5 And He shall be their peace.
The Second Lesson Galatians 4:4-7 Epistle for the 1st Sunday after Christmas
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!" 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
Carol 2 On Christmas Night, All Christians Sing (LSB 377)
On Christmas night all Christians sing, To hear the news the angels bring, (Repeat) News of great joy, news of great mirth, News of our merciful King's birth.
Then why should men on earth be so sad, Since our Redeemer made us glad, (Repeat) When from our sin He set us free, All for to gain our liberty?
All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night, (Repeat) "Glory to God and peace to men Now and forevermore. Amen."
The Third Lesson Isaiah 52:7-10 Old Testament for Christmas Day How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.” 8 The voice of your watchmen—they lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion. 9 Break forth together into singing, you waste places of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted His people; He has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord has bared His holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
The Fourth Lesson Hebrews 1:1-6 Epistle for Christmas Day Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days He has
spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You”? Or again, “I will be to Him a father, and He shall be to Me a son”? 6 And again, when He brings the Firstborn into the world, He says, “Let all God's angels worship Him.”
Carol 3 O Little Town of Bethlehem (LSB 361)
O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by: Yet in thy dark streets shineth, The everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years, Are met in Thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary, And, gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep, Their watch of wond’ring love. O morning stars together, Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the king, And peace to all the earth!
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The Fifth Lesson Revelation 1:1-6 First Reading for St. John’s Day (Dec 27) The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to His servants the things that must soon take place. He
made it known by sending His angel to His servant John, 2 who bore witness to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, even to all that he saw. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by His blood 6and made us a kingdom, priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
The Sixth Lesson 1 John 1:1-2:2 Epistle for St. John’s Day (Dec 27)
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon
and have touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— 2 the Life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal Life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
The Apostle’s Creed
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.
Carol 4 It Came upon the Midnight Clear (LSB 366)
It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth, To touch their harps of gold: "Peace on the earth, goodwill to all, From heav'n's all-gracious king." The world in solemn stillness lay, To hear the angels sing.
All you, beneath your heavy load, By care and guilt bent low, Who toil along a dreary way, With painful steps and slow:
Look up, for golden is the hour, Come swiftly on the wing,
The Prince was born to bring you peace; Of Him the angels sing.
For lo, the days have come to pass, By prophets seen of old, When down into the circling years, Came Christ as was foretold. His word of peace shall to the earth, God's ancient promise bring, And all who take this gift will hear, The song the angels sing.
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The Seventh Lesson Isaiah 61:10-62:3 Old Testament for the 1st Sunday after Christmas I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations. 62:1 For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a burning torch. 2 The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will give. 3 You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.
Carol 5 What Child Is This (LSB 370)
What Child is this who laid to rest, On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping? This, this is Christ the king, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;
Haste, haste to bring Him laud, The babe, the son of Mary!
Why lies He in such mean estate, Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear; for sinners here, The silent Word is pleading.
Nails, spear shall pierce Him through, The cross be borne for me, for you; Hail, hail the Word made flesh, The babe, the son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh; Come, peasant king, to own Him. The King of kings salvation brings; Let loving hearts enthrone Him. Raise, raise the song on high, The virgin sings her lullaby;
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, the babe, the son of Mary!
The Eighth Lesson Luke 2:22-40 Gospel for The First Sunday after Christmas When the time came for their purification according to the Law of Moses, [Mary and Joseph] brought [Jesus] up to
Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every male who first opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”) 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the Law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons.” 25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came in the Spirit into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, 28 he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; 30 for my eyes have seen Your salvation 31 that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and His mother marveled at what was said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is appointed for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is opposed 35 (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), so that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, 37 and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
39 And when they had performed everything according to the Law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon Him.
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Carol 6 See Amid the Winter’s Snow (LSB 373)
See amid the winter's snow, Born for us on earth below, See, the gentle Lamb appears, Promised from eternal years.
Refrain: Hail, O ever-blessed morn! Hail, redemption's happy dawn! Sing through all Jerusalem: "Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Lo, within a stable lies, He who built the starry skies,
He who, throned in height sublime, Sits amid the cherubim. Refrain
Sacred Infant, all divine, What a tender love was Thine,
Thus to come from highest bliss, Down to such a world as this! Refrain
The Ninth Lesson John 1:1-14 Gospel for Christmas Day In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with
God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but came to bear witness about the Light.
9 The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own people did not receive Him. 12 But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Carol 7 A Great and Mighy Wonder (LSB 383)
A great and mighty wonder, A full and holy cure: The virgin bears the infant With virgin honor pure!
Refrain Proclaim the Savior's birth: "To God on high be glory, And peace to all the earth!" The Word becomes incarnate, And yet remains on high,
And cherubim sing anthems, To shepherds from the sky. Refrain Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored,
The infant born in Bethl'em, The Savior and the Lord. Refrain All idols then shall perish, And Satan's lying cease,
And Christ shall raise His scepter, Decreeing endless peace. Refrain
Reflection on the Word
Carol 8 Go Tell It on the Mountain (LSB 388)
Refrain Go tell it on the mountain, Over the hills and ev'rywhere;
Go tell it on the mountain, That Jesus Christ is born. While shepherds kept their watching, O'er silent flocks by night,
Behold, throughout the heavens, There shone a holy light. Refrain The shepherds feared and trembled, When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angel chorus, That hailed our Savior's birth.
Down in a lowly manger, The humble Christ was born, And God sent us salvation, That blessed Christmas morn.
Refrain Refrain
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The Prayers & The Lord’s Prayer
The Benediction
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
C: Amen.
Carol 9 Let Us All With Gladsome Voice (LSB 390)
Let us all with gladsome voice, Praise the God of heaven, Who, to bid our hearts rejoice, His own Son hath given.
To this vale of tears He comes, Here to serve in sadness,
That with Him in heav’n’s fair homes, We may reign in gladness.
We are rich, for He was poor; Is this not a wonder? Therefore praise God evermore, Here on earth and yonder.
Christ, our Lord and Savior dear, Be Thou ever near us. Grant us now a glad new year, Amen, Jesus, hear us.
***ANNOUNCEMENTS***
Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God by the Todd Family in loving memory of their beloved Abbey Todd.
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December 13, 2020
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex
and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your
faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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Third Sunday in Advent December 13, 2020
Liturgy: Matins (pages 219-228)*
Hymns: #334, #345, #343
THE PSALM - Psalm 85:8-9, 12-13
Show us Your steadfast love, / O Lord, and grant us Your sal- / vation.
Let me hear what God the / Lord will speak,
for He will speak peace to His people, to His saints, but let them not turn back to / folly,
Surely His salvation is her to those who / fear Him, that glory may dwell / in our land.
Yes, the Lord will give / what is good, and our land will yield its / increase.
Righteousness will go be- / fore Him and make His foot- / steps a way.
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit; as it was in the be / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.
Show us Your steadfast love, / O Lord, and grant us Your sal- / vation.
Lighting the Advent Wreath
The season of Advent is a time of repentance and prayer to make ready for the celebration of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem and His coming again at the end of the age. Week by week, as light gathers on our Advent wreath, we speak and sing words of hope.
P: Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Psalm 43:3)
C: Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
O come, Thou Key of David, come, and open wide our heav’nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, and close the path to misery. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, and cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, and death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
Let us pray
Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING - Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11 (ESV)
The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion—to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. . . .
For I the Lord love justice; I hate robbery and wrong; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their offspring shall be known among the nations, and their descendants in the midst of the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge them, that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to sprout up before all the nations.
THE EPISTLE 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (ESV)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.
THE HOLY GOSPEL John 1:6-8, 19-28 (ESV)
There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through Him. 8He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the Light. . . .
This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.” (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, even He who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
December 6, 2020
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex
and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your
faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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Second Sunday in Advent
December 6, 2020
Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting One (pages 151-166)
Hymns: #344, #347, #636, #349
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THE INTROIT
Ps. 80:1, 8a, 9b, 7; antiphon: Ps. 80:3
Restore us, / O God;
let Your face shine, that we / may be saved!
Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, You who lead Joseph / like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, / shine forth.
You brought a vine out of / Egypt;
it took deep root and / filled the land.
Restore us, O / God of hosts;
let Your face shine that we / may be saved!
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.
Restore us, / O God;
Let Your face shine, that we / may be saved!
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH
The season of Advent is a time of repentance and prayer to make ready for the celebration of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem and His coming again at the end of the age. Week by week, as light gathers on our Advent wreath, we speak and sing words of hope.
P: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the Light, that all might believe through Him.
C: He was not the Light, but came to bear witness about the Light. The true Light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. (John 1:6-9)
C: Blessed is He who comes in the name / of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we / bless you.
O come, O come, Thou Lord of might, Who to Thy tribes on Sinai’s height In ancient times didst give the Law, in cloud and majesty and awe. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Branch of Jesse’s tree, free them from Satan’s tyranny That trust Thy mighty pow’r to save, and give them vict’ry o’er the grave. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
P: Let us pray.
C: Stir up, our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE FIRST READING 2 Isaiah 40:1-11 (ESV) Comfort, comfort My people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a 4highwayforourGod. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low ;the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!” Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and His arm rules for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
GRADUAL
P: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of / Zion. Shout aloud, O daughter of Je- / rusalem. Behold, your King is com– / ing to you; righteous and having sal- / vation.
THE EPISTLE 2 Peter 3:8-14 (ESV)
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of Good, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for hese, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 1:1-8 (ESV)
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way, the voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.” John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying, “After me comes He who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I have baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
*ANNOUNCEMENTS *
ALTAR FLOWERS are placed to the glory of God by Ross and Lynn Betts in loving memory of Lynn’s mother, Marcia Droege.
TRI-PARISH ADVENT SERVICE - will be held on Wednesday, December 9th at 7pm at Bethel and Wednesday, December16th at 7pm at St. John’s.
TRI-PARISH CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE – will meet on Thursday, December 10th at St. John’s.
TRI-PARISH SEWING GROUP - is scheduled for Friday, December 11th at 1:30pm at Bethel.
CONGREGATION BUDGET MEETING—is scheduled for Sunday, December 13th after the service.
RESERVATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE—Please call the church at 412-486-5777 or put your name on the signup sheet, and how many people are coming, if you plan to attend Christmas Eve service at Bethel at 8:00pm.
TRI-PARISH CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE—is scheduled for 11 am at Zion.
November 28, 2020
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex
and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your
faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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First Sunday in Advent November 29, 2020
Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting Three (pages 184-202) Hymns: #331, #348, #622, #350
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O come, O come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lowly exile here, until the Son of God appear. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
O come, Thou Wisdom from on high, Who ord’rest all things mightily, To us the path of knowledge show, and teach us in her ways to go. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!
P: Let us pray.
C: Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and be saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
THE INTROIT
Ps. 25:1-3; antiphon: Zech. 9:9b, alt.
Pastor: Congregation: Pastor: Congregation: All:
Behold, your King is com- / ing to you; righteous and having sal- / vation.
To You, / O Lord, I lift / up my soul.
O my God, in You I trust; let me not be / put to shame; let not my enemies exult / over me.
Indeed, none who wait for You shall be / put to shame; they shall be ashamed who are wantonly / treacherous.
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be- / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.
Behold, your king is com- / ing to you; righteous and having sal- / vation.
LIGHTING THE ADVENT WREATH
P: The season of Advent is a time of repentance and prayer to make ready for the celebration of Christ’s coming at Bethlehem and His coming again at the end of the age. Week by week, as light gathers on our Advent wreath, we speak and sing words of hope.
P: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light;
C: those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
P: And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? C: My hope is in You. (Psalm 39:7)
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 64:1-9 (ESV)
Oh that You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at Your presence— 2as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil—to make Your name known to Your adversaries, and that the nations might tremble at Your presence! 3When You did awesome things that we did not look for, You came down, the mountains quaked at Your presence. 4From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides You, who acts for those who wait for Him. 5You meet him who joyfully works righteousness, those who remember You in Your ways. Behold, You were angry, and we sinned; in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved? 6We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away. 7There is no one who calls upon Your name, who rouses himself to take hold of You; for You have hidden Your face from us, and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.
8But now, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter; we are all the work of Your hand. 9Be not so terribly angry, O Lord, and remember not iniquity forever. Behold, please look, we are all Your people.
GRADUAL
All: Rejoice greatly, O daughter of / Zion.
Shout aloud, O daughter of Je- / rusalem.
Behold, your King is com- / ing to you;
Righteous and having sal- / vation.
Blessed is He who comes in the name / of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we / bless you.
THE EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (ESV)
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.4I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, 5that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge—6even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Mark 11:1-10(ESV)
When they drew near to Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of His disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village in front of you, and immediately as you enter it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it and will send it back here immediately.’” 4And they went away and found a colt tied at a door outside in the street, and they untied it. 5And some of those standing there said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6And they told them what Jesus had said, and they let them go. 7And they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and He sat on it. 8And many spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut from the fields. 9And those who went before and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
* * ANNOUNCEMENTS * * *
ALTAR FLOWERS are placed to the glory of God.
RESERVATION FOR CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE—Please call the church at 412.486.5777 or put your name on the signup sheet, and how many people are coming, if you plan to attend Christmas Eve service at Bethel at 8:00pm.
GOOD BOOKS—If you need a good book to read, Bethel is starting a library in the side room of the Social Hall. Take a book, bring a book. DIRECTOR NEEDED—to be in charge of the Altar Guild. Duties include: organizing volunteers who set up and clean up communion, purchasing palms, Easter lilies and Poinsettias, communion supplies, filling candles, changing paraments, etc. If you feel you could serve the Lord in this capacity, please speak to Fred Heintz.
TRI-PARISH CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE—is scheduled for Thursday, December 10th at 7pm at St. John’s.
SEWING GROUP—will meet Friday, December 11th at 1:30pm.
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Acknowledgments: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway (Isaiah 9:2)
November 15, 2020
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself. _________________________________________________________________________________
Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost November 20, 2020
Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting Three (pages 184-202) Hymns: #531, #781, #620, #783
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THE INTROIT
Ps. 143:2, 5-6, 10-11; antiphon: Ps. 143:1
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for / mercy!
In Your faithfulness answer me, in Your / righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with Your / servant,
for no one living is righteous be- / fore You.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that / You have done;
I ponder the work / of Your hands.
I stretch out my / hands to You;
my soul thirsts for You like a / parched land.
Teach me to do Your will, for You / are my God!
Let Your good Spirit lead me on / level ground!
For Your name’s sake, O Lord, pre- / serve my life!
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of / trouble!
All: Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be- / ginning, is now, and will be forever. / Amen.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for / mercy!
In Your faithfulness answer me, in Your / righteousness!
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Pastor: Almighty and ever-living God, You hae given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You. Dispel from us the works of darkness and grant us to live in the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. AMEN.
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Zephaniah 1:7-16 (ESV) Be silent before the Lord God! 8For the day of the Lord is near; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice and consecrated His guests. And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice — “I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and all who array themselves in foreign attire. On that day I will punish everyone who leaps over the threshold, and those who fill their master’s house with violence and fraud. “On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate, a wail from the Second Quarter, a loud crash from the hills. Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar! For all the traders are no more; all who weigh out silver are cut off.And that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the men who are complacent, those who say in their hearts, ‘The Lord will not do good, nor will He do ill.’ 13Their goods shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them.”
The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter; the mighty man cries aloud there. A day of wrath is that day, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.
GRADUAL
All: These are the ones coming out of the great tribu- / lation.
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood / of the lamb.
Blessed are those whose strength is / in You, in whose heart are the highways to / Zion.
THE EPISTLE 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (ESV)
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 25:14-30 (ESV)
[Jesus said:] “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying,‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
* * * ANNOUNCEMENTS * * *
ALTAR FLOWERS are placed to the glory of God.
DRIVE THRU COMMUNION - We will be offering a drive-thru communion for members of the Tri-Parish who have been worshiping online but who are uneasy about attending in person worship or having the pastor visit their home with the Sacrament. The opportunity will be offered on Monday, November 16 from 1-3pm at Bethel Lutheran Church, 301 Scott Ave in Glenshaw. No appointment is necessary. Arrangements can be made for another time or for a home visit by calling the pastor.
What to expect: You will remain in your car. The pastor, masked, will remain at a distance. You will be given a paper outlining a brief service which will include: Confession and Absolution; Scripture; A Brief Devotional Reflection; Creed; Prayer; and Holy Communion. The elements will be extended to you in a way that maintains distancing. This brief service will be roughly 10minutes in length.
VICAR WOOLWEBER – will have regular office hours at Bethel every Wednesday from 8:30am until 4pm. You can call him at Bethel during those hours or you can also reach him by calling his cell phone at 747-232-4911.
CONGRATULATIONS – to Sherrie Purucker and Fred Heintz who have both been elected to the Board of Directors at Concordia.
BETHEL BOARD OF DIRECTORS - will meet on Tuesday, November 17th at 7pm.
TRI-PARISH COMMITTEE MEETING – has been postponed. The Tri-Parish Constitution Committee will meet instead on Wednesday, November 18th at 7pm at St. John’s.
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE - will be held on Wednesday, November 25th at 7pm at St. John’s. The Tri-Parish “Joyful Noise” Handbell Choir will be performing at the Thanksgiving Eve Service.
November 8, 2020
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
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Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost November 8, 2020
Liturgy: Matins (pages 219-228)* Hymns: #811, #514, #729
*Hymn 941 in place of the canticle
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THE PSALM—-Ps. 84:1, 9-12; antiphon: Ps. 84:5
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may / lay her young,
at Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King / and my God.
How lovely is Your / dwelling place, O / Lord of hosts!
Behold our shield, / O God;
look on the face of Your a- / nointed!
For a day in the courts is better than a thousand / elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of / wickedness.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and / honor. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk up- / rightly.
O / Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the one who / trusts in You!
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.
Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may / lay her young,
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING—- Amos 5:18-24 (ESV)
Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! Why would you have the day of the Lord? It is darkness, and not light, as if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him, or went into the house and leaned his hand against the wall, and a serpent bit him. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though
you offer Me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look open them. Take away from Me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”
THE EPISTLE —-1 Thessallonians 4:13-18 (ESV)
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. with these words. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
THE HOLY GOSPEL —-Matthew 25:1-13(ESV)
[Jesus said:] “The kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also saying, “Lord, Lord open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Pastor: Lord God, heavenly Father, send forth Your Son to lead home His bride, the Church, that with all the company of the redeemed we may finally enter His eternal wedding feast; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Congregation: AMEN.
* * ANNOUNCEMENTS * * *
ALTAR FLOWERS are placed to the Glory of God.
TRI-PARISH CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE MEETING – will be held on Wednesday,
November 11th at 7pm at Bethel.
DRIVE THRU COMMUNION. - We will be offering a drive-thru communion for members of the Tri -Parish who have been worshiping online but who are uneasy about attending in person worship or having the pastor visit their home with the Sacrament. The opportunity will be offered on Monday, November 16th from 1-3pm at Bethel. No appointment is necessary. Arrangements can be made for another time or for a home visit by calling the pastor.
What to expect: You will remain in your car. The pastor, masked, will remain at a distance. You will be given a paper outlining a brief service which will include: Confession and Absolution; Scripture; A Brief Devotional Reflection; Creed; Prayer; and Holy Communion. The elements will be extended to you in a way that maintains distancing. This brief service will be roughly 10minutes in length.
BETHEL BOARD OF DIRECTORS—is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17th at 7pm. TRI-PARISH COMMITTEE MEETING - (large group) will meet on Wednesday, November 18th
at 7pm at St. John’s.
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE –is scheduled for Wednesday, November 25th at 7pm at St. John’s. The Tri-Parish “Joyful Noise” Handbell Choir will be performing. Come and hear the beautiful sound of the bells!
November 1, 2020 - All Saints Day
All Saints Day November 1, 2020
DIVINE SERVICE: Setting One
(Lutheran Service Book, pp. 151-166)
Use this insert as a bookmark in the hymnal. Please turn off all cell phones!
HYMNS – LSB 677, 672, 633, 670
PRESERVICE MUSIC
Please observe a time of quiet meditation when the organ begins playing. You are encouraged to use the prayers on pp. 308-309 in LSB or any of the Psalms.
RINGING OF THE BELL
ANNOUNCEMENTS
✞ THE PREPARATION ✞
OPENING HYMN (we stand and sing) LSB 677
“For All the Saints”
INVOCATION p. 151
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION p. 151
INTROIT (spoken responsively) (Ps. 31:1, 3 ,5; antiphon: Rev. 7:14b)
Pastor: These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Congregation: In You, O Lord, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
in Your righteousness deliver me.
For You are my rock and my fortress;
and for Your name’s sake You lead me and guide me.
Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
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.
These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
KYRIE (responses are sung) pp. 152-153
HYMN OF PRAISE p. 155
🎵“This is the feast…”
John 3:1-3
See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. 2Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. 3And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure. (ESV)
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
ALLELUIA VERSE (we stand and sing) p. 156
🎵“Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go …”
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-12
Pastor: The Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew, the 5th chapter.
People: 🎵Glory to You, O Lord.
Seeing the crowds, He went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him.
2And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. (ESV)
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: 🎵Praise to You, O Christ.
REMEMBRANCE OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
HYMN OF THE DAY (please be seated) LSB 672
“Jerusalem the Golden”
SERMON
✞ OUR RESPONSE ✞
NICENE CREED p. 158
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
OFFERING (please be seated)
OFFERTORY (we stand and sing) pp. 159 -160
🎵“What shall I render to the Lord ...”
✞ THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION ✞
(pp. 160 ff. in the Lutheran Service Book)
If you have not communed at St. John’s before, please speak with Pastor before communing here for the first time.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN (please be seated) LSB 633
“At the Lamb’s High Feast We Sing”
POST COMMUNION CANTICLE (we stand and sing) p. 164
🎵“Thank the Lord and sing His praise …”
PRAYER p. 166
BENEDICTION p. 166
CLOSING HYMN (we stand and sing) LSB 670
“Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones”
SILENT PRAYER
POSTLUDE
October 25, 2020
The Observation of
The Reformation of the Church
Sunday, October 25, 2020
The Tri-Parish
Bethel Lutheran Church, Glenshaw, PA
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Millvale, PA
Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh, PA
Congregations of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
LSB 578 Thy Strong Word
Invocation
A: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
Psalm 32:1-5
A: Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.
C: Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.
A: For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
C: For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer.
A: I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity;
C: I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.
Confession and Forgiveness
Kneel. Silence for reflection.
A: Almighty God, our maker and redeemer, we poor sinners confess unto you that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You by thought, word, and deed. Wherefore we flee for refuge to Your infinite mercy, seeking and imploring Your grace for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C: O most merciful God, who has given Your only-begotten Son to die for us, have mercy upon us and for His sake grant us remission of all our sins; and by Your Holy Spirit increase in us true knowledge of You and of Your will and true obedience to Your Word, to the end that by Your grace we may come to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
A: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, has had mercy upon us and has given His only Son to die for us and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe on His name He gives power to become the children of God and has promised them His Holy Spirit. He that believes and is baptized shall be saved. Grant this, Lord, unto us all.
Stand.
Psalm 103:8-13
A: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
C: He will not always chide, nor will He keep His anger forever.
A: He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.
C: For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him;
A: as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.
C: As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear Him.
Kyrie
A: Lord have mercy upon us.
C: Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us.
Gloria in Excelsis (p. 154)
A: ♫ Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.
C: ♫ Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.
Salutation & Collect
A: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray.
C: Almighty and gracious Lord, pour out Your Holy Spirit on Your faithful people. Keep us steadfast in Your grace and truth, protect and deliver us in times of temptation, defend us against all enemies, and grant to Your Church Your saving peace; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The First Lesson Revelation 14:6–7
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people. And he said with a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come, and worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
The Gradual
A: Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! Walk about Zion, go around her, number her towers, consider well her ramparts.
C: Go through her citadels, that you may tell the next generation that this is God, our God forever and ever. Psalm 48:1a, 12–14a
The Epistle Romans 3:19–28
Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in His sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by His blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in His divine forbearance He had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
L: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
Alleluia
♫ Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.
The Holy Gospel Matthew 11:12-19
A: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the eleventh chapter.
C: ♫ Glory to You, O Lord.
[Jesus said:] “From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John, 14 and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15 He who has ears to hear, let him hear.
16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, 17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’
18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at Him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
A: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: ♫ Praise to You, O Christ.
Confession of Faith
A: We confess our faith in words from the Smalcald Articles, prepared by Dr. Marin Luther in 1537. These articles are included in the Lutheran Confessions which our congregation accepts without reservation.
C: The first and chief article is this:
Jesus Christ, our God and Lord, died for our sins, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:24-25)
He alone is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29), and God has laid upon Him the iniquities of us all. (Isaiah 53:6)
All have sinned and are justified freely, without their own works or merits by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, in His blood. (Romans 3:23-25)
This is necessary to believe. This cannot be otherwise acquired or grasped by any work, law, or merit. Therefore, it is clear and certain that this faith alone justifies us as St. Paul says:
“For we hold that one is justified by faith, apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28)
That He might be just, and the Justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. (Romans 3:26)
Nothing of this article can be yielded or surrendered, even though heaven and earth, and everything else falls. (Mark 13:31)
For there is no other name under heaven, given among men by we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)
And with His stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5)
Upon this article everything that we teach and practice depends, in opposition to the pope, the devil, and the whole world. Therefore, we must be certain and not doubt this doctrine. Otherwise all is lost, and the pope, and devil, and all adversaries win the victory and right over us.
LSB 655 Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word
The Sermon SOLA FIDE + SOLA GRATIA + SOLA SCRIPTURA
The Prayer of the Church
THE SERICE OF THE HOLY SUPPER
Preface
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
P: It is truly good, right, and salutary…evermore praising You and saying:
Sanctus (p. 161)
♫ Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow'r and might: Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
The Lord’s Prayer
The Words of Institution
The Pax Domini
P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
Agnus Dei (p. 163)
♫ Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
Hymn for the Distribution LSB 629 What Is This Bread?
Post-Communion Collect
Benediction
LSB 656 A Mighty Fortress
OCTOBER 11, 2020
OCTOBER 4, 2020
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020
Fifteenth Sunday after the Pentecost
September 27, 2020
Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
301 Scott Avenue Glenshaw, Pennsylvania 15116
(412) 486-5777
www.bethelglenshaw.org
Rev. Dr. Daniel Hahn, Vacancy Pastor Vicar Donn Woolweber
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost - September 27, 2020
Liturgy: Matins (pages 219-228)
*Hymns: #589, #738, #924
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32 (ESV)The word of the Lord came to me: 2“What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge’? 3As I live, declares the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel. 4Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine: the soul who sins shall die. . . .
25“Yet you say, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is My way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just? 26When a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice, he shall die for it; for the injustice that he has done he shall die. 27Again, when a wicked person turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is just and right, he shall save his life. 28Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions that he had committed, he shall surely live; he shall not die. 29Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the Lord is not just.’ O house of Israel, are My ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?30“Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, declares the Lord God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin. 31Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel? 32For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”
THE EPISTLE Philippians 2:1-4, 14-18 (ESV)If there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my3joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. . . .
14Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.18Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
THE PSALM
Ps. 147:1-5; antiphon: Ps. 147:6
The Lord lifts up the / humble;
He casts the wicked / to the ground.
Praise the Lord! For it is good to sing praises / to our god; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is / fitting.
The Lord builds up Je- / rusalem; He gathers the outcasts of / Israel.
He heals the broken- / hearted and binds / up their wounds.
He determines the number / of the stars; He gives to all of / them their names.
Great is our Lord, and abun- / dant in power; His understanding is beyond / measure.
Glory be to the Father and / to the Son and to the Holy / Spirit;
as it was in the be / ginning,
is now, and will be forever. / Amen.
The Lord lifts up the / humble;
He casts the wicked / to the ground.
THE HOLY GOSPEL
Matthew 21:23-27 (ESV)When [Jesus] entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell Me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” 27So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And He said to them,Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Pastor: Almighty God, You exalted Your Son to the place of all honor and authority. Enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit that, confessing Jesus as Lord, we may be led into all truth; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Congregation: AMEN.
AUGUST 30, 2020
AUGUST 23, 2020
WELCOME! We extend a warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning, and a special
welcome to any who are visitors to our church. Visitors are asked to sign our guest book in the narthex
and introduce themselves to the pastor. May God bless you with His love and strengthen you in your
faith. Please return whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Twelfth Sunday after PentecostAugust 23, 2020
Liturgy: Matins (pages 219-228)*
Hymns: #702, #707, #527
____________________________________________________________________________________THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 51:1-6 (ESV)“Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: look to the rock from which you were hewn, and to the quarry from which you were dug. 2Look to Abraham your father and to Sarah who bore you; for he was but one when I called him, that I might bless him and multiply him.3For the Lord comforts Zion; He comforts all her waste places and makes her wilderness like Eden, her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the voice of song.
4“Give attention to Me, My people, and give ear to Me, My nation; for a law will go out from Me, and I will set My justice for a light to the peoples. 5My righteousness draws near, My salvation has gone out, and My arms will judge the peoples; the coastlands hope for Me, and for My arm they wait.
6Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and they who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will never be dismayed.”
THE EPISTLE Romans 11:33-12:8 (ESV)Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and how inscrutable His ways! 34“For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been His counselor?” 35“Or who has given a gift to Him that He might be repaid?” 36For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen.
1I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
3For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, 5so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 16:13-20 (ESV)Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” 14And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 18And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” 20Then He strictly charged the disciples to tell no one that He was the Christ.
THE PSALM
Pastor: Congregation: Pastor: Congregation: Pastor:
All:
Ps. 2:6-7; 117; antiphon Ps. 115:18
But we will / bless the Lord
From this time forth and forevermore. / Praise the Lord!
AS FOR ME, I HAVE / SET MY KING ON ZION, MY / HOLY HILL.
I will tell of / the decree:
The Lord said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have be / gotten You.
PRAISE THE LORD, ALL / NATIONS! EXTOL HIM, ALL / PEOPLES!
For great is His steadfast / love toward us,
And the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. / Praise the Lord!
GLORY BE TO THE FATHER AND / TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY / SPIRIT;
AS IT WAS IN THE BE / GINNING,
IS NOW, AND WILL BE FOREVER. / AMEN.
BUT WE WILL / BLESS THE LORD
FROM THIS TIME FORTH AND FOREVERMORE. / PRAISE THE
LORD!
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Pastor:Almighty God, whom to know is everlasting life; grant us to know Your Son,Jesus, to be the way, the truth, and the life that we may boldly confess Him to be the Christ and steadfastly walk in the way that leads to life eternal; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Congregation: AMEN.
June 28,2020
Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
June 28, 2020
WELCOME! We extend a cordial welcome to everyone visiting with us today. We pray that you find strength for the coming week during this time spent in the presence of your Lord. Please sign our guest book, introduce yourself to the pastor before you leave today, and come again.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
June 28, 2020
Liturgy: Matins (pages219-228)
Hymns: #648, #664, #918
___________________________________________________________________________
THE PSALM Psalm 119:153-160 (ESV)
Pastor: Look on my affliction and de / liver me,
for I do not for / get Your Law.
Congregation:PLEAD MY CAUSE AND RE / DEEM ME;
GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR / PROMISE!
Pastor: Salvation is far from the / wicked,
for they do not seek Your / statutes.
Congregation:GREAT IS YOUR MERCY, / O LORD;
GIVE ME LIFE ACCORDING TO YOUR / JUST DECREES.
Pastor: Many are my persecutors and my adver / saries,
but I do not swerve from Your testi / monies.
Congregation:I LOOK AT THE FAITHLESS / WITH DISGUST,
BECAUSE THEY DO NOT KEEP / YOUR COMMANDS.
Pastor: Consider how I love Your / precepts!
Give me life according to Your / steadfast love.
Congregation:THE SUM OF YOUR / WORD IS TRUTH,
AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR RIGHTEOUS DECREES ENDURES FOR / EVER.
ALL: GLORY BE TO THE FATHER AND / TO THE SON
AND TO THE HOLY / SPIRIT;
AS IT WAS IN THE BE / GINNING,
IS NOW, AND WILL BE FOREVER. / AMEN.
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Pastor: Almighty God, by the working of Your Holy Spirit, grant that we may gladly hear Your Word proclaimed among us and follow its directing; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Congregation: AMEN.
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Jeremiah 28:5-9 (ESV)
Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord, and the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles. Yet hear now this Word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”
THE EPISTLE Romans 7:1-13 (ESV)
Do you not know, brothers--for I am speaking to those who know the Law--that the Law is binding on a person only as long as he lives? Thus a married woman is bound by law to her husband while he lives, but if her husband dies she is released from the law of marriage. Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress. Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to Another, to Him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the Law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death. But now we are released from the Law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve not under the old written code but in the New Life of the Spirit. What then shall we say? That the Law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the Law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the Law, sin lies dead. I was once alive apart from the Law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. The very commandment that promised life proved to be death to me. For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 10:34-42 (ESV)
[Jesus said:] “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones even a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
* * *ANNOUNCEMENTS * * *
ALTAR FLOWERS have been placed to the glory of God.
VICAR Donn Woolweber will be installed at Zion Lutheran Church on SUNDAY, JULY 12 at 3:00 p.m. Plan to come and meet Donn and Debbie, as they will be very involved with the Tri-Parish events. He will be Bethel’s preacher on non-communion Sundays, (2nd and 4th Sunday of the month).
THANK YOU to all the people who gave up their time to get the house ready for Vicar Donn and Debbi.
THE LITKE’S NEW ADDRESS– 5926 Vance Avenue, Fort Wayne, IN 46815.
JULY CALENDAR can be picked up in the narthex.
June 7, 2020
WELCOME! We welcome you worship, and we pray that all who gather here will be blessed as we share in this time in our Lord's presence. If you are visiting with us, please introduce yourself to the pastor and sign our guest book. If you are without a church-home, we invite you to worship with us each week. _____________________________________________________________________________
X The Holy Trinity X First Sunday after Pentecost June 7, 2020
Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting Three (pages 184-202)*
Hymns: #507, #830, #940, #861, #506
Sermon: "What in God's Name?" (Matthew 28:18-20) *The Creed is the Athanasian Creed on pages 319-320. _____________________________________________________________________________ INTROIT
Pastor: Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided/Unity. Let us give glory to Him because He has shown His mer/cy to us.
Congregation: I have set the Lord always be/fore me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be/shaken.
Pastor: Therefore my heart is glad and my whole being re/joices; my flesh also/dwells secure.
Congregation: For You will not abandon my soul/to Sheol, or let Your Holy One see cor/ruption.
Pastor: You make known to me the/path of life; in Your presence there is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures for/evermore.
All: Glory be to the Father and/to the Son and to the Holy/Spirit; as it was in the be/ginning, is now, and will be forever./Amen. Blessed be the Holy Trinity and the undivided/Unity. Let us give glory to Him because He has shown His mer/cy to us.
COLLECT OF THE DAY Pastor: Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the Eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, for You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.
Congregation: Amen.
THE OLD TESTAMENT READING Genesis 1:1-2:4 (ESV) In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. And God called the expanse heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day. And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. God called the dry land earth, and the waters that were gathered together He called seas. And God saw that it was good. And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the third day. And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. And God made the two great lights--the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night--and the stars. And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day. And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day. And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds--livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, after Our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all His work that He had done in creation. These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.
GRADUAL All: Great is the Lord, and greatly/to be praised, and His greatness is un/searchable. On Your wondrous works, I will/meditate and I will declare Your/greatness.
THE SECOND READING Acts 2:14; 22-36 (ESV) Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves know--this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised Him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for Him to be held by it. For David says concerning Him, ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set One of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw Him they worshiped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Acknowledgments: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Propers © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Reprinted by permission. License #000010218. ~
May 24, 2020
WELCOME! To those who worship with us today we bid welcome in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is our prayer that this service will enable you to seek His forgiveness and prepare you for a new week with our Master as together we recommit ourselves to serving Him. Visitors, please introduce yourselves to the pastor and sign our guest book prior to leaving this morning. Those having no regular place of worship are heartily invited to join us _____________________________________________________________________________ X Seventh Sunday of Easter X Memorial Day Weekend May 24, 2020
Liturgy: Matins (pages 219-228)* Hymns:
The Responsory is the one for Easter on page 222; the canticle is the Te Deum on pages 223-225. ____________________________________________________________________________
THE PSALM Psalm 68:1-10 (ESV)
Pastor: God shall arise, His enemies shall be/scattered;
and those who hate Him shall flee be/fore Him!
Congregation: As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive/them away;
as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish be/fore God!
Pastor: But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult be/fore God;
they shall be jubilant/with joy!
Congregation: Sing to God, sing praises/to His name; lift up a song to Him who rides through the deserts; His name is the Lord; exult be/fore Him!
Pastor: Father of the fatherless and Protector of/widows
is God in His holy habi/tation.
Congregation: God settles the solitary in a home; He leads out the prisoners to pros/perity, but the rebellious dwell in a/parched land.
Pastor: O God, when You went out before Your/people,
when You marched through the/wilderness,
Congregation: the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of/Sinai,
before God, the God of/Israel.
Pastor: Rain in abundance, O God, You/shed abroad;
You restored Your inheritance as it/languished;
Congregation: Your flock found a dwell/ing in it;
in Your goodness, O God, You provided for the/needy.
All: Glory be to the Father and/to the Son
and to the Holy/Spirit;
as it was in the be/ginning,
is now, and will be forever./Amen.
THE FIRST READING Acts 1:12-26 (ESV) Then [the apostles] returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and His brothers. In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” (Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, ‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and ‘Let another take his office.’ So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day when He was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to His resurrection.” And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two You have chosen to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.
THE EPISTLE 1 Peter 4:12-19; 5:6-11 (ESV) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of Glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the Gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
THE HOLY GOSPEL John 17:1-11 (ESV) When Jesus had spoken these words, He lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify Your Son that the Son may glorify You, since You have given Him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. I glorified You on earth, having accomplished the work that You gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify Me in Your own presence with the glory that I had with You before the world existed. I have manifested Your name to the people whom You gave Me out of the world. Yours they were, and You gave them to Me, and they have kept Your Word. Now they know that everything that You have given Me is from You. For I have given them the words that You gave Me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from You; and they have believed that You sent Me. I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. All Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, which You have given Me, that they may be one, even as We are One.”
COLLECT OF THE DAY
Pastor: O King of Glory, Lord of Hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of Truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Congregation: Amen. _____________________________________________________________________________ Acknowledgments: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Propers © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Reprinted by permission. License #000010218.
May 17, 2020
~ WELCOME! It is our prayer that you find here the love and joy that is a part of our Lord’s worship, and that you share this experience with others throughout the week. Visitors, we request that you introduce yourselves to the pastor and sign our guest book in the narthex before you leave today. If you do not have a regular place of worship, we invite you to join us every Sunday. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
X Sixth Sunday of Easter X May 17, 2020
Liturgy: Divine Service-Setting Three (pages 184-202)*
Hymns: #832, #578, #618, #712, #645 Sermon: "The Known God" (Acts 17:24, 25) *The Creed is the Nicene Creed on page 191. _________________________________________________________________________________________________
INTROIT
Pastor: Your Word is a lamp/to my feet and a light /to my path.
Congregation: Forever, O/Lord, Your Word is firmly fixed/in the heav’ns.
Pastor: Your faithfulness endures to all gener/ations; You have established the earth, and it/stands fast.
Congregation: By Your appointment they/stand this day, for all things are Your/servants. Pastor: If Your Law had not been/my delight, I would have perished in my af/fliction. Congregation: I will never forget Your/precepts, for by them You have giv/en me life.
All: Glory be to the Father and/to the Son and to the Holy/Spirit; as it was in the be/ginning, is now, and will be forever./Amen. Your Word is a lamp/to my feet and a light /to my path.
COLLECT OF THE DAY Pastor: O God, the Giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Congregation: Amen.
FIRST READING Acts 17:16-31 (ESV) While Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, “What does this babbler wish to say?” Others said, “He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities”--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took hold of him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean.” Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, This I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is He served by human hands, as though He needed anything, since He Himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward Him and find Him. Yet He is actually not far from each one of us, for ‘In Him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed His offspring.’ Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed; and of this He has given assurance to all by raising Him from the dead.”
GRADUAL
All: Christ has risen/from the dead. [God the Father] has crowned Him with glory and/honor, He has given Him dominion over the works/of His hands; He has put all things un/der His feet.
THE EPISTLE 1 Peter 3:13-22 (ESV) Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered once for sins, the Righteous for the unrighteous, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the Spirit, in Which He went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to Him.
THE HOLY GOSPEL John 14:15-21 (ESV) [Jesus said:] “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.” ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________ Acknowledgments: Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Propers © 2006 Concordia Publishing House. Reprinted by permission. License #000010218.
May 10, 2020
X In Nomine Iesu Christi X
THE OPENING SENTENCES
Pastor: O Lord, open my lips,
People: and my mouth will declare Your raise.
Pastor: Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
People: Make haste to help me, O Lord.
THE GLORIA PATRI All: 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.
THE SEASONAL VERSE All: Praise to You, O Christ, Alleluia.
THE VENITE All: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. The deep places of the earth are in His hand; the strength of the hills is His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. 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.
THE PSALMODY Psalm 146
Pastor: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul! People: I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Pastor: Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. People: When his breath departs he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish. Pastor: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God, People: who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; Pastor: who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. People: The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. Pastor: The Lord watches over the sojourners; He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked He brings to ruin. People: The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord!
THE GLORIA PATRI All: 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.
THE CHILDREN'S SERMON
THE HYMN (Lutheran Service Book #797) All: Praise the Almighty, my soul, adore Him! Yes, I will laud Him until death; With songs and anthems I come before Him As long as He allows me breath. From Him my life and all things came; Bless. O my soul, His holy name. Alleluia! Alleluia! Trust not in rulers; they are but mortal; Earth-born they are and soon decay. Vain are their counsels at life’s last portal, When the dark grave engulfs its prey. Since mortals can no help afford, Place all your trust in Christ, our Lord. Alleluia! Alleluia!
THE FIRST READING Acts 6:1-9; 7:2; 51-60 (ESV) Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the Word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the Word.” And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them. And the Word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), and of the Cyrenians, and of the Alexandrians, and of those from Cilicia and Asia, rose up and disputed with Stephen. And Stephen said: “Brothers and fathers, hear me. The God of Glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran. You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did not your fathers persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered, you who received the Law as delivered by angels and did not keep it.” Now when they heard these things they were enraged, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out with a loud voice and stopped their ears and rushed together at him. Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
THE EPISTLE 1 Peter 2:2-10 (ESV) Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up to salvation--if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. As you come to Him, a living Stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a Stone, a Cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The Stone that the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone,” and “A Stone of stumbling, and a Rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the Word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
THE HOLY GOSPEL John 14:1-14 (ESV) [Jesus said:] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.”
THE RESPONSORY Pastor: Sing to the Lord and bless His name, Proclaim His salvation from day to day. People: Give to the Lord all glory and strength, give Him the honor due His name. Alleluia, alleluia. Pastor: Now Christ is risen from the dead and become the Firstfruits of them that sleep. People: Give to the Lord all glory and strength, give Him the honor due His name. Alleluia, alleluia. Pastor: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. People: Give to the Lord all glory and strength, give Him the honor due His name. Alleluia, alleluia. THE
SERMON “Seeing and Showing God” (John 14:8-10)
THE CANTICLE The Te Deum Laudamus All: We praise You, O God, we acknowledge You to be the Lord. All the earth now worships You, the Father Everlasting. To You all angels cry aloud, the heavens and all the powers therein. To You cherubim and seraphim continually do cry: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabaoth; heaven and earth are full of the majesty of Your glory. The glorious company of the apostles praise You. The goodly fellowship of the prophets praise You. The noble army of martyrs praise You. The holy Church throughout all the world does acknowledge You: The Father of an Infinite Majesty; Your adorable, true, and only Son; also the Holy Ghost, the Comforter. You are the King of Glory, O Christ; You are the everlasting Son of the Father. When You took upon Yourself to deliver man, You humbled Yourself to be born of a virgin. When You had overcome the sharpness of death, You opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. You sit at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father. We believe that You will come to be our Judge. We therefore pray You to help Your servants, whom You have redeemed with Your precious blood. Make them to be numbered with Your saints in glory everlasting. O Lord, save Your people and bless Your heritage. Govern them and lift them up forever. Day by day we magnify You. And we worship Your name forever and ever. Grant, O Lord, to keep us this day without sin. O Lord, have mercy upon us, have mercy upon us. O Lord, let Your mercy be upon us, as our trust is in You. O Lord, in You have I trusted; let me never be confounded.
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. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
COLLECT OF THE DAY Pastor: Let us pray: O God, You make the minds of Your people to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Congregation: Amen.
THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH (after each petition:) Pastor: Lord, in Your mercy, People: hear our prayer. (at the end:) People: Amen.
THE COLLECT FOR GRACE Pastor: O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, You have safely brought us to the beginning of this day. Defend us in the same with Your mighty power and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our doings, being ordered by Your governance, may be righteous in Your sight; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen.
THE BENEDICTION Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit X be with you all. People: Amen.
THE HYMN (Lutheran Service Book #797)
All: Blessed, oh, blessed are they forever Whose help is from the Lord Most High, Whom from salvation can nothing sever, And who in hope to Christ draw nigh. To all who trust in Him, our Lord Will aid and counsel now afford. Alleluia! Alleluia! Penitent sinners, for mercy crying, Pardon and peace from Him obtain; Ever the wants of the poor supplying, Their faithful God He will remain. He helps His children in distress, The widows and the fatherless. Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise, all you people, the name so holy Of Him who does such wondrous things! All that has being, to praise Him solely, With happy heart its amen sings. Children of God, with angel host Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Alleluia! Alleluia!
May 3, 2020
X In Nomine Iesu Christi X THE INVOCATION Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the X Son and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen. THE CONFESSION OF SINS Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. People: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (silence for meditation and self-examination) Pastor: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. People: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. THE DECLARATION OF GRACE Pastor: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for His sake God forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ He gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them the Holy Spirit. May the Lord, who has begun this good work in us, bring it to completion in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. People: Amen. THE PSALM Psalm 23 (ESV) Pastor: The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. People: He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. Pastor: He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. People: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Pastor: You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. People: Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. All: 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. THE SALUTATION Pastor: The Lord be with you. People: And also with you. THE COLLECT OF THE DAY Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty God, merciful Father, since You have wakened from death the Shepherd of Your sheep, grant us Your Holy Spirit that when we hear the voice of our Shepherd we may know Him who calls us each by name and follow where He leads; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. People: Amen. THE FIRST READING Acts 2:42-47 (ESV) They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. THE EPISTLE 1 Peter 2:19-25 (ESV) This is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth. When He was reviled, He did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but continued entrusting Himself to Him who judges justly. He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. THE HOLY GOSPEL John 10:1-10 (ESV) [Jesus said:] “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the Door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the Door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what He was saying to them. So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the Door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the Door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” THE CHILDREN'S SERMON THE HYMN (Lutheran Service Book #710) All: The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want; He makes me down to lie In pastures green; He leadeth me The quiet waters by. My soul He doth restore again And me to walk doth make Within the paths of righteousness, E’en for His own name’s sake. Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, Yet will I fear no ill; For Thou art with me, and Thy rod And staff me comfort still. My table Thou hast furnished In presence of my foes; My head Thou dost with oil anoint, And my cup overflows. Goodness and mercy all my life Shall surely follow me; And in God’s house forevermore My dwelling place shall be. THE SERMON “Never in Need” (Psalm 23:1) 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 X everlasting. Amen. THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH (after each petition:) Pastor: Lord, in Your mercy, People: hear our prayer. (at the end:) People: Amen. 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. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. THE BENEDICTION Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you X peace. People: Amen. X X X ~