BULLETIN – SUNDAY, NOVEMEBR 12, 2023

BULLETIN – SUNDAY, NOVEMEBR 12, 2023

WELCOME to MESSIAH & ST. PETER LUTHERAN CHURCHES

Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor

Rose Steinhauer, Organist

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost

ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE

CONFESSION and FORGIVENESS     Page 56

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.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 you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. 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.

ENTRANCE HYMN

Holy God, We Praise Your Name     #535

APOSTOLIC GREETING     Page 57

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

And also with you.

KYRIE     Pages 57-59

🎶In peace let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶For this holy house, and for all who offer here and online their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.

🎶Lord have mercy.

🎶Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord.

🎶Amen.

HYMN OF PRAISE     Pages 58-59

🎶Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.

🎶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.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

O God of justice and love, you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, and awaken us to the needs of others, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

FIRST READING      AMOS 5:18-24

Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord! Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your festivals, 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 offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

PSALM     70

Be pleased, O God, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.

Let those who seek my life be put to shame and confounded; let those who take pleasure in my misfortune draw back and be disgraced.  

Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat over me turn back because of their shame. 

Let all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; let those who love your salvation say forever, “Great is the Lord!” 

But as for me, I am poor and needy; come to me quickly, O God. You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry. 

SECOND READING     1 THESSALONIANS 14:13-18

We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so 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 died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION     Page 62

🎶Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia. Alleluia.

The Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew, the 25th chapter.

🎶Glory to you, oh Lord.

GOSPEL     MATTHEW  25:1-13

[Jesus said to the disciples:] “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 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, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

🎶Praise to you, o Christ.

SERMON

HYMN of the DAY

Take My Life, that I May Be     #406

PROFESSION of FAITH     Apostles’ Creed     Page 65

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He decended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

PRAYERS of INTERCESSION

Turn your hearts to God, the source of our breath and life, to pray with one voice for the church, the world, and all who have needs. A brief silence.

God for whom we wait to renew and restore hope that can be found only in you. Deepen our faith through meaningful worship so that your justice and truth are experienced by all. Be pleased, O God, to deliver us; O Lord, make haste to help us. 

God for whom we watch, creation provides awesome evidence of your power and beauty. But it too, needs restoration and renewal so that all people and animals may thrive. Save us from foolish, wasteful living. Be pleased, O God, to deliver us; O Lord, make haste to help us. 

God for whom we long, let justice roll down like mighty water upon all nations. Bless every leader with wisdom; save the planet from war. We especially pray for  veterans of this community to feel supported and loved. Be pleased, O God, to deliver us; O Lord, make haste to help us. 

God, in whom we hope, we pray for all who are in need. Provide for those who experience homelessness or hunger, support the under- or unemployed, and comfort any who are suffering this day (especially those on our prayer list). Be pleased, O God, to deliver us; O Lord, make haste to help us. 

God for whom we listen, inspire the music ministry of our congregations. Fill our worship spaces with songs that proclaim your greatness. Bless us with appreciation for the sound of saving grace and your loving care. Be pleased, O God, to deliver us; O Lord, make haste to help us. 

God, in whom we remain grateful for loved ones who have died and now live in you. Bring comfort and encouragement to all persons caught in the process of letting go. Be pleased, O God, to deliver us; O Lord, make haste to help us. 

We offer our spoken prayers and those held within our hearts trusting in your tender mercy and the complete assurance of your steadfast love; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord. Amen. 

EXCHANGE of PEACE

OFFERING & OFFERTORY     Page 75

🎶Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit.

LORD’S PRAYER

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 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.

BENEDICTION     Page 74

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.

Amen.

CLOSING HYMN

Oh, Happy Day When We Shall Stand     #351

DISMISSAL     Page 74

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE

Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.

Altar flowers at St. Peter have been presented by Bruce & Diane Keister in celebration of their 47th Anniversary.

Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Roz Ogden in memory of loved ones.