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CALL TO WORSHIP “Surely the Presence of the Lord”
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place;
I can feel his mighty power and his grace.
I can hear the brush of angels’ wings, I see glory on each face;
Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.
OPENING HYMN “Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord” LW#33
INVOCATION (Matthew 28:19)
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor: Amen
CONFESSION/ABSOLUTION (1 John 1:8-9)
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 reflection 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 you 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 most Holy Name. Amen.
Pastor: God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of the Word I therefore forgive you all your sins in the Name of the Father and of the (+) Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
INTROIT (Psalm 80)
Pastor: Daughter of Zion,
People: behold, surely your salvation is coming.
Pastor: The LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard,
People: and you shall have gladness of heart.
Pastor: Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
People: You who lead Jacob like a flock.
Pastor: Restore us, O God;
People: cause Your face to shine, and we shall be saved!
Pastor: Return, we beseech You, O God of Hosts,
People: look down from heaven and see.
Pastor: Let Your hand be upon the Man of Your right hand,
People: upon the Son of Man whom You made strong for Yourself.
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.
Pastor: Daughter of Zion,
People: behold, surely your salvation is coming.
Pastor: The LORD will cause His glorious voice to be heard,
People: and you shall have gladness of heart.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
KYRIE (Sung)
Pastor: In peace let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of us all, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For all pastors in Christ, for all servants of the Church, and for all people, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For our president, for all public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all people here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord:
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord
People: Lord, have mercy.
Pastor: Help, save, comfort, and defend us gracious Lord.
People: Love, have mercy
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And with your spirit.
All: 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.
OLD TESTAMENT Malachi 4:1-6
4 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2 But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. 3 And you shall tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet, on the day when I act, says the Lord of hosts.
4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the statutes and rules that I commanded him at Horeb for all Israel.
5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.6 And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.”
CHOIR ANTHEM
THE EPISTLE Romans 15:4-13
4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(Sung) Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia
THE GOSPEL Luke 21:25-36
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to Luke the 21st Chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord
25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
29 And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. 30 As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. 31 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. 32 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. 33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. 35 For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
WHAT WE BELIEVE The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
SERMON HYMN “On Jordan’s Bank the Baptist’s Cry” LW#14
THE MESSAGE Remembering What Does Not Come and Then Go
PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL
THE BENEDICTION (Numbers 6:24-27)
CLOSING HYMN “Once He Came in Blessing” LW#30