The Bulletin is at: 11-11-2018 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 11-11-2018 – Service
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TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
November 11, 2018
AS WE GATHER…“My Shepherd will supply my need.” These simple words, which paraphrase the first verse of Psalm 23, remind us that our Lord knows what we need and provides for us. In these weeks of harvesttime, we find joy in seeing how once again “The earth has yielded its increase” (Psalm 67:6). Although it may be easy to be thankful in the season of bountiful harvests, we are reminded in God’s Word that we can be equally grateful in leaner times. Our gracious God consistently supplies our needs.
RINGING OF THE BELL
CHORAL ANTHEM: Hear our Prayer with America the Beautiful
Arranged by Marty Parks
Hear our prayer. O Father hear our prayer, As Your blessing we share.
And heal our land, O Father, heal our land;
And grant to us Your vision And the courage to stand.
Your precepts are holy and right;
And Your Word gives radiant light.
So hear our prayer, Lord, hear our prayer.
America! America! God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
Hear our prayer. O Father hear our prayer,
In mercy please forgive us,
As Your blessings we share.
And heal our land, grant to us Your vision
And the courage to stand.
Your precepts are holy and right;
And Your Word gives radiant light.
So, hear our prayer; hear our prayer!
In mercy please forgive us, Lord hear our prayer.
P: Dear Lord, we pray that you would shine the bright beams of your light into our lives today. Our days are often filled with darkness. In our worship today, send the light of your forgiveness, the light of your Word, and the light of your mercy into our hearts and minds. We want to reflect your light! In Jesus’ name we pray.
C: Amen.
BEING HONEST TO GOD…
P: As children of God who desire to be at peace with our Lord, with ourselves, and with all people, let us come with confidence before the throne of grace to confess our sins and to receive absolution.
Moment of Silence
C: Almighty God, who speaks peace to His people, Your salvation is near to all who fear You. We know well that we are by nature sinful and unclean and that we have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed. Grant us Your mercy, and spare us from the just punishment of our sin, which our Lord Jesus Christ has borne for us on the cross. Renew us by Your Holy Spirit that we may walk in the way of peace both now and forever.
RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE…….
P: God has promised to grant His forgiveness to all who repent of their sins and turn to Him for mercy. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. God keep you in perfect peace, lead you in ways of faith and obedience, and bring you to live with Him forever, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
HYMN OF PRAISE Shine, Jesus Shine
- Lord, the Light of Your love is shining
In the midst of the darkness shining;
Jesus, Light of the World, shine upon us.
Set us free by the truth You now bring us.
Shine on me, shine on me. – Refrain
Refrain: Shine, Jesus, shine,
Fill this land with the Father’s glory;
Blaze, Spirit, blaze,
Set our hearts on fire.
Flow, river flow,
Flood the nations with grace and mercy.
Send forth Your Word, Lord, and let there be light.
- Lord, I come to Your awesome presence,
From the shadows into Your radiance;
By the blood I may enter Your brightness,
Search me, try me, consume all my darkness,
Shine on me, shine on me. – Refrain
- As we gaze on Your kingly brightness,
So our faces display Your likeness;
Ever changing from glory to glory,
Mirror’d here may our lives tell Your story,
Shine on me, shine on me. – Refrain
P: Let us Pray…Eternal God, as we face the uncertainties and darkness of life in this world, help us also to take great hope in the promise of Your deliverance into the brightness of eternal life with You in the new heavens and earth; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT: I Kings 17:8-16
The prophet Elijah aids the widow of Zarephath.
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, 9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you.” 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said, “Bring me a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.” 11 And as she was going to bring it, he called to her and said, “Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand.” 12 And she said, “As the Lord your God lives, I have nothing baked, only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. And now I am gathering a couple of sticks that I may go in and prepare it for myself and my son, that we may eat it and die.” 13 And Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go and do as you have said. But first make me a little cake of it and bring it to me, and afterward make something for yourself and your son. 14 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, ‘The jar of flour shall not be spent, and the jug of oil shall not be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” 15 And she went and did as Elijah said. And she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke by Elijah.
Jesus honors the great gift of the poor widow.
38 And in his teaching he said, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes and like greetings in the marketplaces 39 and have the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts,40 who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.”
41 And he sat down opposite the treasury and watched the people putting money into the offering box. Many rich people put in large sums. 42 And a poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which make a penny. 43 And he called his disciples to him and said to them, “Truly, I say to you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the offering box. 44 For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”
SERMON HYMN: Eternal Father, Strong to Save LBW 467
- Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm has bound the restless wave,
Who bade the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep:
Oh hear us when we cry to thee
for those in peril on the sea.
- O Savior, whose almighty word
The winds and waves submissive heard,
Who walked upon the foaming deep,
And calm amid the storm didst sleep:
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea
- O Holy Spirit, who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
and bid its angry tumult ease,
And give, for wild confusion peace:
Oh, hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea.
- O Trinity of love and pow’r,
All trav’lers guard in danger’s hour
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
protect them where so e’er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to thee
Glad hymns and praise from land and sea.
C: We believe in God, the creator of all things, the source of all goodness and love…We believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, true God yet true man. He was crucified, died and was buried for our sin that we might be free and know the joy of life. He was raised on the third day and ascended to heaven, and will come again in power and glory to judge both the living and the dead…We believe in the Holy Spirit, the power of God at work inside of us…We believe in the church of God, the people of faith throughout the world…We believe that our sin is forgiven and that we will live together with God for now and throughout eternity. Amen.
OFFERING
COLLECTING MITES
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Almighty God, we give thanks for all Your goodness and Your love, which sustains us from day to day. Keep us in the saving faith that the Last Day be but the first day of our eternal deliverance. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Save our nation, and grant health and wisdom to all who bear office in our land and throughout the world, that truth and justice prevail and that we may lead peaceable lives. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Deliver us from all fear by filling us with Your perfect love, ordering our days in Your peace. Grant Your blessing to all who work to bring peace safety in our daily lives. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: By Your Word and Spirit comfort all who are in sorrow, need, sickness, or adversity, (especially…). Be with those who suffer persecution for the faith. Have mercy on those to whom death draws near. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
A TRIBUTE TO OUR PEACE VETERANS
FINAL PRAYER
P: Lord God of hosts, stretch forth Your almighty arm to strengthen and protect those who serve in the armed forces in our country. Support them in times of war, and in times of peace keep them from all evil, giving them courage and loyalty. Grant that in all things they may serve with integrity and with honor. Bless our veterans too that their lives would be lived in your peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
CLOSING SONG: My Country, ‘Tis of Thee LBW 566
- My country, ‘tis of thee,
Sweet land of liberty,
Of thee I sing:
Land where my fathers died,
Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From every mountain side
Let freedom ring.
- My native country, thee,
Land of the noble free,
Thy name I love;
I love thy rocks and rills,
Thy woods and templed hills;
My heart with rapture thrills
Like that above.
- Let music swell the breeze,
And ring from all the trees
Sweet freedom’s song;
Let mortal tongues awake;
Let all that breathe partake;
Let rocks their silence break,
The sound prolong.
- Our fathers’ God, to thee,
Author of liberty,
To thee we sing:
Long may our land be bright
With freedom’s holy light.
Protect us by thy might,
Great God, our king.
DISMISSAL