The Service in PDF format is at: November 15, 2020 Service
Video of service is at: Facebook Video
Peace Lutheran Church
Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
November 15, 2020
As We Gather…We read today about three servants. Two were good and faithful. Two enter into the joy of their master. One does not. Our Lord has entrusted us with many good and gracious gifts and sends us into the world to make disciples and multiply the gifts we have received. Yet, it is not our own work that leads us into the joy of our Master; rather, it is our Master’s work on our behalf. Jesus’ saving work of death and resurrection brings us into the joy of our Master.
OPENING SONG: “We Will Walk in the Light”
(sung by choir on September 22, 2019)
Words by Nancy Price & Don Besig Music by Don Besig © 1998, GlorySound a division of Shawnee Press, Inc.
We will walk in the light. We will walk in the light.
Yes, we will walk in the light of the Lord.
Through ev’ry night and ev’ry day,
we will surely find our way when we walk,
walk in the light, the light of the Lord.
We will walk in the light. We will walk in the light.
Yes, we will walk in the light of the Lord.
Through ev’ry night and ev’ry day,
we will surely find our way when we walk,
walk in the light, the light of the Lord, of the Lord.
Sometimes when the road is rough and long, So rough and long,
we feel like ev’ry thing in life just seems to be wrong.
just seems to be wrong.
When we feel afraid and trouble is all around us,
we need God’s light to keep us strong!
We will walk in the light. We will walk in the light.
Yes, we will walk in the light of the Lord.
Through ev’ry night and ev’ry day,
we will surely find our way
when we walk, walk in the light, the light of the Lord.
When we’re lost and don’t know what to do,
Don’t know what to do,
we’ll find our Savior right beside us, helping us through.
always helping us through.
Ev’ry where we go, wherever the road may lead us,
God’s light is shining strong and true!
We will walk in the light. We will walk in the light.
Yes, we will walk in the light of the Lord.
Through ev’ry night and ev’ry day,
we will surely find our way when we walk,
walk in the light, the light of the Lord.
We will walk in the light. We will walk in the light.
Yes, we will walk in the light of the Lord.
Through ev’ry night and ev’ry day, we will surely find our way
when we walk, walk in the light, the light of the Lord.
We will walk, walk in the light, the light of the Lord.
In the light of the Lord. We will walk in the light of the Lord.
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: We begin with prayer. Almighty and ever-living God, you have 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, that our faith may never be found wanting; through the same Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
Pastor: Our heavenly Father has done wonderful things for us. He has given us more than we could ever ask for or imagine. Yet, there have been times when we have been ungrateful for God’s gifts, times when we have been lazy and selfish with what He has given us, times when we have been unfaithful servants. Yet, our heavenly Father invites us to return to Him and ask for His forgiveness.
Silence for self-examination
Pastor: Heavenly Father,
People: we confess that we have not been faithful with all of the good gifts You have given us. We have sinned in our thoughts, words, and actions. We have failed by our inactivity. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, O Lord, that we might be restored as Your servants.
Pastor: God hears your confession and has promised to be with you always. Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son, Jesus, to die and rise for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen. We are forgiven. We are restored in Jesus.
EPISTLE: I Thessalonians 5:1-11
Reader: 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.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God!
Reader: “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servantsand 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 had 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.’ 21 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 sown 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.
Reader: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to You, O Christ!
MESSAGE “Children of the Day”
Pastor: Dear heavenly Father, You have placed us in various vocations for the sake of Your people. Strengthen us when we face challenges and trails that would tempt us to abandon Your Church. Forgive us when we go astray. Bring back all those who have wandered from the faith. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Lord, raise up good and faithful servants in Your Church, that we work together for the common good. Raise up good and faithful servants in the governments of the world, that citizens of all nations might be treated with fairness and justice. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Lord, the day of Jesus’ return is drawing near. Give us patience and faith as we await His return. Embolden us to serve our neighbors and never grow weary of doing good. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Lord, disease and devastation have infected so much of Your creation, but we know Your healing is always close at hand. Be with all those who suffer now through abuse, illness, and injustice, (especially…). Heal them according to Your will, and send justice for the oppressed. Lord, in Your mercy,
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG: “Just a Closer Walk with Thee”
(recorded by Praise Team on October 31)
Jack Schrader © Words: Public Domain Music: 1980, 1997, 2009 Hope Publishing Company
CHORUS
Just a closer walk with thee
Grant it Jesus is my plea
Daily walking close to Thee
Let it be dear Lord let it be
I am weak but Thou art strong
Jesus keep me from all wrong
I’ll be satisfied as long
As I walk let me walk close to Thee
CHORUS
Through this world of toil and snares
If I falter Lord who cares
Who with me my burden shares
None but Thee dear Lord none but Thee
CHORUS
When my feeble life is o’er
Time for me will be no more
Guide me gently safely o’er
To Thy kingdom shore to Thy shore
CHORUS
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 peace.
People: Amen.
DISMISSAL