The bulletin is at: 11-20-2016-bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 11-20-2016-last-sunday-of-the-church-year
or the service is also as follows:
Last Sunday of the Church Year
November 20, 2016
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AS WE GATHER: The Last Sunday of the Church Year has been called “Christ the King Sunday.” But as we look at today’s Gospel, Jesus doesn’t seem very regal or royal from the cross. Pilate mocks Jesus with the inscription “This is the King of the Jews.” Jesus hangs and dies beaten, bruised, and bloody. Yet, Jesus is King—even from the cross. Going to the cross, Jesus is remarkably in control, warning the daughters of Jerusalem, praying, “Gather, forgive them,” and extending salvation to the repentant thief. That thief must have taken notice of Jesus’ kingship because he pleads, “Remember me when You come into Your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). And so we pray: Crucified King Jesus, remember us, and keep us in the faith until You return to reign.
P: In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen!
P: God is our refuge and strength,
C: A very present help in trouble.
P: Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way,
C: though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
P: though its waters roar and foam,
C: though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
P: The Lord of hosts is with us;
C: The God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46
ADMITTING OUR FAULTS
P: So often, we have lived as though we are in darkness. We live as those who are by nature sinful and unclean. Our words and actions do not reflect the light of Christ. We do not live as people who are citizens of the kingdom of God. Confessing our sin, let us make refuge in the infinite mercy of God our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ.
C: Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN
P: God has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Almighty 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 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.
C: Amen
SONG OF PRAISE “Red Book” 225 (twice through) I Love You, Lord
I love You, Lord, and I lift my voice,
To worship You, O my soul, rejoice!
Take joy, my King, in what You hear;
May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
P: The Lord be with you
C: And also with you.
P: Let us pray together:
C: Lord Jesus, even from the cross, You reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. Forgive us our sins, and remember us as You come into Your kingdom that, like the repentant thief on the cross, we, too, may be with You in paradise;
P: for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS
The First Lesson: Malachi 3:13-18 The Lord hears and remembers
“Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”
Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. “They shall be mind, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.”
The Second Lesson: Colossians 1:13-20 The Lord has transferred us to the kingdom of His Son
He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
The Gospel Lesson: Luke 23:27-43 “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your kingdom”
There followed [Jesus] a great multitude of the people and of women who were in mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into our kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
CHOIR SONG Soli Deo By David Waggoner
SERMON Finding Light in Darkness
SERMON HYMN “Green Book” 526 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise, in
Light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise!
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, nor
Wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might; Thy
Justice like mountains high soaring above Thy
Clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life thou givest, to both great and small; In
All life thou livest, the true life of all; we
Blossom and flourish like leaves on the tree, and
Wither and perish, but naught changeth thee.
Thou reignest in glory; thou dwellest in light; thine
Angels adore thee, all veiling their sight; all
Laud we would render; oh, help us to see ‘tis
Only the splendor of light hideth thee!
C: 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 descended 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 Christian Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body,
And the life everlasting. Amen.
OFFERINGS
The offerings gathered are a sign of our whole lives offered to God in humble gratitude for his greatest of all offerings, his Son offered for our salvation.
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God, and for all people according to their needs.
P: This Last Sunday of the Church Year, we come before our heavenly Father in the name of the One who is King of kings, His Son, Jesus. At His invitation we pray. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Almighty God, all in heaven and on earth will bow before Your Son and confess that He is Lord. With his assurance, grant courage to those who face opposition from hostilities to the Gospel. By Your Holy Spirit, strengthen all Christians to bear bold and loving witness to Your Son. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Almighty God, You are ruler over all the nations. Give a spirit of wisdom to those who govern our land, that there may be justice and peace. Bless our nation with honesty, truth and an honorable way of life. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Almighty God, the strength of the weak and the consolation of those who put their trust in You, mercifully accept our prayers on behalf of Your people (especially……….) that by Your power their illness and challenges may be turned around. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Into your hands, O God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
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.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
THE LORD’S PRAYER
C: 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 glory forever and ever. Amen.
DISTRIBUTION
“Red Book” 49 Glorify Thy Name
Father, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Jesus, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Spirit, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
“Red Book” 78 How Great Thou Art
O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds thy hand hath made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
When through the woods and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;
When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur
And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,
Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,
That on the cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin;
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim “My God how great thou art!”
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to thee,
How great thou art! How great thou art!
“Red Book” 90 I Know That My Redeemer
I know that my Redeemer lives!
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, he lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever living head!
He lives to bless me with his love;
He lives to plead for me above;
He lives my hungry soul to feed;
He lives to help in time of need.
He lives to grant me rich supply;
He lives to guide me with his eye;
He lives to comfort me when faint;
He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears;
He lives to wipe away my tears;
He lives to calm my troubled heart;
He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, all glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same;
What joy this blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!
P: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.
C: Amen.
CLOSING SONG “Red Book” 98 In His Time
In his time, in his time, He makes all things beautiful, in his time
Lord please show my ev’ry day as you’re teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say, in your time.
In your time, in your time, you make all things beautiful in your time,
Lord, my life to you I bring, May each song I have to sing,
Be to you a lovely thing, in your time.
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!
POST-SERVICE MUSIC