The Bulletin is at: 11-25-2018 – Buletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 11-25-2018 – Service
or the service is as follows:
LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR
November 25, 2018
AS WE GATHER…Today is the Last Sunday of the Church Year. Next week we will turn our attention to Advent and preparations for the celebration of Jesus’ birth. But as we prepare to celebrate Jesus’ first coming, we also anticipate His second coming. Jesus’ return in glory is the focus of this service. Jesus calls on His followers to stay awake and remain prepared for His coming. He warns that no one knows the day or the hour of His return. But He promises He is returning and returning soon.
P: Direct us, O Lord, in our worship today. Through Your love and forgiveness, lead us from darkness into Your light. By the working of the Holy Spirit, make us ready to bring the light of Your grace to our community and world. This we ask in the name of Jesus. We thank You—Father, Son + and Holy Spirit for Your presence in worship.
C: Amen.
BEING HONEST TO GOD…
P: Jesus is coming again and coming soon. Although we know this, although we have heard His words and warning, we have not always acted as though Jesus were coming soon. At times we have grown complacent, focused on the things of this world rather than on Christ, His Word, and His salvation. As we gather together in the Lord’s house, let us consider our failure to live according to His holiness.
Silence for reflection
P: Heavenly Father,
C: We have not always lived according to Your ways. We have fallen asleep in the comfort of our sins. We have not stayed awake and remained prepared for the return of Your Son, Jesus. Forgive us, renew us, and stir us up so that we might prepare ourselves and others for Jesus’ return.
RECEIVING GOD’S GRACE…
P: Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, you are presented blameless before the presence of God. As a called and ordained servant of the risen 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.
C: Amen.
OPENING SONG: “Holy, Holy, Holy”
(From the Song Selection Box)
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons blessed Trinity!
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim falling down before thee,
Which wert and art and everymore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee,
Though the eye made blind by sin thy glory may not see,
Only thou art holy’ there is none beside thee,
Perfect in pow’r in love and purity.
Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
All thy works shall praise thy name in earth and sky and sea.
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity!
P: Let us Pray…Lord Jesus, govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
God’s salvation will be forever.
“Give attention to me, my people,
and give ear to me, my nation;
for a law will go out from me,
and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.
My righteousness draws near,
my salvation has gone out,
and my arms will judge the peoples;
the coastlands hope for me,
and for my arm they wait.
Lift up your eyes to the heavens,
and look at the earth beneath;
for the heavens vanish like smoke,
the earth will wear out like a garment,
and they who dwell in it will die in like manner;
but my salvation will be forever,
and my righteousness will never be dismayed.
Stay awake and keep prepared for Jesus’ coming.
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
“From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”
CHOIR ANTHEM “Hungerin’ in My Soul”
Words & Music by Pepper Choplin (ASCAP)
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul. (x2)
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul – uh my soul.
Fill it up, Lord, and make me whole.
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul. (x2)
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul – uh my soul.
Fill it up, Lord, and make me whole.
As the deer pants for water, so my soul pants for You.
Sometimes I’m feelin’ so cast down I don’t know what to do.
In the day, let me feel Your love, Lord.
In the night, let me hear Your song.
I will put my hope and faith in You to praise You my whole life long.
But now I’m singin’: O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul. (x2)
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul – uh my soul.
Fill it up, Lord, and make me whole.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my foes.
When you pour Your blessings all over me, my cup will over flow.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all my days.
Then I will dwell in the house of the Lord and forever sing God’s praise.
But now, I’m singin’: O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul. (x2)
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul – uh my soul.
Fill it up, Lord, and make me whole.
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul. (x2)
O Lord, there’s a hungerin’ in my soul – uh my soul.
Fill it up, Lord, and make me whole.
Fill it up, Lord, and make me whole.
Lord, fill the hungerin’ in my soul.
Fill it up, Lord and make me whole.
SERMON HYMN: “You Are My King”
I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again.
CHORUS: Amazing love, how can it be,
That You my King would die for me?
Amazing love, I know it’s true,
And It’s my joy to honor You,
In all I do, I honor You.
I’m forgiven because You were forsaken
I’m accepted, You were condemned
I’m alive and well, Your Spirit is within me
Because You died and rose again.
CHORUS
Bridge 1: You are my King.
You are my King.
Bridge 2: Jesus You are my King.
Jesus You are my King.
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
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
P: Lord, You reign as King forever. Protect Your Church from false teaching and scandalous living. Set Your justice as a light to all people. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, You are robed in majesty. In creation, You clothed us with Your image; but we daily sin, staining and warping Your perfect image into something unrecognizable. Keep us in Jesus, who clothes us in robes that have been washed white in His own blood. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, in this fallen world, creation growns with many disasters. Restore the livelihood of those who have suffered such disasters as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and fires, for You, O Lord, are mightier than any storm or flood. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, send healing to all who are sick, injured, and recovering (especially…). If it be Your will, restore their health with the overflowing abundance that comes only from Your hand. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Lord, we praise You for the blessings You have poured out upon us. We rejoice with those who rejoice, (especially…). Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.
C: Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
CLOSING SONG: “On Our Way Rejoicing” LBW 260
On our way rejoicing Gladly let us go.
Christ our Lord has conquered; Vanquished is the foe.
Christ without our safety; Christ within our joy;
Who, if we be faithful, Can our hope destroy?
On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,
Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!
Unto God the Father Joyful songs we sing;
Unto God the Savior Thankful hearts we bring;
Unto God the Spirit Bow we and adore,
On our way rejoicing Now and evermore.
On our way rejoicing; As we forward move,
Harken to our praises, O blest God of Love!
PRAYER FOR BLESSING BOARD, HOLIDAY CHEER
AND THE VINA MOSES GIVING TREE
P: Dear Lord, we thank you for the opportunity to serve our community with the Blessing Board, with Holiday Cheer and the Vina Moses Giving Tree. Direct us, Lord, in all our doings with Your favor. Help us in all the projects and works we take part in. May what we do be a blessing to those who receive our gifts and may Your name be glorified in all that we do! In Jesus’ name we pray.
C: Amen.
BENEDICTION
DISMISSAL