The Bulletin is at: 10-15-2017 – Bulletin
The Service in PDF format is at: 10-15-2017 – Service
or the service is as follows:
Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
October 15, 2017
PRE-SERVICE MUSIC
AS WE GATHER…God has worked faith into our hearts! But our preoccupation with our personal agendas and the world’s allure can turn our hearts away. Jesus couches that problem in a parable. Worse, we might think that we can enter heaven, the eternal banquet, on our terms, supposing we need not be clothed in Christ’s righteousness alone. Yet God’s preoccupation is to keep sending out His special invitation to all. Our current circumstances mean nothing compared to the eternal banquet to which we are involved by the overflowing grace of God.
RINGING OF THE BELL
We take a few moments in silence to prepare our hearts and minds for worship.
P: In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen!
BEING HONEST ABOUT OURSELVES
P: We confess our sins. Kind and loving Father,
C: we confess to You our sinfulness both of nature and of choice. We often lose heart in the face of obstacles, difficulties, and suffering. We fail to call upon You for help, and we fail to keep trusting in Your goodness. Hear us now for Jesus’ sake. Forgive our sins and lead us onward to live each day in Your presence by the aid of Your Holy Spirit.
YOU ARE FORGIVEN
P: Let it be unto you as you have believed. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Jesus 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. May God continue His faithful work in you both now and at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
C: Amen.
SONG OF PRAISE “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”
What a fellowship, what a joy divine
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning, leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus,
safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning on Jesus, leaning on Jesus,
leaning on the everlasting arms.
SERVICE OF THE WORD
P: Let us pray together:
C: Loving Father, You are with us here in time and have invited us into Your heavenly presence in eternity. Open our hearts and minds so that we may respond to Your special invitation in humble joy now and in eternal rejoicing at Your heavenly banquet.
P: We pray these things through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord,
C: Amen.
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS
The First Lesson: Philippians 4:4-13
Knowing the Lord produces contentment in all circumstances
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The Gospel Lesson: Matthew 22:1-14
The parable of the wedding feast
Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants[a] to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.
“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”
SERMON SONG – “Children of the Heavenly Father” TOSB 23
Children of the heav’nly Father
Safely in his bosom gather,
Nestling bird or star in heaven
Such a refuge ne’er was given.
God his own doth tend and nourish,
In his holy courts they flourish,
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
Neither life nor death shall ever
From the Lord his children sever;
From all evil things he spares them,
In his mighty arms he bears them.
Though he giveth or he taketh,
God his children ne’er forsaketh;
His the loving purpose solely
To preserve them pure and holy.
SERMON – “Getting out the Invitations”
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 in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Heavenly Father, through Isaiah, Your prophet, You promised an end to tears, suffering, and death itself when we join You around Your eternal feast. Hear us as we pray for people who are suffering this day: those displaced because of famine or war; those who are suffering under oppressive regimes; and those who have been discriminated against, unjustly punished, or forgotten by the greater society. Give them just governments and compassionate rulers. May their hope in You be strong until they find relief. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Loving Father, hear the cries of all people who are sick, injured, or suffering any need of body, mind, or spirit, (especially…). Answer them, dear Lord, in the way and the time You know to be best. For You are always good, and we are in Your hands. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Loving Father, You invite us again to this Table of Jesus’ body and blood. Use this feast as a proclamation of Jesus’ abiding presence among Your people. Feed us with the food of resurrection, and fill us with the Holy Spirit, who breathes Your divine life into us. Lord, in Your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Loving Father, we give You thanks for all people who are now at rest in Your presence. Bring us at last to rejoice with them in Your gracious presence in the new heavens and new earth, where righteousness dwells; for You live and reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
CHORAL ANTHEM “Come Share God’s Gift” By Don Besig
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.
DISTRIBTION
“Let Us Break Bread Together” TOSB 126
Let us break bread together on our knees;
Let us break bread together on our knees;
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord have mercy on me.
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord have mercy on me.
Let us bow ‘round the altar on our knees;
Let us bow ‘round the altar on our knees;
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord have mercy on me.
Let us praise God together on our knees;
Let us praise God together on our knees;
When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord have mercy on me.
“How Great Thou Art” TOSB 78
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!
“Amazing Grace” TOSB 31
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has bro’t me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
P: 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.
C: Amen.
CLOSING SONG – “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” LBW 551
Joyful, joyful we adore thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before thee, Praising thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.
All thy works with joy surround thee, Earth and heav’n reflect thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around thee, Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird, and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,
Wellspring of the joy of living, Ocean depth of happy rest!
Thou our Father, Christ our brother, All who live in love are thine;
Teach us how to love each other, Lift us to the joy divine!
P: Go in peace! Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!
POST-SERVICE MUSIC