Bulletin

11/17/24

As We Gather

When thinking about the ‘End Times’, Jesus’ teaching seems to elicit only question marks on our part. “When?” “What?” “How?” The signs He speaks of include false teachers in the church, wars, rumors of wars, and earthquakes as “but the beginning of the birth pains” (Mark 13:8). And while it seems that a perusal of all the events happening in our world that point to the nearness of Christ return, we are reminded of something Martin Luther said when asked what he would do if he knew Christ were to return the next day. He is reported as saying, “I would plant an apple tree today.” And so the church continues to preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus until the day of His return!

Family Room & Children Activity Bags- Children Activity Bags- We value children in our worship services. If needed, there is a family room available for families with children. The family room has a diaper changing table, a closed-circuit TV to watch the worship service, toys and books for children. The family room is located across from the kitchen in the long hallway, the first door on the right, just past the bathrooms. There are “King’s Kids” bags with activities for children to help them worship. They are near the usher’s station on a small rack. Please return the bag to the rack after the service.

Holy Communion- The Scripture teaches the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this Sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused the LCMS ordinarily communes only those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. Please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service if you have a question about this. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, there is grape juice at the center of each tray. Those not receiving the Sacrament, including children, are invited to come to the altar, cross their arms over their chest, and receive a special blessing.


“I Will Give Children to Be Their Princes” (Is. 3: 4) “When God wants to destroy a kingdom, He takes prudence and wisdom away from it and, as the prophet says, gives it children as leaders. When He wants to break the eggs, He sets fools to hatching them. The Babylonians did not lack power, wealth or a multitude of subjects; yet their kingdom came to an end because they lacked (able) persons.”  What Luther Says # 2014

Pentecost 26

November 17, 2024

Welcome 

Opening Hymn                         Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise                       LSB 802

Invocation, Confession and Absolution           (Psalm 141: 1-5)

P:   We gather in the name and at the invitation of our great and gracious triune God;

C:   In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P:   O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me. 

C:   Hear my voice when I call to you. 

P:   May my prayer be set before you like incense; 

C:   may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. 

P:   Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; 

C:   keep watch over the door of my lips. 

P:   Let not my heart be drawn to what is evil, 

C:   to take part in wicked deeds with men who are evildoers; 

All:  let me not eat of their delicacies. 

P:   Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness; 

C:   let him rebuke me—it is oil on my head. 

All:   My head will not refuse it.

C:   Merciful God, we come to You amid the fears and dark understanding of our minds as the only One who can give us hope, rest, and deliverance. Our sins have made us blind to Your grace and love. For the sake of Your Son, our Savior, grant us forgiveness. Give us a strong faith and a clear vision through Your Word that we may hold fast the confession of our hope. Amen.

(Silence for Meditation)

P:   “Those who turn many to righteousness shall shine like the stars forever.” I, by virtue of my office as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God to you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Praise                         My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less           LSB 576

Prayer of the Day

All:  Almighty God, give us grace that we may cast away the works of darkness and put upon ourselves the armor of light gained through Your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you that in the Last Day, when He shall come again in glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we will rise to the life immortal; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

O T Lesson                                     (The time of the end)                                       Daniel 12:1–3

“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.” 

N T Lesson                              (The full assurance of faith)                        Hebrews 10:11–25

Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. 15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. 19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Gospel Lesson                               (Signs of the end of the age)                         Mark 13:1–13

As he was leaving the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher! What massive stones! What magnificent buildings!” 2 “Do you see all these great buildings?” replied Jesus. “Not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” 3 As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” 5 Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 8 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 “You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. 11 Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rebel against their parents and have them put to death. 13 All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. 

Message Song                                  Sing to the North                                                    Martin Smith

Men of faith rise up and sing     Of the great and glorious King
You are strong when you feel weak       In your brokenness complete

Chorus:    Shout to the north and the south    Sing to the east and the west
Jesus is Savior to all      Lord of heaven and earth

Rise up women of the truth     Stand and sing to broken hearts
        Who can know the healing pow’r       Of our glorious King of love   Chorus

Bridge:     We’ve been through fire  We’ve been through rain
We’ve been refined  By the pow’r of His name     We’ve fallen deeper 
In love with You     You’ve burned  The truth on our lips      Chorus       

Rise up church with broken wings    Fill this place with songs again
Of our God who reigns on high     By His grace again we’ll fly    Chorus

 Lord of heaven and earth      Lord of heaven and earth

CCLI Song # 1562261© 1995 Curious? Music UK  For use solely with the SongSelect®  

Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.comCCLI License # 11390779

Message                                          The End is Always Near

  1. As seen by the ______________________________________ that depart from God’s Word.

                                                                                                                  Pr. 14: 34; 11:11

  1. As seen by the _____________________________ who have departed from God’s Word.

                                                                                                      Pr. 10: 17; 25; Rom 6:23 

  1. The end of sin is found through _____________________ in Christ whose presence is ____________________________.                                    Luke 24; 1 Peter 2: 9ff; Rev 12: 10ff

Notes:

Nicene Creed

 C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary  and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.  And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

 And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life ✠ of the world to come. Amen.

Offering

Offertory                                      What a Friend We Have in Jesus                         LSB 770

Prayers of the Church  

 After each petition:

 P:  Lord, in your mercy,

 C:  hear our prayer.

The Lord’s Prayer

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 the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Supper

Preface                                                                       page 160 in the hymnal

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.

P:   It is truly good, right, and salutary …. And ever more praising You and singing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                         page 161 in the hymnal

C:  Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might: Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna. Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.

The Words of Institution    (Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper)

Pax DominiThe Peace of the Lord                                                page 163 in the hymnal

P:   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C:   ♪ Amen.

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                              page 163 in the hymnal

C:  Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

         Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

         Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of Communion

Distribution                    Sing with All the Saints in Glory        LSB 671 – Tune LSB 648

                                                             Prayer of St. Francis              Ascension Choir   (10:30)

Post Communion Canticle                                                               page 164 in the hymnal

C:  Thank the Lord and sing His praise; tell ev’ryone what He has done.  Let all who seek the Lord rejoice and proudly bear His name.  He recalls His promises and leads His people forth in joy with shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.

Post Communion Thanksgiving

All:  Almighty, everlasting God, You gave Your only Son to be a High Priest of good things to come. Grant unto us, Your unworthy servants, to have our share in the company of the blessed for all eternity; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Benediction  

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.

Sending Hymn                               Christ the Eternal Lord                           LSB 829  vs 1-4

Announcements

Dismissal 

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Postlude