Confession and Absolution

515 Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers                                                            LSB 515

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P   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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                                 Ps. 85:8–9, 12–13; antiphon: Ps. 85:7

Show us your steadfast love, | O Lord,*

and grant us your sal- | vation.

Let me hear what God the | Lord will speak,*

for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to | folly.

Surely his salvation is near to those who | fear him,*

that glory may dwell | in our land.

Yes, the Lord will give | what is good,*

and our land will yield its | increase.

Righteousness will go be- | fore him*

and make his foot- | steps a way.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 152

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Lord Jesus Christ, we implore You to hear our prayers and to lighten the darkness of our hearts by Your gracious visitation; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                           Isaiah 61:1–4, 8–11

¹The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me

to bring good news to the poor;

he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor,

and the day of vengeance of our God;

to comfort all who mourn;

³to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified.

⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins;

they shall raise up the former devastations;

they shall repair the ruined cities,

the devastations of many generations.

⁸For I the Lord love justice;

I hate robbery and wrong;

I will faithfully give them their recompense,

and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.

⁹Their offspring shall be known among the nations,

and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;

all who see them shall acknowledge them,

that they are an offspring the Lord has blessed.

¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord;

my soul shall exult in my God,

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

¹¹For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to sprout up before all the nations.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                              1 Thessalonians 5:16–24

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies, ²¹but test everything; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.

²³Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                             John 1:6–8, 19–28

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the first chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

¹⁹And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” ²²So they said to him, “Who are you?

We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

²⁴(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” ²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” ²⁸These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed                                                                                            

C   I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come 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 T everlasting. Amen.

376 Once in Royal David’s City                                                              LSB 376

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 162

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 the glory
     forever and ever. Amen.

Offering – Placed on altar.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A   Let us pray.

Almighty and merciful God, we have again worshiped in Your presence and received both forgiveness for our many sins and the assurance of Your love in Jesus Christ. We thank You for this undeserved grace and ask You to keep us in faith until we inherit eternal salvation; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C   Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 166

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 T give you peace.

C   Amen.

386 Now Sing We, Now Rejoice                                                            LSB 386

THIS YEAR our Giving Tree theme will be “Hats & Hoodies”.  These popular items, winter hats and lined hooded sweatshirts, will be presented to men, women, Veterans, and the homeless patrons at South Park Inn in Hartford.  The sizes requested are a “few” large, but mostly XL, 2XL, and some 3XL for both men and women.  These are available at Walmart.  Donations prior to and including December 13, 2020 would be greatly appreciated!  For questions, please contact Deb Eddy. Thank you!

PLEASE CHECK your mailbox! 

DAUGHTERS OF FAITH: Emily, Sadie, Mia, and Cheyenne…..Christmas Gift Boxes and Bible Study material will be left for you on the snack table in the church kitchen on December 20^th.  Questions, please contact Judy Byrne. 

SONS OF THUNDER UPDATE: the boys are thankful for the church family’s participation in the monthly bottle drive event.  Just a few reminders…there will be NO collection in January, we will restart in February, glass bottles will NO longer be accepted due to the difficulty of redeeming them, and we ask that you clean your plastic bottles and cans before you drop them off at St. Paul’s.  Thank you, Sons of Thunder Team.

    CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULE:

• 2:00pm: limited singing.
• 5:00pm: recorded music, masks required, no singing.
• 7:00pm: candlelight service, limited singing.

Reservations are required for all Christmas Eve Services. Please refer to the church email sent out on Tuesday, December 1^st.

     CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE SCHEDULE:

• 9:00am: with Holy Communion.

Confession and Absolution

331 The Advent of Our King                                                                 LSB 331

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P   In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

P   If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C   But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P   Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C   Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P   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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

Introit                                                                 Ps. 80:1, 8a, 9b, 7; antiphon: Ps. 80:3

Restore us, | O God;*

let your face shine, that we | may be saved!

Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph | like a flock!*

You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, | shine forth.

You brought a vine out of | Egypt;*

it took deep root and | filled the land.

Restore us, O | God of hosts;*

let your face shine, that we | may be saved!

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 152

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P   The Lord be with you.

C   And also with you.

P   Let us pray.

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                 Isaiah 40:1–11

¹Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

²Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her

that her warfare is ended,

that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins.

³A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

⁴Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

⁵And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

⁶A voice says, “Cry!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

⁷The grass withers, the flower fades

when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

surely the people are grass.

⁸The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

⁹Get you up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Behold your God!”

¹⁰Behold, the Lord God comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.

¹¹He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                         2 Peter 3:8–14

⁸But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. ¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

¹¹Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, ¹²waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! ¹³But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

¹⁴Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

A   This is the Word of the Lord.

C   Thanks be to God.

Stand

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                                     Mark 1:1–8

P   The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the first chapter.

C   Glory to You, O Lord.

¹The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

²As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,

who will prepare your way,

³the voice of one crying in the wilderness:

‘Prepare the way of the Lord,

make his paths straight,’”

⁴John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ⁵And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. ⁶Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. ⁷And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. ⁸I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

P   This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C   Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

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 T of the world to come. Amen.

343 Prepare the Royal Highway                                                            LSB 343

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Offering –Placed on altar.

Service of the Sacrament

Preface                                                                                              LSB 160

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 that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, whose way John the Baptist prepared, proclaiming Him the promised Messiah, the very Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and calling sinners to repentance that they might escape from the wrath to be revealed when He comes again in glory.  Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus                                                                                               LSB 161

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                         LSB 161

P   Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross. 

Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament.  Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end.  Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 162

P   Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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 the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Words of Our Lord                                                                         LSB 162

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 163

P   The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C   Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 163

Sit

Distribution

357 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel                                                         LSB 357

Post-Communion Canticle

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                      LSB 165

Post-Communion Collect                                                                               

A   Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C   Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 166

361 O Little Town of Bethlehem                                                           LSB 361

THIS YEAR our Giving Tree theme will be “Hats & Hoodies”.  These popular items, winter hats and lined hooded sweatshirts, will be presented to men, women, Veterans, and the homeless patrons at South Park Inn in Hartford.  The sizes requested are a “few” large, but mostly XL, 2XL, and some 3XL for both men and women.  These are available at Walmart.  Donations prior to and including December 13, 2020 would be greatly appreciated!  For questions, please contact Deb Eddy. Thank you!

PLEASE CHECK your mailbox! 

CHRISTMAS FLOWERS: If you would like to put a Christmas Flower on the altar, pick up a form on the secretary’s desk, fill it out, and leave it in the labeled basket. Thank you, Cynthia Boyle.

Confession and Absolution

341 Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates                                               LSB 341

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P  In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C  But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P  Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C  Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P  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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Introit                                                                  Ps. 25:1–3; antiphon: Zech. 9:9b, alt.

Behold, your king is com- | ing to you;*

righteous and having sal- | vation.

To you, | O Lord,*

I lift | up my soul.

O my God, in you I trust; let me not be | put to shame;*

let not my enemies exult | over me.

Indeed, none who wait for you shall be | put to shame;*

they shall be ashamed who are wantonly | treacherous.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 152

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Let us pray.

Stir up Your power, O Lord, and come, that by Your protection we may be rescued from the threatening perils of our sins and saved by Your mighty deliverance; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                                  Isaiah 64:1–9

¹Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down,

that the mountains might quake at your presence—

² as when fire kindles brushwood

and the fire causes water to boil—

to make your name known to your adversaries,

and that the nations might tremble at your presence!

³When you did awesome things that we did not look for,

you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

⁴From of old no one has heard

or perceived by the ear,

no eye has seen a God besides you,

who acts for those who wait for him.

⁵You meet him who joyfully works righteousness,

those who remember you in your ways.

Behold, you were angry, and we sinned;

in our sins we have been a long time, and shall we be saved?

⁶We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment.

We all fade like a leaf,

and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

⁷There is no one who calls upon your name,

who rouses himself to take hold of you;

for you have hidden your face from us,

and have made us melt in the hand of our iniquities.

⁸But now, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

⁹Be not so terribly angry, O Lord,

and remember not iniquity forever.

Behold, please look, we are all your people.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                   1 Corinthians 1:3–9

³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— ⁶even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— ⁷so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ⁸who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Common Alleluia and Verse                                                                  LSB 156

Holy Gospel                                                                                          Gospel

P  The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the thirteenth chapter.

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

²⁴[Jesus said:] “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light,

²⁵and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷And 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.

²⁸“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. ²⁹So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. ³⁰Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. ³¹Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³²“But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴It 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. ³⁵Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning— ³⁶lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. ³⁷And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C  Praise to You, O Christ.

Sit

Apostles’ Creed

C  I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come 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 T everlasting. Amen.

332 Savior of the Nations, Come                                                           LSB 332

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 162

P  Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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 the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Offering – Placed on altar.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A   Let us pray.

O Gracious Father, You led Your holy apostles to ordain ministers for the proclamation of Your Word and the faithful administration of the Sacraments of Christ. Grant to this congregation the guidance of the Holy Spirit to choose a suitable pastor according to Your will for the blessing of Your Church in this place; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C  Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 166

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 T give you peace.

C  Amen.

696 O God, My Faithful God                                                                 LSB 696

        

Confession and Absolution

Prelude Medley: “Praise and Thanksgiving” – arranged by Sandra Eithun

                 “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – by William Runyan

P  In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C  But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.

P  Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C  Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

P  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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Psalm                                                                                            Psalm 67:1–7

¹May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face to shine upon us,

²that your way may be known on earth,

your saving power among all nations.

³Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

⁴Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,

for you judge the peoples with equity

and guide the nations upon earth.

⁵Let the peoples praise you, O God;

let all the peoples praise you!

⁶The earth has yielded its increase;

God, our God, shall bless us.

⁷God shall bless us;

let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 152

P  In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C  Lord, have mercy.

P  For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C  Lord, have mercy.

P  For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C  Lord, have mercy.

P  For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C  Lord, have mercy.

P  Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C  Amen.

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Let us pray.

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 Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Old Testament Reading                                                          Deuteronomy 8:1–10

¹“The whole commandment that I command you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers. ²And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not. ³And he humbled you and let you hunger and fed you with manna, which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that he might make you know that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴Your clothing did not wear out on you and your foot did not swell these forty years. ⁵Know then in your heart that, as a man disciplines his son, the Lord your God disciplines you. ⁶So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him. ⁷For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing out in the valleys and hills, ⁸a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey, ⁹a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing, a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper. ¹⁰And you shall eat and be full, and you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                                    Philippians 4:6–20

⁶do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

⁸Finally, 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. ⁹What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

¹⁰I 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. ¹¹Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹²I 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. ¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

¹⁴Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. ¹⁵And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. ¹⁶Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. ¹⁷Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. ¹⁸I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. ²⁰To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel                                                                                  Luke 17:11–19

P  The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the seventeenth chapter.

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

¹¹On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee.

¹²And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance ¹³and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” ¹⁴When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. ¹⁵Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; ¹⁶and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C  Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed                                                                                            

C  I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come 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 T everlasting. Amen.

Duet – “With Grateful Heart, I Thank You, Lord” – Mary Kay Beall

                Sung by: Ruth and Rev. Timothy Yeadon

I thank you, Lord, for each new day, for meadows white with dew,

for the sun’s warm hand upon the earth, for skies of endless blue,

for fruit and flower, for lamb and leaf, for every bird that sings,

with grateful heart I thank you, Lord, for all those simple things.

I thank you, Lord, for wind and rain and for the silver moon,

for every daisy’s lifted face, for every lovely tune,

for winter’s white, for autumn’s gold, for harvest and for home,

with grateful heart I thank you, Lord, for each good gift I own.

I thank you, Lord, for hand and heart to offer up your praise.

I thank you, Lord, for tongue to speak of all your loving ways.

For health and strength, for work and play, for loved ones far and near,

with grateful heart I thank you, Lord, for all that I hold dear.

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 162

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 the glory
     forever and ever. Amen.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A  Let us pray.

Gracious Lord, we give You thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive. The day is now past, and we commit it to You. We entrust to You the night and rest in Your peace, for You are our help, and You neither slumber nor sleep. Hear us for the sake of Your name.

C  Amen.

Benediction                                                                                        LSB 166

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 T give you peace.

C  Amen.

Postlude Medley: “Now Thank We All Our God” – George Friedrich Kaufmann

                  “Gracious God You Send Great Blessings”

                                                  – words by Rev. Greg Wismar

THIS YEAR our Giving Tree theme will be “Hats & Hoodies”.  These popular items, winter hats and lined hooded sweatshirts, will be presented to men, women, Veterans, and the homeless patrons at South Park Inn in Hartford.  The sizes requested are a “few” large, but mostly XL, 2XL, and some 3XL for both men and women.  These are available at Walmart.  Donations prior to and including December 13, 2020 would be greatly appreciated!  For questions, please contact Deb Eddy. Thank you!

PLEASE CHECK your mailbox! 

REMINDER: Sons of Thunder returnable bottles and cans collection next Sunday, November 29^th, between services.

Confession and Absolution

851 Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us                                                 LSB 851

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their baptism.

P  In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P  Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C  who made heaven and earth.

P  If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C  But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P  Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C  Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P  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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Introit                                                     Ps. 39:4–5, 7–8, 12a; antiphon: 2 Peter 3:13 NIV

In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a | new earth,*

the home of | righteousness.

O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure | of my days;*

let me know how fleeting | I am!

Behold, you have made my days a few | handbreadths,*

and my lifetime is as nothing be- | fore you.

And now, O Lord, for what | do I wait?*

My hope | is in you.

Deliver me from all my trans- | gressions.*

Do not make me the scorn | of the fool!

Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace | at my tears!*

For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my | fathers.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 204

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 204

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Let us pray.

Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                      Ezekiel 34:11–16, 20–24

¹¹“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. ¹²As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. ¹³And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. ¹⁴I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God.

¹⁶I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.”

²⁰“Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. ²¹Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, ²²I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. ²³And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. ²⁴And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                               1 Corinthians 15:20–28

²⁰But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. ²²For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. ²³But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. ²⁴Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. ²⁵For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. ²⁶The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

²⁷For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 25:31–46

P  The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-fifth chapter.

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

³¹[Jesus said:] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne.

³²Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. ³⁴Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. ³⁵For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? ³⁸And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? ³⁹And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ⁴⁰And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

⁴¹“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. ⁴²For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ ⁴⁵Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C  Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed                                                                                    LSB 207

C  I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come 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 T everlasting. Amen.

Sit

508 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near                                                      LSB 508

Sermon

Stand

Prayer of the Church

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 209

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 the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Offering – Placed on the altar.

Closing Collect                                                                                             

A  Let us pray.

Lord of the Church, in whose name all who oversee and serve Your flock have been called, grant Your servants all the gifts necessary for the godly administration of their duties for the upbuilding of Your Church that they may bring glory to Your name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Benedicamus and Benediction

A  Let us bless the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

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 T give you peace.

C  Amen.

537 Beautiful Savior                                                                            LSB 537

CHRISTMAS KUCHEN!  Sally Wabrek will be taking orders for her homemade kuchen!   Fillings available: poppy seed, cheese, apricot, and almond.  Half loaves are $5.00 and all proceeds will go to Ladies Aid.  If you would like to purchase some, please see Sally in church, or email her at sjwabrek@frontier.com  by Friday, November 20^th.  Advance orders only!   Kuchen will be available for pickup on Sunday, December 6^th, in the upper fellowship room.

WANTED: clean scrap paper or pads for note-taking.  Please leave on the secretary’s desk. Thank you.

REMINDER: Sons of Thunder returnable bottles and cans collection on Sunday, November 29^th, between services. 

PLEASE CHECK your church mailbox.

FALL GROUNDS CLEANUP Saturday, November 21^st, 9:00am.  Please bring tarps, rakes, leaf blowers, etc….many hands make light work! 

Confession and Absolution

902 Lord Jesus Christ, Be Present Now                                                  LSB 902

P  In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

P  Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C  who made heaven and earth.

P  If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C  But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P  Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

C  Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

P  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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C  Amen.

Introit                                                           Ps. 143:2, 5–6, 10–11; antiphon: Ps. 143:1

Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for | mercy!*

In your faithfulness answer me, in your | righteousness!

Enter not into judgment with your | servant,*

for no one living is righteous be- | fore you.

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that | you have done;*

I ponder the work | of your hands.

I stretch out my | hands to you;*

my soul thirsts for you like a | parched land.

Teach me to do your will, for you | are my God!*

Let your good Spirit lead me on | level ground!

For your name’s sake, O Lord, pre- | serve my life!*

In your righteousness bring my soul out of | trouble!

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

Kyrie                                                                                                  LSB 204

Gloria in Excelsis                                                                                 LSB 204

Salutation and Collect of the Day                                                                   

P  The Lord be with you.

C  And also with you.

P  Let us pray.

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 Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Sit

Old Testament Reading                                                             Zephaniah 1:7–16

⁷Be silent before the Lord God!

For the day of the Lord is near;

the Lord has prepared a sacrifice

and consecrated his guests.

⁸And on the day of the Lord’s sacrifice—

“I will punish the officials and the king’s sons

and all who array themselves in foreign attire.

⁹On that day I will punish

everyone who leaps over the threshold,

and those who fill their master’s house

with violence and fraud.

¹⁰“On that day,” declares the Lord,

“a cry will be heard from the Fish Gate,

a wail from the Second Quarter,

a loud crash from the hills.

¹¹Wail, O inhabitants of the Mortar!

For all the traders are no more;

all who weigh out silver are cut off.

¹²At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,

and I will punish the men

who are complacent,

those who say in their hearts,

‘The Lord will not do good,

nor will he do ill.’

¹³Their goods shall be plundered,

and their houses laid waste.

Though they build houses,

they shall not inhabit them;

though they plant vineyards,

they shall not drink wine from them.”

¹⁴The great day of the Lord is near,

near and hastening fast;

the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter;

the mighty man cries aloud there.

¹⁵A day of wrath is that day,

a day of distress and anguish,

a day of ruin and devastation,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and thick darkness,

¹⁶a day of trumpet blast and battle cry

against the fortified cities

and against the lofty battlements.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Epistle                                                                               1 Thessalonians 5:1–11

¹Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. ²For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³While 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. ⁴But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. ⁵For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. ⁶So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. ⁷For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. ⁸But 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. ⁹For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁰who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. ¹¹Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

A  This is the Word of the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

Stand

Alleluia and Verse

Holy Gospel                                                                             Matthew 25:14–30

P  The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-fifth chapter.

C  Glory to You, O Lord.

¹⁴“For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. ¹⁵To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. ¹⁶He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. ¹⁷So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. ¹⁸But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. ¹⁹Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. ²⁰And 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.’ ²¹His 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.’ ²²And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ ²³His 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.’ ²⁴He 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, ²⁵so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ ²⁶But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? ²⁷Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. ²⁸So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. ²⁹For 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. ³⁰And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

P  This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C  Praise to You, O Christ.

Nicene Creed                                                                                      LSB 206

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 T of the world to come. Amen.

Sit

940 Holy God, We Praise Thy Name                                                       LSB 940

Sermon

Prayer of the Church

Offering – Placed on the altar.

Service of the Sacrament

Stand

Preface                                                                                              LSB 208

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 that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, for the countless blessings You so freely bestow on us and all creation. Above all, we give thanks for Your boundless love shown to us when You sent Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, into our flesh and laid on Him our sin, giving Him into death that we might not die eternally. Because He is now risen from the dead and lives and reigns to all eternity, all who believe in Him will overcome sin and death and will rise again to new life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing:

Sanctus                                                                                               LSB 208

Prayer of Thanksgiving                                                                                  

P  Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

In Your righteous judgment You condemned the sin of Adam and Eve, who ate the forbidden fruit, and You justly barred them and all their children from the tree of life.  Yet, in Your great mercy, You promised salvation by a second Adam, Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, and made His cross a life-giving tree for all who trust in Him.

We give You thanks for the redemption You have prepared for us through Jesus Christ.  Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may faithfully eat and drink of the fruits of His cross and receive the blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation that come to us in His body and blood.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

Lord’s Prayer                                                                                       LSB 209

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 the glory forever and ever. Amen.

The Words of Our Lord                                                                                  

Pax Domini                                                                                         LSB 209

P  The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C  Amen.

Agnus Dei                                                                                           LSB 210

Sit

Distribution

806 Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart                                                  LSB 806

783 Take My Life and Let It Be                                                             LSB 783

Stand

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                      LSB 211

Post-Communion Collect                                                                               

A  Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C  Amen.

Benedicamus and Benediction

A  Let us bless the Lord.

C  Thanks be to God.

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 T give you peace.

C  Amen.

803 Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee                                                        LSB 803