This Week's Bulletin

 Announcements 

Confession and Forgiveness

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God

 

Opening Hymn
  ELW 533 - Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty (vs. 1 & 2)

Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.

Prayer of the Day
Righteous God, our merciful master, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

Hymn of Praise

ELW 525 - You Are Holy

First Reading: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18

 7 Be silent before the Lord God,
  for the day of the Lord is at hand!
 The Lord has prepared a sacrifice;
  he has consecrated his guests.

 12 At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps,
  and I will punish the people
 who settle like dregs in wine,
  those who say in their hearts,
 “The Lord will not do good,
  nor will he do harm.”
 13 Their wealth 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.

 14 The great day of the Lord is near,
  near and hastening fast;
 the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter;
  the warrior cries aloud there.
 15 That day will be a day of wrath,
  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,
  16 a day of trumpet blast and battle cry
 against the fortified cities
  and against the lofty battlements.

 17 I will bring such distress upon people
  that they shall walk like the blind;
  because they have sinned against the Lord,
 their blood shall be poured out like dust
  and their flesh like dung.
 18 Neither their silver nor their gold
  will be able to save them
  on the day of the Lord’s wrath;
 in the fire of his passion
  the whole earth shall be consumed,
 for a full, a terrible end
  he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 90

So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. (Ps. 90:12)
 1 Lord, you have | been our refuge
  from one generation | to another.
 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the | earth were born,
  from age to age | you are God.
 3 You turn us back to the | dust and say,
  “Turn back, O child- | ren of earth.”
 4 For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when | it is past
  and like a watch | in the night; R
 5 you sweep them away | like a dream,
  they fade away suddenly | like the grass:
 6 in the morning it is | green and flourishes;
  in the evening it is dried | up and withered.
 7 For we are consumed | by your anger;
  we are afraid because | of your wrath.
 8 Our iniquities you have | set before you,
  and our secret sins in the light | of your countenance. R
  12 So teach us to num- | ber our days
  that we may apply our | hearts to wisdom. R

Second Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5 for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6 So, then, let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober, 7 for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober and put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Acclamation
 ELW Setting 8

Gospel:     Matthew 25:14-30
This is the holy gospel according toMatthew the 25th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 14 “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15 to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. At once 16 the one who had received the five talents went off and traded with them and made five more talents. 17 In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18 But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20 Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22 And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things; I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24 Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26 But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow and gather where I did not scatter? 27 Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29 For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance, but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30 As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon 

Hymn of the Day
 ELW 688 - Lord of Light (vs. 1 & 4)

The Apostle's Creed

Prayers of Intercession

United with the great cloud of witnesses, we offer our prayers for the church, the world, and all of creation.

A brief silence.

 

You build up the church as a community of faithful witnesses throughout the generations. Enliven the worship, outreach, and service work of our congregations and ministries with the hope of your good news. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

As the nights grow longer in the northern hemisphere, make us mindful of the earth’s need for rest. Provide for fallow fields and hibernating animals; show us how to curb human impact on vulnerable lands and species. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Rescue all nations and peoples from violence, displacement, or famine (especially). Disrupt complacency among national and local leaders. Recommit our communities to transforming the systems that divide and oppress into those that empower and unite. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

In your embrace, we find refuge from all trials and troubles. Care for families who are separated or estranged, accompany all undergoing medical procedures or mental health treatment, and reassure any who are ill or despairing (especially). God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Bless all who serve in congregational leadership: council members, finance committees, volunteer coordinators, and property teams (other specific leaders or groups may be named). Encourage healthy stewardship of time, talents, and resources for the mission of the gospel. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.

The faithful of every age trust in the hope of your saving grace. In thanksgiving for the ways our ancestors have journeyed before us, we remember all who have entered eternal life in you. God, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

Into your steadfast love, faithful God, we entrust all for whom we pray, in the name of Jesus, your beloved.
Amen.

The Passing of Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.

Anthem

   A New Song of Praise (McClellan)

Offertory Hymn 
 ELW 466 - In the Singing (vs. 1)

Offertory Prayer 

Eternal God,
our time, talents, and treasures are gifts from you.
Receive what we offer,
and all that you entrust to us,
until hungry no more, all the world is fed,
through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all
times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty
and merciful God, for the glorious resurrection of our Savior Jesus
Christ, the true Paschal Lamb who gave himself to take away our
sin; who in dying has destroyed death, and in rising has brought
us to eternal life.

And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of
the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and
with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise
your name and join their unending hymn:

ELW Setting 8
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory, full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

Thanksgiving at the Table

Holy, living, and loving God, we praise you for creating the
heavens and the earth.
We bless you for bringing Noah and his family through the waters
of the flood, for freeing your people Israel from the bonds of
slavery, and for sending your Son to be our Redeemer.
We give you thanks for Jesus who, living among us, healed the
sick, fed the hungry, and with a love stronger than death, gave
his life for others.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his life-giving death and glorious
resurrection, we await your promised life for all this dying world.
Breathe your Spirit on us and on this bread and cup: carry us in
your arms from death to life, that we may live as your chosen
ones, clothed in the righteousness of Christ.
Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father,
with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.
Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer 
Lord remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hollowed by 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.

Heaven has come near.
Come, share in the feast!

Lamb of God
ELW Setting 8

Communion Hymns

 ELW 632 - O God, Our Help in Ages Past (vs. 1 - 4)
 ELW 726 - Light Dawns on a Weary World
 ELW 494 - For the Bread Which You Have Broken

The Table Blessing
In bread and cup the reign of Christ is breaking in.
Come, receive what Christ has prepared.

Post Communion
ELW 801 - Change My Heart, O God

Prayer After Communion 
Holy God,
we have received your never-ending mercy in this meal.
You continuously seek the lost,
bind the injured,
and feed your people abundantly.
Now send us out,
awake to your presence,
now and forever.
Amen.

Blessing

The holy Trinity,
Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
bless you with wisdom to welcome the reign of God,
today and always.
Amen.

Sending Hymn
ELW 890 - Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory (all)

Dismissal

Go in peace. Encourage one another.
Thanks be to God.