Reign of Christ Sunday CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 95:1-2, 7 P: Come, let us sing to the Lord; C: let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation. P: Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving C: and raise a loud shout to the Lord with psalms. P: For the Lord is our God, C: and we are the people of God’s pasture. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: With sincere and repentant hearts, let us name our sins against Christ and one another. Silence for Reflection P: Sovereign God, C: we confess that we are not ready for your holy realm. You guide us toward right paths, but we refuse to follow where you lead. You love and feed and care for us, but we fail to love and serve others. Forgive us, merciful God, so that we may return to your fold and rejoice in your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord, the Lamb upon the throne. Amen. P: However long we wander, however far we stray, God’s steadfast love endures forever. Sisters and brothers, be assured: in Jesus Christ + we are forgiven. C: Amen. HYMN “Crown Him with Many Crowns” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: O God of power and might, your Son shows us the way of service, and in him we inherit the riches of your grace. Give us the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. READINGS Hebrew Bible Reading: Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 11Thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I 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 watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says 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, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. 20Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23I 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, the Lord, have spoken. Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 [Jesus said to the disciples:] 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that 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 something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family you did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me 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 nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just 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.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “All Creatures of Our God and King” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Our Shepherd satisfies our needs; in faith, let us pray to the Lord. P: O Lord, our God, we pray for the church…As you have made Christ the head of all, help us to live faithfully as his body, continuing his mission in the world. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: O Lord, our God, we pray for the earth….Let all the earth make a joyful noise to you, a song of praise to the rock of our salvation, for you are coming to reveal a new creation. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: O Lord, our God, we pray for all nations….Drive out those wolves in sheep’s clothing who abuse the weak and scatter the flock. Come and save us; bring justice and peace. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: O Lord, our God, we pray for this community….Help us to see Christ among our neighbors, serving those who are hungry and thirsty, naked and lonely, sick or in prison. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: O Lord, our God, we pray for loved ones….(We pray especially for Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Eileen, and JD). Remember the people of your pasture: rescue the lost, bind up the broken, heal the sick, and feed those who hunger. Lord, in your mercy, C: hear our prayer. P: Loving Shepherd, lead and guide us—in green pastures and by still waters, in right paths and through dark valleys, until we feast with you in glory and dwell in your house forever; through Jesus Christ our Savior. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER P: In gratitude for the immeasurable gift of Jesus Christ, we bring our tithes and offerings to God. Financial gifts may be sent to the church. We are currently collecting food for the Nuckolls County and Thayer County Food Pantry P: Holy God, use us, and these gifts, to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and honor your presence in all people; through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER American Sign Language BENEDICTION P: May the grace of Christ + surround you, the love of God astound you, and the Holy Spirit keep you, this day and forevermore. C: Amen. HYMN “Soon and Very Soon” CHARGE P: Go And...Be Honest! So that you can better love and serve God and your neighbors. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495
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25th Sunday After Pentecost CALL TO WORSHIP Psalm 90:1-2 P: Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to another. C: you have been our home throughout all the ages. P: You were there before the world was made and will be forever. C: From everlasting to everlasting you are God. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS based on today’s readings P: God’s love has destined us not for wrath, but rather for salvation. Therefore, let us confess our sins to the One who is eager to save. Silence for Reflection P: Loving God, C: we confess that we have sinned against you by not honoring you or one another. When we place our iniquities before you, it is your love that sheds light on our wayward deeds. As we stand in awe of your constancy for us, we ask your forgiveness through the mercy of Christ, in whose name we pray. Amen. P: Sisters and brothers in Christ, when we acknowledge our human limitations and turn to depend upon our everlasting God, we grow wise in heart to God’s call. You are freed to love another, for your sins are forgiven by the mercy of Christ. C: Amen. HYMN “I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: O God, the gift of your Son is the life-changing treasure that is truly beyond all value. Your generosity and goodness astound us! Inspire us to teach and share your gospel, that all may enter into the joy of Christ. C: Amen. READINGS Psalm 90 "God Our Help in Ages Past" Today we are going to sing the psalm. Isaac Watts wrote this hymn in 1708 based on psalm 90. Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30 [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; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then 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.’ 21His 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.’ 22And 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.’ 23His 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.’ 24Then 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 seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But 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? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For 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. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “Lord of Light” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Let us pray for the needs of the world. Holy God, you welcome us into your joy and entrust us with your gospel. In hope for the world to come and with love for the world you made, we offer our prayers for your church, your earth, and your people. P: For your church, in this community and around the world, that your good news may be proclaimed to all. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: For oppressors, that they might know justice, and those oppressed, that they might know peace. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: For your creation, that we may be the caretakers you intend. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: For the young, that they might be nurtured in love. For the old, that they would be secure in your care. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: For those who fight the demons of addiction, that they might find relief. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: For all those who care for the suffering and those in their charge, that they would be freed from pain and fear. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: For all of those about whom we worry and those whose troubles are known only to you. God of grace, C: hear our prayer. P: All this we pray with gratitude for your eternal love and extravagant grace; in the name of Jesus Christ. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER P: God has entrusted us with a variety of gifts; let us return to the Lord a generous measure of our bounty with thanksgiving and praise. Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: For all that you are and all that you do, we give you thanks, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer. We wait in hope for the coming of your realm and offer these gifts to further your kingdom on earth; in Jesus’ name. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Sung in Swahili BENEDICTION P: May God, who searches the heart, Jesus, + whose love overcomes all division, and the Spirit, which helps us in our weakness, continue to lead you into life that you may serve with abandon and joy. C: Amen. HYMN “Here on Jesus Christ I Will Stand” CHARGE P: Go And...Be Honest! So that you can better love and serve God and your neighbors. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 24th Sunday After Pentecost CALL TO WORSHIP P: In all our weakness and strength, with our youth-filled spirits and aging bodies, C: we come to be your people, O God. P: Strong in faith and eager with questions, singing our praise and whispering our prayers, C: we come to be your people, O God. P: Filled with saintly determination yet mindful of our human limitations, C: we come to be your people, O God. P: Made strong in your endless love for us, we know ourselves to be yours and C: we come to be your people, O God. P: May we truly become your people today. Amen. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS Based on Amos 5 P: Beloved of God, we are called to live in right relationship with God by loving one another. Therefore, let us confess our sins to the one who pardons our offenses. P: Loving God, C: we confess that we have sinned against you by not honoring you or loving one another. When we ignore injustice in the world our worship brings you no delight. Make haste to help us, that we may stand in right relationship with you and the whole of your creation and sing your praises through the mercy of Christ, our resurrected Savior. Amen. P: Sisters and brothers in Christ, rejoice and be glad, for God is mighty to save and comes to you in peace to forgive, restore, and strengthen you eternally in Christ. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, + you are forgiven. C: Amen. HYMN “Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: O God of justice and love, you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, and awaken us to the needs of others, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen. READINGS Hebrew Bible Reading: Amos 5:18-24 Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord! Why do you want the day of the Lord? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake. Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it? I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon. Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Gospel: Matthew 25:1-13 [Jesus said to the disciples:] “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Let us offer our prayers and intercessions to God, confident that the love of Christ continues to appear in our lives in surprising and unexpected ways. P: We pray for all who seek your radiant light in the darkened corners of our world; may we find our way to you through our love for one another. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: We pray for all who are oppressed by institutions and structures unjustly ordered; bless us with a joy for justice that all may share in the blessings of this life, walking in right relationship with you by caring for our neighbor. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: We pray for all who have no work, for those without adequate health care, and for all who hunger or have no shelter. Bless us with meaningful work and ample provision, as we love and care for each other under the protection of your sheltering sky. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: We pray for all who suffer violence on dangerous streets and in war-torn places; keep them from harm’s way. Bless us with your vision of peace, that all may flourish as one family under God with justice and freedom for all. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: We remember before you all who have died that they may know your peace. Bless each of us with a sure and certain hope of the resurrection, that we may know our risen Lord, as we share eternal life in you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER P: Let us offer the gifts of our life and labor and come into God’s courts with praise. Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: O great and loving God, we give you thanks that you have given your faithful people a love for justice and the gift of generosity. Bless these gifts and with them reveal your righteousness as we await the coming of your peace. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Spoken in Japanese BENEDICTION P: May God, who creates, redeems, and sustains, keep you fervent in faith and overflowing in love. And the blessing of God, Father, Son, + and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. C: Amen. HYMN “Let Justice Flow Like Streams” CHARGE
P: Go And...Be Honest! So that you can better love and serve God and your neighbors. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 All Saints Sunday CALL TO WORSHIP P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved. C: Amen. THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM P: All who are baptized into Christ have put on Christ. In our baptism, we were clothed with Christ. In the day of Christ's coming, we shall be clothed with glory. P: Eternal God, maker of heaven and earth, who formed us from the dust of the earth, who by your breath gave us life, we glorify you. C: We glorify you. P: Jesus Christ, the resurrection and the life, who suffered death for all humanity, who rose from the grave to open the way to eternal life, we praise you. C: We praise you. P: Holy Spirit, author and giver of life, the comforter of all who sorrow, our sure confidence and everlasting hope, we worship you. C: We worship you. P: To you, O blessed Trinity, be glory and honor, forever and ever. C: Amen. HYMN “Give Thanks for Saints” Lyrics are on the video, but no one is singing PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12 1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying: 3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5“Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7“Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. 8“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “For All the Saints” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Eternal God, author of our past and promise of our future, we lay before you our private fears and our concerns for the world, knowing that you hear our cries. P: Especially today we pray for those whom Jesus called blessed: for the poor in spirit . . . for those who mourn . . . for the humble and meek . . . for those who thirst and hunger for righteousness . . . for the pure in heart . . . for those who show mercy and those who make peace . . . for those who are persecuted because of Christ . . . Pour out your blessings upon them and us that we may be strengthened in every hardship and joyful at the recognition of every blessing. We call to mind before you all those who have died: those who taught us the faith . . . those who spoke your truth in the face of evil . . . those who cared for the weak and the suffering . . . and those whom we loved and cherished the most . . . Thank you that their pain is ended and their joy made complete. For the saints who now rest in your mercy, we give you thanks. We remember their witness of faithfulness and love. (Here the names of those who have died in the previous year may be read.) Covenanting God, in baptism you claim us and show us how to live. Keep us in your care until that day when all creation sings your praise and you lead all your children to the springs of the water of life. Through Jesus Christ, our Brother, Redeemer, and Lord. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER P: How can we withhold our gifts of gratitude in the face of such wondrous love? With glad and generous hearts, let us bring our offerings to God. Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: We magnify your name, O God, and together exalt your name, for you are so good to us and gracious beyond measure. In this life you lead us, comfort us, guide us, and redeem us in countless ways. In death you usher us to even greater blessing, bringing us through the great ordeal, embracing us in your endless light, and welcoming us to your table of goodness and plenty. The offering we bring today is but a token of our thanks, seeds to be planted for the growing of your kingdom, in which we have sure and certain hope. In Jesus’ name we pray. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Spoken Arabic BENEDICTION P: May the God of all creation, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved, who strengthens us for service, give you reason to rejoice and be glad! The blessing of God, Sovereign, + Savior, and Spirit, be with you today and always. C: Amen. HYMN “Holy God, We Praise Your Name” LYRICS 1 Holy God, we praise your name; Lord of all, we bow before you. All on earth your scepter claim, all in heav'n above adore you. Infinite your vast domain, everlasting is your reign. 2 Hark! The glad celestial hymn angel choirs above are raising; cherubim and seraphim, in unceasing chorus praising, fill the heav'ns with sweet accord: "Holy, holy, holy Lord!" 3 Lo, the apostolic train join your sacred name to hallow; prophets swell the glad refrain, and the white-robed martyrs follow; and from morn to set of sun through the church the song goes on. 4 Holy Father, holy Son, Holy Spirit, three we name you, though in essence only one; undivided God we claim you and, adoring, bend the knee while we own the mystery. CHARGE P: Go And...Be Honest! So that you can better love and serve God and your neighbors. C: Thanks be to God. Permission oneliscense.net A-717495 |
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April 2024
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