St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Sunday, November 15, 2020 – recording

Twenty-Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude: Meditation on Azmon  

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Hymn: “Come, Thou Almighty King” LBW # 522, vs 1 - 4

Confession & Forgiveness

Greeting & Kyrie

Canticle of Praise: “Glory to God…”

Prayer of the Day

First Reading, Zephaniah 1:7-16

Psalm # 90:1-12

Second Reading, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Holy Gospel, Matthew 25:14-30

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling” – LBW # 315, vs 1 - 4

Apostle’s Creed

Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

Dismissal

Sending Hymn: “On What Has Now Been Sown” - LBW # 261, vs 1 – 3

Postlude: Voluntary on Kirken

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Service Supplement

(Congregational responses are in bold print)

The community of faith comes together in worship to praise God and be nurtured by His Word and Sacrament. As the prelude begins, prepare to worship, use opportunities during the service to practice silence, to focus upon God, and to offer prayer.

 

Prelude                                              Meditation on Azmon

 

Welcome and Announcements            Pastor John

 

Gathering Hymn “Come, Thou Almighty King…”    LBW # 522, vs 1 - 4

Come, thou almighty King, Help us thy name to sing; Help us to praise; Father all-glorious, O’er all victorious, Come and reign over us, Ancient of Days.

 

Come, thou incarnate Word, Gird on thy mighty sword; Our prayer attend. Come and thy people bless, And give thy Word success, And let thy righteousness On us descend.

 

Come, holy Comforter, Thy sacred witness bear In this glad hour! Thou, who almighty art, Now rule in ev'ry heart, And ne’er from us depart, Spirit of pow'r.

 

To thee, great One in Three, Eternal praises be Hence evermore! Thy sov'reign majesty May we in glory see, And to eternity Love and adore.

 

Confession & Forgiveness                  (Pastor)      

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 

Most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. 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. 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.

 

Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

 

Greeting                                            (Pastor)               

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.

 

Kyrie                                                (Worship Assistant)

In peace, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. 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. Lord, have mercy. For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. Amen.

 

Canticle of Praise  “Glory to God…” (Worship Assistant)        

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Day                               (Pastor)

Let us pray…Lord God, rule and govern our hearts and minds by your Holy Spirit, that while keeping the end of all things in mind, we may be stirred up to holiness in this life and come to be with you forever in that life to come. Grant this, we pray, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

First Reading: Zephaniah 1:7-16        (Worship Assistant)        

The question of how to be prepared for Jesus’ return is answered four times in today’s lessons. Being ready for Jesus’ return is not passivity on our part; instead, it is an active preparing, an active waiting and serving and doing justice in the world in the name of Christ. There is no reason to fear anything. Christ promised he would return in due time. We await this moment with an active and vibrant faith.

 

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. 10On 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. This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

 

Psalm: Psalm # 90 - read responsively     (Worship Assistant)

The psalmist sings of the everlasting nature of God for whom a thousand years is like one day. Secret sins are brought to light in the sight of the God of the ages.

 

Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to another.

Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the earth were born, from age to age you are God.

You turn us back to the dust and say, “Go back, O child of earth.”

For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when it is past and like a watch in the night.

You sweep us away like a dream; we fade away suddenly like the grass.

In the morning it is green and flourishes; in the evening it is dried up and withered.

For we consume away in your displeasure; we are afraid because of your wrathful indignation.

Our iniquities you have set before you, and our secret sins in the light of your countenance.

When you are angry, all our days are gone; we bring our years to an end like a sigh.

The span of our life is seventy years, perhaps in strength even eighty; yet the sum of them is but labor and sorrow, for they pass away quickly and we are gone.

Who regards the power of your wrath? who rightly fears your indignation?

So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

 

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 (Worship Assistant)  

The day of the Lord will come suddenly like a thief in the night. It will be like the sudden onset of labor pains of a mother ready to give birth. Paul urges the Christians at Thessalonica to keep awake, be sober, do not sleep or fail to be ready, for the coming of the Lord is near. Those who believe bear the marks of faith and love are not destined for wrath, but for salvation through Christ.

 

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. This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.

 

*Holy Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30       (Pastor)

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 25th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.

 

Jesus teaches about stewardship by using a story about a master who entrusts his property to his servants’ care while he is away. Each one invests what they have been given, realizing a profit before the master returns. One, however, buries his portion in the ground. The master returns to judge the “worthless servant.”

 

14Jesus said to the disciples, “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 sown 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.’” This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O Christ.

 

Sermon                                             Pastor John

 

*Hymn of the Day “Love Divine…”       LBW # 315 vs. 1 - 4

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav'n, to earth come down! Fix in us thy humble dwelling, All thy faithful mercies crown. Jesus, thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love thou art; Visit us with thy salvation, Enter ev'ry trembling heart.

 

Breathe, oh, breathe thy loving Spirit Into ev'ry troubled breast; Let us all in thee inherit; Let us find thy promised rest. Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be; End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.

 

Come, Almighty, to deliver; Let us all thy life receive; Suddenly return, and never, Nevermore thy temples leave. Thee we would be always blessing, Serve thee as thy hosts above, Pray, and praise thee without ceasing, Glory in thy perfect love.

 

Finish then thy new creation, Pure and spotless let us be; Let us see thy great salvation Perfectly restored in thee! Changed from glory into glory, Till in heav'n we take our place, Till we cast our crowns before thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

 

Apostle’s Creed

Let us join together in confessing our faith with the saints who have gone before us, in the words of the Apostles’ Creed:

 

I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

 

Prayers of the Church                        (Worship Assistant)

(P): Remembering the saints who have gone before us and giving thanks for God’s blessings, we pray for the church, all in need, and God’s good creation. A brief silence.

(W): Holy God, you are the source of all goodness and the origin of our lives. Teach us to number our days, that we would live each day in the shelter of your love and companionship. Let us be ready for Christs return as we live in faith, trusting in your eternal promises. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Gracious Lord, you call us to be silent in your holy presence and yet we are always thinking of the next thing we want to say. Help us to calm down so that we might listen for your word among us, that we would feel you among us, and dwell quietly as we wait for you to speak to us. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Almighty One, pour out your healing power on all those who are sick or suffering. Bring them relief from pain and comfort for their anxious hearts. Give them the faith they need to trust in your abiding mercy, knowing that you will never leave them and that you alone are the source of all renewal. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Heavenly Father, you are the giver of all good gifts. Everything we have belongs to you and has been granted to us so that we might use it wisely for your kingdom here on earth. Give us generous hearts, open hands, and complete trust in your willingness to care for our every need. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(P): Receive our prayers and hopes, Good Shepherd, and bring us safely into all joy and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

 

The Lord’s Prayer                   

Let us pray the prayer our Savior taught us…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.

 

Blessing                                            (Pastor)

The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Amen.

 

Dismissal                                          (Worship Assistant)

Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God.

 

Sending Hymn “On What Has Now…”      LBW # 261, vs 1 – 3

On what has now been sown Your blessing, Lord, bestow; The pow'r is yours alone To make it sprout and grow. O Lord, in grace the harvest raise, And yours alone shall be the praise!

 

To you our wants are known, From you are all our pow'rs; Accept what is your own And pardon what is ours. Our praises, Lord, and prayers receive And to your Word a blessing give.

 

Oh, grant that each of us, Now met before Thee here, May meet together thus When you and yours appear, And follow you to heav'n, our home. E'en so, Amen! Lord Jesus, come!

 

Postlude                                             Voluntary on Kirken