St. Matthew Lutheran Church

Sunday, November 8, 2020 - recording

Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost

Prelude: “The Lost Chord”  

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, Isaiah 55:10-13

Psalm # 145:11-21

Second Reading, 2 Corinthians 9:1-15

Holy Gospel, Matthew 28:16-20

Sermon

Hymn of the Day: “All People That on Earth Do Dwell” – LBW # 245, vs 1 - 5

Apostle’s Creed

Prayers of the Church

The Lord’s Prayer

Blessing

Dismissal

Sending Hymn: “Lead On, Eternal King” - LBW # 495, vs 1 – 3

Postlude: Voluntary on “Ebenezer”

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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                                              “The Lost Chord”

 

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…Heavenly Father, help us to overcome our fears about giving with an expectant faith in your ability to provide. Help us to understand that “little can become much” when you are in it, and to determine what “enough” is for our family; and to share the rest joyfully and generously. Amen.

 

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-13            (Worship Assistant)        

Whether or not we understand the ways of the Lord, we can trust that His Word is true and will do what it says.

 

10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. 12 “For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” This is the word of the Lord, thanks be to God.

 

Psalm: Psalm # 145 - read responsively   (Worship Assistant)

God’s people tell others of His glory and His redeeming acts, spreading His kingdom throughout the world. God provides for and sustains His creation.

 

They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom and tell of your power,

to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures throughout all generations. The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.

The Lord upholds all who are falling and raises up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.

You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.

The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.

He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them.

The Lord preserves all who love him, but all the wicked he will destroy.

My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.


Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 9:1-15 (Worship Assistant)  

Paul urges the Corinthians to go with the flow of God’s self-giving in Christ by giving themselves to others, so that the download and outward movement of grace comes full circle in an ascending symphony of thanksgiving. Seeing things in an earthly, me-first way is miserly and petty. Instead, we should open our hands to receive from God and extend them to give to our neighbor. We marvel that in Jesus it is always more and never less and rejoice that God’s gifts multiply as we receive and share them.

 

1 Now it is superfluous for me to write to you about the ministry for the saints, for I know your readiness, of which I boast about you to the people of Macedonia, saying that Achaia has been ready since last year. And your zeal has stirred up most of them. But I am sending the brothers so that our boasting about you may not prove empty in this matter, so that you may be ready, as I said you would be. Otherwise, if some Macedonians come with me and find that you are not ready, we would be humiliated—to say nothing of you—for being so confident. So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you and arrange in advance for the gift you have promised, so that it may be ready as a willing gift, not as an exaction.

 

The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, “He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.” 10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission that comes from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, 14 while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! This is the Word of God, word of life, thanks be to God.

 

*Holy Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20       (Pastor)

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the 28th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.

 

Christ commissions His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations through Baptism and teaching. Christ promises to be with us, and He is the one who makes disciples through our baptizing and teaching. Today, remember your Baptism and confirmation in the faith, which are precious blessings for the Lord’s disciples. His love and care are new for you every morning.  

 

16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” This is the gospel of the Lord, praise to you, O Christ.

 

Sermon                                             Pastor Bill Wallace

 

*Hymn of the Day “All People On Earth Do Dwell” LBW # 245 vs. 1 - 5

All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice; Him serve with mirth, his praise forth tell; Come ye before him and rejoice.

 

Know that the Lord is God indeed; Without our aid he did us make. We are his folk, he doth us feed, And for his sheep he doth us take.

 

Oh, enter then his gates with praise; Approach with joy his courts unto; Praise, laud, and bless his name always, For it is seemly so to do.

 

For why? the Lord our God is good: His mercy is forever sure; His truth at all times firmly stood, And shall from age to age endure.

 

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, The God whom heav'n and earth adore, From us and from the angel host Be praise and glory evermore.

 

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): Everlasting God, your Son promised he would return to the earth one day. Help us to be ready for his return, that our lamps would be lit and our hearts would be open to Jesus second coming. Remind us that because of we live by faith, there is nothing to fear and everything to look forward to as Jesus will judge us innocent, having taken our place on the cross. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Lord God, ruler of us all, you desire that all would be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth of Christ. Let your blessing rest on our civic leaders and all whom you have placed in positions of authority, that your people may lead quiet and peaceable lives, godly and respectful in every way, free to pray and work in your service. Bless the newly elected, and grant them wisdom. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Lord of the harvest, grant favorable weather for all the farmers who are bringing in the crops this season. Watch over them and prevent accidents or injuries as they work around large machines. Provide for our daily bread and make us truly grateful for all we have. Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

(W): Merciful God, you see the suffering of all. Help us to see what you see and move us to assist others in ways that are truly helpful and life-giving. Give us ears to listen and patience to tend to those whose struggles are overwhelming. 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 “Lead On, Eternal King”   LBW # 495, vs 1 – 3

Lead on, O King eternal! The day of march has come; Hence-forth in fields of conquest Your tents will be our home. Through days of preparation Your grace has made us strong; And now, O King eternal, We lift our battle song.

 

Lead on, O King eternal, Till sin's fierce war shall cease, And holiness shall whisper The sweet amen of peace; For not with swords loud clashing, Nor roll of stirring drums, But deeds of love and mercy The heav'nly kingdom comes.

 

Lead on, O King eternal: We follow, not with fears, For gladness breaks like morning Where'er your face appears. Your cross is lifted o'er us; We journey in its light; The crown awaits the conquest; Lead on, O God of might!

 

Postlude                                             Voluntary on “Ebenezer”

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