St. Stephen Lutheran Church and School

Transcription

1 St. Stephen Lutheran Church and School A member of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (clclutheran.org) 320 Moorpark Way - Mountain View, California Pastor: Luke Bernthal lbernthal@live.com Cell: (402) Home: (650) Church Office: (650) Church Website: sslcwest.org Teachers: Kirsten Gullerud (Principal), Rebecca Lillo School Office: (650) School Website: ssls.org Organist: Sue Slattengren November 18, 2018 Pentecost 25 We Welcome Our Visitors who are with us this morning. We hope that you are uplifted by the Gospel at our worship service. We invite you to join us every Sunday. Please sign our guestbook in the entry. Preparation for Worship: Read Psalm 118 (Lutheran Service Book or Pew Bible) Opening Hymn: 697 Awake, O Sleeper, Rise from Death LSB 697 Invocation We invoke ( call upon ) the name of the one true God Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. P In the name of the Triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. C Amen. Confession and Absolution We come before our Holy God recognizing that we are sinful and daily need His forgiveness. P God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. C If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1

2 P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:5, 7-9) P Let us pray C Almighty God, our Maker and Redeemer: We confess that we are sinful by nature, and have sinned against You in our thoughts, words, and actions. We have not loved You above all things. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Have mercy on us, and, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, forgive us our sins. P Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. We are forgiven! With boldness and confidence we may approach the throne to find grace to help in time of need. In the joy and peace of forgiveness let us praise the Lord v. 1, 5-6 O Christ, Our Hope, Our Hearts' Desire LSB 553 v. 1, 5 6 Public domain 5 Christ Jesus, be our present joy, Our future great reward; Our only glory, may it be To glory in the Lord! 6 All praise to You, ascended Lord; All glory ever be To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost Through all eternity! 2

3 Prayer of the Day P We pray: O Lord, by Your bountiful goodness release us from the bonds of our sins, which by reason of our weakness we have brought upon ourselves, that we may stand firm until the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. We pray this through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen. First Reading Hebrews 10:19-25 (EHV) 19 Brothers, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place through the blood of Jesus. 20 It is a new and living way he opened for us through the curtain, that is, his flesh. 21 We also have a great priest over the house of God. 22 So let us approach with a sincere heart, in the full confidence of faith, because our hearts have been sprinkled to take away a bad conscience, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold on firmly to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. 24 Let us also consider carefully how to spur each other on to love and good works. 25 Let us not neglect meeting together, as some have the habit of doing. Rather, let us encourage each other, and all the more as you see the Day approaching. Second Reading Mark 13:1-13 (EHV) P The second reading is from Mark 13:1-13. C Sanctify us by Your truth, O LORD. Your Word is truth! As Jesus was leaving the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, Teacher, look what impressive stones these are, and what impressive buildings! 2 Jesus said to him, Do you see these large buildings? There will not be one stone here left on top of another. They will all be thrown down. 3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled? 3

4 5 Jesus began by telling them, Be careful that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, I am he, and will deceive many. 7 Whenever you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 In fact, nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 But be on your guard! People will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand in the presence of rulers and kings for my sake as a witness to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 Whenever they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what you should say. Say whatever is given to you in that hour, because you will not be the ones speaking; instead it will be the Holy Spirit. 12 Brother will betray brother to death, and a father, his child. Children will rise up against their parents and put them to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved. P Here ends our Scripture readings. 575 v. 4 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less LSB 575 v. 4 Public domain 4

5 Nicene Creed We boldly confess what we believe. 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 of the world to come. Amen. Hymn of the Day: 663 Rise, My Soul, to Watch and Pray LSB 663 Sermon Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24 (EHV) 14 We also encourage you, brothers, to admonish those who are idle. Encourage those who are discouraged, help those who are weak, and be patient with everyone. 15 See to it that no one repays evil with evil, but instead, always strive to do good to each other and to everyone else. 5

6 16 Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks. For this is God s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 But test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Keep away from every kind of evil. 23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. Sermon Theme: Jesus is Coming Again Live Like It! 1. Do Good to Each Other Why are our actions toward our brothers and sisters in Christ, and even toward the unbelieving world around us, so important (esp. as we approach Judgment Day)? 2. Live Joyfully and Thankfully Why are our attitudes so important as we look toward Judgment Day? 3. Hold On to the Good; Keep Away from Evil Why are these inspired instructions from Paul so important especially as we look forward to Judgment Day? Application: Have you thought about Judgment Day recently? If not, why not? What types of thoughts & feelings do you have when you think about Judgment Day? What types of thoughts & feelings does Jesus say we should have when we think about Judgment Day? (Look up Luke 21:28) 6

7 Offertory LSB 956 Public domain Offering We offer our gifts to the Lord, remembering that He has first given to us that we might have to give to Him. Prayer of the Church / Prayer Requests We bring our prayers to God. Lord s Prayer Sermon Hymn: 677 v. 1-2, 5-8 For All the Saints Service of the Sacrament Now we approach the Sacrament of the Lord s Supper in which Jesus comes to bless us with His very body and blood. We move toward the Sacrament with prayers of thanksgiving and songs of adoration. The Words of Institution The words spoken by Jesus the night He instituted the Lord s Supper, by which our Lord assured to His Church the real presence of His body and blood in the Sacrament. 7

8 Prayer Before the Lord s Supper Adapted from The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 4 C Dear Savior, upon Your gracious invitation I come to Your altar. Let me find favor in Your eyes that I may approach Your table in true faith and receive the Lord s Supper for the forgiveness of my sins and the strengthening of my faith. Amen P The peace of the Lord be with you always! C Amen. Hymn of Preparation 619 v. 1 Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior LSB 619 v Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: CCLI # Public domain 8

9 The Distribution Note to our Guests: We are so glad you are worshiping with us this morning. The Word of God treats the Lord s Supper with great care. The Word of God considers the Lord s Supper to be a wonderful Means of Grace a way in which Christ forgives and blesses. It is also considered an opportunity for congregations to express unity and oneness (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) that is, to say to the world This is what we believe! But God s Word also warns against taking the Sacrament to our judgment (1 Corinthians 11:27-30). For these reasons our congregation asks that you fully understand our teachings before partaking. We respectfully ask that those who have joined this congregation through public confession of faith, or who are members of another congregation of the Church of the Lutheran Confession (CLC) approach the altar at the usher s direction. By following this practice we do not make any judgment on your faith. Rather we do this out of love for you, as a public confession of our unity, and out of obedience to and love for God s Word. Speak to our pastor anytime and he will be glad to provide the information you would need and want. We look forward to communing together, Lord willing, in the future. Prayer After the Lord s Supper Adapted from The Lutheran Hymnal, p. 4 C O blessed Savior, Jesus Christ, You have given Yourself to me in this holy Sacrament, keep me in Your faith and favor. As You live in me, let me also live in You. May Your body and blood preserve me in the true faith unto everlasting life! Amen. P Go in peace. Serve the Lord with gladness! The Thanksgiving 619 v. 5 My Heart Has Now Become Thy Dwelling LSB 619 v. 5 9

10 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: CCLI # Public domain Benediction The blessing given by God for the blessing of His people (Numbers 6:24-26). P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace. The Doxology LSB 805 Public domain Closing Hymn: 672 Jerusalem the Golden LSB 672 Acknowledgments - Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House. 10

11 Announcements Today: This Week: Voter s Meeting w/ Elections After the Worship Service Mon. Fri. No School at SSLS (Thanksgiving Break) Thursday Thanksgiving Day Worship (Mt. View) 10am Next Sunday: St. Stephen West (Mt. View): Bible Class 9am 11/25/18 Worship 10am St. Stephen East Bay (Hayward): Worship -1pm Bible Class 2pm November Elder & Usher: Scott Mueller (Elder) & Michael Slattengren (Usher) Voter s Meeting with Elections & Sign Project Input TODAY After Worship Service A reminder that our voter s meeting & elections will take place after the worship service TODAY. We will also be looking at some designs for our sign project and would value your input. Please stay and join us for this important meeting after our worship service. Thanksgiving Day Worship (Mountain View) THIS Thursday, Nov am - As part of your Thanksgiving plans please join us as we take the time to worship and express our thanks to our great God and Savior for all He has given us. Our Thanksgiving Day worship service will be held here THIS Thursday at 10am. It is good to give thanks to the LORD. PSALM 92:1 Advent & Christmas Schedule See the schedule on the back page of the bulletin (p. 12). Church Christmas Decorating Saturday, Dec. 1 10am Please join us for our Christmas church decorating on Sat. Dec. 1 st at 10am. The more the merrier! Choir for Advent & Christmas If you d like to join our Advent and Christmas Eve choir we ll begin practicing on Thurs. Nov. 29 6:30pm here at church. We plan to practice on Thursday nights through Dec. 20 th. 11

12 Advent / Christmas Season Worship Schedule 2018 Wed. Dec. 12 7pm - Advent Christmas Carols, Scripture & Cookies (Mt. View) Christmas Eve Mon. Dec. 24 th 5pm (Mt. View) Joint Christmas Eve Worship & Children s Program What Child is This? (No worship in Hayward) Christmas Day Tues. Dec. 25 th 11am (Hayward) Joint Christmas Day Worship (NO Worship in Mt. View) 12