Last Sunday of the Church Year November 25, 2018 Christ the King

Transcription

1 Last Sunday of the Church Year November 25, 2018 Christ the King Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN Church Office: (651) Fax: (651) stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Michael Albrecht malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Tom Volker tvolker@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Tom Rowland Organist & Choir Director trowland5726@comcast.net Shirley Hess Parish Nurse pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com

2 WELCOME TO WORSHIP! Every time we recite the Nicene Creed, the second article ends with this promise: His kingdom will have no end. No other king can say that. Only Jesus will reign forever and ever. He teaches us to pray, Thy kingdom come. Of course, His kingdom will come whether we pray or not, but He teaches us to pray that His kingdom will come to us. He wants us to be citizens of His kingdom and we are! November 25, 2018 GUESTS AND VISITORS, we are delighted that you are worshiping with us today! Please take a moment to fill out a Welcome, Guest card which is available in the pew racks and place it in the offering. For every guest who completes this form, Saint James will donate $5 to the Neighbor s Food Shelf. Also, stop by the Visitor Welcome Center as you leave and pick up a small gift. Thank you for coming, and please come back and visit again soon. You are always welcome here at Saint James. LARGE PRINT COPIES OF THE SERVICE ARE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX. SPECIAL POCKET HEARING SYSTEMS are available from the ushers for anyone desiring an amplified broadcast of the service. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP THE NURSERY is not staffed but is available for parents who have young children who become noisy or restless during the service. We are thankful for families who teach their children to worship by bringing them to church. When your little ones become noisy, feel free to take them to the narthex or the nursery to settle them down. The service can be seen and heard on TV in the narthex. You are invited to ponder Psalm 45, which can be in found in the pew Bible on page

3 THE ORDER OF SERVICE PRELUDE: Let the Earth Now Praise the Lord Kniller OPENING SENTENCE: (10:30) The Lord Is in His Holy Temple C.F. Bolle GATHERING HYMN: Christian Worship #533 I Love Your Kingdom, Lord for stanza 5 PASTORAL GREETING & INVOCATION: Pastor Albrecht CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION: P: We are in the presence of God, to whom all hearts are open, to whom all desires are known, and from whom no secrets can be hid. Let us, therefore, bow before our Maker, acknowledge our sinfulness, and ask Him to forgive us. C: O LORD, I was sinful at birth, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. P: Our heavenly Father has had mercy upon us. He gave His only begotten Son to die for us. Jesus paid the penalty for all your sin. Everyone who believes in Him has received the gift of the Holy Spirit and the promise of eternal life. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of His holy Word, I announce the grace of God to you, and by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C: (sing) Amen. P: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord. HYMN OF PRAISE: Christian Worship #379 Amazing Grace 3

4 Please be seated PRAYER OF THE DAY PSALM OF THE DAY: Christian Worship, page 83 Psalm 45 Seven hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah proclaims God s promise that He will bring righteousness and salvation to Jews and Gentiles alike. His salvation will last forever. OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Isaiah 51:4-6 Pay attention to me, my people, and listen to me, my nation; for instruction will come from me, and my justice for a light to the nations. I will bring it about quickly. My righteousness is near, my salvation appears, and my arms will bring justice to the nations. The coasts and islands will put their hope in me, and they will look to my strength. Look up to the heavens, and look at the earth beneath; for the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment, and its inhabitants will die like gnats. But my salvation will last forever, and my righteousness will never be shattered. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! P: Everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Alleluia! C: (sing) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! SAINT JAMES CHOIR: (10:30) God Will Open a Door Choplin God is calling, let us leave behind our waiting; we ll go forward celebrating, there are blessings in store through the open door. Let us follow the Lord through the open door. Jude, the brother of our Lord Jesus, urges us to help and support each other as we wait expectantly for the Last Day. Jesus is more than able to protect us until He returns. EPISTLE LESSON: Jude But you, dear friends, as you build yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting expectantly for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for eternal life. Have mercy on those who waver; save others by snatching them from the fire; have mercy on others but with fear, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. Now to him who is able to protect you from stumbling and to make you stand in the presence of his glory, without blemish and with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time, now and forever. Amen. Reading Response P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! 4

5 VERSE OF THE DAY: Christian Worship, page 40 Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 13:24-37 "But in those days, after that tribulation: The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not shed its light; the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. He will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. Learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. In the same way, when you see these things happening, recognize that he is near -- at the door. Truly I tell you, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Now concerning that day or hour no one knows -- neither the angels in heaven nor the Son -- but only the Father. Watch! Be alert! For you don't know when the time is coming. It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his servants, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. Therefore be alert, since you don't know when the master of the house is coming -- whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning. Otherwise, when he comes suddenly he might find you sleeping. And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be alert!" Jesus tells Peter, Andrew, James and John that heaven and earth will pass away, but Jesus words will never pass away. By the power of His Word, Jesus will reign forever and ever. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! APOSTLES CREED: Christian Worship, page 41 SERMON HYMN: Christian Worship #341 Crown Him with Many Crowns Please be seated SERMON: Text: Mark 13:24-37 Theme: Jesus Kingdom Will Never End 5

6 RESPONSE TO THE SERMON: Christian Worship, page 20 Please be seated Give online at give.4gvn.us OFFERING: We bring our firstfruits to God with gratitude and joy. OFFERTORY (8:00) Christ lag in Todesbanden J.S. Bach (10:30) Sacrifice of Praise Martin HYMN OF REDEDICATION: Christian Worship #344 stanzas 1, 5, 6 At the Name of Jesus Please be seated PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION SENDING HYMN: Christian Worship #370 All Hail the Power of Jesus Name POSTLUDE: Lead On, O King Eternal Evanovich 6

7 SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Michael Albrecht (preaching) Pastor Tom Volker Organist and Choir Director: Tom Rowland Harrison Lawrence, Organ Intern Saint James Choir Ushers: (8:00) Loren Bahls and Team #5 (10:30) Virginia Genz and Team #6 Audio Video Team: Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Becky Martinez, Lorna Redding, and Leif Thune Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Larry Johnson, Nina Keeling, Harvey Kirchner, Betty Kubat SAINT JAMES FOUNDATION Remember the Foundation in your will your gift can make a difference for generations to come. Suggested Wording: In thanks to God for the gift of His Son Jesus, and for all His blessings to me in my lifetime, I gift and bequeath to Saint James Lutheran Church Foundation at 460 West Annapolis Street, West Saint Paul, MN the amount of $ or (specify the asset.). MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for Missionary Hesham Shehab and Salam Christian Fellowship, as they reach out to Middle Easterners in the greater Chicago area. FLOWERS The Thanksgiving arrangement on the altar has been provided by The Saint James Altar Guild. The flowers in front of the altar are in loving memory of David Butenhoff on his birthday, given by his Mom, Dad and Alison. If you would like to order FLOWERS please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Kathy Stadler at or stadlerek@comcast.net. Stewardship Thought Complaining, grumbling and fear are contagious. So are joy, gratefulness and hope. (Contributed by a Saint James member) Living as a Local Missionary When a coworker does something well or is just dedicated to the job, point it out to your boss. 7

8 The Greek inscription at the bottom of our stained glass window says, Jesus Christ Conquers. Above His head you see the Father s hands outstretched, giving His Son to die for us. Between the Father s hands you see the Alpha and the Omega, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus is the beginning and the end. Just above the inscription at the bottom, you see the nail hole in Jesus foot. Jesus conquers sin and death for us by dying for us and rising again. Yes, Jesus is Christ the King. 8