Christ the King Sunday The Last Sunday of the Church Year November 22, 2015

Transcription

1 Christ the King Sunday The Last Sunday of the Church Year November 22, 2015 Saint James Evangelical Lutheran Church 460 West Annapolis Street - West Saint Paul, MN Church Office: (651) Fax: (651) stjlc@saintjameslutheran.com Visit our web site: Pastor Michael Albrecht malbrecht@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Dale Critchley dcritchley@saintjameslutheran.com Terese Thune Youth Director tthune@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Ralph Rokke rrokke@saintjameslutheran.com Pastor Richard Stadler rstadler@saintjameslutheran.com Shirley Hess Parish Nurse pnstjlc@saintjameslutheran.com

2 WELCOME TO WORSHIP! Christ the King Sunday November 22, 2015 The Old Testament Prophet Daniel was given a breath-taking vision of God the Father, sitting in glory on his heavenly throne. Daniel also saw Jesus, one like a son of man, come before the Father, and be given an eternal kingdom. Today is Christ the King Sunday, the last Sunday of the Church year. We celebrate today what Daniel saw, the culmination of all the other events celebrated throughout the church year: Jesus will reign as King of Kings forever. The honor is rightfully his as the onlybegotten Son of God, and he s also earned it by doing all the Father s will and pleasing him in every way. We who trust in Christ will reign with him in his eternal Kingdom. Glory be to God! 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. 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 both locations. PREPARING FOR WORSHIP PRE-SERVICE PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, you have redeemed us with your holy and precious blood, and with your innocent sufferings and death. We thank, praise, and serve you now and forever. Lord, may your kingdom of glory appear soon. In your blessed name, we pray, Amen. 2

3 THE ORDER OF SERVICE ORGAN PRELUDE: Jerusalem, My Happy Home... Lau OPENING HYMN: Christian Worship #341 Crown Him with Many Crowns Please stand for the final stanza PASTORAL GREETING Pastor Rokke THE INVOCATION: The congregation responds by singing A-men. INTROIT: Colossians 1:12-14 P: Give thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. C: He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. CONFESSION OF SINS P: Let us confess our sins to the Lord, that we may receive his mercy. P: Lord, hear our prayer: C: Father, I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your child. Yet in mercy you sacrificed your only Son to purge away my guilt. For his sake, O God, be merciful to me, a sinner, and in the joy of your Holy Spirit, let me serve you all my days. Amen. (Silence for personal examination and confession.) ABSOLUTION: P: If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness. Upon this your confession, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. C Sings: Amen 3

4 HYMN OF THANKS AND PRAISE: His Name Is Wonderful CCLI Song # Audrey Mieir. Renewed 1987 Manna Music, Inc. For use solely with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved. CCLI License # PRAYER OF THE DAY (Please be seated) OLD TESTAMENT READING: Daniel 7:9-10, As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened. 4

5 13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! The Old Testament Prophet Daniel was given great prophetic visions in amazing detail of events to come in world history. Here he describes the culmination of them all. Christ will come before God the Father, the Ancient of Days, and will be given an eternal kingdom that will never pass away and cannot be destroyed. (10:30) THE SAINT JAMES CHOIR: All Hail the Power of Jesus Name setting by Hal H. Hopson SECOND READING: Revelation 1:4b-8 4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 I am the Alpha and the Omega, says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God! Jesus is called here the ruler of kings on earth, and the one who has made us a kingdom. Christ s people are kings who shall reign with him forever. As Daniel foresaw and prophesied, Jesus will come in the clouds of heaven to make his heavenly kingdom visible and to establish an eternal reign with his people. VERSE RESPONSE: (p. 40 in Christian Worship) Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! These words are written that we may believe That Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! 5

6 Please stand for the Gospel Jesus warns us to be on guard and watch for his return. We can t know exactly when it will be, and so we must be spiritually awake and serving him at all times. THE HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 13: But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 And then 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. 28 From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts out its leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he is near, at the very gates. 30 Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. 32 But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. 35 Therefore stay awake for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake. Gospel Response P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ! THE APOSTLES CREED: Christian Worship, page 41 Children are invited to come forward during the sermon hymn for the Children s Message. SERMON HYMN: Christian Worship #214 Jerusalem the Golden SERMON: Text: Daniel 7:9-10, Theme: Daniel s Glorious Vision: Christ Receiving His Kingdom OFFERTORY: Christian Worship, page 20 OFFERING: Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first fruits of all your income. Proverbs 3:9 (8:00) OFFERING VOLUNTARY: Jesus, Still Lead On... Lau (10:30) THE SAINT JAMES CHOIR: In Heaven Above arr. Carl F. Schalk 6

7 HYMN OF REDEDICATION: We Will Glorify the King of Kings (Please stand) CCLI Song # New Spring. For use with the SongSelect Terms of Use. All rights reserved. CCLI License # PRAYER FOR OURSELVES AND OTHERS Please be seated LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION Please stand for the Benediction CLOSING HYMN: Christian Worship #334 Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow We ll sing Amen at the end. ORGAN POSTLUDE: The Strife is O er... Lau. 7

8 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.). SERVING IN OUR WORSHIP TODAY Pastor Ralph Rokke (preaching) Pastor Michael Albrecht Organist and Saint James Choir Director: Tom Rowland (10:30) The Saint James Choir Ushers: (8:00) Loren Bahls and Team #5 (10:30) Virginia Genz and Team #6 Audio Video Team: Dani Critchley, Hannah Critchley, Sharon Ferrara, Glenn & Wendy Gatzke, Jerry Hinz, Len & Diane Munson, Jerry Peterson, Lorna Redding, Michael Schroeder, Leif Thune and Gil Ude Screen Slide Production: Ami Heesch PEOPLE TO PRAY FOR Let us remember to pray for some of our veteran members: Marty Mollenkamp, Erma Mueller, Hilma Nelson, Mabel Peterson MISSIONS TO PRAY FOR This week please pray for Pastor John Fehrmann and the Confessional Lutheran Education Foundation, as they provide theological training for Lutheran pastors in Chile, Venezuela, Ghana, Sri Lanka and The Philippines. Stewardship Thought We first learn to respond to God through the teaching and example of others. Then, later, as we understand God s grace and gifts, we respond from within. FLOWERS The flowers in the chancel vases and behind the crucifix are given in loving memory of Clarice, Bruce, Brian, grandson William, brother Charles and wife Carol, and parents Frank and Evelyn Schletty, provided by the John Schletty family. If you would like to order FLOWERS to be placed in the chancel, please contact Altar Guild Flower Chairwoman Shirley Grabuski at Living as a Local Missionary When a stranger helps you with a need, let them know they re an answered prayer, assuming you re praying about your needs. 8