LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR

LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR November 25 & 26, 2017 5:00 & 8:15 AS WE GATHER To be continued... Those simple words sometimes show up on the screen at the conclusion of a television show, announcing that something is yet to come to complete what has already been presented. The theme of the Last Sunday of the Church Year is that sort of message. Over the past Church Year, the history of salvation in Christ has been presented, and the work of the Holy Spirit through the Church has been celebrated. Now, the return of Christ the King is awaited, when the divine plan is unfolded. To what has been, what is now, and what will be in God s design, we add our joyful Amen! PRELUDE RINGING OF THE BELLS - We Prepare our hearts and minds for worship WELCOME PREPARATION OPENING HYMN Come, Thou Almighty King LSB 905 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. (Please Stand) INVOCATION 5:00 PM SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM OF MARKUS KRYSTIAN HEANEY LBS 268 In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. OPENING SENTENCES Revelation 4:8b, 11 Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! 1

Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things, and by Your will they existed and were created. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Beloved in the Lord, sheep of the Good Shepherd, we know of His abiding goodness and mercy. With confidence, let us come before our Lord to confess our sins and to find the forgiveness we seek. Almighty God, we admit our sinfulness, both that which is within us from the beginning and that which continues to occur in our lives through our transgressions in thought, word, and deed. Forgive us, renew us, and create in us clean hearts so that we may serve You as Your redeemed people, now and forever. God hears our cries for mercy, and because of the sacrifice of His beloved Son for the sins of all people, He grants forgiveness. In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. May you live confidently in this life as you await the joy of life everlasting. Be at peace! WORD HYMN OF PRAISE Jesus Christ is Risen Today LSB 457, v. 1 & 2 Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our Triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia! Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heav nly king, Alleluia! Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia! SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And also with You. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the Kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Please Be Seated) 2

OLD TESTAMENT READING Ezekiel 34:11 16, 20 24 (The Lord will search for His sheep.) 11 For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.... 20 Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken. Lector: PSALM Women: Men: Women: Men: Women: Men: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Psalm 95:1 7a Oh come, let us sing to the LORD; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker! For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 15:20 28 (All will be made alive in Christ.) 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when it says, all things are put in subjection, it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 3

(Please Stand) ALLELUIA and VERSE LSB 205 Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 25:31 46 (The sheep and the goats are separated.) The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-fifth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on his right, Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. 37 Then the righteous will answer him, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38 And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39 And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you? 40 And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. 41 Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. 44 Then they also will answer, saying, Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you? 45 Then he will answer them, saying, Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. CREED The Third Article In the Third Article, we affirm our confession of the last things and add our Amen to all we have professed that we believe. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. What does this mean? I believe that I cannot by my own reason or strength believe in Jesus Christ, my Lord, or come to Him; but the Holy Spirit has called me by the Gospel, enlightened me with His gifts, sanctified and kept me in the true faith. In the same way He calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian Church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith. In this Christian Church He daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers. On the Last Day He will raise me and all the dead, and give eternal life to me and all believers in Christ. This is most certainly true. 4

(Please Be Seated) CHILDREN S MESSAGE Jesus Loves Me! This I Know LSB 588 v. 1 Jesus loves me! This I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak, but He is strong. Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. HYMN OF THE DAY O God of God, O Light of Light LSB 810 O God of God, O Light of Light, O Prince of Peace and King of kings: To You in heaven s glory bright The song of praise forever rings. To Him who sits upon the throne, The Lamb once slain but raised again, Be all the glory He has won, all thanks and praise! Amen, amen. For deep in prophets sacred page, and grand in poets winged word, Slowly in type, from age to age The nations saw their coming Lord; Till through the deep Judean night Rang out the song, Good-will to men! Sung once by firstborn sons of light, It echoes now, Good-will! That life of truth, those deeds of love, that death so steeped in hate and scorn These all are past, and now above He reigns, our King once crowned with thorn. Life up your heads, O might gates! So sang that host beyond our ken. Lift up your heads, your King awaits. We lift them up. Amen, amen. Then raise to Christ a mighty song, and shout His name, His mercies tell! Sing, heav nly host, your praise prolong, and all on earth, your anthem swell! All hail, O Lamb for sinners slain! Forever let the song ascend! Worthy the Lamb, enthroned to reign, all glory, pow r! Amen, amen. (Please Stand) SERMON PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. We pray for the whole Christian community around the world that, as people united in faith, we may witness to the good news that is ours in Christ Jesus. Together we say: Amen and amen. We pray for all nations of the earth, that in those places where strife and discord rule, there may be peace. And we pray for our own nation, that it may seek to bring that which is good and Godpleasing about in every global situation. We also pray for those who serve in the Armed Forces of our land, [especially...]. Together we say: Amen and amen. 5

We pray for all those who labor in the fields of the Lord, that the Good Shepherd would lead them to pleasant pastures and give them joy in their callings. And we pray that the God of all grace would continue to raise up men and women to serve in vocations of service in the Church. Together we say: Amen and amen. We pray for the special needs of this day, including health and family concerns, joys and sorrows, and all that is on our hearts, [including...]. Together we say: Amen and amen. (Special Petitions) Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy through Jesus Christ, our Lord. (Please Be Seated) OFFERING Sing to the Lord of Harvest Ascension Bell Choir (Please Stand) SACRAMENT The Lord s Supper is celebrated at Ascension in the confession that, as He says, our Lord gives not only bread and wine but His very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us. All those who are not yet instructed, in doubt or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the Sacrament, are asked first to speak with the pastor. PREFACE The Lord be with you. [2 Timothy 4:22] And also with you. Lift up your hearts. [Colossians 3:1] We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. [Psalm 136] It is right to give Him thanks and praise. PROPER PREFACE It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, heavenly Father, because You are with us to bless us for time and for eternity. With goodness and mercy You provide for all our wants of body and soul. May Your Holy Spirit guard, guide, and comfort us throughout the days of our journey on earth, while we live to Your glory as Your pilgrim people. Keep us focused in faith as we journey toward our final goal, Your everlasting kingdom, where with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing: 6

SANCTUS LSB 208 Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored; Heav n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name. Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord; Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord! THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26 28; Mark 14:22 24; Luke 22:19 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25 PROCLAMATION OF CHRIST As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord s death until He comes. Come, Lord Jesus. LORD S PRAYER (Matthew 6:9 13) LSB 162 Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray: 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. Matthew 6:9 13 PAX DOMINI The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. AGNUS DEI LSB 210 O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away; O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, Have mercy on us, Lord, we pray. O Jesus Christ, true Lamb of God, You take the sin of the world away; Have mercy on us, Jesus Christ, And grant us peace, O Lord, we pray. (Please Be Seated) DISTRIBUTION HYMNS Beautiful Savior LSB 537 Beautiful Savior, King of creation, Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I d love Thee, Truly I d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown. Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands, Robed in flow rs of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer, He makes our sorr wing spirit sing. Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight, Bright the sparkling stars on high; Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer Than all the angels in the sky. Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations, Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor, Praise, adoration Now and forevermore be thine! 7

The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns LSB 348 The King shall come when morning dawns And light triumphant breaks, When beauty gilds the eastern hills And life to joy awakes. Not as of old a little child, To bear and fight and die, But crowned with glory like sun That lights the morning sky. Oh, brighter than hat the rising morn When Christ, victorious, rose And left the lonesome place of death Despite the rage of foes. Oh, brighter than that glorious morn Shall dawn upon our race The day when Christ in splendor comes And we shall see His face. The King shall come when morning dawns And light and beauty brings. Hail, Christ the Lord! Your people pray: Come quickly, King of kings! The King of Love My Shepherd Is LSB 709 The King of love my shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His And He is mine forever. Where streams of living water flow, My ransomed soul he leadeth And, where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love he sought me And on his shoulder gently laid And home rejoicing brought me. In death s dark vale I fear no ill With Thee, dear Lord, beside me, Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me. Thou spreadst a table in my sight; Thine unction grace bestoweth; And, oh, what transport of delight From Thy pure chalice floweth! And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never. Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise Within Thy house forever. (Please Stand) BENEDICTION God the Father bless your lives and your deeds with His peace. God the Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, fill your hearts and your days with hope. God the Holy Spirit be with you to make your lives expressions of God s gracious and abiding love, now and forever. CLOSING HYMN Crown Him with Many Crowns LSB 525 Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne; Hark how the heav nly anthem drowns All music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing Of Him who died for thee, And hail Him as thy matchless king Through all eternity. 8

Crown Him the virgin s Son, The God incarnate born, Whose arm those crimson trophies won Which now His brow adorn: Fruit of the mystic rose, Yet of that rose the stem, The root whence mercy ever flows, The babe of Bethlehem. Crown Him the Lord of love. Behold His hands and side, Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified. No angels in the sky Can fully bear that sight, But downward bend their wond ring eyes At mysteries so bright. Crown Him the Lord of Life, Who triumphed o er the grave And rose victorious in the strife For those He came to save. His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high, Who died eternal life to bring and lives that death may die. Crown Him the Lord of heav n, Enthroned in worlds above, Crown Him the king to whom is giv n The wondrous name of Love. Crown Him with many crowns As thrones before Him fall; Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, For He is king of all POSTLUDE Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 4. Copyright 2017 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Text 2015 Ascension Lutheran Church. Used by permission. LSBHymnLicense.net #100012046 9