ALL SAINTS DAY November 6, 2016 11: :00 AS WE GATHER When we think of saints, we likely picture well-known disciples, martyrs, and leaders of the Church throughout the years. Familiar names from the pages of Scripture come to mind such as Peter, John, and Paul the type of people we name churches after. Perhaps this is rightly so. After all, the Lord worked in the lives of these individuals in powerful ways. On All Saints Day, however, we also give thanks to God for unsung saints. We remember faithful Christian men and women whose names may not be known to the world but are known to us. We remember the names of mothers and fathers, friends and family, and fellow congregation members who bore witness to Christ through word and deed. We take time to rejoice that they are now in the nearer presence of the crucified and risen Savior they served while among us. PRE-SERVICE Glory To God Forever Fee/Beeching Before the world was made, before You spoke it to be, You were the King of kings - yeah, You were, yeah You were! And now, You're reigning still, enthroned above all things; Angels and saints cry out, we join them as we sing: Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God forever! Glory to God, glory to God, glory to God forever! (Interlude) Creator, God, You gave me breath, so I could praise Your great and matchless name all my days, all my days! So, let my whole life be a blazing offering A life that shouts and sings the greatness of our King! CHORUS Take my life, and let it be all for You, and for Your glory; Take my life and let it be Yours. Take my life and let it be all for You, and for Your glory; Take my life and let it be Yours. We sing: CHORUS Take my life, and let it be all for You, and for Your glory; Take my life and let it be Yours. Take my life and let it be all for You, and for Your glory; Take my life and let it be Yours. We sing: CHORUS CCLI #219979. Used by permission WELCOME (Please Stand) 1
PREPARATION OPENING SONG My Redeemer Lives Morgan BOB 166 I know He rescued my soul; His blood has covered my sins. I believe, I believe. My shame He s taken away; my pain is healed in His name. I believe, I believe. I ll raise the banner, cause my Lord has conquered the grave. My Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives. REPEAT SONG You lift my burdens; I ll rise with You. I m dancing on this mountain top to see Your kingdom come. My Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives. My Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives, my Redeemer lives. He Lives CCLI #219979 Used by permission INVOCATION All: In the name of the Father, who created us. In the name of the Son, who redeemed us. In the name of the Holy Spirit, who sanctifies and keeps us in the one true faith. CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION 1 John 3:1 3 In today s Epistle, John writes, See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. Yet, we do not live our lives as if we are children of God. Father in heaven, forgive us for not always living in ways that honor Your name, which we bear as Your baptized children. You lavishly love us, but we have not shown love for You or for our neighbor. Because we are by nature sinful and unclean, we set our minds only on the things of this world and not on the world to come. Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Beloved, we are God s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure (1 John 3:2 3). As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 2
WORD SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And also with you. PRAYER OF THE DAY Let us pray. O God of grace and mercy, we give thanks for Your loving kindness shown to all Your servants who, having finished their course in faith, now rest from their labors. Grant that we also may be faithful unto death and receive the crown of eternal life. Grant that, having been loved so richly by You, we would go and do likewise, loving our neighbor as ourselves; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Please Be Seated) FIRST READING Revelation 7:9 17 (The saints praising the Lamb before His throne) [9] After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, [10] and crying out with a loud voice, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" [11] And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, [12] saying, "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! " [13] Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?" [14] I said to him, "Sir, you know." And he said to me, "These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. [15] "Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. [16] They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. [17] For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. EPISTLE 1 John 3:1 3 (The Father s love for us) [1] See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. [2] Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. [3] And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure. Lector: This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 3
(Please Stand) HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 5:1 12 (The Beatitudes) The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fifth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when He sat down, His disciples came to Him. And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. APOSTLES CREED LSB 159 I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. 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. 4
(Please Be Seated) CHILDREN S MESSAGE Jesus Loves Me This I Know LSB 588, v. 2 Jesus loves me! He who died Heaven s gates to open wide. He has washed away my sin, Lets His little child come in. Refrain Refrain: Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so. SONG OF THE DAY Because He Lives Gaither/Gaither God sent His Son they called Him Jesus. He came to love heal and forgive. He bled and died to buy my pardon. An empty grave is there to prove My Savior lives Because He lives I can face tomorrow. Because He lives all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living Just because He lives. How sweet to hold our newborn baby And feel the pride and joy he gives. But greater still the calm assurance This child can face uncertain days Because Christ lives. CHORUS And then one day I'll cross that river. I'll fight life's final war with pain. And then as death gives way to vict'ry, I'll see the lights of glory And I'll know He lives. CHORUS And life is worth the living just because He lives. CCLI # 219979 Used by permission SERMON 5
REMEMBRANCE OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED In joyful expectation of the resurrection to life eternal, we remember before the Lord our departed family and friends who have gone before us in faith. 11/18/15 Edith C. Kuhn 12/11/15 Gary Edward Bischoff 12/21/15 Esther M. Greer 12/28/15 Marlyn Graudin 3/20/16 Rev. Dr. Otto Charles Hintze Jr. 4/16/16 James C. Stone 6/11/16 Walter Danneman 6/11/16 Linda Danneman 7/27/16 Virginia M. Bude 10/16/16 Kenneth M. Bartz Almighty God, we remember with thanksgiving those who loved and served You in Your Church on earth and who now rest from their labors. Keep us in fellowship with all Your saints, and bring us at last to the joy of Your heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Please Stand) PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Psalm 31:5 As those who have been made saints by God s grace through faith in Christ Jesus, let us come before our Father in heaven in prayer. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Lord God, we recognize that we are spiritually poor and morally bankrupt. Grant us forgiveness for the sake of Jesus. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. Blessed are those who mourn. Lord God, we mourn our sin, but we also mourn the wages that sin brings death. Give us the comfort that Jesus gives, which will be fully realized in heaven. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake. Lord God, watch over us when we are persecuted for following You. Grant us and to all Christians steadfastness of faith. Into Your hand I commit my spirit; You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. [Special petitions may follow.] O Lord, into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy. (Please Be Seated) 6
GATHERING OF OFFERINGS OFFERTORY Don't Let Me Miss the Glory Mote In the view from the mountains There's a story to be told In the crashing of the ocean There's a power that no man will ever hold All the stars in the Heavens Decorate Your handiwork And like a mighty choir They've come to celebrate Your worth Don't let me miss the glory Don't let me miss the grace All creation is singing To the honor of Your name Don't let me miss the wonder Don't let me miss the grand design And the lightning and the thunder Lord, open up my eyes Don't let me miss the glory In the cry of a baby In the laughter of love In the dance of the faithful You will find the greatness of our God above In the prayer of the righteous In the beauty of Your grace In a brand new morning's mercy All Your memories of my sin have been erased CCLI #219979 Used by permission CHORUS (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. 7
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 SANCTUS It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. In the communion of all Your saints gathered into the one Body of Your Son, You have surrounded us with so great a cloud of witnesses that we, encouraged by their faith and strengthened by their fellowship, may run with perseverance the race that is set before us and, together with them, receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing: Salvation Belongs to Our God : Salvation belongs to our God Who sits upon the throne And unto the Lamb Praise and glory wisdom and thanks Honor and power and strength Be to our God forever and ever Be to our God forever and ever Be to our God forever and ever Amen THE WORDS OF OUR LORD Matthew 26:26 28; Mark 14:22 24; Luke 22:19 20; 1 Corinthians 11:23 25 LORD S PRAYER As children of our heavenly Father, we pray the prayer Jesus 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. PAX DOMINI The peace of the Lord be with you always. (Please Be Seated) 8
DISTRIBUTION SONGS Great Are You Lord Leonard/Ingram/Jordan: You give life You are love You bring light to the darkness You give hope You restore ev'ry heart that is broken And great are You Lord It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise We pour out our praise It's Your breath in our lungs So we pour out our praise to You only REPEAT SONG, CHORUS And all the earth will shout Your praise Our hearts will cry these bones will sing Great are You Lord REPEAT X4, CHORUS X 2 CCLI #219979 Used by permission I Will Rise Giglio/Tomlin/Maher/Reeves There's a peace I've come to know Though my heart and flesh may fail There's an anchor for my soul I can say it is well Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed The victory is won He is risen from the dead (And) I will rise when He calls my name No more sorrow no more pain I will rise on eagle's wings Before my God fall on my knees and rise I will rise There's a day that's drawing near When this darkness breaks to light And the shadows disappear And my faith shall be my eyes Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed The victory is won He is risen from the dead CHORUS And I hear the voice of many angels sing Worthy is the Lamb And I hear the cry of ev'ry longing heart Worthy is the Lamb And I hear the voice of many angels sing Worthy is the Lamb And I hear the cry of ev'ry longing heart Worthy is the Lamb Worthy is the Lamb CHORUS I will rise. CCLI #219979 Used by permission (Please Stand) 9
BENEDICTION Revelation 7:12 All: Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace. Numbers 6:24 26 CLOSING SONG Forever Tomlin Give thanks to the Lord our God and King. His love endures forever. For He is good. He is above all things. His love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise. With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, His love endures forever. For the life that's been reborn, His love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise. Sing praise, sing praise. Forever God is faithful. Forever God is strong Forever God is with us. Forever, forever. From the rising to the setting sun, His love endures forever. And by the grace of God we will carry on. His love endures forever. Sing praise, sing praise. Sing praise, sing praise. CHORUS X2 CCLI #219979 Used by permission POSTLUDE Instrumental Music Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Part 4. Copyright 2016 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Text 2015 Ascension Lutheran Church. Used by permission. LSBHymnLicense.net #100012046 10