The God of Life The Last Sunday of the Church Year November 23 & 24, 2013
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Port Hudson The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri Parsonage 573-459-6432 Church 573-459-6431 Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor Mary Sprick, Secretary ebenezerlutheran@hotmail.com ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com AS WE GATHER: Jesus is what it's all about. As we recognize the Last Sunday of the Church Year, our Scripture readings remind us of what the Church, and our faith as Christians, is founded on---christ Jesus and His cross. As the apostle Paul in today's Epistle puts it, "For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). Jesus' death on Good Friday truly is "the power of God," but it's not the end of the story of salvation. Also central to our faith is Jesus' death-defeating resurrection on Easter and His final victory on the Last Day. PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP: We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have fulfilled Your promise to forgive us through Your Means of Grace for Jesus' sake. Strengthen us through the same, so that we may be vigilant for the fulfillment of Your Word in the return of Christ; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. THE DIVINE SERVICE ENTRANCE HYMN "The King Shall Come" LW 26 INVOCATION 2
In the name of the Father, the + Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen. OPENING SENTENCES Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Psalm 46:10-11 CONFESSION and ABSOLUTION Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8 If You, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness; that You may be feared. Psalm 130:3-4 On this Last Sunday of the Church Year, we gather around Word and Sacrament. Before receiving these means of grace from our gracious God, we first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. The due reward for our sinful deeds is death and hell. Acknowledging our sin, we take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, 3
seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: Jesus remember me and have mercy on me, a sinner. Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen. And He [Jesus] said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:43 Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. 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. Amen. INTROIT Psalm 134:1-3; antiphon: Psalm 33:8 Him! All: Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD! May the LORD bless you from Zion, He who made heaven and earth! Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; 4
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him! KYRIE sung (page 7 TLH) ALL: Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. GLORIA IN EXCELSIS sung (page 7 TLH) Glory be to God on high: And on earth peace, good will toward men. We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee, we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory. O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ; O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, That takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen. 5
SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. PRAYER OF THE DAY Lord Jesus Christ, You reign among us by the preaching of Your cross. Forgive Your people their offenses that we, being governed by Your bountiful goodness, may enter at last into Your eternal paradise; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. OLD TESTAMENT Malachi 3:13-18 (Distinction between the righteous and the wicked) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. CHOIR Crown Him with Many Crowns GRADUAL Revelation 7:14b; Psalm 84:5 [See Music Index Pentecost 25] All: 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. Blessed are those whose strength is in You, 6
in whose heart are the highways to Zion. EPISTLE Colossians 1:13-20 (He is before all things.) (The Epistle is read.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. GOSPEL VERSE "Jesus, Remember Me" HS98 827 Jesus, remember me when You Come into Your Kingdom, Jesus, remember me when You Come into Your Kingdom. HOLY GOSPEL Luke 23:27-43 (Today you will be with Me in Paradise.) chapter. The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 21st Glory to You, O Lord. (The Gospel is read.) This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. THE APOSTLES CREED 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, 7
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. Amen. HYMN OF THE DAY "When Our Enemies Surround Us" [Tune only: O DURCHBRECHER, TLH 367] When our enemies surround us, Help us firmly trust in You. With temptations all around us, Guide our steps on pathways true! Keep our hearts from careless wand'ring, Though the world is shifting sand; Guide us from all fruitless pond'ring. Give us strength, O Lord, to stand. Let our feet with You not falter As You travel Galilee, Treading paths You will not alter, Follow to Gethsemane. And as Calv'ry's hill is trembling, Point us to the promised land. 8
Your sure Word we are rememb'ring. Give us strength, O Lord, to stand. Though our limbs are slowly failing, Though our bodies turn to dust, Though our sorrows cause us wailing. Savior, in Your Word we trust! When You left, You said, dear Jesus, That the Last Day was at hand. When the grave breaks forth and frees us, Give us strength, O Lord, to stand! Text: Lisa M. Clark. Copyright (c) 2013 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. SERMON OFFERING OFFERTORY (page 175) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen PRAYERS LORD S PRAYER COLLECT FOR THE WORD Blessed Lord, who has caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by the patience and comfort of Your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which 9
You have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with Thee and the Holy Spirit, ever one God, now and forever. Amen. BENEDICTION God. 1 Corinthians 1:18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of 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. Amen. HYMN All Hail the Power of Jesus Name LW 272 From Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series C, Part 4. Copyright (c) 2013 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. OUR MISSION AND MINISTRY IN OUR PRAYERS: At this time we pray for the sick and recovering members and friends of our congregation, especially, Albert Bade, Jim Kormeier, Debbie Donatti, David Door and Brenda Bailey, as they each receive treatments and battle cancer; Rev. Aaron Kotilla, Pastor at Immanuel in Rosebud, who has taken a leave of absence for health reason. According to your gracious will, grant us all that we need to sustain us in the day of trouble. 10
We pray for Rev. Dennis Schmelzer and family whose mother, Lillian Wakefield died this past Wednesday, November 20, at Cedarcrest Manor, Washington after a long illness. We also remember in our prayers the many friends and shut-ins of our congregation and neighborhood, especially Adeline Keune, Lucille Brune, Eric Hohlt, Beth Pelster, Delores Roehrs, Ardell Wagner, Ed Gardner, Edna Deppermann, Hulda Althage, and all those we remember in our hearts. Gracious Lord, give to Your Church faithful Pastors, Teachers and Leaders who will speak Your Word in its fullness and call to repentance all who sin. Grant that Your good and gracious will may be done among us and through us that many would be called to remember our Missionaries Robin McCoy, Mike and Cindy Rodewald and John Strasen. Precious Savior, bring an end to war and violence around the world. Raise up in this nation and in all nations, good and wise leaders especially our President, Vice President, our Governors, our Judges, Law Enforcement Personnel, our Armed Forces who protect us here and throughout the world; Relief and Rescue Workers and all our Civil Servants. Grant that they will pursue justice, preserve freedom, and protect the weak and the unborn. We pray that the Lord would protect all deer hunters who are out during this hunting season. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ To our members and guests who are here with us today. We are very glad you are here for worship services on this Last Sunday of the Church Year. May the Lord refresh you with peace and love during our services. Please join us here at Ebenezer again soon! Please sign the guest register near the front entrance with your name, address and Church affiliation. Thank you! 11
For the Bounty of the Earth Thanksgiving Service November 27, 7:30 PM We have received the following greeting from Steve and Nancy Cohen to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! Please see the card on the bulletin board. A Note of Appreciation Thank you to our Ebenezer Church Family for showing such an outpouring of love and concern during these past few weeks after the sudden tragic loss of my mother, Virginia Rodriquez. Thank you for your words and cards of sympathy, condolences, concern and for the encouragement through the words of the Holy Scripture. Thank you for your comfort of prayers. Much appreciation and thanks to Pastor Zastrow and Margaret for their visit to the funeral home and God s comforting words from our Holy Bible. The outpouring of love is truly appreciated and is such a blessing. In God we put our Trust and Faith. May God bless you from the Nichols Family Laura, Grover, Andrew, Matthew 12
Something to think about It is time to think about donating a Poinsettia for our Church at Christmas time. Please let Mary know if you d like to give a Poinsettia in memory of someone or thankfulness of someone or special occasion. The Poinsettias will be ordered from Seitter s Flower Market for $8.00 each. We will have to let them know soon how many we will want to order. Sausage and Ribs for sale: We have sausage and ribs for sale at $3.50 a package for sausage (1 lb.) and $2.75 for ribs. They are in the freezer in the old basement. Please pay Mary Sprick or Bryan Adams. We will also have a few more Black Walnuts coming for sale at $8.00 per pound. Please see Margaret or Pastor if you would like to purchase some. Please save these dates To prepare for Christmas at Ebenezer, we will decorate the Church on Sunday, December 1 st. Please join us for a light lunch and fun decorating. The annual Senior Citizens Dinner will be Sunday December 8 th after Church. We are looking forward to a fun afternoon of food, fellowship, entertainment and a special guest. The Ladies Aid of Ebenezer Lutheran Church would like to invite you to our annual Christmas party on December 6 th at 12 noon. Come and join us. Please bring a nativity scene or an ornament that depicts the nativity of our Lord. We will use them as part of our party and program. Advent by Candlelight The ladies of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, New Haven invite us to their annual Advent by Candlelight on Sunday, December 1 st at 5:00 PM. If you are interested in attending please contact Wanda Walkenhorst by TODAY! Her contact information is 573-237-5433 or walkenhorstw@yahoo.com. 13
Children s Christmas Program & Practices The children of Ebenezer will lead our Christmas Eve worship at 7:00 PM on December 24, 2013. Our service is titled Jesus God s Greatest Gift. We will have practices for the service on the following Saturdays from 9:30 11:00 on December 7, 14, & 21. All children are welcome to participate! The Ebenezer Mission Society will decorate for Thanksgiving Eve service after Church TODAY. The ingathering for Leslie Food Pantry will be packed after the Thanksgiving service and Pastor will deliver it. The need is great this year due to the reduction in food stamps. Thank you! There is still a poster on our bulletin board about Richard Althage s new book. His address is on the poster on the bulletin board if you d like to order some for Christmas gifts. We will be doing a December newsletter this week. Please let Mary know what you d like to have in the newsletter by Tuesday, November 26 th!! Thank you!! Those Serving Today Organist Saturday Jennifer Huellinghoff Organist Sunday Ruth Marschel Choir Crown Him With Many Crowns Choir Director Kathy Scheer Head Usher Saturday Tracey Bade Head Usher Sunday Lee Kassebaum Acolytes Katelyn Bopp and Andrew Inman Bell Ringer Jeff Hohlt 14
Offerings and Attendance Weekly Contributions $1,294.00 Plate 605.90 Sunday School 23.06 Sausage sales 58.25 Robin McCoy gift 500.00 $2,481.21 Attendance: Saturday Worship 21 Sunday Worship 64 Sunday School Attendance Children 8 Adults 19 This Week at Ebenezer Wednesday Saturday Confirmation 6:30 PM Thanksgiving Worship 7:30 PM Pack the ingathering items Worship 3:00 PM 15