Are You Ready for the Bridegroom? Peace Lutheran Church 2090 Commerce Drive North Mankato, MN 56003
Peace Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Synod Serving Christ with united hearts and hands and voices Pastor Timothy Hartwig Church Office: 507-385-1386 Cell Phone: 507-382-6826 Email: pastorhartwig@gmail.com Jesus Lambs at Peace Preschool Teacher/Director: Joslyn Moldstad Phone: 507-385-7752 Email: joslynm@chartermi.net Divine Service Sunday 8:30 & 10:45 AM & Wednesday 6:30 PM November 16, 2014 Third Sunday of End Time: Saints Triumphant Welcome to Peace! The purpose of our congregation is to worship God, who gives life through Word and Sacrament; to serve one another in love and fellowship; and to proclaim forgiveness and salvation to all through Jesus Christ alone. Before Worship As you prepare to worship your Lord today, spend a few quiet minutes in prayer before the service. Review the lessons, the service notes, and pray this prayer: Prayer of the Day Almighty God and Savior, You have set the final day and hour when we shall be delivered from this world of sin and death. Keep us ever watchful for the coming of Your Son that we may sit with Him and all Your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. For the Children A Cry-Room is available if your little ones need a moment. It is the first room on the left as you walk into the church building. Sound and video are piped into the room to enable you to hear and see the service. Facilities Restrooms are located down the hall and on the right side. 2
The Divine Service Matins, p. 109 The Confession of Sin P: Dearly beloved! We have come together in the presence of God our heavenly Father, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at His hand, to set forth His most worthy praise, to hear His holy Word, and to ask for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and salvation. O come, let us worship Him! Let us kneel and bow down before Him. Let us confess our sins with penitent hearts, and obtain forgiveness by His infinite grace and mercy. C: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed the devices and desires of our hearts. We have offended against Your holy law. We have done those things which we should not have done, and we have not done those things which we should have done. Have mercy on us, O Lord! Spare us and restore us, according to the promises You have declared to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. For His sake grant that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Your holy name. P: The almighty and merciful Lord has granted us pardon and forgiveness of all our sins, grace for true repentance and amendment of life, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Hymn: #76, Father, We Praise Thee The Versicles P: O Lord, open my lips. 3
P: Make haste, O God, to deliver me. The Invitatory P: O come, let us worship the Lord. 4
The Venite exultemus 5
The Lesson Isaiah 52:1-6 1 Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength. Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again. 2 Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem. Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion. 3 For this is what the LORD says: "You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed." 4 For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "At first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them. 5 "And now what do I have here?" declares the LORD. "For my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock," declares the LORD. "And all day long my name is constantly blasphemed. 6 Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it. Yes, it is I." The Epistle 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words. 6
The Holy Gospel Matthew 25:1-13 1 "At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. 5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 "At midnight the cry rang out: 'Here's the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!' 7 "Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.' 9 "'No,' they replied, 'there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.' 10 "But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. 11 "Later the others also came. 'Sir! Sir!' they said. 'Open the door for us!' 12 "But he replied, 'I tell you the truth, I don't know you.' 13 "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. A Responsory P: O Lord, have mercy upon us. Hymn: #544, Wake, Awake, for Night Is Flying Sermon: Matthew 25:1-13 Are You Ready for the Bridegroom? The Offering The members of Peace Lutheran Congregation have joined together to do the Lord s work in this community and around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (II Corinthians 9:8) Please fill out the Friendship Register. 7
Sunday School Choir: I Believe in God the Father I believe in God the Father, maker of the heav'n and earth. And in Jesus Christ, our Savior, God's own Son of human birth. Virgin-born, the Lord incarnate, whom the Spirit did conceive; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; he's the God whom I believe! Crucified, was dead and buried; down to hell in victory; From the dead he rose the third day; up to heav'n triumphantly. There at God's right hand he's ruling, by his will the world is led. He will come to judge the nations, both the living and the dead. I believe in God the Spirit, in his Church, his chosen band. They are joined in sweet communion, holy in his sight they stand. I believe in sins forgiven; I believe I'll rise again; I believe in life eternal. Amen! Amen! Amen! Author unknown The Prayers, beginning with The Kyrie 8
The Lord s Prayer 9
The Collect P: Let us pray: O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, having safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with Your mighty power and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger, but that all our doing, being ordered by Your governance, may be righteous in Your sight; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one true God, now and forever. The Benedicamus P: Let us bless the Lord. The Benediction P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. The Closing Hymn: #532:1,4,8, Jesus Christ, My Sure Defense 10
Thank you to those who served in our service today: Sunday School Choir; Accompanist - Guitar: Mike Madson; Organist: Katie Hartwig; The ushers; Cover artwork: Don Moldstad. To God be the Glory! Announcements Baptized at the 10:45 service this morning is Harrison Michael, son of Derek & Sarah Harstad, who was born on November 1 st. May God strengthen Harrison to live in his baptismal grace all the days of his life. Sunday School and Adult Bible Class are held at 9:45AM. CROSSED is meeting tonight from 6:15 to 8:30. We hope you ll use this time to connect with God and connect with others. Teens in grades 7-12 are invited to join in the faith, fun, and fellowship time. Tonight is Spy Night. Solid Grounds Bible Study meets on Tuesdays, at 9:00AM. Everyone is invited to attend! Moms On a Mission (M.O.M.s) Bible Study meets this Wednesday at Mt. Olive in the social hall from 8:10-10:00am. Fellowship first, then the study begins at 8:45am. Childcare is provided. Join at any time. Questions? Contact Kristen Lukasek at mattlukasek@yahoo.com. Christmas Choir The adult choir could benefit from a little bolstering during the upcoming Advent/Christmas season, since, typically, a number of members are gone for one or both of our Christmas services. If you'd like to sing with the choir just through Christmas, please contact director Susan Lepak (386-0853; salepak@hotmail.com). Your commitment would be Wednesday evening rehearsals (7:30-8:30PM), Nov. 19-Dec. 17. Who knows? You might get hooked and decide to stay on! Our Puffin Pastry Preschool Fundraiser is underway, if you would like to purchase pastries for the holidays. Each package contains 12 pastries which go from freezer to oven to table. The preschool will receive $5 per box sold. If you would like to place your order, there are order blanks on the lockers. All profits will help to keep our costs low. The Mayflower has arrived! Please feel welcome to view our new area in our classroom. The children are learning about the brave Pilgrims and the kind Indians who helped them. We are learning a song from the passage from Psalm 56:3-4. When I am afraid, I will trust in you, in God whose word I praise. For more information concerning our Christ-centered preschool, call 385-7752. 11
On Sunday, November 23 (this happens to be the Sunday before Thanksgiving), the MOMs bible study group will have a bake sale after both church services to raise money for childcare expenses. MOMs employs Bethany Lutheran College students to care for the children while the moms meet for bible study and fellowship. It costs between $550-600 in childcare for a session of MOMs. Come and stock up on goodies you can serve to your family and friends for the holiday! It will be a free will donation. Moms On a Mission is a joint effort between Peace and Mt. Olive. The Lord has blessed this ministry with twenty-five moms (and 25+ young children) who gather each Wednesday morning to study God s Word and apply it to their lives as wives and mothers. Reminder - Group 6 is responsible for refreshments during the months of November and December. Sign-up sheets are on the bulletin board in the narthex. Questions can be directed to Terri Fries or Debra Howson. Groups 1 & 4 are scheduled to help clean the church on Saturday, November 22 from 9-11a.m. If you have any questions, please contact one of your group leaders. What is all this talk about Groups?? Our church membership is divided into 6 groups to help organize and accomplish the different things that need to be done during the year - for the congregation and building/property. If you don t know (or remember) which group you are in - please contact Karen at 385-1386. Are you unable to care for your feet? Your church home is offering a service to help you care for your feet and toenails. By appointment, a registered nurse, using sanitary equipment, will soak and wash your feet, trim toenails, and finish with a lotion foot massage. If the nurse feels further medical attention is needed, she may suggest an appointment with your health care provider. This service is free; however, donations will be accepted to go to a church cause. For more information, or to set up an appointment, please call Amy Jo Reiner at 507-340- 2061. To watch our services live, go to: www.peacemankato.com/live-streaming. The service will start automatically when it is live (8:30AM). For recorded services, go to www.vimeo.com/peacemankato and you can choose which service you want to watch. Last week at Peace: Divine Worship 253 12
Minnesota Valley Lutheran High School Wreath Sales will be held the first four Sundays in November. There will be an MVL student available by the office after services or you can fill out an order form (located on the bulletin board) and leave the form and money on the office desk. The wreaths will be distributed over the Thanksgiving break. Bethany Events A Christmas Carol will be performed at 7:30 pm on November 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22 in the YFAC Lee Theater. There is a 2:00 pm Sunday matinee on November 16, which is sold out. The box office is open weekdays from 1-5 pm on weekdays at 344-7374. You may also reserve online at www.blc.edu/theatre. Lutheran Rose Bowl Monday, November 17 in Meyer Hall, Rm 101. In 1519 Dr. Martin Luther debated Dr. Johann Eck in Leipzig, Germany, over the authority of the Papacy. One historian equated it to The Rose Bowl for the early Lutherans. Chaplain Don Moldstad will guide us through this historic 20-day debate and its lessons for our day. Everyone is invited to attend. Part of the In Depth series. Fall Semester Honors Recital - Tuesday, November 18 at 7:00 pm in Trinity Chapel. Students enrolled in private lessons audition for the privilege of performing in this recital. There will be selections for voice, keyboard, and instruments. The event is free and open to the public. Christmas at Bethany concerts are Wednesday, December 3, through Sunday, December 7, at 4:00 pm daily. Tickets are free, with a free-will offering received during the concert. Advanced reservations are encouraged, and seating in Trinity Chapel is general admission. Reserve tickets by calling the Fine Arts office at 344-7365 or reserve online by following the link provided at blc.edu. "Feliz Navidad! The ELS Ottesen Museum invites you to its 4 th annual Christmas Open House Tuesday, December 9, 2014 from 2:30 through 5:30 P.M. at the Ottesen Museum: 4 Browns Court in Mankato. This year s theme is Christmas Customs From Peru and Chile, highlighting the Christmas customs of our sister churches in these South American countries. Come in from the cold in North America to see how Christmas is celebrated during the South American summer months. Much will be familiar but you may discover a few surprises as well. 13
Looking ahead in the coming weeks at Peace: November 22 nd @ 9AM Group 1 & 4 Church cleaning 26 th @ 6:30PM Thanksgiving Eve Worship Service 30 th First Sunday in Advent December 1 st @ 6:30PM Women s Bible Study 3 rd @ 6:30PM Advent Worship Service 10 th @ 6:30PM Advent Worship Service 17 th @ 6:30PM Advent Worship Service 19 th @ 6:30PM Preschool Christmas Program 21 st @ 10:45AM Sunday School Christmas Program 24 th @ 6:30PM Christmas Eve Worship Service 25 th @ 9:00AM Christmas Day Worship Service 28 th @ 9:00AM Only ONE Worship Service 31 st @ 6:30PM New Year s Eve Worship Service 14