The Lord’s Day, November 8, in the Lord’s Year 2020 – 23rd Sunday after Pentecost – Persecuted Church Sunday
Please speak bold words and sing italicized words.
Meeting God
Prelude & Quiet Prayer – five minutes before service (9:55-10:00 am)
Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
And blessed be his kingdom, now and forever. Amen.
Hymn 156 O Lord, How Shall I Meet You ST THEODULPH
Invocation
Being Reconciled to God and One Another
Confession of Sin: Gracious God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, you have promised to receive us when we come to you. We confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you or our neighbors as we should. Forgive us, O God, and grant that in the Holy Spirit we may live and serve you in newness of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Declaration of Forgiveness & New Life in Christ: If you have repented of your sin and turned in faith to Jesus Christ, I can declare through Christ’s atoning death and life-giving resurrection that you are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. If you love God, keep his commandments. Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Response (Red Hymnal 414) REST
Dear Lord and Father of mankind, forgive our foolish ways! Reclothe us in our rightful mind, in purer lives Thy service find; in deeper reverence, praise.
O Lord, open our lips, and our mouths shall show forth your praise.
Gloria Patri (Hymn 735) GLORIA PATRI (GREATOREX)
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
The Peace of Christ The peace of Christ be with you. And also with you.
Honoring and Giving Thanks to America’s Veterans
My country, ’tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing;
Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride,
From ev’ry mountainside, let freedom ring!
Our fathers’ God to Thee, Author of liberty, to Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright, with freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by Thy might, great God our King!
Welcome & Announcements; Scripture & Catechism – see Bell Ringer
Preparing to Hear God
Song –Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.
Come bow before him now; with reverence and fear.
In him no sin is found; we stand on holy ground.
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One, is here.
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.
He burns with holy fire; with splendor he is crowned.
How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace.
No work too hard for him; in faith receive from him.
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.
Collect for Proper 27: O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Hearing God by Word and Spirit
The Holy Scriptures Amos 5:18-24 Psalm 70
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Sermon – “The Coming Comfort”
Answering God in Faith, Prayer, and Giving
The Apostles’ Creed – hymnal page 845
I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth: And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there he shall come to judge the living and the dead: I believe in the Holy Spirit; I believe in the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.
Prayers of Thanksgiving, Petition, and Intercession
Prayer for the Persecuted Church
The Lord’s Prayer – 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 debts, as we forgive our debtors; 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. Amen.
Offering Ourselves and Our Gifts to God
Offertory (Hymn 729) HERR JESU CHRIST
All things are thine; no gift have we, Lord of all gifts, to offer thee; and hence with grateful hearts today, thine own before thy feet we lay.
Doxology (Hymn 731) OLD HUNDREDTH
Praise God from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below; praise him above, ye heavenly host; praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Offertory Prayer
Being Sent with God’s Blessing into the World
Hymn 357 Let Our Choir New Anthems Raise ST KEVIN
Benediction
Postlude
Ward Hill Church of Christ the King 