Christ the King/Last Sunday of the Church Year 11/25/23
Last Sunday- Christ the King 11.26.2023 PDF ds1
CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY
LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR
NOVEMBER 26, 2023
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FALLS CHURCH, VA
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PRELUDE All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name Setting: Tim Fields
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN (Stand) All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name Sts. 1-4,7 LSB 549
1 All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.
Bring forth the royal diadem
And crown Him Lord of all.
2 Crown Him, ye martyrs of our God,
Who from His altar call;
Extol the stem of Jesse’s rod
And crown Him Lord of all.
Extol the stem of Jesse’s rod
And crown Him Lord of all.
3 Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race,
Ye ransomed from the fall,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all.
Hail Him who saves you by His grace
And crown Him Lord of all.
4 Hail Him, ye heirs of David’s line,
Whom David Lord did call,
The God incarnate, man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all.
The God incarnate, man divine,
And crown Him Lord of all.
7 Oh, that with yonder sacred throng
We at His feet may fall!
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
We’ll join the everlasting song
And crown Him Lord of all.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 151
In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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 with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
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.
KYRIE LSB 152
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
For this holy house and for all who offer their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.
THIS IS THE FEAST LSB 155
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:
Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.
This is the feast of victory for our God.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
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. Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST LESSON (Be seated) Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 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. 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. 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. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 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. . . .
“Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 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. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM JUBILATION QUINTET A Rose Touched by the Sun’s Warm Rays By Jean Berger
A rose touched by the sun’s warm rays
All its petals gently does unfold;
So you, when touched by God’s great mercy,
Let joy and gladness win your soul.
SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 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. 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.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(10:30) CHILDREN’S SERMON
ALLELUIA VERSE (Stand) LSB 156
Alleluia.
Lord, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 25:31-46
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 25th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
[Jesus said:] “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 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. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 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. 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, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ 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.’
“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. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 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.’ 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?’ 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.’ 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.
SERMON
Grace, mercy and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus. Amen. Dear friends in Christ:
Today is the last Sunday of the church year. Next Sunday we start a new year – doing so, as always, with the season of Advent. The church year is extremely helpful because it leads us through an organized and comprehensive presentation of the life of Jesus. This in turn allows us to celebrate the key moments of his life and examine the full extent of his teachings.
The last Sunday of the church year has been known by various names over the years. We at St. Paul’s observe it as Christ the King Sunday. The name is fitting because Jesus preached continually about the Kingdom of God. As well, it is fitting because the chief title by which he is known – “Christ” – comes from a word referring to Israel’s kings.
When Jesus comes again to usher in the new age, he will come with power – as a king – to judge the living and the dead. Our worship on this day leads us to remember this return of his. The Gospel reading in particular, gives us a vivid picture of what this future day will be like.
The theme of today’s sermon is “Jesus our Great King.” The primary text is that very vivid Gospel lesson just mentioned. To examine it, let’s begin by thinking about the scriptural context of these verses.
Matthew 25 is the last chapter of Jesus’ teaching before the gospel narrative turns its attention to his passion. And in the chapter right before it, Jesus speaks to his disciples very directly about his return. Let me read a short bit of it:
Vs.29-31 record Jesus saying: “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
Our reading today should be seen in the light of that text. For both speak of Christ’s power, and mention the presence of angels, and describe how all people will witness him in his glory. Today’s text focuses on one specific moment of that great return – the sentencing of all people which will take place.
Today’s reading should also be seen in light of the verses which come right before it in chapter 25. These verses lead us to examine whether we are ready for his coming. The first part of the chapter, which we read two Sundays ago, gives a parable about ten virgins waiting for a
wedding procession, and it leads us to ask: “are we adequately prepared with faith?” The second part of the chapter, which we read last Sunday, gives a parable about a rich man entrusting his servants to work with money from his estate. This one leads us to ask: “have we used well the resources God has given us?”
In the same way, today’s reading also leads us to ask a question of ourselves. That question is: “have we helped the needy?”
Here we should spend some time thinking about this question. What does it mean to help the needy? And who are those people in need?
In the reading, Jesus gives us very clear answers to these questions. He tells us that we are to feed those who are hungry, we are to give a drink to those who are thirsty, we are to welcome strangers, we are to clothe those who are naked, and we are to visit those who are sick and those who are in prison.
These words of Jesus are both a call to address the specific concerns he mentions here and a call to notice all who are going through difficult times. We are to see people in their need and take steps to help them. Are we our brother’s keeper? Yes, we are.
Jesus’ words here list some of the most obvious cases of need – things such as hunger and thirst. But he also lists some needs that might concern us a bit. For instance, he mentions the welcoming of strangers. Strangers, we’re often told, can bring dangers. Doesn’t Jesus understand this? And what about those in prison? Doesn’t he realize that they can be even more threatening?
In his list, Jesus makes no mention of any concerns. Nor does he offer any caveats. He simply makes clear to us the importance of helping.
That being said, we know, from other places in scripture, that Jesus understands our fears. He knows that we will struggle with our task. Moreover, we can assume that Jesus will tolerate some precaution on our part since he has also called us to be wise.
Still, our fears and cautions are never to trump Christ’s call to help. We must figure out, instead, ways to extend care. We must do this generously and sacrificially. And we must do this with our time, our talents and our finances.
Jesus tells us just how important this caring is by relating how the caring is actually directed to him. “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.”
Here Jesus speaks also to the dignity of all people – which, of course, is a teaching that echoes one made in the very earliest scriptures. All people are children of God because he created them and because they bear his image. Yes, both the family connection and image have been compromised because of humanity’s fall into sin. But they still speak to inherit human dignity.
As Christians, we are to have a heart for all people. We are to pray for them – as our Thanksgiving Day text specifically told us – and we are to help them as we can. They are our neighbors whom we are to love as ourselves.
Having said this, we should also be aware that Jesus’ words in today’s text push us towards a second understanding of this care we are to extend. Jesus points out that the good work of the “sheep” was done to “the least of these my brothers.” And both of those phrases – “the least of these” and “my brothers” – speak about people who are followers of Jesus.
With this understanding, the text then seems to suggest that people will also be judged on their care of Christ’s followers. Such an understanding is in line with a statement Jesus once said to his disciples – “Those who receive you receive me” (Mt. 10:40) – when he was sending them out in mission.
At the very least, these are words from Jesus which should move us to care for those whose service in Christ’s kingdom has resulted in a lack of earthly means. Those whom Jesus sends out in mission often face earthly struggles. Helping alleviate these struggles is akin to helping Jesus himself.
As we can plainly see, the words of Jesus in this text push us to be generous and to share. They also remind us that Jesus sees our actions and that we are judged on them.
At the same time, these words from Jesus also make mention of God’s grace. For our God may be a righteous God of judgment, but he is also – and even more – a merciful God filled with love and grace.
Jesus concludes this text by saying “the righteous will go into eternal life.” Who are these righteous ones? They are the ones who follow God’s command and care for others, yes. But they are also ones “blessed by the Father.” That’s how Jesus – did you notice? – described them earlier. Jesus relates how 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.”
God the Father blesses his children in many ways. But the greatest of these ways is by offering them salvation. God made this salvation possible by sending his Son, Jesus, to make payment for sins. Through the Son’s righteous offering on the cross, righteousness can now be shared with all.
Those who repent of their sins and trust in the salvation offered by Jesus can now be sure that they are among the righteous and will inherit the kingdom as Jesus mentions. They are God’s “elect” – to use a word that Jesus shared in the previous chapter. And they are the sheep of God’s pasture – as Jesus makes clear in the chapter to come (26:31).
The good works that these elect sheep do, as today’s reading describes, are not works that save them but simply evidence of the salvation that has been given. The righteousness that these
sheep were given in Christ moved and compelled them to extend mercy and care to others. That’s the way it works in Christ’s kingdom. That’s what God’s love does.
And although this way does not work perfectly this side of heaven, for believers will always have struggles with their faith in this life, it does still work incredibly well. We at St. Paul’s are seeing this again as we wrap up our stewardship emphasis for the year. Once again, our members have extended their time, talents and treasures with great generosity for the work of the kingdom done through this place. And this will mean that much care is extended to others.
It is always a joy to see the commitments that are made in faith each year. And this year is no exception. I don’t have any final numbers or figures to share with you today, but it’s safe to say that God is faithfully providing for this flock of his here, and that we will continue to be able to reach out strongly to our membership and community. God be praised!
In today’s great and powerful teaching of Jesus we should take note of both its warning and its promise. We have a great king! And this king will continue to give us fair warning of what is to come and extend love and mercy as we have need.
We are called to see Jesus in the cares and needs of others. Judgment will come upon those who don’t. Thankfully, Jesus has promised to see us in our great need too.
May God then continue to lead us in the life of faith. And may his glorious kingdom be known and revered among us! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor LSB 534
1 Lord, enthroned in heav’nly splendor,
First-begotten from the dead,
You alone, our strong defender,
Lifting up Your people’s head.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Jesus, true and living bread!
Jesus, true and living bread!
2 Though the lowliest form now veil You
As of old in Bethlehem,
Here as there Your angels hail You,
Branch and flow’r of Jesse’s stem.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
We in worship join with them;
We in worship join with them.
3 Paschal Lamb, Your off’ring, finished
Once for all when You were slain,
In its fullness undiminished
Shall forevermore remain,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Cleansing souls from ev’ry stain;
Cleansing souls from ev’ry stain.
4 Life-imparting heav’nly manna,
Stricken rock with streaming side,
Heav’n and earth with loud hosanna
Worship You, the Lamb who died,
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Ris’n, ascended, glorified!
Ris’n, ascended, glorified!
NICENE CREED Hymnal, back cover
I believe in one God,
the Father Almighty
maker of heaven and earth
and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the only-begotten Son of God,
begotten of His Father before all worlds,
God of God, Light of Light,
very God of very God,
begotten, not made,
being of one substance with the Father,
by whom all things were made;
who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven
and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary
and was made man;
and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.
He suffered and was buried.
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures
and ascended into heaven
and sits at the right hand of the Father.
And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,
whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord and giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,
who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,
I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,
and I look for the resurrection of the dead
and the life T of the world to come. Amen.
OFFERING
Offerings support the church’s mission work – both here and through our many partners. Offerings may be placed in the box at the sanctuary entrance or sent to the church through our website or the mail. Fellowship Cards help us welcome new people and track participation. Please fill one out and place it in the offering box following the service.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Lord God, You gather Your people from all nations and bring them into Your flock. Strengthen us who belong to this flock, that by Your grace we may continually feast upon Your riches in Your Means of Grace and gladly declare Your praises to all who will hear. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You judge your people with equity and shepherd them with Your Holy Word. Encourage those who are called to shepherd in your church, that through their faithful service they would seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured and strengthen the weak. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, You have subjected all things under Your Son, who gladly subjects Himself to You. Lead us to submit ourselves to Christ and his authority and bless the homes of Your people, that husbands and wives would submit to one another according to your Word, and that children would gladly submit to their parents, so that God may be all in all. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord of lords, You sustain every rule, authority and power as You see fit until this world’s powers should pass away. Bless all in civil authority, that they would not provoke Your wrath but maintain order and justice for the peace of Your people. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Father in heaven, we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness, but here we contend with a multitude of afflictions under the curse of sin. We ask that you remember all of us in our need for help and healing, and especially Geraine, Ann, Sophia, Dolly, Norma, Brooks, Trudy, Mary Ann, June, Peter, Wendy, Ron, James, Russell, Rich, Tawni, Yi, Rebekah, Catherine and all whom we name in our hearts... Preserve them, deliver them from their suffering, and hold not Your peace at their tears. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
God of grace, as death came to the world by a man, so by Your Son the resurrection of the dead has come to all who believe. Endow Your people with penitent hearts, especially as they come to Your table this day, that they would receive in Your risen Son’s body and blood a foretaste of the eternal feast to come. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, You have prepared Your kingdom for us from the foundation of the world. Preserve us in faith and love throughout our days, that we may care for Your servants and our neighbors with compassion and joy, looking toward that day when the Son of Man comes in His glory; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY (Stand) Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful LSB 955
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
And fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
That we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;
Unite them with the prayers we offer now.
Grace our table with Your presence, and give us
A foretaste of the feast to come.
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THE LITURGY OF HOLY COMMUNION
PREFACE (Stand) LSB 160
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
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, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, out of love for His fallen creation, humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross. Risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:
SANCTUS LSB 161
Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.
Hosanna. Hosanna.
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING LSB 161
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.
Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
THE WORDS OF OUR LORD
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My ✠ body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”
In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My ✠ blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.
Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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 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. Amen.
PAX DOMINI LSB 163
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
AGNUS DEI LSB 163
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.
DISTRIBUTION (Be seated)
Those wishing to commune at the foot of the steps should come forward first. Those wishing to commune at the altar rail should come forward after these, front rows first, from both sides of the aisle. After receiving, all should return to their seats. A common dismissal will be given at the end.
COMMUNION HYMN Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence LSB 621
1 Let all mortal flesh keep silence
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly-minded,
For with blessing in His hand
Christ our God to earth descending
Comes our homage to demand.
2 King of kings yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords in human vesture,
In the body and the blood,
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heav’nly food.
3 Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way
As the Light of Light, descending
From the realms of endless day,
Comes the pow’rs of hell to vanquish
As the darkness clears away.
4 At His feet the six-winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”
NUNC DIMITTIS (Stand) LSB 165
Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people:
A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel.
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. Amen.
POST-COMMUNION COLLECT
BENEDICTION
SENDING HYMN Crown Him with Many Crowns LSB 525
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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.
5 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.
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE Processia Nova Kenneth L. DeJong
Those serving:
8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Jim Easterly
Comm. assist: Dede Dixon
Reader: Dede Dixon
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Charles Fisher
Comm. assist: Dan Buuck
Reader: Dan Buuck
Acolyte: Daniel Wang
AV Assistants: Hannes Buuck, Andreas Buuck
Acknowledgements
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2023 Concordia Publishing House.
955 Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful Text: John W. Arthur, 1922–80 Tune: Richard W. Hillert, 1923–2010 Tune: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
260 As Stone on Living Stone Is Set Text: Lisa M. Clark, b. 1982 Tune: Kevin J. Hildebrand, b. 1973 Text and tune: © 2015 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: OAR Hymn License no. 110005326
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2023 Concordia Publishing House.
549 All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name Text (sts. 1–4): Edward Perronet, 1726–92, alt.; (st. 7): A Selection of Hymns, 1787, London, alt. Tune: Oliver Holden, 1765–1844 Text and tune: Public domain
534 Lord, Enthroned in Heavenly Splendor Text: George H. Bourne, 1840–1925, alt. Tune: William Owen, 1813–93 Text and tune: Public domain
621 Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence Text: Liturgy of St. James, 5th cent.; tr. Gerard Moultrie, 1829–85, alt. Tune: French, 17th cent. Text and tune: Public domain
525 Crown Him with Many Crowns Text (sts. 1–3, 5): Matthew Bridges, 1800–94, alt.; (st. 4): Godfrey Thring, 1823–1903 Tune: George J. Elvey, 1816–93 Text and tune: Public domain
