Twentieth Sunday a. Pentecost 10/6/24
20th Sunday a. Pentecost 10.6.24 PDF ds1
TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
OCTOBER 6, 2024
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FALLS CHURCH, VA
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PRELUDE Rhosymedre (Our Father, by Whose Name) Setting: R. Vaughan Williams
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN (Stand) Come, Thou Bright and Morning Star LSB 872
1 Come, Thou bright and Morning Star,
Light of Light without beginning;
Shine upon us from afar
That we may be kept from sinning.
Drive away by Thy clear light
Our dark night.
2 Let Thy grace, like morning dew
Falling soft on barren places,
Comfort, quicken, and renew
Our dry souls and dying graces;
Bless Thy flock from Thy rich store
Evermore.
3 May Thy fervent love destroy
Our cold works, in us awaking
Ardent zeal and holy joy
At the purple morn’s first breaking.
Let us truly rise ere yet
Life has set.
4 Ah! Thou Dayspring from on high,
Grant that at Thy next appearing
We who in the graves do lie
May arise, Thy summons hearing,
And rejoice in our new life,
Far from strife.
5 Light us to those heav’nly spheres,
Sun of grace, in glory shrouded;
Lead us through this vale of tears
To the land where days unclouded,
Purest joy, and perfect peace
Never cease.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION LSB 151
In the name of the Father and of the ✠ 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 here 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. Merciful Father,
Your patience and loving-kindness toward us have no end. Grant that by Your Holy
Spirit we may always think and do those things that are pleasing in Your sight;
through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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) Genesis 2:18-25
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” So out of the ground the Lord God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”
Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
(8:00) ANTHEM JUBILATION CHOIR Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings
Setting: Richard W. Giseke
(10:30) PSALM 128 (Sung responsively)
Blessèd is everyone who fears the Lord,
who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the Lord.
The Lord bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
May you see your children’s children!
Peace be upon Israel!
SECOND LESSON Hebrews 2:1-13
Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
Now it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere,
“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
or the son of man, that you care for him?
You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
you have crowned him with glory and honor,
putting everything in subjection under his feet.”
Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one origin. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying,
“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”
And again,
“I will put my trust in him.”
And again,
“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
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 Mark 10:2-16
The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark the 10th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
Pharisees came up and in order to test [Jesus] asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?” He answered them, “What did Moses command you?” They said, “Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of divorce and to send her away.” And Jesus said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart he wrote you this commandment. But from the beginning of creation, ‘God made them male and female.’ ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”
And in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. And he said to them, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery.”
And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.” And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands on them.
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:
We probably don’t give it much thought, because it’s just a normal part of everyday life, but all of us spend a good amount of time going in and out of different buildings. Think about it. Our home is a building, of one form or another. And from there we go out to schools, stores, workplaces and churches… all housed in different buildings.
At some point in our lives, most of us start to notice that not all buildings have the same quality of design. While many are bland, basic and boring, others stand out and catch our eye.
I’m not an expert on architecture by any means. But I can appreciate a good design. And it seems to me that perhaps there are three characteristics which qualify a design as being good. First, a good design will allow the building to last. The pyramids in Egypt come to mind. Second, a good design will be functional. “Form follows function,” as they say. And third, a good design will exhibit some sort of beauty. I think of St. Paul’s as a good example of this.
When a building design meets these three criteria we tend to take notice. We also take note of those who designed them. History has recorded the names of many of these fine architects over the centuries, and their buildings standing as records of their talent.
But as impressive as all these efforts of human ingenuity and creativity are, our reading today from Genesis tells of a design immeasurably more magnificent and wondrous. Here we are told of God’s design for our living – a design that is not just good, but perfect.
God’s plan for living is a design that comes from his infinite wisdom, boundless love, and eternal goodness. It is a design that offers us hope in times of despair, direction when we’re lost and confused, and assurance when faced with uncertainty. Today we will focus on this design and think about what makes it so good. And we will do this by nothing three different characteristics which speak to the design’s goodness.
The first of these is that God’s design for living provides for companionship. The key verse of this section of Genesis is God’s statement: “It is not good that the man should be alone.” We know this verse is key because this is the thought that causes God to act. God knows that people don’t do well when they are isolated. So he has designed life in a way that overcomes this.
Experts tell us that there is a widespread epidemic of loneliness and isolation in our world today. The world’s population may be growing and we may have more and more ways of connecting with others than ever before, but despite this – or maybe because of this – we often feel more alone than ever.
One reason for this might be because we see all these other people interacting with one another – on TV, videos and social media – and we feel that our interactions are far less in comparison. Another reason might be because we expect relationships to be easy. And when they aren’t – because they rarely are – we quickly move on to another, since there are so many other people around to choose from.
The effects of isolation can be devastating for people. When people feel overwhelmed or left behind or ignored, they can become depressed and discouraged.
Perhaps you are one of those who feel lonely or that you are lacking in adequate companionship. This can happen even to those of us who attend church – a place where people are supposed to connect and develop meaningful relationships of trust and care.
When God noted that Adam was alone, he provided help. The help he gave was to make another person for Adam to interact with. God made Eve, who was herself a marvelous “building” of God – one who was built from Adam’s rib and one of whom he could say: “this is at last bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.”
Interestingly, this action by God clearly means that he considered Adam’s other relationships – those with the animals – to be insufficient. Obviously, their companionship together was not enough. And perhaps this speaks to the tendency of many people today to choose pets over people for companionship. I’m not saying that people shouldn’t have pets. They can. But pets are not meant as a complete substitute for genuine human interaction.
God made Adam a helper who was “fit” for him. This was a person – like him – who would complement him and work together with him. Also one who would challenge him.
These companions were alike enough to interact with one another as equals. But they were also different enough to see that they each had their own weaknesses and strengths. They were a perfect fit, together, made according to God’s perfect design.
And this perfect fit carries over into God’s plan for marriage. For marriage is the coming together of a man and a woman in a committed, life-long relationship to form a couple, who are to see in each other a sufficiency and a completeness, as two becoming one flesh.
Our text today concludes with verses that are certainly meant to institute marriage and to establish it as an important part of God’s design. But that doesn’t mean that the whole section is about marriage exclusively, or that we should even see marriage as the main element of God’s plan for living. Marriage is just one part of the overall design. These verses speak instead of the fit that all people have with one another. They are verses about our common humanity.
These verses teach that all people are meant to live in relationship with others. And this means we are to form friendships, and honor the bonds of family, and support one another as good neighbors, and uphold the sanctity of all human life.
Marriage is the source of great blessing. And marriage is the proper way for a man and a woman to have a sexual relationship and to bring forth children. But marriage is also optional.
Fitting together with others, on the other hand, is not optional. It’s commanded. In God’s good design, we are all to pursue and enjoy loving and trusting relationships with other people.
Secondly, God’s good design for living also provides for future generations. God’s desire is that there will be more and more people to inhabit his good creation, as seen in his urging of the man and woman to “be fruitful and multiply” (Gen. 1:28).
God wants families to grow. Our psalm today – Psalm 128 – speaks beautifully about the blessings which come from both marriage and children.
In God’s design, the family unit is a blessing which provides for consistency of companionship. Families help their members to grow as they commit to one another, learn from one another, and work through life’s challenges, over the long haul.
The family unit is a blessing to children to come, so that they would be raised in the Lord’s nurture and admonition. In them, children are taught to honor their father and mother; and parents are taught not to exasperate their children (Eph. 6:1-4).
Our Gospel reading today shows Jesus highlighting the importance of caring for children. He does this by rebuking those who would keep them away and saying: “Let the children come to me; and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.”
In that same reading, Jesus’ strong statements against divorce are also certainly meant to promote the blessing of consistency that is built into God’s design. Children benefit the most when there is an intact marriage. And I will add that adults benefit from learning to work together too.
Thirdly, God’s design for living, as shown in our text, provides freedom from shame. Here we take note of those last words from our text, where it says that Adam and Eve “were both naked and were not ashamed.”
To be without shame means having nothing to hide. Recall that after their sin Adam and Eve hid from one another by wearing clothing and tried to hide from God when he was looking for them.
What a blessing it is to be free of any reason to hide from someone else. Sadly, that’s not often the case. We all have things in our lives that we don’t want others to know. And because of this, we all carry around a measure of shame.
Today’s reading from Genesis describes life before sin entered the world. It was a blissful time when all worked according to God’s good design. When Adam and Eve then proceeded to sin, big changes occurred – ones with devastating effects.
When sin entered the world, one sin quickly led to more. Eve took the forbidden fruit herself, then shared it with Adam – presumably because she wanted an accomplice. Adam took the fruit without hesitation – presumably because he didn’t want to be left out.
Sin also led to other issues. One of these is that trust started to break down. We see this in Adam and Eve’s sudden need to cover up and in Adam’s blaming of Eve for giving him the fruit.
The sense of shame is an insidious, debilitating experience that will crush our spirit if not dealt with. It can lead to anxiety, depression, eating problems, low self-esteem, anger, feelings of emptiness, addictions and other such issues. Shame can be so intense that it will even lead to violent behavior and suicide.
Some people claim that shame only comes when one person shames another. And following this logic they then condemn the people or groups who hold up the laws that they don’t like.
But this claim about shaming isn’t true. Shame can come from being shamed, yes. But it also occurs very naturally from within us as well.
God’s original design for living did not include shame. And this is important to note, for it reminds us that God does not want us to experience it. He wants us to be free from such pain.
God wants this so much for us that once shame appeared in the world, he quickly designed a plan to take it away. This plan centered around his Son Jesus, who came into the world to accomplish what needed to be done and to communicate what God was doing.
In this plan, Jesus Christ died in our place; doing so on a cross, many centuries ago. His was an innocent death. And this paid the price of our sin.
Those of us who now repent of our sins and who trust in this sacrifice for our redemption are assured that our sins are forgiven. And with sins forgiven, we no longer need to feel shame.
Jesus Christ is the one who truly removes our shame. Revelation 3:18 tells us that he covers it with his righteousness – which is compared to being clothed with “white garments” – so that “the shame of [our] nakedness may not be seen.” Hebrews 12:2 tells us that he made this happen by enduring the shame of the cross for us, so that instead of shame we might have faith, which he both founded and perfected.
When our shame is covered by the righteousness of Christ, we can live together in community and fellowship. We can live in close relationship with those we see every day – our spouse, our family and friends. And we can live in harmony with all people through the love God has placed in our hearts and the forgiveness he teaches us to extend.
Human ingenuity and creativity are truly marvelous things – given to us as gifts by God. But nothing compares to the goodness of God’s design for living. It is a design that provides for human companionship, for future generations to live in his fellowship, and for an antidote, in Jesus Christ, to the devastating, relationship-ruining effects of shame in our lives.
God’s design is a truly great design for living. Knowing this, may we then commit to it in our hearts and seek to live it each day. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) Our Father, by Whose Name LSB 863
1 Our Father, by whose name
All fatherhood is known,
Who dost in love proclaim
Each family Thine own,
Bless Thou all parents, guarding well,
With constant love as sentinel,
The homes in which Thy people dwell.
2 O Christ, Thyself a child
Within an earthly home,
With heart still undefiled,
Thou didst to manhood come;
Our children bless in ev’ry place
That they may all behold Thy face,
And knowing Thee may grow in grace.
3 O Spirit, who dost bind
Our hearts in unity,
Who teachest us to find
The love from self set free,
In all our hearts such love increase
That ev’ry home by this release
May be the dwelling place of peace.
APOSTLES’ CREED Hymnal, back cover
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. 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
Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
Loving Father, Your Son took the little children into His arms and blessed them. Help Your saints to welcome all little ones with joy, so that nothing may hinder their entrance into the kingdom of God and the arms of Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious Lord, You give us leaders to guide Your Church on earth. We ask Your blessing on Matthew, our Synod president; Bill, our district president; and all pastors and workers in your church, that together with all the saints we may live in harmony with one another and truly attend to your mission on earth. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, be near to all couples who are struggling in their marriages. Guard them from a hardness of heart that would separate what You have joined together. And reconcile them to one another to live in Christ’s forgiveness and love. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Heavenly Father, be near to families torn apart by adultery and divorce. Sustain and heal the wounded with Your love. Give repentance to the guilty. And remind all of their forgiveness in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, grant Your wisdom to Joseph, our president; Glen, our Governor, and to all our public servants. Lift up all those who work to bring peace, justice, health and protection in this and every place, that they may be strengthened and upheld in every good deed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Gracious God, You promise to abide with Your people and uphold them in their suffering. Comfort all who are sick and sorrowing, especially those on our prayer list, Trudy, Dolly and Cynthia, all those affected by Hurricane Helene, and all those we name in our hearts at this time. Strengthen their faith in the midst of their trials and grant them health and healing according to Your good and gracious will. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Holy Lord, Your Son gives us His very body and blood to eat and drink in his Supper. Grant us Your grace, that we may approach Your table with repentant hearts and a firm resolution to amend our sinful lives by the help of Your Holy Spirit. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.
Lord God, help us by Your Spirit to fear You rightly and to walk in the ways of Christ, that we may eat the fruit of the labor of our hands and receive Your blessing in all that we do; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the same Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
OFFERTORY (Stand) LSB 159
What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?
I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.
I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,
in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.
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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.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN What a Friend We Have in Jesus LSB 770
1 What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit;
Oh, what needless pain we bear—
All because we do not carry
Ev’rything to God in prayer!
2 Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
3 Are we weak and heavy laden,
Cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
Take it to the Lord in prayer.
In His arms He’ll take and shield thee;
Thou wilt find a solace there.
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 Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good LSB 819
1 Sing praise to God, the highest good,
The author of creation,
The God of love who understood
Our need for His salvation.
With healing balm our souls He fills
And ev’ry faithless murmur stills:
To God all praise and glory!
2 What God’s almighty pow’r has made,
In mercy He is keeping.
By morning glow or evening shade
His eye is never sleeping.
Within the kingdom of His might
All things are just and good and right:
To God all praise and glory!
3 We sought the Lord in our distress;
O God, in mercy hear us.
Our Savior saw our helplessness
And came with peace to cheer us.
For this we thank and praise the Lord,
Who is by one and all adored:
To God all praise and glory!
4 He never shall forsake His flock,
His chosen generation;
He is their refuge and their rock,
Their peace and their salvation.
As with a mother’s tender hand,
He leads His own, His chosen band:
To God all praise and glory!
5 All who confess Christ’s holy name,
Give God the praise and glory.
Let all who know His pow’r proclaim
Aloud the wondrous story.
Cast ev’ry idol from its throne,
For God is God, and He alone:
To God all praise and glory!
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good Setting: David P. Dahl
FELLOWSHIP CONTRIBUTORS: Leisure Group
Those serving:
8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Bob Juenger
Comm. assist: Jim Easterly
Reader: Rich Kauzlarich
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Aaron Siebrass
Comm. assist: Holly Siebrass
Reader: Aaron Siebrass
Acolyte: Julia Dennis
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 © 2024 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
872 Come, Thou Bright and Morning Star Text: Christian Knorr von Rosenroth, 1636–89; tr. Richard Massie, 1800–87 Tune: Geist-reiches Gesang-Buch, 1704, Halle, ed. Johann A. Freylinghausen Text and tune: Public domain
863 Our Father, by Whose Name Text: F. Bland Tucker, 1895–1984 Tune: John D. Edwards, 1805–85 Text: © The Church Pension Fund. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Tune: Public Domain
770 What a Friend We Have in Jesus Text: Joseph M. Scriven, 1819–86 Tune: Charles C. Converse, 1832–1918 Text and tune: Public domain
819 Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good Text: Johann Jacob Schütz, 1640–90; (sts. 1–3, 5): tr. Frances Cox, 1812–97, adapt.; (st. 4): tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827–78, adapt. Tune: Melchior Vulpius, 1570–1615 Text and tune: Public domain
