Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Pentecost 25 11.19.2023 PDF ds1
TWENTY-FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
NOVEMBER 19, 2023
ST. PAUL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, FALLS CHURCH, VA
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PRELUDE As Stone on Living Stone is Set One and All Rejoice 260
WELCOME
ENTRANCE HYMN (Stand) As Stone on Living Stone is Set (see insert) OAR 260
1 As stone on living stone is set
For worship on this ground,
Hold fast onto the Cornerstone,
The one foundation sound.
Held firm through generations
With God’s own power shored.
In ages past, for years to come,
Our hope is in the Lord.
2 Now we approach this holy place
With confidence secure;
The Lamb of God has cleansed our hearts
And made our spirits pure.
The sacrifice completed,
His holy blood outpoured.
O people, come and marvel here
What love Christ will afford.
3 When steeples fall and bells are mute
And temple stones thrown down,
We waver not but trust in Him
Who wears th’eternal crown.
The Church awaits with longing
For all to be restored.
Though ruins lie about our feet,
Our King is still adored.
4 Bear witness to the nations, then.
The Day is drawing near.
In full assurance, spread the Word.
In love, serve without fear.
Though persecu-tion threatens,
The Word of God abhorred,
The faithful One is coming soon
And gives His sure reward.
5 No church or temple will be seen
When saints and angels meet.
The Church Triumphant will bow down
And worship at Christ’s feet.
Prepare all hearts and voices
To praise in joyful chord:
“In ages past and evermore,
Our hope is in the Lord!”
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. Almighty and ever-living God,
You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You. Dispel from us the works of darkness and grant us to live in the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting; through the same 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) Hosea 11:1-9
When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son.
The more they were called,
the more they went away;
they kept sacrificing to the Baals
and burning offerings to idols.
Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk;
I took them up by their arms,
but they did not know that I healed them.
I led them with cords of kindness,
with the bands of love,
and I became to them as one who eases the yoke on their jaws,
and I bent down to them and fed them.
They shall not return to the land of Egypt,
but Assyria shall be their king,
because they have refused to return to me.
The sword shall rage against their cities,
consume the bars of their gates,
and devour them because of their own counsels.
My people are bent on turning away from me,
and though they call out to the Most High,
he shall not raise them up at all.
How can I give you up, O Ephraim?
How can I hand you over, O Israel?
How can I make you like Admah?
How can I treat you like Zeboiim?
My heart recoils within me;
my compassion grows warm and tender.
I will not execute my burning anger;
I will not again destroy Ephraim;
for I am God and not a man,
the Holy One in your midst,
and I will not come in wrath.
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
ANTHEM JUBILATION CHOIR Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings
Setting: Richard W. Gieseke
1 Gracious God, You send great blessings
New each morning all our days.
For Your mercies never ending,
For Your love we offer praise. Refrain
Refrain
Lord, we pray that we, Your people
Who Your gifts unnumbered claim,
Through the sharing of Your blessings
May bring glory to Your name.
2 By Your Word You formed creation
Filled with creatures large and small;
As we tend that endless treasure
May our care encircle all. Refrain
3 In His earthly life, our Savior
Knew the care of faithful friends;
May our deeds of dedication
Offer love that never ends. Refrain
4 Heav’nly Father, may our caring
Bear the imprint of Your grace;
With the Son and Holy Spirit,
Praise be Yours in ev’ry place! Refrain
SECOND LESSON 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.
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 25:14-30
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 25th chapter
Glory to You, O Lord.
[Jesus said:] “For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master’s money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, ‘Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’ He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But his master answered him, ‘You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sowed and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY (Stand) Take My Life and Let It Be LSB 784
1 Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
2 Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
3 Take my voice and let me sing
Always, only for my King;
Take my lips and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
4 Take my silver and my gold,
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect and use
Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose,
Ev’ry pow’r as Thou shalt choose.
5 Take my will and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
6 Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
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.
Almighty God, bless our use of the gifts you give us, that through our efforts many people would be cared for and served, and your name would be praised. Lead us to work hard at the tasks you give, and to remember both your expectations and your grace. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, bless our church’s preaching, teaching and stewardship, that our congregation would grow and thrive, and that this community would know of your will and your presence among them. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, bless our life together as disciples of your Son Jesus, that we would be a support to one another, learn from one another, and grow in our abilities and capacities. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, bless each of us in our stewardship of the gifts you give, that we would make decisions about our time, talents and finances that reflect your teachings and honor your holy name. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, bless those among us who are experiencing illness, injury or grief. We especially pray for those on our prayer list and those we name before you in our hearts at this time… Provide for their care and encourage them through your Gospel promises. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, bless our world with the spreading of the message of your Son Jesus Christ, that people and nations would learn to love peace, share freely the gifts you give, and exhibit your mercy and compassion in their dealings with others. We pray especially for those who are experiencing war, famine and threat, that their pain and struggles would come to an end, and that they would know the faith which truly sustains. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, we thank you for the call to faith you extend to each of us through your Holy Spirit. Help us to live this faith as you so direct us, that on the day of your coming we may hear you say: “well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master.” Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your goodness and mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord. 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 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 Come, Let Us Eat LSB 626
(Introduction: Paul Grime)
1 Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread,
Come, let us eat, for now the feast is spread.
Our Lord’s body let us take together,
Our Lord’s body let us take together.
2 Come, let us drink, for now the wine is poured,
Come, let us drink, for now the wine is poured.
Jesus’ blood poured let us drink together,
Jesus’ blood poured let us drink together.
3 In His presence now we meet and rest,
In His presence now we meet and rest.
In the presence of our Lord we gather,
In the presence of our Lord we gather.
4 Rise, then, to spread abroad God’s mighty Word,
Rise, then, to spread abroad God’s mighty Word.
Jesus risen will bring in the Kingdom,
Jesus risen will bring in the Kingdom.
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 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending LSB 336
1 Lo! He comes with clouds descending,
Once for ev’ry sinner slain;
Thousand thousand saints attending
Swell the triumph of His train:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Christ the Lord returns to reign.
2 Ev’ry eye shall now behold Him
Robed in glorious majesty;
Those who set at naught and sold Him,
Pierced and nailed Him to the tree,
Deeply wailing, deeply wailing, deeply wailing,
Shall their true Messiah see.
3 Those dear tokens of His passion
Still His dazzling body bears,
Cause of endless exultation
To His ransomed worshipers.
With what rapture, with what rapture, with what rapture
Gaze we on those glorious scars!
4 Yea, amen, let all adore Thee,
High on Thine eternal throne;
Savior, take the pow’r and glory,
Claim the kingdom as Thine own.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Thou shalt reign, and Thou alone!
ANNOUNCEMENTS (Be seated)
DISMISSAL
POSTLUDE Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending Setting: Charles Callahan
FLOWERS: Given in honor of St. Elizabeth of Hungary (W November 17, 1231). Daughter of a Hungarian prince and raised since age 4 in the court of the German prince to which she was betrothed; married at 14; a mother at 15; and widowed at 20, Elizabeth angered her in-laws by “recklessly” spending the family’s wealth on bread and medicines that she regularly distributed among the poor and sick of the principality.
Once, when she was taking bread to the poor in secret, Prince Ludwig her husband asked her to show to her detractors what she was hiding under her cloak. He hoped that when they saw it was just bread, they would stop claiming that she was stealing the family’s gold and silver treasures. Before she could open the cloak, it opened by itself to reveal not bread, but beautiful blooms of white and red roses. To Ludwig and the others, the event proved that Christ’s Holy Spirit was at work in Elizabeth’s generosity toward “the wretched ones” of their territory.
Ludwig’s death from a fever contracted while he was on crusade resulted in Elizabeth’s losing her position at court. Undaunted, she won back her dowry with friends’ support. Thereafter she lived austerely in Marburg, Germany, with her three children, using her dowry to have a hospital built for the indigent of that city. She personally cared for many of the patients. She was just 24 when she passed away of a lingering illness.
Christians over the centuries have honored Elizabeth’s memory by naming hospitals and other charitable institutions after her. She lived believing firmly that one day Jesus the King would say to her, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Mt. 24:50, NIV). In the Lutheran and Episcopal calendars of commemoration, she is known as St. Elizabeth of Hungary. Judy Koucky
Those serving:
8:00 a.m.:
Greeter: Steve Berg
Comm. assist: Judy Koucky
Reader: Anne Kauzlarich
10:30 a.m.:
Greeter: Lynn Jacquez
Comm. assist: Jill Hecht
Reader: Lynn Jacquez
Acolyte: Elise Yashar
AV Assistants: Hannes Buuck, Andreas Buuck
8:00/10:30 Awesome Drumming: Mark Shaltanis
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
784 Take My Life and Let It Be Text: Frances R. Havergal, 1836–79 Tune: Henri A. C. Malan, 1787–1864 Text and tune: Public domain
626 Come, Let Us Eat Text (sts. 1–3): tr. Margaret D. Miller, 1927, alt.; (st. 4): Gilbert E. Doan, 1930, alt. Text (sts. 1–3) and tune: Billema Kwillia, 1925 Text (st. 4): © 1972 Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326 Text (sts. 1–3) and tune: © Lutheran World Federation. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
336 Lo! He Comes with Clouds Descending Text: Charles Wesley, 1707–88, alt. Tune: Thomas Olivers, 1725–99 Text and tune: Public domain
782 Gracious God, You Send Great Blessings Text: Gregory J. Wismar, 1946 Text: © 2004 Gregory J. Wismar. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110005326
