Twenty-fifth Sunday after Pentecost
November 14, 2021
9:00 Service of Holy Communion
Prelude
Bells, Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
HONORING VETERANS
Veterans’ Prayer
P Lord of all Nations, we lift this morning our thankfulness for this nation and the blessings you have bestowed upon it. We lift to you all the men and women who have accepted the uniform of this nation and sought in duty to protect and preserve these blessings for this nation and others. May our nation continue to produce such brave men and women and may those who command them use their dedication and sacrifice for purposes that are worthy and honorable in your sight. Keep in our hearts all that have served and continue to serve this nation and strengthen us in appreciation for all that each man and woman who has worn the uniform of this nation is rightfully entitled.
C Amen.
Recognition and a “Thank You” to Our Veterans
Prayer
P Let us pray for our nation and those we honor this morning.
C Lord of This Nation, “Your love divine has led us in the past and in this free land by you our lot is cast; be our ruler, guardian, guide and stay and let your Word be our law and your paths our chosen way.” May they be the principles that are defended by all who lead and serve our nation today. Be with those in uniform today and with the veterans, who so honorably served this nation and the world in the past. Amen.
á Hymn My Country ‘Tis of Thee
Carey, Smith
My country ’tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing
Land where my fathers died, Land of the pilgrims’ pride
From every mountain side, Let freedom ring
My native country thee, Land of the noble free, Thy name I love
I love thy rocks and rills, Thy woods and templed hills
My heart with rapture thrills, Like that above
Let music swell the breeze, And ring from all the trees, Sweet freedom’s song
Let mortal tongues awake, Let all that breathe partake
Let rocks their silence break, The sound prolong
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
á Confession and Forgiveness
P Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the Sovereign over all the earth, the Wisdom from on high, our merciful Judge and Savior.
C Amen.
P Let us confess our sins, trusting that God will forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(A moment for self-reflection)
P Faithful and just God. . .
C we confess that we are captive to doubt and fears, bound by the ways that lead to death. We have not loved our sisters and brothers as you have first loved us. Forgive us, God of mercy. Let your Holy Spirit work in us to change our lives and make us new, that we may know the abundant life given in Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. Amen.
P In this is love, not that we loved God but that God loved us and sent the Son to atone for our sins. In the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven. Let the perfect love of God cast out fear, fill you with joy, and inspire us to live for others. C Amen.
Hymn All Are Welcome (ELW #641)
Marty Haugen
Let us build a house where love can dwell
and all can safely live,
a place where saints and children tell
how hearts learn to forgive.
Built of hopes and dreams and visions,
rock of faith and vault of grace;
here the love of Christ shall end divisions:
Refrain:
All are welcome, all are welcome,
all are welcome in this place.
Let us build a house where prophets speak,
and words are strong and true,
where all God’s children dare to seek
to dream God’s reign anew.
Here the cross shall stand as witness
and as symbol of God’s grace;
here as one we claim the faith of Jesus: Refrain
Let us build a house where love is found
in water, wine and wheat:
a banquet hall on holy ground
where peace and justice meet.
Here the love of God, through Jesus,
is revealed in time and space;
as we share in Christ the feast that frees us: Refrain
Let us build a house where hands will reach
beyond the wood and stone
to heal and strengthen, serve and teach,
and live the Word they’ve known.
Here the outcast and the stranger
bear the image of God’s face;
let us bring an end to fear and danger: Refrain
Greeting
P Beloved of God, called to be saints:
Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all.
C And also with you.
P Let us pray…
C God of all people, Show us how to let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an every flowing stream. Create justice and righteousness in us, that all may rejoice in your blessings. Amen.
Gospel John 7:37–38
L The Holy Gospel from John in the 7th Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38 and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, ‘Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.’ ”
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Kids in the Kingdom
Reading Amos 1:1-2; 5:10-11, 14-15, 21-24
The words of Amos, who was among the shepherds of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of King Uzziah of Judah and in the days of King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2 And he said:
The Lord roars from Zion,
and utters his voice from Jerusalem;
the pastures of the shepherds wither,
and the top of Carmel dries up.
10 They hate the one who reproves in the gate,
and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
11 Therefore because you trample on the poor
and take from them levies of grain,
althoughyou have built houses of hewn stone,
you shall not live in them;
althoughyou have planted pleasant vineyards,
you shall not drink their wine.
14 Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
just as you have said.
15 Hate evil and love good,
and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
21 I hate, I despise your festivals,
and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
22 Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them;
and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
I will not look upon.
23 Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
24 But let justice roll down like waters,
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
L This is the Word of the Lord
C Thanks be to God
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn We are Called (ELW #720)
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
á Apostles Creed (Back of hymnal)
Offering Prayer
P Merciful God,
C we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers of Bethlehem
During the prayers, there will be an opportunity for you to lift up a thanksgiving, a prayer concern, the name of someone on your mind today. All are encouraged to join in this time of public prayer.
L … God, in your mercy,…
C …hear our prayer.
Meal
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
Words of Institution
á Lord’s Prayer
C 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.
L These are the gifts of God for the people of God
C Thanks be to God
Distribution of Holy Communion
We believe that Jesus is truly present in the elements of communion – and all are welcome to receive Jesus in this food and drink.
Communion in the Pews
Prepackaged communion will be available in pews and as you enter worship. Please open and receive this sacrament after the Words of Institution.
Communion at the Table
Those who wish to receive Holy Communion at the tables in front of the sanctuary will be invited to come forward using the pulpit side aisle, and return to their seat using the piano side aisle.
As you come forward, one at a time, there will be two tables prepared for you. Wafers will be placed on plates on the first table for you to pick up and receive the Body of Christ. Cups of wine or grape juice will be placed on the second table for you to receive the Blood of Christ. Cups can then be placed in a bin.
Children not communing may come forward for a blessing.
Communion Music
á Post Communion Prayer
P Let us pray….
C O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Blessing
P O God, of tender compassion, as you healed the sick and welcomed the stranger, bless those who leave this assembly to share and live the Word, which has been proclaimed this day. That it may enter into our hearts through His grace, and that it may produce in us the fruit of the Spirit for witness and service in the world to the praise and honor of His name.
á Hymn Oh, for a Thousand Tongues to Sing (#886)
Charles Wesley
Oh, for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer’s praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
He speaks, and list’ning to his voice,
new life the dead receive;
the mournful, broken hearts rejoice,
the humble poor believe.
Look unto him, your Savior own,
O fallen human race!
Look and be saved through faith alone,
be justified by grace!
To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever giv’n
by saints below and saints above,
the church in earth and heav’n.
Dismissal
P Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C Thanks be to God!