Prelude
Bells, Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
SEE ANNOUNCEMENTS AT THE BOTTOM!
P Holy is the Lord, the Almighty,
C He was, he is, and he is to come.
P He is worthy of glory and honor and power.
C He created all things. By his will they came to be.
P Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain;
C worthy to take the scroll and break its seals.
P By his blood he purchased for God
C people of every race and tongue, of every folk and nation.
P Christ made of them a kingdom
C and priests to serve our God.
P And they shall reign on earth forever.
C Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
á Hymn O God Our Help In Ages Past (ELW # 632)
Watts
á Confession and Forgiveness
P Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who calls us into an everlasting hope, who guides us to springs of the water of life, who enlightens us with the spirit of wisdom.
C Amen.
P One with the communion of saints in all times and places,
let us confess our sin against God and one another.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
P O God, our merciful redeemer,
C we confess the ways we live only for ourselves.
We fail to see you in our neighbor’s face.
We turn our ears from voices that cry out.
We pass by the hungry and the oppressed.
In your great mercy, forgive our sin
and strengthen us for service to all in need;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
P In the mercy of almighty God,
Jesus Christ was given to die for you,
and for ☩ his sake,
God forgives you all your sin.
Blessed are you! Rejoice and be glad,
beloved people of God.
C Amen.
Hymn Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (ELW # 834)
Smith
Litany for Christ the King
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give him, thanks and praise.
P Blessed are you, O Lord, our King of the universe.
C You led your people Israel by a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire at night. Enlighten our darkness by the light of your Christ; may his word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
P You, O Lord, are merciful, and you love your whole creation.
C We offer our hearts and minds and voices to glorify the Beautiful Savior, Jesus Christ our Lord, the King of all creation.
Call to Worship
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 light, There can be overwhelming obscurity in this world. But you shine your light and increase joy, and for your brilliance we are grateful. Amen.
Choir Anthem
Gospel John 8:12
L The Holy Gospel from John in the 8th Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Kids in the Kingdom
Reading Isaiah 9:1-7
But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
4 For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onward and forevermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
L This is the Word of the Lord
C Thanks be to God
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn Beautiful Savior (ELW #838)
1 Beautiful Savior,
King of creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love thee,
truly I’d serve thee,
light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
2 Fair are the meadows,
fair are the woodlands,
robed in flow’rs of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer,
he makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
4 Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,
praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine!
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
á Nicene Creed (pg. 104)
Offering Prayer
P Let us prepare our hearts in reverence to the King of kings and the Light of the world.
C Reigning God, teach us to stop valuing the kingdom of this world and show us what it means for Christ to be king. We rest in the assurance that you are in charge. We want to you to find loyal subjects, so we submit to you. We pray for forgiveness in the ways that we have rebelled against you and pray that your rule encompasses more of this earth, beginning with our hearts. 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 … Lord in your mercy …
C … Hear our prayer.
Meal
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
á Great Thanksgiving
P …we praise your name and join their unending hymn.
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.
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 Lift High the Cross (ELW #660)
Kitchin, Newbolt
Dismissal
P Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C Thanks be to God!
SUN|NOV 21 Sunday Worship
9:00 am Worship
10:00 am Sunday School
MON| NOV 22 Office hours 9:00-12:30
TUE | NOV 23 Office hours 9:00-12:00
WED| NOV 24 Office hours 9:00-12:30
6:30 pm Thanksgiving Service
THU| NOV 25 THANKSGIVING DAY
FRI| NOV 26 OFFICE CLOSED
SUN| NOV 28 Sunday Worship
9:00 am Worship
10:00 am Sunday School
THANKSGIVING EVE SERVICE
Join us as we celebrate Thanksgiving with an evening of worship and gratitude to God on November 24 at 6:30pm
WARMING THE NORTHLAND UPDATE
We had a successful giveaway with 120 items donated for Trunk or Treat outreach! After a very cold night, we had only 24 items left, which will be donated locally. Thanks so much to all who made these beautiful hats, mittens, and scarves and to everyone who supplied yarn! They are very appreciated by our community.
CHAIRTY DONATION UPDATE FROM THE MISSION BOARD
We would like to thank everyone who donated items to our collections for North Shore Horizons, Life House, and Center for Changing Lives Crisis Nursery. Your generosity is appreciated as always, and all three agencies were thrilled!
CHRISTMAS GIVING TAGS BACK BY 12/5
If you haven’t done so yet, pick up a tag to give a gift to a resident of a care center here in town! We need gifts back by Sunday Dec 5th. Thank you!