Prelude
Bells, Welcome, Announcements and Sharing
á Hymn Shall We Gather at the River (ELW 423)
1 Shall we gather at the river,
where bright angel feet have trod,
with its crystal tide forever
flowing by the throne of God?
Refrain: Yes, we’ll gather at the river,
the beautiful, the beautiful river;
gather with the saints at the river
that flows by the throne of God.
2 On the margin of the river,
washing up its silver spray,
we will walk and worship ever,
all the happy golden day. Refrain
á Litany for All Saints
P Let us pray. Lord God, by your grace we are running a race.
C We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses—
P Fathers and mothers, prophets and priests, disciples and
missionaries, martyrs and saints.
C We thank you for their example. We praise you for their lives of faith. For all your saints, O Lord, who lived in you in you, who followed, obeyed, adored you — our grateful song we sing.
P Lord God, by your grace we are running a race.
C We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses—
P Loved ones now resting in you, who guided us, nurtured and cared for us; ancestors who worked and traveled, lived and died that we might be who we are, where we are–your precious children in this community of believers.
C We thank you for their example. We praise you for their lives of faith. For all your saints who died in faith, who counted you their great reward — accept our thankful cry.
P Lord God, by your grace we are running a race.
C We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses—
P Family members and members of this congregation; fellow believers in every country, every denomination; friends who help, guide and uplift us — children of your family, sheep of your fold, saints of your redeeming.
C We thank you for their example. We praise you for their lives of faith. We bless your name and humbly pray that we, like them, may live in holiness and die in you.
P Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,
C and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,
P looking to Christ, the pioneer and perfector of our faith.
C Amen
Hymn For All the Saints (ELW 422 vs 1,3,4,5,7)
1 For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
3 Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine,
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
4 And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
5 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
7 From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Greeting
P Beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace, mercy, and peace be with you all.
C And also with you.
Call to Worship Choir
Prayer of the Day
P The Lord be with you…
C And also with you,
P Let us pray…
C Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen
Choir Anthem
Kids in the Kingdom
Gospel John 12:27–28
L The Holy Gospel from John in the 12th Chapter
C Glory to you, O Lord
27 “Jesus said, “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
L This is the Gospel of our Lord
C Praise to You O Christ
Reading 1 Kings 19:2–17
2 Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3 Then he was afraid; he got up and fled for his life, and came to Beer-sheba, which belongs to Judah; he left his servant there.
4 But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. 7 The angel of the Lord came a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” 8 He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God. 9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there.
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 10 He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”
11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 14 He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” 15 Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. 16 Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
L This is the Word of the Lord
C Thanks be to God
Sermon Brendan Johnston
á Hymn Soon and Very Soon (#439)
Andraé Crouch
WE RESPOND TO THE WORD OF GOD
á Nicene 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
Celebration of Last Year’s Saints
At the time we remember last year’s saints,
we invite a family member of each person to come to the front of the sanctuary.
When their name is read, please enter the chancel, and use the long handled matchstick to light their candle.
The candles of those who couldn’t be present today will be lit by an acolyte.
A reading from Isaiah: Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you, says the Lord. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands.
A reading from First Thessalonians: We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as
others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.
P The Lord be with you.
C And also with you.
P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise.
P Gracious and holy God,
you created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them.
We praise you for you are our God.
We praise you for taking joy in your people
and for lifting up the humble.
In all the ages, you have been faithful to us,
even when we were not faithful to you.
You have sent prophets and witnesses to call us back to you
when we grew weary, stumbled, or lost our way.
We remember before you in thanksgiving these men and women
whose names we do know and for whom we still grieve:
Today, we are also lifting up the saints whose funeral services
were disrupted by the pandemic in 2020.
From 2020: Russell Nelson
Lance Peterson Val Osbakken
From 2021: Lyle Northey
Daniel DeChantal Carol Johnson
Carl Kunnari Daryl Johnson
Vince Ettestad Roberta Parker
Dorothy Norlander Elsie Larson
Judy Olson
P When we were baptized in Christ Jesus, we were baptized into his death. We were buried, therefore, with him by Baptism into death, so that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live a new life.
C For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
P Almighty God, those who die in the Lord still live with you in joy and blessedness. We give you thanks for the grace you have given your saints who have finished life in faith and now rest from their labors.
Honoring the Saints
When invited, all who wish are may come forward to the table of candles
and to light one in remembrance of those you grieve.
Long matches are available on the table.
Light one from an already lit candle use it to light your candle.
Please extinguish your match in the sand – blowing it out may extinguish candles..
Prayer
A reading from Hebrews: Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
P O God, As we remember these people
strengthen us to follow Christ through this world
until we are carried into the harvest of eternal life,
where suffering and death will be no more.
Hear our prayer in the name of the good and gracious shepherd,
C Amen
P Lord Jesus, by your death you took away the sting of death.
Strengthen us to follow in faith where you have led the way,
that we may at length fall asleep in you and wake in your likeness;
to you, the author and giver of life, be all honor and glory, now and forever.
C Amen.
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.
LEAVE TO LIVE THE WORD
á Blessing
P God who loves us, who gives us eternal consolation and good hope,
comfort your hearts and strengthen them in every good work and word;
and the blessing of almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you forever.
á Hymn On Our Way Rejoicing (#537)
John S. B. Monsell
Dismissal
P Go in peace. Christ is with you.
C Thanks be to God!