The Fifth Sunday of the Easter Season
May 18, 2025
known, liturgically, as Cantate Sunday (“Sing”)
Oh Come, Let Us Worship the LORD
Pastors spend a lot of their time talking to people who don’t go to church, and encouraging them to come to
Church to worship the LORD. Over the years I’ve heard all kinds of flimsy excuses for not attending worship. One of the most common is: “There are too many hypocrites in church.” Some other excuses are: “I’m too busy;” “Sunday’s the only day I can sleep in;” and “I once had a bad experience in church so I don’t go anymore.” Replying to that last one, I usually counter that I once had bad experience in a restaurant, so I don’t eat out anymore!” Of course, that’s a ridiculous argument. A good response is “Just to to another restaurant, but don’t go hungry!” But my all time favorite excuse was offered by a woman who said, “I don’t go to church, and this is my reason: If I go some of the time, it’ll just make me want to go all the time. And since I can’t go all the time, I’ll feel guilty when I miss some of the time. So I don’t go any of the time, and that keeps me from feeling guilty about wanting to go all the time.” Now, that’s quite an excuse, isn’t it? …..But it’s still a lame excuse.
While I try to encourage people to return to church, I find I have to pray and rely on the Holy Spirit to convince them of the one reason to attend church, which is God.
Our word “worship” comes from an old English word “worthship”, meaning that God is worthy; namely, that He deserves our praise. Worship is the believer’s grateful response to all that God is and says and does for us. And if a Christian truly is grateful for God’s blessings – particularly the Spiritual and eternal blessings that are ours for the sake of our Savior, Jesus Christ – then that person knows without a doubt that God is worthy of his/her very best worship…..and nothing is going to keep that Christian away from public worship services where, joining with others, our God of grace and glory is praised. The activity of worship, after all, is a simple matter of priorities. And you can tell what a person’s priorities are by observing what that person does willingly, voluntarily, and frequently.
You have come to church to worship the LORD this morning, out of gratitude to God for His grace to you, and in obedience to His directions to “remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy (Ex 20:13)” as well as “let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching (Heb 10:24).” What you’ve come to do is to engage in an activity that is not only God-pleasing, but is something that will be an edifying (faith-building) blessing for you.
That’s why was David glad when he was encouraged, “Let us go to the house of God.” He knew that he would be gathering with his Spiritual family there, and that his faith would be edified and would gain strength for the days ahead. ….and nothing and no one was going to keep David from worshiping in the Lord’s House. By the way, worship is not an individual act; it is a corporate, our group, activity that is carried out in connection with our fellow Christians. It’s been said that “There are two things we cannot do alone—one is to be married, and the other is to be a Christian.” In both cases, we need others to join with us in something that is very special and honorable. That’s because we aren’t merely individuals in isolation when we worship, nor are we just spectators. And we are not an audience. We are participants with our fellow believers in the activities of praising God, praying to Him, listening to His Word, and receiving His Sacrament and His blessing. One more thought…..When we leave church, none of us should be asking, “What did I get out of church?,” but rather, “Was God pleased by my worship?”
As God the Holy Spirit enables you this morning, may your worship of Him be pleasing to our LORD, as well as edifying to your fellowship worshipers today, and edifying to your faith as well.
“Cantate” Sunday on the Church “Calendar”
Over the 6 Sundays that follow Easter, the Christian church has traditionally focused its energies during its worship on continuing the celebration of Christ’s resurrection. One of the ways we’ll do that today is by singing as our opening hymn the Easter Hymn “Jesus Lives, the Victory’s Won.” Each Sunday in “Easter” has a particular emphasis (Strengthened Faith in the Risen Savior, Jesus as the Good Shepherd, the Joy we have as Christians, etc.) which serves to reinforce the truths and blessings that we share as believers in the risen Christ. On the calendar of the Church, this Fifth Sunday of the Easter Season is traditionally known as “Cantate Sunday.” This designation is taken from the Latin word for “sing,” which is found throughout our Psalm for this morning, Psalm 98, starting with the first verse. As Christians we want to gratefully ponder the significance of Christ’s resurrection for our salvation. And so we’ll want to follow the good counsel of Psalm 98 and “sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm (i.e., the crucified and risen Christ) have worked salvation for Him.” These words of the Psalmist, of course, remind us of the marvelous work of salvation that our God has worked for us through the righteousness, death and resurrection of Jesus applied to us.
Today’s Scripture Readings:
On this “Cantate”/Sing Sunday, the concept of worshiping, and the Christian’s responsibility to worship the LORD, are at the center of each of this morning’s Scripture readings. It’s worth noting that true worship of the LORD goes well beyond what we do when we come together each Sunday …..Christian worship is, in fact, a 24 hour per day/7 day a week/lifelong activity that centers on the Christian’s willingness to live for (and so, to worship) the God of our salvation in all aspects of his/her life.
For our Old Testament Lesson this morning we’ll get to listen to the Hymn of Praise that Moses and the people of Israel sang to the LORD immediately after He miraculously delivered the nation from Pharaoh’s menacing army through the parted (for Israel) and then collapsing (for Egypt) waters of the Red Sea. Moses and Israel celebrate God’s saving mercy immediately after that incident, by stopping to worship the LORD in song. We have the privilege of doing the same as we praise God for an even greater, far more miraculous act of deliverance achieved by Christ for our benefit: Jesus’ death and resurrection that secured for us salvation from sin’s curse and guilt, from eternal death in hell, and from Satan’s dominion of our souls.
Today’s Epistle Lesson has us turning to Scripture’s final book: Revelation. In chapter five John introduces one of the book’s many “visions” – the Vision of the Seven Seals. But before the vision is presented and the seals opened (in chapter 6) John describes the activity of the saints and angels in heaven as they worship Jesus. He receives their worship because He is the Lamb of God Who, by virtue of His sinless blood shed to save us, alone is worthy to open the seven seals (that is, to know and to control the future…..since He is truly God).
Today’s Gospel Lesson is the story at the beginning of His ministry of Jesus attending a worship service in His home-town synagogue. There, welcomed as a favored son, He reads a prophecy from Isaiah and announces that He is its fulfillment…and so the promised Savior. Sadly, the love the people of Nazareth first showed Him was replaced with hostility, along with a failed attempt to kill Him.
A few of the reasons and different ways that we can “Worship The Lord” will be the focus of this morning’s Children’s Lesson. But at the center of our lesson will be the real reason why we come to church, and why we worship God with our lives. It’s because we love Jesus, Who sacrificed Himself for us to earn God’s forgiveness for all our sins, and a guaranteed place in heaven for everyone who believes in Him.
Finally, through today’s Sermon, based on Psalm 100, will talk about the reasons why we worship the LORD…..because He knows us and calls us His own, and because we – through faith – know Him as the one, true Savior-God. What’s more, He blesses us abundantly and protects us from harm and danger. Truly the LORD is worthy of our worship, praise and thanks.
Pre-Service Prayer Heavenly Father, please guide me in wisdom and truth through Your Holy Spirit, as I spend this hour meditating on Your Word and rejoicing in Your limitless love for me. Assist me in being attentive in heart and mind to Your Word, as well as to the hymns of praise, the various petitions, and the prayers of thanksgiving my voice directs toward You. Use this worship service, O Lord, to deepen my love for You, to strengthen my trust in You, and to renew my commitment to You. All this I ask for the sake of and in the name of Your One and only Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior. Amen.
Pre-service music
Pre-service prayer
Let Us Praise The Lord
The Invocation
P We begin this service in the name of the Father
Congregation Who gave us our lives through His almighty power.
P: And of the Son
C: Who redeemed our lives with His precious blood.
P And of the Holy Spirit
C: Who gave us eternal life through faith in Christ Jesus.
P: Amen.
Our Psalm Reading for Today Psalm 98
P: Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have worked salvation for Him.
C: The LORD has made His salvation known; + He has remembered His righteousness to the eyes of the nations.
P: He has remembered His mercy and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
C: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
P: Shout for joy to LORD, all the earth; Break out in joyful song! Make music!
C: Make music to the LORD with the lyre, + With the lyre and the sound of music.
P: With trumpets and the sound of the ram’s horn;
C: Shout for joy before the King, the LORD.
P: Let the sea roar, and everything that fills it + the world and all who live in it;
C: Let the rivers clap their hands; Let the mountains sing for joy together before the LORD,
P: For He comes to judge the earth.
C: He will judge the world in righteousness + and the peoples with fairness.
After which the Congregation will be seated for
The Opening Hymn Hymn 145 “Jesus Lives, the Victory’s Won”
1 Jesus lives! The vict’ry’s won!
Death no longer can appall me.
Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done!
From the grave Christ will recall me.
Brighter scenes will then commence;
This shall be my confidence.
2 Jesus lives! To him the throne
High o’er heav’n and earth is given.
I shall go where he is gone,
Live and reign with him in heaven.
God is faithful; doubtings, hence!
This shall be my confidence.
3 Jesus lives! For me he died;
Hence will I, to Jesus living,
Pure in heart and act abide,
Praise to him and glory giving.
All I need God will dispense;
This shall be my confidence.
4 Jesus lives! I know full well
Nothing me from him shall sever,
Life nor death nor pow’rs of hell
Part me now from Christ forever.
God will be a sure defense;
This shall be my confidence.
5 Jesus lives! And now is death
But the gate to life immortal;
This shall calm my trembling breath
When I pass its gloomy portal.
Faith shall cry, as fails each sense:
“Jesus is my confidence!”
After which, the Congregation will be asked to rise as
We Confess our Sins to the Lord
Pastor God, our Heavenly Father, invites us to come into His presence and to worship Him with humble and penitent hearts. Therefore, let us now turn to Him, acknowledging our sinfulness and seeking His forgiveness for all our sins.
Congregation Holy and merciful Father, + I confess that I am by nature sinful + and that I have disobeyed You in my thoughts, words, and actions; + I have done what is evil in Your sight + and have failed to do what is good. + For this I know that I deserve Your punishment, + both now and for eternity. + But I am truly sorry for all my sins, + and trusting in the perfect life + and innocent death of my Savior, Jesus Christ, + I plead: + God have mercy on me, a sinner.
Pastor Our gracious Lord and Master has shown us His mercy: He has given His one and only Son to save us from all our sins. And now, under His command and authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. May the peace of God rest upon all of you.
Congregation Amen.
Lord Have Mercy
P: For all that we need in life, and for the wisdom to use all Your gifts with gratitude and joy, hear our prayer, O Lord.
C: (sung) Lord have mercy
p: For the steadfast assurance that nothing can separate us from Your love and for the courage to stand firm against the assaults of Satan and every evil, hear our prayer, O Christ:
C: (Sung) Christ have mercy.
P: For the well-being of Your holy Church in all the world and for those who offer here their worship and praise, hear our prayer, O Lord
C: (Sung) Lord have mercy.
p: Merciful God, Maker and Preserver of life, uphold us by Your power, and keep us in Your tender care:
C: (sung) Amen.
P: The works of the Lord are great and glorious; His name is worthy of praise.
(Sung) O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth.
Almighty God, merciful Father, Your crown our life with Your love.
You take away our sin; You comfort our spirit;
You make us pure and holy in Your sight.
You did not spare Your only Son, but gave Him up for us all.
O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth.
O Son of God, eternal Word of the Father,
You came to live with us; You made Your Father known;
You washed us from our sins in Your own blood.
You are the King of glory; You are the Lord!
O Lord, our Lord, How glorious is Your name in all the earth
The Prayer for “Cantate” Sunday
Almighty and merciful God, + You have filled us with the new light of the Word, + Who became flesh and lived among us. + Let the light of faith in You as the one, true God + shine forth in all that we say, think, and do. + And mercifully grant that we might continue to grow + in our faith, knowledge and service to You all our days, + until – by Your grace, through faith, _ we inherit everlasting life in heaven ….. there to sing Your praises eternally. + All this we pray in the name and for the sake of Jesus Christ, + Your Son our Savior and Lord, + Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit + as the one true God, now and forever. + Amen.
We Hear God’s Word
The First Lesson Exodus 15:1-19
Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said:
I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted.
The horse and its rider He has thrown into the sea.
2 The Lord is my Strength and Song.
He has become my Salvation.
This is my God, and I will praise Him;
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
3 The Lord is a Warrior.
The Lord is His name.
4 He has cast Pharaoh’s chariots and his army into the sea.
His elite officers are drowned in the Red Sea.
5 The deep waters covered them.
They sank down to the depths like a stone.
6 Lord, Your right hand is glorious in power.
Lord, Your right hand has shattered the enemy.
7 In Your great majesty You overthrew those who opposed You.
You sent out Your burning anger.
It consumed them like stubble.
8 At the blast from Your nostrils the waters piled up.
The flowing waters stood up like a dam.
The deep waters became solid in the heart of the sea.
9 The enemy said, “I will pursue.
I will overtake. I will divide the plunder.
I will do whatever I want with them.
I will draw my sword,
and my hand will destroy them.”
10 But You blew with Your breath,
and the sea covered them.
They sank like lead in the mighty waters.
11 Lord, who is like You among the gods?
Who is like You, glorious in holiness,
awesome in praise, working wonders?
12 You stretched out Your right hand,
and the earth swallowed them.
13 In Your mercy You will lead the people that You have redeemed.
In Your strength You will guide them to Your holy pastureland.
14 The nations will hear and tremble.
Anguish will grip the inhabitants of Philistia.
15 Then the chiefs of Edom will be terrified.
Trembling will seize the leaders of Moab.
All the inhabitants of Canaan will melt away in despair.
16 Terror and dread will fall upon them.
By the great power of Your arm they will be as still as stone
until Your people pass by, O Lord,
until the people whom You have purchased pass by.
17 You will bring them in and plant them
on the mountain that belongs to You,
the place, O Lord, that You have made for Your dwelling,
the sanctuary, O Lord, that Your hands have established.
18 The Lord will reign forever and ever.
The Epistle Lesson Revelation 5:6-14
6 And I saw a Lamb standing in the center, near the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. The Lamb seemed to have been slain, and He had seven horns and seven eyes (these are the seven spirits of God that have been sent into all the world). 7 The Lamb came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him Who sat on the throne. 8 And when the Lamb took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls full of incense (these are the prayers of the saints). 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because You were slain,
and You bought us for God with Your blood
out of every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You made them to be a kingdom and priests for our God,
and they will reign on the earth.
11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels who were around the throne and around the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands upon thousands. 12 With a loud voice they were saying:
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain to receive
power and riches and
wisdom and strength and
honor and glory and blessing.
13 I also heard every creature that is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever.
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders bowed down and worshipped.
after which the Congregation will rise for the reading of
This Morning’s Gospel Lesson Luke 4:13-21
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding area. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues and being honored by everyone.
16 He went to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and stood up to read. 17 The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
because He anointed Me to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free those who are oppressed,
19 and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 He rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on Him. 21 He began to tell them, “Today, this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 They all spoke well of Him and were impressed by the words of grace that came from His mouth. And they kept saying, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 He told them, “Certainly you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal Yourself!’ Do here in your hometown everything we heard You did in Capernaum.” 24 And he said, “Amen, I tell you: No prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 But truly I tell you: There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three years and six months, while a great famine came over all the land. 26 Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in Sidon. 27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was healed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 All those who were in the synagogue were filled with rage when they heard these things. 29 They got up and drove Him out of the town. They led Him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, in order to throw Him off the cliff. 30 But He passed through the middle of them and went on His way.
The Congregation will then be seated as we offer – set to song –
The Nicene Creed
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light. Very God of Very God. Begotten, not made. Being of one substance with the Father, By Whom all things were made; Who for us men and for our salvation, came down from heaven And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary And was made man; And was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried; And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; And ascended into heaven, And sitteth on the right hand of the Father; And He shall come again with glory, to judge both the quick and the dead; Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And I believe in the Holy Ghost, The Lord and Giver of Life, Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son, Who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, Who spake by the Prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, And I look for the resurrection of the dead, And the life of the world to come. Amen.
The Children’s Lesson Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7
1 Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. 2 Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. ….. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker. 7 For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture. And the sheep of His hand.
Let’s Worship the LORD
The Hymn of the Day Hymn 241 “Alleluia, Let Praises Ring”
1 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
To God the Father let us bring
Our songs of adoration.
To him through everlasting days
Be worship, honor, pow’r, and praise
Whose hand sustains creation.
Singing, Ringing: Holy, holy,
God is holy. Spread the story
Of our God, the Lord of glory.
2 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
Unto the Lamb of God we sing,
In whom we are elected.
He bought the Church with his own blood;
He cleansed her in that blessed flood
And as his bride selected.
Holy, Holy Is our union
And communion. His befriending
Gives us joy and peace unending.
3 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
Unto the Holy Ghost we sing
For our regeneration.
The saving faith in us he wrought
And us unto the Bridegroom brought,
Made us his chosen nation.
Glory! Glory! Joy eternal,
Bliss supernal; There is manna
And an endless, glad hosanna.
4 Alleluia! Let praises ring!
Unto our triune God we sing;
Blest be his name forever!
With angel hosts let us adore
And sing his praises more and more
For all his grace and favor.
Singing, Ringing: Holy, holy,
God is holy. Spread the story
Of our God the Lord of glory!
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Greeting
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge
of God, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sermon Text Psalm 100
1 Shout to the LORD with joy, all the earth.
2 Serve the LORD with gladness.
Come before Him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the LORD is God.
He made us, and we are His.
We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
His courtyards with praise.
Give thanks to Him and bless His name.
5 For the LORD is good. His mercy endures forever.
His faithfulness continues through all generations.
The Whats and the Whys of Our Worship
Pastor To Him Who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy — to the only God our Savior, be glory, majesty, power, and authority now and forever. Amen.
We Present our Prayers and Offerings to the Lord
Offerings will be received this morning through offering plates passed among those who have gathered here for worship. However, for those viewing this service online, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can mail a check (no cash, please) to our church address
(415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745); or
2) You can donate through our website: www.gracelutherannwa.com
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
As the offerings are brought to the altar, the Congregation will rise for
The Prayers of the Church
P: We give thanks to You, Lord and Father, for the rest and peace of the night which You have given us, and for the blessing of sharing another day of worship with Your saints and study of Your precious Word.
C: Enable us to grow in Your grace + and build each of us up in our faith + since we have meditated upon Your Word, + and are now about to receive the blessed assurance that our sins are forgiven + and that new life and salvation are ours + through the Sacrament of our Savior’s body and blood.
P: Fill us with that true wisdom which can only come from Your Word. And give every one of us an unquenchable love for those Scriptures.
C: Bless everyone in our church family, + from the youngest to the oldest + by giving us all a burning desire to conform our faith and lives to the teachings of Your Word.
P: Each day overcome our human faults, frailties, and sins, so that they will not hinder the work which You have entrusted to us as Your servants in ths world. In fact, grant that all our words, actions, and intentions reflect our love for the Lamb of God who has taken away the sin of the whole world.
C: Make the crucified and risen Christ + the very center of all our worship, faith, and lives. + We also ask that You would bless all who serve You and us + through the various ministries of our congregation + from our pastor to the elected officers and leaders of our church, + to the many other persons + who give of their time, abilities and energy to carry out Your Work in this church family.
P: Be with all those in our church family and extended family who are contending with physical, emotional, material and spiritual problems. Strengthen them through Your Word to successfully face the challenging circumstances into which You have placed them, and – according to Your mercy and in Your own, perfect time – grant them relief, recovery and restoration as You, alone know best.
C: Give us all genuine enthusiasm and true wisdom + for the tasks You have given us to do in this life. + Keep us from becoming worldly. + Never let us forget that we are men, women and children which You have called + to be the “salt” and “light” of Your grace to this sinful world. + Keep us from becoming discouraged + and enable us to be pillars of strength and sources of encouragement + for both our brothers and sisters in this congregation + along with our extended families and friends, + as well as for all those whose lives touch ours.
P: Finally, Lord God, accept our thanks for the privilege of being part of Your Church, not only for today and for all eternity, through Your grace to us in Christ, our Savior. Please receive and bless this prayer for Jesus’ sake, Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, as the one, true God, forever and ever. It is in His name that we also join now in praying:
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.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation (Sung) And also with You
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation (Sung) We lift them up to the Lord
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation (Sung) It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
Pastor – It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, and placed all things under His feet for the benefit of the Church. Now have come the salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ., To Him Who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and thanks and glory and honor for ever and ever.
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts,
The whole earth is full of Your glory.
You are my God and I will exalt You.
I will lift You up for You have become my salvation.
Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts.
The whole earth is full of Your glory.
Consecration of the Communion Elements (Pastor)
Pastor The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation (Sung) Amen.
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;
Have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;
Have mercy on us.
O Christ, Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;
Grant us Your peace. Amen.
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper
The Distribution of the Lord’s Supper
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
To our Guests this morning, we appreciate your presence among us. It is an honor to have you join with us as we worship our Lord and listen to His Word. We truly consider it a privilege to spend this time with you! It is our hope that you will both return in the future to worship with us again, and – perhaps – that You will even choose to become part of our congregation’s membership and our Synodical (WELS) fellowship, so that you might become even more involved in worship, study of God’s Word, and in Christian ministry and fellowship with us.
In connection with our worship as Christians, we regularly celebrate the Lord’s Supper, or Holy Communion. But, as a key part of our church’s Biblically-based communion practice, before we can ask anyone to commune with us, we are compelled to first sit down with that individual and establish (upon a comprehensive study of the teachings of Scripture) that we are united in full doctrinal/ teaching fellowship…….which Scripture requires of any and all Christians before they can commune together.
Accordingly, we can offer the Lord’s Supper this morning only to those individuals who have completed that course of study, and who have chosen to become confirmed, communicant members of Grace Lutheran congregation or from one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) or Evangelical Lutheran Synod (ELS) congregations.
For some guests, this Biblical practice of “Close Communion“ is both unfamiliar and (quite possibly) uncomfortable. We realize that, unfortunately, few churches today continue to follow this approach to communion…..though, in the past (when many churches were more concerned about following all of God’s Word than is the case today) nearly all did. We understand that it is not necessarily easy to watch others receiving the Lord’s Supper, while being asked – respectfully — to refrain from receiving it. Many of us who are communing today once also watched others receive the Lord’s Supper, as you are asked to do this morning, while waiting for the privilege of one day being an active partner in this “Close Communion.” We want to assure you that we are not judging your faith in Christ today. Nor it is our desire to offend you. But it also is not our desire to offend or disobey our Lord’s expectations for the proper use of His Supper. Indeed, we must all obey Him above all others, and we want to obey Him. Consequently, if you have any questions or concerns about our use/practice of the Lord’s Supper (and we invite you to ask or express them — if you do), please feel free to speak with our Pastor after the service, or at your convenience. He considers it a privilege to share with you and others the Biblical reasons for our approach to receiving and offering the Lord’s Supper. In addition, you can also find a brochure in our tract/brochure rack in the entryway; it is entitled “Our Communion Practice.” This brochure also provides our guests and friends with the Scripture-based explanation for our understanding of and use of the Lord’s Supper.
Finally, please know that we truly are grateful for your participation – as a fellow Christian – in this morning’s worship service. We also thank you for your patience and understanding, and for respecting this Biblical approach we must take as we endeavor to faithful make us of our Lord’s Supper. We hope and pray that you will come back to worship with us again — often. And that one day you might become a part of this Christian fellowship, not only as we worship and hear God’s Word from these pews, but as we receive the Lord’s Supper together. May God bless and keep you always!
The Distribution Hymn “Your Table I Approach”
1 Your Table I approach; Dear Savior, hear my prayer;
Oh, let no unrepented sin Prove hurtful to me there!
2 Lord, I confess my sins And mourn their wretched bands;
A contrite heart is sure to find Forgiveness at Your hands.
3 Your body and Your blood, Once slain and shed for me,
Are taken here with mouth and soul, In blest reality.
4 Search not how this takes place, This wondrous mystery;
God can accomplish vastly more Than what we think could be.
5 O grant, most blessed Lord, That earth and hell combined
May not about this sacrament Raise doubt within my mind.
6 Oh, may I never fail To thank You day and night
For Your true body and true blood, O God, my Peace and Light.
The Second Communion Hymn Hymn 309
Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord”
1 Draw near and take the body of the Lord,
And drink the holy blood for you outpoured.
Offered was he for greatest and for least,
Himself the victim and himself the priest.
2 He that his saints in this world rules and shields
To all believers life eternal yields,
With heav’nly bread makes them that hunger whole,
Gives living waters to the thirsty soul.
3 Come forward, then, with faithful hearts sincere,
And take the pledges of salvation here.
Before your altar, Lord, your servants bow;
In this your feast of love be with us now.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
The Benediction
The LORD bless you and keep you.
The LORD make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you.
The LORD look with favor upon you, and give you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn Hymn 323 “Almighty Father, Bless the Word”
1 Almighty Father, bless the word
Which through your grace we now have heard.
Oh, may the precious seed take root,
Spring up, and bear abundant fruit.
2 We praise you for the means of grace
As homeward now our steps we trace.
Grant, Lord, that we who worshiped here
May all at last in heav’n appear.
Silent Prayer
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