The Twenty-second Sunday after the Festival
of the Holy Trinity
The Twenty-fourth Sunday of the Pentecost Season
Staying Steadfast in Our Faith
During these Last Days
Two men were standing by the side of a road pounding a sign into the ground that read: ’’The End is Near! Turn around now before it’s too late!’’ A car sped by and a guy yelled out the window, “Leave us alone you religious nuts!’’
As the car disappeared around the next curve, the two men heard the sound of screeching tires and a big splash. The first one turned to the other and asked, ’’Do you think the sign should just say ’’Bridge Out?’’
Nearly 2,000 years ago, the Apostle John anticipating that the end might be near, penned the following prayer, confident that Jesus promised His Church He would return one day: “Amen, come Lord Jesus.” (Revelation 22:20). Paul also anticipated that the end was near and that he might be alive to see Jesus return. Twice in his first letter to the Thessalonians, chapter 4:13-17, the Apostle uses the phrase, “we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord.” In 2 Peter 3:12 the Apostle Peter tells us that he is “waiting” for that day himself. The word “waiting” is in the present tense. That’s because Peter understood that he was living in the last days! Yet the end of the world didn’t arrive before any of these Apostles died and went to heaven in Christ.
And so, if nearly 2000 years ago those godly men were sure that they were living in the Last Days, what should you and I be thinking today? One thing is certain: no one knows precisely when the Lord Jesus will return to the earth for judgment (Matthew 24:36). But if those apostles felt that the Day of the Lord (Judgment Day) was immanent, isn’t it even more immanent now?
While we cannot, with pinpoint accuracy, tell when the Lord will return to this world, God does tell us in His Word what the Last Days will be like. In this morning’s service, we’ll consider a number of the portions of Scripture that speak about those “signs” that indicate the onset of the Last Days, the nearness of Judgment Day and the necessity of your and my remaining steadfast in our faith during these last days.
It has long been the custom in Christian Churches like ours (sometimes known as “liturgical [structured worship] churches” ) to focus our public worship and study attention during the month of November on what the Bible teaches concerning the Last Times and Judgment Day, about Heaven and Hell, as well as the importance of our being spiritually prepared either for Christ’s Second Coming to judge the world, or for the moment of death (at which point eternity will begin for us). We annually do this so that we might maintain a proper understanding of what the Lord teaches us about how the world will end, about what will take place on the Last Day, as well as about why these teachings are not only important for us to know, but why they can – and should – be very edifying and encouraging for our Christian faith.
In our congregation over the years we’ve worked to maintain this custom/tradition by following what is referred to as “the Church Calendar.” Through the course of a twelve month period that begins in late November/early December with the season of Advent (this year it will begin on November 30th), and that is followed by the Epiphany, Lent and Easter seasons, before concluding with the half-year long Pentecost/Trinity season….we try to devote our public worship and study time in God’s Word to an organized approach that covers both the major events of Christ’s life and the principal ways that we Christians are called by God to live out our lives of faith. And, as we noted earlier, during the final weeks of the Pentecost/Trinity season (the non-festival half of the Church Year) we focus our attention on the Last Times….which is what we are going to do today and next Sunday.
Consequently, consistent with that traditional “End of Times” emphasis, in this morning’s Old Testament Lesson the Lord gives Daniel a glimpse of that the Last Times will be like for God’s people, and it isn’t a “pretty picture.” What we see is that the world has become a battlefield between the forces of God and those opposed to Him. The ongoing warfare that began in heaven with Satan’s rebellion will increase in intensity right down to the Last Day. We don’t need to despair, however, because while trouble is in the future for us, ultimately through God’s protecting grace we will surely triumph. In fact, included among our defeated enemies will be death itself – which will be defeated through the resurrection of our bodies to glory by the power and promise of our risen Savior. At the same time those who opposed the Lord will be sent into everlasting punishment in hell, even as we receive the gift of everlasting life in heaven. Daniel wondered, as we sometimes do, how long it would take before the Last Day arrived. The answer he received, “a time, times, and half a time,” is a mysterious one which many have tried to explain and quantify. Ultimately, the answer is known only by the Lord – as He teaches us elsewhere in Scripture (Matthew 24:36). It is enough for us to trust in God’s promise that He will deliver His Church from this world of sin in His own appointed time.
Our Epistle Lesson (New Testament Letter) is a portion of Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica. Here he tries to clear up some confusion in that congregation regarding what happens to those who die in the faith before the Lord Jesus returns for Judgment Day. He reminds them that the believing dead will rise and join those the faithful who are still alive, and they will all meet the Lord “in the air” for judgment. He also talks about the suddenness of the Last Day, specifically how it will come quickly and surprisingly – like a thief in the night or labor pains for a pregnant woman. All in all the purpose of Scripture’s teachings about the End of Times is to encourage believers to remain steadfast in their faith until the Lord returns or calls us home to heaven through physical death (whichever comes first).
In our Gospel Lesson for today Jesus gives His disciples some of the signs to watch for that will signal the Last Day is near. There will be natural disasters, distress in society, persecution for the church, and many will fall from the faith. In addition, the Gospel will continue to be proclaimed and souls will continue to added to Christ’s Kingdom. Throughout these verses there are two key emphases that we dare not miss: 1) we must remain Spiritually prepared for Christ’s return for judgment and deliverance; and 2) the Lord will preserve us and His Church as we remain steadfast in our faith.
In our Children’s Lesson we’ll talk about using our time wisely and faithfully as we wait for Christ to return….by spending that time growing in our faith through His Word and by doing God’s work.
Finally, our Sermon is based on Paul’s instruction and encouragement to Timothy, to the congregation in Ephesus (which Timothy served as pastor), and to us now about the spiritual condition of the world during the Last Times. Things are going to be very bad, spiritually-speaking. Christ’s followers will have to deal with false teachers and persecution. However, through God’s support and with the guidance of His Word we will remain steadfast in our faith until Christ returns and takes us, body and soul, to heaven forever.
To our Guests and Friends……An Invitation To You If you have no church home and/or are looking for Spiritual certainty and religious truth as the foundation for your life and to insure your eternal future, then we invite you to become part of this Christian fellowship called Grace Lutheran Church. Communicant membership in our church is established by an informed declaration of fellowship for those who are Lutheran by background, or following completion of our Pastor’s New Membership / Bible Information Course….whichever is appropriate for you. To discuss this further, you can make an appoint-ment with Pastor Huebner today or at your convenience. Thank you for allowing us to serve you with God’s Word and for being part of our worshiping family today. We hope that you will return often to Grace Lutheran Church, and please know that you will always be welcome here. May God bless you, now and always…..in Jesus’ name.
Pre-Service Prayer – In the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger. Keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. Into Your hands I commend my body, and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the Wicked Foe might have no power over me. Amen.
The portions of God’s Word used in this worship flyer have been taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version
Copyright 2019, The Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved.
Used with permission. Music and lyrics, as needed, are used with permission via OneLicense.net #A712831
Pre-service prayer
Pre-worship music
We Praise Our God
Welcome and Introduction to Worship
The Invocation
Pastor We begin this service
in the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Our Psalm for Today Psalm 139
P: 1 O LORD , You have searched me and You know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue You know it completely, O LORD .
C: 5 You hem me in-behind and before; You have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.
P: 7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there Your hand will guide me,
Your right hand will hold me fast.
C: 11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” 12 even the darkness will not be dark to You; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to You.
P: 13 For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.
C: 17 How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with You.
P: 19 If only You would slay the wicked, O God! Away from me, You bloodthirsty men! 20 They speak of You with evil intent; Your adversaries misuse Your name. 21 Do I not hate those who hate You, O LORD , and abhor those who rise up against You? 22 I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies.
C: 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
The Opening Hymn “The Morning Sun Is Dawning”
to the tune “Webb” 7676 D (CW 566)
The morning sun is dawning, And I thank God once more
Beneath Whose care awaking I find the night is o’er:
I thank Him that He’s called me To be His child and heir;
I know, whatever happens I’m safely in His care.
O Lord of all creation, Watch over me this day;
In all I do be near me, For others too I pray –
To You I do commend them: Our church, our youth, our land;
Direct them and defend them, When dangers are at hand.
You are the Vine, O Savior, May we, Your branches be,
Connected to You firmly, And for eternity.
Your Spirit place within us, And let His gifts of grace
Empower us to serve You – throughout our earthly race.
So grant us, Lord, Your blessing That we may do Your will,
No more Your ways transgressing, Our calling to fulfill;
To go and tell the Good News: Christ died for all, that we –
through faith in Him, forgiven — Have heaven eternally. Amen.
after which the Congregation will rise
We Make Confession Of Our Sins To God
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, carrying out my office as a called servant of Christ, and according to 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. Amen.
The Baptism of Miles Joshua Galvan
The Baptism Hymn Hymn 295 “Dearest Jesus, We Are Here”
1 Dearest Jesus, we are here,
Gladly your command obeying;
With this child we now draw near
In response to your own saying
That to you it shall be given
As a child and heir of heaven.
2 Lord, your Word is clear and plain,
And we will obey it duly:
“He who is not born again,
Heart and life renewing truly,
Born of water and the Spirit,
Can my kingdom not inherit.”
3 Therefore we have come to you,
In our arms this infant bearing.
Here we shall forgiveness view.
May this child, your mercy sharing,
In your arms be shielded ever,
Yours on earth and yours forever.
4 Gracious Head, your member own;
Shepherd, take your lamb and feed it;
Prince of Peace, make here your throne;
Way of life, to heaven lead it.
Precious Vine, let nothing sever
From your side this branch forever.
5 Now into your heart we pour
Prayers that from our hearts proceeded.
Our petitions heav’nward soar;
May our warm desires be heeded!
Write the name we now have given;
Write it in the book of heaven!
during the final verse, Miles and his parents will come before the baptismal font
The Blessings and Purpose for Baptism
The Lesson Mark 10:13-16
13 Some people began bringing little children to Jesus so that he would touch them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14 When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said, “Let the little children come to me! Do not hinder them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15 Amen I tell you: Whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” 16 And he took the little children in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
The Exhortation to Rachel and Micah
The Exhortation to the Witnesses
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Apostles’ Creed
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 Ghost; Born of the Virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; Was crucified, dead and buried; He descended into hell; The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; The Holy Christian Church, the Communion of Saints; The forgiveness of sins; The resurrection of the body; And the life everlasting. Amen.
The Sacrament of Baptism
The Exhortation to Grace Lutheran Congregation
Our Prayer for Miles Joshua Galvan
After which the Congregation may be seated
We Hear God’s Word
The Old Testament Lesson Daniel 12:1-13
Then at that time, Michael, the great prince who stands over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress that has not happened from the first time that there was a nation until that time. At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2 Many who are sleeping in the dusty ground will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, to everlasting contempt. 3 Those who have insight will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who bring many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever. 4 Now you, Daniel, close up the words and seal the scroll until the time of the end. Many will continue running back and forth, and knowledge will increase.
5 I, Daniel, looked, and there were two others standing there, one on the near bank of the river and the other on the far bank of the river. 6 Someone said to the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, “How long until the end of these amazing things?” 7 Then I heard the man dressed in linen, who was above the waters of the river. He raised his right hand and his left hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and then, when the rejection of the holy people is finished, all these things will be finished. 8 I myself heard, but I did not understand. So I said, “Lord, what will be the end result of these things?” 9 He said: “Go, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. 10 Many will be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly. None of the wicked will understand, but those who have insight will understand.”
11 From the time when the regular daily offering is removed and an abominable thing that causes desolation is set up, there will be one thousand two hundred ninety days. 12 Blessed is the one who waits and reaches one thousand three hundred thirty-five days. 13 But you, go on your way to the end. You will rest and rise to your assigned inheritance at the end of the days.
The Epistle Lesson I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope. 14 Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus. 15 In fact, we tell you this by the word of the Lord: We who are alive and left until the coming of the Lord will certainly not go on ahead of those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them, to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore, encourage one another with these words.
5:1 Concerning the times and dates, brothers, there is no need to write to you, 2 for you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will suddenly come on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will certainly not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in the dark so that this day takes you by surprise like a thief, 5 for you are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep like everyone else, but rather let us remain alert and sober.
7 To be sure, those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 You see, God did not appoint us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are also doing.
the pastor will invite the Congregation to rise for the reading of
Today’s Gospel Lesson Mark 13:1-13
As Jesus was leaving the temple courts, one of his disciples said to him, “Teacher, look what impressive stones these are, and what impressive buildings!” 2 Jesus said to him, “Do you see these large buildings? There will not be one stone here left on top of another. They will all be thrown down.” 3 As he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, 4 “Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign when all these things are about to be fulfilled?”
5 Jesus began by telling them, “Be careful that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. 7 Whenever you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled. Such things must happen, but the end is not yet. 8 In fact, nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places. There will be famines. These are the beginning of birth pains. 9 But be on your guard! People will hand you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues. You will stand in the presence of rulers and kings for my sake as a witness to them. 10 And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations. 11 Whenever they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what you should say. Say whatever is given to you in that hour, because you will not be the ones speaking; instead it will be the Holy Spirit.
12 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father, his child. Children will rise up against their parents and put them to death. 13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.
The Children’s Lesson Ephesians 5:15, 16
15 Consider carefully, then, how you walk, not as unwise people, but as wise people. 16 Make the most of your time, because the days are evil.
How To Make The Best Use of Your Time
The Hymn of the Day “The World Is Very Evil”
verses 5-7; melody Ewing….7676D
1. The world is very evil, The times are waxing late;
Be sober and keep vigil, The Judge is at the gate;
The Judge that comes in mercy, The Judge that comes with might,
To terminate the evil, To diadem the right.
2. Arise, arise, good Christian, Let right to wrong succeed;
Let penitential sorrow To heav’nly gladness lead,
To light that has no evening, That knows no moon nor sun,
The light so new and golden, The light that is but one.
3. O home of fadeless splendor, Of flow’rs that bear no thorn,
Where they shall dwell as children Who here as exiles mourn.
Midst pow’r that knows no limit, Where knowledge has no bound,
The beatific vision Shall cheer the saints around.
4. Strive, man, to have that glory; Toil, man, to gain that light;
Lord, give us hope to grasp it, Until hope turns to sight.
Rejoice, O dust and ashes, The Lord Your Champion is
He conquered death and Satan – made you forever His!
5. O sweet and blessed country, The home of God’s elect!
O sweet and blessed country That eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest,
Who is, with God the Father And Spirit, ever blest. Amen.
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 II Timothy 3:1-17
But know this: In the last days there will be terrible times. 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemous, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, not able to reconcile with others, slanderous, without self-control, savage, haters of what is good, 4 treacherous, reckless, puffed up with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such people. 6 For some of them are people who worm their way into households and gain control over vulnerable women who are overwhelmed with sins, led astray by various evil desires, 7 always learning but never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so also these people oppose the truth. They are people of depraved minds, disqualified in regard to the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, because their foolishness will be quite clear to everyone, just as it was in the case of Jannes and Jambres. 10 But you have faithfully followed my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfast endurance, 11 my persecutions, my sufferings—the kind that happened to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra, the kind of persecutions I endured—and the Lord rescued me from all of them. 12 Indeed, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 As for you, continue in the things you have learned and about which you have become convinced. You know from whom[a] you learned them 15 and that from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God breathed[b] and is useful for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, well equipped for every good work.
Living Faithfully in the Last Days
following the Sermon, the Congregation
will REMAIN SEATED for the post-sermon blessing
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 Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the Lord
Our Offerings of Love to our Lord
We will be passing an offering plate through our chapel at this point. For those unable to worship with us in person, if you would like to participate in this offering, we offer you the following suggestions for providing God with Your thank-offerings through our ministry:
1) You can send a check (no cash) in the mail to Grace Lutheran Church (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)
2) Or, go online to our website (www.gracelutherannwa.com) and use the giving option there.
As the offerings are brought forward, the Congregation rises for prayer
Our Prayers for Each Other
Included in our prayers this morning:
A Special Prayer of Intercession on behalf of George Layton, who continues to receive rehabilitation therapy in order to recover his strength and good health, so that he can return home soon.
and also, we offer
A Prayer of Thanksgiving, on behalf of John and Tina Wambold
as well as Vicki and Vic Walker….as both couples will be celebrating
their wedding anniversaries tomorrow.
Today’s General Prayer
The 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 for ever and ever. Amen.
We Celebrate the Lord’s Supper CW p. 21
Pastor – The Lord be with you.
Congregation (sung) And also with you
Pastor – Lift up your hearts.
Congregation (sung) We lift them up unto the Lord
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation (Sung) It is good and right so to do.
Consecration of the Elements
Pastor – The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation – (Sung) Amen.
The Exhortation Regarding the Lord’s Supper
(Please read the following if you have not spoken with
our Pastor about taking communion. Thank you.)
TO OUR GUESTS AND FRIENDS
We ask that only “Confirmed, Communicant” members of this congregation, or of one of our Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod congregations come forward to receive the Lord’s Supper at this time.
We believe, according to Scripture, that only those who are “one,” that is, in complete doctrinal agreement – united in a common public confession of faith – are to commune together at the same altar (see I Corinthians 10:17 and I Corinthians 1:10).
To be “in communion” means to share and to hold in common. By eating and drinking at our Lord’s Table, we are not only sharing in, with, and under the bread and wine, Jesus’ very body and blood…we are also publicly declaring that we hold in common a specific confession of faith. In other words, as a result of having comprehensively studied the Scriptures together all of our communicants have agreed to accept and proclaim the same Biblical doctrines and practices.
Through membership in a particular church body (for us, that church body is the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod), each person makes a public statement that he/she is in full agreement with the teachings and practices of that body. Because not every church body or Lutheran Synod teaches and practices the same things, we in the WELS want to be honest in our recognition of the doctrinal differences that, here on earth, separate us from other church bodies. Please bear in mind that we are not, in any way, judging the legitimacy of your Christian faith. Still, we ask that if you have not (upon study of the Word with us) declared yourself to be in full doctrinal agreement with us, you would respectfully not join us in the Lord’s Supper this morning.
It is our prayer that our Scripture-based practice of “Close Communion” will encourage anyone among us today who is not presently in full fellowship with us to seriously examine the teachings and
practices of his/her church in order to determine if those teachings and practices are really in full agreement with God’s Word.
And if you are guest among us today, we want you to know that it is our earnest desire that you might become familiar with the Biblical doctrines our congregation confesses, in order that you might one day join with us at the Lord’s altar in this public expression of full unity of doctrine and practice. Until then, please know that we are most grateful for your participation as a fellow Christian in this worship service, and that we appreciate your understanding and respect of our Communion practice.
Distribution Hymns Hymn 306 “Before You God, the Judge of All”
1 Before you, God, the Judge of all,
With grief and shame I humbly fall.
I see my sins against you, Lord,
My sins of thought and deed and word.
They press me sore; to you I flee:
O God, be merciful to me!
2 O Lord, my God, to you I pray:
Oh, cast me not in wrath away!
Let your good Spirit ne’er depart,
But let him draw to you my heart
That truly penitent I be:
O God, be merciful to me!
3 O Jesus, let your precious blood
Be to my soul a cleansing flood.
Turn not, O Lord, your guest away,
But grant that justified I may
Go to my house at peace to be:
O God, be merciful to me!
“I Stand Here Before You”
Sung to the melody of “How Firm A Foundation” (CW416)
I stand here before You, O mightiest One
In need of forgiveness for wrongs I have done.
Oh, grant me Your pardon, my spirit now pleads
Forgive my transgressions in thoughts, words, and deeds.
The Tempter keeps taunting me day after day,
I often succumb and submit to his way.
From birth I’ve been evil — my mortal flesh weak,
I do not abide by the words that You speak.
I humbly confess with the deepest of shame
The times I abused Your magnificent Name.
In spite of Your right to demand faithfulness,
My life’s often guided by my selfishness.
I covet, I slander, I look with lust, too.
I fail to give honor where honor is due.
I steal and I gossip…..so far do I fall –
Your perfect commandments: I’ve broken them all.
Right here at Your table forgiveness is found
In Christ’s holy blood that flowed down to the ground,
His body and blood in the bread and the wine
A marvel of love that is truly divine!
That blood of Your Chosen was shed to erase
The sins of the world. How I cherish that grace!
Dear God I am thankful to be such a one,
Washed clean by the blood of my Savior, Your Son.
Following the distribution,
at the Pastor’s invitation the Congregation will rise as
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Closing Prayer
The Benediction
Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another.
And serve the Lord by bearing witness to our Savior.
The Lord bless you and keep you
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you
The Lord look upon you with favor, and grant you His peace. Amen.
The Closing Hymn “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” CW 207
O Jesus, Who my debt did pay And for my sin was smitten,
Within the Book of Life, oh, may My name be also written!
I will not doubt; for I am free, And Satan cannot bother me
There is no condemnation.
Therefore my Intercessor be And by Your blood and merit
Declare my name from judgment free With all who life inherit,
That I may see You face to face With all Your saints in that blest place
Which You have purchased for me.
O Jesus Christ, do not delay, But hasten our salvation;
We often tremble on our way In fear and tribulation.
Your saints are waiting patiently; Come soon, Redeemer, make us free
From every evil! Amen.