We Believe and Confess Through the Apostles’ Creed
He Shall Come to Judge
the Quick (the living) and the Dead”
(Just How Prepared Are You To Meet Your Lord?)
Whether it’s through the wording of the Apostles’ Creed, which says “From thence He shall come to judge the quick (the living) and the dead,” or by means of the Nicene Creed’s statement: “and He shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead”…..whether we say it, or sing it in our musical renderings of the Creed…..each week at Grace Lutheran Church you and I join in publicly professing and confessing our belief in the reality of the coming Judgment of Christ on the Last Day.
And it is a good thing that we do this whenever we gather for public worship. After all, none of us knows when the Lord will return for judgment, just as none of us knows precisely when we will individually breathe our last breath and leave this world through death. It’s important for us, then, to consistently remind ourselves of the importance of our being spiritually prepared for that time when each of us will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ our Savior – not only on the day that we die but also in connection with the Final Judgment on the Last Day.
This morning we’re going to consider select portions of Scripture which talk about the necessity of our being spiritually prepared, or ready for the coming of the “Day of the Lord” (that day on which Christ will visibly return to judge the living and the dead, before He brings this world to its end). As you hear the Word of God today, ask yourself, “Just how prepared am I to meet my Maker?” Since no one, except the Lord Himself, knows the time when you and I will physically die, or the moment when this world will be brought to its end, Jesus encourages us to live every day as if it were our last; to live each and every moment as His people, always prepared to leave this world and enter eternal life.
In this morning’s Epistle Lesson Peter shows us a number of things
related to the Day of the Lord (Judgement Day): 1) many people will scoff at that the Bible teaches about Christ’s return; 2) God will come, according to His own timetable; 3) The last day will come when no one expects it; 4) the existing heavens and earth will be laid bare; 5) God will bring into being a new heaven and a new earth; and 6) since the end is coming, we must heed God’s gracious warning to be prepared for Jesus return and our heavenly inheritance.
Our Children’s Lesson will talk about the suddenness of Christ’s unanticipated return, and how it’s vitally important for all of us to be ready in connection with our faith to stand before Him for Judgment – whether that happens today, tomorrow, or at some other point in our future.
Through today’s Gospel Lesson Jesus tells His disciples what will be some of the signs of the coming of the Last Day. We will hear about natural disasters, distress in society, persecution of the church, and the falling away from the faith of many people. Throughout these verses two emphases stand out: 1) that we must remain spiritually prepared for Christ return for judgment and the deliverance of His Church; and 2) that the Lord will preserve us in our faith as we continue to remain faithful to Him and His Word.
Finally, today’s Sermon will talk about the one criterion by which Christ will judge all people: not on the basis of our good works/deeds, but solely on the basis of our faith in Him as our Savior and Lord.
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 Lord God, merciful Father, I thank You that You have safely brought me to this hour of worship. Through Your Holy Spirit open my heart to the wondrous truths of Your salvation which I will hear this morning and grant new strength to my faith and greater confidence in You to my soul. Bless the preaching and teaching of Your Word both in our congregation and throughout Your Church on earth. Give power and conviction to Your ministers here and everywhere, that their testimony to Your holiness, sovereignty, and grace may be clear and true to Your revealed Word. Grant me the grace to bring all my sin-burdens before Your altar and leave them there at Your feet. Keep me from mere formalism in my worship, from praying with my lips while my heart is far from you, and from failing to personalize Your words of rebuke, instruction and comfort that I will soon be hearing. Receive my offerings, humble though they are, as expressions both of my trust in You as the Provider of all good things and of my commitment to being a partner in the growth of Your Kingdom. And, after this service closes, enable me to live according to Your Word and for Your glory throughout this week. All this I ask, in the name and for the sake of Your Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary
Pre-service Music
We Praise Our God
The Welcome and Introduction to Worship
The Opening Hymn Hymn 223 “As We Begin Another Week”
As we begin another week, In Jesus’ name Your grace we seek:
God, grant that through these seven days No evil may befall our ways.
Your gentle blessings, Lord, outpour On all our labor evermore;
Our hearts with Your good Spirit fill That we may gladly do Your will.
In every season, every place, May we recall Your Word of grace
Until, when life’s brief day is past, We reach eternal joy at last.
And keep with angels in Your rest The endless Sabbaths of the blest.
This grant to us through Christ, Your Son,
Who reigns with You upon Your throne.
After which the Congregation will rise for
The Invocation
In the name of the Father, Who gave His Son into death
and raised Him in glory on the third day;
And of the Son, Who laid down His life and took it up again;
And of the Holy Spirit Who lives in us through the Word
and Who will also one day give life to our mortal bodies. Amen!
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.
(Sung) Lord have mercy on us.
Christ Have Mercy on Us
Lord have mercy on us.
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, having humbly and sincerely confessed your sins before Almighty God, be strengthened in your faith, mindful that our Lord is not willing that anyone should perish eternally, but that everyone should come to repentance, turning from their evil ways and receiving from Him everlasting life. God has commanded His ministers to declare His forgiveness of sins to all who are penitent. Therefore, addressing you as a called servant of Christ, and according to His command and under His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
May the peace of God rest upon all of you. Amen.
(Sung) Glory be to God on high
and on earth peace good will to men.
We praise You, we bless You, we worship You.
We glorify You,
we give thanks to You for Your great glory.
O Lord God heavenly King,
God the Father almighty.
O Lord, the only begotten Son, Jesus Christ,
O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,
You take away the sin of the world. Have mercy on us.
You take away the sin of the world. Receive our prayer.
You sit at the right hand of God the Father. Have mercy on us.
For You only are holy. You only are the Lord.
You only, O Christ, with the Holy Spirit.
Are most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen
The Prayer for This Morning
O Lord God, + We pray that You would enable us + through Your Holy Spirit + to live lives that are reverent, righteous and ready to meet you. + May every one of us gathered here + always be spiritually prepared + either for that day when we will be called from this life + through the process of physical death + or when Christ will appear in heavenly glory + to Judge the world and deliver His Church. + However our earthly end may come + may we all be ready, in faith, + to stand before You + confident that everlasting life in heaven is ours + not because we have earned it by our works, + but because You have guaranteed it to us + and all who trust in the redeeming work + of Jesus Christ, Your Son, + our Savior and Lord. + We offer this prayer in the name of Him Who lives and rules with You and the Holy Spirit, + as the one, true God, now and forever. + Amen.
We Give Our Attention To God’s Word
The Epistle Lesson II Peter 3
Dear friends, this is now the second letter that I have written to you. I wrote both of them to stir up your sincere mind with a reminder 2 for you to remember the words spoken earlier by the holy prophets and the command of the Lord and Savior through your apostles.
3 First, know this: In the last days scoffers will come with their mocking, following their own lusts. 4 They will say, “Where is this promised coming of His? For from the time that our fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have from the beginning of the creation.” 5 You see, what they are intentionally forgetting is that the heavens came into existence long ago by the word of God and that the earth came together out of the water and between the waters. 6 Through these waters the former world perished, when it was flooded with water. 7 And now, by that same word, the heavens and earth have been stored up for fire, since they are being kept until the day of judgment and the destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: For the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to do what He promised, as some consider slowness. Instead, He is patient for your sakes, not wanting anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance.
10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. On that day the heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be dissolved as they burn with great heat, and the earth and what was done on it will be burned up. 11 Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed, what kind of people ought you to be, living in holiness and godliness, 12 as you look forward to and hasten the coming of the day of God? That day will cause the heavens to be set on fire and destroyed, and the elements to melt as they burn with great heat. 13 But according to his promise we look forward to new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, dear friends, as you look forward to these things, make every effort to be found in peace, spotless and blameless in his sight. 15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as also our dear brother Paul wrote to you, according to the wisdom that was given to him. 16 He spoke about these things the same way in all of his letters. There are some matters that are hard to understand in his letters, which the ignorant and unstable distort, as they also do with the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you do not fall from your own firm position by being led astray through the error of the wicked. 18 Instead grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and forever. Amen.
after which, out of respect for Jesus’ words, the Congregation will rise for
The Gospel Lesson Mark 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. 14 When you see the abomination that causes desolation standing where it should not be—let the reader understand—then those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains. 15 The one who is on the housetop should not go down or enter to take anything out of his house. 16 The one who is in the field should not return to get his clothes. 17 How terrible it will be for those who are pregnant and those who are nursing babies in those days! 18 Pray that this will not happen in winter. 19 For in those days there will be distress of such a kind as has not happened from the beginning of the creation until now, and surely never will be again. 20 If the Lord had not shortened those days, no one would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom He has chosen, He has shortened the days. 21 Then if someone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, there He is!’ do not believe it. 22 For false Christs and false prophets will rise up and perform signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if it were possible. 23 So be on your guard. I have told you everything in advance.
24 “But after that distress in those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light. 25 The stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then you will see the Son of Man coming on clouds with great power and glory. 27 At that time He will send out His angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of the sky.
28 “Learn from this illustration of the fig tree: Whenever its branch becomes tender and sprouts leaves, you know that summer is near. 29 So also when you see these things happening, you will know that he is near—at the doors! 30 Amen I tell you: This generation will certainly not pass away until all these things happen. 31 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
32 “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Watch! Be alert and pray, because you do not know when the time will come. 34 It is like a man going away on a journey. When he left his home, he put his servants in charge and assigned what each one was to do. He also commanded the doorkeeper to keep watch. 35 Therefore keep watch, because you do not know when the owner of the house is coming: whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or early in the morning. 36 If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. 37 What I say to you, I say to everyone: Keep watch!”
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.
after which the Congregation may be seated.
The Children’s Lesson Matthew 24:44
You also need to be ready for this reason:
The Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him.
Quick as a Flash, Christ Will Come Back
The Hymn of the Day Hymn 207 “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near”
1 The day is surely drawing near
When God’s Son, the Anointed,
Shall with great majesty appear
As judge of all appointed.
All mirth and laughter then shall cease
When flames on flames will still increase,
As Scripture truly teaches.
2 A trumpet loud shall then resound
And all the earth be shaken.
Then all who in their graves are found
Shall from their sleep awaken
And with the living in that hour
By the Almighty’s boundless pow’r
Be changed at his commanding.
3 A book is opened then to all,
A record truly telling
What each has done, both great and small,
When he on earth was dwelling,
And ev’ry heart be clearly seen,
And all be known as they have been
In thoughts and words and actions.
4 Then woe to those who scorned the Lord
And sought but carnal pleasures,
Who here despised his precious Word
And loved their earthly treasures!
With shame and trembling they will stand
And at the judge’s stern command
To Satan be delivered.
5 My Savior paid the debt I owe
And for my sin was smitten;
Within the Book of Life I know
My name has now been written.
I will not doubt, for I am free,
And Satan cannot threaten me;
There is no condemnation!
6 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 ev’ry evil. Amen.
after which the Congregation will rise for
The Sermon Text Matthew 25:31-46
31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on His right and the goats on His left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave Me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink. I was a Stranger and you welcomed Me. 36 I was lacking clothes and you clothed Me. I was sick and you took care of Me. I was in prison and you visited Me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You a drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and welcome You, or lacking clothes and clothe You? 39 When did we see You sick or in prison and visit You?’
40 “The King will answer them, ‘Amen I tell you: Just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did it for Me.’
41 “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire, which is prepared for the Devil and his angels. 42 For I was hungry and you did not give Me food to eat. I was thirsty and you did not give Me anything to drink. 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome Me, lacking clothes and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not take care of Me.’
44 “Then they will also answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or lacking clothes or sick or in prison and did not serve You?’
45 “At that time He will answer them, ‘Amen I tell you: Just as you did not do it for one of the least of these, you did not do it for Me.’ 46 And they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Christ’s Judgment Day Evidence…..That we are not Saved by our Good Works, but by God’s Grace, through Faith in Him Alone
The Post-Sermon Blessing
Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, who brought back from the dead our Lord, Jesus Christ, that great
Shepherd of the sheep, to Him be glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus,
throughout all generations, for ever and ever. Amen!
after the post-sermon blessing, The Congregation will rise to sing
The Offertory – based on Psalm 51:10-12
(Sung) Create in me a clean heart, O God
And renew a right spirit within Me
Cast me not away from Your presence
And take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation
And uphold me with Your free Spirit. Amen.
We Offer Our Gifts and Prayers to the 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.
at the Pastor’s invitation the Congregation will rise for
Today’s Prayers
The Lord’s Prayer Our Father, Which 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.
The Confirmation of Kelly and Bobby Eichler
P: Kelly and Bobby: Our Lord Jesus said to His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
In obedience to the Lord’s command, you were baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You have been taught the precious truths of the Christian faith as confessed by the Evangelical Lutheran Church. You know what God has given you by His grace and what He expects of you as His dear child. You can now exercise the privilege of partaking of Holy Communion.
You are here to make a public profession of your Christian faith. The
Apostle Paul writing to the Romans says: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved … For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Therefore, in the presence of God and before this Christian congregation, I invite you to lift up your heart to the God of all grace and joyfully answer these questions:
P: Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge that in Baptism, God gave you the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation? If so, then answer, I do.
C: I do.
P: Do you reject the devil along with all his wicked works and ways? If so, then answer, I do.
C: I do.
P: Do you believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit?
C: Yes, I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
P: Do you believe in God the Son?
C: Yes, I believe 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 be 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.
P: Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
C: Yes, 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.
P: Do you believe all the 66 books of the Bible to be the verbally inspired, inerrant, and infallible Word of God? If so, then answer, “I do.”
C: I do.
P: Do you believe that the teaching of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, as you have learned to know it from Luther’s Small Catechism, is fully
faithful and true to the Word of God? If so, then answer, “I do.”
C: I do.
P: Do you intend to continue steadfast in this teaching and to endure all things, even death, rather than fall away from it? If so, then answer, “I do, and I ask God to help me.”
C: I do, and I ask God to help me.
P: Do you intend faithfully to conform all your life to the teachings of God’s Word; to be faithful in the use of the Word and Sacrament; and in faith and action remain true to the Triune God – the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – as long as you live? If so, then answer, “I do, and I ask God to help me.”
C: I do, and I ask God to help me.
The Reception of Bobby and Kelly into the Communicant
Membership of Grace Lutheran Church
Confirmation verses: Kelly…..John 10:27-28 Bobby…..John 8:31-32
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 unto the Lord,
Pastor – Let us give thanks unto the Lord, our God.
Congregation (sung) It is good and right so to do.
P: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give You thanks, O Lord, Holy Father, almighty, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Who has promised that wherever two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of them, until the day of His return in glory. Therefore, with angels and archangel, and all the company of heaven, we praise Your holy name and join their glorious song:
Congregation
(Sung) Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of heav’nly hosts
Heaven and earth are full of Your glory
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is He. Blessed is He.
Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest
Consecration of the Communion Elements (Pastor)
Pastor – The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Congregation – (Sung) Amen.
The Distribution of the Elements
The Distribution Hymn Hymn 302 “Lord, To You I Make Confession”
1 Lord, to you I make confession: I have sinned and gone astray;
I have multiplied transgression, Chosen for myself my way.
Led by you to see my errors, Lord, I tremble at your terrors.
2 Yet, though conscience’ voice appall me, Father, I will seek your face.
Though your child I dare not call me, Yet receive me to your grace.
Do not for my sins forsake me; Do not let your wrath o’er take me.
3 For your Son has suffered for me, Giv’n himself to rescue me,
Died to save me and restore me, Reconciled and set me free.
Jesus’ cross alone can vanquish These dark fears and soothe this anguish.
4 Lord, on you I cast my burden– Sink it in the depths below!
Let me know your gracious pardon; Wash me, make me white as snow.
Let your Spirit leave me never; Make me only yours forever.
Hymn 312 “Lord Jesus Christ, You Have Prepared”
1 Lord Jesus Christ, you have prepared This feast for our salvation;
It is your body and your blood, And at your invitation
As weary souls, with sin oppressed, We come to you for needed rest,
For comfort, and for pardon.
2 Although you did to heav’n ascend, Where angel hosts are dwelling,
And in your presence they behold Your glory, all excelling,
And though your people shall not see Your glory and your majesty
Till dawns the judgment morning,
3 Yet, Savior, you are not confined To any habitation,
But you are present ev’rywhere And with your congregation.
Firm as a rock this truth shall stand, Unmoved by any daring hand
Or subtle craft and cunning.
4 We eat this bread and drink this cup, Your precious Word believing
That your true body and your blood Our lips are here receiving.
This Word remains forever true, And there is naught you cannot do,
For you, Lord, are almighty.
5 Though reason cannot understand, Yet faith this truth embraces:
Your body, Lord, is ev’rywhere At once in many places.
I leave to you how this can be; Your Word alone suffices me;
I trust its truth unfailing.
6 Lord, I believe what you have said; Help me when doubts assail me.
Remember that I am but dust, And let my faith not fail me.
Your supper in this vale of tears Refreshes me and stills my fears
And is my priceless treasure.
7 Grant that we worthily receive Your supper, Lord, our Savior,
And, truly grieving for our sins, May prove by our behavior
That we are thankful for your grace And day by day may run our race,
In holiness increasing.
8 For your consoling supper, Lord, Be praised throughout all ages!
Preserve it, for in ev’ry place The world against it rages.
Grant that this sacrament may be A blessed comfort unto me
When living and when dying.
We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing
The Song of Simeon
Lord You now let Your servant depart in peace According to Your word.
For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before
the face of all people. A Light to lighten the Gentiles
And the glory of Your people Israel.
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 460 “How Can I Thank You, Lord”
1 How can I thank you, Lord, For all your loving-kindness,
That you have patiently Borne with me in my blindness!
When dead in many sins And trespasses I lay,
I kindled, holy God, Your anger ev’ry day.
2 It is your work alone That I am now converted;
O’er Satan’s work in me You have your pow’r asserted.
Your mercy and your grace That rise afresh each morn
Have turned my stony heart Into a heart new-born.
3 Lord, you have raised me up To joy and exultation
And clearly shown the way That leads me to salvation.
My sins are washed away; For this I thank you, Lord.
Now with my heart and soul All evil I abhor.
4 Grant that your Spirit’s help To me be always given
Lest I should fall again And lose the way to heaven.
Grant that he give me strength In my infirmity;
May he renew my heart To serve you willingly.
5 O Father, God of love, Now hear my supplication;
O Savior, Son of God, Accept my adoration;
O Holy Spirit, be My ever faithful guide
That I may serve you here And there with you abide.