The Twenty-second Sunday After Trinity

The Twenty-fourth Sunday of the Pentecost Season

 

November 13, 2022

THE DAY is Surely Drawing Near…

The “Signs” Say So. Are YOU Prepared?

     One of my favorites stories is the one told about a particular TV preacher who went on and on at great length on his show, telling his hearers about his latest book.   He claimed it explained everything a person ever needed to know about the coming of Jesus and the end of time. “You must have this book,” he said over and over again, all the while with a telephone number (not even toll-free) constantly flashing at the bottom of the screen.  He dared to make it sound as if he was the only one who had the proper prophetic insight into world events and its future.   But anyone could have the benefit of his wisdom as contained in this latest book….for a mere $14.95.   What’s more, he strongly suggested that it would be difficult – if not impossible – for anyone to survive the coming terrors of the End Times unless that person had his book.  

     His interest and his ire piqued, a certain parish pastor called the number at the bottom of the screen and began speaking to the operator at the other end.    He started by suggesting that if this preacher really thought the information in his book was truly vital to  the survival and salvation of his listeners, and since the end was so near (as he had been claiming), then – for the love of souls – he ought to be giving the book away….not charging $14.95 for it!     What’s more, since the world was going to be coming to an end immanently (as the TV preacher was predicting) he wouldn’t need the money anyway, right?   After all, once the world ends what good would any money in a bank account be?  Yes, it was true, suggested the calling-in pastor, that it does cost money to publish a book, but the TV preacher wouldn’t have to be concerned about paying the printing charges.   If the end was as near as he’d suggested, Judgment Day would arrive before the printer’s bill came in the mail!   As you might well imagine, the operator on the other end of the line was not at all amused.  “I’m sorry, sir,” she said, “I simply do what I’m told, and my job is to take book orders;  not debate with customers.   I just  don’t know that much about theology.” ….To which the phone-in pastor responded, “That’s okay.   Neither does the writer of the book you’re selling.”   

     The pastor was right.  The TV preacher/book writer& seller didn’t know much about theology (theology is the study of what God’s Word has to say to us).   But the sad fact is:   many people don’t know all that much about the theology of the Last Times – long-time church members and ministers included.  

And so, there is an important purpose in our studying the Last Times

     Now, 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 for us will begin).    We try to do this annually in order for us all to maintain a proper understanding of what the Lord teaches us in Scripture about how the world will end, about what will take place on the Last Day, and about why these are teachings which are not only important for us to know, but which can – and should – be very edifying and encouraging for our Christian faith.  

     At Grace Lutheran Church we maintain this custom/tradition by following what has come to be known as “the Church Calendar.”   Through the course of a twelve month period that begins in late November/early December with the season of Advent, then follows with the Epiphany, Lent and Easter seasons, and concludes 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 life out our lives of faith.  

Today’s Worship Service and Scripture Lessons

     Consistent with that aim, 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.   Here we see the world as a battlefield between the forces of God and those opposed to Him.  That battle between them will intensify down to the very end of the world.  We need not despair, however, because while trouble is in the future for us, ultimately by God’s protecting grace we will 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 while we receive everlasting life in heaven.  Daniel wondered, as we sometimes to, how long it would be 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.  

     But the answer to when the end of the world will come, finally, is known only by the Lord – as He teaches us elsewhere in Scripture (e.g., Matt 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.  (Which is the main point of our Children’s Lesson for today.)   

     Our Epistle Lesson (New Testament Letter) and Sermon Text is the closing chapter of Peter’s “last will and testament,” II Peter 3.    The Apostle would die a martyr’s death less than one year after writing this.   A significant point about the divine inspiration of the New Testament is made by Peter in the closing part of our  reading:   namely, that false teachers have been distorting the writings of Paul the Apostle (he wrote almost half of the NT) “as they do the other Scriptures.”   Through that word “other,” Peter is indicating that Paul’s letters are “Scripture” too.   His main point (italicized in our bulletin because it is our sermon text) is that his readers not only need to be aware of Scripture’s predictions about the Last Times (and the “signs” that indicate that the end is close at hand), they also need to be spiritually and doctrinally prepared.  They need to trust in Christ as their Savior, and to be aware of what God’s Word teaches about the Last Times – so that  false teachers cannot deceive them.   In our Gospel Lesson for today Jesus gives His disciples some of the signs to watch which will signal the nearness of the Last Day.   We will hear about natural disasters, distress in society, persecution for the church, and the falling away of many.    In addition, the Gospel will continue to be proclaimed and souls will continue to added to Christ’s Kingdom.   Throughout these verses are two key emphases we dare not miss:   1)  that we must remain prepared for Christ’s return for judgment and deliverance;   and 2)  that the Lord will preserve us and His Church as we remain steadfast in our faith. 

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.

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.

Prayer upon entering the sanctuary

Greeting and Invitation to Worship

 

We Praise Our God

at the Pastor’s invitation, the Congregation will rise

 

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 Lord, you have investigated me, and you know.  2 You know when I sit down and when I get up.  You understand my thoughts from far off.  3 You keep track of when I travel and when I stay, and you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before there is a word on my tongue,     you, Lord, already know it completely.

C: 5 You put a fence behind me and in front of me, and you have placed your hand on me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is too high—I cannot grasp it.

P:  7 Where can I go from your Spirit?  Where can I flee from your Presence?  8 If I go up to heaven, you are there.  If I make my bed in hell—there you are!   9 I rise on the wings of dawn.   I settle on the far side of the sea.   10 Even there your hand guides me,  and your right hand holds on to me.

C: 11 And if I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me,” 12 then even the darkness will not be too dark for you. The night will be as light as the day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

P:  13 For you created my inner organs.  You wove me together in my mother’s womb.  14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Your works are wonderful, and my soul knows that very well.   15 My bones were 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 unfinished body.   In your book all of them were written.  Days were determined, before any of them existed.

C: 17 Your thoughts to me are so precious, O God!  How great is the sum of them!   18 If I would count them,  they would outnumber the grains of sand.

P:  I awake, and I am still with you.  19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God, so that bloody men would depart from me, 20 men who speak against you maliciously.  Your adversaries misuse your name.   21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord,  and detest those who rise up against you? 22 I absolutely hate them. To me they are enemies.

C: 23 Investigate me, God, and know my heart.  Test me and know my troubled thoughts. 24 See if there is any way in me that causes pain, and lead me in the way everlasting.

After which the Congregation will be seated for

The Opening Hymn                                                                                Hymn 256    “How Great Thou Art”

 

1 O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder   Consider all the works thy hand hath made,

I see the stars, I hear the mighty thunder,   Thy pow’r throughout the universe displayed.

 

Refrain:

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God, to thee,    “How great thou art! How great thou art!”

Then sings my soul, my Savior-God to thee,    “How great thou art! How great thou art!”

 

2 When through the woods and forest glades I wander,      And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

When I look down from lofty mountain grandeur    And hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze, [Refrain]

 

3 And when I think that God, his Son not sparing,    Sent him to die, I scarce can take it in,

That on the cross my burden gladly bearing    He bled and died to take away my sin. [Refrain]

 

4 When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation    And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart!

Then I shall bow in humble adoration    And there proclaim: “My God, how great thou art!” [Refrain]

Following the hymn, the congregation will rise

We Confess our Sins Before 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 acknowledge our sinfulness and ask Him to forgive us.

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    +   and failed to do what is good.   +    For this I deserve Your punishment,   +    both now and in eternity.     +     But I am truly sorry for my sins,     +   and trusting in my Savior,  Jesus Christ, +   I pray:    +  God have mercy on me, a sinner.

Pastor      God our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given His only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.   Therefore, as a called servant of God and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  

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 This Morning

 

O God + Eternal Author and Giver of Life,   +   Who gave us Your Son, Jesus Christ,   + that  – through faith in Him       we might one day enjoy that life which knows no end:   +   Make our faith complete   +   through the final victory that will enable us    +   to overcome this sinful world   +   so that one day    +   we might be with You for evermore,   +   to join in heaven +  with all Your angels and the Church Triumphant,   +   praising You, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,   +   in the home of love, and light, and everlasting life.   +   Grant our prayer, for Jesus’ sake.  Amen.

 

After which the Congregation will be seated

 

 

We Hear God’s Word

Today’s Old Testament Lesson                                                                                                 Daniel 12:1-11

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.”

The Epistle Lesson                                                                                                                      II Peter 3:1-18

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 the Congregation will rise out of respect for the words of Jesus

 

 

The Gospel Lesson                                                                                                                 Matthew 24:1-35

As Jesus left the temple and was walking away, his disciples came up to him to call his attention to the temple buildings. 2 Then he replied to them, “Do you see all of these things? Amen I tell you: Not one stone here will be left on another that will not be thrown down.”

3 While he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the world?”

4 Jesus answered them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 Because many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will deceive many people. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because all these things must happen; but that is not yet the end. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 But all these things are only the beginning of birth pains.

9 Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will put you to death. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away from faith. They will betray each other and hate each other. 11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.

12 Because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But whoever endures to the end will be saved. 14 This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

15 “Therefore when you see the abomination that causes desolation, that was spoken of through the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place—let the reader understand— 16 then those who are in Judea should flee to the mountains. 17 The one on the housetop should not go down to take anything out of his house. 18 The one who is in the field should not return to get his clothes. 19 How terrible it will be for those who are pregnant or are nursing babies in those days! 20 Pray that your flight will not take place in the winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For at that time there will be great distress, unlike any that has happened since the beginning of the world until now, and unlike any that will happen again. 22 If those days were not shortened, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.

23 “At that time if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There he is,’ do not believe it. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible.

25 “See, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they tell you, ‘Look! There he is in the wilderness,’ do not go out there, or ‘Look! Here he is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. 27 Just as the lightning flashes from the east and shines as far as the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. 28 Wherever the carcass may be, there the vultures will gather.

29 “Immediately after the misery of those days, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky. And at that time all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 He will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 “Learn this lesson from the fig tree. When its branch has become tender and produces leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 In the same way, when you see all these things, know that he is near, right at the doors. 34 Amen I tell you: This generation[a] will certainly not pass away until all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

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.

 

After which the Congregation may be seated for

The Children’s Lesson                                                                                                              Matthew 24:36

36 “No one knows when that day and hour will be, not the angels of heaven, not even the Son, but only the Father.

Can You Guess The Right Answer?

The Sermon Hymn                                                               Hymn 207    “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near”

verses 1-5

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!

 

The Greeting

 

Grace and peace be yours in abundance from God our Father, and from Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.   Amen.

Sermon Text                                                                                                                                II Peter 3:3-13

                                                                                                                   from today’s Epistle Lesson (italicized)

The End Is Near

  1. How Close Is It? II.  How Do I Prepare For It?

 

following the sermon the Congregation will REMAIN SEATED for

The Post-Sermon Blessing

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 to the Lord

Our Offerings of Love to our 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) to the church address:     (415 N. 6th Place, Lowell, AR 72745)

2) You can also donate on our website:  www.gracelutherannwa.com

 

 

the Congregation will please rise as the offerings are brought to the altar

Today’s Prayers

 

Today’s Special Prayer

 

Included in our prayers this morning are Prayers of Thanksgiving on behalf of

Vicki and Vic Walker, whose anniversary is this coming Thursday; and

Tina and John Wambold, whose anniversary is this coming Thursday.

 

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,   forever and ever.  Amen.

 

 

We Leave With The Lord’s Blessing

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 207  “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near”

                                                                                                                                                                 Verse 6

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.

Silent Prayer,  Announcements,   Post-Service Music

Announcements

 

Last Sunday At Grace               Worship Attendance: 65     Communed: 56        Online views: 15      Sunday School: 4       Bible Class: 22 (Online 3) 

Tuesday Bible Class: 10     Wednesday Bible Class – Men: 4;    Women: 4     Budgetary Offerings:   $2953.91     Online offerings: $280

Serving Next Sunday                                                                                  Elders:   John Johnson, Vic Walker

Ushers: Terry Bruns, Tom Otto        Altar Guild:   Harriet Johnson                    Fellowship:   Mary Karloski

Looking Ahead For Grace Lutheran Church

Today            Morning Worship, 9:30 a.m.       Fellowship Time, 9:40 a.m        Bible Class/Sunday School, 11:05 a.m.        Youth Confirmation, 12:15

Nov 15 (Tues)Morning Bible Study, 10:15 a.m.

Nov 16 (Wed)Evening Bible Studies, 6 to 7:15 p.m.

Nov 19 (Sat)   Outreach Calling/Visitation Day, 10 a.m.

Nov 20 (Sun) Morning Worship with the Lord’s Supper, 9:30 a.m.      Fellowship 10:45    Bible Class & Sunday School, 11:05 am

                       Youth Confirmation Class, 12:15 to 1:30 p.m.

Birthdays This Week                       Nov 17 – Lisa Pudas;          Nov 17 – Pat Quinlan;     Nov 17 – Vic & Vicki Walker;      Nov 17 – John & Tina Wambold;     Nov 18 – Vince Larson

Thanksgiving Day Worship and Special Dinner   Please make your plans to join us on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, here at Grace with a service of celebration and thanksgiving at 9:30 a.m.   We’ll follow the service with a special pot-luck/fellowship Thanksgiving  dinner.   In addition to it being a special occasion’ through which you can thank the Lord for His many mercies to you, please see this as an  “outreach  opportunity” (since few churches even hold Thanksgiving Day worship services), and consider inviting family members and a friend (or  friends) to join you in worship here Thanksgiving morning.

                                                                                        

Midweek Advent Worship Services Are Coming:     Starting on Wednesday evening, November 30th, at 7 p.m. we’ll hold the first of three midweek Advent Services.  (Also December 7th and 14th.)  The season of Advent is a special time of repentance and contemplation through which we can better prepare our hearts and spiritual lives for celebrating Christ’s birth at Christmas.  Along with each midweek service we’ll hold our traditional Soup and Sandwich meal, from 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.    We hope to join with you – and any guests and friends that you might bring – in anticipating Christ’s coming as we worship and fellowship together and join in the study of His Word .

 

The Upcoming Edition of Meditations Is Available on the center table in the front entryway.   The devotions in it begin the end of November.    If you need the current edition of Meditations, copies can be found on the table next to the front doors.