November 8th: 23rd Sunday after Pentecost

First Lutheran Church

Our mission is to know Jesus and to make Jesus known. -John 17

PRELUDE by Beth Ray

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS 

Trusting in God’s Word of Life, we are gathered in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen  Before God, our rock and our refuge, let us keep silence, and then confess our sin.

Most merciful God, you know our failings better than we do; our sins are revealed in the light of your face. Our days and years pass by; the things we trust fade like grass. Be gracious to us, O God. Guide us again to the water of life, and renew in us the grace of    holy baptism; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

You are all children of the light and of the day; you are God's children now. In the mercy of God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake, God forgives you all your sin. With all the faithful in heaven and on earth, rejoice and be glad! Amen 

Hymn: This is my Father's world & to my listening ears, All nature sings and round me rings The music of the spheres. This is my

Father's world I rest me in the thought Of rocks and trees

Of skies and seas; His hands the wonders wrought.

2. This is my Father's world: O let me ne'er forget  That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet. This is my Father's world: Why should my heart be sad? The Lord is King:

let the heavens ring!  God reigns; let earth be glad! 

GREETING May the hope to which God has called you, the power of God at work in Christ, and the Spirit of wisdom and revelation be with you all. And also with you. 

The Lord be with you.     And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY: Lord, when the day of wrath comes we have no hope except in your grace. Make us so to watch for the last days that the consummation of our hope may be the joy of the marriage feast of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

FIRST READING: Amos 5:24 Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream.

MUSIC BY BETH

 SCRIPTURE READING: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 The Thessalonian Christians were eagerly awaiting the return of Christ and became distressed when loved ones died before this occurred. Paul's words about the second coming offer hope to all who grieve. We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 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 be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

The Word of our Lord.  Thanks be to God!

LIZ TIME: For those that are young and young at heart

GOSPEL: Matthew 25:1-13 In this chapter, Jesus tells three parables about the second coming. The first of these emphasizes the need for readiness at all times. [Jesus said to the disciples:] "Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a shout, 'Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.' Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. The foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise replied, 'No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.' And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he replied, 'Truly I tell you, I do not know you.' Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour."  

The Gospel of our Lord.  Praise to you, O Christ!

APOSTLES’ CREED

SERMON

PRAYERS

LORD’S SUPPER CELEBRATION, THE LORD’S PRAYER,

MUSIC BY BETH

BLESSING God's blessing be with you, Christ's peace be with you, the Spirit's outpouring be with you, now and always. Amen

Go in peace. Live in the light of our Lord. Thanks be to God!