Worship Service for November 12, 2023, at 11 AM

Welcome

Invocation (stand)

Confession and Forgiveness: (stand)

P: As we gather, today, let us cleanse our hearts and our consciences by confessing our sin to God.

(Time of silence for reflection and confession)

C: Heavenly Father, we confess that we are sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you and against our neighbor in our thoughts, words, and actions.  We are truly sorry for our sins and sincerely repent of them. We ask for Your mercy. For the sake of Jesus Christ’s bitter suffering and death, please forgive us and renew us that we may walk in Your Spirit to the glory of Your holy name. Amen

P: The Lord has heard your confession. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of the Lord, in the stead and by the command of my Lord, Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen

Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving – I Know that My Redeemer Lives 

I know that my Redeemer lives.

What comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead.

He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives triumphant from the grave.

He lives eternally to save.

He lives all-glorious in the sky.

He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to silence all my fears;

He lives to wipe away my tears;

He lives to calm my troubled heart;

He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives and grants me daily breath.

He lives, and I shall conquer death.

He lives my mansion to prepare.

He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name!

He lives, my Jesus, still the same.

Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives;

I know that my Redeemer lives!

I Know That My Redeemer Lives!                                      © Public Domain

Gospel Reading – Matthew 25:1-13 (sit)

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For 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, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise be to You, o Christ.

Sermon Song – Now All The Vault Of Heaven Resounds (sit)

Now all the vault of Heav’n resounds,

In praise of love that still abound,

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear.

Repeat their song of glory here.

“Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

O fill us, Lord, with dauntless love;

Set heart and will on things above,

That we conquer through your triumph.

Grant grace sufficient for life’s day,

That by our life we ever say,

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.”

Eternal is the gift He brings.

Therefore, our heart with rapture sings,

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

Now, still, He comes to give us life,

And by His presence stills all strife.

Christ has triumphed! He is living!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Adoring praises now we bring

And with the heavenly blessed sing,

“Christ has triumphed, Alleluia!

Be to the Father, and our Lord,

To Spirit blest, most holy God,

All the glory, never-ending!

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.“                           © 1989,1994 Lorenz Publishing Company

Sermon – The End Times and the Rapture

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, 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 fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.

Also referenced: Matthew 24:29-31

““Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”

1.     “We will always be with the Lord.”

2.     “We will always be with the Lord.”

3.     “We will always be with the Lord.”

Prayers

Apostles’ Creed (stand)

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 Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God
the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer (stand)

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

Benediction (stand)

Closing Song: Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow (stand)

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow.
Praise Him all creatures here below.
Praise Him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Amen

Offering: