LORD God,
—2 Samuel 7:18-22
T , A N 26, 2025
+ ORDER OF WORSHIP +
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN All People That on Earth Do Dwell Christian Worship 601
Please stand
SPOKEN RESPONSES
Minister: I rejoiced with those who said to me, Congregation: “Let us go to the house of the L .”
How lovely is your dwelling place, L Almighty! Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
The L is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.
Teach me, L , the way of your decrees, that I may follow it to the end.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.
Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Psalm 122:1
Psalm 84:1, 4
Psalm 145:18
Psalm 119:33
Psalm 119:105
Romans 10:17
PRAYER
Almighty God, your mercies are new every morning, and you graciously provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge your goodness, give thanks for your benefits, and serve you in willing obedience all our days; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be seated
READING Philippians 4:4-9
4Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if anything is excellent, and if anything is praiseworthy, think about these things. 9The things that you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: Keep doing these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903–2000 © 1970 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199. Tune: Welsh, 18th cent. Public domain.
RESPONSIVE READING
Shout to the L with joy, all the earth.
Serve the L with gladness. Come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the L is God. He made us, and we are his.
We are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, his courtyards with praise. Give thanks to him and bless his name.
For the L is good. His mercy endures forever. His faithfulness continues through all generations.
CHOIR ANTHEM—For the Beauty of the Earth
For the beauty of the earth, for the glory of the skies, for the love which from our birth over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the wonder of each hour of the day and of the night, hill and vale and tree and flower, sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
For the joy of human love, brother, sister, parent, child, friends on earth, and friends above, for all gentle thoughts and mild, Lord of all, to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise.
For thy church that evermore lifteth holy hands above, offering up on every shore her pure sacrifice of love, Lord of all to thee we raise this our hymn of grateful praise, this our hymn of grateful praise.
Text: Folliott S. Pierpoint, 1835–1917. Public domain.
Worship Choir
1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2A man named Zacchaeus was there. He was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3He was trying to see who Jesus was, but since he was short, he could not see because of the crowd. 4He ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Jesus, because he was about to pass by that way. 5When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6He came down quickly and welcomed Jesus joyfully.
7When the people saw it, they were all grumbling because he went to be a guest of a sinful man.
8Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I am going to give half of my possessions to the poor. And if I have cheated anyone out of anything, I will pay back four times as much.”
9Jesus said to him, “Today, salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of Abraham. 10For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
HYMN—Oh, That I Had a Thousand Voices Christian Worship 484
SERMON
An Attitude of Thankfulness 2 Samuel 7:18-22
18Then King David went and sat before the L and said: Who am I, L God? And what is my house that you have brought me to this point?
19Yet this was a small thing in your eyes, L God. You have also spoken about the house of your servant for a long time into the future. Is this the law for the man, L God?
20What more can David say to you? You know your servant, L God. 21Because of your word and according to the plan of your heart, you have carried out this great thing in order to make your servant aware of it. 22Therefore, you are great, L God, because there is none like you. There is no God except you, in keeping with everything we have heard with our ears.
Please stand
CONFESSION OF FAITH
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
I believe 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 is seated 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.
Please be seated
OFFERING
Members of Grace respond to their Savior’s love with offerings that are given joyfully, generously, regularly, and in a way that is proportionate to how the Lord has blessed them. Their cheerful gifts support the mission and ministry of our congregation. If you are a guest today, please know that we do not expect you to contribute to our congregation’s work. However, if you would like to give an offering to the Lord in response to his love to you, we are happy to receive it and put it to work in God’s kingdom. If you prefer, use your smart phone to give online by scanning this QR code:
Please fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of the row and pass it along. Thank you!
THANKSGIVING PRAYER
Lord of heaven and earth, you made all things beautiful. You have provided green forests and refreshing streams. You have arranged the orderly procession of day and night for our work and rest.
Thank you for the mountains and the prairies, the roaring sea, and the gentle breeze.
Thank you for roofs that shelter us, for clothing that protects us, and for food and drink. Thank you for our work, for projects that are done well, and for the approval of supervisors and teachers. Thank you for all who serve at night to make our days more pleasant.
Thank you for associates at work, for their encouragement and praise, and for the joys of human friendships.
Thank you for our cities and our countrysides, for farms and factories, for streets and highways, and for all of life that flows so swiftly before us.
Thank you for children at play, their boundless energy, and their shouts of joy and laughter.
Thank you for the morning greetings we receive, and for all the smiles that come from faces loved by you.
Thank you for Christian parents, for their affection and their care.
Thank you for the healing you bring when we are sick, the protection you send when we are in danger, and the comfort you offer when we are sad. Lead us to be thankful as we believe that in all things you work for the good of those who love you.
Thank you for those who help and encourage us in difficult times.
Hear us, Lord, as we pray in silence.
Silent prayer
Thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ, for his coming to us in Word and sacraments, for his giving and forgiving, and for listening to our prayers. Receive our gifts and offerings as our sacrifice of praise.
Lead us in thankful living today and always. Amen.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
The almighty and merciful Lord the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit bless us and keep us. Amen.
Please join us for Thanksgiving desserts in the Fellowship Hall following the service!
WE THANK THOSE ASSISTING IN OUR THANKSGIVING WORSHIP:
Minister...................................................................................................................Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Accompanist and Handbell Director................................................................................. Beth Kassulke
Vocalist....................................................................................................................................Jeff Weinstein
Choir Director........................................................................................................................ Paul Kassulke
Choir Accompanist....................................................................................................................Kathy Parra
Clarinet.................................................................................................................................... Beth Kassulke
Greeters..............................................................................................................Sally Littau, Lois Thornton
Sound Technicians Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler, Sam Kassulke
Acknowledgements: