Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost – November 15, 2020 The Order of Worship at 11:00 am To mitigate spread of COVID-19 in our community, on-site activities— including worship services—have been cancelled. Many activities continue, but in different formats: ZOOM for interactive small groups and classes, togo meals for the Food Ministry, and streaming worship services and music from the archives. Our gathering policies will continue to respond to changes in the best public health data available to us. Worship will be Livestreamed from Redeemer with only leaders present. Throughout worship, participants will be masked even as they speak and sing, and each will remain in an area designated for them alone. Similar protections will probably be required when we are able gradually to open worship further, but for now we are glad return to the familiarity of Redeemer and the musical and technical options it provides us. Thanks to all of the lectors and musicians who have led us during the past weeks as we worshiped from home. Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping from home, to offer any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue to give to support the ministries that continue, socially distant for the common good. As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, even though we are not together in person. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type. This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.
1
WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS HYMN 785
When Peace Like a River
CONFESSION In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen.
2
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God. Most merciful God, | we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☊ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. | Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY Righteous God, our merciful master, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. | Amen. Please use the Prayer Request link on the webpage to submit your requests. CHILDREN’S SERMON
3
GOSPEL Matthew 25:14-30 Jesus tells a parable about his second coming, indicating that it is not sufficient merely to maintain things as they are. Those who await his return should make good use of the gifts that God has provided them. [Jesus said to the disciples:] 14“For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
4
After the reading: The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You O Christ. SERMON HYMN 715
5
Pastor Mark H. Larson Christ Be Our Light
FAITH STEPPING STONE - 2nd grade, I Believe Our 2nd graders will lead us in the Apostles’ Creed. APOSTLES’ CREED I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Each petition concludes: Lord, in your mercy, | Hear our prayer. At the conclusion of the prayers: Amen PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you. Please let us know you worshiped with us today by using the I’m Worshiping link as you would the attendance pad at church. MISSION MOMENT Quilt Blessing It is a joy to celebrate the work of the Redeemer quilters today and this thirty-one year ministry that touches countless people all over the world. We are happy that, even during this pandemic, the work of the quilters continues behind the scenes. While the quilters are presently not gathering as a group, members are creating quilts in their homes, 6
collecting supplies graciously donated by Redeemer members, and supporting and uplifting one another despite being physically apart. Today, we offer a blessing for the quilters, and we thank you for your devoted service, time, and talents and pray that they will continue to create beautiful messages of love to people in the world. We also offer a blessing for the gifts from their hands and hearts as your messages of grace, hope, and comfort for those who may desperately be seeking your touch. The quilts we dedicate today represent over 300 quilts that members have created over the last year. Let us pray. Almighty God, it is your will to bring comfort and help to the distressed. Bless these quilts wherever they may be used that they may provide warmth, security, and hope to those who have experienced tragedy or who have no other shelter. May all who receive these quilts be wrapped in your love and compassion. May they also encounter your grace and peace and so learn of the joy of life in Christ. Renew our mission to feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, cloth the naked, comfort the weary and outcast, welcome the stranger, and be a loving neighbor to all people of the earth. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. GATHERING OF GIFTS Please use the Help and Give links to support the ministry of Redeemer. MUSIC by Redeemer Jazz Trio THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD Let us pray. Praise and thanks to you, holy God, for by your Word you made all things: you spoke light into darkness, called forth beauty from chaos, and brought life into being. For your Word of life, O God, | we give you thanks and praise. By your Word you called your people Israel to tell 7
of your wonderful gifts: freedom from captivity, water on the desert journey, a pathway home from exile, wisdom for life with you. For your Word of life, O God, | we give you thanks and praise. Through Jesus, your Word made flesh, you speak to us and call us to witness: forgiveness through the cross, life to those entombed by death, the way of your self-giving love. For your Word of life, O God, | we give you thanks and praise. Send your Spirit of truth, O God; rekindle your gifts within us: renew our faith, increase our hope, and deepen our love, for the sake of a world in need. Faithful to your Word, O God, draw near to all who call on you; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever. | Amen. 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.
SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. BLESSING May the God of all creation, 8
in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved, who strengthens us for service, give you reason to rejoice and be glad! The blessing of God, Sovereign, ☊ Savior, and Spirit, be with you today and always. | Amen. HYMN
Oh When the Saints Go Marching In
SENDING Beloved of God, go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. 9
POSTLUDE by Redeemer Jazz Trio HOLY BAPTISM following the service We celebrate today with Kimberly and Griffin LaPlante as they bring their son, Benjamin Wells LaPlante for the sacrament of Holy Baptism. We pray that God will bless this family and strengthen them in a life of faith. LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Worship attendance for November 8: Livestream 379, Facebook Live 75 WEDNESDAY EVENING Pastor Mark’s Class | Zoom | 6 pm Worship | Livestream | 7:15 pm Congratulations to the following Redeemer members on their election to our Congregation Council beginning in 2021: Michael Adamson, Wren Carlson, Susan Cordell, Creston Herold, and Roxann Thompson. They will be installed November 22. We thank God for blessing Redeemer with these committed leaders and ask for your prayers and support for them as they work on your behalf. Congregational Meeting Results from November 8, 2020 The purpose of the meeting was to vote on incorporating the following amendment into the constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer: C13.01. The Executive Committee shall consist of the president of the Council, the vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, the financial secretary, and two Council members, who are elected at large by written ballot at the first meeting of the Congregation Council each year. Each atlarge member shall be individually elected and must receive a majority of the votes cast. The senior pastor also serves as a member of the Executive Committee. The duties and powers of the Executive Committee are specified in the continuing resolutions.
10
Council President, Janet Preston presided at the Meeting. Panelists included: Donna Ruder, Ed Kuehn, Marilynn Kelm, and Pastor Jonathan Trapp provided Zoom support. After discussion, 100% of the attendees voted to incorporate into the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer's constitution C13.01 as presented. This change will be presented to the congregation for a ratification vote on December 6. If ratified, this change shall go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved it at the next Synod Council meeting in January 2021. We appreciate all Redeemer members who attended and participated in the Congregational Meeting. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING | December 6 | 12:30 PM Webinar (link will be sent Saturday, Dec. 5) This meeting will have multiple purposes. ¡
Approval of the 2021 Spending Plan (emailed by Nov 27, 2020)
¡
For ratification
C13.01. The Executive Committee shall consist of the president of the Council, the vice president, the secretary, the treasurer, the financial secretary, and two Council members, who are elected at large by written ballot at the first meeting of the Congregation Council each year. Each atlarge member shall be individually elected and must receive a majority of the votes cast. The senior pastor also serves as a member of the Executive Committee. The duties and powers of the Executive Committee are specified in the continuing resolutions. If this change is ratified by the congregation on December 6 it will go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved it at the next Synod Council meeting in January 2021. 11
¡
For approval
• Be it resolved, that the following 2019 recommended changes in the ELCA Model Constitution for Congregations be incorporated into the constitution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia. C12.01. The voting membership of the Congregation Council shall consist of the called pastors, the called deacon(s), the financial secretary, the treasurer, and not more than 15 members of this congregation, who are elected as provided in C12.02c. C12.02. b. Except as provided in C12.03, no person, other than the pastors, the deacons, the financial secretary, and the treasurer, may serve consecutive terms on the Congregation Council. An outgoing Council member shall not be eligible to serve on the Council for the next three years after the conclusion of that member’s term. These changes will become effective upon approval by the congregation.
12
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER 731 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 www.redeemer.org | 404.874.8664 | Emergency Line: 404.874.9759 The Rev. Mark H. Larson ................................................Senior Pastor, ext. 201 The Rev. Ronald Bonner ............. Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203 The Rev. Jonathan Trapp ........................... Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233 The Rev. Jenny McLellan ...................Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224 STAFF Bob Boyd ......................................Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232 Seth Brown .............................................Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218 Robin Durdin .......................................Office Administration Director, ext. 204 Kate Elkins............................................................... Preschool Director, ext. 252 David Hansen .................................................... Adult Choral Director, ext. 236 Sarah Hawbecker ..................... Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206 Deacon Mary Houck .............. Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227 Jennifer Isaacson ................................. Financial Information Director, ext. 237 Karen Medford ..... Parish Nurse, and Adult Faith Formation Director, ext. 230 Hillary Nelson.......................................Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org Tawanda Searcy .......................... Receptionist and Wedding Director, ext. 200 Stacey Williams ......................................................................... Head of Security
13