Sunday Divine Service 10-12-2023

The Liturgy of Kingship 2023 (Oct 12)

This Liturgy of Kingship is drawn especially from the Psalms, Isaiah and Revelation, compiled and edited by Dr DJ Cheek.

Prelude

*** Love, Pray, Gather, Serve *** Welcome

We are entering a season of the Church year which blends the themes of Reformation & Christ the King into a unique season. It is built on the liturgy with runs throughout the final book in our Bible: Revelation. This book, called the “Apocalypse” in Greek, literally means the unveiling…that is it removes the thin covering which obscures/hides the true reality of Creation. We celebrate that reality for five weeks—Jesus is reigning even now over all things. We mark this season mostly with the red paraments of the martyrs and finally the white paraments of Christ our King ~Pastor Derek please stand P: We assemble to worship God: Maker of heaven and earth, and of all that is, seen and unseen.

C: Glory to God: Father, Son +, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

P: Behold, the King of all Creation is with us!

C: Let us worship and bow down!

P: Blessed are you, O King of the universe; you have delivered us from sin and death.

C: By your blood, you have brought your people into your kingdom.

P: God has highly exalted Jesus the Messiah: C: And bestowed on him the name which is above every name; P: That at the name of Jesus, every knee shall bow: C: And every tongue confess him the King of glory.

P: Behold, the King of all Creation is with us!

C: We worship and bow down. Alleluia!

(Ps 95) (Col 1)

(Phil 2:10-11)

The Affirmation of Kingship AM: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, C: “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

AM: He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.

C: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

AM: O kings, be wise. Serve the LORD with reverence, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son. C: Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

(Ps 2) AM: The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens!

C: Who is like our God, seated on high, who looks down on the heavens and the earth?

AM: He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, C: He makes them sit with princes, with the princes of his people.

(Ps 113) AM: Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, C: for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

(Rev 4:11) AM: By your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation.

C: You have made them a kingdom of priests.

(Rev 5:9-10) AM: He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.

(Ps 9:8)

C:

In God’s Temple all cry, “Glory!”

(Ps 29)

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P:

Confession and Absolution Brothers and Sisters, I ask you: How much have we followed Christ our king? Let us examine ourselves before the Lord.

Silence

P: C: P: C:

Lord Jesus, king of our hearts, you were born as one of us in the poverty of a stable. You came to be the servant of all, especially the sick, the weak, sinners, and outcasts. Your love compelled you to lay down your life for all people.

Lord Jesus, make us share in your kingship by helping us grow in truth, love, and service.

We have fallen short of the fulness of God’s kingdom. Let us ask forgiveness. Lord Jesus, yours is the kingdom of unconditional love; of justice for even the least; and of reliable truth.

Lord, in your great mercy forgive us our sins. Live and reign in us and give us your joy. Amen

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P: C: P: C:

Lord Jesus, King of kings, may we learn to reign with you by serving others like you. When the Father wanted to show us that he is the Lord of all people, he sent you, his only Son, as a humble servant.

Teach us that to serve is to reign, and that to give our life to others is to find a joy that no one can take away.

Christ presents you white as wool before the Father in highest heaven. You are forgiven all your sins, in the powerful Name of the Father, and of the Son +, and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

(Adapted liberally from Fr Tony Thampi Kayala, c.s.c.)

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LP: O Holy God of Israel, you faithfully keep the promises you made to our ancestors and lead your people into the future, providing hospitality on the way. Help us who inherit the pilgrim life to journey faithfully at your command, that we may be a band of disciples called to be sojourners in your service.

C: Amen. please be seated L:

Readings The Old Testament reading is from: Amos 5:18-24Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. (1Sam3)

L:

Alas for you who desire the day of the LORD! Why do you want the day of the LORD? It is darkness, not light; as if someone fled from a lion, and was met by a bear; or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall, and was bitten by a snake.

Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?

I hate, I despise your festivals, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals I will not look upon.

Take away from me the noise of your songs; I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. … This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Psalm 70 Be pleased, O God, to de- | liver me; O LORD, make | haste to help me.

Let those who seek my life be put to shame | and confounded; let those who take pleasure in my misfortune draw back and | be disgraced.

Let those who say to me “Aha!” and gloat | over me turn back because | of their shame.

Let all who seek you rejoice and be | glad in you; let those who love your salvation say forever, “Great | is the LORD!” But as for me, I am poor and needy; come to me quick- | ly, O God. You are my helper and my deliverer; O LORD, | do not tarry.

L:

The New Testament reading is from: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. (1Sam3)

L:

But 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 4

them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one

another with these words. …This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God. please stand

The Holy Gospel

Blessed are those who hear, and who keep, the Words of Jesus, for the time is near.

P: The Gospel reading is from Matthew chapter 25:1-13 C: Glory to you, O Christ!

(Rev 1:3)

P: 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. …This is the Gospel of the Lord C: Glory to you, O Christ! please be seated

Sermon

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please stand

Creed AM: We join in confessing our faith in God, Almighty.

C: We embrace the peace that is ours from him who is, and who was, and who is to come; and From the seven spirits who are before his throne; and From Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, the ruler of kings of the earth.

He loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom of priests to God; who is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, the Alpha and the Omega. Even so return quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.

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You may stand or be seated as you prefer.

The Prayers of the People

(from Rev 1:4-8)

AM: Let us turn our hearts to God, our breath and life, as we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.

A brief silence.

AM: O God for whom we wait, come quickly to your people, bring your salvation, and center us in hope found only in you. We ask your blessing on Bishop Eaton, Bishop Hazelwood, Pastor Derek, and all others who lead us to seek the peace the world cannot give. Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer.

AM: Creator God, your deeds are wonderful. Accept our praise and make us worthy of your creation. We pray we will understand how our privileged and unsustainable lifestyles have damaged the environment and caused untold suffering for humans and creatures. Strengthen us, O God, to heal this earth. Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer.

AM: O God for whom we long, let justice roll down like waters on all nations. We pray the leaders and diplomats of the world will turn away from hatred and vengeance and work together with pure hearts to end the suffering of all your beloved children. We pray for peace in Israel and Palestine, Ukraine and Russia, Sudan, and all other places ravaged by war. We pray for refugees fleeing from danger and we ask that they will find safety.

We honor veterans and ask your blessing on them. Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer.

AM: God our protector, we glorify your name. We ask your blessing on the people of the world who are experiencing unimaginable suffering. We ask that we will persist in our prayers for victims of atrocities in wars, famine, gun violence, oppression, and homelessness. We pray you will help and comfort them. Place special blessings on our friends who are ill or in distress, especially Gail, Kris, Steve, Tom, Sven, Karen, Bob, Paul, Ryan, Al, Jeanne, John, Kelly, Pat, Carol, Tina, Amanda, Judy, Prudence, Peter, and those we now name out loud or in the silence of our hearts. Pause. We pray for those who have no one to pray for them. Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer.

AM: Almighty God, you have called us each by name and we are yours. We praise you for the love we share as we gather at First Lutheran. Christ is with us today in the Word, the bread, and the wine. We pray his spirit will live in us and lead us to serve our neighbors in need and welcome all to our church. We thank you for the children in our congregation. Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer.

AM: Great and wonderful God, you are our eternal life. We remember the saints who now live in you. As they placed their hope in you, so strengthen us to trust in your promise of new life. We ask for your blessed comfort for all who mourn. Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer.

P: We offer our spoken prayers and those held in our hearts trusting in your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.

Amen.

Father, we thank you for the brave men and women who have served so courageously to protect our nation. We ask for your covering and blessing over them and their families. We pray that you would embrace them with your peace. Provide your protection, and guard and keep our active soldiers and sailors safe. Draw them to yourself amidst the dangers they face in a dark world. Bless themall with your light and peace. In the name of the Prince of Peace, Jesus our Lord, Amen. please stand The Peace P: The peace of the King of kings be with you.

C: And also with you. Amen!

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We Greet one another with the Peace of Christ The Children’s collection will be donated to Lutheran Disaster Relief; If you have a gift for the church please place it in the plate in the Narthex, not the kid’s baskets.

The Holy Eucharist P: C: P: C: P: C: P:

P:

The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

Lift up your hearts.

We lift them to the Lord.

Let us exalt our God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Creator of all things.

Alleluia to the King of Kings, and Lord of all lords.

I heard the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, “Alleluiaa! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for his judgments are true and just” …And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God…And from the throne came a voice saying, “Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.” (from Rev 19) A voice cried out: “Behold, the conquering Lion of the tribe of Judah.” And between the throne and the four living creatures I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slaughtered.

(Rev 5:5-6)

C:

The Lord our God reigns. Let us rejoice and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready. She has clothed herself with fine linen, bright and pure— these are the righteous deeds of the saints.

(Rev 19:6-8)

P:

The Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah, on the night before he was slain, took bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take, eat. This my body, given for you. Do this in memory of me.

Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

(John 1:29)

C: P:

After dinner the Prince of Peace took a cup, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sins. Whenever you drink it, remember me.

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C: P:

He is the Son of God.

(John 1:34)

The Lord’s Prayer Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and he is called is The Word of God. We join in praying he taught us: (Rev 19:11-12)

C: 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.

Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

AM: Our God and King welcomes everyone at this Table.

C: The home of God is among us. We are his people.

AM: Come and receive God’s full acceptance!

(Rev 21:3)

If you have need of gluten free bread please come first to receive Please form a “circle” on the transition between the two shades of carpet The wine is offered both for intinction (dipping), or in a common chalice for drinking.

You are welcome to light a candle in the middle window after you have received Communion You may be seated

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please stand Prayer after Communion AM: Lord, you are making all things new, beginning with us. You are the Alpha and the Omega. You have given us to drink from the springs of the Water of Life.

C: We walk by the light of your glory, Lord Jesus.

(Rev 21:5, 23-24) P: C:

Benediction

Blessed are those who wash their robes, for they have the right enter the Holy City… The grace of the Lord Jesus + be with you all.

Amen! Return soon Lord Jesus!

(Rev 22:14, 20)

Announcements

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P: C:

The Lord is returning soon.

Come, Lord Jesus! Amen.

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Pastor: Rev Dr Derek J Cheek Music Minister: Eric Williams Office Administrator: Laurie Fogel Sexton: Chuck Fillian

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