{"id":1389,"date":"2020-11-15T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-15T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/?p=1389"},"modified":"2020-12-13T12:44:26","modified_gmt":"2020-12-13T20:44:26","slug":"saints-triumphant-sunday","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/15\/saints-triumphant-sunday\/","title":{"rendered":"Saints Triumphant Sunday"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"http:\/\/www.livingwordpetaluma.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/Saints-Triumphant-11-15-20.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>November 15, 2020<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>SERVICE OF THE WORD<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This service offers the congregation a form of worship that focuses on the proclamation of God\u2019s Word.&nbsp; Believers respond to this divine gift with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving<\/em><em>.&nbsp; The service begins on page 38 in the front of the hymnal.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M:<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We worship today in the name of our Triune God\u2014 God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Confession of Sins<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M:<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve Him as His dear children.&nbsp; But we have disobeyed Him and deserve only His wrath and punishment.&nbsp; Therefore, let us confess our sins to Him and plead for His mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth.&nbsp; In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child.&nbsp; But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray:&nbsp; Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love.&nbsp; Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M:<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; God, our heavenly Father has forgiven all your sins.&nbsp; By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, He has removed your guilt forever.&nbsp; You are His own dear child.&nbsp; May God give you strength to live according to His will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prayer and Praise<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M:<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.&nbsp; Blessed are they who take refuge in Him.&nbsp; Your Word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.&nbsp; Your faithfulness continues forever.&nbsp; Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.&nbsp; Blessed are they who take refuge in Him.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PRAYER OF THE DAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M:<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Let us pray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Almighty God and Savior, you have set the final day and hour when we shall be delivered from this world of sin and death.&nbsp; Keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that we may sit with Him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven.&nbsp; We ask this through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Word<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>FIRST LESSON<\/u> \u2013 Isaiah 52:1-6<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Our God is the L<\/em><em>ORD<\/em><em> of history.&nbsp; He subjugates nations as he wills and redeems his people out of pure grace.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Awake, awake, O Zion, clothe yourself with strength.&nbsp; Put on your garments of splendor, O Jerusalem, the holy city.&nbsp; The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again.&nbsp; Shake off your dust; rise up, sit enthroned, O Jerusalem.&nbsp; Free yourself from the chains on your neck, O captive Daughter of Zion.&nbsp; For this is what the LORD says:&nbsp; <em>\u201cYou were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; For this is what the sovereign LORD says:&nbsp; <em>\u201cAt first my people went down to Egypt to live; lately, Assyria has oppressed them.&nbsp; And now what do I have here?\u201d<\/em> declares the LORD.&nbsp; <em>\u201cFor my people have been taken away for nothing, and those who rule them mock,\u201d<\/em> declares the LORD.&nbsp; <em>\u201cAnd all day long my name is constantly blasphemed.&nbsp; Therefore my people will know my name; therefore in that day they will know that it is I who foretold it.&nbsp; Yes, it is I.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; (NIV1984)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PSALM OF THE DAY \u2013 Psalm 84<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How lovely is Your dwelling place,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O LORD Almighty!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My soul yearns, even faints,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>for the courts of the LORD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blessed are those who dwell in Your house;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>they are ever praising you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Better is one day in Your courts<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>than a thousand elsewhere;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>than dwell in the tents of the wicked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>O LORD Almighty,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>blessed are they who trust in You.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Glory be to the Father and to the Son<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and to the Holy Spirit,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; As it was in the beginning,<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; is now, and will be forever.&nbsp; Amen<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>SECOND LESSON<\/u> \u2013 1 Thessalonians 4:13-19 <\/strong>(Sermon Text)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Jesus\u2019 resurrection is the sure foundation of our confidence that those who have \u201cfallen asleep in him\u201d will participate in the resurrection of the dead on the Last Day.&nbsp;&nbsp; The saints who are still living on earth will join the resurrected in a grand reunion with each other and an eternal communion with the Lord.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.&nbsp; We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.&nbsp; According to the Lord\u2019s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.&nbsp; For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.&nbsp; After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.&nbsp; And so we will be with the Lord forever.&nbsp; Therefore encourage each other with these words.&nbsp;&nbsp; (NIV1984)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>VERSE OF THE DAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alleluia.&nbsp; They are before the throne of God and serve Him day and night in His temple.&nbsp; Alleluia. (Rev 7:15a)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C<em>:&nbsp; <\/em>Alleluia!&nbsp; Alleluia!&nbsp; Alleluia!&nbsp; These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;the Christ, the Son of God.&nbsp; Alleluia!&nbsp; Alleluia!&nbsp; Alleluia!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>GOSPEL LESSON<\/u> \u2013 Matthew 25:1-13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The parable of the ten virgins calls us to constant vigilance, since the day and hour of our Lord\u2019s judgment is not known.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cAt that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.&nbsp; Five of them were foolish and five were wise.&nbsp; The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.&nbsp; The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.&nbsp; The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.&nbsp; At midnight the cry rang out:&nbsp; \u2018Here\u2019s the bridegroom!&nbsp; Come out to meet him!\u2019&nbsp; Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.&nbsp; The foolish ones said to the wise, \u2018Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.\u2019&nbsp; \u2018No,\u2019 they replied, \u2018there may not be enough for both us and you.&nbsp; Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.\u2019&nbsp; But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived.&nbsp; The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet.&nbsp; And the door was shut.&nbsp; Later the others also came.&nbsp; \u2018Sir! Sir!\u2019 they said.&nbsp; \u2018Open the door for us!\u2019&nbsp; But he replied, \u2018I tell you the truth, I don\u2019t know you.\u2019&nbsp; Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; (NIV1984)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Praise be to you, O Christ!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SERMON &nbsp;The Triumph of the Saints\u2014 What Does This Mean!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear fellow Saints of God,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do we do now?&nbsp; That is a question that I am sure many people are asking themselves these days\u2014 for a variety of reasons!&nbsp; If you voted for President Trump, you are probably asking that question with a great deal of disappointment in your voice.&nbsp; If you voted for Joe Biden, you are probably asking that question with a&nbsp; great deal of excitement in your voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do we do now?&nbsp; That is a question that I am sure many people are asking now that the Pfizer pharmaceutical company has produced a vaccine for COVID-19 that is 90% effective!&nbsp; They are now ramping up the production of this vaccine and anticipate that they will be able to deliver 20 million doses by the end of November.&nbsp; That will be enough to inoculate at-risk nursing home residents, health care workers and first responders by the end of January.&nbsp; And by the end of March to early April there should be enough of the vaccine to have \u201cgeneral vaccination programs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do we do now?&nbsp; That is a question that I\u2019m sure many people are asking now that we are entering into the holiday season.&nbsp; What are we going to do for Thanksgiving?&nbsp; What are we going to do for Christmas?&nbsp; From what I hear on the news we are being strongly encouraged to continue practicing the COVID-19 safety protocols.&nbsp; That would mean no large gatherings of people from multiple households.&nbsp; You celebrate\u2014 but only with the people who live in your own household.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do we do now?&nbsp; While there are a number of reasons as to why we might be asking ourselves that question these days, for God\u2019s people in the City of Thessalonica that question took on an even more serious tone.&nbsp; The apostle Paul had shared with them the Good News that Jesus is the Son of God who lived and died and rose again to take away all their sins.&nbsp; God the Holy Spirit had given them the gift of saving faith in their hearts\u2014 the faith which enabled them to believe that through faith in Jesus there is a glorious life waiting for them in heaven and that one day Jesus would return to this earth to take them Home.&nbsp; But as more and more of their fellow Christians died and Jesus had not yet come back, they became more and more concerned.&nbsp; What do we do now?&nbsp; Did their brothers and sisters in the faith \u201cmiss out\u201d on what Paul said Jesus had waiting for them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because of the concerns that were troubling God\u2019s people in Thessalonica, God the Holy Spirit had the apostle Paul write the words that serve as our sermon text for today.&nbsp; Since most of us here today have shed our share of tears at the funeral of a loved one, let\u2019s study this text under the theme:&nbsp; <strong><em>The Triumph of the Saints\u2014 What Does This Mean?<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Look at the opening verses of our text.&nbsp; Paul writes, <em>\u201cBrothers, we do not want you to be ignorant <\/em>(This word can also be translated as <em>\u201cfail to understand, to be mistaken, to be in error\u201d<\/em>) <em>about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.&nbsp; We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are two points that need to be highlighted here.&nbsp; First, the <em>\u201chope,\u201d<\/em> the <em>\u201cconfident expectation\u201d<\/em> of eternal life is based 100% on the <strong>physical <\/strong>resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.&nbsp; <strong>If <\/strong>Jesus did not <strong>physically <\/strong>rise from the dead just as He promised He would, then there is no <em>\u201chope\u201d<\/em> for us.&nbsp; Then there is no \u201cTriumph of the Saints.\u201d&nbsp; As Paul told God\u2019s people in Corinth, <em>\u201cIf Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.&nbsp; Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.&nbsp; If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 15:17, 18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The second point that we do not want to overlook is that Jesus\u2019 physical resurrection from the dead gives us the <em>\u201chope,\u201d<\/em> the <em>\u201cconfident expectation\u201d<\/em> that for everyone who dies believing and trusting in Jesus as their Savior, death is but a <em>\u201csleep\u201d<\/em>\u2014 a <em>\u201csleep\u201d<\/em> from which our risen Lord and Savior will most certainly \u201cawaken\u201d us!&nbsp; (See also John 11:11, 14; Luke 8:51-56)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The fact that the Triumph of the Saints includes the guarantee that our crucified and risen Lord will one day \u201cwake us up\u201d from the <em>\u201csleep\u201d<\/em> of death is brought out very clearly when Paul says to us this morning, <em>\u201cAccording to the Lord\u2019s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.&nbsp; For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Try to picture how triumphant Judgement Day will be for everyone who believes and trusts in Jesus!&nbsp; On that day the heavens will be rolled up like a scroll (See Isaiah 34:14; Revelation 6:14), our victorious Lord, our triumphant God, will return in all of His power, majesty and glory amidst a <em>\u201cloud command,\u201d<\/em> the <em>\u201ctrumpet call of God,\u201d<\/em> and the <em>\u201cvoice of the archangel\u201d<\/em> Michael.&nbsp; (See Jude 9; Daniel 12:1)&nbsp; Will the archangel Michael command everyone to bow on their knees before Jesus?&nbsp; (See Philippians 2:9)&nbsp; While that would certainly be appropriate, we are not told what the <em>\u201cvoice of the archangel\u201d<\/em> will proclaim.&nbsp; What we <strong>are <\/strong>told is that the Triumph of the Saints will include this honor:&nbsp; <em>\u201cthe dead in Christ will rise first.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again try to picture that triumphant scene in your mind! All of the Old Testament children of God who <em>\u201cfell asleep\u201d<\/em> trusting that the Lord their God would most certainly fulfill His promise to send His Messiah into our world, all the New Testament children of God who trusted that Jesus of Nazareth <strong>is<\/strong> the Christ, the long-awaited Promised Messiah, all the people <strong>you <\/strong>know who <em>\u201cfell asleep\u201d<\/em> believing and trusting in Jesus as their Savior\u2014 <strong>all <\/strong>of them will be given the honor of being the <strong>first<\/strong> ones to be raised from their graves.&nbsp; They will be the <strong>first <\/strong>ones to experience what Paul describes for us in 1 Corinthians 15, <em>\u201cThe body that is sown <\/em>(buried) <em>is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).&nbsp; That\u2019s the Triumph of the Saints!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the triumph does not end there!&nbsp; Paul goes on to say to you and to me, <em>\u201cAfter that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.&nbsp; And so we will be with the Lord forever.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once again these words tie in so beautifully with what Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 where he says to us, <em>\u201cListen, I tell you a mystery:&nbsp; We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed\u2014 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet\u201d<\/em> (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).&nbsp; The Triumph of the Saints includes the guarantee that if we are still alive when Jesus returns to this earth, He will instantly fulfill His promise to <em>\u201ctransform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body\u201d<\/em> (Philippians 3:21).&nbsp; Does your physical body have any aches and pains, my friends?&nbsp; Are you enduring any of the consequences that come with growing old?&nbsp; Have you battled\u2014 or are you battling\u2014 any diseases like cancer or diabetes, heart problems or Alzheimer\u2019s?&nbsp; Are you experiencing any \u201cshortcomings\u201d of any kind in your body or your mind?&nbsp; If so, then remember!&nbsp; Remember that the Triumph of the Saints includes the guarantee that one day Jesus will set you free from it all\u2014 forever!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While all of this is indeed included in the Triumph of the Saints, the most glorious part of all is found in those triumphant words:&nbsp; <em>\u201cAnd we will be with the Lord forever.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; Just as we often refer to John 3:16 as the \u201cGospel in a Nutshell\u201d so also these words are the Triumph of the Saints in a \u201cnutshell.\u201d&nbsp; <em>\u201cWe will be with the Lord forever\u201d<\/em>!&nbsp; That means that we will live in His presence\u2014 forever!&nbsp; That means that we will see Him face-to-face and bring Him our worship and praise\u2014 forever!&nbsp; That means that we will enjoy the fullness of His blessings, the completeness of His protection and the greatness of His perfection\u2014 forever!&nbsp; Could there possibly be anything more triumphant than being <em>\u201cwith the Lord forever\u201d<\/em>?&nbsp; Absolutely not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because we know what the Triumph of the Saints means, because we know what the Triumph of the Saints includes, Paul concludes our text for today by saying to us, <em>\u201cTherefore encourage each other with these words.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; No matter what could possibly cause us to say, \u201cWhat do we do now?\u201d we have the ability to <em>\u201cencourage each other.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; The word which is translated here as <em>\u201cencourage\u201d<\/em> is that amazing word <em>\u201cparakaleo\u201d<\/em>\u2014 which very literally means <em>\u201cto call to one\u2019s side.\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; Whenever someone you know is going through a difficulty in their life, <em>\u201ccall them to your side\u201d<\/em> and point them to the cross of Jesus Christ.&nbsp; (Pointing to the cross)&nbsp; <em>\u201cEncourage\u201d<\/em> them by assuring them of what Jesus has done <strong>for <\/strong>them!&nbsp; <em>\u201cEncourage\u201d<\/em> them by assuring them of what Jesus has promised <strong>to <\/strong>them!&nbsp; <em>\u201cEncourage\u201d<\/em> them by assuring them that through faith in the life, in the death and in the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ the Triumph of the Saints <strong>is<\/strong> theirs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To God be the glory!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Amen<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>APOSTLES\u2019 CREED<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>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.&nbsp; He descended into hell.&nbsp; The third day He rose again from the dead.&nbsp; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.&nbsp; From there He will come to judge the living and the dead.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>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.&nbsp; Amen.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>OFFERING<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>During this time of uncertainty we still want to bring our thank offerings to our dear Lord and Savior.&nbsp; We ask that you continue to set your offerings aside so that when we are able to come together again in God\u2019s House we will be able to place our offerings on His altar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PRAYER OF THE CHURCH<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Dear Lord our God, as we gather together today to celebrate the Triumph of your Saints, we thank you for all that you have done for us and for all that you have given to us.&nbsp; Purely by your grace and purely by the power of your Holy Spirit we have been given the robe of righteousness that your Son won for us on the cross of Calvary\u2019s hill, the robe that guarantees that we are indeed saints in your eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We ask dear Lord that you would lead us to make faithful use of your Means of Grace so that our faith and trust in you will continue to grow strong and never grow dim.&nbsp; Forgive us for the times that we have not gathered around your holy Word and Sacrament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we remember our loved ones\u2014 the saints whom you have already called home to heaven\u2014 we thank you for the faithful witness that they gave while they were here on this earth.&nbsp; May the joy which they are now experiencing bring us joy.&nbsp; May the peace which you have granted to them bring us peace.&nbsp; And may the glory and perfection with which you have adorned them keep us focused on the blessings that you have stored up waiting for us in your eternal heavenly home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of this we ask in the Name of Jesus our Lord, who taught us to pray:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever.&nbsp; Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/strong>O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people.&nbsp; Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>M:<\/strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Brothers and sisters, go in peace.&nbsp; Live in harmony with one another.&nbsp; Serve the Lord with gladness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Lord bless you and keep you.&nbsp; The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.&nbsp; The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>C:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>November 15, 2020 SERVICE OF THE WORD This service offers the congregation a form of worship that focuses on the proclamation of God\u2019s Word.&nbsp; Believers respond to this divine gift with prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.&nbsp; The service begins on page 38 in the front of the hymnal. 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