"God Loves All Nations"
Worship for October 11 - November 22, 2020
Weekly Worship Focus
October 11 - Room for All at the Table!
*Observe 50th Anniversary of Women’s Ordination
In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus’ parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life of God.
Isaiah 25:1-9 - The feast of victory
Psalm 23 - You prepare a table before me, and my cup is running over. (Ps. 23:5)
Philippians 4:1-9 - Rejoice in the Lord always
Matthew 22:1-14 - The parable of the unwelcome guest at the wedding feast
October 18 - St. Luke the Physician (Evangelist) - Healing Power Flows…
From the visit of Mary to Elizabeth’s house; through the visits of Jesus to Zacchaeus’s house, Mary and Martha’s house, and Levi’s house; to the visit of the risen Christ to Cleopas’s house, Luke’s gospel is a story of God’s hospitality. God is guest and host, and Jesus’ meal fellowship is a proclamation of God’s inner circle of outsiders, a gathering not of the righteous but of those who have received God’s mercy.
PREACHERS: Legacy Emanuel Hospital's Director of Spiritual Care Rev. William DeLong and ACPE Supervisor Rev. Jill Rowland
Isaiah 35:5-8 God’s healing power [Isaiah 45:1-7]
Psalm 124 Our help is in the name of the Lord. (Ps. 124:8) [Ps. 96]
2 Timothy 4:5-11 Paul exemplifies how Christians face death
Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-53 Luke identifies himself and gives his reason for writing
October 25 - Reformation Sunday - Set Free to Serve God and Neighbor
*Celebrating with our Companions in Sacele, Romania! *500th Anniversary of Luther’s Treatise, “Freedom of a Christian”
Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 - I will write my law in their hearts, says the Lord
Psalm 46 - The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7)
Romans 3:19-28 - Justified by God’s grace as a gift
John 8:31-36 - Jesus says, Continue in my word and you will know the truth
November 1 - All Saints Sunday - We Trust in God, Now and Forever
*Remembrance of Loved Ones who have died
All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.
Revelation 7:9-17 - The multitudes of heaven worship the Lamb
Psalm 34:1-10, 22 - Fear the Lord, you saints of the Lord; for those who fear the Lord lack nothing. (Ps. 34:9)
1 John 3:1-3 - We are God’s children
Matthew 5:1-12 - Blessed are the poor in spirit
November 8 - Confirmation Sunday - Listen to the Voices of Our Youth!
*Affirmation of Baptism by Three WLLC Youth
Today the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ’s coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the lamb.
Amos 5:18-24 - Let justice roll down like waters
Psalm 70 - You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry. (Ps. 70:5)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - The promise of the resurrection
Matthew 25:1-13 - The story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids
November 15 - What Gifts Do You Have to Give in this Hour?
*Bringing Our Pledges for 2021
Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the LORD will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be awake and sober. Jesus tells the parable of the talents, calling us to use our gifts, while we still have time, for the greater and common good. In a world filled with violence and despair, we gather around signs of hope—word, water, bread, and wine—eager to welcome the good news of Christ’s coming among us.
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 - The day of the Lord
Psalm 90:1-8 [9-11] 12 - So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. (Ps. 90:12)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 - Be alert for the day of the Lord
Matthew 25:14-30 - The story of the slaves entrusted with talents
November 22 - Christ the King Sunday - The Whole World in God’s Hands and Heart
On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet we await the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds.
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 - God will shepherd Israel
Psalm 95:1-7a - We are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand. (Ps. 95:7)
Ephesians 1:15-23 - The reign of Christ
Matthew 25:31-46 - The coming of the Son of Man; the separation of sheep and goats
*Observe 50th Anniversary of Women’s Ordination
In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus’ parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life of God.
Isaiah 25:1-9 - The feast of victory
Psalm 23 - You prepare a table before me, and my cup is running over. (Ps. 23:5)
Philippians 4:1-9 - Rejoice in the Lord always
Matthew 22:1-14 - The parable of the unwelcome guest at the wedding feast
October 18 - St. Luke the Physician (Evangelist) - Healing Power Flows…
From the visit of Mary to Elizabeth’s house; through the visits of Jesus to Zacchaeus’s house, Mary and Martha’s house, and Levi’s house; to the visit of the risen Christ to Cleopas’s house, Luke’s gospel is a story of God’s hospitality. God is guest and host, and Jesus’ meal fellowship is a proclamation of God’s inner circle of outsiders, a gathering not of the righteous but of those who have received God’s mercy.
PREACHERS: Legacy Emanuel Hospital's Director of Spiritual Care Rev. William DeLong and ACPE Supervisor Rev. Jill Rowland
Isaiah 35:5-8 God’s healing power [Isaiah 45:1-7]
Psalm 124 Our help is in the name of the Lord. (Ps. 124:8) [Ps. 96]
2 Timothy 4:5-11 Paul exemplifies how Christians face death
Luke 1:1-4; 24:44-53 Luke identifies himself and gives his reason for writing
October 25 - Reformation Sunday - Set Free to Serve God and Neighbor
*Celebrating with our Companions in Sacele, Romania! *500th Anniversary of Luther’s Treatise, “Freedom of a Christian”
Rooted in the past and growing into the future, the church must always be reformed in order to live out the love of Christ in an ever-changing world. We celebrate the good news of God’s grace, that Jesus Christ sets us free every day to do this life-transforming work. Trusting in the freedom given to us in baptism, we pray for the church, that Christians will unite more fully in worship and mission.
Jeremiah 31:31-34 - I will write my law in their hearts, says the Lord
Psalm 46 - The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our stronghold. (Ps. 46:7)
Romans 3:19-28 - Justified by God’s grace as a gift
John 8:31-36 - Jesus says, Continue in my word and you will know the truth
November 1 - All Saints Sunday - We Trust in God, Now and Forever
*Remembrance of Loved Ones who have died
All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem.
Revelation 7:9-17 - The multitudes of heaven worship the Lamb
Psalm 34:1-10, 22 - Fear the Lord, you saints of the Lord; for those who fear the Lord lack nothing. (Ps. 34:9)
1 John 3:1-3 - We are God’s children
Matthew 5:1-12 - Blessed are the poor in spirit
November 8 - Confirmation Sunday - Listen to the Voices of Our Youth!
*Affirmation of Baptism by Three WLLC Youth
Today the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ’s coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the lamb.
Amos 5:18-24 - Let justice roll down like waters
Psalm 70 - You are my helper and my deliverer; O Lord, do not tarry. (Ps. 70:5)
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 - The promise of the resurrection
Matthew 25:1-13 - The story of the wise and foolish bridesmaids
November 15 - What Gifts Do You Have to Give in this Hour?
*Bringing Our Pledges for 2021
Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the LORD will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be awake and sober. Jesus tells the parable of the talents, calling us to use our gifts, while we still have time, for the greater and common good. In a world filled with violence and despair, we gather around signs of hope—word, water, bread, and wine—eager to welcome the good news of Christ’s coming among us.
Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18 - The day of the Lord
Psalm 90:1-8 [9-11] 12 - So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom. (Ps. 90:12)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 - Be alert for the day of the Lord
Matthew 25:14-30 - The story of the slaves entrusted with talents
November 22 - Christ the King Sunday - The Whole World in God’s Hands and Heart
On this final Sunday of the church year our gospel is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick, or estranged. In the first reading God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak, and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet we await the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds.
Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24 - God will shepherd Israel
Psalm 95:1-7a - We are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand. (Ps. 95:7)
Ephesians 1:15-23 - The reign of Christ
Matthew 25:31-46 - The coming of the Son of Man; the separation of sheep and goats