The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost - Online Worship - November 12, 2023
Lord of Life LIVE - The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
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Sunday Worship - The Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
”Thanks Be to God … Every Sign of Love, Looking Up to Heaven”
November 19, 2023, 9:30AM
Join us in person, this service will not be live streamed!
All are welcome, encouraged to visit the Prayer Cross as moved to do so.
Gathering in Glory & Grace
Holy Spirit
Torwalt
There’s nothing worth more
That will ever come close
No thing can compare
You’re our living hope
Your Presence Lord
I’ve tasted and seen
Of the sweetest of loves
Where my heart becomes free
And my shame is undone
In Your Presence Lord
Holy Spirit
You are welcome here
Come flood this place
And fill the atmosphere
Your glory God
Is what our hearts long for
To be overcome
By Your presence Lord
Your presence Lord
bridge:
Let us become
More aware
Of Your Presence
Let us experience
The glory of
Your goodness
(sing bridge 3x total)
Holy Spirit
You are welcome here
Come flood this place
And fill the atmosphere
Your glory God
Is what our hearts long for
To be overcome
By Your presence Lord
Your presence Lord
Litany Giving Thanks for Every Sign of Love in God’s Grace
Based on Psalm 34
Today, all giving God, we trust anew, you make all things ready in your perfect timing; your Holy Spirit is so welcome here; we give you thanks for every sign of your love, and for your faithfulness and saving grace in Jesus Christ, so we worship in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen. I will bless the name of my God and King forever and ever. Every day, in every way, I bless you and praise your name.
People of God: The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love. Let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins and those times we have failed to be ready for every sign of God’s love showered on us in God’s perfect timing.
(silence for reflection)
Friends in Christ, God’s timing is perfect in the grace of these words: Jesus saves; Jesus forgives you all your sins. Be ready! The Lord is good to all! His compassion has made you new and clean. Be still; give thanks and praise! The Holy One is here!
Song Anew In Grace
Be Still
Evans
vs. 1
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Come bow before Him now
With reverence and fear
In Him no sin is found
We stand on holy ground
Be still for the presence of the Lord
The Holy One is here
Let us be still, and be ready, to proclaim the Lord’s awesome deeds, and to declare his glory and grace wherever we go. Let us celebrate being made new, as we sing of God’s righteousness.
Friends in Christ: One generation shall pass on the Lord's works to another. In God’s timing, be still; declare The Lord’s splendor and majesty; look for Christ himself; be ready; for the power of the Lord is moving in this place!
Song Anew In Grace
Be Still
Evans
vs. 3
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal
To minister His grace
No work too hard for Him
In faith receive from Him
Be still for the power of the Lord
Is moving in this place
Loving God, today we thank you, for you do all the giving. You bless us with every good gift, sent from heaven above. By your Holy Spirit, be present here, keep us still, keep us strong and ready to see you, to answer you, to call on you, to trust your timing is perfect, to forever give you thanks and praise. As you tend to every detail in our lives, for the life you promise still to come, we trust your timing, and your grace. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
First Reading
The Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16
Wisdom is radiant and unfading, and she is easily discerned by those who love her, and is found by those who seek her. She hastens to make herself known to those who desire her. One who rises early to seek her will have no difficulty, for she will be found sitting at the gate. To fix one’s thought on her is perfect understanding, and one who is vigilant on her account will soon be free from care, because she goes about seeking those worthy of her, and she graciously appears to them in their paths, and meets them in every thought.
(New Revised Standard Version)
Second Reading
Thessalonians 4:13-18
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 them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
(New Revised Standard Version)
Song of Thanks & Praise
Come, You Thankful People, Come
Alford
vs. 1
Come you thankful people come
Raise the song of harvest home
All is safely gathered in
Ere the winter storms begin
God our maker does provide
For our wants to be supplied
Come to God’s own temple come
Raise the song of harvest home
vs. 2
All the world is God’s own field
Fruit unto his praise to yield
Wheat and tares together sown
Unto joy or sorrow grown
First the blade and then the ear
Then the full corn shall appear
Lord of harvest grant that we
Wholesome grain and pure may be
vs. 4
Even so Lord quickly come
To your final harvest home
Gather all your people in
Free from sorrow free from sin
There forever purified
In your garner to abide
Come with all your angels come
Raise the glorious harvest home
Gospel
Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus said, “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.
(New Revised Standard Version)
Hebrews 11-12:2
God has blessed God’s people with faith from the beginning of time. Long ago witnesses boldly proclaimed The Perfect Sign of Love in Jesus’ grace was sufficient for the Hebrew Christians considering returning to Judaism. Let us share our faith using these same words.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible. ...Without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ...Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. Amen.
Children are invited to return to their seats with their family and friends.
We are excited to resume Faith Quest, our Sunday School Ministry, on October 1st!
Thanks Be to God … Every Sign of Love Made Ready!
WISDOM OF SOLOMON 6:12-16; I THESS. 4:13-18; MATT. 25:1-13
Much of what we experience, we try to get ready for. Surprises come our way, yet, we try to at least get ready for the expected, such as school assignments, appointments, work schedules, important calendar events. Jesus reminds us we are to be ready for him. As Christians, we know The Bridegroom is coming. Jesus comes to us through his signs of love, and through his faithful presence. Jesus tells us we do not know when or where he will come, only that he will. His presence may surprise us; the fact that he is present should never catch us off guard. As we hear in his parable today, Jesus invites us to be ready to see and to answer to and to call upon every sign of love, signs of light, wisdom, goodness and grace. Are we ready? In the spirit of Thanksgiving, the good news is Jesus is ready, he is ready for our sake. Thanks be to God, Jesus gets us ready, ready for every sign of love!
1. Be ready for every sign of love, for God's goodness and grace to bless you with "defining moments!"
Matthew 25:1,10
A. God is with us, blessing us, in the events and experiences that impact and shape our lives. You will not want to miss them.
B. Be ready to have your life defined by Christ! Thanks be to God!
2. Be ready for every sign of love, for God's goodness and grace to call you into action!
Matthew 25:8
A. There are times to watch, to learn, to let others do, and there are times to be ready to act.
B. What are you ready to do? Do you trust God is ready to help? Thanks be to God, God is counting on you!
3. Be ready for every sign of love, for God's wisdom and goodness and grace to break forth, to lead you, to speak to you, and to listen to you!
The Wisdom Of Solomon 6:12-16; 1 Thessalonians 4:18
A. When you are ready to pray, God is ready to listen.
B. When you are ready for wisdom and direction, God is ready to lead you.
C. When you are not sure if you're ready to pray, how to ask, or where to start, thanks be to God, God will be ready to speak.
4. We cannot be ready for all of life's changes!
1 Thessalonians 4:18
A. We are not always ready for how life can change in an instant.
B. Thanks be to God, God’s goodness and grace in Jesus, the Perfect Sign of Love, is ready to give us faith, make us ready in case life changes, change our lives and hearts along the way!
5. Thanks be to God, Jesus is ready for anything! God's goodness and grace are ready for us in every sign of love. When we need God most, God will not be somewhere else, doing something else. Let us indeed be ready for Jesus in every way, for Jesus is ready and waiting for us!
1 Thessalonians 4:17, Matthew 25:10-11
Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.
Song of Praise & Grace Anew
Lord, I Need You
Maher
vs. 1
Lord I come I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You’re the one that guides my heart
refrain:
Lord I need You oh I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
vs. 2
Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
And where You are Lord I am free
Holiness is Christ in me
(refrain)
You’re my one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
My one defense my righteousness
Oh God how I need You
...as we pray to you, Jesus, ...
Thanks be to you, God, for every sign of your love and grace.
All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Holy Communion will take place during our service. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.
For those worshiping with us in person, we receive communion through intinction; that is, you will receive the bread, the host, then dip into the glass of choice, either a red wine in the chalice closest to the host, or in a light colored non-alcoholic grape juice. All are welcome.
We also offer gluten free and pre-packaged options. Please take these options before arriving at the host to receive a blessing.
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.
Songs During Holy Communion
People Get Ready
Mayfield
vs. 1
People get ready
There’s a train a-comin’
You don’t need no baggage
You just get on board
All you need
Is faith to hear the diesels hummin’
You don’t need no ticket
You just thank the Lord
vs. 2
So people get ready
For the train to Jordan
Picking up passengers
Coast to coast
Faith is the key
Open the doors and board them
There’s hope for all among
Those loved the most
refrain:
Thank the Lord
Thank the Lord
Thank the Lord
Ooh
(repeat)
vs. 3
There ain’t no room
For the hopeless sinner
Who would hurt all mankind
Just to save his own
Have pity on those
Whose chances grow thinner
For there’s no hiding place
Against the Kingdom’s throne
Ending:
Thank the Lord
Thank the Lord
Thank the Lord
Thank the Lord
(repeat 2x)
The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace, this day, and on into life everlasting.
Amen.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving, and to conform our lives to his, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace, as you give thanks for every sign of God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ! In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Let us go in the peace of Christ, celebrating the love of God, and serving The Lord of life.
Thanks be to God!
Going in Light & Grace
This Little Light of Mine
African American Spiritual
vs. 1
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
This little light of mine
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
vs. 2
Ev’rywhere I go
I’m gonna let it shine
Ev’rywhere I go
I’m gonna let it shine
Ev’rywhere I go
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
vs. 3
Jesus gave it to me
I’m gonna let it shine
Jesus gave it to me
I’m gonna let it shine
Jesus gave it to me
I’m gonna let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
(repeat first verse)
Let it shine
Let it shine
Let it shine
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Follow us on facebook to watch our services live on Lord of Life LIVE now on YouTube! Watch with us live at 9:30am on Sundays, or rewatch at your own convenience!
Today, Sunday, November 12th, we celebrate The Twenty-Fourth Sunday After Pentecost! “Thanks Be To God … Every Sign Of Love Made Ready!” Today, Sunday, November 12th, our Faith Quest Sunday School ministry meets! Today we receive, celebrate, give thanks for New Members joining the ministry we share!
Join us next Sunday, November 19th, as we celebrate The Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost! “Thanks Be To God … Every Sign Of Love, Looking Up To Heaven!” Next Sunday, November 19th, our Faith Quest Sunday School ministry meets!
Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion.
For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets as you exit the building.
Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets by the ushers as you exit the sanctuary.
We hope our worship will touch you, comfort you, reassure you, and grace you in some way! If you believe others you know would be blessed to receive this bulletin, the sermon notes, or our live stream links, please forward these to them.
From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org
We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love and grace!
Acknowledgments for today’s service include:
Litany Giving Thanks For Every Sign Of Love In God’s Grace, written based on Psalm 34. “Come, You Thankful People, Come,” “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “Holy Spirit” © 2011 Jesus Culture, CCLI #6087919 “Be Still” © 1986 Thankyou Music CCLI# 120824 “Jesus Loves Me” © Words and Music Public Domain, CCLI #4771887 “Lord, I Need You” © 2011 sixsteps Music, CCLI #5925687 “People Get Ready” © 1964 Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp CCLI #1155812 “This Little Light of Mine” © Words and Music Public Domain, this arr. © Horace Clarence Boyer, OL #01998 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.