GATHERING
The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God
CALL TO WORSHIP PSALM 98
Sing a new song to the LORD, who has done marvelous things,
whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
O LORD, you have made known your victory,
you have revealed your righteousness in the sight of the nations.
You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
Shout with joy to the LORD, all you lands;
lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
Sing to the LORD with the harp,
with the harp and the voice of song.
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
shout with joy before the king, the LORD.
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it,
the world and those who dwell therein.
Let the rivers clap their hands,
and let the hills ring out with joy before the LORD, who comes to judge the earth.
The LORD will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
GATHERING SONG “We Praise You, O God” #870
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
In Christ's dying and rising, we are reborn; we are no longer dead in our sin.
Let us return to the shepherd and guardian of our souls, confessing our sin.
Silence for reflection and self-examination.
Almighty God,
we confess before you our preference for things that pass away,
our silence in the face of injustice, our reluctance to accept the freedom of forgiveness.
Make us whole again; renew in us the grace of baptism;
and set our minds on the things that are above.
“All the prophets testify about Jesus that everyone who believes in him
receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” God, who loves you dearly, forgives you all your sin, raises you to new life in Jesus Christ, and renews you by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without you nothing is strong, nothing is holy. Embrace us with your mercy, that with you as our ruler and guide, we may live through what is temporary without losing what is eternal, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
WORD
God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song
THE FIRST LESSON: Malachi 4:1-2a
See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
THE SECOND LESSON: 2 Corinthians 9:5-8
So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on ahead to you, and arrange in advance for this bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion. The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
Word of God, word of life. Thanks be to God.
THE GOSPEL FOR THE DAY: Luke 21:5-19
The holy gospel according to Saint Luke. Glory to you, O Lord.
When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said, "As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down."
They asked him, "Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?" And he said, "Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, 'I am he!' and, 'The time is near!' Do not go after them.
"When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately." Then he said to them, "Nation will rise against
nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
"But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. This will give you an opportunity to testify. So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name. But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance you will gain your souls."
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON “What Will Be the Sign?” Pastor Phil Wold
The sermon will be posted after the service
HYMN OF THE DAY “Soon and Very Soon” #439
THE 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
THE SIGN OF PEACE IS SHARED
The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
THANKSGIVING
God gives us all good things. We respond in gratitude
THE OFFERING AND OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray. Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world
THE 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
BLESSING
SENDING SONG “Children of the Heavenly Father” #781
SENDING
Go in Peace, share the Good News! Thanks be to God.
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