Announcements
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God,
our refuge,
our delight,
our beginning and our end.
Amen.
Let us come in truth before the one who loves us
and has freed us from our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Eternal One, robed in majesty and mercy,
we confess that sin has taken hold of us
and we are complicit in its power.
We are disturbed in spirit and our hearts cannot rest.
Unbind us and set us free.
Lead us again to the waters of rebirth,
that we may live just and generous lives
for the good of your world
and the care of our neighbors,
following in the servant way of Jesus.
Amen.
These words are trustworthy and true:
Christ bore our sins once, for all, on the cross,
swallowing up death forever.
For his sake, you are ☩ forgiven
and God remembers your sin no more.
Let your heart be glad again,
and rejoice in your salvation.
Amen.
Opening Hymn
ELW 260 - The King Shall Come (vs. 1, 4, 5)
Greeting
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
Prayer of the Day
Almighty and ever-living God, you anointed your beloved Son to be priest and sovereign forever. Grant that all the people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, may be united by the glorious and gentle rule of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
9 As I watched,
thrones were set in place,
and an Ancient One took his throne,
his clothing was white as snow,
and the hair of his head like pure wool;
his throne was fiery flames,
and its wheels were burning fire.
10 A stream of fire issued
and flowed out from his presence.
A thousand thousands served him,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.
The court sat in judgment,
and the books were opened.
13 As I watched in the night visions,
I saw one like a human being
coming with the clouds of heaven.
And he came to the Ancient One
and was presented before him.
14 To him was given dominion
and glory and kingship,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him.
His dominion is an everlasting dominion
that shall not pass away,
and his kingship is one
that shall never be destroyed.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 93
Ever since the world began, your throne has been established. (Ps. 93:2)
1 The Lord is king, robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and | armed with strength.
The Lord has made the world so sure that it can- | not be moved.
2 Ever since the world began, your throne has | been established;
you are from | everlasting. R
3 The waters have lifted up, O Lord, the waters have lifted | up their voice;
the waters have lifted up their | pounding waves.
4 Mightier than the sound of many waters, mightier than the breakers | of the sea,
mightier is the Lord who | dwells on high.
5 Your testimonies are | very sure,
and holiness befits your house, O Lord, forever and for- | evermore. R
Second Reading: Revelation 1:4b-8
4b Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7 Look! He is coming with the clouds;
every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.
So it is to be. Amen.
8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
ELW Setting 8
Gospel: John 18:33-37
This is the holy gospel according to John the 18th chapter.
Glory to you, O Lord.
33 Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35 Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon
Hymn of the Day
ELW 855 - Crown Him with Many Crowns (vs. 1 & 4)
Prayers of Intercession
Rooted in God’s abundant love for the world, let us pray for our neighbors, the church, and all of creation.
A brief silence.
Revive our congregations, synods, and national church body to reflect the love, justice, and kinship of your kingdom. Raise up diverse leaders (like Justus Falckner, Jehu Jones, and William Passavant, whom we commemorate today) who teach and serve your people. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Nourish parched lands and bring relief to flooded places. Protect wildlife habitats and endangered species, that the chorus of creation’s praise resounds with joy. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Grant wisdom to the leaders who govern, legislate, and deliberate on our behalf (local officials may be named). Advance your nonviolent reign of justice-seeking love through their work. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Draw near to those who are detained, on trial, or incarcerated. Transform systems of retribution into systems of reconciliation and restoration. Empower activists who advocate for change. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
Remind us of your enduring love in all seasons. Guide the planning efforts of worship leaders and volunteers who usher our congregation into a meaningful Advent (worship ministries may be named). Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
In your eternal presence the saints (recently deceased members of the congregation may be named) sing of your majesty. Join our voices with theirs in praise to the one who loves us and frees us from sin. Merciful God,
receive our prayer.
We offer our prayers to you, gracious God, trusting in your boundless love for all that you have made, through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.
The Passing of Peace
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
Anthem
Eternal Gifts (John W. Becker)
Offertory Hymn
ELW 181 - Let the Vineyards Be Fruitful
Offertory Prayer
Lord Jesus, our portion and our cup,
you offered yourself in love for the world,
and in this meal you nourish us with your life.
Fill us with your abundance,
that we may feed the hungry and welcome the stranger,
trusting in your name.
Amen.
The Great Thanksgiving
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all
times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty
and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. Fulfilling the
promise of the resurrection, you pour out the fire of your Spirit,
uniting in one body people of every nation and tongue.
And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of
the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and
with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise
your name and join their unending hymn:
ELW Setting 8
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory, full of your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.
Thanksgiving at the Table
Holy God, our Bread of life, our Table, and our Food, you created
a world in which all might be satisfied by your abundance.
You dined with Abraham and Sarah, promising them life, and fed
your people Israel with manna from heaven. You sent your Son to
eat with sinners and to become food for the world.
In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Remembering, therefore, his life given for us and his rising from
the grave, we await his coming again to share with us the
everlasting feast.
By your Spirit nurture and sustain us with this meal: strengthen
us to serve all in hunger and want, and by this bread and cup
make of us the body of your Son.
Through him all glory and honor is yours, Almighty Father,
with the Holy Spirit, in your holy Church, both now and forever.Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Lord remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray:
Our Father, Who art in heaven,
Hollowed by 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.
Jesus welcomes you to this table. Come, here is your God.
Lamb of God
ELW Setting 8
Communion Hymns
ELW 464 - Bread of Life, Our Host and Meal
ELW 466 - In the Singing
ELW 468 - Around You, O Lord Jesus
The Table Blessing
Behold, God is making all things new.
Take your place in the new creation.
Post Communion
ELW 801 - Change My Heart, O God
Prayer After Communion
Faithful God,
you have spread before us a feast of rich food and drink
in the body and blood of your Son.
Now send us out to labor with you,
in service to the world you have made,
and among the people you have made your home,
in Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
Blessing
The Ancient One, enthroned,
the Crucified One, now risen,
the Indwelling One, poured out,
☩ bless you now and forever.
Amen.
Sending Hymn
ELW 660 - Lift High the Cross (vs. 1 & 4)
Dismissal
Go in peace. Encourage one another in Christ.
Thanks be to God.
Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash
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