The traditional Christian church calendar is comprised of seasons and special days. We are in the season of Pentecost. The season of Pentecost is the longest season of the church calendar and concludes with Christ the King Sunday. In this season let us consider how we are empowered to act for God.
Brief Order For Confession and Forgiveness
Music to accompany this worship is on Spotify at:
Entrance Hymn
Lord Teach Us How To Pray Aright
Kyrie
Hymn of Praise
Prayer of the Day
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.
The First Lesson
Malachi 4:1-2a
1 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.
2a But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.
Psalm
Psalm 98 (9)
1 O sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things. His right hand and his holy arm have gotten him victory.
2 The Lord has made known his victory; he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
3 He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel. All the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
5 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
6 With trumpets and the sound of the horn make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.
7 Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who live in it.
8 Let the floods clap their hands; let the hills sing together for joy
9 at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with equity.
The Second Lesson
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13
6 Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us.
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you,
8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you.
9 This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate.
10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.
11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work.
12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.
13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
The Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. Stand up and | raise your heads,
because your redemption is | drawing near. Alleluia. (Luke 21:28)
The Gospel
Luke 21:5-19
5 When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, he said,
6 “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.”
7 They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?”
8 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.
9 “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.”
10 Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;
11 there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12 “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.
13 This will give you an opportunity to testify.
14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;
15 for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.
16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death.
17 You will be hated by all because of my name.
18 But not a hair of your head will perish.
19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.
The Sermon
The reward is in the work, not the recognition
The Hymn of the Day
Lord of All Hopefulness
The Creed
The Peace
In the Days to Come
The Prayers
The Offering
Communion
The Lord’s Prayer
Communion Hymns
God, We Praise You
Seek Ye First
Communal Blessing
Dismissal
The Bible readings are from the New Revised Standard Version. I wish to thank the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, ELCA, and its predecessor bodies for all their teaching throughout the years. I’ve used the Lectionary published on the ELCA website at elca.org in preparation for this worship.