25th Sunday after Pentecost (Nov 19th) – St. Paul Lutheran Church

The Greeting and Welcome
The congregation stands and faces the entrance of the sanctuary. We begin with a procession – the cross leading the way – an image of our new life in Jesus Christ and our journey to Paradise. Some bow as the cross passes, honoring the mystery of salvation.

Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee (803)
Joyful, joyful we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love!
Hearts unfold like flow’rs before Thee, Praising Thee, their sun above.
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness, Drive the gloom of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness, Fill us with the light of day.
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, Earth and heav’n reflect Thy rays,
Stars and angels sing around Thee, Center of unbroken praise.
Field and forest, vale and mountain, Flow’ry meadow, flashing sea,
Chanting bird, and flowing fountain Call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, Ever blessing, ever blest,
Well-spring of the joy of living, Ocean-depth of happy rest!
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Fountainhead of love divine:
Joyful, we Thy heav’n inherit! Joyful, we by grace are Thine!

Invocation
En el nombre del Padre, y del X Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo.
All Amen.

Confession and Forgiveness
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us
All But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse
us from all unrighteousness.
Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.
All Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.
Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.
All Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.
All Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.
Silence is Kept
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father:
All Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have
sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we
have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our
neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive
us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to
the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all
your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I forgive you all
your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All Amen.

The Kyrie

The Prayer of the Day
The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Let us pray.
All Heavenly Lord, you long for the world’s salvation: stir us from apathy, restrain us from
excess and revive in us new hope that all creation will one day be healed in Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.

The Scripture Readings
Zephaniah 1:7-16
Be silent before the Sovereign Lord, for the day of the Lord is near. The Lord has prepared a
sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. “On the day of the Lord’s sacrifice I will
punish the officials and the king’s sons and all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will
punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence
and deceit. “On that day,” declares the Lord, “a cry will go up from the Fish Gate, wailing
from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market
district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who trade with silver will be destroyed. At
that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are
like wine left on its dregs, who think, ‘The Lord will do nothing, either good or bad. Their
wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not
live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine.” The great day of the
Lord is near— near and coming quickly. The cry on the day of the Lord is bitter; the Mighty
Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath—a day of distress and anguish,
a day of trouble and ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a
day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you
know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are
saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a
pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness
so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of
the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others,
who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and
those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober,
putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God
did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He
died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.

The Gospel Procession
The Holy Gospel is read in the midst of the people as a reminder of God coming to us in Jesus Christ. As the Gospel is announced some make a small cross on their forehead, lips, and chest – a prayer that the Word would dwell in our minds, on our lips, and in our hearts.

Hail Thee, Festival Day (489)
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised, Breaking the kingdom of death.
Hail thee, festival day! Blest day to be hallowed forever;
Day when our Lord was raised, Breaking the kingdom of death.

A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew.
All Glory to You, O Lord.

Matthew 25:14-30
Jesus told his disciples this parable: “A man going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his
possessions to them. To one he gave five talents; to another, two; to a third, one- to each according
to his ability. Then he went away. Immediately the one who received five talents went and traded
with them, and made another five. Likewise, the one who received two made another two. But the
man who received one went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. “After
a long time the master of those servants came back and settled accounts with them. The one who
had received five talents came forward bringing the additional five. He said, ‘Master, you gave me
five talents. See, I have made five more.’ Hi master said to him, ‘Well done, my good and faithful
servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share
your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received two talents also came forward and said, ‘Master,
you gave me two talents. See, I have made two more.’ His master said to him, ‘Well done, my good
and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.
Come, share your master’s joy.’ Then the one who had received the one talent came forward and
said, ‘Master, I knew you were a demanding person, harvesting where you did not plant an
gathering where you did not scatter; so out of fear I went off and buried your talent in the ground.
Here it is back.’ His master said to him in reply, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest
where I did not plant and gather where I did not scatter? Should you not then have put my money in
the bank so that I could have got it back with interest on my return? Now then! Take the talent from
him and give it to the one with ten. For to everyone who has, more will be given and he will grow
rich; but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. And throw this useless
servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.'”
The Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.

The Apostle’s Creed
All I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into
heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come
to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the
forgiveness of sins, the resurrection X of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen

Alleluia Song of Gladness (417)
Alleluia, song of gladness, Voice of joy that cannot die;
Alleluia is the anthem Ever raised by choirs on high;
In the house of God abiding Thus they sing eternally.
Alleluia cannot always Be our song while here below;
Alleluia, our transgressions Make us for a while for-go;
For the solemn time is coming When our tears for sin must flow.
Therefore in our hymns we pray Thee, Grant us, blessed Trinity,
At the last to keep Thine Easter With Thy faithful saints on high;
There to Thee for ever singing Alleluia joyfully.

Sermon
The Offering

Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (805)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Silent Prayer Before Reception of Holy Eucharist
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ,
The Son of the living God, who came into the world
To save sinners of whom I am the first.
Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Lord,
For I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies,
Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, But like the thief I profess to you:
Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.
May the partaking of your Holy mysteries, O Lord,
Be not for my judgment or condemnation,
But for the healing of my soul and body.
O Lord, I believe and profess, that this,
Which I am about to receive,
Is truly your most precious Body, and your life-giving Blood,
Given for me for remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen

Service of the Sacrament
The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks,
holy Father, almighty and eternal God. From sunrise to sunset this day is holy, for Christ has
risen from the tomb and scattered the darkness of death with light that will not fade. This day
the risen Lord walks with us, unfolds for us His word, and makes himself known in the breaking
of the bread. And though the night will overtake this day you summon us to live in endless
light, the unending sabbath of the Lord. Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all
the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You
and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of Sabaoth adored;
Heaven and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.
Sing hosana in the highest, sing hosana to the Lord;
Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Prayer of Thanksgiving
Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You
created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior.
With repentant joy, we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice
of His body and His blood on the cross. Gathered in the name and the remembrance of
Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit.
Grant us to faithfully eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us to in His own testament.
Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate, with all the faithful, the marriage
feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Receive our prayers; deliver and
preserve us. To You alone be all glory, honor, and worship, now and forever.
All Amen.
The Consecration

The Acclamation and Invitation
As often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
All Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Behold the Lamb of God, behold Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are
those called to the supper of the Lamb.
All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
La paz del Señor sea con ustedes.
All Y Tambien contigo

Sharing of the Peace
Greet each other in the name of Christ by saying ‘the Peace of the Lord be with you’ as a sign of forgiveness & reconciliation in preparation for reception of the Blessed Sacrament.

Lamb of God
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution

Eucharistic Dismissal

Thank The Lord
Thank the Lord and sing His praise; Tell everyone what He has done.
Let everyone who seeks the Lord, Rejoice, and proudly bear His name.
He recalls His promises, and leads His people forth in joy
With shouts of thanksgiving. Alleluia, alleluia.

Post-Communion Prayer
We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary
gift, and we implore You, that of Your mercy, You would strengthen us in faith toward You
and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who
lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Announcements

The Blessing

Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds (465)
Now all the vault of Heav’n resounds in praise of love that still abounds:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear! Repeat their song of glory here:
“Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Eternal is the gift he brings, therefore our heart with rapture sings:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”
Now still he comes to give us life and by his presence stills all strife.
Christ has triumphed! He is living! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Oh, fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; set heart and will on things above
That we conquer through your triumph;
Grant grace sufficient for life’s day that by our lives we truly say:
“Christ has triumphed! He is living!” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Adoring praises now we bring and with the heav’nly blessed sing:
“Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!”
Be to the Father and our Lord, to Spirit blest, most holy God,
All the glory, never ending! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!