Prelude Liz Nguyen & Priscilla Silver
Celebrating the Saints
P: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.
C: We have an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading.
P: Today we remember members of this congregation along with Christian friends and relatives whom our heavenly Father has called out of this life during the past year. We remember them and thank God for the gifts he has given us through them.
Frank Bays, Iva Lee Skov-Coleman, Anne Dreissnack, Elizabeth Elder, Ray Elliott, Butler Felts, Lillian Green, June Henson, Gail Leeper, Millie Mattis, Dale Merril, Sam Orr, Linda Perez, Evelyn Riemer, Harold Schoeneman, Jeanene Steven, Donna Wade, and Herman Ulrich
P: God our Father, throughout the history of the church, you have stood by all your saints. Stay with us this day and every day, for the sake of Jesus Christ, crucified, dead, risen, ascended, living and reigning with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen
Confession and Absolution P: Pastor C: Congregation
P: The Apostle Paul says that all of us have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. Let us confess our sins to God knowing that we have been justified by his grace as a gift.
C: 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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.
P: 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 therefore declare to you the forgiveness of all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. You are forgiven!
C: Amen.
Apostolic Greeting, Prayer of the Day & Sharing of the Peace
Children’s Catecheses Russell Lackey
Scripture Readings Phil Koerner
Revelation 7:9-17..........................................................................................page 1921
Hebrews 12:1-2............................................................................................page 1877
Matthew 5:1-12............................................................................................page 1501
L: The Word of the Lord
C: Thanks be to God!
Anthem Chancel Choir
“Canticle of Heaven” -Courtney
Special Music Ian Byrd
Sermon Russell Lackey
“A Cloud of Witnesses”
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen
Gifts of Thanksgiving
“Deep River” -Mark Hayes
Prayers of the People Ken Keane
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.
Lord’s Supper
The Great Thanksgiving
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Words of Institution
Post Communion Prayer
P: Almighty God, you bring your people together in one holy communion, the body of our Lord. Lead us to follow your saints and to know the inexpressible joys that you have prepared for those who love you.
C: Amen.
Benediction
P: You are free in Christ! Go in peace.
C: Thanks be to God!
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