The Third Sunday of End Time – The Saints Triumphant November 14, 2021

Today’s Theme for Worship: We share a communion or fellowship with believers of all time. We thank God for the saints who have gone home. We watch and pray with those who are still with us.

Opening Hymn 147 Like the Golden Sun Ascending

1 Like the golden sun ascending,

Breaking through the gloom of night,

On the earth its glory spending

So that darkness takes to flight,

Thus my Jesus from the grave

And death’s dismal, dreadful cave

Rose triumphant Easter morning

At the early purple dawning.

2 Thanks to you, O Christ victorious!

Thanks to you, O Lord of life!

Death has now no power o’er us,

You have conquered in the strife.

Thanks because you did arise

And have opened paradise!

None can fully sing the glory

Of the resurrection story.

3 You have died for my transgression;

All my sins on you were laid.

You have won for me salvation;

On the cross my debt was paid.

From the grave I shall arise

And shall meet you in the skies.

Death itself is transitory;

I shall lift my head in glory.

4 Grant me grace, O blessed Savior,

And your Holy Spirit send

That my life and my behavior

May be pleasing to the end,

That I may not fall again

Into death’s grim pit and pain,

Whence by grace you have retrieved me

And from which you have relieved me.

5 For the joy your advent gave me,

For your gospel’s great reward,

For your baptism which has saved me,

For your supper and your Word,

For your death, the bitter scorn,

For your resurrection morn:

Lord, I thank you and extol you,

And in heav’n I shall behold you.

Text: Thomas H. Kingo, 1634-1703, abr.; tr. George A. T. Rygh, 1860-1942, alt.

P: The grace of our Lord + Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

C: And also with you.

Confession of Sins

P: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.

C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.

P: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.

C: Amen.

P: In the peace of forgiveness, let us praise the Lord.

♬ Oh Taste And See

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

Bless-ed are they who take re-fuge in him.

Your Word, O Lord, is e-ter-nal;

it stands firm in the heav-ens.

Your faith-ful-ness con-tin-ues for-ev-er.

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good.

Bless-ed are they who take re-fuge in him.

Prayer of the Day

P: Let us Pray.

Almighty God and Savior, you have set the final day and hour when we shall be delivered from this world of sin and death. Keep us ever watchful for the coming of your Son that we may sit with him and all your holy ones at the marriage feast in heaven; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: ♬ Amen.

First Lesson: Daniel 12:1-3

Then at that time, Michael, the great prince who stands over your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress that has not happened from the first time that there was a nation until that time.

At that time your people will be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. ²Many who are sleeping in the dusty ground will awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame, to everlasting contempt. ³Those who have insight will shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who bring many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.

Psalm of the Day Psalm 118

Refrain

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!

The LORD is my strength and my song;*

he has become my salvation.

The LORD’S right hand is lifted high;*

the LORD’S right hand has done mighty things!

I will not die but live,*

and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

Refrain

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!

I will give you thanks, for you answered me;*

you have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone;*

the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day the LORD has made;*

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son*

and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning,*

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Refrain

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad!

Second Lesson: Hebrews 10:11-18

¹¹In the one case, every priest stood ministering day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which are never able to remove sin. ¹²In the other case, this priest, after he offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. ¹³Since then he has been waiting until his enemies are made a footstool under his feet. ¹⁴By only one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being sanctified.

¹⁵The Holy Spirit also testifies in Scripture to us, for first he said:

¹⁶This is the covenant I will make with them

after those days, says the Lord.

I will put my laws on their hearts

and I will write them on their mind.

¹⁷Then he adds:

And I will not remember their sins and their lawlessness any longer.

¹⁸Now where these sins are forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.

Verse:
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

These words are written that we may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Gospel: John 5:25-29

²⁵“Amen, Amen, I tell you: A time is coming and is here now when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who listen will live. ²⁶For just as the Father has life in himself, so also he has granted the Son to have life in himself. ²⁷And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

²⁸“Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice ²⁹and will come out. Those who have done good will rise to live, but those who have practiced evil will rise to be condemned.”

P: This the gospel of our Lord.

C: ♬ Praise be to you, O Christ!

Responsive Reading: Saints Triumphant

M: With thanksgiving and praise, O Lord, we remember all your faithful servants who throughout the ages have witnessed to your name,the mighty and the lowly, great leaders and humble men and women, those who have served you in prosperity and those who in the day of trouble have not failed. We rejoice that they now rest from their labors in your presence.

C: You are the rest of the blessed dead. We thank you for all who have died in the peace of Christ. We thank you for those whom you gave to our congregation for a time as a blessing but have now called home. We remember their names before you.

M: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.

C: And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John 11:25-26

M: Dorothy Jirtle February 18, 2021

M: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

C: Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Col. 3:1-2)

M: John Albrough April 15, 2021

M: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.

C: And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God. (Job 19:25-26)

M: Zachary Beach July 25, 2021

M: Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

C: We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

M: Ruth Gosko September 10, 2021

Be faithful, even to the point of death.

C: And I will give you the crown of life. Revelation 2:10

M: Gene Preston October 19, 2021

M: Thanks be to God.

C: He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:57

Silent prayer as we remember other members of the saints triumphant

M: Heavenly Father, we recall with gratitude what you have done for us and for your Church through these saints. May their good works, which were prompted by your love in Christ and performed to your glory while here on earth, encourage us to live for you.

As we join our worship and work with theirs, may we acknowledge ourselves to be part of that great cloud of witnesses from every age and place.

C: Unite all your people in the true faith, in the hope of an eternity at your side, and in the love that reveals us to be your children.

M: Through your Word, remind us who have not yet reached heaven that we remain part of the saints militant. Fill us with your Spirit, so that we continue to wage war for you, as our Christian forefathers did—battling against our sinful flesh, winning souls for Christ, and combating the deadly influence of Satan in this world.

C: Uphold your promise to use your Word and Sacraments to keep us in the faith so that,

when our work on earth is done, we may join the saints triumphant.

Hymn of the Day: 207 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near

1 The day is surely drawing near When God’s Son, the Anointed,

Shall with great majesty appear As judge of all appointed.

All mirth and laughter then shall cease When flames on flames will still increase,

As Scripture truly teaches.

2 A trumpet loud shall then resound And all the earth be shaken.

Then all who in their graves are found Shall from their sleep awaken

And with the living in that hour By the Almighty’s boundless pow’r

Be changed at his commanding.

3 A book is opened then to all, A record truly telling

What each has done, both great and small, When he on earth was dwelling,

And ev’ry heart be clearly seen, And all be known as they have been

In thoughts and words and actions.

4 Then woe to those who scorned the Lord And sought but carnal pleasures,

Who here despised his precious Word And loved their earthly treasures!

With shame and trembling they will stand And at the judge’s stern command

To Satan be delivered.

5 My Savior paid the debt I owe And for my sin was smitten;

Within the Book of Life I know My name has now been written.

I will not doubt, for I am free, And Satan cannot threaten me;

There is no condemnation!

6 O Jesus Christ, do not delay, But hasten our salvation;

We often tremble on our way In fear and tribulation.

Your saints are waiting patiently; Come soon, Redeemer; make us free

From ev’ry evil. Amen.

Text: Bartholomäus Ringwaldt, 1532-99, abr.; tr. Philip A. Peter, 1832-1919, alt.

Sermon

Apostles Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe 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 is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there 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 of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Offering

You can give your offerings from your smartphone with the new Vanco Mobile app, which can be downloaded for free at Google Play or the App Store. You can also give at holytrinitylutheranwyoming.com by clicking the Offerings link at the top of the page. If you have any questions about any of these options, please contact Dave Vogel at financialsecretary@holytrinity-wels.net or 616-808-6320.

Prayer of the Church

Hymn: 728 Jerusalem the Golden

1 Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest—

The sight of it refreshes The weary and oppressed:

I know not, oh, I know not What joys await us there,

What radiancy of glory, What bliss beyond compare:

To sing the hymn unending With all the martyr throng,

Amidst the halls of Zion Resounding full with song.

2 Oh, sweet and blessed country, The home of God’s elect!

Oh, sweet and blessed country That eager hearts expect,

Where they who with their leader Have conquered in the fight

Forever and forever Are clad in robes of white.

Jesus in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest

Where sings the host of heaven Your glorious name to bless.

3 The Christ is ever with them; The daylight is serene.

The pastures of the blessed Are ever rich and green.

There is the throne of David; And there from care released,

The shout of them that triumph, The song of them that feast.

To God enthroned in glory The Church’s voices blend,

The Lamb forever blessed, The Light that knows no end.

This twelfth century hymn, first conceived by Bernard of Cluny, depicts an idyllic, heavenly scene. The hymn is gloriously set to the English folk tune THAXTED.

Text: Bernard of Cluny, 12^th century

Prayer and Blessing

P: Almighty God, we thank you for teaching us the things you want us to believe and do. Help us by your Holy Spirit to keep your Word in pure hearts that we may be strengthened in faith, guided in holiness, and comforted in life and in death, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: ♬ A-men.

P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.

The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace.

C: ♬ A-men, A-men, A-men

Closing Hymn: 219 Lord, When Your Glory I Shall See

Lord, when your glory I shall see

And taste your kingdom’s pleasure,

Your blood my royal robe shall be,

My joy beyond all measure!

When I appear before your throne,

Your righteousness shall be my crown;

With these I need not hide me.

And there, in garments richly wrought,

As your own bride I shall be brought

To stand in joy beside you.

Text: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-76, abr.; tr. The Lutheran Hymnal, St. Louis, 1941, alt.