For the week of October 15-21 – 20th Sunday after Pentecost
Morning Prayer Powerful God, grant us the grace, courage, and wisdom to be dynamic disciples of Jesus Christ, filled with the mighty power of the Holy Spirit. Let the songs we sing this morning be manifested in our lives through our acts of holy boldness. Let us show the world that we are Your beloved community. We commit ourselves to dismantling oppressions that tear the fabric of humanity, and being menders and healers of that fabric because of our love for You. We pray this pray in the name of Jesus. Amen. (Discipleship Ministries)
- O worship the King, all glorious above, O gratefully sing God's power and God's love;
our Shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days, pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise. - O tell of God's might, O sing of God's grace, whose robe is the light, whose canopy space,
whose chariots of wrath the deep thunderclouds form,
and dark is God's path on the wings of the storm. - The earth with its store of wonders untold, Almighty, Thy power hath founded of old;
hath stablished it fast by a changeless decree, and round it hath cast, like a mantle, the sea. - Thy bountiful care, what tongue can recite? It breathes in the air, it shines in the light;
it streams from the hills, it descends to the plain, and sweetly distills in the dew and the rain. - Frail children of dust, and feeble as frail, in Thee do we trust, nor find Thee to fail;
Thy mercies how tender, how firm to the end, our Maker, Defender, Redeemer, and Friend.
Psalm 106:1-5
106 Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord because He is good, because His faithful love endures forever.
2 Who could possibly repeat all of the Lord’s mighty acts or publicly recount all His praise?
3 The people who uphold justice, who always do what is right, are truly happy!
4 Remember me, Lord, with the favor You show Your people.
Visit me with Your saving help 5 so I can experience the good things Your chosen ones experience, so I can rejoice in the joy of Your nation, so I can praise along with Your possession.
Children’s Time Philippians 4:6-9
Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Children’s Message
Paul is trying to encourage the new followers of Jesus in Philippi. There was a lot of unrest and chaos in the area and conflicting ideas about God, Jesus and the other gods being worshiped in the area. They were distressed and Paul was trying to ease that discomfort. His intention was to have them look at the things of God and think on those things.
Paul wasn’t trying to get them to look away from the suffering in the world or to look at everything with rose colored glasses, but was pointing them to the beauty of what God can and does do. God calls for justice, and when justice comes the aftermath is beautiful. They nor we are to ever forget that even in the unpleasantness, God works beauty and that is what we are to keep looking toward: the completion of God’s good work.
Prayers of Intercession: Thank You, Lord, for hearing our prayers for those dear to our hearts. We now pray as You have taught us: 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 sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us, not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
Offering spotlight: The Men’s Evergreen Bible Class is an active part of LUMC Church life. In addition to meeting with Mrs. Ent’s Class for study Sunday mornings, the men of this group can be counted on for supporting many ministries with their presence and funds. They cook, setup, repair, and lovingly care for us. According to a certificate that hangs in the sanctuary, The Evergreen Bible Class was certified by The Board of Sunday Schools of the Methodist Episcopal Church and The International Sunday School Association, the eighteenth day of April, 1916.
Offering prayer: Mighty and righteous God, as we bring our tithes and offerings to Your altar, we confess our sins and prejudices. We are quick to lose sight of You, even as we acknowledge Jesus has advocated for us with His very life. Help us to keep our focus as You light the pathway You would have us walk. We pray this with gratitude for Your love and in the name of Your Son, our Savior. Amen. (Discipleship Ministries)
Hymn #715 Rejoice, the Lord Is King
- Rejoice, the Lord is King! Your Lord and King adore; mortals, give thanks and sing,
and triumph evermore. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice; again I say, rejoice. - Jesus the Savior reigns, the God of truth and love; when He had purged our stains,
He took His seat above. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice, again I say, rejoice. - His kingdom cannot fail; He rules o'er earth and heaven; the keys of earth and hell
are to our Jesus given. Lift up your heart, lift up your voice; rejoice, again I say, rejoice. - Rejoice in glorious hope! Jesus the Judge shall come, and take His servants up
to their eternal home. We soon shall hear th'archangel's voice; the trump of God
shall sound, rejoice!
Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14
22 Jesus responded by speaking again in parables: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding party for his son. 3 He sent his servants to call those invited to the wedding party. But they didn’t want to come. 4 Again he sent other servants and said to them, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Look, the meal is all prepared. I’ve butchered the oxen and the fattened cattle. Now everything’s ready. Come to the wedding party!”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went away—some to their fields, others to their businesses. 6 The rest of them grabbed his servants, abused them, and killed them.
7 “The king was angry. He sent his soldiers to destroy those murderers and set their city on fire. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding party is prepared, but those who were invited weren’t worthy. 9 Therefore, go to the roads on the edge of town and invite everyone you find to the wedding party.’
10 “Then those servants went to the roads and gathered everyone they found, both evil and good. The wedding party was full of guests. 11 Now when the king came in and saw the guests, he spotted a man who wasn’t wearing wedding clothes. 12 He said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to his servants, ‘Tie his hands and feet and throw him out into the farthest darkness. People there will be weeping and grinding their teeth.’
14 “Many people are invited, but few people are chosen.”
Message: The Wedding Party Pastor Ron
Very unfortunately, Pastor Ron’s computer updated the program, and wiped out the sermon file. Please read and meditate on the Scriptures this week.
Hymn: #361 Rock of Ages
- Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee;
let the water and the blood, from Thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure. - Not the labors of my hands can fulfill Thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone. - Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to Thee for dress; helpless, look to Thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly; wash me, Savior, or I die. - While I draw this fleeting breath, when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown, see Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in Thee.
Go into your week with the blessings of The Father, The Son, The Holy Spirit.
