Sunday Worship - August 30, 2020, 9:30 a.m.

Here is the link to the livestream. 

Please note that beginning NEXT WEEKEND, Sunday worship will begin at 10:30 a.m.

THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

 

Evening Prayer, Wednesday, August 26, 7:00 pm

 

EVENING PRAYER for Wednesday after 12 Pentecost

Vespers

(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)

 

Sermon for Sunday, August 23, 2020

 Sermon – Matthew 16:13-20

¹³Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.

 

Thomas Jefferson had a book which he called ‘Morals of Jesus.’ It was his own creation. He took the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, in English, French, Latin, and Greek. Then he cut them up into sections and laid out the sections side by side, arranging them in the order that he thought the events happened, deleting any multiple narrations of the same event.

 

But Jefferson cut out any section that was related to the miracles of Jesus, because he did not believe that miracles could happen in a universe which was governed by natural law. It is not that he didn’t believe in a God, he just believed that God set up the universe with immutable laws which could not be broken. The stories of the miracles of the Gospels seemed to Jefferson to be remnants of an irrational past.

 

But that’s not all Jefferson did. He cut out all the sections which had to do with Jesus being the Son of God. He viewed this as superstition which was not really about Jesus’ actual purpose, which, for Jefferson, was to show us the way to salvation by living the life which God intended for us to live. For Jefferson, Jesus was a teacher of eternal truths. But you will look in vain in his version of the Gospels for the angels and the shepherds, the wise men, the resurrection, and even today’s story about Peter saying to Jesus, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.’

 

For Jefferson, Jesus was a great moral teacher. For many people of Jesus’ time, he was a prophet who spoke to tell of what God was going to do. But for Peter and the disciples he was God’s action for his people and for the world. Yes, he taught eternal truths, yes, he spoke of God’s will. But this did not go to his true identity – his identity of Messiah, anointed one, he who brings in the kingdom of God – and the Son of the living God, who reveals the Father to us.

 

This God is far different than Thomas Jefferson might have thought. This God is also far different than the people of Jesus’ time thought. This God is also different than Peter and the disciples initially thought. But Jesus will reveal his Father to us on the cross. And faith that he is the Messiah (the Christ) and the Son of God is the belief that creates the Church and makes it one.

 

I often like to call our attention to the fact that on any Sunday the vast Church worships around the world. We are not simply a few people in one room; but we are part of the great Church of every people, nation and language which worships the Triune God. In India, in China, in Venezuela, in Germany and Sweden, in Ethiopia, in Japan, in every country in the world and every city and town in the United States, the Church gathers to worship. And what unites us is not our people, nation, or language, not our worship style or even that we agree on how we ought to live our life together – it is our faith in Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah of Israel. It is upon this rock that the Church is built. It is upon this rock we stand for our individual futures and the future of the Church.

 

Where does this faith come from? We can be grateful that Thomas Jefferson, while not believing in the miracles of Jesus or his divine Sonship, did strongly believe that faith could not be forced on anyone. His ‘Bible’ was for his personal use and not a text which he published or tried to have enforced. He strongly believed that no government could prescribe, require, or enforce faith. That is something he shared, actually, with Martin Luther. And, ironically, with Jesus himself.

 

For Jesus says to Peter, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.’ For Jesus, faith is not a matter of our intelligence, our wisdom, our will. It is a gift of God. St. Paul says, ‘No one can say ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.’ The Holy Spirit creates whatever faith we have. We should never say, ‘I don’t have enough faith,’ for this is to discredit what God the Holy Spirit has done. And if we desire more faith, we ought not to try to produce it within ourselves, but we ought to ask the Holy Spirit.

 

Jesus calls Simon ‘blessed.’ And we are blessed, for God has given faith to us, in whatever size and shape it comes. And because God has given us the Spirit, we are children of God. Jesus is the Son of God by nature, begotten of the living Father before all ages. We are the sons and daughters of God by adoption, begotten of the Holy Spirit in time and for eternity. We rejoice that we are blessed, with Peter, to believe with him that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.

 

The Rev. Maurice C. Frontz,

St Stephen Lutheran Church

August 23, 2020

Order of Service for Sunday, August 23, 2020, 9:30 a.m.

 The link to the livestream may be found here.

The order of service is below:

Evening Prayer: Wednesday, August 19, 7 p.m.

The link to the livestream may be found here.

EVENING PRAYER for Wednesday after 11 Pentecost

Vespers

(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)

Sermon for Sunday, August 16

Click here to read the Gospel text

Sermon – Matthew 15:10-28

 

‘What comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart.’ We have three examples of words that, proceeding from the heart, revealing to Jesus, and to us, the faith and lack of faith of those who speak the words.

 

Order of Service - Sunday, August 16, 2020, 9:30 a.m.

 The livestream may be found here.

Click below to access the order of worship.

Evening Prayer: Wednesday, August 12, 2020

EVENING PRAYER for Wednesday after 10 Pentecost

Vespers

(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)

 

Sermon – Matthew 14:22-33

'If [Jesus] were simply another human being, we might well look to him for advice on how to handle this world. We might look to him to tell us what to do so that we could make it through life avoiding tragedy and receiving good things. We might even see his life as a life to imitate so that we can encounter God. But we wouldn’t look to him for salvation, because only God can save. When Jesus says, I am, that means that he can save, and the only one who can save is God. Therefore we may take courage and bid our fears cease.'

Order of Worship - Sunday, August 9, 2020, 9:30 a.m.

The livestream may be found here.

OPENING MUSIC                                                       O Day of Rest and Gladness

                                                                                                                Flor Peeters

 

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played:

 

1              O day of rest and gladness,

                O day of joy and light,

                O balm for care and sadness,

                most beautiful, most bright:

                on you the high and lowly,

                through ages joined in tune,

                sing, “Holy, holy, holy,”

                to the great God triune.

 

2              On you, at earth’s creation,

                the light first had its birth;

                on you, for our salvation,

                Christ rose from depths of earth;

                on you, our Lord victorious

                the Spirit sent from heav’n;

                and thus on you, most glorious,

                a threefold light was giv’n.

 

3              Today on weary nations

                the heav’nly manna falls;

                to holy convocations

                the silver trumpet calls,

                where gospel light is glowing

                with pure and radiant beams

                and living water flowing

                with soul-refreshing streams.

 

4             New graces ever gaining

                from this our day of rest,

                we reach the rest remaining

                to spirits of the blest.

                To Holy Ghost be praises,

                to Father, and to Son;

                the church its voice upraises

                to you, blest Three in One.

 

Text: Christopher Wordsworth, 1807-1885, alt.

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

 

BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

 

Stand

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

 

In the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

  Amen

 

Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Amen

 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

(1 John 1:8-9)

Silence for reflection and self-examination.

 

Most merciful God,

we confess that we are in bondage to sin

and cannot free ourselves.

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 us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the X Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

  Amen

 

THE HOLY COMMUNION

 

APOSTOLIC GREETING

 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,

and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

  And also with you.

(2 Corinthians 13:13)

KYRIE ELEISON

 

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.                                 Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above,

and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.       Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world,

for the well-being of the Church of God,

and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.    Lord, have mercy.

 For this holy house,

and for all who offer here their worship and praise,

let us pray to the Lord.                                                   Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort and defend us, gracious Lord.                       Amen

 

HYMN OF PRAISE

 

Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth.         

(Luke 2:14)

Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:

                We worship you, we give you thanks,

we praise you for your glory.

                Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father,

Lord God, Lamb of God:

                You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

                You are seated at the right hand of the Father;

receive our prayer.

                For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord,

                you alone are the Most High,

                Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen

 

 PRAYER OF THE DAY

 

The Lord be with you.

  And also with you.

 

God of all power,

your sovereign word comes to us in Christ.

  When your Church is in danger, make firm our trust;

  when your people falter, steady our faith.

Show us in Jesus your power to save,

that we may always acclaim him as Lord,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

God for ever and ever.

  Amen

CALL TO THE WORD

The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart.

  Let us hear the Word of the Lord.                                               Romans 10:8                                                              

Sit

FIRST READING                                                                         1 Kings 19:9-18

 

⁹At [Horeb, the mount of God,][Elijah] came to a cave, and spent the night there.
Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁰He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”
¹¹He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹²and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. ¹³When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” ¹⁴He answered, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.” ¹⁵Then the Lord said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram. ¹⁶Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place. ¹⁷Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill. ¹⁸Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

 

The Word of the Lord.                                                                                                  

  Thanks be to God.

 

PSALM 85:8-13

The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.

 

⁸ I will listen to what the Lord | God is saying,*

                for he is speaking peace to his faithful people

                and to those who turn their | hearts to him.

⁹ Truly, his salvation is very near to | those who fear him,*

                that his glory may dwell | in our land.

¹⁰ Mercy and truth have | met together;*

                righteousness and peace have | kissed each other.

¹¹ Truth shall spring up | from the earth,*

                and righteousness shall look | down from heaven.

¹² The Lord will indeed | grant prosperity,*

                and our land will | yield its increase.

¹³ Righteousness shall | go before him,*

                and peace shall be a pathway | for his feet.

 

SECOND READING                                                           Romans 10:5-15

               

⁵Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” ⁶But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷“or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’ ” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). ⁸But what does it say?
“The word is near you,
on your lips and in your heart”
(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); ⁹because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. ¹¹The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” ¹²For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. ¹³For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
¹⁴But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? ¹⁵And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

 

The Word of the Lord.                                                 

  Thanks be to God.

 

Stand 

VERSE                 

Alleluia. Faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

  the conviction of things not seen. Alleluia.

                                                           Hebrews 11:1

 

GOSPEL                                                                                    Matthew 14:22-33

 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.

  Glory to you, O Lord.

 

²²[Jesus] made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while he dismissed the crowds.²³And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, ²⁴but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. ²⁵And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. ²⁶But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”
²⁸Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” ²⁹He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. ³³And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

The Gospel of the Lord.

  Praise to you, O Christ.

 

Sit

SERMON                                                                  

                                               

HYMN OF THE DAY                                       Lord, Take My Hand and Lead Me

 

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.

 

1      Lord, take my hand and lead me

        upon life's way;

        direct, protect, and feed me

        from day to day.

        Without your grace and favor

        I go astray;

        so take my hand, O Savior,

        and lead the way.

 

2      Lord, when the tempest rages,

        I need not fear;

        for you, the Rock of Ages,

        are always near.

        Close by your side abiding,

        I fear no foe,

        for when your hand is guiding,

        in peace I go.

 

3      Lord, when the shadows lengthen

        and night has come,

        I know that you will strengthen

        my steps toward home,

        then nothing can impede me,

        O blessed Friend!

        So, take my hand and lead me

        unto the end.

 

Text: Julie von Hausmann, 1825-1901; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship

Text © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress.

Stand

CONFESSION OF FAITH

The pastor and people confess the faith of the Church in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.

 

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

                creator of heaven and earth.

 

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.

                He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit

                                and born of the virgin Mary.

                He suffered under Pontius Pilate,

                                was crucified, died, and was buried.

                He descended into hell.

                On the third day he rose again.

                He ascended into heaven,

                                and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

                He will come again to judge the living and the dead.

 

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

                the holy catholic Church,

                the communion of saints,

                the forgiveness of sins,

                the resurrection of the body,

                and the life everlasting. Amen

 

PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH

 

Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

 

A brief silence is kept.

                     

Gracious Father, your Son Jesus Christ came to his disciples in distress and said to them, ‘Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.’ Grant that your Church may rejoice in your salvation, fear nothing but losing you, and that we may follow with faith wherever your beloved Son leads us. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

 The apostle taught, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ Give us the Spirit to call upon you at every time of need, for forgiveness, life, and salvation. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

The apostle taught, ‘the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him.’ Still the storms of violence and destruction in the world, so that war may cease and people may live in peace to worship you. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

The prophet Elijah was persecuted for his faith in you, and you sustained and restored him. Give the Spirit of zeal and steadfastness to all who are persecuted, ridiculed, and whose lives are threatened for the sake of Jesus Christ. Shelter them with your Word of comfort and promise. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

We give thanks to you, Lord, for mercies given, especially for the marriage of Matt and Taylor Aranda. We pray to you, O Lord, for those on our hearts: our sick family members and friends; for our personal healing; for the healing of all. With Peter we cry out: ‘Lord, save us!’

 

The people may offer spoken or silent petitions or praises.

 

Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

O God, who stilled the roaring of the sea and came to Elijah in the silence, calm our hearts and minds, that we may put our trust in you. Remembering the dead who have reached the safe harbor of your home, we ask that we may also live in quiet confidence until the day salvation is revealed to all. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

  Amen

 

PEACE

The peace of the Lord be with you always.

  And also with you.

The people exchange a sign of peace with the simple words, Peace be with you.

Sit

The Lord’s Table is prepared.

 

Stand

PRAYER OF PREPARATION

 

Lord, come to us and cleanse us,

come to us and heal us,

come to us and strengthen us,

  and grant that, having received you,

  we may never be separated from you,

  but continue yours forever.

 

GREAT THANKSGIVING

The Great Thanksgiving begins with the Preface, leading into the Sanctus:

 

The Lord be with you.                                   

  And also with you.                     

Lift up your hearts.                                         

  We lift them to the Lord.                        

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.                                  

  It is right to give him thanks and praise.

 

  It is indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.

  It is he who came to Elijah in the silence and to the disciples upon the water and who now comes to us in the mystery of this Holy Sacrament;

and with them we stand in awe before him, sanctifying him as Lord on our lips and in our hearts.

  And so with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

Holy, holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!

Heaven and earth are full of your glory;

Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!

Hosanna in the highest!                                                  (Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9)

 

 The pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:

 

 You are indeed holy, almighty and merciful God;

you are most holy, and great is the majesty of your glory.

You so loved the world that you gave your only Son,

that whoever believes in him

may not perish but have eternal life.

Having come into the world, he fulfilled for us your holy will

                and accomplished our salvation.

 

In the night in which he was betrayed,

                our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;

                broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:

                Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

 

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,

                and gave it for all to drink, saying:

                This cup is the new covenant in my blood,

                shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.

Do this for the remembrance of me.

 

Remembering, therefore, his salutary command,

                his life-giving Passion and death,

                his glorious resurrection and ascension,

and his promise to come again,

                we give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

                not as we ought, but as we are able;

and we implore you mercifully

to accept our praise and thanksgiving,

and, with your Word and Holy Spirit,

to bless us, your servants,

and these your own gifts of bread and wine;

that we and all who share

in the body and blood of your Son

may be filled with heavenly peace and joy,

and, receiving the forgiveness of sin,

may be sanctified in soul and body,

and have our portion with all your saints.

 

All honor and glory are yours, O God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

                in your holy Church, now and forever.  Amen

In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using the words he gave us.

 

Christ is in our midst.

                By the power of the Spirit,

                we pray to his Father, saying:

 

 

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                               (Matthew 6:9-15)

 

We adore Christ with the words of the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).

 

With the disciples we worship, saying,

  ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’                                                                                                               (Matthew 14:33)

 

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.

(John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13)

 

 DISTRIBUTION

Admission to the Sacrament is by invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.

 

They may receive the Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.

 

The communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all the way to the table until the pastor has retreated,  and please do not remove your mask until you have reached the table with the elements on it.

 

 When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ, given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed for you,’ drink the wine.  Please take the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated. Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.

 

Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.

Precious Lord, Take My Hand 

 

1              Precious Lord, take my hand,

                lead me on, let me stand,

                I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.

                Through the storm, through the night,

                lead me on to the light,

                take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

               

2              When my way grows drear,

                precious Lord, linger near,

                when my life is almost gone,

                hear my cry, hear my call,

                hold my hand lest I fall.

                Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

 

 3              When the darkness appears

                and the night draws near,

                and the day is past and gone,

                at the river I stand,

                guide my feet, hold my hand.

                Take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.

               

Text: George N. Allen, 1844; Music: Thomas A. Dorsey, 1899-1993

 

 

When all have received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.

 

The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.    

  Amen

 

Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;

your word has been fulfilled.

My own eyes have seen the salvation

which you have prepared in the sight of every people:

A light to reveal you to the nations

and the glory of your people Israel.

Glory 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                                       Song of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)

 

 

O Christ, Lamb of God pure and holy,

O Wisdom, Word, and Power of God,

  Grant that we may more perfectly partake of you

  in the days which know no ending in your kingdom;

for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever.

  Amen                                                

 

BENEDICTION

The Lord bless you and keep you.

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

The Lord look upon you with favor and X give you peace.

 (Numbers 6:24-26)

 

 

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.

  Thanks be to God!

 

CLOSING MUSIC                                                              On Our Way Rejoicing

 

1      On our way rejoicing

        gladly let us go.

        Christ our Lord has conquered;

        vanquished is the foe.

        Christ without, our safety;

        Christ within, our joy;

        who, if we be faithful,

        can our hope destroy?

 

Refrain

        On our way rejoicing;

        as we forward move,

        hearken to our praises,

        O blest God of love!

 

2      Unto God the Father

        joyful songs we sing;

        unto God the Savior

        thankful hearts we bring;

        unto God the Spirit

        bow we and adore,

        on our way rejoicing

        now and evermore.  Refrain

 

Text: John S. B. Monsell, 1811-1875, alt.