Sunday Worship - November 8, 2020 - 10:30 a.m.

 The livestream may be found here.

The order of service is below.

Preparation for Worship

Upon reaching your place, you may wish to read Psalm 84 in silence:

 

¹ How dear to me is your dwelling, O | Lord of hosts!*

                My soul has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;

                my heart and my flesh rejoice in the | living God.

² The sparrow has found her a house

and the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young,*

                by the side of your altars, O Lord of hosts,

my King | and my God.

³ Happy are they who dwell | in your house!*

                They will always be | praising you.

⁴ Happy are the people whose strength | is in you,*

                whose hearts are set on the | pilgrims' way.

⁵ Those who go through the desolate valley

will find it a | place of springs,*

                for the early rains have covered it with | pools of water.

⁶ They will climb from | height to height,*

                and the God of gods will reveal him- | self in Zion.

⁷ Lord God of hosts, | hear my prayer;*

                hearken, O | God of Jacob.

⁸ Behold our defend- | er, O God;*

                and look upon the face of | your anointed.

⁹ For one day in your courts

is better than a thousand in | my own room,*

                and to stand at the threshold of the house of my God

                than to dwell in the tents | of the wicked.

¹⁰ For the Lord God is both | sun and shield;*

                he will give | grace and glory;

¹¹ no good thing will the | Lord withhold*

                from those who walk | with integrity.

¹² O | Lord of hosts,*

                happy are they who put their | trust in you!

 

You may pray the following prayers:

 

Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God: hear our prayer and send your holy angel from heaven to guard, protect, visit, and defend all those who assemble together in this house; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

Most gracious God, incline your merciful ears to our prayers and enlighten our hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may approach your Holy Mysteries with believing hearts and love you with an everlasting love.

 

OPENING MUSIC                                              Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying

                             J.S. Bach

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

 

1              Wake, awake, for night is flying,

                the watchmen on the heights are crying;

                awake, Jerusalem, at last.

                Midnight hears the welcome voices,

                and at the thrilling cry rejoices:

                “Come forth, you maidens! Night is past.

                The bridegroom comes! Awake;

                your lamps with gladness take!”

                Alleluia!

                Prepare yourselves to meet the Lord,

                whose light has stirred the waiting guard.

 

2              Zion hears the watchmen singing,

                and in her heart new joy is springing.

                She wakes, she rises from her gloom,

                for her Lord comes down all-glorious,

                the strong in grace, in truth victorious.

                Her star is ris’n; her light is come.

                Oh, come, you Blessed One,

                Lord Jesus, God’s own Son.

                Sing hosanna!

                We go until the halls we view

                where you have bid us dine with you.

 

3              Now let all the heav’ns adore you,

                and saints and angels sing before you.

                The harps and cymbals all unite.

                Of one pearl each shining portal,

                where, dwelling with the choir immortal,

                we gather round your dazzling light.

                No eye has seen, no ear

                has yet been trained to hear,

                what joy is ours!

                Crescendos rise; your halls resound;

                hosannas blend in cosmic sound.

 

Text: Philipp Nicolai, 1556-1608; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1829-1878, 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

 

In the mercy of Almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake the Father forgives you all your sins. To those who believe in Jesus Christ he gives the power to become the children of God and bestows on them 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.

 

Brighten your Church, O God, with the promise of your kingdom

and awaken our hearts to its light.

  Bid us hasten with faith undimmed

  to greet the bridegroom’s return and to enter the wedding feast.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

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

one God, now and forever.

  Amen

 

CALL TO THE WORD
Let those who love your salvation

                say forever, ‘Great is the LORD!’

  Let us hear the Word of the Lord.                                              Psalm 70:4

 

                                               

Sit

First READING                                                                           Amos 5:18-24

 

¹⁸Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!
  Why do you want the day of the Lord?
 It is darkness, not light;
  ¹⁹as if someone fled from a lion,
  and was met by a bear;
 or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,
  and was bitten by a snake.
 ²⁰Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
  and gloom with no brightness in it?
 ²¹I hate, I despise your festivals,
  and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
 ²²Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
  I will not accept them;
 and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
  I will not look upon.
 ²³Take away from me the noise of your songs;
  I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
 ²⁴But let justice roll down like waters,
  and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

 

The Word of the Lord.                                                            Thanks be to God.

PSALM 70

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

 

¹ Be pleased, O God, to de- | liver me;*

                O Lord, make | haste to help me.

² Let those who seek my life

be ashamed and altogeth- | er dismayed;* 

                let those who take pleasure in my misfortune

draw back and  be disgraced.

³ Let those who say to me "Aha!" and gloat over | me turn back,*

                because they | are ashamed.

⁴ Let all who seek you rejoice and be | glad in you;*

                let those who love your salvation say forever,

 "Great | is the Lord!"

⁵ But as for me, I am | poor and needy;*

                come to me speedi- | ly, O God.

⁶ You are my helper and | my deliverer;*

                O Lord, | do not tarry.

 

SECOND READING                                                 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

 

¹³We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. ¹⁵For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. ¹⁶For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words.

 

The Word of the Lord.                                                            Thanks be to God.

 

Stand                       

VERSE                 

Alleluia. Keep awake, therefore,

  for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. Alleluia.

                                                         Matthew 24:42

Gospel                                                                                       Matthew 25:1-13

 

The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.

  Glory to you, O Lord.

 

[Jesus said to the disciples:] ¹“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹²But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ ¹³Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

 

The Gospel of the Lord.                                

  Praise to you, O Christ.

 

 

Sit

SERMON                                                          

                                                                       

 

HYMN OF THE DAY                                                     Rejoice, Rejoice Believers

 

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

 

1      Rejoice, rejoice, believers,

        and let your lights appear;

        the evening is advancing,

        and darker night is near.

        The bridegroom is arising

        and soon is drawing nigh.

        Up, pray and watch and wrestle;

        at midnight comes the cry.

 

2      The watchers on the mountain

        proclaim the bridegroom near;

        go forth as he approaches

        with alleluias clear.

        The marriage feast is waiting;

        the gates wide open stand.

        Arise, O heirs of glory;

        the bridegroom is at hand.

 

3      The saints, who here in patience

        their cross and suff'rings bore,

        shall live and reign forever

        when sorrow is no more.

        Around the throne of glory

        the Lamb they shall behold;

        in triumph cast before him

        their diadems of gold.

 

4     Our hope and expectation,

        O Jesus, now appear;

        arise, O Sun so longed for,

        o'er this benighted sphere.

        With hearts and hands uplifted,

        we plead, O Lord, to see

        the day of earth's redemption

        that sets your people free!

 

Text: Laurentius Laurenti, 1660-1722; tr. Sarah B. Findlater, 1823-1907

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

 

Made one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Father for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.

 

A brief silence is kept.

                     

Father, we rejoice in the banquet you are preparing for your people. Give us the faith to watch for the great day of fulfillment, and to see signs of your presence in our midst. Lord, in your mercy,
  hear our prayer.

We rejoice in the banquet you have prepared for us on earth, the meal of your Son which sustains us in our watching, uniting us with him. Give us the grace to celebrate with him his victory over sin and death, never neglecting the meal he deeply desires to share with us. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

We rejoice in your Word that comforts us when we grieve and calls us to account when we neglect righteousness. Give power to all who preach the Word and all who hear it. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

We rejoice in your justice. Preserve peace and justice in our land. Give your blessing to the leaders of our nation, states, and municipalities, especially to those newly elected to office, and help them to seek the truth. Grant us the desire and the ability to do justice and live in righteousness in our own lives. Lord, in your mercy,
  hear our prayer.

 

We rejoice in your presence with the persecuted Church, and we ask that you would unite our thoughts, prayers, and deeds with them as they suffer for the name of Christ. Give them hope in that day when the dead are raised. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

We rejoice in your promise of the healing of the world, when all that is broken will be made whole. We rejoice in the signs of that healing in our own lives and in the lives of others. Give those signs to those we name before you:

 

The People may offer silent or spoken intercessions and thanksgivings.

 

Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

We rejoice in the promise of the resurrection of the dead, and that we need not grieve as those who have no hope. We bless you for those who have gone before us, and look with joy and longing to that day when we will be together with them to be with you forever. Lord, in your mercy,

  hear our prayer.

 

Into your hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through 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

 

God of all creation, all you have made is good,

and your love endures forever.

You bring forth bread from the earth and fruit from the vine.

  Nourish us with these gifts,

  that we may be for the world signs of your gracious presence

  in Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

 

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 your Son, Jesus Christ:

  Today we gather at his table for his Holy Supper, the foretaste of that great wedding feast to come when you will unite heaven and earth in a single peace and bring with Christ all who have died in faith.

  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:

 

 We praise and thank you, O God,

           for in your infinite goodness you have created us

           to receive and rejoice in your love and mercy. 

 

In the fullness of time and according to your purposes

           you sent your beloved Son,

           our Lord Jesus Christ, born of Mary. 

 

He came to proclaim the Kingdom;

           He healed the sick and numbered Himself among sinners;

           He poured Himself out in death,               

           giving His life as our ransom and our righteousness.

 

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.

 

Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:

                Christ has died.

                Christ is risen.

                Christ will come again.

 

Holy Father,

                as we remember our Lord's life and passion,

           His resurrection and ascension,

           we give you our thanks and bless your holy name. 

 

Because your Son has made us His fellow-servants,

           a holy priesthood, a people set apart, we pray:

 

Send now His life-giving Spirit

           upon this Bread of Life and this Cup of Blessing,

           that we and all who partake

           of Christ's body and blood

           may find our unity in Him

           and our lives defined by His cross,

           as we await His final coming as Lord of love.

 

Through Him, with Him, in Him,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

all honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father,

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).

 

Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb. Alleluia.

  Let us rejoice and exult and give God the glory. Alleluia.

                                                                                                      (Revelation 19:9, 7)

 

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.

 

Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness

 

1              Soul, adorn yourself with gladness,

                leave the gloomy haunts of sadness,

                come into the daylight’s splendor,

                there with joy your praises render.

                Bless the one whose grace unbounded

                this amazing banquet founded;

                he, though heav’nly, high, and holy,

                deigns to dwell with you most lowly.

 

2              Hasten as a bride to meet him,

                eagerly and gladly greet him.

                There he stands already knocking;

                quickly, now, your gate unlocking,

                open wide the fast-closed portal,

                saying to the Lord immortal:

                “Come, and leave your loved one never;

                dwell within my heart forever.”

 

 

3              Now in faith I humbly ponder

                over this surpassing wonder

                that the bread of life is boundless

                though the souls it feeds are countless;

                with the choicest wine of heaven

                Christ’s own blood to us is given.

                Oh, most glorious consolation,

                pledge and seal of my salvation.

 

4             Jesus, source of lasting pleasure,

                truest friend, and dearest treasure,

                peace beyond all understanding,

                joy into all life expanding:

                humbly now, I bow before you,

                love incarnate, I adore you;

                worthily let me receive you,

                and, so favored, never leave you.

 

Text: Johann Franck, 1618-1677; tr. Lutheran Book of Worship, 1978

© 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress

 

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)

 

 

 

 

 

Almighty Father, you gave your Son

both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life.

  Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving,

  and to conform our lives to his;

through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you 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.

  Amen                                                                                                  (Numbers 6:24-26)

 

DISMISSAL

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.                                          

  Thanks be to God!

 

CLOSING MUSIC                                                  Crown Him with Many Crowns

 

Please maintain social distance and remain masked while exiting the building. Please sanitize your hands before leaving the building.

 

 

OUR STEWARDSHIP of GOD’S GIFTS

                                                

Last Weekend’s Attendance:   8 + 22 = 30

                                                                       

Offering: 11/1/2020

                Towards Budget:                                 $            3,613.00

Itemized Non Budget:

                       Food Bank:                                 $     106.00

 

                                  Total:                        $          3,719.00

 

The Altar Flowers are given to the Glory of God by Divya Bejjam in honor of her grandmother’s anniversary.

 

 

V IN YOUR PRAYERS 

Linda Armento, at home

Matthew Armento, at Allegheny General Hospital

Mary Jo Bondi, at home

Ruth Duessel, at Concordia, Rebecca

Pastor Carl Hendrickson, at home

Elsie Kemmler and Bill Roth at Concordia, South Hills

David Noel, at Kane Rehab, Scott Township

Geneva Schrag, at Consulate Health Care, Canonsburg

William Wetzel at Concordia, Cabot

 

 

 

REMINDERS FOR THOSE PLANNING TO ATTEND WORSHIP SERVICES

 

·         If you wish to attend worship, you will need to pre-register every week by either calling the office or sending an email.

·         Registration ends Saturday at 12 noon.

·         Masks are required to be worn while in the building.

·         Upon entering and leaving the church, you must sanitize your hands or wash them with soap and water.

·         Everyone must sign in when entering the church. This way we can keep track of who was in the church and when.

 

WORSHIP SERVICES are held every Saturday evening at 6:30 PM and Sunday morning at 10:30 AM. Pastor Frontz also livestreams Compline (Prayer at the Close of the Day) on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. and Vespers (Evening Prayer) on Wednesday at 7 p.m. These can be accessed on the church’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ststephenpittsburgh).

FALL IS HERE! This means that the acorns and leaves are busy falling. The Trustees could use your help cleaning and raking up around the church property.  So if you are willing and able, please consider helping out.  As always, your help is appreciated. Thank you.

 

ADDITIONAL COPIES of the November Newsletter are available in the Narthex.

 

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS: Please order Christmas poinsettias by sign-up sheet at worship or by emailing or calling the church office. The poinsettias are available in white, pink, or red and the cost is $7 per pot. The deadline for placing your order is Sunday, December 6, 2020.

 

KINDLY REMEMBER TO PAY FOR THE FLOWERS you ordered for the weekend Altar and for the special occasions.  Altar flowers are $20/vase. Checks can be made out to St. Stephen Lutheran Church with a notation “flowers” and placed in the offering plate.

 

ALTAR FLOWERS FOR 2021: Please see the sign-up sheet available in the Narthex for altar flowers. If you are unable to sign-up in person, you may call or email the office to make a request for a date(s). We will assign date(s) in the order in which the requests are received. The process will repeat until the slots are filled. We appreciate your cooperation and understanding. The cost per arrangement will be $20.

 

DAILY DEVOTIONS, including THE WORD IN SEASON, PORTALS OF PRAYER AND CHRIST IN OUR HOME (October, November, and December 2020) are available on the table in the Narthex. Take one or more to share with family and friends. If you are able, a donation would be welcomed to help defray the cost to the congregation for these resources. Thank you!

 

2020 ‘DAILY TEXTS’ are available in the Narthex. A donation of

$10 per book would be appreciated to help cover the cost of the books. Thank you.

 

ST STEPHEN COUNSELING CENTER: A site of Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute/PPI). For marriage, family, teen and individual counseling – for first appointment call PPI at 412-661-1239. St. Stephen Center is

412-279-5452. Counseling opens doors to hope. Counselor: Caroline Graham-McGuire.

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.

Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #20540.

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Opening Prayers: Collects in Contemporary Language,

copyright 1997 International Commission on English in the Liturgy. All rights reserved.

Eucharistic Prayer reprinted by permission from A Little Book of Canons by Rod L. Ronneberg, STS, 1997 and 2010.

Schadow, Friedrich Wilhelm von, 1789-1862. Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, detail, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. http://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=54277 [retrieved November 2, 2020]. Original source: Image from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Schadow,FW-Die_klugen_und_t%C3%B6richten_Jungfrauen-2.JPG.

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org