Worship Service
Sunday, October 15, 2023, at 10 a.m.
WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: 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.
People: Amen.
Pastor: 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.
(Silence for reflection and self-examination)
Pastor: Most merciful God,
People: 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.
Pastor: In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for you, and for his sake God 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.
People: Amen.
GREETING
Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
People: And also with you.
OPENING SONG He is Faithful
Verse 1
I have heard a sound, coming on the wind
Changing hearts and minds, healing brokenness,
I feel a generation, breaking through despair
I hear a generation, full of faith declare (Pre-chorus)
Pre-Chorus
And our song, it will be
Out of the darkness we will rise and sing (Chorus)
Chorus 1
He is faithful, He is glorious
And He is Jesus, and all my hope is in Him
He is freedom, He is healing right now
He is hope, and joy, love, and peace, and life.
Verse 2
I have seen a light, like the break of dawn,
Giving blind men sight, and letting lame men walk.
I see a generation, with resurrection life
We are a generation, filled with the power of Christ (Pre-chorus)
Bridge
He has paid the highest price; He has proven His great love for us,
We will praise Him with our lives; And proclaim our love for Him.
CCLI Song # 6087902 – Bryan Torwalt | Katie Torwalt; © 2011 Capitol CMG Genesis
KYRIE
HYMN OF PRAISE
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Lay Leader: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Lay Leader: Let us pray. . .Lord of the feast, you have prepared a table before all peoples and poured out your life with abundance. Call us again to your banquet. Strengthen us by what is honorable, just, and pure, and transform us into a people of righteousness and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
People: Amen.
CHILDREN’S CHURCH DISMISSAL
FIRST LESSON Philippians 4:1-9
1My brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.
2I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you also, my loyal companion, help these women, for they have struggled beside me in the work of the gospel, together with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. 5Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, 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. 9Keep 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.
Lay Leader: The word of the Lord.
People: Thanks be to God.
VERSE
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 22:1-14
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty second chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
THE MESSAGE Pastor Abera Hellemo
SONG OF THE DAY All Creatures of Our God and King
Verse 1
All creatures of our God and King; Lift up your voice and with us sing,
O praise Him, alleluia.
Thou burning sun with golden beam; Thou silver moon with softer gleam,
O praise Him, O praise Him; Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Verse 2
Thou rushing wind that art so strong; Ye clouds that sail in Heav’n along,
O praise Him, alleluia.
Thou rising moon in praise rejoice; Ye lights of evening find a voice,
O praise Him, O praise Him; Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Verse 3
Let all things their Creator bless; And worship Him in humbleness,
O praise Him, alleluia.
Praise, praise, the Father praise the Son; And praise the Spirit three in One,
O praise Him, O praise Him; Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
CCLI Song # 3608102 – Brent Milligan | David Crowder | St. Francis of Assisi | William Henry Draper
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.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Each prayer petition will end with –
Lay Leader: Lord in your mercy
People: Hear our prayer.
PEACE
Lay Leader: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
People: And also with you.
OFFERATORY SONG Praise Band Jesus We Love You
Let the Vinyards be Fruitful
Let the vineyards be fruitful, Lord,
and fill to the brim our cup of blessing.
Gather a harvest from the seeds that were sown,
that we may be fed with the bread of life.
Gather the hopes and the dreams of all;
unite them with the prayers we offer.
Grace our table with your presence,
and give us a foretaste of the feast to come.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Lay Leader: Let us pray. Merciful Father,
People: We offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—ourselves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive them for the sake of him who offered himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
DIALOGUE
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Lift up your hearts.
People: We lift them to the Lord.
Pastor: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People: It is right to give him thanks and praise.
PREFACE
Pastor: 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, almighty and everliving God. But chiefly we are bound to praise you for the glorious resurrection of our Lord; for he is the true Passover Lamb who gave himself to take away our sin, who by his death has destroyed death, and by his rising has brought us to eternal life. And so, with Mary Magdalene and Peter and all the witnesses of the resurrection, with earth and sea and all their creatures, and with angels and archangels, cherubim and seraphim, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
THANKSGIVING
Pastor: Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth. In mercy for our fallen world you gave your only Son, that all those who believe in him should not perish, but have eternal life. We give thanks to you for the salvation you have prepared for us through Jesus Christ. Send now your Holy Spirit into our hearts, that we may receive our Lord with a living faith as he comes to us in his holy supper.
People: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Pastor: 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.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
People: 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.
COMMUNION DISTRIBUTION:
At All Saints, we practice open communion. If you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and have been baptized, you are invited to commune. Those not receiving the bread and wine are invited to come forward for a blessing. Grape juice is also available.
POST-COMMUNION BLESSING
Pastor: The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
People: Amen.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER
Lay Leader: We give you thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us through the healing power of this gift of life; and we pray that in your mercy you would strengthen us, through this gift, in faith toward you and in fervent love toward one another; for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
BLESSING
Pastor: Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever.
People: Amen.
CLOSING SONG All the People Said Amen
Verse 1
You are not alone if you are lonely
When you feel afraid you’re not the only
We are all the same in need of mercy
To be forgiven and be free
It’s all you got to lean on
But thank God it’s all you need
Chorus
And all the people said amen, woah,
And all the people said amen.
Give thanks to the Lord for His love never ends,
And all the people said amen.
Verse 2
If you’re rich or poor well it don’t matter
Weak or strong you know love is what we’re after
We’re all broken but we’re all in this together
God knows we stumble and fall
And He so loved the world
He sent His son to save us all (Chorus)
Bridge
Blessed are the poor in spirit who are torn apart
Blessed are the persecuted and the pure in heart
Blessed are the people hungry for another start
For theirs is the kingdom the kingdom of God (Chorus)
CCLI Song # 6518275 – Matt Maher, Paul Moak, Trevor Morgan, © 2013 Universal Music. For use solely with the SongSelect® Terms of Use. All rights reserved. www.ccli.com. CCLI License # 384330
SENDING
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord!
People: Thanks be to God.
Prayer Requests
You may email prayer requests and updates to prayers@allsaintsarlington.org.
Prayers for Victoria for a speedy recovery
Prayers for Amy, Lydia, James, Kim, Joy, Ryan, Collin, Anna, Dorothy, Bryan, Eva
Prayers for Robin recovery and healing following surgery
Prayers for Sara, Cindy, Scott, Jim, Jason, Kristi, Mike, Emily
Prayers for the family and loved ones of Courtney
Prayers for Gregoria Mendez who is in the hospital, intubated, fighting inflamed lungs and pancreas
Prayers for Jay suffering from a broken neck
Prayers for Kristy who is battling Stage 4 colon cancer. She is on round 12 of chemo and is meeting with doctors about a possible liver transplant.
Prayers for Karl who is healing from a stroke
Regina who has cancer and is going through chemo treatment.
Prayers for Ernst & Jackie DeFreitas who are fighting cancer
Prayers for Andrea who has brain tumors that are cancerous and she is young
Prayers for Robin recovery and healing following surgery
Prayers for Lorene who has cancer
Prayers for Marla’s back surgery
Prayers for Sue, Curtis, and Betty
Prayers for Angela to walk again and take care of herself and healing
Prayers for Karla for her mood, patience and perseverance as she fights to come back from a difficult diagnosis and surgery
Prayers for Glen’s knee replacement as he continues with outpatient therapy
Prayers for Verda who is in treatment for Stage 4 breast cancer
Prayers for continued healing & recovery, mental & emotional uplifting for Laurie Becker-Kirk who is battling leukemia
Our Weekly Bulletin is available online at All Saints Connection.