Manuscript for November 1

 P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

 INTROIT Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; antiphon: Revelation 7:14b

These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me.
For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me.
Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
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.
These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.
They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood  of the Lamb.

 COLLECT OF THE DAY

 P Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

676 BEHOLD A HOST, ARRAYED IN WHITE

1 Behold a host, arrayed in white,
Like thousand snow-clad mountains bright!
    With palms they stand;
    Who is this band
Before the throne of light?
These are the saints of glorious fame,
Who from the great affliction came
    And in the flood
    Of Jesus’ blood
Are cleansed from guilt and shame.
They now serve God both day and night;
They sing their songs in endless light.
    Their anthems ring
    As they all sing
With angels shining bright.

 

2 Despised and scorned, they sojourned here;
But now, how glorious they appear!
    Those martyrs stand,
    A priestly band,
God’s throne forever near.
On earth they wept through bitter years;
Now God has wiped away their tears,
    Transformed their strife
    To heav’nly life,
And freed them from their fears.
They now enjoy the Sabbath rest,
The heav’nly banquet of the blest;
    The Lamb, their Lord,
    At festive board
Himself is host and guest.

 

3 O blessèd saints in bright array
Now safely home in endless day,
    Extol the Lord,
    Who with His Word
Sustained you on the way.
The steep and narrow path you trod;
You toiled and sowed the Word abroad;
    Rejoice and bring
    Your fruits and sing
Before the throne of God.
The myriad angels raise their song;
O saints, sing with that happy throng!
    Lift up one voice;
    Let heav’n rejoice
In our Redeemer’s song!

Text: Public domain

 

 

FIRST READING Revelation 7:2–17

²Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, ³saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” ⁴And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

⁵12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
⁶12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
⁷12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
⁸12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

⁹After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹²saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵“Therefore they are before the throne of God,
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;
the sun shall not strike them,
nor any scorching heat.
¹⁷For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of living water,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

 A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

EPISTLE 1 John 3:1–3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ³And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

 A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

  

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 5:1–12

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the fifth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

 ¹Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

²And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

 

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

 

APOSTLES’ CREED 

 SERMON

 

Matthew 5:3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

 In the Christian church, we hear these words from Matthew chapter 5 on All Saints’ Day. In these few poetic lines, the Beatitudes, as they have come to be called, Jesus our Lord teaches us how to think about those beloved saints who have gone before us in the faith. These blessed words also teach us how to think about others, those who are still with us now. In fact, these words of Jesus, the Beatitudes, should teach each of us how to think about ourselves, and our own place in all this.

 1. What should we think about the departed.

 Blessed. Jesus, when talking about those who believe in him, uses this word, “Blessed”. Those who have passed from this life and are now in heaven are “Blessed”. They are not forgotten or annihilated. Jesus promised “everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life” (John 3:16). That’s the blessing for the blessed: eternal life with Jesus.

 They are blessed. That’s what Jesus says.

 Jesus said, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit”(John 3:6). We who listen to Jesus, need to have it straight in our minds what is of flesh and what is of spirit. According to the flesh, those who have passed away are poor, weak, miserable. It’s tragic that they died. Especially for those of us who mourn their passing. We spent those last few weeks, months and years with them, when they were in that painful process of dyeing. It was miserable. Death is horrible. It’s the enemy of life. There’s no sugar coating it.

 But according to the spirit, we listen to and believe what the spirit of Jesus says: Those who believe in Him are Blessed. And that’s blessed forever. The blessings go on forever in the kingdom He has prepared for those who love Him.

 The reformation message of the Gospel defines that blessed state. It is “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (Romans 3:22). By faith, those dear ones of God are blessed -- not because of what they accomplished, not because of what good they did, not because of their strength and life. No, all such things failed. But because of Jesus, whom they believed in. He lived for them. He loved them. He died for them. He saved them.

 There’s no need to pity those saints who have died. Jesus says they are blessed.

 Let’s remember those believers who are now gone in this way: They are blessed by God because Jesus saved them. So we trust that as they believed, so our Lord has kept His promises, has taken them to Himself for all eternity.

 2. Now what should you think about those who are with you now?

 These beatitudes of Jesus ought to make us consider all people with a different vision -- not according to the flesh, but according to the spirit. With the flesh, we see the outward appearances of things, not the internal essence. With the flesh we see the present situation only, not the eternal reality. 

Jesus says “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” The flesh sees poor, weak, suffering people, and concludes that they are losers, worthless, despicable. The spirit hears God’s blessing of love and salvation for all who would put their trust in Him. Our Lord goes to the suffering of the cross for those poor in spirit, so that He can lift them out of their poverty and bring them to His eternal Kingdom of heaven.

 Jesus says, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” When your family members get on your nerves, when your neighbor frustrates you, when you are ready to give up and walk away from them, remember that Jesus your Lord calls them “Blessed.” They are meek. They, according to the flesh are deserving of nothing, none of your favors. But by the spirit, hear what Jesus says about them. The earth was created for them. They are the benefits of His care, His attention and His salvation.

 Every poor miserable person that you come across, every stubborn character that you have to deal with, every neighbor you have that is difficult to love is one whom Jesus wants to call blessed. You might look at them with the eyes of flesh. In spirit, see them as ones who Jesus wants to save, and they should believe in Jesus.

 3. So now that you hear Jesus say this, what should you think about yourself.

 Well first of all, you can’t take much pride in yourself. You ought to identify yourself as one who is meek, week, and poor in spirit. But “Blessed” is the word Jesus uses. He has the authority to use such a word. He has the authority to call a thing what it is. Jesus is talking about you people who believe in Him and He says you are blessed.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Therefore, even as you don’t pride in yourself, so also you can’t pity yourself. You are blessed. So even as you are poor in spirit, even as you mourn, even as you are meek, let your spirit hear what Jesus says: “you are blessed.” Amen.

  

P We remember with thanksgiving those who have gone before us in the faith, for they were created by God to offer Him praise and thanksgiving forever, and He gave them new life through His Son in Holy Baptism, and nourished them in the company of His people at His Holy Table, and in His mercy, has summoned them to His nearer presence in heaven so that they may continue in joyful service of Him forever.

 Today We remember especially those who departed this life during this year, 2020:

 Robert Charles Rogers, died April 8, 2020, having lived here on this earth 89 years, 7 months and 19 days.  Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will leave even though he dies; And whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” (John 11:25-26)

 John William Ross, died April 7, 2020, having lived here on this earth 86 years, 6 months and 8 days. “I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.” (Job 19:25-26)

 Bernice L Davis, died June 1, 2020, having lived here on this earth 98 years, 3 months and 15 days. Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

 Raymond Edward Harrison, died July 9, 2020, having lived here on this earth 88 years, 9 months and 24 days. Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

     

 P Almighty God, in whose glorious presence live all who depart in the Lord, and before whom all the souls of the faithful who are delivered from the burden of the flesh are in joy and peace, we give you hearty thanks for your loving kindness to all Your servants who have finished their course in faith and now rest from their labors, and we humbly pray  your mercy that we, together with them may have our perfect consummation in bliss, in both body and soul on the day of the resurrection. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 P Mighty and eternal God, we remember before You the saints and martyrs of every generation, who trusted in You in the face of terror and threat. Grant that when facing persecution and trial in our own day, we may be steadfast in faith. Deliver those whom You have washed in Baptism, granting the new life that death cannot overcome. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 P Mighty and eternal God, You established the Church and have granted her Your aid and protection through these many years. Continue to pour out upon us Your Spirit and grace, that we may accomplish Your bidding and proclaim Your saving name to every corner of the earth. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 P Bless our president, the Congress, our governor, the legislature and all local officials, that pursuing the path of justice they may act with humility and honor for the good of all people. Give wisdom to all who vote this week, and bless its result, that our nation may elect our leaders peacefully and orderly. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 P Mighty and eternal God, we rejoice that You have rescued us from the power of death and raised us in Christ to dwell with Him in everlasting life. Give to those who grieve the comfort of the promise of the resurrection of the dead and eternal life, and bestow Your peace upon the dying, that they may fall asleep here and awaken in Your glory. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 P Mighty and eternal God, You have made us Your children, and You continue to guard us as Your own possession. According to Your will, give healing to the sick, calm to the troubled in mind, and patience to those facing sorrow and struggle. Give health and peace to our nation. Hear us especially on behalf of _____________. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 P Mighty and eternal God, bring us to that day when every tear shall be wiped from our eyes and we shall hunger and thirst no more. Knowing You now by faith, we yearn for the day when we shall know You face to face. Until the dawn of that eternal day, keep us in Your faith and fear through our Good Shepherd and Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

  

LORD’S PRAYER

C 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.

 

BENEDICTION LSB 166

P 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 T give you peace.

C Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Divine Service, Setting One from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2020 Concordia Publishing House.

Circuit Reformation Celebration

 

Manuscript for Trinity 20

 + October 25, 2020 +

 

INVOCATION

 

INTROIT Psalm 48:1, 9–11; antiphon: Liturgical Text

The Lord is righteous in all he has | done to us,*
for we have not obeyed his com- | mandments.
Glorify your name, | O Lord;*
and deal with us according to your great | mercy.
Great is the Lord and greatly | to be praised*
in the city of our God, his holy | mountain.
We have thought on your steadfast love, | O God,*
in the midst of your | temple.
As your name, O God, so your praise reaches to the ends | of the earth.*
Your right hand is filled with | righteousness.
Let Mount Zion | be glad!*
Let the daughters of Judah rejoice because of your | judgments!
Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*
and to the Holy | Spirit;
as it was in the be- | ginning,*
is now, and will be forever. | Amen.
The Lord is righteous in all he has | done to us,*
for we have not obeyed his com- | mandments.
Glorify your name, | O Lord;*
and deal with us according to your great | mercy.

 

COLLECT OF THE DAY

P O Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

 

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 55:1–9

¹“Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
²Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
³Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
⁴Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
⁵Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.

⁶“Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
⁷let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
⁸For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
⁹For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

 

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

 

EPISTLE Ephesians 5:15–21

¹⁵Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, ²⁰giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

 

A This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

 

HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 22:1–14

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-second chapter.

C Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

 

¹Again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, ²“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, ³and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. ⁴Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.’ ⁵But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, ⁶while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. ⁷The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. ⁸Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. ⁹Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ ¹⁰And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

¹¹“But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. ¹²And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴For many are called, but few are chosen.”

 

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.

 

APOSTLES’ CREED

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

 

And 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence 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 T everlasting. Amen.

 

720 WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT

1 We walk by faith and not by sight,
    No gracious words we hear
From Him who spoke as none e’er spoke,
    But we believe Him near.

 

2 We may not touch His hands and side,
    Nor follow where He trod;
But in His promise we rejoice
    And cry “My Lord and God!”

 

3 Help then, O Lord, our unbelief;
    And may our faith abound
To call on You when You are near
    And seek where You are found.

 

4 For You, O resurrected Lord,
    Are found in means divine:
Beneath the water and the Word,
    Beneath the bread and wine.

 

5 Lord, when our life of faith is done,
    In realms of clearer light
We may behold You as You are,
    With full and endless sight.

Text: Public domain

 

 

 

The Greatest Invitation

Matthew 22:8-10

 Then [the King] said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' [10] And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Let's look at a few things from this parable that Jesus told in the Gospel reading today.  It starts this way:  Matthew 22:1 And again Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying,

Again, throughout this section of his Gospel, Matthew records several parables that Jesus told.  They are all stories that Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of Heaven.  He=s telling these parables to the chief priests and the Pharisees in the temple in Jerusalem.  Matthew 22:2  "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son,

This isn=t the only place in Scripture where the Kingdom of Heaven is described as a banquet, a feast, a royal celebration.  Consider the Old Testament reading today from Isaiah. It’s this hearty invitation to come, eat and drink. This banquet is beyond the earthly cares and troubles of money and lack. It’s the gracious provision of God in heaven, giving grace to us sinners.

And this banquet is part of the marriage festivities for the King's Son.  The King represents God Almighty.  His Son is of course, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. The bride, as we can see in many other places in Scripture as well, is the church C all those people God has chosen and for Whom the Son gave His life for --  cleansing her with His blood so that she would be a blameless and spotless, pure and wonderful bride worthy of the her groom.

Matthew 22:3-4

    and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. [4] Again he sent other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.'

What a wonderful invitation!  The greatest invitation.  What a wonderful thought it is to realize that you are invited to this great celebration.  The Kingdom of Heaven is not a duty.  It=s not a chore to be a part of it.  It=s a great privilege.  Rejoice that you've been invited.

Our God=s invitation is simple, and yet powerful  everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast. Everything is ready.  It=s all set. The candles are lit.  The music is playing.  The food is on the table.  The wine is poured.  

As Jesus was on the cross, His dying words were "It is finished!  It is accomplished.  Everything is ready.  All that the entire world needed for its salvation was accomplished right there when the Son of God died on the world=s behalf.  Everything is ready for salvation.  All that is left is for the invitations to be sent out and accepted.

That=s why this invitation is so great!  It's all been taken care of.  It's all ready.  No strings attached.  The King just says, "Come and get it."  Well, He of course, uses a more Kingly choice of words than that.  

So when Jesus tells this parable, it has to be just amazing to everyone who hears it that there could possibly have been some who said no thank you to an invitation from the King to attend the wedding banquet for His Son.  

Then we listen further.  Matthew 22:5-7

    But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, [6] while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. [7] The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

The Jews were being described here.  They were the ones chosen by God first to come to His party, but they shrugged their shoulders, and even worse, they killed the prophets who had come to them bearing the invitation.

Such a wonderful invitation.  Such weak excuses. Work in the field, affairs of business.  Human beings have such an unhealthy attachment to the things that are seen and tangible -- so much so that all too often these things get in the way of things that are unseen and spiritual.  That's not to say that we should (or that we can) completely avoid the material concerns of this life.  We do have to be about our business.  But it may never get in the way of us hearing the invitation that the King has for us.

At this point we all need to ask ourselves what is the business that would distract us from accepting the invitation to the King's Banquet.  Each of us needs to carefully examine our lives and our priorities to see if there is any way in which we are like those who are so consumed with their mundane affairs that have no time for the King and what He has to offer them.

Can an entire church fall into this pit?  Can an entire congregation get so wrapped up in the taking care of field and business?  Can the business of church become the priority so that the members of the congregation neglect to consider the banquet that they are invited to? Can an entire nation, an entire culture get so wrapped up in the troubles at hand in this present moment that all forget the eternal reward or the eternal punishment that lays ahead?

This parable shows the many ways in which the people of God=s Kingdom can be negligent towards His call.  But this parable also shows how faithful God is in sending and re-sending that invitation:

Matthew 22:8-10

    Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. [9] Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.' [10] And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

Our Lord does not get discouraged that some reject His invitation.  He just keeps on sending it out again.  

So our Lord invites us sinners to come into His presence.  To sit with Him at His table.  To enjoy the festivities of the marriage feast of His Son.

A Matthew 22:10

    And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests.

You know, that=s a neat sentence.  What=s the guest list made up of?  Just good people?  Our Lord has room in His banquet hall for all kinds of people. He takes in the good and the bad.  The bad He takes in and makes good out of them.  He gives them new garments to wear that make them worthy to be at the banquet and sit at His table.

The feast that we celebrate when we gather here in this place is called a foretaste of the feast to come.  In this meal we come at the King's invitation.  He said, "do this in remembrance of me."  It is His party.  It is the great wedding feast. So even in the midst of some of the most difficult times of this life, we can remember that we are an invited part of that wonderful feast.

Just listen to that invitation folks!  Listen at what a wonderful description it is of the blessings we will get from the Lord as we sit at His table and enjoy His company.  

Your Lord graciously invites you to come to Him, to come to His house, to come to His Kingdom, to come to the feast He has prepared with you in mind. Amen.

 

 

 

OFFERTORY LSB 192

C Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.

 

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P Having confidence in our justification by grace through faith and having access to the Father in Jesus’ name, let us turn our hearts in prayer on behalf of ourselves, the Church and all people according to their needs.

O almighty God, You have shown Your faithfulness by raising up those in every generation who call Your Church to repentance and renewal. Continue to raise up voices in our own day who herald the truth of Your Word and proclaim the faith in purity and truth against all enemies. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 

P Merciful Lord, Your Word has been the light and salvation throughout the ages. Help us to bring Your grace to those in darkness, and grant them freedom through the forgiveness of their sins. Bless the missionaries serving far and near and the new congregations they establish in Your name. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 

P God of power and might, You have established governments and the order of law for the protection of all people and to preserve the freedom to worship You in spirit and in truth. Grant to our President Trump; our Governor Reynolds; the Congress of these United States; and the legislature of Iowa wisdom, humility and integrity, that all may enjoy true justice and the protection of life from its conception to its natural end. Lord, in Your mercy,

 

P Holy and gracious God, Your power is revealed chiefly in showing mercy to those in need. Give to the sick healing, to the troubled peace, to the grieving comfort and to the dying peace. Hear us first on behalf of _____________ and those we name in our hearts before You. According to Your gracious promise, grant patience to those in tribulation and trial. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 

P Heavenly Father, You have given great gifts to Your people and provided resources to provide for their own needs and for the poor. Bless the agencies and programs of Your Church by which Your people give aid and support to those in need. Help us to provide gainful employment to all people, that they may enjoy the fruits of their labors and honor You with the works of their hands. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 

P O faithful Lord, throughout the ages You spoke hope through the prophets until that day when You delivered up Your own Son to be our Savior and Redeemer. Bless those who are just learning the Gospel, and bless us with the desire to know and keep Your Word. Encourage Your people to avail themselves of the grace of confession and absolution so that they may forgive one another and live in the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

 

P Almighty God and Father, we pray You to grant us all good things that will benefit us in body and soul and to prevent anything harmful to us or to our salvation. Teach us to live in contentment with Your will and purpose and in the freedom You alone supply to serve You with all our heart, mind, body and soul; all these things we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

 

 

LORD’S PRAYER LSB 162

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

C 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.

 

BENEDICAMUS LSB 202

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

 

BENEDICTION LSB 202

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and T give you peace.

C Amen.

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.