“We Do Not Belong to the Night or Darkness”
Transcription
“We Do Not Belong to the Night or Darkness”
“We Do Not Belong to the Night or Darkness” Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost November 16, 2014 AS WE GATHER When Saint Paul wrote to the early Christians in Thessalonica, neither he nor they knew when Jesus would return. Today as much as then, we are called to be mindful of Jesus’ second coming and encourage one another with the Good News of Jesus Christ. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, God has redeemed us and made us His very own children. Whenever Jesus does return, we are comforted in knowing that we will live forever in peace with Him. God bless your worship with us today. CONGREGATION NEWS OUR VISION STATEMENT: “To thrive as one Christ-centered family, welcoming individuals from all walks of life, nurtured by God through faithful worship, education, and excellent ministries as we gladly sacrifice for God’s kingdom. Our Shepherd’s vision states we are a “family.” Jesus said in Luke 8:21, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” Gathered around His Word and led by His Spirit, He has made us His family. As a family, we journey through the cycles of life, rejoicing and mourning together, while awaiting our great family reunion when He returns. WELCOME TO OUR SHEPHERD! Today at the 8:00 a.m. service we will welcome into membership; Caleb Baker, Jim Bohunsky (Lily), Sebastian & Brooke Bertoncini (Ian, Gavin, & Aden), Krystin & Kyle Clore, Sam & Michelle Fultz (Madyson & Raegan). Next week at 10:45 a.m. service we will welcome, Deb Criscuolo, Andrew & Nina Koehler (Graham) and Mike Wilkerson. CONGREGATIONAL MEETING ~ Join us for our next congregational meeting on Sunday, November 23, between services. We will be voting on elected positions, the constitution and by-law amendments, as well as receiving a financial report, and information about the progress on the branding plan and website improvements. CANDY AND NUTS ordered from the Ladies Guild fundraiser will be available after services today! PIE FELLOWSHIP ~ We hope you will join us after the Thanksgiving Eve service for a piece of pie with fellow worshippers. Bring a pie to share and spend some time visiting with your brothers and sisters in Christ before heading off to celebrate the holiday with family and friends. There is a sign-up sheet in the narthex to indicate if you will be coming and bringing a pie. ALL SAINTS FEST TICKETS are on sale until today! Tickets are $30/person and are available during fellowship time between services. Child care is available at the church for $10 the night of the event. Questions? Contact Cindy Taylor at 272-1065 or asf@ourshepherd.org. OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD ~ The school kids will be packing boxes on Tuesday to send to children around the world. We still need school supplies, washcloths, toothpaste & toothbrushes, combs and brushes. Our goal is 175 gift boxes. Please see the donation box for a list of approved items and more information regarding this project. Questions? Contact Karen Robertson at 742-7020 or krobpt@sbcglobal.net. Divine Service 3, p. 184 ff. Confession/Absolution p. 184 ANGEL TREE ~ Sunday, November 23, the angels on the Angel Tree will be available. Please take one or more to help our needy and the families at Sheltering Wings. Be sure to take note of any special instructions on the back of the angel. Please return the angel with the gift. Gloria Patri p. 186 Kyrie p. 186 Gloria in Excelsis p. 187 MOPS ADVENT TEA ~ Tickets are now on sale for the annual MOPS Advent Tea on Saturday, December 6 from 2-4pm. Tickets are $12 each for ladies high-school age and above. Purchase tickets on Sundays between services, or see Jane Darlage in the church office during the week. Questions? Contact Michelle Borcherding at 317.286.3627 or Kim Mourer at 317.443.3006. Salutation/Collect of the Day p. 189 SERVING THE CONGREGATION ~ Our Shepherd is looking for three people to serve on the Mission and Ministry Council for a two-year term. If you are interested in serving the church on the MMC, please contact the pastors, Mark Rhodes, Janet Mikeworth, or Marcy Gaston. Epistle Reading See Insert Alleluia & Verse p. 190 TAKE A TRIP ~ Want to walk where Jesus walked, dip your toes in the Jordan River, and pray in the Garden of Gethsemane? You can experience this and much more on a pilgrimage to Israel with Pastor and Wendi Lepley. This pilgrimage is open to anyone interested, members and non-members. Learn more from the trip brochure at the Welcome Center or at the next informational meetings following Saturday worship November 29 or during adult education time on Sunday, November 30. FOR YOUR CALENDAR ~ Ladies Guild Meeting, November 18, 7pm; Ladies Circle Meeting, November 20, 11:40am, Brownsburg Meadows (directions on the sign-up sheet in the narthex); Food Pantry Drive-Up and Drop Off, November 22 before 6:30pm service and November 23 before 8am and 10:45am services; Christmas Church Decorating, December 6, 9am; Choir Cookie Walk fundraiser, December 14, between services; SWANS, December 14, 3pm, Hendricks County Symphony Christmas Concert & dinner. IN OUR PRAYERS THIS WEEK: Recovering from illness/surgery: Jim Schneider, Ray Orebaugh, Lily Bick, Nancy Weiss, Dory Stigall, Anita Hedrick, Ted Wagner, Diane Richter, Joan Marshall, Mary Strakis, Natalie Smith, Tee Lipsey and Valerie Rieger. For Jenny Garrison and all of our shut-ins. Battling cancer: Phyllis Everett, Cathy Loe and Stacy (Weiss) Wedding. Our Indiana District, LCMS Synod and Worldwide Missions: for Family of Christ Lutheran Church. Zeal to pray for missionaries here in the United States and around the world. Christians persecuted around the world. The unsaved, for faith in Jesus as their Savior. Our Armed Forces: Ryan Enlow, Andrew Pierson, Rex Rafferty, David Rieger Sr., Shad Singer, Stephen Storey and Scott Zimmerman. INDEPENDENT BIBLE READING…………………............Deuteronomy 19:15-27:8 Altar flowers are given this weekend to the glory of God by Chuck & Jean Comer in memory of Chuck’s mother, Bulah, and Jean’s son, Daniel. Opening Hymn 513 “The Clouds of Judgment Gather” First Reading See Insert Musical Response Holy Gospel See Insert Nicene Creed p. 175 Children’s Message 10:45 am only Sermon Hymn 511 “Herald, Sound the Note of Judgment” Sermon “We Do Not Belong To The Night or Darkness” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Prayers of the Church New Member Reception (8:00am only) Offering/Offertory p. 192 Musical Offering Service of the Sacrament p. 194-ff Distribution Hymn 508 “The Day Is Surely Drawing Near” Nunc Dimittis p. 199 Closing Hymn 655 “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast In Your Word” Zephaniah 1:7-16 7 Be silent before the Sovereign LORD, for the day of the LORD is near. The 8 LORD has prepared a sacrifice; he has consecrated those he has invited. “On the day of the LORD’s sacrifice I will punish the officials and the king’s sons and 9 all those clad in foreign clothes. On that day I will punish all who avoid stepping on the threshold, who fill the temple of their gods with violence and 10 deceit. “On that day,” declares the LORD, “a cry will go up from the Fish 11 Gate, wailing from the New Quarter, and a loud crash from the hills. Wail, you who live in the market district; all your merchants will be wiped out, all who 12 trade with silver will be destroyed. At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps and punish those who are complacent, who are like wine left on its 13 dregs, who think, ‘The LORD will do nothing, either good or bad.’ Their wealth will be plundered, their houses demolished. Though they build houses, they will not live in them; though they plant vineyards, they will not drink the wine.” 14 The great day of the LORD is near—near and coming quickly. The cry on the 15 day of the LORD is bitter; the Mighty Warrior shouts his battle cry. That day will be a day of wrath—a day of distress and anguish, a day of trouble and 16 ruin, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness— a day of trumpet and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the corner towers. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to 2 you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the 3 night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should 5 surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the 6 day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be 7 like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who 8 sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a 9 breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us 10 to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with 11 him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Matthew 25:14-30 14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and 15 entrusted his wealth to them. To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag, each according to his ability. Then he went 16 on his journey. The man who had received five bags of gold went at once 17 and put his money to work and gained five bags more. So also, the one with 18 two bags of gold gained two more. But the man who had received one bag 19 went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five 21 more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come 22 and share your master’s happiness!’ “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have 23 gained two more.’ “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many 24 things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not 25 scattered seed. So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the 26 ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather 27 where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it 28 back with interest. “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one 29 who has ten bags. For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken 30 from them. And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ SERVING US THIS WEEK . . . Preacher: Pastor Phil Rigdon Organist: Joyce Zimmerman Communion Assistants: 8:00 Fred Norman Lay Readers: 8:00 Ushers: 8:00 Dan Weiss Bill Bailey Dave Schuch Fred Norman Roger Brockway Greeters: 8:00 Bob & Shirley Wittman Paul & Sheila Walter Elder: Chris Sofianos 10:45 10:45 10:45 Dave Dobler David Godby Ken Mikeworth Christopher Mikeworth Dave Dobler Theo Cronauer 10:45 Norm & Amy Hedges Jim & Ruth Boller OUR RESPONSE THROUGH LAST WEEK: In Worship: 613 In Financial Support: Saturday 61 Tithes vs Budget 8:00 am 208 $36,241 $38,800 10:45 am 314 Tithes YTD vs YTD Tithes Budget $327,053 $337,900 Wednesday 30 Employer Match YTD vs Budget $11,550 $13,565 Thrivent YTD vs Thrivent Budget YTD $1113.00 $1300 Total Income YTD vs Budget $734,801 $748,922 Wednesday, November 12 Tithes $724.00