Order of Worship
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
November 7, 2021

+GATHERING+

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE    

CALL TO WORSHIP

    A Reading from Hebrews   

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 

By faith Isaac invoked blessings for the future on Jacob and Esau. 

By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph. By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, foretold the exodus of the Israelites. By faith Moses refused the honor due to a son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to share ill-treatment with the people of God. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

And what more shall we say? There is not enough time to tell of the faith of Ruth, Gideon, Barak, Judith, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. 

Since we are surrounded by this great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus who is the founder and perfecter of our faith.

As saints who have gone before us, we gather to worship and pray; to sing and feast as we run the race to which we have been called.

We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses--

Patriarchs and matriarchs, prophets and psalmists, disciples and evangelists, martyrs and saints.

We thank God for their example. We praise God for their lives of faith. 

As disciples of Jesus, by God’s grace we are running a race.

We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses--

Of the loved ones now resting in God, who guided us, nurtured and cared for us; ancestors who worked and traveled, lived and died that we might be who we are, where we are—God’s precious children in this community of believers.

We thank God for their example. 

As disciples of Jesus, by God’s grace we are running a race..

We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses--

Family members and members of this congregation; fellow believers in every country, every denomination; friends who help, guide and uplift us-- children of your family, sheep of your fold, saints of your redeeming.

We thank God for their example. 

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely,

and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us,

looking to Christ, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.

Amen.

HYMN  

    For All the Saints     
          ELW 422    (vs 1,2)

For all the saints who from their labors rest,
who thee by faith before the world confessed,
thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

Thou wast their rock, their fortress, and their might;
thou, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight;
thou, in the darkness drear, their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

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.
                                                    
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

+WORD +

FIRST READING    Revelation 21:1-6a
Here is a vision of the new heaven and new earth in which God resides fully with God’s people so that mourning, despair, and pain have been eradicated. These renewing words from the God who spans all of time are trustworthy and true.

¹Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ²And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. ³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
 "See, the home of God is among mortals.
 He will dwell with them;
 they will be his peoples,
 and God himself will be with them;
 ⁴he will wipe every tear from their eyes.
 Death will be no more;
 mourning and crying and pain will be no more,
 for the first things have passed away."
⁵And the one who was seated on the throne said, "See, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true." ⁶Then he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 24    (read responsively by full verse)

  ¹The earth is the LORD's and all that is in it,
 the world, and those who live in it;
 ²for he has founded it on the seas,
 and established it on the rivers.
 ³Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
 And who shall stand in his holy place?
 ⁴Those who have clean hands and pure hearts,
 who do not lift up their souls to what is false,
 and do not swear deceitfully.
 ⁵They will receive blessing from the LORD,
 and vindication from the God of their salvation.
 ⁶Such is the company of those who seek him,
 who seek the face of the God of Jacob.
 ⁷Lift up your heads, O gates!
 and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
 that the King of glory may come in.
 ⁸Who is the King of glory?
 The LORD, strong and mighty,
 the LORD, mighty in battle.
 ⁹Lift up your heads, O gates!
 and be lifted up, O ancient doors!
 that the King of glory may come in.

GOSPEL:      John 11:32-44
Through the raising of Lazarus, Jesus offers the world a vision of the life to come, when death and weeping will be no more.

The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

³²When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." ³³When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. ³⁴He said, "Where have you laid him?" They said to him, "Lord, come and see." ³⁵Jesus began to weep. ³⁶So the Jews said, "See how he loved him!" ³⁷But some of them said, "Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?"
³⁸Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. ³⁹Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, "Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days." ⁴⁰Jesus said to her, "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" ⁴¹So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, "Father, I thank you for having heard me. ⁴²I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me." ⁴³When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" ⁴⁴The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

READING               On the Saints                   by  Frederick Buechner

LIGHTING OF MEMORIAL CANDLES
A candle is lit in memory of each member or friend of Grace who has died since All Saints Day 2020.  Following the reading of their name, a handbell is tolled.  
        Donna Sanko  –  January 24, 2021,
        Sue Marvin – January 26, 2021, 
        Jim Sawyers – April 11, 2021
        Lois Wittnebel – July 31, 2021,
        Michael Gilleece – August 12, 2021, 
        Cleston Spresser – September 29, 2021,
        Beth Hornickle – October 12, 2021.

HYMN   

     For All the Saints 
          ELW 422  (vs 3,4)

Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine,
we feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
yet all are one in thee, for all are thine.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
and hearts are brave again and arms are strong.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty,
     creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.
     On the third day he rose again;
     he ascended into heaven,
     he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
     and he will come 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 PEOPLE

Eternal God, you hold firm amid the changes of this world. Hear us now as we pray for the church, the world, and everyone in need.

     A brief silence.

Merciful God, we give thanks for all missionaries who have brought your message of hope to new communities and wiped tears away. Continue to raise up courageous missionaries to share your gospel of hope.
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

Creating God, we praise you for abundant harvests and the goodness of creation. Create communities of care for your earth so that all land, water, and soil will be celebrated and cherished by future generations of saints.
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

God of peace, we give you thanks for nations of peace that serve as a refuge for all whose homelands are afflicted with violence. Strengthen those who continue to work for peace and support all veterans who carry the scars of war.
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

God of healing, we give you thanks for health care workers who labor around the clock to answer cries for help. Bring wholeness to all who struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, addiction, and all who long for healing in any way   particularly Alena, Jenna,  Margaret, Anna Mae, Julie, Alan, Ken, Carol, Anne, Allen, JoAnn, Sue, Meagan, Betty, Dione, Nancy, Dottie, Theresa, Bobby, Dottie, Tim, Ruth, Henry, Mary, Greg, Ann Joyce, Barbara, and Shelby.
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

God of justice, we praise you for the feeding ministries and for all meals that bring people together for nourishment and fellowship. Bless chefs, bakers, servers, dishwashers, communion assistants, and meal ministry coordinators.
Hear us, O God.     
Your mercy is great.

God of the ages, we give you thanks for the saints of this congregation who have inspired, challenged, loved, and taught us, Michael, Sue, Donna, Jim, and Lois. Wipe away our tears and lead us by their example until we feast together on your holy mountain.
Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

God our protection and strength, we entrust to you all for whom we pray. Remain with us always, through Jesus Christ, our Savior.
Amen.

GREETING OF PEACE

The peace of the Lord be with you.
And also with you.

+ THANKSGIVING +

During this time of pandemic, we are not passing offering plates during our worship service.  Instead, they are placed at the back of the sanctuary.  You may place your offerings there either before or after the service.  Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option.  Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.

OFFERING PRAYER  
God of abundance, you cause streams to break forth in the desert and manna to rain from the heavens.  Accept the gifts you have first given us.  Unite them with the offering of our lives to nourish the world you love so dearly; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

CANTICLE

Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever.  

Great and wonderful are your deeds, O God of the universe; just and true are your ways, O Ruler of all the nations.  Who can fail to honor you, Lord, and sing the glory of your name?   Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. 

For you alone are the Holy One, and blessed is the one whose name is the Word of God.  All praise and thanks to you, holy God!  Salvation belongs to our God and to Christ the Lamb forever and ever. 

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD
O God of justice and love, we give thanks to you that you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, awaken us to the needs of others, and at the end bring all the world to your feast; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory forever.  
Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER
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.

+ SENDING +

BLESSING

HYMN                            

     For All the Saints  
         ELW 422   (vs. 5, 6, 7)          

The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

But then there breaks a yet more glorious day:
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!

From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia! Alleluia!

DISMISSAL 

Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!

POSTLUDE

COMMEMORATION

For All the Saints, Text: William W. How, 1823-1897;  Public domain. Music: Ralph Vaughn Williams, 1872-1958.  Music © Oxford University Press, Music reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Liturgical Text, Music, and Images from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006 and 2020 Augsburg Fortress and SundaysandSeasons.com. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761.  All rights reserved.