WELCOME TO ALL who join us today

to worship the Lord!

If you are new to us the following information might be helpful:

Rest room facilities, including an individual restroom, are located in the hallway south of the Atrium. Large print bulletins are available during our services. Please ask an Usher for assistance.

All visitors and guests are welcome! We gather for worship each Sunday at 10:30 AM. We hope that you might experience the joy and peace that Jesus Christ can bring into your life! If you are interested in learning more about membership in our congregation please speak to the Pastor or call the Church Office (570.524.0745).

If you are new to Lutheran worship, most everything you need is printed in this bulletin. Hymns are for congregational humming. Please take your bulletin home with you; they will not be reused.

Please exit the Nave directly in a distanced way from others. Do not linger to talk in the Atrium, but go directly outside the building and beyond the portico.

Introduction to our worship today: Today the prophet 2

Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters. Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord. Jesus tells the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. Surrounded by the faithful of every time and place, we celebrate Christ's coming in our midst in the word of life and the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the lamb.

Please silence your cell phone or switch it to vibrate.

* The congregation please stand as you are able.

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PRELUDE In Thee Alone O Christ, My Lord — Johann Pachelbel

The Trumpet Shall Sound — G. F. Handel Joanne Vasey, organ

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION & FORGIVENESSP Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, in whose image we are made,

who claims us and calls us belovedC Amen.

P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.Silence is kept for reflection.

P Holy One,3

C have we confess that we are not awake for you. We are not faithful in using your gifts. We forget the least of our siblings. We do not see your beautiful image in one another. We are infected by sin that divides your

beloved community. Open our hearts to your coming, open our eyes to see you in our neighbor, open our hands to serve your creation. Amen.P God Beloved, we are God's children, and Jesus, our Beloved, opens the door to us. Through Jesus you are forgiven, by Jesus you are welcome,

in Jesus you are called to rejoice! Let us live in the promises prepared for us from the foundation of the world.C Amen.

* GATHERING SONG Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers — Stanzas 1 & 4

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. 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!

* GREETING 4

P Grace and peace be with you all from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit.C And also with you.

* PRAYER OF THE DAYP O God of justice and love, you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, and awaken us to the needs of others, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.C Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT LESSON: Amos 5:18-24 In the days of Amos, people thought that the day of the Lord would be a time of great victory, but Amos announced that it would be a day of darkness, not light. He said liturgy is no substitute for obedience. The Lord demands justice and righteousness in the community.

L The Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

NEW TESTAMENT LESSON: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18Some of the Thessalonians are worried that dead Christians will be excluded from the resurrection to eternal life when Christ comes again. Paul reassures them with the word of hope that all Christians, living or dead, will be raised into everlasting life with Christ.

L The Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

* GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ELW p. 124

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* THE HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 25:1-13P The Holy Gospel according to Matthew, the twenty-fifth chapter:C Glory to you, O Lord.P The Gospel of our Lord.C Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON The Rev. William S. Henderson* CONGREGATIONAL VISIONA In the Great Commission to His Church Jesus sent the

disciples forth into the world to baptize and to make His name and teachings known. We are His disciples in this time and this place; and so we go into the world;

C Making Christ known as we worship, serve and grow in faith.

* THE APOSTLES’ CREEDP Living together in trust and hope with believers around the world, we confess our common faith:C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

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I believe 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.

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 Leader: Hear us, O God. Congregational Response: Your mercy is great.

* SHARING OF THE PEACEP The peace of the Lord be with you always.C And also with you.

* THE GREAT THANKSGIVING P The Lord be with you.C And also with you.P Lift up your hearts.

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C We lift them to the Lord.P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.C It is right to give our thanks and praise.

P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to You, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ; who on this day overcame death and the grave, by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise Your name and join their unending hymn:* SANCTUS ELW p. 130

* WORDS OF INSTITUTIONP 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.

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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 PRAYERC Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,

your will be done, on earth as in heaven.Give us today our daily bread.Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin

against us.Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from

evil. For the kingdom, the power,

and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.

* INVITATION TO COMMUNIONP There is a place for you at the banquet. Come and feast at Jesus' table.C Thanks be to God.

AGNUS DEI Lamb of God – ELW p. 135

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The Communion of God’s Baptized People

Believing in the real presence of Christ, we practice Eucharistic hospitality: all baptized Christians are invited to come forward as ushered to receive this life-giving Sacrament. As a sign of the unity the Sacrament gives, we all share the same elements. If you are unable to receive the bread or wine, be assured that in a single element you do receive the Presence of Christ and all the gifts this Sacrament offers. Non-communing children are invited to receive a blessing.

COMMUNION ANTHEM What Is This Bread? Frederic W. Baue & Jean Neuhauser Baue Ann Thieman, vocalist

COMMUNION SONG O God Our Help In Ages Past – Stanzas 1 & 6

1. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,

our shelter from the stormy blast, and our eternal home.

6. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come,

still be our guard while troubles last and our eternal home.

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* POST COMMUNION BLESSINGP May the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in His grace.C Amen.

* POST COMMUNION PRAYERA Lord Jesus, in this simple meal you have set a banquet. Sustain us on the journey, strengthen us to care for the least of your beloved children, and give us glad and generous hearts as we meet you on the way.C Amen.

* BENEDICTIONP May the God of all creation, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved, who strengthens us for service, give you reason to rejoice and be glad! The blessing of God, Sovereign, Savior, and Spirit,

be with you today and always.C Amen.

* SENDING SONG Blessed Assurance — Stanzas 1 & 3

1. Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

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Refrain: This is my story, this is my song, praising

my Savior all the day long: this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

3. Perfect submission, all is at rest; I in my Savior am happy and blest, watching and waiting, looking above, filled with his goodness, lost in his love.

Refrain:This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long: this is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.

* DISMISSALP Beloved of God, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

* POSTLUDE Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning

African American spiritual Joanne Vasey, organ Brandy Aguirre, African drums

THE ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Janie Keiser in loving memory of my husband, Lee.

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THE CROSS FLOWERS are given to the glory of God by Debbie Van Horn, in loving memory of Edward, Marcella & Paula Turnbach and Marlon & Anna Van Horn.

THANKS to Ann Thieman for providing today’s anthems.

WORSHIP ASSISTANTS NEEDED: We have a variety of “jobs” needing to be done each Sunday. You may wish to assist the Pastor with serving Holy Communion or being an usher. Lectors (those who read the Scriptures) are needed, along with folks to work the sound system and to act as acolytes. Training will be provided if needed. None of the worship assistant jobs are very time-consuming. Please call the Church Office (570.524.0745) if you are interested in ministering for the Lord and His Church here at Christ’s Lutheran.

November 823 Pentecost

November 1524 Pentecost

Worship Asst. Heather Miller Sarah PatteLector Beverly Harvey Beckie Stahlnecker

Acolytes Gillian SullivanOliver Patte

Ella & Olivia Koontz

Communion Ushers

Rick FauxCharlotte Winter

Tim GoffEthel Snook

Communion Assistants

Carole Bollinger Bill Bollinger

Sound Tech Tom Stahlnecker Bill BorysUsher Team Tess Trowbridge

Tom StahlneckerBill & DeeDee Wagner

Altar Guild Shirley WittesCPIC Colleen Nevil

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Invitation to GraceThe parable of the ten bridesmaids easily draws our attention to the differences in their levels of preparation. Some have enough oil to welcome the bridegroom; others do not. The ability of each bridesmaid to control her fate finds ready ears in a culture that favors independence and individual effort. Every day we see the consequences—good or bad—of our actions.

The early part of the parable speaks to a commonality among the bridesmaids. As they wait for the bridegroom, all of them become drowsy and fall asleep. Then comes the cry, "Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him." We might hear this as a command. We certainly have commands from God throughout Scripture. However, what if we heard the cry as an invitation?

God's commands are a gift that invites us to live into the reality of the ever-present and ever-coming kingdom. God does not force or compel us to follow, to be obedient, or to love. It is always framed as an invitation. The psalmists invite us to praise God. God invites the people of Israel into covenantal relationship. Jesus invites all who are weary to come to him and find rest.

If the kingdom of heaven is close to us now, of course our actions will have consequences. Whether we choose to love or hate, share or hoard, work for peace or not—all of these choices impact the people around us. And yet, God's command that we live into a way of love is not coercive, but rather an invitation to life.

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In worship we gather around the sacraments of baptism and the eucharist. Neither is forced; neither is required. Both are invitations to experience what Augustine called visible signs of God's invisible grace, a gift given for each and every one of us.

Reprinted from Words for Worship, copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress.Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress.

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