First Service
LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHURCH YEAR
They Shall Be Mine
November 23, 2025
AS WE GATHER
There is a phrase familiar to both preschoolers and powerbrokers. When they see that someone else has something they want, they declare, “That’s mine!” seizing either toys or territory for themselves. This phrase is not unfamiliar to our God either. But where humans are motivated by selfishness, the Lord acts out of love. He claims you as His own because He loves you and He wants you to be with Him for eternity. You are His treasured possession! He will never leave you behind like a toddler may accidentally abandon her teddy bear, or neglect you like a king would treat those who supported his rival. When the Lord says, “You are Mine,” you have His pledge of enduring faithfulness, today and unto eternity!
+ PREPARATION +
HYMN Come, Now Is the Time to Worship
Refrain: Come, now is the time to worship.
Come, now is the time to give your heart.
Come, just as you are, to worship.
Come, just as you are, before your God. Come.
One day ev’ry tongue will confess You are God, One day ev’ry knee will bow.
Still, the greatest treasure remains for those Who gladly praise You now. (Refrain)
Willingly we give and surrender our lives. Willingly our knees will bow.
With all our heart, soul, mind and strength We gladly praise You now. (Refrain)
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 118:24; Psalm 22:27; Isaiah 43:1
Pastor: This is the day that the Lord has made;
People: let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Pastor: All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord,
People: and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.
Pastor: Now thus says the Lord, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
People: I have called you by name, you are Mine.”
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION Colossians 1:13–14
Pastor: The Lord has delivered us from the domain of darkness
People: and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Pastor: Almighty God and King,
People: we confess that we have broken trust with You. We have doubted Your goodness, neglected Your ways, and sought to satisfy our sinful nature. We do not think, speak, or act like Your treasured possession. We bring before You our faults and failures, honestly and humbly recognizing that we deserve to be cast out of Your kingdom. Have mercy, O Lord, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Spare us from Your wrath, deliver us from death and darkness, and cleanse us from sin, that we serve You in righteousness, innocence, and blessedness now and always. Amen.
Pastor: On His cross, Jesus Christ, your Savior, was crowned with shame and given unto death for You. His blood pays the price Your sins deserve. Now crowned with glory, the risen and reigning Christ lives to declare sins forgiven. Therefore, as a called and ordained servant of Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
+ WORD +
HYMN OF PRAISE There Is a Redeemer CH308
There is a Redeemer – Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Refrain: Thank You, O my Father, for giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit till the work on earth is done.
Jesus, my Redeemer, name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, hope for sinners slain. (Refrain)
When I stand in glory, I will see His face.
There I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place. (Refrain)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, You reign among us by the preaching of Your cross. Forgive Your people their offenses that we, being governed by Your bountiful goodness, may enter at last into Your eternal paradise; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Malachi 3:13–18 (The Lord makes His claim on His treasured possession, declaring “they shall be Mine.”)
13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”
16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.
EPISTLE Colossians 1:13–20 (By His blood, the Christ who holds all things together also holds us in His kingdom.)
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
HOLY GOSPEL Luke 23:27–43 (Upon the cross, Jesus is enthroned as King and speaks of forgiveness and paradise.)
27 And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. 28 But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
32 Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33 And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. 35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine 37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”
39 One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
HYMN All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name TLH 339
All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ name! Let angels prostrate fall. Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all,
Bring forth the royal diadem, and crown Him Lord of all!
Ye seed of Israel’s chosen race, ye ransomed from the fall, Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all,
Hail Him who saves you by His grace, and crown Him Lord of all!
Let ev’ry kindred, ev’ry tribe on this terrestrial ball, To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all,
To Him all majesty ascribe, and crown Him Lord of all!
SERMON
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And he will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
GREETING/ANNOUNCEMENTS
OFFERING
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Pastor: As those delivered to the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us confidently approach His throne of grace with our prayers and intercessions, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
Pastor: King of all creation, the whole earth is full of Your glory, and we are awed by Your creative majesty. Deepen our appreciation of Your care and keeping and dedicate us as faithful stewards of Your earthly gifts. For the sake of Your kingdom,
People: love us and lead us, O King.
Pastor: King of love, You devote Yourself to Your people and never fail to keep Your commitments. Bless those who have committed themselves to one another in Christian marriage that their relationships might be reflections of Your heart. For the sake of Your kingdom,
People: touch us and teach us, O King.
Pastor: King of kindness and grace, who attends to our hurts of body and soul, show compassion to all who are facing sorrow, sickness, or adversity, embracing them in Your tender care, [especially . . .]. For the sake of Your kingdom,
People: hear us and heal us, O King.
Pastor: King of Your church, You uphold all those who serve in Your name. Grant holy satisfaction to those who volunteer their time and offer their gifts to our congregation. Raise up others to serve and prevent us from stealing Your glory for ourselves. For the sake of Your kingdom,
People: prepare us and protect us, O King.
Pastor: King of justice, You rule Your world with wisdom and faithfulness. Give those chosen as our earthly authorities patience, perspective, and a heart that pursues Your will, that we might be led into peaceable prosperity. For the sake of Your kingdom,
People: defend us and direct us, O King.
Pastor: King of all kings, You have authority over all things. Allow us to see Your authority as a blessing, that we might recognize Your preeminence in our lives and rest in Your merciful rule, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.