+ PREPARATION +
OPENING HYMN O WORSHIP THE KING LSB #804
O worship the King All glorious above
O gratefully sing His pow’r and His love
Our shield and defender The Ancient of Days
Pavilioned in splendor And girded with praise
O tell of His might O sing of His grace
Whose robe is the light Whose canopy space
His chariots of wrath
The deep thunder clouds form
And dark is His path On the wings of the storm
Frail children of dust And feeble as frail
In Thee do we trust Nor find Thee to fail
Thy mercies how tender How firm to the end
Our maker defender, redeemer and friend
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
OPENING SENTENCES Psalm 93:1; 95:6
Pastor: The Lord reigns; He is robed in majesty;
People: the Lord is robed; He has put on strength as His belt.
Pastor: Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
People: let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION John 18:37
Pastor: Jesus said, “Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Today we kneel humbly before Him, our king, confessing the truth that we have sinned against our creator’s clear commands. Let us make our heartfelt petition for mercy, forgiveness, and salvation.
People: Most merciful Lord, whose majesty has been shown to all nations by Your triumph over all sin and death on Your glorious cross, from Your exalted throne at the right hand of the Father You live and reign over all creation. Receive our humble plea for mercy, life, and forgiveness of our sin, and grant to us Your enlivening grace by speaking Your liberating word of truth.
Pastor: “Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” Upon this, your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus 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 FAITH AND TRUTH AND LIFE BESTOWING LSB #584
Faith and truth and life bestowing
Open now the Scriptures Lord
Seed to life eternal sowing
Scattered on the wind abroad
Let not hearts Your Word receiving
Like a barren field be found
Choked with thorns and unbelieving
Shallow earth or stony ground
May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing
Bring to life the hidden grain
Daily in our hearts increasing
Bearing fruit that shall remain
So in Scripture song and story
Savior may Your voice be heard
Till our eyes behold Your glory
Give us ears to hear Your Word
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, so govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your glorious return, we may persevere in both faith and holiness of living; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
People: Amen.
OLD TESTAMENT READING Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14 (The Ancient of Days gives dominion to the Son of Man.)
9 “As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames;
its wheels were burning fire. 10 A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
EPISTLE Revelation 1:4b–8 (“I am the Alpha and the Omega.”)
Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”
HOLY GOSPEL John 18:33–37 (“So You are a king?”)
33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
CHILDREN’S MESSAGE
SONG OF PRAISE BEAUTIFUL SAVIOR (All My Days)
All my days I will sing this song of gladness
Give my praise to the Fountain of delights
For in my helplessness You heard my cry
And waves of mercy poured down on my life
I will trust in the cross of my Redeemer
I will sing of the blood that never fails
Of sins forgiven of conscience cleansed
Of death defeated and life without end
Chorus
Beautiful Savior Wonderful Counselor
Clothed in majesty Lord of history
You’re the Way the Truth the Life
Star of the Morning glorious in holiness
You’re the Risen One heaven’s Champion
And You reign You reign over all (last time repeat Chorus)
I long to be where the praise is never ending
Yearn to dwell where the glory never fades
Where countless worshipers will share one song
And cries of Worthy will honor the Lamb (Chorus)
Stuart Townend C 1998 Thank You Music
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: Let us pray. Almighty and eternal God, Lord and king of all creation, we give You thanks for all of Your blessings You have given to all beyond any worthiness or merit of our own. We praise You especially for Your holy church throughout the world of all ages, for preserving Your Word and Sacraments and providing faithful pastors to preach and administer Your grace. Keep them in purity of doctrine and all Your people in confident faith. Protect us in any tribulation or danger, and strengthen our hope in Your faithfulness. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Lord of the nations, grant that Your grace guide and protect all who are in authority, especially in our own country. Keep all people in safety by means of Your gifts of mercy and truth, righteousness and peace. Defend all who labor and grant that all may grow in useful knowledge that we may live in freedom. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Comfort, O God, all who are in any trouble, want, sickness, or any other adversity, [especially . . .]. Show us Your mercy that we may live our days in safety and health. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: We remember with thanksgiving all who have loved and served You who now rest from their labors. Keep us in fellowship with all Your saints and bring us at last to the joys of Your heavenly kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy,
People: hear our prayer.
Pastor: Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
People: Amen.