The livestream may be found here.
OPENING MUSIC It Came upon the Midnight Clear - J. M. Strobel
Thursday, December 31, 2020
Wednesday, December 30, 2020
Order of Worship - Evening Prayer, December 30, 2020 - 7:30 pm
The livestream may be found here.
EVENING
PRAYER
for
Wednesday in the First Week after Christmas
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Order of Worship - 1st Sunday after Christmas, December 27, 10:30 am
The livestream may be found here. You need not have a Facebook account to watch the livestream.
December 27, 2020,
10:30 am
The First Sunday after Christmas
Friday, December 25, 2020
Order of Worship - Christmas Day, 10:30 am (Pre-Service music at 10:15 am)
The livestream may be found here. You need not have a Facebook account to watch the livestream.
December 25, 2020,
10:30 a.m.
Christmas Day
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Order of Worship - Christmas Eve, 7:30 pm (pre-service music at 7:15 pm)
The livestream may be found here. You need not have a Facebook account to watch the livestream.
December 24, 2020,
7:30 p.m.
The Nativity of Our
Lord
Christmas Eve
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Order of Worship - Evening Prayer for Advent IV - 7:00 pm
The livestream may be found here. You need not have a Facebook account to view the livestream.
EVENING
PRAYER
for
Wednesday in the Fourth Week of Advent
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Evening Prayer - Wednesday, December 16, 7 p.m.
The livestream may be found here.
EVENING
PRAYER
for
Wednesday in the Third Week of Advent
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Monday, December 14, 2020
Sermon December 13, 2020 - The Third Sunday of Advent
I will never have the means to acquire an antique sports car, so I suppose someone could ask me how I know whether obtaining such a choice vehicle could give me comfort and joy. But perhaps I could ask it this way. Can such a thing give comfort and joy on the COVID ward? Can it solve a national or international crisis? Can it enlighten a mind darkened by prejudice, fear and fantasy? Can it bring healing? Can it give light even in the shadow of death?
Sunday, December 13, 2020
Sunday Worship - December 13, 2020, 10:30 am: The Third Sunday of Advent
The livestream may be found here.
December 13, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
The
Third Sunday in Advent
‘…to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and release to the prisoners…’
Isaiah 61:1
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Evening Prayer - December 9, 2020, 7 p.m.
EVENING PRAYER
for
Wednesday in the Second Week of Advent
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, December 6, 2020
Sunday Worship - December 6, 2020, Second Sunday in Advent (10:30 a.m.)
The livestream may be found here.
December 6, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
The
Second Sunday in Advent
John the Baptist
Wednesday, December 2, 2020
Evening Prayer, Wednesday, December 2, 7 p.m.
The livestream may be found here.
EVENING
PRAYER
for
Wednesday in the First Week of Advent
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, November 29, 2020
Wednesday, November 25, 2020
Thanksgiving Worship - Wednesday, November 23, 2020, 7 p.m.
The livestream may be found here.
Service
of the Word
Day
of Thanksgiving
Wednesday,
November 25, 2020, 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, November 22, 2020
Sunday Worship - November 22, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
The livestream may be found here.
Please click below for the order of worship.
Wednesday, November 18, 2020
Evening Prayer, Wednesday November 18, 7 p.m.
The livestream may be found here.
EVENING
PRAYER for Wednesday after 24 Pentecost
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Tuesday, November 17, 2020
Sermon - November 15, 2020 - Pentecost 24
What did the first two have that the third lacked?
It’s not really about how much money they were given.
It’s not really about how much money they made.
It’s not really about their work ethic,
whether they were busy bees or lazy bums.
It’s about faith, it’s about hope,
and it’s about love.
Sunday, November 15, 2020
Sunday Worship - November 15, 2020, 10:30 a.m.
The livestream may be found here.
The order of worship is below.
Wednesday, November 11, 2020
Evening Prayer, Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 7 p.m.
EVENING PRAYER for Wednesday after 23 Pentecost
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, November 8, 2020
Sunday Worship - November 8, 2020 - 10:30 a.m.
The livestream may be found here.
The order of service is below.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
Evening Prayer, November 4, 2020, 7 p.m.
The livestream may be found here.
EVENING PRAYER for Wednesday after 21 Pentecost
Vespers
(Lutheran Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, November 1, 2020
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Evening Prayer: Wednesday, October 28, 7 p.m.
The livestream may be found here.
EVENING
PRAYER for Wednesday after 21 Pentecost
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, October 25, 2020
Wednesday, October 21, 2020
Evening Prayer, October 21, 2020, 7 p.m.
The livestream may be found here.
EVENING
PRAYER for Wednesday after 20 Pentecost
Vespers
(Lutheran
Book of Worship, page 142)
Sunday, October 18, 2020
Service of the Word, Sunday, October 18, 2020
The livestream from St. Stephen Lutheran Church is not available today.
If you cannot attend worship, you may worship using this Service of the Word, which includes hymns, Scripture readings, a homily, and prayers.
The order of service is below.
The livestreams will resume next Sunday, October 25, Reformation Sunday.
May God bless and keep you this Lord's Day!
SERVICE OF THE WORD – St. Stephen
Lutheran Church
October 18, 2020, the Twentieth
Sunday after Pentecost
HYMN Come, Thou Almighty King
1 Come, thou almighty King,
help us thy name to sing;
help us to praise;
Father all-glorious,
o’er all victorious,
come and reign over us,
Ancient of Days.
2 Come, thou incarnate Word,
gird on thy mighty sword;
our prayer attend.
Come and thy people bless,
and give thy word success,
and let thy righteousness
on us descend.
3 Come, holy Comforter,
thy sacred witness bear
in this glad hour!
Thou, who almighty art,
now rule in ev’ry heart,
and ne’er from us depart,
Spirit of pow’r.
4 To thee, great One in Three,
eternal praises be
hence evermore!
Thy sov’reign majesty
may we in glory see,
and to eternity
love and adore.
Text:
source unknown, c. 1757, alt.
DIALOG
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe,
for
in your wisdom you have formed us.
You feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
We
bless you and praise your name forever.
You set free those who are bound.
We
bless you and praise your name forever.
You raise up those whose courage falters.
We
bless you and praise your name forever.
You provide for our every need.
Accept
our grateful praises.
You have called us from all peoples.
We
rejoice and bless your name forever.
You bless your people with peace.
We
bless you and praise your loving grace.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe,
for
in your wisdom you have formed us.
APOSTLES’ CREED
God has made us his people through our Baptism into
Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
I
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator
of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only
Son, our Lord.
He
was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and
born of the virgin Mary.
He
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,
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He
will come again 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
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
O God,
whose image we bear and whose name we carry,
yours is the world and all it contains.
Recall us to our true
allegiance,
so that above the powers and
rulers of this world
you alone may claim our fullest
loyalty and love.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your
Son,
who lives
and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit;
one God,
now and forever.
Amen
First READING Isaiah 45:1-7
1Thus says the Lord to his anointed, to Cyrus,
whose right hand I have grasped
to subdue nations before him
and strip kings of their robes,
to open doors before him—
and the gates shall not be closed:
2I will go before you
and level the mountains,
I will break in pieces the doors of bronze
and cut through the bars of iron,
3I will give you the treasures of darkness
and riches hidden in secret places,
so that you may know that it is I, the Lord,
the God of Israel, who call you by your name.
4For the sake of my servant Jacob,
and Israel my chosen,
I call you by your name,
I surname you, though you do not know me.
5I am the Lord, and
there is no other;
besides me there is no god.
I arm you, though you do not know me,
6so that they may know, from
the rising of the sun
and from the west, that there is no one besides me;
I am the Lord, and there is no
other.
7I form light and create darkness,
I make weal and create woe;
I the Lord do all these things.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Matthew 22:15-22
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
15Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap
[Jesus] in what he said. 16So they sent their disciples to him,
along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and
teach the way of God in accordance with truth, and show deference to no one;
for you do not regard people with partiality. 17Tell us, then, what
you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to the emperor, or not?” 18But
Jesus, aware of their malice, said, “Why are you putting me to the test, you
hypocrites? 19Show me the coin used for the tax.” And they brought
him a denarius. 20Then he said to them, “Whose head is this, and
whose title?” 21They answered, “The emperor’s.” Then he said to
them, “Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to
God the things that are God’s.” 22When they heard this, they were
amazed; and they left him and went away.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise
to you, O Christ.
HOMILY
HYMN OF
THE DAY Sing Praise to God, the Highest Good
Please meditate on the text of the hymn as it is played.
1 Sing praise to
God, the highest good,
the author of
creation,
the God of
love who understood
our need for
his salvation.
With healing
balm our souls he fills
and ev’ry
faithless murmur stills:
to God all praise
and glory!
2 What God’s
almighty pow’r has made,
in mercy he
is keeping;
by morning
glow or evening shade,
his eye is
never sleeping;
within the
kingdom of his might
all things
are just and good and right:
to God all
praise and glory!
3 We sought the
Lord in our distress;
O God, in
mercy hear us.
Our Savior
saw our helplessness
and came with
peace to cheer us.
For this we
thank and praise the Lord
who is by one
and all adored:
to God all
praise and glory!
4 Let all who
name Christ’s holy name
give God the
praise and glory.
Let all who
know his pow’r proclaim
aloud the
wondrous story.
Cast ev’ry
idol from its throne,
for God is
God, and he alone:
to God all
praise and glory!
Text:
Johann J. Schütz, 1640-1690; tr. Frances E. Cox, 1812-1897, adapt.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Father, we pray for the Church. In the
midst of a fallen and idolatrous world, may your people worship and proclaim
you alone as Lord of all creation and serve you with gladness. Lord, in your
mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for our congregation; in the midst
of a world that does not know you, let us be a people of hope, imitating your
Son and becoming examples for each other. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the world; let leaders look to
you to accomplish your purposes, and make them mindful that they do not rule
for themselves but instead they must serve you. Remember with favor our
President, and his administration, the Congress, the Courts, and all who serve
in government. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray for the oppressed, the sick, the
dying, the grieving, those in any need of body, mind, or spirit, especially
those we name before you:
The People may offer silent or spoken intercessions
and thanksgivings.
Lord, in
your mercy,
hear our
prayer.
We give you thanks for the marriage of
Robert Dawe and Kaitlyn Colhouer; give them your blessing, and strengthen their
union always. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We pray in
thanksgiving for those who have died, especially those dear to us who rest in
you. Help us to walk in faith, that we may join them on the great day when all
rulers, authorities and powers bow to you and praise your name. Lord, in your
mercy,
hear
our prayer.
Into your
hands, Father, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
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
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
BENEDICTION
The Lord
bless you and keep you.
The
Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The
Lord look upon you with favor and give us peace.
Amen
Be at peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!
Sunday, October 11, 2020
Service of the Word, Sunday, October 11, 2020
The livestream from St. Stephen Lutheran Church is not available today.
If you cannot attend worship, you may worship using this Service of the Word, which includes hymns, Scripture readings, a homily, and prayers.
The order of service is below.
The livestreams will resume on Sunday, October 25, Reformation Sunday.
May God bless and keep you this Lord's Day!
SERVICE OF THE WORD – St. Stephen
Lutheran Church
October 11, 2020, the Nineteenth
Sunday after Pentecost
HYMN Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven
1 Praise, my soul, the King of heaven;
to his feet your tribute bring.
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven,
evermore his praises sing.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise the everlasting King!
2 Praise him for his grace and favor
to our forebears in distress.
Praise him, still the same forever,
slow to chide and swift to bless.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Glorious in his faithfulness!
3 Tenderly he shields and spares us;
well our feeble frame he knows.
In his hands he gently bears us,
rescues us from all our foes.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Widely as his mercy flows.
4 Angels help us to adore him,
who behold him face to face.
Sun and moon bow down before him;
all who dwell in time and space.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Praise with us the God of grace.
Text: Henry F. Lyte, 1793-1847
DIALOG
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe,
for
in your wisdom you have formed us.
You feed the hungry and clothe the naked.
We
bless you and praise your name forever.
You set free those who are bound.
We
bless you and praise your name forever.
You raise up those whose courage falters.
We
bless you and praise your name forever.
You provide for our every need.
Accept
our grateful praises.
You have called us from all peoples.
We
rejoice and bless your name forever.
You bless your people with peace.
We
bless you and praise your loving grace.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God, king of the universe,
for
in your wisdom you have formed us.
APOSTLES’ CREED
God has made us his people through our Baptism into
Christ. Living together in trust and hope, we confess our faith.
I
believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator
of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only
Son, our Lord.
He
was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
and
born of the virgin Mary.
He
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,
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He
will come again 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
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
you invite all peoples to the banquet
and offer them a feast beyond compare.
Give us your saving grace
to keep unstained the robe of
our baptism
until that day when you welcome
us to heaven’s joyful table.
We ask this through our Lord
Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit;
one God, now and forever.
Amen
First READING Isaiah 25:1-9
1O Lord, you are my God;
I will exalt you, I will praise your name;
for you have done wonderful things,
plans formed of old, faithful and sure.
2For you have made the city a heap,
the fortified city a ruin;
the palace of aliens is a city no more,
it will never be rebuilt.
3Therefore strong peoples will glorify you;
cities of ruthless nations will fear you.
4For you have been a refuge to the poor,
a refuge to the needy in their distress,
a shelter from the rainstorm and a shade from the heat.
When the blast of the ruthless was like a winter rainstorm,
5the noise of aliens like heat in a dry place,
you subdued the heat with the shade of clouds;
the song of the ruthless was stilled.
6On this mountain the Lord
of hosts will make for all peoples
a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wines,
of rich food filled with marrow, of well-aged wines strained clear.
7And he will destroy on this mountain
the shroud that is cast over all peoples,
the sheet that is spread over all nations;
8he will swallow up death forever.
Then the Lord God will wipe away
the tears from all faces,
and the disgrace of his people he will take away from all the earth,
for the Lord has spoken.
9It will be said on that day,
Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him,
so that he
might save us.
This is the Lord for whom we
have waited;
let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 23
The psalm is read
responsively between the pastor and the people.
1 The Lord
| is my shepherd;*
I shall not | be in
want.
2 He makes me lie down | in green pastures*
and leads me be- | side still
waters.
3 He re- | vives my soul*
and guides me along
right pathways | for his name's sake.
4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of
death,
I shall | fear no evil;*
for you are with me; your rod and
your staff,
they | comfort me.
5 You spread a table before me
in the presence of those who | trouble me;*
you have anointed
my head with oil,
and my cup is | running over.
6 Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days | of my life,*
and I will dwell in the house of the
| Lord forever.
Gospel Matthew 22:1-14
The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
1Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2“The
kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his
son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the
wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other
slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my
dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is
ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5But they made light of it and
went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest
seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was
enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then
he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not
worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you
find to the wedding banquet.’ 10Those slaves went out into the
streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding
hall was filled with guests.
11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man
there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him,
‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was
speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand
and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping
and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise
to you, O Christ.
HOMILY
HYMN OF THE DAY Now We Join in Celebration
1 Now we join in celebration
at our Savior's invitation,
dressed no more in spirit somber,
clothed instead in joy and wonder;
for the Lord of all existence,
putting off divine transcendence,
stoops again in love to meet us,
with his very life to feed us.
2 Lord, as round this feast we gather,
fill our hearts with holy rapture!
For this bread and cup of blessing
are for us the sure possessing
of your loving deed on Calv'ry,
of your living self, our vict'ry,
pledge of your unfailing presence,
foretaste here of heav'nly gladness.
3 Lord, we share in this communion
as one fam'ly of God's children,
reconciled through you, our brother,
one in you with God our Father.
Give us grace to live for others,
serving all, both friends and strangers,
seeking justice, love, and mercy
till you come in final glory.
Text © Joel W. Lundeen, admin. Augsburg Fortress.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
Made one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray to the Father for the whole
people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people according to their needs.
Father, we thank you that we have been invited to
participate in the banquet which you prepare for your Son and his people.
Clothe us in the innocence of righteousness, and send us to gather others to
participate in the meal of the Kingdom. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We give thanks for your whole Church, for the faith
family of St Stephen, for the holy ministry of Word and Sacrament, for all who
praise God with their lips and serve him with their lives. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We thank you for the good earth that you have given
us, for the fruits of the field and the harvest. Use us as your hands to offer
your gifts to those who have been deprived of them. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
A We
thank you for the leaders of the nations and of our communities, for first
responders, for all who keep the peace at home and abroad. Bless them in their
work, and keep them safe. Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
A We
thank you for all those who work to relieve the suffering of those who are
affected by disaster and those who are traumatized by violence. We pray that
you would bless and direct the work of Lutheran World Relief, Operation Safety
Net, and Water Mission. Lord, in your mercy,
C hear our prayer.
A We
thank you for your Holy Spirit, which you give to all who call upon you. Grant
the peace of God which passes all understanding to those who are oppressed,
those who hunger and thirst, and all who are sick in body, mind, or spirit.
The People may offer silent or spoken intercessions and thanksgivings.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We thank you for those who have gone before us, who
now share with the saints in the feast of your Son’s victory over death. We
thank you that we are one with them as we share our Lord’s meal. Give us
strength as we walk the way of discipleship, until we join them in the fullness
of your kingdom. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Into your hands, Father, we
commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your steadfast love, through Jesus
Christ our Lord.
Amen
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
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also with you.
BENEDICTION
The Lord
bless you and keep you.
The
Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The
Lord look upon you with favor and give us peace.
Amen
Be at peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be to God!