The livestream may be found here.
ALL SAINTS DAY
Psalm 34 is a triumphant song of trust in God,
written after deliverance from a time of trouble.
The first letter of John stresses both the ‘now’
and ‘not yet’ character of our life in Christ. We are God’s children, and yet we are on the way to what we shall be.
On the way, we seek to imitate Christ our brother.
In Matthew 5, Jesus sees blessing where others do
not. Those who are blessed are not those who are already perfect, but those who
recognize their lack and look for God to provide what is truly needed. They
also imitate God and his beneficent nature. As in both Revelation and 1 John,
‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.’
‘The
honor (given to the saints) is threefold. The first is thanksgiving: we ought
to give thanks to God because he has given examples of his mercy, because he
has shown that he wants to save humankind, and because he has given teachers
and other gifts to the church...The second kind of veneration is the
strengthening of our faith. When we see Peter forgiven after his denial, we
too, are encouraged to believe that grace truly superabounds much more over sin
[Rom. 5:20]. The third honor is imitation: first of their faith, then of their
other virtues, which people should imitate according to their callings.’
Apology of the Augsburg
Confession, Article XXI
Preparation for Worship
Upon reaching your place,
you may wish to read Psalm 84 in silence:
1 How dear to me is your dwelling, O | Lord of hosts!*
My soul
has a desire and longing for the courts of the Lord;
my heart
and my flesh rejoice in the | living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may | lay her young,*
by the
side of your altars, O Lord of
hosts,
my King | and my God.
3 Happy are they who dwell | in your house!*
They
will always be | praising you.
4 Happy are the people whose strength | is in you,*
whose
hearts are set on the | pilgrims' way.
5 Those who go through the desolate valley
will find it a | place of
springs,*
for the
early rains have covered it with | pools of water.
6 They will climb from | height to height,*
and the
God of gods will reveal him- | self in Zion.
7 Lord God of
hosts, | hear my prayer;*
hearken,
O | God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defend- | er, O God;*
and look
upon the face of | your anointed.
9 For one day in your courts
is better than a thousand
in | my own room,*
and to
stand at the threshold of the house of my God
than to
dwell in the tents | of the wicked.
10 For the Lord God is both | sun and shield;*
he will
give | grace and glory;
11 no good thing will the | Lord withhold*
from
those who walk | with integrity.
12 O | Lord
of hosts,*
happy
are they who put their | trust in you!
You may pray the following prayers:
Holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God: hear our prayer
and send your holy angel from heaven to guard, protect, visit, and defend all
those who assemble together in this house; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Most gracious God, incline your merciful ears to our prayers
and enlighten our hearts by the grace of your Holy Spirit, that we may approach
your Holy Mysteries with believing hearts and love you with an everlasting
love.
OPENING MUSIC For All the Saints
I.
Flor Peeters
II.
Charles Ore
THE HOLY COMMUNION
Stand
APOSTOLIC
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.
(2 Corinthians 13:13)
INTROIT
A
Song of the Saints
These
are the ones coming out of the great tribulation;
They have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the lamb.
In
you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame;
In your righteousness deliver me.
For
you are my rock and my fortress;
And for your name’s sake you lead me and guide me.
Into
your hands I commend my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God.
Glory
to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen
These
are the ones coming out of the great tribulation;
They have washed their robes
and made them white in the blood of the lamb.
Psalm 31:1, 3, 5; antiphon: Rev. 7:14a
PRAYER OF
THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Almighty
God, whose people are knit together in one holy Church,
the body of 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 your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you
and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen
CALL TO
THE WORD
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Let us hear the Word of the Lord.
Sit
First READING Revelation
7:9-17
9After this I
looked, and there was a great multitude that no one could count, from every
nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne
and before the Lamb, robed in white, with palm branches in their hands. 10They
cried out in a loud voice, saying,
“Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
11And all the
angels stood around the throne and around the elders and the four living
creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12singing,
“Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor
and power and might
be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13Then one of the elders addressed
me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” 14I
said to him, “Sir, you are the one that knows.” Then he said to me, “These are
they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
15For this reason they are before the throne of God,
and worship him day and night within his temple,
and the one who is seated on the throne will shelter them.
16They will hunger no more, and thirst no more;
the sun will not strike them,
nor any scorching heat;
17for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd,
and he will guide them to springs of the water of life,
and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 34:1-9, 22
The psalm is read responsively between the pastor and the people.
1 I will bless the Lord | at all times;*
his praise shall ever be | in my
mouth.
2 I will glory | in the Lord;*
let
the humble hear | and rejoice.
3 Proclaim with me the greatness |
of the Lord;*
let us exalt his | name
together.
4 I sought the Lord, and he | answered me*
and
delivered me out of | all my terror.
5 Look upon him | and be radiant,*
and let not your faces | be
ashamed.
6 I called in my affliction, and | the Lord heard me*
and
saved me from | all my troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encompasses | those who fear him,*
and he will de- | liver them.
8 Taste and see that the | Lord
is good;*
happy
are they who | trust in him!
9 Fear the Lord, you that | are his saints,*
for those who fear | him lack
nothing.
22 The Lord
ransoms the life | of his servants,*
and
none will be punished who | trust in him.
SECOND READING
1 John
3:1-3
1See what love
the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and that is
what we are. The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet
been revealed. What we do know is this: when he\ is revealed, we will be like
him, for we will see him as he is. 3And all who have this hope in
him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to
God.
Stand
VERSE
Alleluia. They
are before the throne of God,
and he who sits
upon the throne
will shelter
them with
his presence. Alleluia.
Revelation
7:15
Gospel Matthew 5:1-12
The
Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew.
Glory to you, O Lord.
(Congregation reads bold print)
When
Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his
disciples came to him. 2Then
he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
4"Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5"Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7"Blessed are the merciful,
for they will receive mercy.
8"Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children
of God.
10"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness'
sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of
heaven.
11"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute
you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account
12Rejoice
and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they
persecuted the prophets who were before you.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sit
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY Ye
Watchers and Ye Holy Ones
Please meditate on the
text of the hymn as it is played.
1 Ye
watchers and ye holy ones,
bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones,
raise the glad strain:
"Alleluia!"
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, pow'rs,
archangels, virtues, angel choirs:
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
2 O higher than the cherubim,
more glorious than the seraphim,
lead their praises:
"Alleluia!"
Thou bearer of the eternal Word,
most gracious, magnify the Lord:
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
3 Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
ye patriarchs and prophets blest:
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong,
all saints triumphant, raise the song:
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
4 O friends, in gladness let us sing,
supernal anthems echoing:
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
To God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Spirit, Three in One:
"Alleluia! Alleluia!"
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Text: J. Athelstan Riley, 1858-1945
Stand
CONFESSION OF FAITH
The pastor and people confess the
faith of the Church in the words of the Nicene Creed.
We believe in one God,
the
Father, the Almighty,
maker of
heaven and earth,
of all
that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only
Son of God,
eternally
begotten of the Father,
God from
God, Light from Light,
true God
from true God,
begotten,
not made,
of one
Being with the Father.
Through
him all things were made.
For us
and for our salvation
he
came down from heaven;
by
the power of the Holy Spirit
he
became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and
was made man.
For our
sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he
suffered death and was buried.
On
the third day he rose again
in
accordance with the Scriptures;
he
ascended into heaven
and
is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will
come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and
his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who
proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the
Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has
spoken through the prophets.
We
believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We
acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look
for the resurrection of the dead,
and the
life of the world to come. Amen
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all
people according to their needs.
A brief silence is kept.
Father, we rejoice in the promise that even now in the midst
of sin, suffering, and brokenness, we are your children. We look with eager
longing to what we shall be, when we see you as you are, even as your saints in
heaven behold you in your glory.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We rejoice to hear your Son Jesus call us ‘blessed.’ Stir up
in us the Spirit of faith, hope, and love, that we may purify ourselves just as
he is pure. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We rejoice in your Word, by which we hear your commands of
love and the promises which make us holy and wholly yours. We rejoice in Holy
Baptism, which washes us and makes our robes white in the blood of the Lamb. We
rejoice in your Holy Communion, the holy manna which sustains us in our journey
to you. Help us to cling always to our Lord present in his Word and Sacraments.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We ask your blessing upon the world that you have made. Where
there is violence, bring peace; where there is abuse of power, bring justice;
where there is grief, bring comfort; where there is despair, bring hope; where
there is disease, bring healing. Inspire us to serve you and to do your will,
and never let us grow weary or faint in your service. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We rejoice that you have made us worthy to stand before you
and serve you as your priestly people, interceding for others before your
heavenly throne. Hear now our prayers for those who are in need of them and
those who have asked them of us, and give them your blessing.
The People
may offer silent or spoken intercessions and thanksgivings.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
We rejoice in the saints and martyrs of the Church, in St
Stephen our namesake, and in all of every time and every place, of every tribe,
nation and language, who have witnessed to your love in Christ.
Especially this day we give thanks for those we love, and
those of our faith family who have died this past year:
Kevin
Clause
William Gargiulo
Bp.
Paull Spring
Ronald
Tarullo
Bring us to stand with the saints before your throne,
worshiping you with unwearied alleluia. 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
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
And also
with you.
The people exchange a sign of peace
with the simple words, Peace be with you.
Sit
The Lord’s Table is prepared.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Great Thanksgiving begins with the Preface, leading
into the Sanctus:
The Lord be with you.
And also with
you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to
the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to
give him thanks and praise.
It is
indeed right and salutary that we should at all times and in all places offer
thanks and praise to you, O Lord, holy Father, through Christ our Lord.
In the
blessedness of your saints you have given us a glorious pledge of the hope of
our calling; that, moved by their witness and supported by their fellowship, we
may run with perseverance the race that is set before us and with them receive
the unfading crown of glory.
And so,
with the Church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join
their unending hymn:
Holy,
holy, holy LORD, God of power and might!
Heaven
and earth are full of your glory;
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!
Hosanna in the highest! (Isaiah 6:3, Matthew 21:9)
The
pastor leads the people in praying the Eucharistic canon:
Almighty
God, we rejoice in your goodness and your saving grace.
By that grace you chose Abraham
and Sarah
and
blessed their descendants as the people of your promise.
You made of them a nation
by
your covenant established on Sinai’s hills;
and
though they often strayed from your commands,
your
remained faithful to them, promising them life and peace.
Then, in love and mercy for all
your creation,
you
sent your Son, our Lord Jesus,
who
was faithful in fulfilling your will
as
he reached out to the poor and lonely;
as
he forgave sinners;
as
he blessed those distressed by life;
and
who, as he poured out his life upon the cross,
sealed
the new covenant of life in his kingdom
for
all the saints.
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.
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.
For as often as we eat of this
bread and drink from this cup,
we
proclaim our Lord’s death until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
Gracious Father, we give thanks
for our Lord’s life and death,
and
for his glorious resurrection and exaltation
at
your right hand.
We bless you for sealing us in
Holy Baptism
to
the promises made to all the saints,
and
for incorporating us into your Church,
the
dwelling place of your Holy Spirit.
Send your Spirit upon these gifts,
this
most holy mystery of our Lord’s body and blood;
enliven
us in the faith we share
as
we partake of this meal of life;
unite
our praises with all those
whom
our Lord Jesus calls blessed,
until
the new day when the Lamb shall be our light
and
when we shall share in his heavenly glory.
Through Him, with Him, in Him,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
all
honor and glory is yours, Almighty Father,
now
and forever.
Amen
In the presence of Christ, we pray to his Father using
the words he gave us.
Christ is in our midst.
By the power of the
Spirit,
we pray to his
Father, saying:
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 (Matthew 6:9-15)
We adore Christ with the words of
the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God).
Taste and see that the LORD is good;
Happy are they who put their
trust in him!
Psalm 34:8
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
Grant us peace.
(John 1:29, see also Luke 17:13)
DISTRIBUTION
Admission to the Sacrament is by
invitation of the Lord, presented through the Church to those who are baptized.
They may receive the
Lord’s Body and Blood who are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, who commune in their home churches, and who believe
that Jesus Christ, crucified and risen, is truly present in, with, and under the
forms of bread and wine for the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation.
The
communicants will be invited forward one family unit at a time. Please do not
come forward until the pastor directs you to come forward, do not approach all
the way to the table until the pastor has retreated, and please do not remove your mask until you
have reached the table with the elements on it.
When the pastor says ‘The body of Christ,
given for you,’ eat the bread. When the pastor says, ‘The blood of Christ, shed
for you,’ drink the wine. Please take
the plate and the glass(es) and place them on the table that is indicated.
Please put your mask on before returning to your seat.
Please meditate
on the text of the hymn as it is played.
Who Is This Host Arrayed in White
1 Who
is this host arrayed in white
like
thousand snow-clad mountains bright,
that
stands with palms and sings its psalms
before
the throne of light?
These
are the saints who kept God’s word;
they
are the honored of the Lord.
He
is their prince who drowned their sins,
so
they were cleansed, restored.
They
now serve God both day and night;
they
sing their songs in endless light.
Their
anthems ring when they all sing
with
angels shining bright.
2 On
earth their work was not thought wise,
but
see them now in heaven’s eyes;
before
God’s throne of precious stone
they
shout their vict’ry cries.
On
earth they wept through bitter years;
now
God has wiped away their tears,
transformed
their strife to heav’nly life,
and
freed them from their fears.
For
now they have the best at last;
they
keep their sweet eternal feast.
At
God’s right hand our Lord commands;
he
is both host and guest.
3 O
blessed saints, now take your rest;
a
thousand times shall you be blest
for
keeping faith firm unto death
and
scorning worldly trust.
For
now you live at home with God
and
harvest seeds once cast abroad
in
tears and sighs. See with new eyes
the
pattern in the seed.
The
myriad angels raise their song.
O
saints, sing with that happy throng;
lift
up one voice; let heav’n rejoice
in
our redeemer’s song!
Text: Hans A. Brorson, 1694-1764; tr. Gracia Grindal, b. 1943
© 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship, admin. Augsburg Fortress
When all have
received, the congregation stands at the direction of the pastor.
The body and
blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
Amen
Lord, now you let your servant go in peace;
your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the
salvation
which you have prepared in the
sight of every people:
A light to reveal you to the
nations
and the glory of your people
Israel.
Glory to the Father, and to
the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is
now,
and will be forever. Amen Song
of Simeon (Luke 2:29-32)
Almighty Father, you gave your Son
both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life.
Enable us to
receive him always with thanksgiving,
and to conform our
lives to his;
through the same Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever.
Amen
BENEDICTION
Almighty God, Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit, bless
you now and forever.
Amen
DISMISSAL
Go
in peace. Serve the Lord.
Thanks be
to God!
Sit
CLOSING MUSIC Crown Him
with Many Crowns
