The Resurrection of Our Lord

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Established 1874

Rev. Kerry B. Eversole, Pastor

Deacon Cindy Cordes-Eversole, Associate in Ministry

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 314, Lanesboro, MN 55949-0314

Physical Address: 200 Kenilworth Ave S, Lanesboro, Minn.

Telephone: 507.467.3344

E-mail Address: bethlehem@acegroup.cc

Web Page: www.staronthehill.com

On Facebook at: Bethlehem Lutheran Church Lanesboro

Office Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Parsonage Phone: 507.467.3017

Pastor Kerry’s Cell Phone: 507.951.3954

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Lanesboro, Minnesota

Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost

November 8, 2020

Jesus told a parable about the coming of the kingdom of God. He said it is like ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them took no extra oil with them while five did. The bridegroom was delayed, and the bridesmaids fell asleep. Finally, at midnight someone shouted, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ The bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. But the lamps of five of the bridesmaids went out. So, they had to go and buy more oil and they missed the wedding banquet. Jesus said. Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.” Matthew 25:1-13

Welcome to worship this morning!

We are deep in the Season after Pentecost,

the Time of the Church.

Being Together in Church in the Time of COVID-19. Church members and visitors are required to wear a face covering or mask when in the building and during the service when they are able. They must sanitize their hands upon entering the church and frequently while in the building and wash their hands after using the lavatories. They must maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from people not in the same household. Please follow ushers’ directions when entering and exiting the sanctuary to maintain proper physical distancing including which pew you may sit in, where in the pew, and how many people can be in the pew.

Worship Practices and Restrictions. Hymnals will not be available in the pews. A full-service bulletin is placed on the pew where an individual worshipper may sit but it should not be shared. The order of worship, prayers, liturgy, readings, and hymn/song lyrics will be projected on a screen. No shaking of hands, hugging, fist-bumping, high-fiving, etc., to greet one another before, during, or after worship. Instead, say “Good morning!” or “Glad you are here!” or “Hello!” … with eye contact! No standing together in groups before or after worship. Speaking and singing will be permitted but only while wearing a face covering or mask. There will be no passing of offering plates. Plates are located at the entrances/exits where you can simply drop your offering into the plate or other container. Sorry, no coffee or fellowship after worship.

Abbreviations. Throughout this worship folder P: refers to the presiding minister or preacher, A: denotes an assisting minister, and C: and/or bold text indicates the congregation.

An means that you may stand, as you are comfortably able.

Gathering

The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God.

Introduction to the Day. In today’s readings, the prophet Amos calls for justice to roll down like waters, Paul urges us to encourage one another with the promised coming of the Lord, and 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 that points us to the feast of victory—the marriage feast of the lamb.

PRELUDE by Sue Holst

WELCOME

INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved.

C: Amen.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P: Holy One,

All: 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: 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.

OPENING HYMN O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Stanzas 1, 2, 5 and 6

Text and music are printed at the back of the bulletin

GREETING

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P: Let us pray together.

O God of justice and love,

All: 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. Amen.

Word

God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching, and song

FIRST READING 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 worship and rituals are no substitute for obedience. The Lord demands justice and righteousness in the community.

18Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!

Why do you want the day of the Lord?

It is darkness, not light;

19as if someone fled from a lion,

and was met by a bear;

or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,

and was bitten by a snake.

20Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,

and gloom with no brightness in it?

21I hate, I despise your festivals,

and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

22Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,

I will not accept them;

and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals

I will not look upon.

23Take away from me the noise of your songs;

I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

24But let justice roll down like waters,

and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

A: The word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

HYMN OF RESPONSE Let Justice Flow like Streams

Stanzas 1, 2 and 3

Text and music are printed at the back of the bulletin

SECOND READING 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Some 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.

13We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died. 15For this we declare to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will by no means precede those who have died. 16For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage one another with these words.

A: The word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

Stanzas 1, 2 and 4

Text and music are printed at the back of the bulletin

GOSPEL Matthew 25:1-13

P: The holy gospel according to Matthew.

C: Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus tells a parable about his own second coming, emphasizing the need for readiness at all times.

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 1“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. 2Five of them

Continued on the next page.

were foolish, and five were wise. 3When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; 4but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. 5As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. 6But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. 8The foolish

said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. 9But the wise replied, ‘No! There will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. 11Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ 12But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ 13Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

P: The gospel of our Lord.

C: Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON by Deacon Cindy

HYMN OF THE DAY Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers

Stanzas 1, 2, 3 and 4

Text and music are printed at the back of the bulletin

Responding to God’s Word

OFFERING PRAYER

P: Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions. Use us, and what we gather today and this week, in feeding the world with your justice, love, and mercy, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

C: Amen.

OFFERING SONG For the Fruit of All Creation

Stanzas 1, 2 and 3

Text and music are printed at the back of the bulletin

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION

Each prayer ends with these words and response:

A: Hear us, O God.

C: Your mercy is great.

Concluding prayer and response:

A: Receive our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, until that day when you gather all creation around your throne where you will reign forever and ever.

C: Amen.

THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD

P: O Holy One of wisdom, throughout human history and today among us here, you call us to walk the paths of justice and peace. We praise you, O God of truth, for your precious words. Grant that sheltered under their richness as under the tree of life, we live in gratitude and faithfulness, through Jesus Christ, your Word, and our Wisdom, now and forever.

C: Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER Traditional Wording

P: Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us:

All: 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.

Sending

God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

BLESSING

P: 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.

DEPARTING HYMN Blessed Assurance

Stanzas 1, 2 and 3

Text and music are printed at the back of the bulletin

DISMISSAL

A: Beloved of God, go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE by Sue Holst

O God, Our Help in Ages Past

Let Justice Flow Like Streams

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers

For the Fruit of all Creation

Blessed Assurance

Acknowledgements

Permission to Podcast / Stream provided by Christian Copyright Licensing International, Inc., under License #11459672. Additional fee paid. www.ccli.com.

Permission to Podcast / Stream provided by One License under License #A-735588. Additional fee paid. www.onelicense.net.

Permission to livestream or podcast liturgy and music content under copyright to or administered by Augsburg Fortress provided under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License SAS103296.

PowerPoint® Slides, Worship Texts, and Graphics are from sundaysandseasons.com © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Used by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License SAS103296.

Some Worship Texts are from Worship in the Home for Sunday, November 8, 2020, prepared by the ELCA Worship Office for use during this time of world-wide crisis because congregations of this church are not able to gather for worship as the body of Christ. Published on the ELCA website, https://blogs.elca.org/worship/2988/.

O God, Our Help in Ages Past Text: Isaac Watts, 1674-1748, alt.; Public Domain. Music: William Croft, 1678-1727. Tune: ST ANNE; Public Domain. Used by permission of One License, Song # 92294, License #A-735588. www.onelicense.net.

Let Justice Flow Like Streams Text: Jane Parker Huber, b. 1926, © 1984 Jane Parker Huber, (admin. Westminster John Knox Press). Music: Aaron Williams, 1731-1776. Tune: ST THOMAS; Public Domain. Used by permission of One License, Song #42967, License #A-735588. www.onelicense.net.

My Hope is Built on Nothing Less Text: Isaac Wats, 1674-1748, alt.; Public Domain. Music: William Croft, 1678-1727. Tune: ST ANNE; Public Domain. Used by permission of One License, Song # 92294, License #A-735588. www.onelicense.net.

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Text: Laurentius Laurenti, 1660-1722; tr. Sarah B. Findlater, 1823-1907; Public Domain. Music: Swedish folk tune. Tune: HAF TRONES LAMA FARDIG; Public Domain. Used by permission of One License, Song #09229, License #A-735588. www.onelicense.net.

For the Fruit of All Creation Text: Fred Pratt Green, 1903-2000, © 1970 Hope Publishing Company. Music: Welsh traditional; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958, arr. © Oxford University Press. Tune: AR HYD Y NOS. Used by permission of One License, Song #00413 and #531D8318, License #A-735588. www.onelicense.net.

Blessed Assurance Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915; Public Domain. Music: Phoebe P. Knapp, 1830-1908. Tune: ASSURANCE; Public Domain. Used by permission of One License, Song #94972, License #A-735588. www.onelicense.net.