Today’s Readings and Hymns: (Click on each blue arrow to expand/collapse each section.)
1See, the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble; the day that comes shall burn them up, says the Lord of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. 2aBut for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.
1
Sing a new song to the Lord, who has done marvelous things,
whose right hand and holy arm have won the victory.
2
O Lord, you have made known your victory,
you have revealed your righteousness in the sight of the nations.
3
You remember your steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel;
all the ends of the earth have seen the victory of our God.
4
Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands;
lift up your voice, rejoice, and sing.
5
Sing to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the voice of song.
6
With trumpets and the sound of the horn
shout with joy before the king, the Lord.
7
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it,
the world and those who dwell therein.
8
Let the rivers clap their hands,
and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord, who comes to judge the earth.
9
The Lord will judge the world with righteousness
and the peoples with equity.
6Now we command you, beloved, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from believers who are living in idleness and not according to the tradition that they received from us. 7For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us; we were not idle when we were with you, 8and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it; but with toil and labor we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you. 9This was not because we do not have that right, but in order to give you an example to imitate. 10For even when we were with you, we gave you this command: Anyone unwilling to work should not eat. 11For we hear that some of you are living in idleness, mere busybodies, not doing any work. 12Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. 13Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.
5When some were speaking about the temple, how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God, [Jesus] said, 6“As for these things that you see, the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another; all will be thrown down.”
7They asked him, “Teacher, when will this be, and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?” 8And he said, “Beware that you are not led astray; for many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is near!’ Do not go after them.
9“When you hear of wars and insurrections, do not be terrified; for these things must take place first, but the end will not follow immediately.” 10Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; 11there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and plagues; and there will be dreadful portents and great signs from heaven.
12“But before all this occurs, they will arrest you and persecute you; they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors because of my name. 13This will give you an opportunity to testify. 14So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance; 15for I will give you words and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, by relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death. 17You will be hated by all because of my name. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By your endurance you will gain your souls.”
God, whose almighty word chaos and darkness heard and took their flight: hear us, we humbly pray, and where the gospel day sheds not its glorious ray, let there be light.
Christ, who once came to bring, on your redeeming wing, healing and sight; health to the troubled mind, sight where illusions blind; oh, now to humankind let there be light.
Spirit of truth and love, life-giving, holy dove, speed forth your flight; move on the water’s face bearing the lamp of grace, and in earth’s darkest place let there be light.
Holy and blessed three, glorious Trinity, Wisdom, Love, Might: boundless as ocean’s tide, rolling in fullest pride, through the earth, far and wide, let there be light.
Refrain My Lord, what a morning; my Lord, what a morning; oh, my Lord, what a morning, when the stars begin to fall.
You will hear the trumpet sound, to wake the nations underground, looking to my God’s right hand, when the stars begin to fall. Refrain
You will hear the sinner cry, to wake the nations underground, looking to my God’s right hand, when the stars begin to fall. Refrain
You will hear the Christian shout, to wake the nations underground, looking to my God’s right hand, when the stars begin to fall. Refrain
How firm a foundation, O saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in Christ Jesus, the Word! What more can he say than to you he has said who unto the Savior for refuge have fled?
“Fear not, I am with you, oh, be not dismayed, for I am your God and will still give you aid; I’ll strengthen you, help you, and cause you to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.”
“When through fi’ry trials your pathway shall lie, my grace, all-sufficient, shall be your supply. The flames shall not hurt you; I only design your dross to consume and your gold to refine.”
“Throughout all their lifetime my people shall prove my sov’reign, eternal, unchangeable love; and then, when gray hairs shall their temples adorn, like lambs they shall still in my bosom be borne.”
Worship Leaders: Pastor Colleen Cox, Donnasue Thompson
Music: Deb Jenks (organ and piano), Carol Aulenbach (oboe), Senior Choir
Additional Resources:
View and print the pre-reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Pre-reader’s Version View and print the reader’s version of this Sunday’s children’s bulletin: Reader’s Version
The radio program Sing for Joy follows the weekly Sunday lectionary through music and reflection. To listen, click here: Sing for Joy. Program host Pastor Bruce Benson ties the biblical readings of the day with musical selections from a number of sources brought together by Dr. John Ferguson, retired professor of organ and church music. The program is produced by St. Olaf College.
Permission to podcast/stream the music in this service obtained from ONE LICENSE #A-730287. All rights reserved.