A Place at the Table

Prayer of the Day

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. With your abundant grace and might, free us from the sin that would obstruct your mercy, that willingly we may bear your redeeming love to all the world, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.Amen.

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

¹Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, ²the king said to the prophet Nathan, “See now, I am living in a house of cedar, but the ark of God stays in a tent.” ³Nathan said to the king, “Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you.”
⁴But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: ⁵Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? ⁶I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. ⁷Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the tribal leaders of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?” ⁸Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David: Thus says the Lord of hosts: I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep to be prince over my people Israel; ⁹and I have been with you wherever you went, and have cut off all your enemies from before you; and I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. ¹⁰And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may live in their own place, and be disturbed no more; and evildoers shall afflict them no more, as formerly, ¹¹from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel; and I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. ¹⁶Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Psalm: Luke 1:46b-55

^46bMy soul proclaims the greatness | of the Lord,
⁴⁷my spirit rejoices in | God my Savior,
⁴⁸for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your | lowly servant.
From this day all generations will | call me blessed:
⁴⁹you, the Almighty, have done great | things for me
  and holy | is your name.
⁵⁰You have mercy on | those who fear you,
from generation to | generation. R
⁵¹You have shown strength | with your arm
  and scattered the proud in | their conceit,
⁵²casting down the mighty | from their thrones
and lifting | up the lowly.
⁵³You have filled the hungry | with good things
  and sent the rich | away empty.
⁵⁴You have come to the aid of your | servant Israel,
to remember the prom- | ise of mercy,
⁵⁵the promise made | to our forebears,
  to Abraham and his chil- | dren forever. R

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27

Paul closes his letter to the Romans by praising God because, in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ, God has revealed the promised, divine plan of salvation for all humanity. Paul proclaims this gospel of Christ in order to bring about the obedience of faith among all nations.²⁵Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages ²⁶but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—²⁷to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

In this annunciation, Luke makes clear that God comes with good news for ordinary people from little known places. This king will not be born to royalty in a palace, but to common folk in a stall. Here Luke highlights the role of the Spirit, a special emphasis in this gospel.²⁶In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. ²⁸And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” ²⁹But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. ³⁰The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. ³¹And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. ³²He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. ³³He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” ³⁴Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” ³⁵The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. ³⁶And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. ³⁷For nothing will be impossible with God.” ³⁸Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

Gospel Reading and Sermon from Northwest Intermountain Synod Bishop Kristen Kuempel:

Prayers of Intercession

The prayers are prepared locally for each occasion. The following examples may be adapted or used as appropriate.

God of power and might, fulfill your promise and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.

Gracious God, all generations call you blessed. In this holy season we pray for our neighbors of other denominations and faiths (Nearby churches, mosques, temples, and synagogues may be named). Inspire the faith of their people. Cultivate understanding among us and strengthen us in love and service to our community. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Creator God, you scatter the proud. Everything we have belongs first to you. Bless and protect the seas, mountains, plains, forests, skies, and soils that surround us. Give us humility as we tend them. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Righteous God, you humble the powerful and lift up the lowly. We pray for the leaders of all nations, that they amplify the voices of people in need. Guide all people entrusted with leadership, to create societies in which everyone can flourish. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Compassionate God, you fill the hungry with good things and send the rich away empty. Nourish those who lack access to adequate food and nutrition. Bless the work of advocates, community organizers, and food pantries. Encourage others to provide for their neighbors in need. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Healing God, you pour out mercy to all who cry out to you. Surround everyone in need of healing in body, mind, or spirit with your tender presence (especially). Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Eternal God, you are faithful to the promises you made to our forebears. We give thanks for the ministry of Katharina von Bora Luther and other ancestors who organized, planned, dreamed, encouraged, and reached out as they served you. We give thanks for the bold leadership of female leaders in our own time. Inspire others with their steadfast witness. Hear us, O God.Your mercy is great.

Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Stir up the wills of your faithful people, Lord God, and open our ears to the words of your prophets, that, anointed by your Spirit, we may testify to your light; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 61:1-11

61The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; ²to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; ³to provide for those who mourn in Zion— to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory.

⁴They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. ⁵Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; ⁶but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. ⁷Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs. ⁸For I the Lordlove justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them.⁹Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed.

¹⁰I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. ¹¹For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Psalm 126

¹When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

²Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”

³The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.

⁴Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb.

⁵May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.

⁶Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

¹²But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you;¹³esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.¹⁵See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise the words of prophets, ²¹but test everything; hold fast to what is good; ²²abstain from every form of evil.

²³May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.²⁵Beloved, pray for us. ²⁶Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them. ²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

John 1:6-28

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

¹⁵(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”)¹⁶From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.

¹⁹This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” ²⁰He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.” ²²Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” ²³He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’” as the prophet Isaiah said. ²⁴Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”²⁶John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, ²⁷the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.” ²⁸This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.

Sermon by Pastor Meggan Manlove

Advent is a church season of repentance and hope. It is also about waiting, a word that has taken on new meaning for me this particular year. On December 3 my mom called to tell me my 94-year-old dad had been taken by the ambulance to the hospital with sepsis pneumonia. By the time I started writing this sermon, dad was on Hospice and we were waiting. There has been so much waiting this year—for answers about COVID19, for guidance on how to live safely with the coronavirus, waiting for the election to be over, now waiting for the vaccine to be distributed, waiting for a peaceful transition of power, waiting for the new normal. 

And we are waiting, this Advent, as we always do for Immanuel to be born, to celebrate the birth of the Son of God. We are waiting simultaneously for Jesus to come again. The Old Testament prophets are big characters in the Advent journey of waiting and repentance and hope. But the star character of Advent is John, who we hear from today. He is primarily a witness; he points to something not himself.

John is, in fact, emphatic about the fact that he is not the Messiah, not the Savior. He has come to bear witness to one greater than him. I love that about John. So many people, so many businesses, even churches seem to either directly or indirectly claim to be the one, to be the person or institution which will save us. Saving us looks like whatever they have to offer—power, security, wealth, glamour, identity, belonging, being part of a protected or superior group.

And so, it is counter-cultural to say, I am not the messiah, but I will point you to the one who is. John’s witness transcends all of time as he bears witness to the light that has come into a darkened world: “[John] came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.” John’s role as witness and Jesus’ role as Messiah are inseparable.

Again, John begins identifying himself by what he is not. He is not the Messiah. John identifies himself as the prophetic voice of one like Isaiah. In the sixth century before Christ, Isaiah announced the return of God’s people from their years of captivity in Babylon: “I am the voice of one crying out “in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord.”  

John’s role is to make straight the way for the one who comes as Messiah. John does this through his identity in the role given him by God. He is simply the witness to the one whom God has sent.

John was always the primary witness, the one pointing to the true Messiah, the true Savior, the one who can actually bring healing and wholeness, yes for the Israelites, but as we will read later in this gospel, for the entire world. John’s vocation or calling to be a witness had me reflecting on one of Trinity Lutheran’s guiding principles: witness your faith through actions and words. 

And this reminded me of the ongoing discussion among my colleagues about what has been and should be emphasized in our congregations—right belief or right action. I think the question is unhelpful because both are important. What we believe about God, the cosmos, ourselves, one another, abundant life, all shape our actions. The reverse is also true: new habits, new practices, new actions can impact what we believe. 

If I believe that I am scum of the earth, a worthless sole, unloved, unwanted, that will impact my actions. If I believe I am God’s gift to the universe, entitled to riches and prosperity and that only my life matters, that will impact my actions. If I believe that God and other humans love me for simply who I am, with no regard for my looks, productivity, or skills, just Meggan Hannah, then that will also impact my actions. I am free to love as I have been loved.

And if I spend time with people who are different than me, that will change my perspective. If I travel to other parts of the world with my feet or by reading or watching films, my beliefs and worldview could transform. If I am beloved by my neighbors, if my community loves me through daily acts of deep kindness, that will influence what I believe about humans, myself, and maybe even God.

In a very real way, the relationship between beliefs and actions was on display in Idaho this past week, garnering national news. The Anne Frank memorial, part of the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights, was vandalized. And it was not random words that were plastered on the memorial; it was swastikas. 

Why? Why did the perpetrators believe this was a good thing to do? What beliefs shaped this action? What love, compassion, empathy is missing in their lives? Whose actions are they following and modeling? Was this act of hatred and vandalism going to save Idaho from something? What is their understanding of salvation or healing? (pause) And the church needs to ask, in the words of one of our Confessions of Sin, what work have we left undone? What beliefs or actions have we held that permitted whatever this was to be fostered, for the people to think their actions were helpful?

John was pointing to the one true Savior, the one true healer. And in his pointing and witnessing he used both words and actions. Words and actions both matter; it’s never either or, but instead both/and. They are all part of what it means to be a witness. 

John is the first person in the gospel to bear witness and confess that Jesus is “the Son of God.” Many who heard John witness to the Messiah offer their highest commendation of his God-given role: “John performed no sign, but everything he said about [Jesus] was true” (10:41). His role was later complete as the gospel writer offers the final comment on John: “And many believed in him [across the Jordan]” (10:42).

As people of faith, we have a unique opportunity to identify the role that all persons of faith are called to by God. Each one of has heard the words of this text and, as important, experienced God’s love. We know the importance of John’s witness to Jesus. And, like John, God commissions us to bear witness to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, the one who has come in the flesh, the one who is here with us, and the one who will come again in his reign as Lord of all. 

What does it mean to testify to Jesus, the light, the savior and healer? Do we imagine ourselves as witnesses to the light? Do we think of ourselves as witnesses to the light which shines in the darkness?

Into the bleakness of winter will soon come the light of the world. We are called to testify, to witness to that light, to Jesus the Word made flesh. That is the gift of that name, the Word made flesh. Jesus is God’s Word and action in one being. We can point to the light of God’s presence in so many ways. Point to the light of Christ shing into the shadows of our human brokenness, bringing good news to the oppressed, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and releasing those imprisoned to freedom.

John the Witness reminds us of the importance of pointing to even the tiniest light and saying “Look, behold, the Lamb of God!” This Advent let us see light when there seems to be none and then let us point to that light, the light of Jesus. Like John, we can point to Jesus and say “Look!” so that all might know God’s love and mercy and peace. 

Prayers of Intercession

God of power and might, shine your radiance and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.

A brief silence.

God of preachers and messengers, you have entrusted your church with the work of proclaiming good news. Strengthen the witness of bishops, pastors, deacons, church musicians, lay leaders, and all people who contribute their prayers and talents to public worship (the congregation’s worship leaders may be named). Embed your word in their hearts. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

God of every living creature, you announce the year of your favor for all of creation. Extend your kindness and relief to endangered animals and plants. Strengthen the human beings who rely on the rhythms of nature to make their living. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

God of all peoples and nations, you plant us as your oaks of righteousness and ask us to care for one another. Be present with the leaders of every nation as they govern. Give them a spirit of righteousness, that your goodness and mercy is revealed through their actions. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

God of exiles and wanderers, you repair what was once destroyed. We pray for people who have been displaced from their homes by fire, flood, earthquake, or storm (survivors of recent natural disasters may be named). Support the work of Lutheran World Relief, Lutheran Disaster Response, and all disaster relief organizations in their recovery efforts. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

God of the powerful and helpless, you clothe us with strength when our spirits are weak and weary. Bestow your spirit upon this congregation and empower us to comfort the people who turn to us in times of need. Make your church a place of refuge and healing. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

God of sinners and saints, you offer joy even in the midst of our grief. We are grateful for the beloved, imperfect people whose lives testified to your radiant love (especially Lucy, martyr of the church). Anoint all who mourn with the oil of gladness. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Stir up your power, Lord Christ, and come. By your merciful protection awaken us to the threatening dangers of our sins, and keep us blameless until the coming of your new day, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 64:1-9

64 O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,
    so that the mountains would quake at your presence—
^2 [a] as when fire kindles brushwood
    and the fire causes water to boil—
to make your name known to your adversaries,
    so that the nations might tremble at your presence!
³ When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,
    you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.
⁴ From ages past no one has heard,
    no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you,
    who works for those who wait for him.
⁵ You meet those who gladly do right,
    those who remember you in your ways.
But you were angry, and we sinned;
    because you hid yourself we transgressed.^[b]
6 We have all become like one who is unclean,
    and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.
We all fade like a leaf,
    and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
⁷ There is no one who calls on your name,
    or attempts to take hold of you;
for you have hidden your face from us,
    and have delivered^[c] us into the hand of our iniquity.
⁸ Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
    we are the clay, and you are our potter;
    we are all the work of your hand.
⁹ Do not be exceedingly angry, O Lord,
    and do not remember iniquity forever.
    Now consider, we are all your people.

Psalm 80:1-7

¹ Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel,
    you who lead Joseph like a flock!
You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
²     before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
Stir up your might,
    and come to save us!

³ Restore us, O God;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

⁴ O Lord God of hosts,
    how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
⁵ You have fed them with the bread of tears,
    and given them tears to drink in full measure.
⁶ You make us the scorn^[a] of our neighbors;
    our enemies laugh among themselves.

⁷ Restore us, O God of hosts;
    let your face shine, that we may be saved.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

⁴ I give thanks to my^[a] God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵ for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— ⁶ just as the testimony of^[b] Christ has been strengthened among you— ⁷ so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸ He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹ God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mark 13:24-37

²⁴ “But in those days, after that suffering,

the sun will be darkened,
    and the moon will not give its light,
²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven,
    and the powers in the heavens will be shaken.

²⁶ Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in clouds’ with great power and glory. ²⁷ Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

²⁸ “From the fig tree learn its lesson: as soon as its branch becomes tender and puts forth its leaves, you know that summer is near. ²⁹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that he^[a] is near, at the very gates. ³⁰ Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have taken place. ³¹ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

³² “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³³ Beware, keep alert;^[b] for you do not know when the time will come. ³⁴ It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch. ³⁵ Therefore, keep awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrow, or at dawn, ³⁶ or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly. ³⁷ And what I say to you I say to all: Keep awake.”

Sermon – Guest Preacher Rev. Tuhina Verma Rasche

Prayers of Intercession

God of power and might, tear open the heavens and come quickly to this weary world. Hear our prayers for everyone in need.

A brief silence.

We pray for the ministry we share in Christ’s name. Open our hearts to your call for justice, peace, and healing. Attune us to the needs of the world as you draw near. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

We pray for this planet in need of restoration: for devastated habitats, polluted waters, thawing ice, blazing fires, swelling floods, and long-lasting droughts. Renew the face of the earth and our relationship to it. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

We pray for all people who care for others in our community and around the world. Fill them with compassion and the power to respond with justice for those who are oppressed, with welcome for those who are excluded, and with relief for those who suffer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We pray for people who are in crisis as the seasons change: for those without homes facing severe weather, for those who are unemployed or underemployed, and for those in poverty or facing food insecurity. (Local feeding or housing ministries may be named). Relieve their burdens, sustain their bodies, and ease their minds. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We pray for the people in our families and congregation who live with depression, anxiety, chronic pain, addiction, and other invisible illnesses (especially). Ease their suffering and support them when they struggle. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

We give thanks for the lives and witness of those who died while waiting for justice, peace, or healing, those whose names we know and those whose names are known only to you. Sustain all who still yearn for the completion of your redeeming work. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Draw near to us, O God, and receive our prayers for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Prayer of the Day (from the Advent Project)

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

¹¹ For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. ¹² As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. ¹³ I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. ¹⁴ I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. ¹⁵ I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. ¹⁶ I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice.

²⁰ Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. ²¹ Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, ²² I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep.

²³ I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. ²⁴ And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

Psalm 95

¹ O come, let us sing to the Lord;
    let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
² Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
    let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
³ For the Lord is a great God,
    and a great King above all gods.
⁴ In his hand are the depths of the earth;
    the heights of the mountains are his also.
⁵ The sea is his, for he made it,
    and the dry land, which his hands have formed.

⁶ O come, let us worship and bow down,
    let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
⁷ For he is our God,
    and we are the people of his pasture,
    and the sheep of his hand.

O that today you would listen to his voice!

Ephesians 1:15-23

¹⁵ I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love^[a]toward all the saints, and for this reason ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. ¹⁷ I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, ¹⁸ so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. ²⁰ God^[b] put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, ²¹ far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. ²² And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, ²³ which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Matthew 25:31-46

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸ And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹ And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰ And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,^[a] you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ ⁴⁶ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Sermon – Pastor Meggan Manlove

It’s the end of the church year, Reign of Christ Sunday. At the beginning of Matthew’s gospel, we heard the lineage of Jesus—linking Jesus to King David, the most famous king in Israel’s history. We heard the story of wise men from the east following the star, searching for the new king so they could pay homage.  

Again, and again, we have listened in as Jesus described the new kingdom, not the kingdom of David and Solomon. God is doing something new. It is not a far-off kingdom but a kingdom here and now in which everything is turned upside down—the poor, the meek, the merciful are blessed; we are to love our enemies; and Jesus is king above all others. It started with the strangest upside-down story of all—a king born in a barn and laid in a feeding trough.  

Yet this morning we see a ruling Jesus who sits on his glorious throne as the judge of humanity. No more parables of maidens and lamps or slaves investing talents.  Today’s text is a judgment scene. Jesus uses an agricultural metaphor, sheep and goats. The judgment is actual, real, decisive, threatening, hanging over humanity like a lowering thundercloud.  

Like all trials, it passes judgment not on thoughts, but on actual deeds–in this case, deeds done to the judge: feeding him when hungry, giving water to him when thirsty, welcoming him as a stranger, clothing him when ragged, comforting him when sick, and empathizing with him when in prison.

Those judged are equally surprised, whether rewarded or condemned. “When did we do such deeds to you?” The reply, “when you did these things to the marginalized, the outcasts, the weakest and neediest in society.” Christians see Jesus in the least, if they see him at all.

From the beginning of Jesus ministry there has been an emphasis on doing the faith. Jesus himself must “fulfill all righteousness.” The disciples acts of piety include giving alms, praying and fasting. These must be done before God alone, not with a view to demonstrating one’s faith for the world to affirm.

The Apostle Paul’s phrase “faith active in love” fits this view of the Christian life well.  Even right belief is not enough.  One of Jesus’ most severe words comes at the end of the Sermon on the Mount: “Not everyone who says to me, `Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Matt. 7:21). To call Jesus Lord is the basic confession of faith in the early church, but it is not enough. Neither is prophecy, exorcism or miraculous deeds. Unless one does the will of the Father, Jesus will confess against those deeds. “I never recognized you; go away, you who produce that which breaks the [law].”

We are freed from sin and death by God’s mercy through Jesus Christ. We are freed for loving our neighbor. The parables leading up to today’s Scripture passage have set the stage. The bridge grooms, both those who did and did not have enough oil, remind us to keep awake and to be prepared for whenever the bride groom appears. The parable of the talents reminds us that God has gifted each of us uniquely but that investment in the reign of God is indeed part of our calling. How we do it will differ. That we invest our talents in the kingdom is nonnegotiable. 

What our neighbor love looks like might reflect today’s passage. You might actually feed people, clothe people, care for people in prison, or care for the sick. It might be neighbor love with a different expression. Most people we admire who love their neighbor do it so naturally. Like the characters in the parable, they wonder when they served Jesus. When was it? They ask. They have already been embodying what one scholar called “joyful living in mercy without calculation.”

The thing about today’s parable that I find fascinating is that it actually is not about the kind of individual acts of love I have mentioned. Those actions certainly fit a reading of Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, and certainly our individual actions matter. But today’s text starts this way, “When the Son of Man comes in glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him…” All the nations. 

So, we might say that this is just addressed to the leaders of the nations, and we are off the hook. But in this particular nation, we all get to participate, not just on election day, but every day. Systems are made up of individuals. Individuals make up neighborhoods, communities, and systems.

Jesus, it seems to me, is not only concerned with how we care for our neighbor individually. How we do it communally matters too. It is always unfortunate, when reading scripture, that the English singular “you” is the same as the plural “you,” but it is especially unfortunate with today’s passage from Matthew. The parable would read more accurately if the king answered, “Truly I tell you, just as you nations did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family,” or “just as you alldid it to one of the least of these.”

What precisely does this communal neighbor love look like? What does the reign of God look like for an entire community or country? The easiest way I can think about it in Nampa, Idaho is to share what I experience when I attend community meetings focused on feeding and housing. See, our feeding and housing ministries have made me curious about the statutes, practices, laws and systems that create the problems in the first place. 

Neighbor love expressed by an entire community, not just one person, not only helps someone move out of homelessness, it asks, “what is causing the affordable housing crisis right now?” a crisis that existed before the pandemic. Neighbor love expressed by a community wonders why the income gap has gotten so wide? Are the poorer people lazy, because it sure does not look like it—not when they are working three jobs. What laws and practices need to be changed to create more equity, more flourishing for all people? Neighbor love expressed by an entire community wonders why more people of color are being diagnosed with COVID-19 and then tries to provide more safe-guards. What needs to changed so that all people are blessed, not just spiritually but physically?   

These are the questions and framework used by German Lutheran theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer. The church, and really the entire country, because they were so united, of his day were basking in God’s grace and needed to be reminded of how to faithfully respond to that grace. Bonhoeffer wrote “Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without the living, incarnate Jesus Christ.” In contrast, costly grace is the hidden treasure in the field. “It is costly, because it calls to discipleship; it is grace, because it calls us to follow Jesus Christ. It is costly, because it costs people their lives; it is grace, because it thereby makes them live.”

We might still wonder what costly grace will actually looks like in daily living. Bonhoeffer asks, “But how should disciples know what their cross is? They will receive it when they begin to follow the suffering Lord. They will recognize their cross in communion with Jesus.”  Discipleship is not about looking for the triumphs of Christianity or of Jesus. We look to the suffering of Jesus. Bonhoeffer writes, “The cross is at once what is necessary and hidden, and what is visible and extraordinary.” We are completely dependent on God for grace and mercy. There will always be conflict between the way of the world and the reign of God. The cross, including why Jesus ended up there, and resurrection remain central. 

Immediately following our gospel passage Jesus says to his disciples, “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.” This is a king who continues to surprise. What kind of god shows power by dying on a cross? The same one who leaves the 99 for the one lost sheep. The same one who heals and feeds and restores the outcast to community. The God we worship is loving and tenacious. God’s reign is going to break in; it is in fact already happening. It is always both already and not yet here.  

Today our calling is not to cringe before an angry Judge who will wreak apocalyptic havoc on a creation gone bad. Instead, we have responsibilities as agents-in-Christ of God’s reign for a renewed creation. We are encouraged to look toward a hope that is neither millenialist nor rapturist. Instead, it is a vision perhaps best realized when it is set to the glorious music from George Fredrich Handel’s oratorio: “the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our God and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever. Halleluiah.” 

Prayers of Intercession (from Sundays and Seasons)

Longing for Christ’s reign to come among us, we pray for the outpouring of God’s power on the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

Sovereign of all, train our ears to hear your cry in the needs of those around us. Bless all social ministries of the church through which we seek to serve others as we ourselves have been served. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

You cause rain to fall on the just and unjust alike. Direct our use of creation to provide for the needs of all people in ways that are sustainable for the earth. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Bring peace to every place where conflict rages (especially). Grant opportunities for ending divisions among us and usher in your reign of unity and reconciliation. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Heal the sinful divisions we erect between us and release us from systems of oppression and prejudice. Restore our capacity to see your image in those whose dignity we have stripped away (especially). Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Pour out the gifts of your Spirit on children and youth throughout the church. Sustain those who work in children’s ministry, youth ministry, and campus ministry as they nurture the gifts of young people. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

Thank you for saints now departed who fed the hungry, clothed the naked, and tended to the sick. Inspire us by their example, that we may see your presence in those in need around us. Hear us, O God.  Your mercy is great.

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.

Amen.

Prayer of the Day

Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus 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 Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

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.”

Psalm 34: 1-10, 22

¹I will bless the Lord at all times; the praise of God shall ever be in my mouth.
²I will glory in the Lord; let the lowly hear and rejoice. 

³Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; let us exalt God’s name  together.
⁴I sought the Lord, who answered me and delivered me from all my terrors.

⁵Look upon the Lord and be radiant, and let not your faces be ashamed.
⁶I called in my affliction, and the Lord heard me and saved me from all my  troubles. 

⁷The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear the Lord and delivers them.
⁸Taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are they who take refuge in God!

⁹Fear the Lord, you saints of the Lord, for those who fear the Lord lack nothing.
¹⁰The lions are in want and suffer hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack nothing that is good.

²²O Lord, you redeem the life of your servants, and those who put their trust in you will not be punished.

Matthew 5:1-12

1 When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2 Then 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. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Faith Statement by Kevin Mills (Confirmation Sunday)

Over my years in confirmation, I went through the biggest changes in my life. I’m not talking about puberty, I mean that I’ve learned so many things pertaining to my life, which have helped me grow as a Friend, a Lutheran, and a member of this society. most of which about myself, my faith, and the world around me.

I’m sure all of you know, but dramas a real thing that happens in middle school, and especially in high school. When it comes up, drama is typically very stressful and often results in negative effects such as friends growing apart. But sometimes, that drama creates great learning opportunities to improve yourself. I’m the past year alone, I’ve said and done so many things that had negative impacts on me and the ones I care about. But if it weren’t for these experiences, I never would have learned the effects that my actions had on my friends and family.

As I learned these lessons, the stories from confirmation began to mean more and more to me. One story that I specifically remember studying multiple times was the story of the Prodigal son. The first time through, I remember not understanding the father’s choices and took the side of the older brother. But the second time through, I understood that the father had forgiven his son and loved both him and his brother the same. This taught me that you can forgive anyone for anything. But the third time through is what made this my favorite of Christ’s parables. What sunk in was the beginning and middle of the story. I believe that the father knew what the son would do with the money, and in turn, let him spend it all to teach him many lessons. But the ending also teaches the older brother some life lessons, as he seems to need to learn how to forgive as his father did. This is just one of the many parables I studied in confirmation that affected my life in a positive way. 

The lessons that we are taught by the bible are meant to make us servants of God. But what is a servant of God? I believe it means to treat others with kindness and try to be a light in their world that brings them up rather than a shadow that brings them down. A realization I’ve made throughout these years has been that kindness is contagious. Think about it, when you’re in a bad mood, are you generally very kind? No, you’re not. Treating someone badly will likely cause that person to treat others badly, and the chain continues spreading like a virus. (Covid joke)

The time I spent in confirmation helped me towards becoming a better person in general. I learned many lessons that will contribute to my success in being one of God’s own servants.

Sermon – Pastor Meggan Manlove

Today is all about saints and blessings, and perhaps how those two fit together. I believe the scripture passages both from Matthew and Revelation are protest passages. That is, they show us that the way things are is clearly not what God envisions. This is why we still pray, “Your kingdom come.” 

We acknowledge in that prayer that the “kingdom of heaven” is not yet a reality on earth. And yet today, All Saints Day, we recognize people who died who the church holds up as exemplars, those individuals who continue to give us glimpses of the kingdom of heaven or reign of God—people like Augustine, Francis of Assisi, Julian of Norwich, Martin Luther King Jr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Mother Teresa. We also recognize that all of us who strive to bring in the kingdom are in fact called saints.

One of the many things we celebrate today is the gift of baptism, the sacrament of Water and the Word, in which we are united with Christ’s death and resurrection.  We drown, we are washed clean, and we are given a new name, Child of God.  God shows know partiality.  Because of Jesus Christ God’s love and grace are free gifts.  But once we are united with Christ, once we are sealed by the Holy Spirit, it is quite a journey. Kevin, who will soon affirm the promises made at his baptism, named that this journey is one of learning, discovery, and regular transformation. The living word of God which he has encountered has transformed his thoughts and actions already.

In our reading from Matthew, we see what behavior got Jesus’ followers into such trouble. They were “merciful” and “peacemakers,” seeking reconciliation rather than revenge on someone who wronged them. They were “pure in heart,” and as Jesus defines purity, that meant doing things — like eating with any who would break bread with you — bound to render them impure in others’ eyes. Jesus gathers in all of these people who are completely bereft and without honor in their culture’s eyes.

Jesus gives them blessing, or honor. In front of all the crowds, Jesus ascribes honor to them, declaring that these are the people whom the God of Israel honors. Their human families may have disowned them, but they are children of the God who created the universe, to whom all honor belongs.

What does God require of us? Not sacrifices of blood, not impressive buildings, not achievement or respectability: just justice, and mercy, and humility. Sounds simple but living into that way of life has costs. 

What would it mean if we honored those whom God honors? What would happen if we stopped playing all of our culture’s games for status and power and privilege? What would it cost us if we lived more deeply into justice, and mercy, and humility? And more importantly, what blessings await us on that journey? 

What threads together the Beatitudes and our passage from Revelation are the threads of vision and protest. They both portray God’s vision for the world and speak to God’s solidarity with the marginalized, those crushed by the power of empire. Both passages should surprise us, the first with who God chooses to bless or honor, the second with how precisely God shows up.

The best way to understand Revelation’s message is to place ourselves alongside its earliest readers. Revelation was written to comfort beleaguered churches struggling under Roman imperial violence and power. The author, John, lived in exile on the Island of Patmos, off the coast of modern-day Turkey. Patmos was a place of banishment used by Rome.  

John himself writes of past and expected persecution of Christians who refused to worship the Roman Emperor. John writes that Rome is not the great eternal power it claims to be. John writes an apocalypse. In Greek, Apo means “from” and kalypsis means “covering” or “curtain.” John’s apocalypse pulls the curtain from the Roman Empire. It shows that Rome must not be worshiped.

John writes because he has been given his message directly from God; the message may or may not contain predictions. It is a revelation from God, from the Lord, the risen and exalted Lord Jesus of the Christian community. John prophesies to the Christian communities to remain faithful to the risen Lord, to remain faithful even in their time of crisis under the rule of Rome. The saints whose stories we still tell today were exemplars in this faithfulness to the risen Lord Jesus.

No other apocalypse ever pictures the divine hero as a Lamb. Revelation is unique among apocalyptic writings in this image. A lamb is weak and helpless. The depiction of Jesus as a Lamb shows him in the most vulnerable way possible. And John depicts Jesus as a victim who is slaughtered but standing. He is crucified but raised to life. He has conquered death but not in any Roman way.

The Lamb of Revelation became the victor not by militaristic power and slaughter but rather by being slaughtered. From beginning to end, Revelation’s vision of the Lamb teaches that God’s power is made manifest in weakness.  This Lamb theology is the whole message of Revelation. Evil is defeated not by overwhelming force or violence but by the Lamb’s suffering and love on the cross.  The victim becomes the victor. John of Patmos reveals what Barbara Rossing calls “Lamb Power.”

John takes his time revealing this Lamb Power. In Chapter Six, the first six seals are opened in rapid succession. This unleashes the four deadly horses and other symbols of Rome’s terrible oppression. We expect that the seventh seal will continue the rhythm of horror.  Instead, the letter reveals an amazing surprise.  

In place of the seventh seal we get a beautiful vision of white-robed martyrs from all “nations, tribes, peoples, and languages.” They are waving palm branches and singing before the throne of God and the Lamb. Then we arrive at a wonderful paradox. The Lamb himself becomes their shepherd, leading people to God’s shelter and to springs of the water of life.  

Today’s reading presents the church after the battle. Those who have conquered are dressed in the white robes of the victors; martyrdom is seen only from its heavenward side. We must cautiously remember that they have “won” only from the heavenly perspective of the Lamb’s redefinition of winning; on earth they have been killed.

John’s paradoxes keep coming.  The robes of the martyrs are white not with liquid bleach but because they are washed in the blood of the lamb.  Their own death is not an accomplishment of which they can boast. They don’t earn their victor’s robes with their own courage and determination. Their death becomes one with the Lamb’s death. John lets us see the suffering love of the One who dies for others enthroned. The Lamb rules at the heart of the universe.

There is amazing hope here. We are reminded that at those moments when judgment threatens most to overpower us the Lamb breaks into our world with God’s unexpected grace and love. Throughout all of Revelation, such songs and declarations of salvation break out in heaven—often at some of the most difficult moments, sustaining our faith on earth.    

What does any of this have to do with All Saints Sunday?  I’m sure this text is included today at least partially because of the image of God wiping away every tear from their eyes, a comforting image for all of us who have lost loved ones this year or in years past.

I think there is more to it.  Today our readings and liturgy call us to remember those who have died in Christ. The Christian community speaks honestly about human frailty and mortality. We don’t dismiss these realities.  At the same time, we confess every Sunday our faith in the risen Lord, in the communion of saints, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. While we face death with fear, the liturgy calls us to hear the Lord’s promise that he is with us in life and in death. In that strange and wonderful reversal, the Lamb is our shepherd—with us in life and in death.

Prayers of Intercession

Longing for Christ’s reign to come among us, we pray for the outpouring of God’s power on the church, the world, and all in need. Please respond to “Hear us, O God” with “Your mercy is great.”

A brief silence.

Lord of all the saints, we praise you for evangelists and martyrs whose sacrifices witness to your gospel across time and space. Inspire us by their courage to carry our faith to new people and places around us. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Lord of every place, the universe proclaims your greatness from generation to generation. Bless the work of naturalists, conservationists, and park rangers who train our attention to the wonders of the world you have made. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Lord of every nation, you crafted the universe as a divine tapestry in which the well-being of the entire cosmos is forever intertwined. In this election season, give us hearts and minds focused on nurturing all that you have made. Forgive us when we are unjust or accept unjust behavior in our leaders. Remind us of your call to not withdraw from the world, but to be in the world as your very own broken and beloved people. Ignite in us a passion for the welfare of those who are most vulnerable, and empower us to lead with a love that reflects your love revealed in Jesus Christ our Savior. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Lord of every blessing, your Son’s blessing came to those living with poverty, grief, hunger, thirst, and persecution. Shape our vision of the saints to match his own. Awaken in us your call to serve all who suffer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Lord of every venture, anoint us with the missionary spirit of the early church. Empower testimony from new communities of faith to shape a diverse witness to your saving power. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Lord of every time, countless are the multitudes you have called by name and gathered to yourself. Comfort us as we grieve those who have died in the past year:  All those in our world who have died from COVID-19, Howard Winwood, George Pascua, Ron King, Margaret Peerson, Chuck Knipple, Ashley Fisherman, John VanEvery, Robert MacDonald, Allyn Topp, and Robert Torrey. In faith, may we join with them in ceaseless praise. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Lord of new beginnings, we give thanks for those baptized since the last All Saints Sunday, the new saints: Olivia, Michael, Sophia, and James Duarte. Bless them in their life in Christ. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

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. Amen.