November 15th, 24th Sunday After Pentecost

PRELUDE 
God, Whose Giving Knows no Ending (ELW 578)

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

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS 
For safety reasons, we ask that the congregation follow along with all spoken and sung responses silently.
The Assisting Minister and the Cantor will respond for the congregation to all spoken and sung responses.

CONFESSION 
Let us confess our sin. 
Silence for self-reflection 

Most merciful God, We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. 
We have sinned against you in thought word and deed, 
By what we have done and by what we have left undone. 
We have not loved you with our whole heart; 
We have not loved our neighbors or families or friends as ourselves. 
For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Have mercy on us. 
Forgive us, renew us, and lead us. Free us from the urge to speak with 
haste, offending those we fail to fully understand. Let our words always 
honor your wondrous love so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, 
to the glory of your holy name. Amen 

ABSOLUTION 
In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us; and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority I therefore declare to each of you the entire forgiveness of all your sins; In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen 

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. 

KYRIE 
Lord, Have Mercy. Christ, Have Mercy. Lord, Have Mercy. 

PRAYER OF THE DAY 
The presiding minister leads the prayer of the day. 
Let us pray,… 

Word 
God speaks to us in scripture, preaching and song. 

CHILDREN’S TIME

FIRST READING ZEPHANIAH 1:7, 12-18
Response after the conclusion: Thanks be to God. 

7Be silent before the Lord God! For the day of the Lord is at hand; the Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has consecrated his guests. 12At that time I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and I will punish the people who rest complacently on their dregs, those who say in their hearts, “The Lord will not do good, nor will he do harm.” 13Their wealth shall be plundered, and their houses laid waste. Though they build houses, they shall not inhabit them; though they plant vineyards, they shall not drink wine from them. 14The great day of the Lord is near, near and hastening fast; the sound of the day of the Lord is bitter, the warrior cries aloud there. 15That day will be a day of wrath, a day of distress and anguish, a day of ruin and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, 16a day of trumpet blast and battle cry against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements. 17I will bring such distress upon people that they shall walk like the blind; because they have sinned against the Lord, their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung. 18Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath; in the fire of his passion the whole earth shall be consumed; for a full, a terrible end he will make of all the inhabitants of the earth.

PSALM PSALM 90:1-8, 12   

1Lord, you have been our refuge from one generation to another. 2Before the mountains were brought forth, or the land and the earth were born, from age to age you are God. 3You turn us back to the dust and say, “Turn back, O children of earth.” 4For a thousand years in your sight are like yesterday when | it is past and like a watch in the night; 5you sweep them away like a dream, they fade away suddenly like the grass: 6in the morning it is green and flourishes; in the evening it is dried up and withered. 7For we are consumed by your anger; we are afraid because of your wrath. 8Our iniquities you have set before you, and our secret sins in the light of your countenance. 12So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts to wisdom.

SECOND READING 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11  
Response after the conclusion: Thanks be to God. 

1Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. 2For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3When they say, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape! 4But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; 5for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. 6So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; 7for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. 8But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, and put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. 11Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION 
GOSPEL  Matthew 25:14-30 
Response after the announcement: Glory to you, O Lord. 
Response after the conclusion: Praise to you, O Christ. 

[Jesus said to the disciples:] 14″For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; 15to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. 16The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. 17In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. 18But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. 20Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.’ 21His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 22And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, ‘Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.’ 23His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ 24Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; 25so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ 26But his master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? 27Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. 28So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. 29For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. 30As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”

SERMON PASTOR ERIC

HYMN OF THE DAY 
When Peace Like a River (ELW 785)

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION 
Each portion of the prayers ends with these or similar words: 
Hear us, O God…Your mercy is great

PEACE
The presiding minister and the assembly greet each other in the peace of the risen Christ.

The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.

The people may greet one another using their cell phones texting “Peace be with you” or similar words. The assembly is then seated.

THE LORD’S PRAYER 
Together as Jesus taught us using the more familiar words 

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 into the world to serve our neighbor. 

BLESSING 
Live your lives in Christ, rooted and built up in him, and abound in thanksgiving; and the blessing of the Holy Trinity + one God, be upon you and remain with you forever. Amen. 

DISMISSAL 
Go in peace. Christ is with you. Thanks be to God. Alleluia. 

POSTLUDE
Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us (ELW 707)

What’s Happening! 

Worship Assistants 

  • Pastor: The Reverend Dr. Eric J. Trozzo 
  • Assisting Minister: Sue Kuhn
  • Cantor: David D. Harp
  • Soloist: Doreen Lawrence
  • Greeter: John O’Meara
  • Usher: Barry Grahn

Zoom Events 
For more info, please refer to November Messenger 

  • Sunday, 9:30AM Live Stream Worship followed by Zoom Coffee Hour & Adult Forum New Way to Partner Bridge of Peace & our Youth Group 
  • Sunday, 11AM  Confirmation (7th & 8th Grades) 
  • Sunday, 11:15AM  Virtual Sunday School with Cross Roads