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2 Thessalonians 3:1-13

 

“The end is near!” These are true words, and in our Old Testament and Gospel lessons today we are reminded that this world will pass away. However, this does not mean then that we should sit around waiting for the end! Paul, in our Epistle reading today, encourages us to do good and work. It is through work, by God’s gift, that we earn what is needed to live in this life, but it is also through our work that we can show others Jesus. The world is our mission field, and may we continue to live and work to the glory of our God.

 

… We Lift Our Hearts in Worship …

[Preservice options include videos (countdowns, worship music, welcomes), worship music CD, or live music by worship band.] 

Time of Praise and Worship

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)

Matt Redman & Jonas Myrin, ©2011 Thankyou Music, Said And Done Music, sixsteps Music, SHOUT! Publishing (Admin EMI CMG Publishing)

A New Hallelujah

Debbie Smith, Michael W. Smith, Paul Baloche, ©2008 Smittyfly Music (Admin. by Word Music Group, Inc.) Word Music, LLC (a div. of Word Music Group, Inc.) This Is Your Time Music Leadworship Songs (Admin. by Integrity Music, Inc.) Integrity’s Hosanna! Music

Give Me Your Eyes

Brandon Heath & Jason Ingram, ©2007 Peertunes, Ltd. (Admin. by peermusic) Windsor Way Music (Admin. by peermusic) Sitka 6 Music (Admin. by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC) Sony/ATV Cross Keys Publishing (Admin. by Sony/ATV Tunes LLC)

 [Traditional Options]

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

ELW 533; LBW 250; LSB 901; LW 198, NCH 67; PH 489

Praise the Almighty

ELW 877; LBW 539; LSB 797; LW 445

Lord of All Hopefulness

EH 482; ELW 765; HS 98 886; LBW 469; LSB 738; TFWS 2197; WC 369; WAR 489

  

Invocation

Deuteronomy 6:4 

Pastor              We gather in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

 

All                    Amen. May God bless and care for us this day!

 

Opening Prayer

 

Pastor              Lord of heaven and Earth, we your people pray that you would be with us this day. We have come from many places and have suffered from the trials and tribulations of the world this week. We come to You seeking peace and comfort. Be among us Lord. We trust in You!

 

All                    Lord we love to be with You in Your place, full of peace. Thank You for this time                                          together! Amen.

 

 

 Time of Greeting

  

Time of Confession and Forgiveness

 

Pastor              This world is a mess. Our readings this day deal with what we see every day: a world full of sin and death.  We must come before our Lord now and ask that He would forgive us our own sins, and preserve us from the mess of the world.

 

(A time of personal reflection and confession)

 

Lord God, Merciful Father,

 

All                    We acknowledge before You that we have sinned. We have been caught up in the craziness of this world and fallen away from You. We ask that we would not perish on account of our mistakes, evil thoughts, bad decisions, and indifference to sin.  Save us Lord. We turn to You asking for mercy.   

 

Pastor              We hear in our Old Testament lesson today:

“…for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings.”

Our Lord has healed us! By His Son Jesus Christ we have been risen up as righteous and blessed people. By the command and in the stead of my Lord, I forgive you all your sins and proclaim you to be God’s holy people!

 

All                    Amen!  The Lord is faithful!

 

 

… We Hear God’s Word …

[Read aloud both the introduction and Scripture]

First Reading                      Malachi 4:1-6

 

The prophet Malachi proclaims the word of the Lord: The evil ones will be destroyed while those who follow the ways of the Lord will be saved.

 

“Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and the day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the Lord Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves. 3 Then you will trample on the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I act,” says the Lord Almighty. 4 “Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel. 5 “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”