All Saints Sunday November 1, 2020 9:00 a.m.
Christ Lutheran Church 2610 Campbell Street • Valparaiso, Indiana 46385 • (219) 462-6660 Website: clcvalpo.org • E-mail: [email protected] INTRODUCTION All Saints celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the new Jerusalem. GATHERING The Holy Spirit calls us together as the people of God
WELCOME If you are joining us for the first time, welcome! We’d love to meet you, or if there’s anything you’d like to know about the ministry of Christ Lutheran Church, please consider filling out a Connection Card. If you’d like to provide a reading or greeting, sign up here. May the peace of the risen Christ be with you! PRELUDE Elegy Leupold
SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM FOR TITUS IMAD GRAYVOLD
PRESENTATION
God, who is rich in mercy and love, gives us a new birth into a living hope through the sacrament of baptism. By water and the Word God delivers us from sin and death and raises us to new life in Jesus Christ. We are united with all the baptized in the one body of Christ, anointed with the gift of the Holy Spirit, and joined in God's mission for the life of the world.
Sponsors present the candidate: We present Titus Imad Grayvold for baptism.
The presiding minister addresses parents Titus called by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the grace and love of God, do you desire to be baptized into Christ?
Response: We do.
The presiding minister continues: Called by the Holy Spirit, trusting in the grace and love of God, do you desire to have your child baptized into Christ? We do.
As you bring your child to receive the gift of baptism, you are entrusted with responsibilities: to live with him among God's faithful people, bring him to the word of God and the holy supper, teach him the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, place in his hands the holy scriptures, and nurture him in faith and prayer, so that your child may learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace.
Do you promise to help Titus grow in the Christian faith and life? We do.
2 The presiding minister addresses sponsors: Sponsors, do you promise to nurture Titus in the Christian faith as you are empowered by God's Spirit, and to help them live in the covenant of baptism and in communion with the church? We do.
The presiding minister addresses the assembly: People of God, do you promise to support Titus and pray for him in his new life in Christ? We do.
PROFESSION OF FAITH I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church. Do you renounce the devil and all the forces that defy God, the powers of this world that rebel against God, and the ways of sin that draw you from God? I renounce them.
Do you believe in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Or, “he descended into hell,” another translation of this text in widespread use.
THANKSGIVING AT THE FONT The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
Holy God, holy and merciful, holy and mighty, you are the river of life, you are the everlasting wellspring, you are the fire of rebirth.
3 Glory to you for oceans and lakes, for rivers and streams. Honor to you for cloud and rain, for dew and snow. Your waters are below us, around us, above us: our life is born in you. You are the fountain of resurrection. Praise to you for your saving waters: Noah and the animals survive the flood, Hagar discovers your well. The Israelites escape through the sea, and they drink from your gushing rock. Naaman washes his leprosy away, and the Samaritan woman will never be thirsty again. At this font, holy God, we pray: Praise to you for the water of baptism and for your Word that saves us in this water. Breathe your Spirit into all who are gathered here and into all creation. Illumine our days. Enliven our bones. Dry our tears. Wash away the sin within us, and drown the evil around us. Satisfy all our thirst with your living water, Jesus Christ, our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
BAPTISM The presiding minister baptizes the candidate. Titus Imad, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Blessed be God, the source of all life, the word of salvation, the spirit of mercy.
Let us pray. We give you thanks, O God, that through water and the Holy Spirit you give your daughters and sons new birth, cleanse them from sin, and raise them to eternal life.
Laying both hands on the head of the newly baptized, the minister prays: Sustain Titus with the gift of your Holy Spirit: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence, both now and forever. Amen.
The presiding minister marks the sign of the cross on the forehead of the baptized. Titus, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Amen.
WELCOME A lighted candle may be given to the newly baptized Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Let us welcome the newly baptized.
We welcome you into the body of Christ and into the mission we share: join us in giving thanks and praise to God and bearing God's creative and redeeming word to all the world.
4 GATHERING HYMN #532 Gather Us In
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. Children: This is the day that the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
5 PRAYER OF THE DAY A brief silence is kept before the prayer. God of all people from every tribe and language; you call true witnesses who sing your praise, live your grace and work for peace: may we share their faith and know our need for you that we might be a blessing to the hunger of your world; through Jesus Christ, whose body we are. Amen.
WORD God speaks to us in scripture reading, preaching and song
CHILDREN’S TIME
A PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING from Revelation 7, 1 John 3, and ELW#242, Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God! In baptism we are made God’s children, sharing in Christ’s victory over death. Ye watchers and ye holy ones, bright seraphs, cherubim, and thrones, raise the glad strain: "Alleluia!" Cry out, dominions, princedoms, pow'rs, archangels, virtues, angel choirs: "Alleluia! Alleluia!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! After 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. They cried out in a loud voice, saying, “Salvation belongs to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” We remember in gratitude your people of all tribes and times and languages, who you have gathered at the throne of the Lamb:
Bill Aldrin Emil Beeg III Beatrice Beyer Jim Boedeker Charles Byerly Glenn Carlson Sheila Catlin Dale & Adelaide Catt Dave Christensen Victoria Conover
6 Martín de Porres Carl Dickey Fred Eggold Carolyn French Bob Frum Philip Gehring Sara Galbreath Minnie Graham
O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim, lead their praises: "Alleluia!" Thou bearer of the eternal Word, most gracious, magnify the Lord: "Alleluia! Alleluia!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia! And 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, singing, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” We remember in joy those dear to us who have taught us to sing your praise:
Maxine Grieger Lois Hannewalk Jeffrey Alan Harper Omari Henderson John Christian Frederick Heyer Matthew Hilton Mitch Holin Norma Holm Esther Kruger Tillie Kucharyski Marilyn Lake Duane Louden Ted Ludwig Karl Lutze Adam Madsen Audrey Mateyack Ilah Miller Gerald Murfey Eleanor Murphy
7 Respond, ye souls in endless rest, ye patriarchs and prophets blest: "Alleluia! Alleluia!" Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong, all saints triumphant, raise the song: "Alleluia! Alleluia!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?” I 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. We remember in hope all those, robed in white, who have lived and died in the promises of baptism:
David Murray Susan Newhart Ludwig Nommensen, Ray Omiecinski Bill Pauley Rev. Dr. Cheryl Pero Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Sayler Jonathan Schoer David Schroeder Bill Spicer Gladys & Charles Swayne Charles Swickard Patricia Thurman Siegfried Tracht Mark Steven Tunacik Cheryl Walker Debra Walters Alta Woytasczyk Annette Zick Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg Albert Zimmermann
For 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. They will hunger no more, and thirst no more; the sun will not strike them, nor any scorching heat; for 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.” We praise you for calling us into communion with all your saints, and give thanks for those you have called in baptism this year: Marjorie Jean Soleim Maia Wren Pylipow Titus Imad Grayvold 8 O friends, in gladness let us sing, supernal anthems echoing: "Alleluia! Alleluia!" To God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit, Three in One: "Alleluia! Alleluia!" Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!
HOLY GOSPEL: Matthew 5:1-12 In the Beatitudes, Jesus provides a unique description of those who are blessed with God’s favor. His teaching is surprising and shocking to those who seek wealth, fame, and control over others. The Holy Gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord. 1When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then 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. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
9 HYMN OF THE DAY #418 Rejoice in God’s Saints
A NOTE ABOUT OFFERINGS During this time of social distancing, your congregation continues to serve: keeping us connected, caring for one another, holding our building ready for our return, supporting our staff and those they serve. Your offerings make that happen. This month a portion is given to Lutheran Diaconal Association (LDA) www.thelda.org. We have had many questions about how we can receive offerings during this time of coronavirus. Offerings can be given online at http://clcvalpo.org/give, by texting ‘CLCVALPO’ to 77977, by US Mail to 2610 Campbell St., or by dropping an envelope in the locked box outside Door #3 facing the High School. If you have been impacted by the coronavirus economically, remember that your value to God, and to us, is not dependent on your financial resources. We want to walk with you and want to help; please reach out to [email protected]. Likewise, if you know someone who has been affected, either with the virus or via the economic situation, please let us know!
PRAYERS 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. 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.
10 Lord of every nation, guide this country—red states and blue states, rural voters and urban voters, young and old—as we share in another national election. Kindle hearts eager to understand our common needs and seek our common good. 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. Here other intercessions may be offered. 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.
SHARING OF THE PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world
INVITATIONS
BLESSING Mothering God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, ☩ bless you and lead you into the way of truth and life. Amen.
11 SENDING HYMN #422 For All the Saints (vs. 1,2,6,7)
MEAL God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ
PRAYER Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things. You have set before us these gifts of your good creation. Prepare us for your heavenly banquet, nourish us with this rich food and drink, and send us forth to set tables in the midst of a suffering world, through the bread of life, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
12 TABLE PRAYER
LORD’S PRAYER Children: The Spirit makes us one. We pray as Jesus taught us: 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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION Come to the banquet table where Christ gives himself as food and drink. Thanks be to God!
The body of Christ, given for you Amen (receive the bread)
The blood of Christ, shed for you Amen (receive the cup)
PRAYER We give you thanks, gracious God, that you have once again fed us with food beyond compare, the body and blood of Christ. Lead us from this gathering, nourished and forgiven, into your beloved vineyard to wipe away the tears of all who hunger and thirst, guided by the example of the same Jesus Christ and led by the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
DISMISSAL Children: Go in peace. Remember the poor. Thanks be to God!
POSTLUDE Rigaudon Campra
13 CELEBRATING THE NEWLY BAPTIZED
Marjorie Jean Soleim ~ Maia Wren Pylipow ~ Titus Imad Grayvold
REMEMBERING THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
Bill Aldrin Memorial given by Michael & Lois Felten Emil Beeg III Son of Nancy Beeg Eldridge, friend and neighbor of Knauff Family Beatrice Beyer Mother of Becky Fry Jim Boedeker Member of CLC Charles Byerly Grandfather of Jessica Byerly Glenn Carlson Father of Susan Rodeck Sheila Catlin Aunt of Sara & Emily Catlin Dale & Adelaide Catt Parents of Cathy Goldschmidt Dave Christensen Friend of Melissa Summerville Victoria Conover Member of CLC Martín de Porres Renewer of society Carl Dickey Father of Nancy Dickey Fred Eggold Brother in Law of Thanne Wangerin Carolyn French Member of CLC Bob Frum Friend of John Hughes Philip Gehring Friend of Gail Lutze Sara Galbreath Cousin of Ed W. Seykowski Minnie Graham Mother of Gail Lutze Maxine Grieger Member of CLC, Mother of Marla Niksch Lois Hannewalk Memorial given by Michael & Lois Felten Jeffrey Alan Harper Member of CLC - Husband of Karen Harper Omari Henderson Classmate of Jonah Knauff John Christian Frederick Heyer Missionary Matthew Hilton Friend of Melissa Summerville Mitch Holin Candance Jacques - Friend of Nephew Norma Holm Godmother of Cathy Goldschmidt Esther Kruger Friend of Gail Lutze Tillie Kucharyski Mother of Glen Kucharyski Marilyn Lake Candace Jacques friends Mother Duane Louden Cousin of Sherry Taraskiewicz Ted Ludwig Member of CLC Karl Lutze Husband of Gail Lutze Adam Madsen Candance Jacques friends Son Audrey Mateyack Candance Jacques neighbor at lake Ilah Miller Aunt of Carla Nolting Gerald Murfey Brother of Jim Murfey Eleanor Murphy Mother of JoEllen Tunacik David Murray Dear friend of Sue McPherson Susan Newhart Friend of Jenny Bias Ludwig Nommensen Missionary 14 Ray Omiecinski Cousin of Ed W. Seykowski Bill Pauley Neighbor and friend of Seykowski Family Rev. Dr. Cheryl Pero Local Faith Leader Rev. Dr. Gwendolyn Sayler Friend to many - LDA Jonathan Schoer Member of CLC David Schroeder Husband of Phyllis Schroeder Bill Spicer Friend of Deb & Glen Kucharyski Gladys & Charles Swayne Parents of Ellen Swayne Patricia Thurman Candace Jacques friends Mother Siegfried Tracht Father of Lis Tracht Mark Steven Tunacik Son of JoEllen and brother of John Tunacik Cheryl Walker Friend of Jenny Bias Debra Walters Former member of CLC Alta Woytasczyk Dear friend and neighbor of Sherry Taraskiewicz Annette Zick Cousin of Sherry Taraskiewicz Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg Missionary Albert Zimmermann Father of Lanie Steinwart
COMMEMORATIONS Week of November 1, 2020 November 1 All Saints Day The custom of commemorating all of the saints of the church on a single day goes back at least to the third century. All Saints Day celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who make up the body of Christ. On this day or the following Sunday, many congregations will remember the faithful who have died during the past year. November 3 Martín de Porres, renewer of society, died 1639 Martín was the son of a Spanish knight and a freed black slave from Panama. As a lay brother in the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), he engaged in many charitable works in Lima, Peru. He founded an orphanage, a hospital, and a clinic for cats and dogs. November 7 John Christian Frederick Heyer Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg, Ludwig Nommensen, missionaries Heyer was the first missionary sent out by American Lutherans. After teaching at Gettysburg College and Seminary he was assigned to the Andhra region of India. A worker among the Tamil people on the southeast coast of India, Ziegenbalg was opposed both by local Hindus and by Danish authorities who favored a different missionary style. He was known for caring about the welfare of the whole person. Nommensen was born in northern Germany and was sent to Sumatra as a Lutheran missionary. Working among the Batak people, he translated the scriptures into their language, and honored their native culture. Bartholomaeus Ziegenbalg (ZEEG-en-balg) was a missionary to the Tamils of Tranquebar on the southeast coast of India. The first convert to Christianity was baptized about ten months after Ziegenbalg began preaching. His missionary work was opposed by the local Hindus and also by Danish authorities in that area. Ziegenbalg was imprisoned for his work on a charge of converting the natives. Today, the Tamil Evangelical Lutheran Church carries on his work. Ludwig Ingwer Nommensen was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. In the early 1860s he went to Sumatra to serve as a Lutheran missionary. His work was among the Batak people, who had previously not seen Christian missionaries. Though he encountered some initial difficulties, the missions began to succeed following the conversion of several tribal chiefs. Nommensen translated the scriptures into Batak while honoring much of the native culture. 15 GOSPEL MESSAGE
Blessed Are You
When Jesus sits on the mountain and begins his long sermon in Matthew’s gospel, he begins with these statements of blessing. Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and so on. Jesus speaks of the positive outcomes of these conditions: they will be comforted, they will inherit the earth, they will be filled. “Blessed are you now,” Jesus is saying, as well as “Blessed you will be.”
God’s promises are for today as much as they are for after we die. We trust that baptized into a death like Jesus’ death, we are also baptized into a resurrection like Jesus’ resurrection. In baptism we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, sealed with the Holy Spirit, and marked with the cross of Christ forever. Proclaimed on a mountain or in the valleys that can come in daily life, our identity as blessed, baptized saints moves us to live in ways that give thanks to God for God’s many gifts and blessings.
All Saints Day isn’t just about remembering those who have died and whose names may be read during worship today. All Saints Day is about all the saints, the ones who have gone before, those living now, and those still to come. Today we remember with thanksgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ who have died within the past year, and we also give thanks for the saints who labor and worship on this side of heaven’s gate.
Today we recall and celebrate with those who have gone before us as we gather at the font and the table, where in water and word, wine and bread, God reminds us, “Blessed are you.” We are blessed, and so we live in ways that manifest this blessing for and toward others.
Pastor: Rev. Erica Gibson-Even Director of Music Ministries: Brian Bartusch Sound: Paul Danger Worship Participant: Heather Budnik, flutist
Reader: Reid Venstrom
From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #26201. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Augsburg Fortress. Portions printed under OneLicense.net License # A-711129. Portions from Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare.
Cover Art: Stushie Art.
Cover art permission by Stushie Art. 16