The 4th Sunday of End Times
Christ the King
St. John’s & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Churches
Montello & Mecan, WI
November 21, 2020
4:30p.m. St. John’s
(Indoor)
November 22, 2020
8a.m. Emmanuel
10a.m. St. John’s
✠P R E P A R A T I O N F O R W O R S H I P ✠
We prepare ourselves to worship the one Savior God by expressing our humble repentance, offering our fervent prayers and singing our thankfulness of praise.
Please note: Worship Update Plans (Updated Nov.. 2020. bulletin pages 16-17) Beginning (11/15) at the 10:00am St. John’s service, the 55+ age restriction ended . Worshipers are kindly asked to maintain social distancing, refrain from singing, and wear masks that cover both mouth and nose. Thank you for your consideration.
PASTOR’S WELCOME, ANNOUNCEMENTS, AND PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP
M: O Lord – our Maker, Redeemer, and Comforter – we are assembled in your presence to hear your holy Word. We pray that you would open our hearts by your Holy Spirit, that through the preaching of your Word we may repent of our sins, believe in Jesus, and grow day by day in grace and holiness. Hear us for Jesus’ sake. Amen.
OPENING HYMN 25 The King Shall Come
*Sung by soloist.
Please stand.
INVOCATION
M: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
CONFESSION & ABSOLUTION
M: We have come into the presence of God, who created us to love and serve him as his dear children. But we have disobeyed him and deserve only his wrath and punishment. Therefore, let us confess our sins to him and plead for his mercy.
C: Merciful Father in heaven, I am altogether sinful from birth. In countless ways I have sinned against you and do not deserve to be called your child. But trusting in Jesus, my Savior, I pray: Have mercy on me according to your unfailing love. Cleanse me from my sin, and take away my guilt.
M: God, our heavenly Father, has forgiven all your sins. By the perfect life and innocent death of our Lord, Jesus Christ, he has removed your guilt forever. You are his own dear child. May God give you strength to live according to his will.
C: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
M: Lord Jesus Christ, by your victory you have broken the power of the evil one. Fill our hearts with joy and peace as we look with hope to that day when every creature in heaven and earth will acclaim you King of kings and Lord of lords to your unending praise and glory; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Be seated.
✠ T H E W O R D ✠
The Lord Jesus speaks to us in Scripture reading, preaching and song.
OLD TESTAMENT LESSON Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 23, 24
Summary: Christ the King is our Shepherd
11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.
24 I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.
PSALM OF THE DAY 47
*For your personal devotion at home.
Refrain
Let the people praise you, O God. Let all the people praise you.
Clap your hands, all you nations;*
shout to God with cries of joy.
How awesome is the LORD Most High,*
the great King over all the earth!
God reigns over the nations;*
God is seated on his holy throne.
Refrain
God has ascended amid shouts of joy,*
the LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
Sing praises to God, sing praises;*
sing praises to our King, sing praises.
For God is the King of all the earth;*
sing to him a psalm of praise.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,*
is now, and will be forever. Amen.
Refrain
SECOND LESSON 1 Corinthians 15: 20-28 (today’s sermon text)
Summary: Christ the King reigns over death
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.”Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
VERSE OF THE DAY Revelation 22: 13
P: Alleluia! I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Alleluia.
Please stand.
GOSPEL LESSON Matthew 27: 27-31
Summary: Hail Christ the King!
27 Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Please be seated.
HYMN 217 The Head that Once Was Crowned
*Sung by soloist.
SERMONETTE 1 Corinthians 15: 20:28
Christ the King Defeats All Doubt
- Those who belong to Him will live (and never die)
- Those who oppose Him will lose (and never win)
APOSTLES’ CREED
*For your personal devotion at home.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker or heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY PRAYER & INTERCESSORY PRAYERS
*Read by pastor. Intercessory prayers listed on page 12.
Please stand.
LORD’S PRAYER
*Spoken by congregation.
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.
HOLY COMMUNION LITURGY
*Read by pastor.
Please be seated for the distribution.
At St. John’s Ev. Lutheran Church & Emmanuel Ev. Lutheran Church we practice closed Communion. If you are a guest at worship today and interested in receiving the Lord’s Supper, please speak with the pastor prior to the service. See page 13 for communion schedule and distribution information.
Please stand
Please stand.
CLOSING PRAYER
M: O Lord God, our heavenly Father, pour out the Holy Spirit on your faithful people. Keep us strong in your grace and truth, protect and comfort us in all temptation, and bestow on us your saving peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING
M: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another. Serve the Lord with gladness.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
Then Lord look on you with favor and + give you peace. Amen.
Be seated.
CLOSING HYMN 728 Jerusalem the Golden
*Sung by soloist.
✠ A N N O U N C E M E N T S ✠
November 22 – November 28
*No age member restrictions at Thanksgiving services and St. John’s services.
| Sun. | 8:00 a.m. | Emmanuel Worship with communion |
| 10:00 a.m. | St. John’s Worship with communion | |
| Mon. | ||
| Tues. | ||
| Wed. | 6:30 p.m. | Emmanuel Thanksgiving Eve Worship |
| Thanksgiving Break – No School | ||
| Thurs. | Thanksgiving | |
| 9:00 a.m. | St. John’s Thanksgiving Day Worship | |
| Thanksgiving Break – No School | ||
| Fri. | Thanksgiving Break – No School | |
| Sat. | 4:30 p.m. | St. John’s Worship (indoors) |
Next week’s theme:- November 29, 2020 1st Sunday of Advent: “Prepare for Christ’s Coming: Be on Guard” | ||
| 8:00 a.m. | Emmanuel Worship | |
| 10:00 a.m. | St. John’s Worship |
Saints Triumphant
Christ the King
Fourth Sunday of End Time – A
God’s Word for Today
The almighty King of the universe in his great love laid down his life for his people. The Lord of all things allowed himself to be mocked, beaten and crucified for his subjects. Then with his resurrection from the dead, he demonstrated his true power and glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords.
First Lesson (Ezekiel 34:11-16,23,24)
1. In the verses that directly precede this lesson, God rebukes the shepherds, i.e., the kings, leaders and priests of Israel for not being taking care of his sheep. According to God, our Shepherd-King, how will he deal with his sheep?
2. These verses were written hundreds of years after the reign of King David. So, who is this “servant David” that God would raise up to rule over his people?
Second Lesson (1 Corinthians 15:20-28)
3. Explain the comparison between Adam and Christ in these verses.
4. Evaluate. Verse 28 is telling us that Jesus is somehow inferior to God the Father.
Gospel (Matthew 27:27-31)
5. How did the King of kings show his love for us his subjects?
Answers:
1. He promises to seek out and rescue the lost, to gather his sheep from every nation, to provide for all their needs and to strengthen them when they are weak.
2. This is a prophecy about the coming Messiah. God had promised that a descendant of David would rise up to sit on his throne. The Messiah would be the greatest king in the history of Israel. Jesus, a blood descendant of King David, is that king. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.
3. Through Adam and Eve’s sin, all mankind fell and became subject to death. We are born dead spiritually. We will all face physical death someday. Because of our sins we all deserve eternal death in hell. But in Jesus we have been made alive. With his suffering and death, the payment of sin was made. His resurrection is proof that we too will be raised and will live forever with him in heaven.
4. Verse 28 is a difficult verse. The Bible states clearly in many places that Father, Son and Holy Spirit are equal in power, glory and authority (John 10:30). No one is superior to the other. Jesus however humbled himself to come to earth and obey the will of his Father (John 14:28). How can this be? As Professor Carleton Toppe once wrote: “Such is the mystery and wonder of the Trinity and of the God-man Jesus Christ” (The People’s Bible: 1 Corinthians, p.148).
5. Our King did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. Jesus showed his love for us in this: that as King of the universe he allowed himself to be mocked and tortured by a handful of ignorant unbelieving soldiers. In love, he allowed himself to suffer the physical agony of the cross. In love, he willing suffered the punishment of sin in our place. Our King truly deserves our honor, service and praise!
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Montello & Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Mecan
Worship Updates – November 2020
WORSHIP SERVICES
- Saturdays @ 4:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend!
- Sunday @ 8:00 am Emmanuel sanctuary (Emmanuel members)
- Sunday @ 10:00 am St. John’s. Beginning (11/15) the 55+ age restriction ended.
ALL are welcome.
- Online worship services continue and are found at www.stjohnsmontello.org
Providing a safe worship experience is a high priority for the leaders in our congregations. Christ’s love also compels us to consider the needs of others before our own. In humility we want to protect the health and safety of our bodies and of others. Because the virus continues to spread, and because of the science regarding singing and speaking, the following policies will be continued:
- Please use the hand sanitizer upon arrival at the worship service.
- Masks will be worn at all indoor services. Masks are available at both churches.
- Designated seating will be provided indoors to provide for social distancing.
- Services will be shortened to a length of approximately 40 minutes.
- The congregation is asked to not sing. A soloist will sing the hymns and any liturgical responses.
- Continuous communion will be practiced on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays/Sundays of each month. Family units are encouraged to commune together.
- The congregations should exit the sanctuary from the back at the end of the service, taking all belongings including the bulletin along with them.
- The sanctuary will be cleaned and sanitized between services.
**We will abide by any state or local mandates that may change any of these policies
As we hold firmly to the truths of scripture, we know that God continues to keep his promises to us. He has promised the wonderful spiritual blessings of forgiveness, life, and salvation. He has not, however, promised that things will always remain the same. In the words of our synod president, Mark Schroeder, “we recommit ourselves–as individuals, as congregations, and as a synod–to the mission that God has called us to carry out, trusting that he will bless us in that work.” Let us work together as we move forward as a congregation. Let us help, support, and encourage each other as we gather around God’s Word.
Question or Concerns? Contact your Elders or Pastor
Emmanuel Elders: Darrell Buchholz (608) 215-7871, Wayne Stelter (608) 494-0068
St. John’s Elders: Jerre Duerr (608) 697-8706, Jay Eisermann (608) 297-8171, James Wachholz (608) 369-4006, Pastor Pete Zietlow (608) 408-7830
| Attendance | Emmanuel | St. John’s |
| 11-14 11-15 | 44 | 30 37 |
| St. John’s Altar CommitteeNovember 2020 | Jennie Utke&Susan Brown |