Nativity Dec 29

Worship on Sunday, December 29 …

It’s the First Sunday of Christmas!  It’s time to pull out all the stops and celebrate the Nativity in song!

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╬ Sing, choirs of angels!

People of faith everywhere gather to celebrate a new day dawning. Emmanuel – God with us – has come into the world to show us a way and a truth and a life that leads to the very heart of God.  We come together to raise our voices in songs of praise, to celebrate with the songs that have given meaning to our lives, that express our joy in this day of days, and give voice to our hopes for a future of peace on earth and unity among humankind.


Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.  

“Worship the Lord with gladness, come into his presence with singing!”  ~ Psalm 100:2

- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ---------------------

God of light, fill our hearts this day with the power of your Spirit as we welcome the gift of your Christ into the midst of life.  Fill us with the peace, hope, love and joy that he brings.  Fill us with songs to praise the One who comes to make all things new.  Amen.

READINGS ---------------------------------

First Reading:  Isaiah 61:1-2,10-11
61 The 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; 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.  10 I 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.11 For 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 96:7-13
7  Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

8  Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts.

9  Worship the Lord in holy splendor; tremble before him, all the earth.

10 Say among the nations, "The Lord is king!  The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved. He will judge the peoples with equity."

11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it.

12 Let the field exult, and everything in it.  Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the Lord;

13 He will judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with his truth.


Second Reading:  Romans 16:25-27
25 Now 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 26 but 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 — 27 to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever! Amen.

Gospel:  Luke 2:22-40
22 When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord"), 24 and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons."  25 Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. 26 It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Messiah. 27 Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him what was customary under the law, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29 "Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel."  33 And the child's father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him. 34 Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, "This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed 35 so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed —  and a sword will pierce your own soul too."  36 There was also a prophet, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, 37 then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. 38 At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.  39 When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth. 40 The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him.

Christmas Eve 2019

Worship on Sunday, December 24 …

We prepare for the evening Nativity gatherings.

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The time of waiting will soon be over.  The gift of Christmas is at hand!

Christmas Card Dec. 22

Worship on Sunday, December 22 …

On this fourth Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Joy – we marvel at the way the glory of God is being born into the reality of our days, in the humblest of ways!    
Mixed Blessing leads music presenting a Christmas Card for you.  

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Joy - Dec 15,2019

Worship on Sunday, December 15 …

On this third Sunday of Advent – the Sunday of Joy – we marvel at the way the glory of God is being borne into the reality of our days, in the humblest of ways!    CHRISTMAS BONUS:  we celebrated baptisms at BOTH services on the 15th!

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╬ Glory in Humility!

“All of you must clothe yourselves with humility.”  - 1Peter 5:5   The prophet proclaims that the Lord dwells not in rich palaces or elaborate temples, but in a tabernacle, a tent among a people wandering in the wilderness.  The angel of God announces that the messiah – the anointed deliverer – is born not in royalty and dynasties of power, but to a lowly, unwed provincial peasant girl.  The One God sends comes not to the halls of the high-born, but humbly … born in low estate because there was no room for him in places of wealth, privilege and security.  Forever after, the ongoing story of the Incarnation is one of glory shining forth in the humblest of circumstances.

Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 

Where is God calling for his Christ to be born, but in the hearts of you and I !

- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------

Gracious God, shape our hearts as the humble places wherein the glory of your Christ may be born.  With gladness and thanksgiving we prepare a place for him in the midst of life, in the midst of the world, at the center of ourselves. Amen.

READINGS ---------------------------

First Reading:  2 Samuel 7:1-17
7 Now when the king was settled in his house, and the Lord had given him rest from all his enemies around him, 2 the 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." 3 Nathan said to the king, "Go, do all that you have in mind; for the Lord is with you."  4 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 Go and tell my servant David: Thus says the Lord: Are you the one to build me a house to live in? 6 I 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. 7 Wherever 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?" 8 Now 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; 9 and 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. 10 And 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, 11 from 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. 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come forth from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he shall be a son to me. When he commits iniquity, I will punish him with a rod such as mortals use, with blows inflicted by human beings. 15 But I will not take my steadfast love from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me; your throne shall be established forever.

Psalm 89:1-4,19-26
1 I will sing of your steadfast love, O Lord, forever; with my mouth I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations.
2 I declare that your steadfast love is established forever; your faithfulness is as firm as the heavens.
3 You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to my servant David:
4 'I will establish your descendants forever, and build your throne for all generations.'"
19 Then you spoke in a vision to your faithful one, and said: "I have set the crown on one who is mighty, I have exalted one chosen from the people.
20 I have found my servant David; with my holy oil I have anointed him;
21 my hand shall always remain with him; my arm also shall strengthen him.
22 The enemy shall not outwit him, the wicked shall not humble him.
23 I will crush his foes before him and strike down those who hate him.
24 My faithfulness and steadfast love shall be with him; and in my name his horn shall be exalted.
25 I will set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
26 He shall cry to me, 'You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation!'

Second Reading:  Philippians 2:1-8
2 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, 2 make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. 5 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, 7 but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.  And being found in human form, 8 he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death — even death on a cross.

Gospel:  Luke 1:26-39
26 In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary. 28 And he came to her and said, "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." 29 But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. 30 The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He 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. 33 He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end." 34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 The 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. 36 And 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. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God." 38 Then 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.

Tapestry of Light Musical Cantata, Dec 8,2019

Tapestry of Light: Celtic Christmas Celebration-December 8

Musical Cantata, by Joseph M. Martin, presented by the Abiding Love Music Ministry.

Sunday, December 8, 8:30 & 11:00 am, Abiding Love Sanctuary

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Rend the Heavens Dec 1, 2019

Worship on Sunday, December 1 …

Already a new year begins in the life of the church.  The Season of Advent has come!

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╬ Rend the Heavens!

In times of profound struggle, of turbulence and unrest, a heartfelt plea rises in the prayers of God’s people:  in the words of the prophet, “O, that you would rend the heavens and come down!”  Throughout the history of the people in relationship with God, God has always been faithful to raise up a deliverer.  The clarion call of God’s people once more is for God enter into history, to save us from ourselves and from a world that conspires to separate us from God and from one another.

Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.  

Together, we enter into a time of awakening and preparation!

- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ------------------
Creating God, a new season of life has come.  You call us to watchfulness. You call us to prepare. You call us to look forward in hope.  Walk with us in these Advent days as we await the One you are sending into the world.  Amen.

READINGS ----------------------

First Reading:  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  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.  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 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 80:1-7,17-19
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock!  You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh.
2 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 of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
7 Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
17 But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
18 Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.
19 Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.

Second Reading:  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 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 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.

Gospel:  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 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; 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."

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Worship on Wednesday, November 27 …

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Christ the King Nov 24,2019

Worship on Sunday, November 24 …

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In this Season of Thanksgiving we give thanks for the grace of God that daily enriches and blesses our lives! 

The Season of Thanksgiving, and the church year, culminate in Christ the King Sunday!   As part of our worship celebration, we will be bringing forward our pledge commitments for 2020 during the Offering.

╬ Christ the King

Magi follow a star seeking the birthplace of the one born “king of the Jews.”  “Hail, king of the Jews … save yourself!”  becomes a taunt of derision.   We proclaim him this day “Christ the King” … even as he his crucified between two thieves.  Here on the cusp of a new year in the life of the church we once again celebrate “Christ the King.” Yet we come to understand that this is a different kind of king.  This King says, “the one who would be ruler of all must become the servant of all.”  The one who would “rule over all the kings of the earth,” clothes himself like a household slave and washes feet.  And he calls us to do likewise.

Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.

Today, we proclaim Christ King in our lives, in our community, in our world!


- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY ----------------

God of all, we proclaim your Son king in a world struggling with oppression and fear, injustice and violence.  Keep your Christ ever before us that his light and love might guide us as we seek his rule and reign in our lives, for the healing of the world.  Amen.

READINGS --------------------

First Reading:  Daniel 7:9-10,13-14
9 As I watched, thrones were set in place, and an Ancient One took his throne, his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels were burning fire.  10 A stream of fire issued and flowed out from his presence.  A thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood attending him.  The court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.  13 As I watched in the night visions, I saw one like a human being coming with the clouds of heaven.  And he came to the Ancient One  and was presented before him.  14 To him was given dominion and glory and kingship, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingship is one that shall never be destroyed.

Psalm 93
1 The Lord is king, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed, he is girded with strength. He has established the world; it shall never be moved;
2 your throne is established from of old; you are from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their roaring.
4 More majestic than the thunders of mighty waters, more majestic than the waves of the sea, majestic on high is the Lord!
5 Your decrees are very sure; holiness befits your house, O Lord, forevermore.

Second Reading:  Revelation 1:4-8
4 John to the seven churches that are in Asia:  Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne, 5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and made us to be a kingdom, priests serving his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.  7 Look! He is coming with the clouds; every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and on his account all the tribes of the earth will wail.  So it is to be. Amen.  8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.

Gospel:  Luke 23:33-43
33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. [[34 Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing."]] And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35 And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" 36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37 and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" 38 There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."  39 One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" 40 But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41 And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

A Service to Celebrate Verla Cook

A Service to Celebrate
Verla Cook
November 23, 2019

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Verla was born on October22,1938 in Minneapolis,MN. She attended school in Hastings,MN. After graduation she went to work with Braniff Airways. In the 25 years with Braniff, she worked in the Twin Cities:Dallas,Tx Colorado Springs,Co; Houston, Tx; Honolulu, Hi; and finally Austin, Tx.After Braniff shut down in 1982, Verla went to work as a travel agent for the next 35 years before retiring in July, 2017.

Verla volunteered with her church as an usher, teller, and at the church's weekly food pantry.  She also ushered at the Long Center for the Performing Arts for the last either years- a wonderful experience. 

Verla suffered from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. She died on October 24,2019 in Austin, Tx. She is predeceased by two infant brothers;parents,Verin E. "Willie" Williams and Evelyn A. "Ev" Ellingboe Williams; son James V Samuelson and daughter, Divian Lee Samuelson.

She is survived by granddaughters, Divian N Samuelson; Kayman A. Samuelson; Emilee M. Samuelson and great granddaughters Sofie and Ramona Crocker.

The following was Published in Austin American-Statesman on Nov. 20, 2019

COOK, Verla M. "Williams" Born 22, Oct. 1938 in Minneapolis Mn Passed 24, Oct. 2019 in Austin Tx Cause-ediopathic pulmonary fibrosis Predeacesed by 2 infant brothers, parents Verlin E "Willie" Williams & Evelyn A "Ev"Ellingboe Williams, Son James V. Samuelson & Daughter Divian Lee Samuelson. Survived by granddaughters Divian N. Samuelson, Kayman A. Samuelson, Emilee M. Samuelson & granddaughters Sofie & Ramona Crocker. Attended school in Hastings Mn. & after graduation went to work with Braniff Airways. In the 25 years with Braniff she worked in the Twin Cities, Dallas Tx, Colorado Springs Co, Houston Tx, Honolulu and finally Austin Tx. After Braniff shut down in 1982 she went to work as a travel agent for the next 35 years returning in July 2017. Verla volunteered with her church as an usher, teller & at the church's weekly food pantry. She also ushered at the Longcenter for Performing Arts the last 8 years which she described as a wonderful experience. Celebration of Verla's life will be held on November 23rd, 2019 at 10:30 am at Abiding Love Lutheran Church 7210 Brush Country Rd. Austin Tx 78749

Published in Austin American-Statesman on Nov. 20, 2019

Its all about Gratitude Nov 17, 2019

Worship on Sunday, November 17 …

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In this Season of Thanksgiving we give thanks for the grace of God that daily enriches and blesses our lives!   

In this Season of Thanksgiving, we embrace God’s invitation to give thanks in all things … to LIVE gratitude, daily!   

╬  Living Gratitude!

What would it be like if every day was framed by a sense of pure gratitude?  How might that shape our priorities and actions, and our reactions to each day’s inevitable “surprises”? This is the invitation of God in Christ:  to live out each day as the blessed and beloved children of God, grateful and ready to share that gratitude meaningfully in making life better in the world around us.

Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 

The Gospel’s invitation to you and me is simply to live in gratitude for God’s grace!

- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org

PRAYER OF THE DAY --------------

 God of life, we gather in praise and thanksgiving to you.  Lead us in living gratitude for the gifts of grace and blessing that flow in abundance from you.  Amen.

READINGS ---------------------------

 First Reading:  Ezra 3:10-13

10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David, king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:  "He is good; his love to Israel endures forever."  And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.

 Psalm 95:1-7

 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.

Second Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:13-24

13 Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. 15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.  23 May 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. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

Gospel:  Mark 14:22-26

22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." 23 Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.  24 "This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25 "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."  26 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Gratitude for Grace Nov 10, 2019

Worship on Sunday, November 10 …

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In this Season of Thanksgiving we give thanks for the grace of God that daily enriches and blesses our lives!   

╬  Gratitude for Grace!





Paul encourages the early Christian community to approach all of life from a place of thankfulness, “giving thanks in all circumstances … holding fast to what is good.” (1Thess.5) He calls us, as people of faith, to focus always on what is good and honorable, just and true. (Phil.4) These reflect the goodness and grace of God and naturally invoke a generous spirit of gratitude inus … gratitude for a loving God, for the gift that life is, and for the hopefulness of fresh possibility.



Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings. 



The Gospel’s invitation to you and me is simply to live in gratitude for God’s grace!





- Pr. Brad Highum

bhighum@abidinglove.org



PRAYER OF THE DAY --------------------------------------------------------------------------





Lord, inspire us by the power of your Spirit to see the world through eyes of hopefulness.  Help us to engage life from a place of gratitude, giving thanks in all circumstances for your goodness, grace and love.  Amen.



READINGS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



First Reading:  2 Chronicles 5:11-14



11 Now when the priests came out of the holy place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without regard to their divisions), 12 all the levitical singers, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun, their sons and kindred, arrayed in fine linen, with cymbals, harps, and lyres, stood east of the altar with one hundred twenty priests who were trumpeters. 13 It was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the Lord, and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the Lord, "For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever," the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, 14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.



Psalm 100



1 Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth.

2 Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.

3 Know that the Lord is God.  It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise.  Give thanks to him, bless his name.

5 For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.



Second Reading:  1 Thessalonians 5:13-24



13 Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. 15 See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.  23 May 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. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.



Gospel:  Luke 17:11-19



11 On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" 14 When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."

Living Lutheran

LOOKING AHEAD  to worship on Sunday, November 3 …

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 Our focus on “Living Lutheran” culminates in our celebration of the Reformation!   



 We begin our Season of Thanksgiving by celebrating the Feast of All Saints!   

╬  For All the Saints!


“We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.”  (Hebrews 12:1) This profound truth transcends time and place, an image of the past and future gathered into the present.  The generations stand in testament to the grace and goodness of God.  As our forebears before us, we in our time live out the calling of the Gospel even as we look forward in hope for the generations to come. 


Below are the Prayer of the Day and Readings.  



We join with saints of the church militant and the church triumphant in this Festival Sunday worship!



- Pr. Brad Highum
bhighum@abidinglove.org



PRAYER OF THE DAY --------------------------------------------------------------------------



God of grace, we stand today in the great cloud of witnesses, blessed by the generations who have given us life, blessed to be your people in our time and place and blessed by those who will proclaim your Gospel for generations to come.  We give you thanks in the name of the One who is light and life for us. Amen.



READINGS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



First Reading:  Deuteronomy 5:12-16



12 Observe the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Lord your God commanded you. 13 Six days you shall labor and do all your work. 14 But the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God; you shall not do any work — you, or your son or your daughter, or your male or female slave, or your ox or your donkey, or any of your livestock, or the resident alien in your towns, so that your male and female slave may rest as well as you. 15 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the Lord your God brought you out from there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm; therefore the Lord your God commanded you to keep the sabbath day.  16 Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you, so that your days may be long and that it may go well with you in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.





Psalm 34:1-8



1 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
2My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the humble hear and be glad.
3O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together.
4I sought the LORD, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
5Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed.
6This poor soul cried, and was heard by the LORD, and was saved from every trouble.
7The angel of the LORD encamps around those who revere him, and delivers them.
8O taste and see that the LORD is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.


Second Reading:  Revelation 7:9-10,15-17



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!"  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."



Gospel:  Luke 6:20-31



20 Then he looked up at his disciples and said:  "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21 "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled.  "Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. 22 "Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. 23 Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. 24 "But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. 25 "Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. "Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. 26 "Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.  27 "But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.