Pentecost 24

November 15, 2020
9:30 a.m.

Holy Spirit Lutheran Church
Lancaster, PA

Welcome

Welcome to worship in the time of both COVID-19 and fire recovery. Having worship in the narthex presents challenges that are unique. The most noticeable challenge is the one of spacing. While families may sit close together, the effort to maintain distance with others must be attempted as much as possible. That includes, if necessary sitting in the entrance area between the sets of doors.

Within the liturgy, we will maintain the following practices for the sharing of the peace and the distribution of the sacrament of Holy Communion.

When sharing the peace of Christ, remain at your seat, make eye contact with someone and wave and say “peace.” Your smile is visible beneath your mask.

As regards the Holy Communion, the Pastor and Assisting Ministers will bring the sacrament to you. The pastor will drop the host into your hand, followed by the assisting minister with the chalice of wine, followed by the other assisting minister with the receptible for your used cup. Those persons not receiving communion are welcome to receive a blessing.

At the conclusion of the service, if you took a paper bulletin, keep your bulletin with you, and exit the building by way of the designated exit doors. The pastor will greet you outside. Because of the spacing requirements if you wish to have a conversation with someone, do so outside.

Thank you for your attendance and consideration as we all work to keep each other healthy.. As the weeks go by you may notice some other changes in order to make our Sunday experience both worshipful and as safe as possible.

Stay well.

Welcome and Announcements

Gathering Music

The Brief Order for Confession and Forgiveness

P
In the name of the Father and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen

P
Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.
Silence is kept for reflection.
P
Faithful God, have mercy on us. We confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We turn from your loving embrace and go our own ways. We place our own needs before those of our neighbors. Make us humble, forgive our sin, and turn us again to life in you through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C
Amen.

P
Friends in Christ, God hears the cries of all who call out in need, and through his death and resurrection, Christ has made us his own. Your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.

The Apostolic Greeting & Prayer of the Day

P
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C
And also with you.

P
Let us pray. Righteous God, our merciful master, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C
Amen.

Children’s Message

The children remain at their seat as the pastor share a message with them.

First Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
A reading from First Thessalonians: Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When 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! But you, beloved, are not in darkness, for that day to surprise you like a thief; for you are all children of light and children of the day; we are not of the night or of darkness. So then let us not fall asleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober; for those who sleep sleep at night, and those who are drunk get drunk at night. But 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. For God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing.
A
The word of the Lord
C
Thanks be to God.

The Holy Gospel

Matthew 25:14-30
P
The Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew the twenty-fifth chapter.
C
Glory to you, O Lord
[Jesus said to the disciples:] “For it is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his property to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then 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.’ His 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.’ And 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.’ His 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.’ Then 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; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.’ But 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? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents. For 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. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ”
P
The Gospel of the Lord.
C
Praise to you, O Christ.

The Sermon

Silence for reflection follows.

The Prayers of the Church

A
Drawn together in the compassion of God, we pray for the church, the world, and all those in need.

After each portion of the prayers:
A
Lord, in your mercy,
C
Hear our prayer.

The prayers conclude:
P
Into your hands, Gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Savior.
C
Amen.

The Peace

P
The peace of Christ be with you always.
C
And also with you.
Without leaving your seat offer a wave to your neighbor, sharing God’s peace., in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Please be seated.

Music as the Table is Prepared

The Offertory Prayer

A
Let us pray. 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.

The Great Thanksgiving

P
The Lord be with you.
C
And also with you.

P
Lift up your hearts.
C
We lift them to the Lord.

P
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

Eucharistic Prayer

P
Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son,
who reached out to heal the sick and suffering,
who preached good news to the poor,
and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.

In the night in which he was betrayed,
our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks;
broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks,
and gave it for all to drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension,
we await his coming in glory.
Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord,
and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food,
the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord;
to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,
be all honor and glory, now and forever.
C
Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

C
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.

The Fraction

P
Come to the banquet table where Christ gives himself as food and drink.
C
Thanks be to God.
Please be seated.

The Distribution of Holy Communion

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America practices open table hospitality. Baptized communicants of other Christian denominations, of all ages, are welcome to receive the sacrament. Today we will bring the sacrament to you. The pastor will drop the host into your hand, followed by the assisting minister with the chalice of wine, followed by the assisting minister with the receptible for your used cup. Those persons not receiving communion are welcome to receive a blessing.

The Post Communion Blessing

P
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace.
C
Amen.

The Post Communion Prayer

A
Let us pray. 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 place, 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.
C
Amen.

The Blessing

P
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace. In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C
Amen.

Sending Music

Dismissal

A
Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C
Thanks be to God. We will!

Postlude

+++

The flowers today are sponsored by
Gary and Jessicca Noblit in honor of Veterans Day.

Acknowledgments

Portions of this service are reprinted from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2013 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #45652.

The Scripture quotations contained herein are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Readings for Next Week
Christ the King
Ephesians 1:15-23
Matthew 25:31-36