GREENFIELD LUTHERAN CHURCH
CHRIST THE KING LECTIONARY 34, YEAR A
26TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2023

WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, in whose image we are made,
who claims us and calls us beloved. Amen
Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy One, we confess that we are not awake for you. We are not faithful in using your gifts. We forget the least of our siblings. We do not see your beautiful image in one another. We are infected by sin that divides your beloved community. Open our hearts to your coming, open our eyes to see you in our neighbor, open our hands to serve your creation. Amen.

Beloved, we are God’s children, and Jesus, our Beloved, opens the door to us.
Through ☩ Jesus you are forgiven, by Jesus you are welcome, in Jesus you are called to rejoice! Let us live in the promises prepared for us from the foundation of the world. Amen

CHURCH CHOIR SINGS: A Thanksgiving Prayer

APOSTOLIC 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.

KYRIE page 147 (front of hymnal)
HYMN OF PRAISE page 149-150

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: O God of power and might, your Son shows us the way of service, and in him we inherit the riches of your grace. Give us the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen

FIRST READING: EZEKIEL 34:11-16, 20-24
11Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. 12As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. 14I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord GOD. 16I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. 20Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, 22I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the LORD, have spoken. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 95:1-7a (please read responsively)
1Come, let us sing to the LORD; let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
2Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving and raise a loud shout to the LORD with psalms.
3For you, LORD, are a great God, and a great ruler above all gods.
4In your hand are the caverns of the earth; the heights of the hills are also yours.
5The sea is yours, for you made it, and your hands have molded the dry land.
6Come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the LORD our maker.
7aFor the LORD is our God, and we are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand.

SECOND READING: EPHESIANS 1:15-23
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, 18so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 25:31-46
“The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew the 25TH Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family you did it to me.’ 41Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ 44Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?’ 45Then he will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Pastor Kurt Bockoven
HYMN OF THE DAY: #855 Crown Him with Many Crowns (v. 1-4)

APOSTLES’ CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. 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. 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. Amen

PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION (please answer “Hear Our Prayer”)
PASSING OF THE PEACE

OFFERATORY
Please be seated Offering plates will be passed during this time.

OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray: God of all goodness, generations have turned to you, gathered around your table, and shared your abundant blessings. Number us among them that, as we gather these gifts from your abundance, and give thanks for your rich blessings, we may feast upon your very self and care for all that you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Servant. Amen

HOLY COMMUNION / LORD’S PRAYER
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.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy… and join their unending hymn: (Please sing: page153) Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
In the night he was betrayed…. Do this for the remembrance of me. Our Father who art in heaven….

INVITATION TO COMMUNION
There is a place for you at the banquet. Come and feast at Jesus’ table.
(All who hunger for God’s grace are welcome at this meal. White grape juice and gluten free wafers are available for those who need them. Children who have not had first communion training are welcome to come for a blessing.)

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, in this simple meal you have set a banquet. Sustain us on the journey, strengthen us to care for the least of your beloved children, and give us glad and generous hearts as we meet you on the way. Amen.

BLESSING
May the God of all creation, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved, who strengthens us for service, give you reason to rejoice and be glad! The blessing of God, Sovereign, ☩ Savior, and Spirit, be with you today and always. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN: #890 Battle Hymn of the Republic

DISMISSAL
Beloved of God, go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

After service today we will be moving in the Manger Scene outside.
Cookies are needed for Breakfast with Santa. They need to be here on Friday Dec 1st.
Nov 29 Confirmation Cookie Making for Breakfast with Santa AND Greening of the Church & Potluck 6 pm Please join the fun & fellowship.
Dec 3 40% Off Good Earth Village Camperships Please attend the Good Earth Village Temple Talk after Service. Wed, Dec 13 Rolf Svanoe book signing at Gabby Lou’s

Thank You to Our Assistants: Ringer/Bahl Family and Kiehne Family helpers/acolytes; Eric Slindee Reader, Matt Anderson Video; David & Charlie Offering Counters; Reagan Rose Organ/Piano, Samantha Stevens Coffee Fellowship
Please remember our homebound and senior care residents: Merle Roelofs, Carla Erickson, Joyce Hanlon, Lee Fishbaugher, Walt Ward, Mel Mikkelson.
Please keep in prayers: Marlin Easler, Richard Boice, George Hemenway.

Liturgy taken from sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB134626. CCLI Streaming License #20959486