Everything needed for October 11 online worship
Preparations for Worship:
- Do your best to eliminate distractions like the phone, TV, etc.
- Worship actively! Whether you are by yourself or with others, try reading the parts of the service aloud (responses, lessons, and prayers).
- This service is for children too. Help them participate. Ask those who have that ability to read a prayer or lesson aloud. Take a moment to describe what’s happening. Ask questions. Encourage little ones to draw what they are hearing while you all listen. Unlike our more typical Sunday worship at church, you can pause at any time for questions and discussion.
- Before you begin, load each of the videos below. (You might first have to get past a distracting ad.)
- Pause for a moment of quiet meditation. Then pray:
“Heavenly Father, I have come to worship you. Draw near to me in your gracious Word, and assure me of your loving kindness. Curb my wandering thoughts, that with undivided attention I may hear your voice and speak your praise. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.”
CONFESSION OF SINS
The grace of our Lord (+) Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you. And also with you.
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.
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.
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. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Mercifully grant, O God, that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts, for without your help we are unable to please you; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
LESSON – EZEKIEL 18:1-4, 25-32
The word of the Lord came to me:2“What do you mean, you who keep repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel: Fathers eat sour grapes, and the teeth of their sons are set on edge? 3“As surely as I live, declares the Lord God, you will never again use this proverb in Israel. 4Indeed, all souls are mine. The soul of the father is mine just like the soul of the son. The soul who sins is the one who will die. 25“Yet you say, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair.’ Listen now, O house of Israel: Is it my way that is not fair? Is it not your ways that are not fair? 26If a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and practices unrighteousness, he will die because of it. Because of the unrighteousness that he has practiced, he will die. 27“But if a wicked man repents of his wickedness that he had done and practices justice and righteousness, he will preserve his life. 28Because he has seen and repented of all the rebellious acts that he had committed, he will surely live, and he will not die. 29But the house of Israel says, ‘The Lord’s way is not fair.’ Is it really my ways that are not fair, O house of Israel? Is it not your ways that are not fair? 30“Therefore, I will judge each one of you according to his ways, O house of Israel, says the Lord God. Repent and turn away from all your rebellious acts, so that you will not set out a stumbling block that makes you guilty. 31Throw off from yourselves all your rebellious actions by which you have rebelled, and get for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Why should you die, O house of Israel? 32For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies, declares the Lord God. So repent and live!”
GOSPEL – MATTHEW 21:28-32
28“What do you think? A man had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’ 29He answered, ‘I will not,’ but later he changed his mind and went. 30He came to the second and said the same thing. The second son answered, ‘I will go, sir,’ but he did not go. 31Which of the two did the will of his father?”
They said to him, “The first.”
Jesus said to them, “Amen I tell you: The tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you in the way of righteousness, but you did not believe him. However, the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him. Even when you saw this, you did not change your mind and believe him.”
DEVOTION – 2 CORINTHIANS 13:5-8
CONFESSION OF FAITH
I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of 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.
OFFERING
Offerings may be given on-line at tithe.ly/risensavior, mailed to the church, or dropped off at the church.
Our members have joined together in faith and love to do the Lord’s work in this community and around the world. Guests need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry.
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Invited by Your Word and encouraged by Your promise of mercy, let us pray for a welcoming spirit in our congregation, for boldness in our invitation to those without a church home, and for a willingness to serve our neighbor in need and the stranger whose lives cross our paths.
Give us confidence to be there to call people to repentance and to respond kindly and with confession and humility when others call us to repent of our sins.
Lord Jesus, we thank you for sending your Spirit to move us to start a new congregation, Mt.. Calvary in Stockbridge, WI.. Through the gift of evangelism members invited others until there were enough people to start a new church.. Continue to bless the leadership of Missionary Jesse Johnston as he preaches and teaches your Word..
Grant many blessings to the new congregation according to your will.
Let us pray for compassion toward the sick and those who suffer, for our care of those who need our assistance, for the hospitalized and those recovering, and those we name in our hearts.
God grant them healing, comfort, strength and peace.
Let us pray for all elected and appointed civil servants, for all judges, for all emergency personnel, for all members of the armed forces, and for all of us as citizens and neighbors.
What a privilege we have to select in a free election our representatives and president. Do not let us take these blessings for granted. Lead me to use the privilege with wisdom and integrity.
Let us pray for gratitude in receiving the Lord’s gifts and blessings, for generosity in sharing these resources with those in need, and for the offerings to support the work of the Kingdom in this place.
Grant us generous hearts that seek to share and give to your glory.
All these things, Lord, we pray You to grant us according to Your mercy in Jesus Christ and to fill us with contentment, that trusting in Your gracious will for all things, our hearts may enjoy perfect rest and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who taught us to pray…
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 LORD’S BLESSING
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. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. Amen.