GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH

(Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) LITTLE ROCK, ARKANSAS November 20, 2011

THE ALTAR FLOWERS The Altar Flowers are given today to the glory of God and the beautification of His House by Bill Jones in loving memory of his wife Helen and in thanksgiving for the Lords many blessings. THOSE WHO SERVE Pastor: Director of Parish Music: Secretary: Early Childhood Center Director: Acolyte: (8:15) Cantor: (8:15) Ushers: (8:15) Greeters: Altar Guild: Acolyte: Cantor: Communion Assistant: Ushers: Greeters: Altar Guild: Coffee Hosts: Altar Guild: Nursery Attendant: (8:15) (8:15) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (10:45) (Wed. evening) Rev. James C. Walter Nathan Beethe Pat Funk Colleen Moorman Emily Junkans Paula Walter Tommy Borchert, Sam Cate Dennis Fastenau, Jack Funk Robert and Carole Nichols Pat Funk Erich Cline Jeff Ralston Terry Eustice David Faulkner, Jeremy Hammond Wes Mainard, Chris Pils Jim and Nancy Wade Dawn Cline Tim and Sandy Sweeney Suzanne Raddle and Wilma Richter Mary Ann Dyer

THE SUNDAY OF THE FULFILLMENT The Last Sunday of the Church Year
PRAYER UPON ENTERING CHURCH
Dearest Lord Jesus, You are the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End and all things are subjected to You even as You are the source of all things. I rejoice that You have destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light. Grant that I remain faithful until death and receive the crown of life, even as You have risen from the dead and You live and reign to all eternity. In Your name I pray. Amen

WELCOME
Welcome to Grace! In our Introit we find these words from St. Peter, In keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. As we gather this morning for this Last Sunday of the Church Year we do so knowing that the Lord has gone ahead of us to prepare a place for us and that, according to His promise, He will come back to take us to be with Him forever. Indeed He makes all things new. We are glad you are here today! If you are visiting with us we especially welcome you and we pray that your faith will be nurtured through Gods Word. If you have any questions about how you might become a communicant member of Grace, we encourage you to speak with our Pastor. We ask that everyone fill out an attendance card found at each pew and return it to an usher during the Offering. Children are welcome in our Service and we encourage their participation. A nursery for infants and toddlers is located downstairs for anyone who has need.

HOLY COMMUNION
Holy Communion will be celebrated in the 10:45 Service today. In this sacrament we receive Christs very body and blood for the forgiveness of sins. Those who are not members of Grace are asked to speak with our Pastor before partaking of this sacrament so that the unity of faith might be established. Thank you for honoring this request.

AS WE GATHER
The Last Sunday of the Church Year looks to the promise of eternal life; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting is how we confess that truth in the Apostles Creed. But while the fulfillment and the reality of heaven are still in the future, the Word of God wants us to know and to take comfort in the fact that Jesus, our King, is already ruling the universe. Though the darkness of sin and fear of death continues to lurk and to tempt, Jesus continues to be the Light of the world, the Light no darkness can overcome. The last word is that we do not fear because God has rescued and transferred us to the saving and loving reign of His Son Jesus.

NEXT WEEKS READINGS - The appointed readings for next Sunday, November 27th, the First Sunday in Advent, are: The Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 64:1-9, The Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, and The Gospel Reading: Mark 11:1-10.
Grace Lutheran Church P. O. Box 250769, Little Rock, AR 72225 www.gracelutheranlr.org Telephone Number: 501-663-3631

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THE ORDER OF DIVINE SERVICE FOR THE SUNDAY OF THE FULFILLMENT

Pre-Service Music Lighting of the Chancel Candles Prelude Ringing of the Church Bell Opening Hymn: Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones LSB 670

we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen

Absolution

[John 20:1923]

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen

Service of the Word

Introit
Ps. 39:45, 78, 12a; antiphon: 2 Peter 3:13 NIV

Confession and Absolution

Stand The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

P In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, C the home of righteousness. P O LORD, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days; C let me know how fleeting I am!
Matthew 28:19b; [18:20]

Invocation

P Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths, C and my lifetime is as nothing before you. P And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? C My hope is in you.

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

Exhortation

1 John 1:89

P Deliver me from all my transgressions. C Do not make me the scorn of the fool! P Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; hold not your peace at my tears! C For I am a sojourner with you, a guest, like all my fathers. C 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 P In keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, C the home of righteousness.

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.

Confession of Sins
P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what

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Kyrie

Mark 10:47

Gloria in Excelsis

Luke 2:14; John 1:29

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Gradual

Rev. 7:14b; Ps. 84:5

These are the ones coming out of the great tribu- | lation.* They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood | of the Lamb. Blessd are those whose strength is | in you,* in whose heart are the highways to | Zion.

Salutation and Collect of the Day Epistle

P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
Stand 1 Corinthians 15:2028

P Let us pray. Eternal God, merciful Father, You have appointed Your Son as judge of the living and the dead. Enable us to wait for the day of His return with our eyes fixed on the kingdom prepared for Your own from the foundation of the world; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Alleluia and Verse

P Alleluia. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end. Alleluia.
Rev. 22:13

Sit

Holy Gospel Old Testament Reading

P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
Ezekiel 34:1116, 2024

Matthew 25:3146

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew, the twenty-fifth chapter.

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The reading of the Holy Gospel. P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen

Sit

Children's Message Sermon Hymn: Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You Sermon When The End Is The Beginning
Stand

LSB 668 1 Corinthians 15:20-28

Prayer of the Church

P Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs. Each petition ends with the following:

Nicene Creed
C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

P Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer. The prayers conclude with the following: P Into Your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. C Amen
Sit

Offering
Stand

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Offertory

Psalm 116:12-13, 17-19

Proper Preface
P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who, out of love for His fallen creation, humbled Himself by taking on the form of a servant, becoming obedient unto death, even death upon a cross. Risen from the dead, He has freed us from eternal death and given us life everlasting. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Service of the Sacrament

Preface
2 Timothy 4:22; [Colossians 3:1]; [Psalm 136]

Sanctus

Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9

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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

Matthew 6:913

Prayer of Thanksgiving
P Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross. Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen

Pax Domini

John 20:19

The Words of Our Lord

Matthew 26:2628; Mark 14:2224; Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:2325

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me. In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.

Agnus Dei

John 1:29

Proclamation of Christ

1 Corinthians 11:26; Revelation 22:20

P As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lords death until He comes. C Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. P O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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Post-Communion Collect
P Let us pray. Gracious God, our heavenly Father, You have given us a foretaste of the feast to come in the Holy Supper of Your Son's body and blood. Keep us firm in the true faith throughout our days of pilgrimage that, on the day of His coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Sit

Distribution Communion instructions: The Pastor invites the communicants, those who are able, to kneel and then distributes the host which may be received into the hand or the mouth. The Elder distributes the individual cups. The communicants are asked to hold their cups until the Pastor says, Take and drink. Hymn: Your Table I Approach Hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns Hymn: Beautiful Savior
Stand

LSB 628 LSB 525 LSB 537

Benediction

Numbers 6:2426

Thank the Lord

Closing Hymn: Christ Is Surely Coming Postlude

LSB 509

Acknowledgments Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

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THIS WEEK AT GRACE SUNDAY: 8:15 a.m. Order of Matins 9:45 a.m. Sunday School and Pastor Walters Bible Class Young Women of Grace Bible Class 10:45 a.m. Divine Service with Holy Communion 2:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Baby Shower for Monica Ray 7:30 a.m. Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) 4:30 p.m. 7th Grade Confirmation 6:00 p.m. Childrens Choir 7:00 p.m. Parish Planning Council NO Tuesday Morning Bible Class 11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. ECDC Thanksgiving Feast of Stone Soup 6:30 a.m. Mens Bible Study (St. Vincents) NO Mid-Week Service 6:30 p.m. Musicians Rehearsal 9:00 a.m. Thanksgiving Day Worship Service 2:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m. Olan Mills pictures for Pictorial Directory NO 8th Grade Confirmation 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Olan Mills pictures for Pictorial Directory

OUR CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY to the family of Mr. Fred Schonert who died last week in Memphis. He is the uncle of Janet Pulliam and brother-in-law of Betty Schonert. Please keep his family in your prayers. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Nov. 26 Judy and Warren Rivers HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND GODS BLESSINGS TO: Nov. 20 Debbie Penny Nov. 21 Danita Eustice, Pam Welling Smith Nov. 22 Jared Lamb Nov. 23 Bill Allaben, Art Langlais, Nash Langlais, Florence Marvin Nov. 23 Vera Rieve, Verna Rieve, Hope Wistrand Nov. 24 Julia Schmidt Nov. 26 David Jones REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS: Jeanette Keehn is recovering at home. Nick Worden is recovering from surgery following a football injury. Frank Gutierrez continues therapy at Fort Roots as he recovers from a fall. Elwanda Wells is recovering at home following eye surgery. Dave Graf continues healing from an injury to his eye. NOTES AND CARDS Please remember our sick and home bound members in your prayers and send them a note or card to let them know were praying for them. LAST WEEKS STEWARDSHIP Attendance: Sunday 11/13: 161 (8:15 79 and 10:45 82). Mid-Week Service 11/16: 20. Offerings: Sunday 11/13: $6,480.00. MidWeek Service 11/9: $390.00. Memorials: $3,070.00. Building Fund: $365.00. Fan into Flame: $555.00. OUR SENIOR YOUTH GROUP will be selling wooden crosses and ornaments between services today on the bridge. They make a wonderful gift - they will be selling them from now until Christmas. Contact Suzanne Lambert or Joel and Gina Junkans if you have questions. 7th GRADE CONFIRMATION CLASS will meet on Monday at 4:30 p.m. in the Parlor. 8th GRADE COMFIRMATION CLASS will not meet this Friday. - 18 -

MON - WED: MONDAY: TUESDAY: WEDNESDAY: THURSDAY: FRIDAY: SATURDAY:

TODAY IN SUNDAY SCHOOL - Manna, water, and quail (Exodus 1617) is the lesson for today. Just as God provided manna, water, and quail for the hungry and complaining Israelites to preserve them, in Christ, God feeds us with the manna of His Word and the water of forgiveness, satisfying our eternal hunger and quenching our eternal thirst. Talk to your children about how sin causes us to be lost and hungry and thirsty for what we cannot have. Speak of Jesus, the bread of life and the living water, and how He satisfies our spiritual hunger and thirst. Review together the Fourth Petition of the Lords Prayer. SUNDAY BIBLE CLASS Pastor Walters Bible Class meets at 9:45 a.m. this morning in Parker Hall. Pastor is leading a study on the book of Exodus. THE YOUNG WOMEN OF GRACE will meet for Bible study each Sunday morning in the classroom downstairs in the church. Bible study materials are provided, and child care is available in the church nursery. Contact Gina Junkans for more information. THANKSGIVING SERVICE A Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving will be held on Thanksgiving Day, November 24th, at 9:00 a.m. We have invitation cards available on the tables at both entrances to the sanctuary to use to invite your family, friends and neighbors to worship with us on Thanksgiving Day. - 17 -

OLAN MILLS PICTORIAL DIRECTORIES We are working on a new pictorial directory for Grace. Olan Mills will be here on Friday, November 25th, Saturday, November 26th, and Monday, November 28th, to take pictures. Sign-up sheets are on a table in the bridge. Please sign up today we want all of our members to be in the new pictorial directory. If you have questions, talk with Gina Junkans or Debbie Penny. ITS A BABY SHOWER for little Monica Ray. Please come and join us in the parlor this afternoon, November 20th, from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. Monica is the daughter of Allie and Kevin Ray and the granddaughter of Emma Jane and John Ohnemus. Gift suggestions are toys and clothing size 12 months and larger. Hostesses are the Young Women of Grace. You can contact Gina Junkans if you have questions. Thank you and God bless. PARISH PLANNING COUNCIL will meet on Monday, November 21st, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parlor. VOTERS MEETING will be held on Monday, November 28th, at 7:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. TUESDAY MORNING BIBLE CLASS will not meet on Tuesday, November 22nd. They will resume after Thanksgiving on Tuesday, November 29th and will begin their study of Selected Psalms. Contact Joan Anne Olsen for more details. ECDC THANKSGIVING FEAST OF STONE SOUP You are invited to joint the ECDC kids for their traditional Thanksgiving Feast of Stone Soup complete with kid-made pumpkin pies and cornbread on Tuesday, November 22nd, 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the ECDC Common Area. Call Colleen so she can let the kids know you are coming!!! LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF CARE VAN We appreciate all who volunteered on Friday and Saturday to help Pastor Walter load the LWR Care Van. We loaded many boxes from many congregations in the central Arkansas area. Thanks for your help!!! KROGER GIFT CARDS - Our ECDC earns funds each month when you use a Kroger Gift Card purchased from the ECDC. It works like this: - Buy a gift card for $5. (it is already loaded with $5) - At Kroger Customer Service Desk, load the gift card with an amount of your choosing. An amount equal to 5% of your purchase is rebated to our ECDC. - When purchasing groceries, use the gift card. - When the card is empty, reload and repeat. Kroger Gift Cards are available in the Grace church office or from Colleen.

LWML EVENING GUILD CHRISTMAS BRUNCH is Saturday, December 3rd, at 11:00 a.m. in Parker Hall. We will enjoy a Christmas brunch, and then youre ready for an afternoon of shopping. Call Pat Funk or Judy Rivers to make your reservation. ACTS CHRISTMAS DINNER is Sunday evening, December 11th at the Butcher Shop Steakhouse, 10825 Hermitage Road in Little Rock. Come at 5:30 p.m. to visit and we will sit down to order at 6:00 p.m. Sammye Sue Harrill has a sign-up sheet. See her between services this morning or call Sammye Sue at 223-3834 to make your reservation. DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES (DCFS) East Office has a need for wipes, juices, canned lunches: spaghetti, soups and ravioli, for the children that come through their office for foster care. DCFS is also working on their visitation room they can use books, building blocks and hard toys - things that can be easily cleaned. No stuffed animals. If you can help with any of these items, please place them in the DCFS container on the bridge. The staff at the East Office is very appreciative of our efforts and sends their thanks. For more details, talk with Abby Buchanan or Pat Funk. GRACE FOOD PANTRY - Its time to restock the Food Pantry here at Grace. With the holidays coming we will have more requests for providing non-perishable food items, especially items for a holiday meal which may include green beans, fried onions, corn, sweet potatoes, boxed mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, cranberries, gravy, jello, canned pumpkin, evaporated milk and boxed desserts. Other items we stock are: canned chicken, tuna, chunky soups, vegetables, fruits and boxed dinners. Please place your items in the kitchen downstairs in the church. Thank you for your help. A MEMORIAL has been given to Grace by Janet Pulliam in honor of her mother Mrs. Lottie Pulliam on the third anniversary of her death.
MEMORIALS IN MEMORY OF MR. FRED SCHONERT Uncle of Janet Pulliam and TO THE GRACE GENERAL FUND brother-in law of Betty Schonert By Dora Bratton IN MEMORY OF REV. ERVIN JUNKANS Father of Joel Junkans TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Irvin and Sherry Clawitter IN MEMORY OF RON GROENER Brother of Sandy Sweeney TO THE GRACE BUILDING FUND By Irvin and Sherry Clawitter

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Thanksgiving Day Service

November 24th 9:00 a.m.
Join us on Thanksgiving Day as we come together for worship and to give thanks for the many blessings the Lord has provided.

Invite your family and friends!!

Invitations are available on the tables at each entrance to the sanctuary for you to send to your family and friends.

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