Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod
4768 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111
office: 652-8285; cell: 319-5424; home: 732-2631;
Email: ;
Church’s Website: www.ascension-wels.net;
Pastor Robert Green; Officers: President: Gary Graf; Vice President: Chuck Thompson; Secretary: Ralph Buehler; Elders: Gary Graf, Chuck Thompson, Ralph Buehler, Rick Grove; Fellowship: Ron Althoff; Treasurer: Rick Grove; Properties: Larry Stoner; Publications: Terry Reilly; Stewardship: Franklin Stauffer; Evangelism: Steve Lange; Organists/pianists: Marge Metz, and Brook Larson; Willing Workers: Chairwoman: Barb Buehler; Secretary: Linda Graf; Altar Guild: Barb Buehler; LWMS Reporter: Marge Metz; Choir director: Lori Nowaczyk.
November 23, 2014
Fourth Sunday of End Times
Christ the King Sunday
Welcome Guests and Visitors!
We are glad you are here. Please sign the guest book, located on the cabinet to your left as you leave the sanctuary; or fill out the guest card in the pew and put it in the offering plate. Please include your e-mail or mailing address, if you would like to be added to our weekly e-mail for sermons, bulletins and announcements. There is restroom and a nursery in the narthex.
For a prayer for after worship see page 11 of Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal.
The order of service for today is Service of the Word, found on page 38 in the front of the hymnal.
Introduction to the service: On this last Sunday of the Church Year, we rejoice in the fulfillment of God’s plan for our salvation through Christ our King. And we rejoice because our Christ our King reigns—the king who once came as a sacrifice; the king who still shepherds us day by day; the king who one day will conquer all our enemies. Lord, keep us joyful in Christ our King!
Opening hymn: Our Ascension Choir sings "10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord)"
Prayer of the Day: Lord Jesus Christ, by your victory you have broken the power of the evil one. Fill our hearts with joy and peace as we look with hope to that day when every creature in heaven and earth will acclaim you King of kings and Lord of lords to your unending praise and glory; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
First lesson: God expected his kings to gently lead his people by their godly words and actions. Instead, they exploited the people for their own purposes. It was time for God to intervene. He would tend his flock in their best interests. He said, "I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David." David, the shepherd-king of Israel, had been dead for almost four centuries. This is a prophecy of the Son of David, our Lord Jesus Christ, who would be the perfect Shepherd-King.
Ezekiel 34: 11-16, 23, 24:
“For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice…
23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the Lord will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the Lord have spoken.
Psalm 47 found on page 85 in the front of the hymnal. God is the King of all the earth. Let the people praise him!
Second Lesson: This is the reading for the sermon.
Rejoice for our Risen Lord reigns
as King victorious over all his enemies!
1 Corinthians 15:20–28 (NIV84):
But firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all.
Following the Verse of the Day the congregation joins in singing the Triple Alleluia as found on page 40.
Verse of the Day: Alleluia. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Alleluia. (Revelation 22:13)
Gospel reading: Never was pagan mockery more prophetic! Jesus is indeed the King of the Jews. He is the King of kings. Unlike other kings, our Savior is a King who conquers by allowing himself to be conquered.
Matthew 27:27–31 (NIV84):
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. 30 They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. 31 After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
Sermon Hymn: 217 The Head that Once Was Crowned
Sermon: By Pastor Green based on 1 Corinthians 15:20-28
Rejoice for our Risen Lord reigns
as King victorious over all his enemies!
Sermon helps: Use the following as best serves you in listening to the sermon.
Telic note (the key points God is teaching in the reading): Christ came as the conquering King conquering sin, death and the devil for us. He has destroyed all evil dominion, power and authority and now reigns as our eternal King of kings and Lord of lords. He will reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. He reigns now as the God-Man subject to God according to his human nature, equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit according to his divine nature.
Sad/Law (As I look at myself, what makes me sad about this reading, where do I see God’s law condemning my sin): doubting the reign of Christ, especially when things are not as we think they should be; doubting that he reigns for he won the complete and utter victory for us.
Glad/Gospel (What gives me joy in this reading, where do I see God’s love and forgiveness): Our Savior is our eternal King who has made us to be his kingdom by his conquest over all his enemies and our enemies!
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Children’s Devotion and dismissal to Sunday school.
Offering hymn: 612 Praise to God, Immortal Praise (verses 1 & 4)
Prayer of the Church for the Last Sunday of the Church Year: Christ the King Sunday
M: O Christ our King, you saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to your own purpose and grace.
C: Grant that we may ever continue in the things we have learned and of which we have been assured, that we may receive on the day of your coming the crown of righteousness you have prepared for us and for all who await your glorious reappearing.
M: Help us to walk each day in the way of your commandments: to follow peace and holiness with all people; to endure in meekness for your name’s sake such pain and adversity as we are called upon to bear; to be instant in prayer that we enter not into temptation; to behold the signs of the times, and to look for the new heavens and the new earth which the redeemed of the Lord will inherit in everlasting joy and gladness.
C: Hear the cry of the afflicted, O Lord, and give them your compassionate aid. Make straight paths for them, strengthen the weak, uphold the feeble, and heal the sick. Enlighten them that they despise not their chastisements but, receiving them in trust and confidence, bring forth the fruits of righteousness and joy.
Special prayers of thanksgiving or intercession may be spoken here:
Prayer requests: Please let Pastor Green know of any prayer requests for you or your loved ones.
We pray: for those with cancer: Dirk Martinez; Brian Terry (Brenda Thompson’s nephew), Bob Dunlop friend of Pastor Green; Rendell Wolfe, relative of Barb Penstone for bone cancer; Grace Glenn, Patti Reed’s step-mother; Kathleen Woodall, Jeanne Green’s sister; Anthony Pockey, Lance’s father; Shirley Maxwell; Solfryd, Ann-Helen’s mother; Jim Terry, Brenda Thompson’s brother-in-law;
for those with heart issues: Karen Bray, Vyonne Stephenson’s daughter, Helen Crogle, friend of Phyllis Cross, Francis Pockey, Lance’s mother; Paul Kraft;
for other health issues: For Birgit Peltzer, friend of Pastor and Jeanne; Barbara Stottlelmeyer, Kimberly Larson’s grandmother, for health issues; Joylynn Larson, for multiple sclerosis; Paul Glenn, (Patti Reed’s brother) for vision problems; for Steve Murray, for stroke; Ann Swan, for kidney problems; Sonia Schmidt for cerebral palsy; Evelyn Kraft for lung issues; Bob Leathe for arthritis, heart, and kidney issues; Josephine Hockey, Patti Neff’s mother, for health problems; Faye Falcone Phyllis Cross’s sister for eyesight;
for faith, health and welfare: Erika and Marlin Hauer, Kundry’s parents; Sharon Miller, Phyllis Cross’ niece; Jordan Glenn; Daniel Reed; Destiny Reed; Patrick Collins; Pam Seed; Ryan Collins; Billy Martin; Chris and Heather and sons Dalton and Dane;
for our world and home mission work;
for our college students: Eric Metz, Steven Nowaczyk, Lori Nowaczyk, and Tim Rowe.
for those in the military: Brian Easter, Sarah Buehler; Lance J. Pockey; Alyssa Briggs; Dennis Willie; Anthony R. Pockey.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.
Silent prayer.
M: Preserve us all in steadfast faith as we look for the day of your coming when you will be revealed as the blessed and only King of kings and Lord and lords; to you be honor and praise now and forever.
C: Amen.
Third hymn: 426 Yours Forever, God of Love
Closing hymn: 611 For the Fruit of His Creation
For a prayer for after worship see page 11 of Christian Worship, A Lutheran Hymnal
This is a short summary of what we believe here at Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church:
We believe: that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant and infallible Word of God; that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and therefore cannot save themselves. That we are saved by grace alone through faith in God's Son, Jesus Christ, who lived, died and rose again.
We also believe that it is the mission and responsibility of every member to reach out with the Gospel to all nations. That everything we do as a congregation should support this purpose. As servants of Christ, these beliefs will lead us to use our time, talents and treasures for the growth, preservation and the extension of Christ's Kingdom.
Announcements
Attendance: last Sunday: 35
Internet Attendance this month: four computers were used watched live on the internet and so far this month twenty-three were used to watch it later; this week there were eighty-six visits to the website including fifteen from ten towns and cities in and around Harrisburg (Mechanicsburg, Linglestown, Carlisle, Mt. Joy, City of Harrisburg, New Holland, Philadelphia, State College, and Shrewsbury) and from seven-teen US states, nine from Brazil, two from Italy and India, and one each from Canada, Columbia, Sprain, France, Greece and Guyana.
November Birthdays: Valerie Karter (Nowaczyk) 11/10; Debbie Larson 11/10; Steven Nowaczyk 11/12; Victor Liefke 11/15; Wesley Larson 11/17; Kundry Grove 11/23
November Anniversaries: Mike and Patti Neff 11/05; Victor and Lena Liefke 11/10
If we have missed anyone’s birthday or anniversary, please tell Pastor Green.
Ushers for November: Ron Althoff, Jerry Hawks, Lance Pockey
Today, November 23, after church at Ascension:
Hand out packets of recommended changers to Ascensions Constitution and Bylaws
All are welcomed to join us for a Thanksgiving meal after the service.