To God be the glory; great things He has done!
He solved the world that He gave us His Son,
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin
And opened the life gate that all may go in.
CHORUS: Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the earth hear His voice!
Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Let the people rejoice!
Oh, come to the Father through Jesus the Son
And give Him the glory - great things He has done!
Great things He has taught us, great things He has done,
And great our rejoicing through Jesus the Son,
But purer and higher and greater will be
Our joy and our wonder when Jesus we see. CHORUS
sing the wondrous love of Jesus, sing His mercy and His grace;
In the mansions bright and blessed. He’ll prepare for us a place.
CHORUS: When we all get to heaven, What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Jesus, we’ll sing and shout the victory.
Let us be the true and faithful trusting, serving, everyday;
Just one glimpse of Him in glory will the toils of life repay. CHORUS
Onward to the prize before us! Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open, we shall tread the streets of gold. CHORUS
How I long to breathe the air of heaven
Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets;
To look upon the one who bled to save me,
And walk with Him for all eternity.
CHORUS: There will be a day when all will bow before Him.
There will be a day when death will be no more.
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again.
Holy, holy is the Lord!
Ev’ry prayer we prayed in desperation,
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear.
Oh, in the end, we’ll see that is was worth it,
When He returns to wipe away our tears. CHORUS
On that day, we join the resurrection,
And stand beside the heroes of the faith,
And with one vice, a thousand generations,
Sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
Forever He shall reign!"
FINAL CHORUS: So let it be today, we shout the hymn of heaven,
With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar.
Glory to our God, who face us life beyond the grave.
Holy, holy is the Lord! (repeat final chorus, then sing last line)
Oh, holy, holy is the Lord
Jerusalem the golden, with milk and honey blest -
The sight of it refreshes the weary and oppressed.
I know not, oh, I know not what joys a wait us there,
What radiancy of glory, what bliss beyond compare.
They stand, those halls of Zion, all jubilant with song
And bright with many-an angel and all the martyr throng.
The Prince is ever in them; the daylight is serene;
The pastures of the blessed are ever right and green.
There is the throne of David, and there, from care released,
The shout of them that truymph, the song of the that feast;
And they who with their leader have conquered in the fight
Forever and forever are clad in robes of white.
Oh, sweet and blessed country, the home of God’s elect!
Oh, sweet and blessed country that eager hearts expect.
Jesus, in mercy brings us to the dear land of rest;
You are with God the Father and Spirit ever blest.
I know that my Redeemer lives; What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever-living Head!
He lives triumphant from the grave; He lives eternally to save.
He lives all glorious in the sky; He lives exalted there on high.
He lives to bless me with his love; He lives to plead from me above.
He lives, my hungry soul to feed; He lives to help in time of need.
He lives to grant me rich supply; He lives to guide with His eye.
He lives to comfort me when faint; He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.
He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears.
He lives to calm my troubled heart; He lives all blessings to impart.
He lives, my kind, wise heav’nly friend; He lives and loves me to the end.
He lives, and while He lives I’ll sing; He lives my Prophet, Priest, and King.
He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death.
He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there.
He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: “I know that my Redeemer lives!"
Go now in peace. Never be afraid.
God will go with you each hour of every day.
Go now in faith, steadfast, strong and true.
Know He will guide you in all you do.
Go now in love, and show you believe.
Reach out to others so all the world can see.
God will be there watching from above.
Go now in peace, in faith, and in love.
Paul writes to the congregations in Rome. Chapter 8 is filled with hope and victory. Paul writes of the victory that Jesus won for us and the certainty of salvation that is ours. It is a great chapter when someone is struggling. In the section for our lesson today, Paul writes about the suffering that sin caused in our world. Those who are with Jesus no longer suffer the terrible things that sin causes. They are free, which is a reason to rejoice.
18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
22 We know that the while creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is een is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 and he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the God of Abraham, and the God of Jacob.' 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive."
INVOCATION
Pastor: We worship this morning in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Congregation: Amen.
CONFESSION OF SINS
P: 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.
C: 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.
Not the labors of my hands can fulfill Thy law’s demands.
Could my zeal no respite know, could my tears forever flow,
All for sin could not atone. Thou must save and Thou alone.
Nothing in my hands I bring, Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress, helpless look to Thee for grace.
Foul, I to the fountain fly – Wash me, Saviour, or I die!
P: Jesus says to His people: “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven.” His death paid for the guilt of Your sins and the sins of the whole world. Do you believe this?
C: Yes, I believe.
P: Because of the promise of our Savior Jesus, I pronounce to you that your sins are forgiven. Be assured that you are a dear child of God and an heir of eternal life.
C: Amen.
PRAYER: O Lord, my God, I thank You for the love You have shown me in Jesus Christ, my Saviour. Let me live in the peace of forgiveness, help me fight against temptation, correct whatever wrongs I can, and serve You and those around me with love and good works. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
NOTE: After each reading…
P: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PSALM 91 (select verses)
In Psalm 91, God reminds us that while he does not promise a life free from danger or struggle, he does promise to deliver his servants whenever we face danger or struggles.
P: Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
C: Will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
P: I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
C: My God, in whom I trust.”
P: Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare
C: And from the deadly pestilence.
P: He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will
find refuge;
C: His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
P: You will not fear the terror of night,
C: Nor the arrow that flies by day,
P: Nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
C: Nor the plague that destroys at midday.
P: If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High
your dwelling,
C: No harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent.
P: For he will command his angels concerning you
C: To guard you in all your ways;
P: They will lift you up in their hands,
C: So that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
P: “Because he loves me,” says the LORD, “I will rescue him;
C: I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
P: He will call on me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble,
C: I will deliver him and honor him.
P: With long life I will satisfy him
C: And show him my salvation.”
ALL: Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever. Amen.
CHOIR – Always
This song is based on Hebrews 13:8 – Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. It reminds us that throughout history God has been faithful to his promises and that He will always be faithful to his promises. It is that faithfulness that allows us to serve him every day.
THANK OFFERING
Reception of New Member – Susan Wagner
PRAYERS
THE LORD’S PRAYER: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power and the glory are Yours now and forever. Amen.
(Our prayer team is always ready to go to the throne of the Father for you.
For prayer chain requests, email prayer@livinghopereunion.church.)
READING OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED
For All the Saints
For all the saints who from their labors rest,
All who their faith before the world confessed,
Your name, O Jesus, be forever blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
You were their rock, their fortress, and their might;
You, Lord, their captain in the well-fought fight
And in the darkness drear their one true light.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
P: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
C: And whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
(John 11:25-26)
ALL: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.
(Psalm 116:15)
P: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.
C: And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see GOD. (Job 19:25-26)
+Reading of the Saints Triumphant+
+For all who died in the saving faith while serving country and community+
+For all the other Saints of God throughout Christendom who have finished the race.+
P: Well done, good and faithful servant! Come and share your master’s happiness! (Matthew 25:21);
C: Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (Matthew 25:34)
P: I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;
C: And whoever lives and believes in me will never die.
(John 11:25-26)
ALL: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints.
(Psalm 116:15)
PRAYER – Thank you for their service, their influence, the blessing that they were, Thank you for your salvation.
For All the Saints
But then there breaks a yet more glorious day:
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds to ocean’s farthest coast
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
M: Our Lord Jesus Christ on the night He was betrayed took bread, gave thanks and gave it to His disciples saying, “Take and eat. This is my body given into death for your sins.”
In the same way, He took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, “Drink from it all of you. This is My blood of the new covenant poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this whenever you drink it in remembrance of Me.”
M: The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C: Amen.
(The Scriptures teach that the celebration of the Lord’s Supper connects us intimately with Christ and with one another as Christians. To understand more about the Lord’s Supper, please visit with our pastor. He would love to talk with you about the blessings of the Lord’s Supper.)
Distribution of the Lord’s Supper.
BENEDICTION
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace.
Amen. Amen. Amen.
GREETING & ANNOUNCEMENTS