Prelude Reflection on Irish Alan Smith
“Thy kingdom come!”
On bended knee the passing ages pray
And faithful souls have yearned to see
On earth that kingdom’s day
Welcome and Greeting
Hymn # 412 Jesus Shall Reign (Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Prayer for Illumination Nancy Dunn
Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 61 NRSV
The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; 2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; 3to provide for those who mourn in Zion—to give them a garland instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. They will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, to display his glory. 4They shall build up the ancient ruins, they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations.
5Strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, foreigners shall till your land and dress your vines; 6but you shall be called priests of the Lord, you shall be named ministers of our God; you shall enjoy the wealth of the nations, and in their riches you shall glory. 7Because their shame was double, and dishonor was proclaimed as their lot, therefore they shall possess a double portion; everlasting joy shall be theirs.
8For I the Lord love justice, I hate robbery and wrongdoing; I will faithfully give them their recompense, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Their descendants shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all who see them shall acknowledge that they are a people whom the Lord has blessed. 10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.
Choral Anthem Make a Joyful Noise
Make a joyful noise to the Lord all ye lands
Make his praises hear on every shore
God almighty reigns.
We will enter his gates with singing
We will enter his courts with praise
We his people, the sheep of his pasture
We will worship his holy name
We will serve him with thanksgiving
We will enter his courts with praise!
New Testament Reading: Revelation 19:1-9 ESV Nancy Dunn
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out,
“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, 2for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
3Once more they cried out,
“Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up forever and ever.”
4And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, “Amen. Hallelujah!” 5And from the throne came a voice saying,
“Praise our God, all you his servants, you who fear him, small and great.”
6Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,
“Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.
9And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Lector: This is the Word of the Lord.
Congregation: Thanks be to God for His Word.
Children’s Sermon
Hymn # 262 My Faith Looks Up to Thee (Gray Psalter Hymnal)
Psalter: Psalm 149 (Please read responsively)
1 Praise Yahweh! Sing to Yahweh a new song — His praise in the gathering of the godly ones;
2Let Israel be glad in the one who made him. Let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
3Let them praise his name with dancing! Let them sing his praise with the timbrel and lyre!
4Because Yahweh takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with deliverance.
5Let the godly ones exult in his glory; let them sing for joy on their beds.
6May God be lifted up with their voices, and a double-edged sword in their hands,
7In order to execute vengeance on the nations; and to punish the peoples;
8To bind their kings with fetters, and their glorified ones with iron chains;
9To execute on them the written judgement. It is majesty for all his godly ones. Praise Yahweh!
Sermon Praise God, You His People! Pastor Andrew Winter
