Truckee Lutheran Presbyterian Church On a journey with God to Reach, Grow, and Serve TLPC is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We welcome you to worship and grow with us as we live in God’s amazing grace! Please join us for fellowship and refreshments after the service, and let us know how we may serve you. Supervised childcare for infants is available in the nursery. Sunday School is offered for children age 3 through grade 8 following the opening liturgy. They will re-join us in worship for communion. Sheet music, large print bulletins, assistive listening devices and lap quilts are available for your use. Please ask an usher for assistance. This Week at TLPC (See www.tlpc.org for complete calendar of events.) Today 6:30-8:00pm Living the Questions Study Group at Church of the Mtns. Tuesday 6:00 p.m. TLPC Council-Session Meeting Wednesday 8:00-9:00am 6:30-8:00 Thursday 8:00am Friday AM Men’s Bible Study at Coffee And Gospel of John study at Church of the Mountains Men’s Breakfast with Church of the Mtns at Jax Diner Hiking with COM, SVC and Friends. Time and place vary. Contact [email protected] for details. Lead Pastor Rev. Scott Trevithick Associate Pastor Rev. Joanie Tankersley Worship and Music Planner Lorelle Banzett Pianist, Choir Director Miriam Hoffmann [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] P.O. Box 10620, Truckee, CA 96162 (530) 582-4243 [email protected] www.tlpc.org TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST November 16, 2014 The pastor or worship leader will read the regular print text. The congregation will read/sing the bold text. Please stand, as you are able, for sections marked with an asterisk *. PREPARING TO ENCOUNTER GOD IN WORSHIP We invite you to sing or pray as we quiet our minds to hear God’s voice and open our hearts to feel God’s presence. “Here I Am to Worship” “Open Our Eyes” WELCOME INTRODUCTION TO THE DAY * GATHERING SONG “To God Be the Glory” * GREETING Peace be with you. And also with you. Let us worship God. *PRAYER OF THE DAY Righteous God, our merciful master, you own the earth and all its peoples, and you give us all that we have. Inspire us to serve you with justice and wisdom, and prepare us for the joy of the day of your coming, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. * CONFESSION All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, our Sovereign over all the earth, our Wisdom from on high, our merciful Judge and Savior. Amen. 2 Silence is kept for reflection. Again we must confess, Master of the Universe, our struggles to be faithful disciples. Entrusted with all your gifts, we become fearful once again of misusing them, missing the chance to be a blessing to others. Invited to dance in the light of your love, we stand against the wall once again, keeping company with our old friend, sin. Called to be emptied for those who struggle in life, we fill ourselves once again, with scorn for the poor choices they make. Have mercy on us, Journeying God. Once again, open our eyes to your kingdom in our midst, so we might discover that your day of hope and grace has already come in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. * DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS This is the good news: God intends for us to find life, to embrace hope, to receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ. The end of our journey is not rejection and emptiness, but the fullness of grace and hope in our God. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven. Amen. * SHARING THE LORD'S PEACE The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you. All are invited to share a handshake or a hug as a sign of reconciliation and peace, saying “Peace be with you.” Children age 3 through grade 8 may go to Sunday School. FIRST READING 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 Though the Apostle Paul says that the Day of the Lord will come at an unexpected time, we should take comfort that the past, present, and future are all in God's hands and that all things will unfold in God's time and God's way. Believers, children of the daylight and clear vision and wakeful alertness, should live in joy and confidence because we see the big picture, the assurance of sharing God's life and our ultimate salvation. We should encourage one another with that shared reassurance, and not worry about the details of timetables and schedules. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 3 * PREPARING TO HEAR THE GOOD NEWS “Seek Ye First” – vs. 1, 3 *GOSPEL READING Matthew 25:14-30 This week's parable is the second of three in a row in the chapter 25 of Matthew's Gospel. Though at first reading, this story about servants giving an accounting to their master could sound like a warning from Jesus to invest our money well, or at the very least to deposit it in the bank for interest, Jesus’ message isn’t really about money. Jesus uses the illustration of money to challenge us to think about faithfulness, preparedness, and risk. The Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, O Christ. SERMON - “Did you hear about the fourth servant?” From the Parable of the Talents from Matthew 25 Spiritual reflection SONG IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD ♪ “ I Want to Walk As a Child of the Light” * PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE The assisting minister will pause after each petition is offered, then continue. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer. * GATHERING OF GIFTS Our finest offering is our attention, moment by moment and day by day, to God’s purposes for our world. We join our constant efforts to be faithful with these weekly moments of giving that celebrate the love with which God surrounds us. We are God’s children, committed to caring for all of God’s creation. * PRESENTATION OF GIFTS, SONG OF THANKS ♪ “Sing to the Lord of Harvest” – vs. 1, 3 * PRAYER OF THANKS In these moments of gratitude, Gracious God, we would offer you a portion of all which you have given to us. We do so, trusting that you will take them, multiplying them in your kingdom, so all might be blessed by your love, your peace, and your hope. Amen. 4 * GREAT THANKSGIVING The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Children of God, let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. ~~~~~ So, with servants and sinners, with judges and those who endure injustice, we lift our voices, our hearts, our eyes singing to the One enthroned on our hopes: Holy, holy, holy are you, God enthroned in the heavens. All creation looks to the hand of the Creator. Hosanna in the highest! The pastor continues with the Eucharistic Prayer, concluding: As we remember his mercy and hope, as we celebrate the feast he has prepared, we speak of that mystery we call faith: Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again. And when that long-awaited Day comes, when all times and seasons have ended, we will gather at your Feast, joining our voices with our sisters and brothers, as we sing to you through all eternity, God in Community, Holy in One. Amen. * 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. 5 Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. DISTRIBUTION OF COMMUNION We invite all to share in Holy Communion, also known as the Lord’s Supper or the Eucharist. We believe that Jesus Christ is present in and with the bread and wine. We receive this sacrament in remembrance of what God has done for us through the death and resurrection of Jesus. You may either eat the bread and drink from the common cup of wine (first chalice) or hold the bread and dip it in the grape juice (second chalice). Gluten-free wafers are available; just give Pastor the “OK” sign as you come forward to receive the bread. Children who do not yet receive communion are invited to come forward for a blessing. Some people wish to receive communion every week, others less often. Please do what is meaningful and comfortable for you. If you prefer to receive communion while seated, indicate this to an usher. COMMUNION SONGS “Here Is Bread” “I Surrender All” * PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION O God, the host at every meal, at this table you spread out a feast for all peoples, the bread of life and the cup of salvation. Send us from this banquet to invite others into these good things, to let justice roll down like waters, and to care for the least of our sisters and brothers; through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and our Savior. Amen. * SENDING SONG “We've a Story to Tell” – vs. 1-3 PREPARING FOR OUR MISSION IN THE WORLD We are called to make Christ known by our words and actions - in our church family, in our local community and throughout the world. 6 * BENEDICTION * SENDING Go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God! * POSTLUDE From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #24019. Lectionary readings for next week’s worship service include Ezekiel 34:11-16, Psalm 95:1-7, Ephesians 1:15-23, and Matthew 25:31-46. President COUNCIL OFFICERS AND MINISTRY TEAM LEADERS Ed Czerwinski [email protected] Vice President Earl Pearson [email protected] Secretary Edie Lott [email protected] Spiritual Giving Tom Conk [email protected] Fellowship Jan Rogers Darlene Fredericks [email protected] [email protected] Christian Education Denny Lott [email protected] Member Care Lis Green [email protected] Facilities Ed Czerwinski [email protected] Social Justice and Peace Edie Lott [email protected] Worship and Music Lorelle Banzett [email protected] 7