A Foretaste of the Coming Harvest

Pentecost begins with a rush–the rushing, life-giving wind of God’s Spirit. Now the latter part of the season of Pentecost centers on the lush green of growth and glorious yellow of harvest. We are constantly reminded that God has inexorably linked the experience of grace to the life and work of human beings.  It is ordinary for the community of faith to be about the work of God’s reign.  It is extraordinary that this labor bears the very power of the cross and resurrection.  This part of the Pentecost season pushes us to see our work as sacramental, an incarnational expression of Christ’s own life, death, and resurrection.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

We remember our baptisms, confess our faithlessness, 

and hear God’s faithful promise of forgiveness

Pastor:  Blessed be the holy Trinity:

the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,

who forgives all our sin,

whose mercy endures forever.

People:  Amen. 

Pastor: God of all mercy and consolation,

come to the aid of your people,

turning us from sin

to live for you alone.

Give us the power of your Holy Spirit

that, attentive to your Word,

we may confess our sins,

receive your forgiveness,

bear with one another in love,

maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,

and grow into the fullness of your Son,

Jesus Christ our Lord. 

People: Amen. 

Pastor: Let us confess our sin in the

presence of God and of one another.  Reconciling God, 

People: we confess that we are a rebellious people,

following our own desires rather than listening to your call.

We have counted ourselves better than others,

failing to seek justice and care for the neighbour in need.

We have sought earthly treasures,

neglecting your gifts of word and sacrament.

For the sake of Christ Jesus,

forgive our sins,

strengthen our faith,

and lead us by your Holy Spirit

to joyful service in your name.  Amen. 

Pastor: In the mercy of God,

I declare to you the forgiveness of all your sin.

In baptism, you have been crucified with Christ;

it is no longer you who live,

but Christ who lives in you.

People: Amen.

GATHERING

WE RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL WITH PRAISE AND PRAYER,
AND PREPARE TO HEAR GOD’S WORD OF LIFE

GATHERING SONG

“The King of Glory Comes”

[click on the link below]

GREETING

Pastor: Sisters and brothers, you have been called to freedom in Christ.

People: Let us live in that freedom and be lead by God’s Spirit.

Pastor: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

People: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY        

O God of power and might, your Son shows us the way of service, and in him we inherit the riches of your grace.  Give us the wisdom to know what is right and the strength to serve the world you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.   Amen.

First Reading:  Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24

God the True Shepherd

For thus says the Lord God: I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land; and I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the watercourses, and in all the inhabited parts of the land. I will feed them with good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel shall be their pasture; there they shall lie down in good grazing land, and they shall feed on rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will make them lie down, says the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, but the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them with justice. 

Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. Because you pushed with flank and shoulder, and butted at all the weak animals with your horns until you scattered them far and wide, I will save my flock, and they shall no longer be ravaged; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 

I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken. 

Epistle Reading:   Ephesians 1:15-23

I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love towards all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the age to come. And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 25:31-46

The Judgement of the Nations

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Then he will say to those at his left hand, “You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.” Then they also will answer, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?” Then he will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.” And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’ 

SERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY

“Soon and Very Soon”

[click on the link below]

TODAY IN OUR PRAYERS

Bill, Carol, Curtis, and Christine Buchkowsky, Teri Peterson, Wayne Turner, Janet Gregory, Jody Giesbrecht, Marge McMillan, Kyrie Parimi, John Beaven, Doris Turner, Hilda Anderson, Linda Wolfe, Naomi, Mary Anderson, Joan Schock, Bev Gregory, Dale Robinson, Bryan Matschke, AnnE and Joel Zimmerman, Ursula Coakwell, Evelyn Robson, Audrey Hedlin, the family of Lyle Sand, the family of Hildegard Schneider (Renita Falkenstern’s mother), the family of Marguerite Sanders (Don Sander’s sister), the family of Mabel Zolotarchuk (Circle West member), the family of Pastor Anne Knudsen, the family of Norm Gregory, and the family of Sophie Kobrynsky (Paul Slusar’s sister).

We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, the people of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Ukraine, Sudan, South Sudan, Afghanistan, Turkey, Yemen, Venezuela, Somalia, Libya, Hong Kong, Belarus, the Palestinians and Israelis,  Armenia and Azerbaijan, Thailand, Nigeria, Ethiopia, the Rohingya Muslim refugees, all at the Mexico/United States border seeking refuge,  the refugees on the Greek Island of Lesbos, the people of Haiti suffering from natural and political disasters, the people of the Bahamas suffering from hurricanes and those in Central America hit by hurricanes Eta and Iota, those in the United States suffering from hurricanes Laura, Sally, Delta and tropical storms Beta, Zeta and Eta,  the people in the Philippines impacted by typhoon, those in the United States , Canada, and throughout the world caught up in racism and injustice and the resulting violence and destruction of lives and property, students, teachers, and staff as they continue in school, and those throughout the world, in Canada, in our province, and in our community threatened by the coronavirus.

THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF FAITH

 [The congregational response after each petition is:  “RENEW YOUR WHOLE CREATION.”]

Pastor:  Freed by Christ and led by the Spirit, let us pray in hope to our God of life for the Church, the world, and the needs of all people everywhere, saying, “Come, Holy Spirit,” and responding, “Renew your whole creation.”

Petitioner:  Loving God, we do not know the way to you, but in Christ, through your Word, through baptism, and through your Supper you come to us and announce your salvation and forgiveness to all on earth.  Empower your Church by your Gospel of grace, that its leaders and all its people would equip everyone for lives of joyful service and caring compassion, especially for those often considered the least.   Come, Holy Spirit…

Petitioner:   Faithful God, the heavens and earth declare your glorious rule.  Sustain your handiwork of space and sea, of sky and soil, of stars and seeds, that all creatures would praise and thank  you with one voice.  Help us to cherish, celebrate and restore your life-giving gift of creation.  Come, Holy Spirit…

Petitioner:   Sustaining God, you nourish and sustain us as a shepherd cares for his flock. Through your Word you hold all things together in divine harmony.  Help us to cherish and to heal relationships that have been broken through our neglect, and to love all people, especially those who are most different from us. Enable us to seek the lost, bring back the straying, bind up the injured, and strengthen the weak.   Come Holy Spirit … 

Pastor:   God of healing, you reign in all conditions of life.  Extend your reign of healing to all who suffer illness, pain, loneliness, depression, addictions, conflict, abuse, or grief.  We remember especially before you …   Embrace all in your comfort and hope.  Come, Holy Spirit…

Petitioner:  God of hope, confound our ways of self-serving behaviour.  Pour out your abundant grace and mercifully engage those who wrestle with faith or belief in you, especially those who have been hurt by the church when it rules through law and not love.  Hold them fast and draw them into your gracious reign of love.  Come, Holy Spirit…  

Petitioner:   Good and gracious God, you rule the world in truth and grace, yet our world is too often ruled by violence and bloodshed.  Provide wisdom and humility to all nations and their leaders that under your rule of love, all might know and do the things that make for peace. Establish your gentle justice over the nations and those who govern them, that all families of the earth would gather under the servant leadership of Christ and live in peace.  Come, Holy Spirit…  

Petitioner:  Christ of mission, we pray for your Spirit as we count our days together in this community.  On this day when we call Christ “king” share with us the spirit of his strong, vulnerable love to unite our community.  In word, font, and table  turn talk of death into abundant life and feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness into acts of redeeming care and into signs of joy.  Come, Holy Spirit…  

Pastor:  Empowering God, your gracious Spirit intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words.  Keep us in the faith, call, gather, and enlighten us with your Word, search our hearts and renew our lives to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our living Lord.

People:  Amen.

Pastor: Let us pray with confidence in the words our Saviour gave us:

People: 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.

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.

BENEDICTION

Pastor: Almighty God, who makes all things new in Jesus Christ,

send you light and truth.

The providential hand of God protect you;

the life giving Christ accompany you;

and the sustaining presence of the Spirit

give you peace, now, and always.

People:   Amen.

CLOSING HYMN

“Beautiful Savior”

[click on the link below]

ANNOUNCEMENTS

DISMISSAL

Pastor: Go in peace, renewed with Christ’s Spirit to love and to serve.

People: Thanks be to God.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

COMING UP AT KOG

• –  November  Church Council meeting will be conducted through the internet
• ??- Tuesday, November 24, Women’s Breakfast Out, a continental breakfast at the home of Carol Sarich (164 MacCormack Road, Martensville), 10:00 a.m. ??

• ??- Sunday, November 29, Worship together at St. David’s/Trinity, 6:30 p.m.??
• ?? – Sunday, December 6, Worship together at St. David’s/Trinity, 6:30 p.m.??

– Sunday, December 13, Augustana Lutheran Church provides an online service for all 7 Lutheran Churches

Because COVID cases are rising rapidly the Church Council  will be meeting to reconsider if we should hold in person worship services every other Sunday.  We will inform you of the decision.

The draft website  for all seven ELCIC congregations in Saskatoon is now up and the address is https://saskatoonelcic.com/   It will be used now mainly for sharing information during the pandemic.  

September, October and Year-to-Date Budget and Contribution Report for KOG

2020 Budget:  $49,536       Monthly Budget:  $4,128     Weekly Budget:  $952.62

2020 income/expenses: $1,983.88

September income/expenses: $3,356.23.

Contributions from October 18 through November 1: $890

It is Canada Lutheran Magazine renewal time.  If you would like to renew your subscription or subscribe please contact Pastor Michael by November 24.  The bulk rate subscription price is $18.56. 

Thank you from Canadian Lutheran World Relief for our donation of $150

Thank you to all involved in the quilts that have been made by members of King of Glory.  Our quilting worker-bees have made these quilts which will all go to Canadian Lutheran World Relief for various aid programs around the world.  Prodigious thimbles full of thanks to the industrious sewers Bev Gregory, Karen McKenzie, Doreen Matschke, Ursula Coakwell, Sharon Morgan, Marge McMillan, Sherry Andrews, and Carol Sarich.  Thank you to Home Hardware for providing free shipping.

Canadian Lutheran World Relief has informed us that they are discontinuing this program.  It should be noted that from June 2011 until October 2020 our quilters have made 1188 quilts for CLWR, 73 vests for CLWR and 103 quilts for various local groups and individuals.

At the August 10 Church Council  meeting the following people were elected as Officers of the Council and Congregation:  Wayne Turner, Chairperson, Carol Sarich, Vice-chairperson, Evelyn Robson, Secretary, Pat Sarich, Co-treasurer, Vacant, Co-treasurer, Financial Secretary, Karen McKenzie.  Members at large are: Deryl Morgan, Jennipher Karst, and Kyle Sarich.  Thank you for your service and we pray for God’s blessings and the Spirit’s wisdom, understanding, and guidance on your ministry.

Offerings.  

Even though we are not meeting together we still have expenses and need your offerings so that we can pay them.  Church Council has decided that the best way to receive your offerings is that you mail a cheque (Please no cash for mail security reasons) to the church and we can process them from there.

Send your contributions to:  King of Glory Lutheran Church

    3318 Merritt Street

    Saskatoon, SK  S7M 3P6

Thank you for your generosity.

Co-Treasurer position for King of Glory 

King of Glory is looking for a co-treasurer primarily responsible for documenting and filling out the forms for the province, the Canada Revenue Agency and the ELCiC.  They will work Pat Sarich whose primary responsibility is oversight of the budget and the bookkeeping with respect of receipts and expenditures.  Please contact Pastor Michael about this position.

Additional Prayers

Petitioner:  Generous God, fill us with compassion and concern for others, young and old, that we may look after one another in these challenging days. Bring healing to those who are sick with the virus and be with their families. Comfort the family and friends of those who have died. Strengthen and protect all medical professionals caring for the sick and all who work in our medical and health care facilities. Give wisdom to leaders in healthcare and governance that they may make the right decisions for the well-being of people.  We pray in gratitude for all those in our country who will continue to work in the days ahead in so many fields of life for the sake of us all. Bless them and keep them safe.  O God of creation and life, we place ourselves in your protection.  May the mantle of your peace enfold us this day and tomorrow.  Hear us, O God of life …

Checklist and Guidelines for Re-opening Worship Services

Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc before the service

One person preps worship materials and conducts seating [pastor]

Pre-screening and Registration of attendees (if tracing is necessary)

Seating chart with six feet distancing (if tracing is necessary)

No sharing of pencils, pens, etc.

No serving of food or beverages

Try not to use the washrooms

Open doors and windows if possible

Use/wear face masks

Hand sanitizer available

No physical contact (e.g. sharing of the peace, no passing of offering plate)

No congregational singing 

Used material should be set aside for 72 hours (worship folders)

Communion procedure

remain seated

pastor brings elements in self-contained manner

Disinfect/sanitize worship space and entrance etc after the service