Greetings!
The Holiday Season continues with many special events coming up next month that you should be adding to your calendar.
The full week’s schedule is printed at the bottom of this email. Or you can check out the calendar and watch any of our worship services or read our newsletter on our New Website: www.streamstuc.org
God bless & keep you safe,
Pastor Tom
GATHERING SONGS JESUS LOVES ME! ELW #595
1 Jesus loves me! this I know, for the Bible tells me so;
little ones to him belong, they are weak, but he is strong.
Refrain Yes, Jesus loves me, yes, Jesus loves me,
yes, Jesus loves me, the Bible tells me so.
2 Jesus loves me! he who died heaven’s gates to open wide;
he will wash away my sin, let his little child come in. Refrain
3 Jesus loves me! he will stay close beside me all the way;
when at last I come to die, he will take me home on high. Refrain
Text: Anna B. Warner, 1820-1915, alt.
JUST AS I AM ELW #592
1 Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
2 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
3 Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come,
4 Just as I am; thy love unknown
has broken ev’ry barrier down;
now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.
Text: Charlotte Elliott, 1789-1871
COME, NOW IS THE TIME TO WORSHIP
Come, now is the time to give your heart;
Come, just as you are to worship;
Come, just as you are before your God. Come
One day every tongue will confess You are God;
One day every knee will bow;
Still the greatest treasure remains;
For those who gladly choose You now
Repeat verse and chorus
Come, now is the time, Come, now is the time, Come.
CCLI-License# 1366369
THE CALL TO WORSHIP
Leader: Let us gather together all who await the return of the Lord!
People: Let our hearts always be ready to stand before the throne of God!
Leader: For the Lord will come again and God’s judgment will be real.
People: And we are each called to share God’s love while there is yet time.
Leader: So let us lift our voices in song and praise for God’s abiding love!
People: Blessed be the name of the Lord!
WELCOME TO WORSHIP
Equip
PRAYER OF CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Leader: Gracious God,
People: we confess we are not ready for Your return. Too often we have heard the cries of the hungry and not fed them, or we have heard the pleas of the needy and walked past them, or we have known of the sick and imprisoned and not cared for them. Forgive us, Lord, and help us from this day on to openly share Your love with all we meet. In Christ we pray. Amen.
(Silence for reflection and personal confession)
Leader:The Lord our God says: ”I will seek the lost. I will bring back the strayed. I will bind up the injured and I will strengthen the weak.” Indeed the Lord is good. God’s love and mercy are forever. Sisters and Brothers, your sins are forgiven; be at peace.
People: Thanks be to God!
SONG OF PRAISE PEACE LIKE A RIVER
I’ve got peace like a river I’ve got peace like a river
I’ve got peace like a river In my soul
I’ve got peace like a river I’ve got peace like a river
I’ve got peace like a river In my soul
I’ve got love like an ocean I’ve got love like an ocean
I’ve got love like an ocean In my soul
I I’ve got love like an ocean I’ve got love like an ocean
I’ve got love like an ocean In my soul
I’ve got joy like a fountain I’ve got joy like a fountain
I’ve got joy like a fountain In my soul I
I’ve got joy like a fountain I’ve got joy like a fountain
I’ve got joy like a fountain In my soul
TODAY’S BIBLE READINGS
Psalm: 95:1-7a
1Come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us shout for joy to the rock of our salvation.
2Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving
and raise a loud shout to the Lord with psalms.
3For you, Lord, are a great God,
and a great ruler above all gods.
7aFor the Lord is our God,
and we are the people of God’s pasture and the sheep of God’s hand.
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23
In this passage, God is praised for revealing ultimate divine power in raising Jesus from the dead. The resurrected, exalted Christ is Lord both of the church and the entire universe, now and in the age to come.
15I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason 16I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. 17I 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, 18so 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, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20God 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, 21far 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. 22And he has put all things under his feet and has made him the head over all things for the church, 23which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION THY WORD
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
And a light unto my path; you’re the light unto my path
Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus compares himself to a king who moves among his subjects to see how he is treated: what is done for the least of those who belong to his family is truly done for him.
[Jesus said to the disciples:] 31“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. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then 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; 35for 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, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then 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? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And 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.’ 41Then 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; 42for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I 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.’ 44Then 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?’ 45Then 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.’ 46And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
SPECIAL MUSIC Joy Choir Holy Is the Lord by Fred Bock
ADULT MESSAGE CHRIST THE KING – 11.26.23 – MATTHEW 25:31-46
Over many decades, the little magazine Reader’s Digest has been a reliable source of humor drawn from everyday life. In one issue some years ago a nurse wrote in to tell about what was then a new piece of equipment. The nurse worked in a gynecologist’s office and they were beginning to use a battery-operated device called a mini-dop on expectant mothers to listen to the heartbeat of their babies. The problem with these early devices was that sometimes they picked up interference from the radio or television set in the waiting room. What one doctor discovered quite to his dismay was that these devices could also pickup CB radio signals.
Imagine his surprise when one day he had the device to the abdomen of one of his patients when a voice came through as clear as day. The voice asked, “How are things out there?” Life is full of surprises.
Life is full of surprises. Some of these surprises are unnerving like finding an alligator in a bathtub. But some of these surprises can be wonderful.
Jesus tells us that there will come a time when the saints of God will be surprised. And it will be wonderful. It will be at the final judgment. On that momentous day, says Jesus, the King of all creation will come to His saints and here is what He will say something they were not expecting:
“Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
The saints will be surprised, says Jesus. They will ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?”
And here is how the King of all creation will answer: “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
What a powerful, powerful piece of scripture. Surprise! The saints were feeding Jesus, and they didn’t know it. Surprise! The saints were clothing Jesus and they didn’t know it. Surprise! The saints thought they were visiting some sick indigent, of no importance, and they were visiting Jesus, and they didn’t even know it. “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Surprise!
It’s like a charming Christmas legend that comes out of medieval times. According to the legend, on Christmas Eve the Christ Child wanders throughout the world looking for places where he will be welcomed. Those who love him those who hope he will visit their homes demonstrate this by placing lighted candles in the window to invite him in. No one knows what he will look like when he comes. He might be a beggar. He might be blind. He might come as a poor and lonely child. So, devout Christians welcome into their homes everyone who knocks on their door on Christmas Day. To turn anyone away may mean rejecting the Christ Child.
There are several lessons in this familiar text from Matthew’s Gospel. The first is that we need to be careful how we treat other people, particularly those in need. Be careful how you deal with others, for they may be Jesus in disguise.
We need to view those in need, as our brothers and sisters in Christ. Children of God care about other people. Not out of fear of divine punishment. Rather it is because the Jesus lives in our heart. We see others through his eyes and that makes all the difference.
Jim Wallis was often featured on TV news talk shows as a spokesman for the Christian community. Wallis tells about the ministry of the Sojourners Neighborhood Center in Washington, D.C., his hometown. This center stands just one‑and‑a‑half miles from the White House. On a given day three hundred families stand in line outside the center to receive a bag of groceries which is critical to getting them through the week.
Just before the doors are opened and all the people come in, all those who help prepare the food join hands and say a prayer. The prayer is often offered by Mary Glover, a sixty‑year‑old black woman who knows what it means to be poor and knows how to pray. She prays like someone who knows to whom she is talking. She has been carrying on a conversation with her Lord for many, many years. She first thanks God for another day, “Another day to serve you, Lord,” she says. And then Mary Glover may pray something like this, “Lord, we know that you’ll be coming through this line today so, Lord, help us to treat you well.”
This is the first lesson from our text. Be careful how you treat anyone you meet. They may be Jesus in disguise. But there is something else that is important to note.
Saints of God have a heart for those at the bottom of society. This has always been so. We care about those less fortunate than ourselves.
Christ may not be calling us to devote our lives in full-time service to the hurting, but he does call us to do something. Whether it is visiting a nursing home, or helping in a soup kitchen, or simply taking an interest in a needy family of your acquaintance, to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to be serving those less fortunate than ourselves. And the one we benefit the most is ourselves. It is easy for us to insulate ourselves from those in need. Then we grow callous to their need. Even more deadly, we begin to imagine that we somehow deserve our good fortune, and our hearts grow cold and hard. We forget our purpose for being here and we become miserably self-indulgent. Besides, if we don’t ever spend our time serving those in need, we will probably never encounter Christ in human flesh.
Many, many years ago a man moved into a small town. His little house was near the railroad tracks. Every morning he noticed an elderly lady walking along the tracks picking up something and putting it into a bag. The man got curious. He went to a small grocery store nearby and asked the owner about this lady. “Oh, that’s the widow Jacobs,” said the grocer. “Every day she comes half way across town to pick up the coal that is spilled on the tracks when the early morning train runs through town.”
“But there hasn’t been a steam locomotive using coal on these tracks for years,” replied the new resident.
“That’s right,” said the store owner. “When the steam train stopped running, old Mr. Simpson who runs the hardware store was concerned that the Widow Jacobs would no longer have coal to heat and cook with. He knew she was too proud to take charity, so he decided to get up early every morning, take a bag of coal and drop it along the tracks. The Widow Jacobs still thinks the steam train runs by here every morning. I think Old Mr. Simpson has been doing that for about 5 years now.”
A few lumps of coal dropped along a railroad track each day. It’s not much to do, but it’s something. I believe God calls each of us to do something to make life better for someone else. That’s what this text is saying to us, isn’t it? “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink . . .” It does not say that you solved the problem of world hunger. It does not say that you found a way to provide clean drinking water for entire nations. If God is calling you in these directions, this is great. But Christ is not calling most of us to change the direction of world affairs. But he is calling us to do something for somebody. “I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” It’s not much, but you can make a difference in someone’s life.
And when you do that, something quite extraordinary happens people begin seeing Christ in you. Think about it! When you serve those less fortunate, you are doing it for Jesus. But when you are helping others, they see Christ in you.
Pastor and popular writer Barbara Brown Taylor tells an insightful story that comes from the Jewish community.
It is a tradition among Jews who celebrate Passover of saving a seat at their Seder feast for Elijah, the prophet who is supposed to bring the news that the Messiah has finally come. At a specified moment in the service, the door is flung open for Elijah to enter and claim his seat. Everyone present falls silent with anticipation. For thousands of years pious Jews have opened that door, and for thousands of years nothing at all has happened at least nothing that the eye can see.
One Hasidic story tells of a pious Jew who asked his rabbi, “For about forty years I have opened the door for Elijah every Seder night, waiting for him to come, but he never does. What is the reason?”
The rabbi answered, “In your neighborhood there lives a very poor family with many children. Call on the man and propose to him that you and your family celebrate the next Passover at his house, and for this purpose provide him and his whole family with everything necessary for the eight days of Passover. Then on the Seder night Elijah will certainly come.”
The man did as the rabbi told him, but after Passover he came back and claimed that again he had waited in vain to see Elijah. The rabbi answered, “I know very well that Elijah came on the Seder night to the house of your poor neighbor. But of course you could not see him.” And the rabbi held a mirror before the face of the man and said, “Look, this was Elijah’s face that night.”
The rabbi was very wise, and we should heed his message. Followers of Christ have a heart for those in need. We see Christ in the poor and in the suffering of the world. But when we enter into their need and try to serve them, something extraordinary happens. They also see Christ in us! Surprise. “Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” AMEN.
Illustrations and ideas of King Duncan used by permission from
Sermon and Worship Resources @ sermons.com
SERMON SONG SOON AND VERY SOON ELW #439
1. Soon and very soon We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon We are going to see the King
Chorus
Hallelujah hallelujah We’re going to see the King
2. No more crying there We are going to see the King
No more crying there We are going to see the King
No more crying there We are going to see the King
Chorus
3. No more dying there We are going to see the King
No more dying there We are going to see the King
No more dying there We are going to see the King
Chorus
4. Soon and very soon We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon We are going to see the King
Soon and very soon We are going to see the King
Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah, hallelujah.
Respond
AFFIRMING OUR FAITH Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; He descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, and He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
P: Welcoming God’s reign of righteousness and mercy, let us pray with people of every time and place.
A brief silence.
P: Almighty God, your merciful rule encompasses all the world. As we gather for worship in safety, we pray for places where the church is persecuted. Watch over your people as they witness to your good news. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
P: Bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, abused, or ill (especially). Give wisdom to counselors, doctors, nurses, and all in professions that provide healing. Lord, in your mercy,
C: hear our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
P: Receive these prayers and the hopes and concerns of our hearts, O God, as we entrust into your loving care all for whom we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen
WE WORSHIP GOD THROUGH OUR GIVING
Next, we will receive the gifts of forgiveness of sin, life, and salvation from our Lord Jesus, and respond gratefully with our offerings. Offering plates are in the front next to the aisle for your gifts. You may also donate online on the website, by text (the phone number is on the website), by mail, or personally deliver it to the office. Lives are changed through the ministry enabled by your gifts. Thank you for your continued support and partnership in the Gospel. Let us pray
PRAYER OF BLESSING
P: Eternal God, we offer to you these gifts and our lives. May Christ rule in our lives so that we are powerful witnesses to the truth of your kingdom of love, justice, mercy and peace. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
C: Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION
LORDS PRAYER Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
COMMUNION SONG SING ALLELUIA
1. Sing alleluia to the Lord, sing alleluia to the Lord
Sing alleluia, sing alleluia, sing alleluia to the Lord
2. Jesus is risen from the dead
3. Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth
4. He’s coming back to take us home
5. We give thanks to God our King
6. He died for us, we’ll live for Him
CCLI-License# 1366369
Send
BENEDICTION SONG AS YOU GO ON YOUR WAY
As you go on your way may Christ go with you.
May he go before you to show you the way;
May he go behind you to encourage you;
Beside you to befriend you;
Above you to watch over;
Within you to give you peace.
In the name of the Father, Son and Spirit. Amen.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
STREAMS THEME SONG
See the streams of living waters,
springing from eternal love,
well supply your sons and daughters,
and all fear of want remove.
Who can faint while such a river
ever will their thirst assuage?
Grace which, like the Lord, the giver,
never fails from age to age.
SENDING BLESSING
Leader: Greet your worshiping neighbor. and
Serve One Another!
People: Thanks be to God!!!
Sunday, November 26
9:30 – 10:30am Adult Bible Study & Sunday School
10:45 – 11:45am Livestream Worship in-person
11:50am – 12:20pm Building & Grounds – Classroom A
3 – 4:30pm Zoom Bible Study
Tuesday, November 28
9 – 11am Streams Food Pantry
10:30am – 12pm Bible Study, Room A
7 – 9pm Native American Flute Circle
Wednesday, November 29
8:30 – 11:30am Workday
9 – 11:30am Quilters – Large Fellowship Hall
11am – 12pm VdC Grouping, Library
12 – 1:30pm Office Volunteer meeting
5:15 – 6pm Friends & Family Dinner & Movie
Thursday, November 30
9 – 11am VdC Grouping
6 – 7pm Bell’s Angels practice
7:15 – 8:30pm Joy Choir Practice
Saturday, December 2
9am-3pm Nordic Fair
9am – 12pm Decorate Altar and Sanctuary for Christmas
Sunday, December 3
9:30 – 10:30am Adult Bible Study & Sunday School
10:45 – 11:45am Livestream Worship in-person
3 – 4:30pm NO Zoom Bible Study
4 – 6:30pm VdC Reunion Ultreya, Mount Zion Lutheran Church, 4520 W Ajo Way