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Jesus Our Gracious King

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Today’s Focus: Today is the last Sunday of the church year, the Sunday we refer to as “Christ

the King Sunday.” Over the course of the year, we’ve seen Jesus as our King. But perhaps we

scratch our heads a bit and think, “King?” After all, he was laid in a manger, lived as a poor man,

died on a cross. That doesn’t look very “kingly,” does it? But it teaches us much about God’s

kingdom, that God’s kingdom is a gracious rule, not a rule of judgment or anger. And yet Jesus IS

the King! Today we rejoice that we have a gracious King who rules all things!

Silent Prayer: Dear Jesus, you are the King! I confess that I neglect to give you the respect and

honor that you deserve. Forgive me! Lead me to serve you whole-heartedly, and when the time

is right, take me to your heavenly kingdom. In your name I pray. Amen.

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LAST SUNDAY OF END TIMES CHRIST THE KING

Preacher: Pastor Thomas Kock Organist: Cris Koeplin-Sturm Communion Assistant: Chris Bartsch

WE COME INTO THE KING’S PRESENCE

OPENING HYMNS “All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” CW 370 st.1, 4-5

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WE COME INTO THE KING’S PRESENCE

Minister: The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

Congregation: The One enthroned in heaven laughs; then he rebukes them in his anger, saying,

M: “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill. You are my Son; today I have

become your Father. C: I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. M: You will rule them with an iron scepter; therefore, you kings, be wise; C: Be warned, you rulers of the earth. M: Our King’s warning: “Because I have sinned against Him, I deserve to bear the

LORD’s wrath.” As sinners, let us plead for mercy from our King. C: Ah Sovereign Lord, we are a sinful nation, a people loaded with guilt. We have

forsaken you, turned our backs on you. We have no excuse, no solution. Instead, we beg for your forgiving love, trusting in the life and death of Jesus, our Savior.

M: “Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like

scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Jesus exchanged the crown of glory for the crown of thorns, dying on the cross to pay for your sins, and for the sins of the world. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, you are forgiven!

C: Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgressions! M: You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. Again and again you have

compassion on us; C: You have tread our sins underfoot and hurled all our iniquities into the depths of

the sea. PRAYER OF THE DAY M: Lord Jesus, by your victory you have broken the devil’s power. Fill our hearts with

joy and peace as we look with hope to that day when every creature in heaven and earth will acclaim you King of kings and Lord of lords to your unending glory; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

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CHOIR ANTHEM “Soon I Will Be Done”

Soon I will be done with the troubles of the world. Goin’ home to live with God! I want to meet my mother. Goin’ home to live with God! No more weepin’ and a wailin’. Goin’ home to live with God! Soon I will be done. Soon I shall be free. I want to meet my Jesus. Goin’ home to live with God!

WE LISTEN TO OUR KING

GOSPEL READING John 18:33-37 (NIV)

M: The Gospel according to John chapter eighteen. C: Glory be to you, O Lord.

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, “Are you

the king of the Jews?”

34 “Is that your own idea,” Jesus asked, “or did others talk to you about me?”

35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate replied. “Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?”

36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”

37 “You are a king, then!” said Pilate.

Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” M: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise be to you, O Christ.

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HYMN OF THE DAY “To God Be the Glory” CW 399

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SERMON Pastor Thomas Kock Daniel 7:13-14 (NIV)

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

WE RESPOND TO OUR KING’S LOVE

CONFESSION OF FAITH The Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed, with Luther’s Explanation

C: I believe in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

What does this mean?

I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord.

He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver, but with his holy, precious blood and with his innocent suffering and death.

All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally.

This is most certainly true. THANK OFFERING

While the offering is being collected, please take the time to fill in the Friendship Register located on your pew nearest the center aisle. If you prefer to give electronically, you are welcome to use the Vanco mobile app, or to go to AtonementWELS.org/worship.

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PRAYER OF THE CHURCH AND LORD’S PRAYER

M: Almighty and everlasting God, it is your will to restore all things to your beloved Son, whom you anointed King of all creation. Unite all people of the earth, now divided by the power of sin, under the glorious and gentle rule of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.

Prayer of thanks for the ministries of Steve and Sharon Schafer.

M: We join together in the prayer our Lord taught us to pray: C: 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.

WE COME TO OUR KING’S SUPPER

PREFACE

M: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you.

M: Lift up your hearts.

C: We lift them up to the Lord.

M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God.

C: It is good and right so to do.

M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O

Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who

preserves his Church to the end of time when he will come again as king to judge all

people and take his own to glory.

Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:

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HOLY, HOLY, HOLY Sanctus

WORDS OF INSTITUTION

M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had

given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my

body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Then 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, which is 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.

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LAMB OF GOD Agnus Dei

DISTRIBUTION

As a church concerned with upholding the truths of Scripture and encouraging faithful Christian living,

we practice “membership communion” with those who have confessed a unity of faith and life with us. If

you are not a member and it is your desire to commune with us, please speak to one of the pastors after the

service.

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DISTRIBUTION HYMN “O Savior, Precious Savior” CW 368

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M: O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.

C: And his mercy endures forever.

M: We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that you have

given us to eat and to drink in this sacrament. Through this gift you have fed our faith,

nourished our hope, and strengthened our love. By your Spirit help us to live as your

holy people until that day when you will receive us as your guests at the wedding

supper of the Lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now

and forever.

C: Amen.

BLESSING

M: The LORD bless you and keep you.

The LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The LORD look on you with favor and give you peace.

C: Amen.

CLOSING HYMN “Crown Him with Many Crowns” CW 341 See next page

To our visitors, thank you for coming! We’re thrilled you worshiped with us today. We pray that your faith in Jesus was strengthened! If you would like to become a member of Atonement, please speak to the pastor. We’d love to have you as part of our church family!

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Crown Him with Many Crowns

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Thanksgiving Eve Service As indicated on the church calendar (posted at AtonementWELS.org) and in the e-news, we are breaking from our Thanksgiving tradition this year. Atonement’s worship service giving thanks for all that God has done for us will be the evening of Wednesday, November 24th at 6:30 p.m. instead of Thanksgiving Day morning. We hope that this change will help you focus on thanking God with your church family on Wednesday and with your individual families on Thanksgiving Day. See you there!

Service of Dedication for Our New Hymnal On Sunday, November 28th, Atonement will kick off the new Church Year and the season of Advent with a special service of Word and Song as we dedicate the new Christian Worship: Lutheran Hymnal to service at Atonement and to God’s glory. See you there!

Midweek Advent Meals & Services

Beginning Wednesday, December 1st, we are bringing back fellowship suppers prior to our midweek Advent services. Join your Atonement family for “Food for the Body and the Soul.” Please consider signing up in the gathering area to help with food preparations and serving.

Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation. The Church looks for the coming of her Savior in this threefold advent: His coming in the flesh; His return in judgment; His daily coming in Word and Sacrament. The Church encompasses all these facets of the season in the single word that defines Advent worship: “Come!” So… come! Be a part of Advent worship.

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REPRINT ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Divine Service II – © 2008 Northwestern Publ.

“Lamb of God” – Music: © 2005 Dale Witte; “Holy, Holy, Holy” – Text: © 2006 Stephen P. Starke

“All Hail the Power of Jesus Name” –Text: Edward Perronet, st. 1-3, abr., alt.; A Selection of Hymns, London, 1787, st. 4-5, alt.;

Tune: Oliver Holden; Text, Tune, Setting: public domain

“Soon I Will Be Done” – Text, Tune: Traditional Spiritual; Music: Roger Emerson; © 1997 Emersongs

“To God Be the Glory” – Text: Fanny J. Crosby, alt.; Tune: William H. Doane; Text, Tune, Setting: public domain

“O Savior, Precious Savior” – Text: Frances R. Havergal; Tune: Arthur H. Mann; Text, Tune, Setting: public domain

“Crown Him with Many Crowns” – Text: Matthew Bridges, st. 1-2, 4, abr., alt.; Godfrey Thring, st. 3;

Tune: George J. Elvey; Text, Tune, Setting: public domain

All rights reserved. Used by permission under One License # A-714951 and CCLI License #11457483.