Prelude – O Come, O Come Emmanuel
Natalia Peterson

Welcome 

Song – Praise to the Lord/ Louez l’Eternel   Worship 844
Louez l’Eternel 

Listen to the French, then join in the English
1     Louez l’Eternel, serviteurs de Dieu.
Béni soit son nom, maintenant, à jamais.
Du lever du soleil, béni soit son nom! 
Loué soit Dieu, l’Eternel!                  

ENGLISH
1     Praise to the Lord, all of you, God’s servants.
Blessed be the name of our God now and ever.
From the rising up of the sun, may the Lord be praised, 
praise to the name of the Lord!

2     There is none like our God in the heav’ns or on earth,
who lifts the poor from the dust, seating them with the mighty,
who stoops to raise the weak and low: may the Lord be praised, 
praise to the name of the Lord!

Text: Ron Klusmeier, b. 1946, based on Psalm 113; French tr. R. Gerald Hobbs, b. 1941
Text © 1972 Ron Klusmeier. www.musiklus.com

Prayer of the Day
O God of justice and love, you illumine our way through life with the words of your Son. Give us the light we need, and awaken us to the needs of others, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

First Reading 
A reading from Amos 5:18-24
¹⁸Alas for you who desire the day of the Lord!
  Why do you want the day of the Lord?
 It is darkness, not light;
  ¹⁹as if someone fled from a lion,
  and was met by a bear;
 or went into the house and rested a hand against the wall,
  and was bitten by a snake.
 ²⁰Is not the day of the Lord darkness, not light,
  and gloom with no brightness in it?
²¹I hate, I despise your festivals,
  and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies.
 ²²Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings,
  I will not accept them;
 and the offerings of well-being of your fatted animals
  I will not look upon.
 ²³Take away from me the noise of your songs;
  I will not listen to the melody of your harps.
 ²⁴But let justice roll down like waters,
  and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
Word of God, word of Life. Thanks be to God.

Children’s Time – Pastor Joy and friends, “This Little Light of Mine”

Alleluia – 168

Gospel
A reading from Matthew 25:1-13
[Jesus said to the disciples:] ¹“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like this. Ten bridesmaids took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. ²Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. ³When the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them; ⁴but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. ⁵As the bridegroom was delayed, all of them became drowsy and slept. ⁶But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Look! Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ ⁷Then all those bridesmaids got up and trimmed their lamps. ⁸The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ ⁹But the wise replied, ‘No! there will not be enough for you and for us; you had better go to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ ¹⁰And while they went to buy it, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went with him into the wedding banquet; and the door was shut. ¹¹Later the other bridesmaids came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ ¹²But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’ ¹³Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”
The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 

Message – Deacon Kari Alice Olsen

Song – Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers Worship 244

1                Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lights appear;
the evening is advancing, and darker night is near.
The bridegroom is arising and soon is drawing nigh.
Up, pray and watch and wrestle; at midnight comes the cry.

2     The watchers on the mountain proclaim the bridegroom near;
go forth as he approaches  with alleluias clear.
The marriage feast is waiting; the gates wide open stand.
Arise, O heirs of glory; the bridegroom is at hand.

3     The saints, who here in patience  their cross and suff’rings bore,
shall live and reign forever when sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory  the Lamb they shall behold;
in triumph cast before him their diadems of gold.

4     Our hope and expectation, O Jesus, now appear;
arise, O Sun so longed for, o’er this benighted sphere.
With hearts and hands uplifted,  we plead, O Lord, to see
the day of earth’s redemption that sets your people free!

Text: Laurentius Laurenti, 1660-1722; tr. Sarah B. Findlater, 1823-1907

Confession and Forgiveness
All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.

Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved. Amen.

Holy One, we confess that we are not awake for you. We are not faithful in using your gifts. We forget the least of our siblings.We do not see your beautiful image in one another. We are infected by sin that divides your beloved community.Open our hearts to your coming, open our eyes to see you in our neighbor, open our hands to serve your creation. Amen.

Beloved, we are God’s children, and Jesus, our Beloved, opens the door to us. Through ☩ Jesus you are forgiven, by Jesus you are welcome, in Jesus you are called to rejoice! Let us live in the promises prepared for us from the foundation of the world. Amen.

Prayers of the People    
Longing for Christ’s reign to come among us, we pray for the outpouring of God’s power on the church, the world, and all in need.
A brief silence.

Holy God, rouse us to deep praise as we gather for worship. Enliven our worship with sincere and heartfelt song. Sustain the work of all church musicians and artists who lead us in praise and prayer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Creator, surprise and delight us with the beauty of the world you have made. Bless the work of landscapers, architects, and artists whose work invites us into harmonious living with your creation. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Judge, let justice roll down like waters over this world. Reign over the courtrooms of every land, in the hearts of those who guard the law and those who stand accused of crimes. Be present in cases where we long for both justice and mercy to prevail. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Companion, console those who feel lonely or abandoned. Share the hours of those who live and eat alone. Comfort those who have few friends or who struggle with their identity and place in this world. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy Protector, be with all observing Veterans Day. Guard the lives of active duty and retired military personnel. Comfort all who mourn those who have died in the line of duty. Heal the wounds, both physical and mental, experienced by service members. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Holy and Immortal One, we pray in thanksgiving for the lives of all who have died. Remind us of the frailty and shortness of our own lives and inspire us to use them for the building up of your kingdom. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Receive our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ our Savior, until that day when you gather all creation around your throne where you will reign forever and ever. Amen.

Sharing Peace
Johm riab sua.
Selam.
The peace of Christ be with you all. And also with you. 

Offering – An Improvisation on Creator of the Stars of Night
Natalia Peterson

Offering Prayer
God of all goodness, generations have turned to you, gathered around your table, and shared your abundant blessings. Number us among them that, as we gather these gifts from your abundance, and give thanks for your rich blessings, we may feast upon your very self and care for all that you have made, through Jesus Christ, our Sovereign and Servant. Amen.

Communion
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

It is indeed right that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to God who is the giver of all good things and who revealed this abundance again with feeding the multitudes, who loved to the point of death and who beyond death, was raised from the dead and appeared to many, breaking bread with them in their homes, so that we might believe.

Remember, beloved ones… how in the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.

Again, after supper, Jesus took the cup, gave thanks and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me.

O God of resurrection and new life: pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on the gifts of bread and cup. Bless this feast. Grace our tables with your presence. Reveal yourself to us in the sharing of the bread. Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and love.

With your holy ones in all times and places, we praise you, O God, blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever. Amen.

Invitation to Communion
There is a place for you at the banquet.
Come and feast at Jesus’ table

Now, if you are gathered with others, when the music begins, please share with one another first the bread and then the cup with the words, 

The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, poured out for you.

If you are by yourself, I offer this invitation… 
Receive the body of Christ, given for you.
Receive the blood of Christ, poured out for you.

And if for any reason you will not receive Communion bread & cup today, a blessing for you…
May God fill you up with the Holy Spirit and give you all that you need.

Communion Song – Bread of Life from Heaven Worship 474
Refrain
Bread of life from heaven, 
your blood and body given,
we eat this bread and drink this cup 
until you come again.

1   Break now the bread of Christ’s sacrifice;
giving thanks, hungry ones, gather round.
Eat, all of you, and be satisfied;
in Christ’s presence the loaves will abound.  Refrain

2   Seek not the food that will pass away;
set your hearts on the food that endures.
Come, learn the true and the living way,
that the fullness of life may be yours.  Refrain

4   Dwell in the one who now dwells in you;
make your home in the lifegiving Word.
Know only Christ, Holy One of God,
and believe in the truth you have heard.  Refrain

Text: Susan R. Briehl, b. 1952
Text © 2001 GIA Publications, Inc., 7404 S. Mason Ave., Chicago, IL 60638. www.giamusic.com. 800.442.3358. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

Prayer after Communion
Lord Jesus, in this simple meal you have set a banquet. Sustain us on the journey, strengthen us to care for the least of your beloved children, and give us glad and generous hearts as we meet you on the way. Amen.

Cambodian Lord’s Prayer

Blessing
May the God of all creation, in whose image we are made, who claims us and calls us beloved, who strengthens us for service, give you reason to rejoice and be glad! The blessing of God, Sovereign, ☩ Savior, and Spirit, be with you today and always. Amen. 

Song – Blessed assurance Worship 638
1     Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.

Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior, all the day long:
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.

2     Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.  Refrain

3     Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love.  Refrain

Text: Fanny J. Crosby, 1820-1915

Charge
Beloved of God, go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Postlude – An Improvisation on In the Cross of Christ I Glory
Natalia Peterson