15870 46th Avenue N, Plymouth | (763) 559-0579 Email: office@AscensionPlymouth.com

Website: www.AscensionPlymouth.com A member of the WELS (Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod)

Brian Roloff, Pastor | pastorroloff@AscensionPlymouth.com

Welcome! We are glad that you have joined us for worship today.

Brian Roloff, Pastor | pastorroloff@AscensionPlymouth.com

Susan Decker, Music Director Tammy Melott, Preschool Director/Teacher

Jennifer Tripp, Teacher

November 17, 2019 As we celebrate Holy Communion, let’s rejoice in the various types of unity that we enjoy in this sacrament.

According to Christ’s own promise we receive his true body and blood (Matthew 26:26-28). We are united with him in the Lord’s Supper.

another (1 Corinthians 10:16-17). Holy Communion declares that unity.

gospel of Jesus (1 Corinthians 11:26).

What wonderful unity we find in the Lord’s Supper. How we want to treasure and foster this unity. On the night on which Jesus gave us this meal he prayed that all his followers would come to complete agreement with one another on the basis of God’s Word (John 17:11,17).

Out of love for the Lord and love for one another, we want what our Savior wants for us—genuine unqualified unity. For this reason we respectfully ask that only those who have expressed their full agreement with the teachings of our national church body (the Wisconsin Synod) or the Evangelical Lutheran Synod come forward to receive the sacrament.

We eagerly desire everyone to share in this divine meal with us. Please speak to the pastor about how we can work together to establish this blessed fellowship.

THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

(P:= Pastor, C:= Congregation, := Congregation sings) All scripture quotations are taken from the NIV and are used by permission.

WORSHIP THEME: We Will Live With God Forever In Paradise Restored

OPENING HYMN: Yes, I Will (Based on Psalm 27:14, 104:33, Romans 8:28)

Soloists: I count on one thing, The same God that never fails will not fail me now, You won’t fail me now. In the waiting, The same God who’s never late is working all things out, Is working all things out.

- 1 -

Chorus: Yes, I will Lift You high in the lowest valley. Yes, I will Bless Your name. Yes, I will sing for joy when my heart is heavy. All my days, oh yes, I will.

Soloists & Congregation: I count on one thing, The same God that never fails will not fail me now, You won’t fail me now. In the waiting, The same God who’s never late is working all things out, Is working all things out.

Chorus Soloists:

For all my days, oh yes, I will. I want to praise, To glorify, glorify the name of all names

That nothing can stand against.

Congregation: And I want to praise, To glorify, glorify the name of all names

That nothing can stand against.

Chorus

Soloists: For all my days, oh yes, I will. For all my days, yes, I will.

Please stand

CALL TO WORSHIP

P: How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty!

C: My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

- 2 -

P: Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.

C: They have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

P: They are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

C: Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat.

P: For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

C: He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

SONG OF PRAISE: Glory To God

- 3 -

- 4 -

Please be seated

THE WORD

FIRST LESSON: Isaiah 65:17-25

“Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a

delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of

crying will be heard in it no more.

“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years; he who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere youth; he who fails to reach a hundred will be considered accursed.

They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my people; my chosen ones will long

enjoy the works of their hands. They will not toil in vain or bear children doomed to misfortune; for they will be a

people blessed by the LORD, they and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but dust

will be the serpent’s food. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,” says the LORD. READING RESPONSE : # 552 By All Your Saints Still Striving (verse 1 & 3)

SECOND LESSON: Luke 20:27-38

Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a woman and died childless. The second and then the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no children. Finally, the woman died too. Now then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. But in the account of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”

GOOD NEWS FOR KIDS We invite the children ages 3 through 3rd grade to come forward for a message from God’s Word just for them.

SERMON HYMN: # 727 There is a Higher Throne

- 5 -

- 6 -

Please stand for the reading of the text

SERMON THEME: Coming soon! A preview of what heaven will be like:

New

Living with God

Free

Endless meaningful existence

TEXT: Revelation 21:1-7, 22:1-6

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever. The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.” After the sermon please stand

THE NICENE CREED: (all say)

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.

the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten,

- 7 -

not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

CONNECTION CARDS

At this time we ask everyone to take a moment and fill out one of the connection cards. You will find them in the hymnal rack in front of you or under your chair. Please fill out one card per family and place it in the offering basket. THE OFFERING

Dear guests, please don’t feel obligated to take part in our offering. We’re glad you’re here to listen to the message about Jesus.

If members or guests would like to give an offering electronically, they can do so by going to ascensionplymouth.com and click on the GIVE tab on your right hand side or go to https://secure.subsplash.com/ui/access/ZJJGFB/. After the offering please stand THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P: As we celebrate the festival of Saints Triumphant, we remember the faithful who have gone before us, who sit before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple. We especially remember our brothers and sisters in our church family who are now at rest with the Lord. Though our hearts ache from the loss of their bodily presence, our hearts yearn for our reunion in heaven at the marriage feast of the Lamb. Let us go to God in prayer, and find hope in his promise of the resurrection.

Lord of eternity and King of saints, all the heavens adore you. Saints and angels sing before you.

C: We too join them to praise your majesty.

- 8 -

P: You clothe us with garments of splendor. You bless us with grace and mercy in this life and eternal glory forever. What undeserved love you show us!

C: We thank you, Lord, that you have made us your saints.

P: Encourage us by your gracious promises. Forgive our failures to live as you desire. Strengthen the faith of all who are weak and wandering.

C: Give us power to live as your faithful people.

P: Your saints will triumph forever in new heavens and a new earth. The sound of weeping and crying will be heard no more. We anticipate with joy an eternity of perfect fellowship with you.

C: Be with us as we work and witness for Christ, so that many more people can join us before your throne.

P: Comfort us now as we cling to your promises and recall the members of Ascension who have joined the church triumphant in the previous year. We will sound a bell and have a moment of silence after each name is read:

Linda Zabel

P: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—

C: And not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Tim. 4:7-8)

Gil Lillemo

P: The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. …Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

C: Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. (Psalm 23:1, 4, 6)

Marlys Anderson

P: To the one who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life.

C: Be faithful even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life. (Revelation 2:7, 10)

Nancy Varner

P: In my Father’s house are many rooms. ...I am going there to prepare a place for you. C: And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be

with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:2-3)

- 9 -

P: Lord of life, the day is coming when you will come down from heaven with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet call of God. On that glorious day, the saints triumphant will rise in bright array, clothed in your perfect righteousness.

C: Give us strength until that day when we will share fully in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

THE LORD'S PRAYER (all pray)

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

from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

Please be seated

THE SACRAMENT

P: 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, 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."

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. :

O, CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD

- 10 - (song continues on next page)

THE DISTRIBUTION

Communicant members of Ascension Lutheran are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper. If you have never communed with us before, we ask that you first speak

with our pastor to learn how you can establish a communing fellowship with us. We are eager to help anyone to take this step.

Please Note: The center eight cups of the individual trays contain white grape juice. Gluten-free wafers are available. Please speak with the pastor before the worship service, if you would like a gluten-free wafer. HYMN: # 309 Draw Near and Take the Body of the Lord After the distribution please stand

THANKSGIVING THANK THE LORD

- 11 -

P: Hear the prayer of your people, O Lord, that the lips which have praised you here may glorify you in the world, that the eyes which have seen the coming of your Son may long for his coming again, and that all who have received in his true body and blood the pledge of your forgiveness may be restored to live a new and holy life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

:

THE BLESSING

P: Brothers and sisters, go in peace. Live in harmony with one another.

Serve the Lord with gladness.

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.

:

Please be seated CLOSING HYMN: # 728 Jerusalem the Golden

(song continues on next page)

- 12 -

THANKS TO THOSE WHO SERVED

Organist: Susan Decker West Soloists: Arianna Antonson (Holy Trinity, New Hope) & Logan Wreisner (Cross of Christ, Coon Rapids)

- 13 -