November 2011 Prepare for Worship

Sunday, Nov. 6, All Saints

 

“All Saints” celebrates the baptized people of God, living and dead, who are the body of Christ. As November heralds the dying of the landscape in many northern regions, the readings and liturgy call us to remember all who have died in Christ and whose baptism is complete. At the Lord’s Table we gather with the faithful of every time and place, trusting that the promises of God will be fulfilled and that all tears will be wiped away in the New Jerusalem. 

 

The readings are Revelation 7:9-17, 1 John 3:1-3 and the beatitudes, Matthew 5:1-12. The hymns will be ELW 422, “For All the Saints,” ELW 426, “Sing with All the Saints in Glory,” and ELW 632, “O God, Our Help in Ages Past.” St. John’s has the tradition of reading the names of the newly baptized (in the past year) at the beginning of the service as well as the names of those who have died (in the past 12 months) while tolling a bell at the “prayers of the people.” 

 

At 8:45 a.m. and 11 a.m., in place of the psalm, Kisasa will sing the piece they commissioned this year, “Blessed Are You”, by Julia Simon, using a bequest from the Richard Warming memorial funds. During the offering, Cantorei, Cathedral Choir and full orchestra with organ will perform “How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place,” and during communion those forces will support Jennifer Horak-Hult on “Ye Now are Sorrowful.” Both are from “A German Requiem,” by Johannes Brahms. 

 

Sunday, Nov. 13, Time after Pentecost

 

Our readings during November speak of the end times. Zephaniah proclaims that the coming day of the Lord will be filled with wrath and distress. Paul says it will come like a thief in the night and urges us to be awake and sober. Jesus tells the parable of the talents, calling us to use our gifts, while we still have time, for the greater and common good. In a world filled with violence and despair, we gather around signs of hope – word, water, bread and wine – eager to welcome the good news of Christ’s coming among us. 

 

The readings are Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18, Psalm 90:1-12, 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Matthew 25:14-30. The hymns will be ELW 707, “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us,” ELW 688, “Lord of Light,” and ELW 543, “Go, My Children, with My Blessing.” At 8:45 a.m. oboist Sue Odem will play movements from “Sonata in A minor,” by Georg Philipp Telemann, for offering and communion, and at 11 a.m. Cathedral Choir will sing “God Has Called Us,” by Robert Hobby, for offering. Anointing with oil and laying on of hands for healing will be offered at the communion rail this weekend. 

 

Sunday, Nov. 20, Christ the King

 

On this final Sunday of the church year, our gospel is Jesus’ great story of judgment. In the end, the faithful are those who served Christ by ministering to those who are poor, hungry, naked, sick or estranged. In the first reading, God is the shepherd who seeks the lost, weak and injured and feeds them with justice. We gather this day to celebrate the reign of Christ and his victory over death, yet awaiting the consummation of all things yet to come. Acknowledging Christ as our merciful ruler, we go forth that his reign may be known in our loving words and deeds.  

 

The readings are Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24, Psalm 95:1-7a, Ephesians 1:15-23 and Matthew 25:31-46. The hymns will be ELW 855, “Crown Him with Many Crowns,” ELW 707, “Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us,” ELW 531, “The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing,” and ELW 705, “God of Grace and God of Glory.” Cantorei at 8:45 a.m. and Cathedral Choir at 11 a.m. will sing Aaron David Miller’s exciting “Laudate Dominum” for offering music. Our Chamber Orchestra will accompany each choir to John Rutter’s setting of “The Lord is My Shepherd” during communion. 

 

Thursday, Nov. 24, 10 a.m., Day of Thanksgiving

 

At harvest time, we join the psalmist in offering thanksgiving to God: “You crown the year with your goodness, and your paths overflow with plenty.” We are grateful for the abundance of the good things of God’s creation. Paul reminds us that our thanksgiving overflows into generosity. As the body of Christ in the world, we give ourselves away as bread for the hungry. 

 

For this national day of thanksgiving, the readings are Deuteronomy 8:7-18, Psalm 65, 2 Corinthians 9:6-15 and Luke 17:11-19. We will use Marty Haugen’s “Now the Feast” Holy Communion liturgy, and the first hymn will be ELW 693, “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.”

 

Sunday, Nov. 27, First Sunday of Advent

 

Stir up your power, and come! The psalmist’s plea in Psalm 80:2 has become familiar to us in the Advent prayers. Isaiah wants God to rip the heavens open. Both cry out for an apparently distant, angry God to show up, to save, and to restore. When we hear Jesus describing the coming of the Son of Man with stars falling from heaven, it can sound dire and horrible, not like anything we would ever hope for. But when we really look at the suffering people God loves, we can share the hope that God would tear open the heavens and come. 

 

The readings for this first Sunday in the new Church Year are Isaiah 64:1-9, Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9 and Mark 13:24-37. The feeling of the liturgy shifts during this season to a more quiet, contemplative and watchful tone. The entrance rite includes the procession of a flame from which the Advent Wreath is lighted.