Lectionary Readings
Revelation 7:9–17
The redeemed gather at God’s throne; the Lamb is their shepherd.
Psalm 34:1–10, 22
Bless the Lord, our redeemer; taste and see that the Lord is good.
1 John 3:1–3
See what love the Father has given us; we are God’s children now.
Matthew 5:1–12
The Beatitudes: blessed are you; your reward is great in heaven.
— Gathering —
Opening Sentences
Blessing and glory and wisdom to our God!
Amen!
Thanksgiving and honor to our God!
Amen!
All power and might to our God
forever and ever!
Amen and amen!
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Thanksgiving For Baptism
At the baptismal font:
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
O Lord our God, we give you thanks
for the grace that is at work in us
through the gift of our baptism—
the sign of your threefold name,
the communion of your faithful people,
the promise of your glorious realm.
By the power of your Holy Spirit,
poured out upon us in baptism,
let your grace and peace grow in us,
until we gather at your heavenly throne
to give you thanks and praise forever;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession and Pardon
At the baptismal font:
It is hard to believe that a day will come
when there will be no more hunger or thirst,
no more tears or death.
As we remember our loved ones,
we cannot help but doubt.
God is big enough to handle that doubt,
so let us pray.
God of eternal life,
we gather in gratitude
for all the saints of the ages and our lives.
We also confess our sorrow
as we ache from their absence.
We hear you call us blessed when we mourn,
but we do not find the comfort you promise.
Be with us in our remembrance
and strengthen us until the day we join them,
singing your praises in the great multitude.
Lifting water from the font:
See what love our Creator has given us:
we are children of God.
Our heavenly Parent loves us, forgives us,
and is with us through every trial.
— Word —
Prayer for Illumination
At the lectern or pulpit:
Faithful God, how blessed are those
who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Sanctify us by your Word and Spirit
so that we may glorify you
in the company of the faithful;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Scripture
Before the readings:
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Listen to the word of the Lord.
Deuteronomy 6:4
After the readings:
Keep these words in your heart.
The Lord is our God, the Lord alone.
Thanks be to God.
Deuteronomy 6:6
Sermon
Ascription of Praise
After the sermon:
To the Lord our God, Alpha and Omega,
be all glory and honor forever. Amen.
Revelation 21:6
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Affirmation of Faith
The risen Christ is the Savior of all people.
Those joined to him by faith
are set right with God
and commissioned to serve
as God’s reconciling community.
Christ is head of this community, the church,
which began with the apostles
and continues through all generations.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.10
Prayers of Intercession
Our shepherd satisfies our needs;
in faith, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for the church . . .
Bless those who are merciful and pure in heart
with the vision of your new creation
and mercy enough to share with all.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for the earth . . .
Bless the meek; may the earth that they inherit
be a place of wonder and glory,
of beauty and blessing for all creatures.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for all nations . . .
Bless the peacemakers, your beloved children.
Bless those who are persecuted,
and give them a place in your holy realm.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for this community . . .
Bless those who hunger and thirst;
feed them with your righteousness
and satisfy them with your justice.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
O Lord, our God, we pray for loved ones . . .
Bless those who mourn, and comfort them.
Bless those who are poor in spirit;
let your heavenly realm be their reward.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Loving shepherd, lead and guide us—
in green pastures and by still waters,
in right paths and through dark valleys,
until we feast with you in glory
and dwell in your house forever;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
Psalm 23
— Eucharist —
Invitation to Offering
At the communion table:
I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,
to present yourselves as a living sacrifice,
holy and acceptable to God.
Let us offer our lives to the Lord.
Romans 12:1
Prayer of Dedication
At the communion table:
God of the harvest,
you are continually planting the seeds of your love
in our world and in our lives.
As we bring our gifts to you,
may they be seeds of your grace, peace, and hope,
planted deeply in our community. Amen.
Great Thanksgiving
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.
Blessed are you, O Lord our God:
You are enthroned in glory; salvation belongs to you!
You have given your Lamb to be our shepherd,
to guide us to the water of life, and wipe away our tears.
Therefore we praise you, joining the song
of the universal church and the heavenly choir:
A Sanctus (“Holy, holy, holy”) is sung.
Blessed is Jesus Christ, our Savior:
Jesus taught the way of faithfulness and blessedness:
to be merciful and meek, peaceful and pure in heart—
to such as these the kingdom of heaven belongs.
The words of institution are included here.
Remembering your goodness and grace,
we offer ourselves to you with gratitude
as we share this joyful feast.
A Memorial Acclamation (e.g., “Christ has died”) is sung.
Pour out your Holy Spirit upon us and upon this bread and cup;
make us one in the body and blood of Jesus Christ our Lord.
You call us your children; and that is what we are.
Let your will and your way be revealed in us,
as you come into the world to reign in glory.
Through the Lord Jesus Christ,
in the unity of the Spirit,
we bless you, God of glory,
now and forever.
An Amen is sung.
Lord’s Prayer
Breaking the Bread
Communion of the People
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Prayer after Communion
At the communion table:
God of glory, in this holy feast
you have made us one with Christ
and with that great multitude of the faithful—
those who hunger and thirst no more
and worship night and day in your temple.
Lead us in the paths of righteousness
and guide us to the springs of the water of life,
until we join the choir of the redeemed,
singing: Salvation belongs to our God
who is seated on the throne,
and to the Lamb: Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
— Sending —
Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song
Blessing and Charge
At the doors of the church:
The blessing of the one God—
Spirit, Son, and Father—
be with you now and always. Alleluia!
Ephesians 4:4–6
Lead a life worthy of your calling,
giving glory to God in all things. Amen.
Ephesians 4:1
“The Sermon on the Mount”
JESUS MAFA, 1973
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- For All the Saints (R) SINE NOMINE GTG 326, PH 526
- Praise, My Soul, the God (King) of Heaven (R) LAUDA ANIMA GTG 619, 620, PH 478, 479
- I Sing a Song of the Saints of God (E) GRAND ISLE GTG 730, PH 364
- A City Radiant as a Bride (R) WEIBERG Rejoice in God, K. Lee Scott, MSM
WORD
- Know That God Is Good / Mungu ni mwema (OEG) MUNGU NI MWEMA GTG 659
- Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me (EG) ST. CATHERINE GTG 703, PH 366
- Shall Tribulation or Distress (G) ROMANS 8 GTG 823
- Who Are These Like Stars Appearing (RE) ZEUCH MICH, ZEUCH MICH EH 286
EUCHARIST
- What Wondrous Love Is this (RE) WONDROUS LOVE GTG 215, PH 85
- Taste and See (O) TASTE AND SEE GTG 520
- When Peace like a River (E) VILLE DU HAVRE GTG 840
- Jesus Is Here Right Now (O) Leon Roberts AAHH 684
SENDING
- You, Lord, Are Both Lamb and Shepherd (R) PICARDY GTG 274
- May the Love of the Lord (E) SOON TI GTG 549
- Give Thanks for Those Whose Faith Is Firm (EG) REPTON GTG 731
- Mas el Dios de toda gracia / Oh, the God of Grace Overflowing (RE) Marcos Witt, arr. Greg Scheer, SSS 713
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 34:1–10, 22
Metrical
- We Will Always Bless You, Lord [7.6.7.6 D, trochaic]; SGP 34
- At All Times Let Me Sing Gladly [PLEADING SAVIOR]; PLP1 34
- My Times Are in Your Hand [FRANCONIA]; SP 19
- Unto the Lord My Praise I Sing [LAND OF REST]; PP 66 (with refrain), PCW 34 (as CM)
- Lord, I Bring My Songs to You [LUX PRIMA]; PAS 34D, LUYH 406
- Bendeciré al Señor / I Will Extol My God [BENDECIRÉ AL SEÑOR]; PAS 34C
Responsorial
- Taste and See [TASTE AND SEE]; GTG 520, PAS 34B, LUYH 817, SSS 691
- Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord; PAS 34A, PSA 33, PH 187
- Taste and See / Gusten y vean; SSS 692 (refrain only)
- I Will Bless the Lord at All Times; PAS 34A (alt. refrain, pointed vv.), PFTS2 62 (alt. refrain, through-composed)
Organ Music
- “In Paradisum,” In Paradisum, Charles Callahan, CON (E)
- “Soul, Adorn Yourself with Gladness,” SCHMUKE DICH, Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness, David N. Johnson, AF (M)
- For All the Saints,” SINE NOMINE, Augsburg Organ Library: November, Arthur Hutchings, AF (ME)
- Suite no. 1, op. 51, “Requiem Aeternam,” Louis Vierne, public domain (MA)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “The Good Shepherd,” Zebulon Highben, GIA, SAB, pno, fl (E)
- “The King of Love, My Shepherd Is,” arr. Jeremy Bankson, CON, SATB, fl, ob, org (M)
- “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need,” arr. Mack Wilberg, HIN, SATB, fl, ob, org (M)
- “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” Requiem, John Rutter, OUP, SATB, org, ob (MA)
- “Like as the Father,” Cherubini, Theodore Presser, SAB, org (M)
- “Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal,” Alice Parker, Lawson-Gould, SATB div (MA)
- “Sing Me to Heaven,” Daniel Gawthrop, Dunstan House, SATB (MA)
- “Blow Ye the Trumpet,” Kirke Mechem, ECS, SATB, keybd (MA)
Handbell Music
- “For All the Saints,” Dan Edwards, 3–5 oct, CGA, CGB905, Level 3
- “The Saints of God,” Sondra Tucker, 3–5 oct, opt 3 oct hc, ALF, 47796, Level 3
- “It Is Well with My Soul,” Cathy Moklebust, 3–5 oct, opt 3 oct hc, opt vln or fl, ALF, 20206, Level 3
Art
- A Visit, John August Swanson (VDL)
- The Sermon on the Mount, JESUS MAFA, Cameroon (VDL)
- Jesus as Shepherd, with the Lost Sheep, Ethiopia, 20th century, Paris (VDL)
- BE-Atitoods, Joel Schoon-Tanis (JST)
