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
What kind of love has God given us?
A love that proclaims we are God’s very own.
What kind of promise has God given us?
God will wipe away every tear from our eyes.
What kind of future has God given us?
God will lead us to springs of life-giving water.
Blessing and glory,
wisdom and thanksgiving,
honor and power and might
be to our God, forever and always!
Prayer of the Day
Everlasting God,
in the beginning there was you.
Ever since, you have made yourself known to us
through ancestors, siblings in faith,
and loved ones who have left us.
We remember each of the many saints
who touched our lives and, however imperfectly,
showed us your way of love.
Keep us in the great cloud of their witness,
that we may be guided by them and by you,
now and forever. 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.
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.
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”
Additional Materials
Congregational Song
GATHERING
- This Is the Feast of Victory (R) FESTIVAL CANTICLE GTG 513
- Love Divine, All Loves Excelling (R) HYFRYDOL GTG 366
- Womb of Life and Source of Being (E) RAQUEL GTG 3
- Come, Great God of All the Ages (G) ABBOT’S LEIGH GTG 309
- We Will Glorify (R) WE WILL GLORIFY AAHH 286
WORD
- For All the Saints (R) SINE NOMINE GTG 326
- I Rejoiced When I Heard Them Say (R) ENGLAND GTG 400
- Heaven Is Singing for Joy (RG) ALEGRÍA GTG 382
- Child of Blessing, Child of Promise (E) KINGDOM GTG 486
- Wash, O God, Your Sons and Daughters (E) BEACH SPRING GTG 490
- Shall Tribulation or Distress (G) ROMANS 8 GTG 823
EUCHARIST
- Holy Lamb of God (R) YA HAMALALLAH GTG 602
- Look Who Gathers at Christ’s Table! (R) COPELAND GTG 506
- The Trumpets Sound, the Angels Sing (R) THE FEAST IS READY GTG 505
- I Come with Joy (E) DOVE OF PEACE GTG 515
- The Bread and the Wine Are Here (G) LOVE FEAST GTG 512
- Taste and See (G) TASTE AND SEE GTG 520
SENDING
- All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name! (R) CORONATION GTG 263
- The Church’s One Foundation (RG) AURELIA GTG 321
- Like a Mother Who Has Borne Us (E) AUSTIN GTG 44
- Go, My Children, with My Blessing (E) AR HYD Y NOS GTG 547
- I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light (G) HOUSTON GTG 377
- We’re Marching to Zion (R) MARCHING TO ZION OLOF 620
Psalms and Canticles
Psalm 34:1–10, 22
Metrical
- Lord, I Bring My Songs to You [LUX PRIMA]; PAS 34D
Responsorial
- Come, Bless the Lord; PP 66
- Taste and See, the Goodness of the Lord; PSA 33
Organ Music
- “Dies Irae,” African-American Organ Music Anthology, Volume 5, Willam B. Cooper, MSM (M)
- “For All the Saints,” John A. Behnke: The Essential Organ Preludes, John A. Behnke, CON (ME)
- “In Heaven Above,” Augsburg Organ Library: Healing and Funeral, Aaron David Miller, AF (M)
- “The Joy Awaiting,” Honor and Majesty, Matthew Machemer, FJH (M)
Piano Music
- “Arioso: Adagio from Capriccio on the departure of a beloved brother, BWV 992,” Johann Sebastian Bach, HEN (MA)
- “Moderato cantabile molto espressivo from Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat Major, Op. 110,” Ludwig van Beethoven, HEN (A)
Anthems for Adult Choirs
- “Blessed Are They,” Larry Flemming, MSM, SATB, org, opt cong, opt hb (E)
- “Blessed Are They,” Carolyn Jennings, CGA, SATB, org, opt fl (E)
- “For All the Saints,” Sean Paul, Celebrating Grace, SATB, pno (ME)
- “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place,” Mary Lynn Lightfoot, LOR, SATB, pno (ME)
- “How Lovely Is Thy Dwelling Place,” Daniel Kallman, MSM, SATB, pno (ME)
- “In Paradisum,” Dan Forrest, HIN, SATB div, pno, opt hb, opt orch (MA)
- “The Souls of the Righteous,” Geraint Lewis, OUP, SATB div, org (A)
- “Blessed Are the Dead,” William Beckstrand, MSM, SSATBB, acap (A)
Vocal Solos
- “The Beatitudes,” Albert Hay Mallotte, GSH (M)
- “How Lovely Are Thy Dwellings,” Samuel Liddle, BH (E)
- “Deep River,” Harry T. Burleigh, GSH (E)
Art
- The Eucharistic Window, Richard King, 1965–66 (VCS)
- The Paschal Lamb, Richard King, 1966–67 (VCS)
- The Eight Beatitudes, Hendrick Goltzius, 1578 (PD, MET)
- Banner Keep Dancing_942, Wayne Forte, 2016 (EYE)
