November 2, 2025 – Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost / Proper 26

Lectionary Readings   -   Gathering   -  Word  -   Eucharist   -   Sending   -   Music and Art

Lectionary Readings

Semicontinuous
Habakkuk 1:1–4, 2:1–4
Write the vision; make it plain: the righteous live by their faith.

Psalm 119:137–144
You are righteous, O Lord; give me understanding that I may live.

Complementary
Isaiah 1:10–18
Wash and make yourselves clean; learn to do good and seek justice.

Psalm 32:1–7
Happy are those whose sin is forgiven; I will confess to the Lord. 

2 Thessalonians 1:1–4, 11–12
To the Thessalonians: I give thanks for your faith and pray for you.  

Luke 19:1–10
Zacchaeus, a tax collector, wants to see Jesus; Jesus visits his home.  

— Gathering —

Opening Sentences

The Lord answered me and said:
There is still a vision for the appointed time;
if it seems to tarry, wait for it;
it will surely come, it will not delay.
The righteous live by their faith.
Your laws are righteous forever.
Help me understand so I can live! 

Learn to do good, seek justice,
rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan,
plead for the widow.
Your laws are righteous forever.
Help me understand so I can live! 

Give thanks to God;
your faith is growing abundantly;
your love for one another is increasing.
Your laws are righteous forever.
Help me understand so I can live! 

 

 

 

Prayer of the Day

Holy God,
in times of trouble and travail,
when we are weighed down by our transgressions
and struggle to serve our savior,
guide us back to the path you have set before us.
Open our eyes to watch for your signs
and invite us again to join in the building
of your holy vision,
that we might find hope living in you. 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:
Jesus eagerly embraces anyone
with a repentant heart.
Let us come before Christ
and offer ourselves in earnest confession.

Almighty God,
we confess that we cannot see your image
in each and every one of our neighbors.
We call each other “sinner”;
you call us by our names.
We misjudge one another,
we underestimate ourselves,
and we undervalue creation.
Pardon us, Holy One, by your grace.
Reveal to us your vision for the world
that we may see all people
through eyes of care
and hearts of compassion.

Lifting water from the font:
This is what God’s love is like:
You are forgiven before asking.
You are saved without condition.
You are loved beyond measure.
Rejoice in the gospel!
In Jesus Christ, we are forgiven.

— 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:
Sacred writings, our instruction in salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ.
2 Timothy 3:15

After the readings:
The words of Scripture, inspired by God.
Thanks be to God.
2 Timothy 3:16

Sermon

Ascription of Praise

After the sermon:
Blessed be the Lord our God. Amen.
Luke 1:68

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

Affirmation of Faith

The life, death, resurrection,
and promised coming of Jesus Christ
has set the pattern for the church’s mission.
His human life involves the church
in the common life of all people.
His service to men and women
commits the church
to work for every form of human well-being.
His suffering makes the church sensitive
to all human suffering
so that it sees the face of Christ
in the faces of persons in every kind of need.
His crucifixion discloses to the church
God’s judgment on the inhumanity
that marks human relations,
and the awful consequences
of the church’s own complicity in injustice.
In the power of the risen Christ
and the hope of his coming,
the church sees the promise
of God’s renewal of human life in society
and of God’s victory over all wrong.
The church follows this pattern
in the form of its life
and in the method of its action.
So to live and serve
is to confess Christ as Lord.
Adapted from the Confession of 1967, 9.32–33

Prayers of Intercession

Trusting in the power of God to deliver us,

let us make our prayers of intercession for all,

saying: God our Savior, hear our prayer.  

We pray for the church . . .

Let our faith in you and love for others

continue to flourish and grow,

bearing witness to your grace at work.

God our Savior, hear our prayer.

We pray for the world . . .

Look with mercy on this weary world,

full of trouble, violence, and destruction.

Let the day of salvation quickly come.

God our Savior, hear our prayer.

We pray for this community . . .

Help us to rise above and look beyond

the suspicions, fears, and prejudices

that keep us separate from our neighbors.

God our Savior, hear our prayer.

We pray for loved ones . . .

Be a hiding place for those in distress.

Preserve them from their trouble

and surround them with gladness and joy.

God our Savior, hear our prayer.

Merciful and mighty God, as you are one,

make us one with you through Jesus Christ,

whom you have sent to redeem us,

and in whose holy name we pray. Amen.

— 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:
To you, O God, we offer our lives—
our abundance, our poverty,
all that we have, all that we are—
a sign of our great thanksgiving
for the treasure of your grace.
Take and use us for good
in the world that you so love;
we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Mark 12:41–44

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 make your word plain to us:
calling the wicked to turn from evil,
calling the righteous to live by faith.

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 has come to seek and save the lost.
Today we rejoice, for by his presence here,
salvation has come to this house.

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.

Make us worthy of your calling,
growing in faith, growing in love,
and giving glory to you above all.

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:
Blessed are you, O Lord our God,
creator and ruler of the universe,
for you have satisfied our souls
with this feast of your grace.
Keep us faithful in your service
until your realm of glory comes;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

— Sending —

Hymn, Psalm, or Spiritual Song

 

Blessing and Charge

At the doors of the church:
The Lord bless and keep
your going out
and your coming in
from this time on
and forevermore. Alleluia!
Psalm 121:8

Proclaim the message,
be persistent in prayer,
do the work of the gospel,
and carry out the ministry
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:2, 5; Luke 18:1

Symbol of the Gospel of Luke

Stained Glass, Corning, Ohio

Additional Materials

Congregational Song

GATHERING

  • O Holy City, Seen of John (O) MORNING SONG GTG 374
  • How Blest, Those Whose Transgressions (P) MEIRIONYDD GTG 446
  • Will You Come and Follow Me (G) KELVINGROVE GTG 726

WORD

  • I Long for Your Commandments (P) WOHL DENEN, DIE DA WANDELN GTG 64
  • Longing for Light, We Wait in Darkness (O) CHRIST, BE OUR LIGHT GTG 314
  • Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying (E) CHILDREN PRAYING GTG 469

EUCHARIST

  • Draw Us in the Spirit’s Tether (E) UNION SEMINARY GTG 529
  • Lord, Who May Dwell within Your House (G) RIDGEMOOR GTG 419
  • Lord, Make Us More Holy (O) LORD, MAKE US MORE HOLY GTG 313

SENDING

  • God of Compassion (P) O QUANTA QUALIA GTG 436
  • My Faith Looks Up to Thee (O) OLIVET GTG 829
  • God of the Sparrow (G) ROEDER GTG 22

Psalms and Canticles

Psalm 119:137–144
Metrical

  • Lord, You Are Righteous Always [7.6.7.6 D]; PCW 119g
  • I Long for Your Commandments [WOHL DENEN, DIE DA WANDELN]; GTG 64
  • All Your Commandments, Father Almighty [KANCIONAL NEW]; PAS 119 O

Responsorial

  • Grant Me Understanding, That I May Live; PAS 119M
  • O Lord, You Have the Words of Life; PP 240
  • Let Me Sing of Your Law; PAS 119A

Psalm 32:1–7
Metrical

  • How Blest, Those Whose Transgressions (How Blest Are They Whose Trespass)[MEIRIONYDD, RUTHERFORD, ES FLOG EIN KLEINS WALDVÖGELEIN]; GTG 446, PAS 32A, LUYH 669, PH 184, SGP 51 (altered)
  • While I Keep Silence [SILENCE]; PAS 32C

Responsorial

  • You Are My Hiding Place; PAS 32B, LUYH 412
  • God Is Kind and Gracious [SCARBOROUGH FAIR]; PP 62

Organ Music

  • “LAUDES DOMINI,” Augsburg Organ Library: Summer, Robert Lind, AF (ME/M)
  • “SLANE,” Augsburg Fortress Organ Library: Lent II, David Lasky, AF (ME) 
  • “LAND OF REST,” Augsburg Organ Library: November, Richard Proulx, AF (ME)
  • “Air on Kelvingrove,” Oxford Hymn Settings for Organists: Epiphany, vol. 2, Matthew H. Corl, OUP (E)

Piano Music

  • “Steal Away to Jesus,” STEAL AWAY, Spiritual Reflections for Piano, John Carter, HOPE (MA)
  • “Will You Come and Follow Me,” KELVINGROVE, The Church Pianist’s Library, vol. 28, C. E. Walz, LOR (M)

Anthems for Adult Choirs

  • “Be Still My Soul,” Heather Sorenson, HAL, SATB, keybd, opt vc (ME)
  • “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love,” Lloyd Larson, HOPE, SATB, keybd (E)
  • “Be Silent,” Heather Sorenson, SHAW, SATB, keybd, opt vc (ME)
  • “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy,” Kathryn S. Bonner, LOR, SATB, keybd, hb (ME)
  • “Purify My Heart,” Patrick Tierney, HOPE, SATB, keybd (E)
  • “Rain Come Down,” Shawn Kirchner, SBMP, SATB, SSA, keybd, opt solos (M)

Vocal Solos

  • “Amazing Grace,” Songs for the Journey, Craig Courtney, BP, low/medium/high (MA)
  • “How Can I Keep from Singing?” Sing Praise, Alfred Fedak, MSM (E)
  • “What a Beautiful Name,” Ben Fielding and Brooke Ligertwood, musicnotes.com (M)

Art

  • Isaiah 1:17, Timothy Botts, 2016 (EYE)
  • Ani Ma’amin (I Believe), Dion Futerman, 2016 (VCS)
  • Zacchaeus Welcomes Jesus, JESUS MAFA, 1973 (VDL)
  • Zacchaeus, Cara B. Hochalter, 2019 (VDL)
  • Christ Calling Zacchaeus, Jacopo Palma Il Giovane, 1575 (VCS)