A Service For the Home
The following service order is intended for use in the home at a time when our congregation cannot gather. It may be lead by a family member, or if you live alone, you may use it by yourself, in which case, simply say all parts. Of course this is not intended to be a substitute for the Divine Service of the gathered church, but as a provision for household devotion and prayer. You may also use the service orders of Matins, Morning Prayer, Vespers, Evening Prayer, or Compline depending on the time of day. For a simple service order, see Daily Prayer (LSB p. 294ff) .
Leader: O Lord, open my lips.
Response: And my mouth will declare your praise.
L: Make haste, O God, to deliver me.
R: Make haste to help me, O Lord.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
L: Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy!
R: In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
L: Enter not into judgment with your servant,
R: for no one living is righteous before you.
L: I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done;
R: I ponder the work of your hands.
L: I stretch out my hands to you;
R: my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.
L: Teach me to do your will, for you are my God!
R: Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!
L: For your name’s sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
R: In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever. Amen.
L: Hear my prayer, O LORD; give ear to my pleas for mercy!
R: In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
L: Almighty and everliving God, You have given exceedingly great and precious promises to those who trust in You, dispel from us the works of darkness and grant us to live in the light of Your Son, Jesus Christ, that our faith may never be found wanting; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
R: Amen.
READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE
Zephaniah 1:7-10
Psalm 90:1-12 (antiphon v. 17)
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Matthew 25:14-30
L: These are the one comimg out of the great tribulation.
R: They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
L: Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
R: in whose heart are the highways to Zion.
HYMN #508 The Day Is Surely Drawing Near
SERMON – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The Apostles’ Creed (confessed all together)
THE PRAYERS
Gracious God our Father in heaven, Your Son Jesus Christ, is the coming Lord and King who comes to judge the living and the dead; living in the hope of His appearing and our own resurrection, we are bold to pray:
For your holy church scattered throughout the world, for our brothers and sisters in Christ who suffer persecution for the sake of the Gospel and for all who confess the name of Jesus; Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For our fellowship in the Missouri Synod, for those who watch over our teaching and life together, for Matthew, Michael, and Paul, and for all pastors and teachers in Christ, for our fellow congregations including Victory Lutheran Church – Chula Vista, CA (Rev. Timothy Gerdes), for the gathered and the scattered, for our missionaries including Tirzah Krey, for our schools and seminaries, and for our AfterSchool; Lord in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For the government and all in authority, for the president of the nation, for the governor of our state, our legislators and judges, and all in public service; for wise and faithful men and women who serve with honesty, integrity, and uprightness; Lord in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For our military and their families, for police, fire, and emergency workers, for medical workers and all who attend to our health, for those who risk their own lives and health in service of others; Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For mutual respect, harmony, cooperation, and peace among our people, for an increase of humility, kindness, gentleness, patience, self-discipline, and hope; Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For those stricken by pandemic, both known and unknown to us, have mercy, and bring your healing, comfort, and strength; for an end to this epidemic, that You would extend your healing upon the earth. Lord, in your mercy….
R: Hear our prayer
For the family of Lois Curley, our sister in Christ who now rests in Jesus, bring comfort, strength, and hope to all who mourn her death that all might grieve with hope in Christ; Lord, in your mercy….
R: Hear our prayer
For those who call upon you in their time of need: (everyone may speak the names of those for who they wish to pray); Lord, in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
For our recognition of the sanctity of all human life, for the unborn and the mothers who carry them including Kimmy, that mother and child would be protected through childbirth; for those who celebrate the sacred gift of life on their birthdays, for Charles; Lord in your mercy…
R: Hear our prayer
Into your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy, through your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.
R: Amen.
The Our Father (prayed together)
(Morning) I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
(Evening) I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
L: Let us bless the Lord.
R: Thanks be to God.
L: The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the +Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve us.
R: Amen.