Bulletin 11.15.26
St. Matthew's Lutheran Church
2305 Goshen Road, Fort Wayne, IN 46808
Telephone: (260) 483-9312
Email: office@stmatthewslutheran.com
Website: http://www.stmatthewsfw.org
Ministers: The People Pastor: Dale Henderson
Music Director: Tracy Meihls Sexton: Brock Snyder 25th Sunday after Pentecost November 15, 2026
Pastor Williamson will be the guest pastor and the setting for this Sunday is from WOV, Setting V (Bread of Life).
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS WOV p. 10
(Blue Hymnal)
Please stand
GATHERING O Master, Let Me Walk with You ELW 818
All vs.1,2,4
Choir only v. 3
GREETING
P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: Let us pray. Almighty and ever-living 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, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Please be seated
THE READINGS
First Reading: Zephaniah 1:7, 12-18
Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
Please stand
Holy Gospel: Matthew 25:14-30
Please be seated
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY Take My Life and Let it Be ELW 685
Please stand
APOSTLES CREED ELW p. 105
THE PRAYERS
L: Let us pray for the whole Church of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
(A brief silence is kept for personal reflection.)
L: Heavenly Father, grant all your baptized people to live holy lives in this age, looking forward with eagerness to your Son’s joyous return and seeking only to be found in Him on that glorious day. Lord, in your mercy
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Gracious Lord, though we do not know the day or hour of your Son’s appearing, grant that we would always be prepared by sending us faithful pastors and teachers who will boldly proclaim your Word of Law and Gospel to us, that we may be constantly encouraged and built up in the faith. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Father in heaven, you have made us children of the light and of the day. Bless our homes, especially parents as they teach their children your ways, that your people may walk as those armored in faith, love and salvation. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: King of kings, preserve all in authority from violence and fraud, corruption and cowardice. Endow them with courage, integrity and wisdom to preserve peace and govern according to Your will. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Almighty God, give ear to our pleas on behalf of the afflicted, especially, …, and others we name before you…(brief silence). For your name’s sake, preserve their life and grant them healing according to your will. In your righteousness, strengthen their faith through all trials and bring their souls out of trouble. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Loving Father, until your Son returns in glory, He gives us his body and blood to sustain us. Grant that all who receive this gift today may receive it in faith, trusting that it is given for the forgiveness of their sins and life everlasting. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Source of all life, receive our praise for those who have died trusting in Christ Jesus. Give us our portion with the saints in light, and bring us all to the day of resurrection joy. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Graciously receive our prayers, deliver and preserve us, for to you alone we give all glory, honor and worship, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.
Please be seated
OFFERING
Please stand
OFFERTORY PRAYER
P: Let us pray. Blessed are you,
C: maker of all things. Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts. With them we offer ourselves to your service and dedicate our lives to the care and redemption of all that you have made, for the sake of him who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION Bread of Life WOV p. 36
CHOIR ANTHEM I am the Bread of Life
POST COMMUNION
P: The body of our Lord Jesus Christ and his most precious blood strengthen and preserve you in true faith, unto life everlasting.
C: Amen.
L: Let us pray. Almighty God, you provide the true bread from
Heaven, your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant that we who
have received the Sacrament of his body and blood may abide
in him and he in us, that we may be filled with the power of his
endless life, now and forever,
C: Amen
P: Almighty God, Father, ✝ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now
and forever.
C: Amen.
L: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
PARTING HYMN This Little Light of Mine ELW 677 POSTLUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALTAR FLOWERS are given in honor of Tim Kiefer’s birthday.
TODAY’S SERVERS
Organist: Nicole Busarow
Liturist: Max Meyer
Altar Guild: Heidi Rudolph, Holly Webb
Ushers: Stephannie & Brady Edwards
FRIENDSHIP PADS & COMMUNION
Welcome! We are so glad you are worshiping with us today. Please take a moment to complete the Friendship Pad located at the end of your pew. If you are participating in Holy Communion today, please be sure to mark that on the pad as well. Thank you for helping us stay connected!
NOVEMBER NOISY OFFERING Lutheran Military Veterans
UPCOMING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES
TODAY! Join us after the service to pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child! Any questions can be directed to Todd or Vicki Campbell.
November 22-Milestone Sunday
November 29-Hanging of the Greens
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Thankoffering- The daily practice of giving thanks to God for blessings received is at the heart of our lives as women of faith. Many women save small amounts of money at home throughout the year and then bring their gifts together with those of other women.St Matthew's Women's Ministry will hold our Thankoffering service on Dec. 6. Extra Thankoffering containers are on the donut table in Bethany Hall.
St. Matthew's Women's Ministry Annual Christmas Luncheon will be held Tue, Dec 8 in Bethany Hall starting at 12 noon. Menu is Lee's chicken pot pies and Christmas cookies. Jingle Jingle (Christmas bingo) will be played; bring a wrapped prize gift ($5-10 value). ALL women of St. Matthew's are invited to attend, even if you do not usually attend the monthly Deborah-Esther Circle meetings. Sign up by Sun, Dec 6 using the sheet on the bulletin board and pay $7.50 to Debbie Sorg or Judy Meyer.
Mission Project Our church's mission project of assembling personal care kits and flood/cleaning buckets for NALC Disaster Response will take place in late January with assembly after worship on Sun, February 14. In addition to upcycling your empty 35 pound cat litter buckets, we can also upcycle larger shipping boxes you may receive
from online shopping. These boxes are needed to pack the personal care kits, usually 4-6 kits per box. Watch for more project details later this year. Please reach out to Debbie Sorg if you have questions.
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Candy Wellman, Ellen Campbell, Dan Sobieski (Deb Kiefer’s Brother), Josh Merrill (Friend of Ian Webb involved in a farming accident), and our homebound members.(Names normally remain on the prayer list for 6 weeks.)
