Church Bulletin Nov 8th, 2026
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 24th Sunday after Pentecost November 8, 2026
WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
BRIEF ORDER FOR CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS ELW p. 94
Please stand
GATHERING We are Called ELW 720
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.
KYRIE ELW p.147
PRAYER OF THE DAY
L: Almighty God, heavenly Father, your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only your wrath, you open your hand and give us all things needful for this life and salvation. Sustain us with your Holy Spirit that we may watch for the coming of your Son and be ready to greet Him with joy when He comes in His glory; through 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
Amos 5:18-24
RESPONSIVE READING Psalm 70
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Please stand
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION ELW Setting 4 p.151
Holy Gospel- Matthew 25:1-13
Please be seated
SERMON
HYMN OF THE DAY Wake, Awake, for Night is Flying ELW 436
Please stand
APOSTLES CREED ELW p. 105
THE PRAYERS
L: Welcoming God’s reign of righteousness and mercy, let us pray
with people of every time and place.
(A brief silence is kept for personal reflection.)
L: Awaken your church to be ready to respond when Christ meets us in the cries of those in need. We lift up the church’s mission of care through Lutheran World Relief and other agencies. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: We give thanks for natural resources like oil, coal, trees, sun,
water and wind. Help us to use them wisely. Lord, in your
mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Answer the cries of your people in nations caught in war and
destruction. Hold in your care veterans and their families. Ease
the burden of tough memories and bring restoration and
wholeness. Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Shine your merciful and healing light on the despairing places
of our minds and souls. Bring hope in the midst of danger. depression, and illness. We especially pray for … , and others we name before you…(brief silence). Lord, in your mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
L: Bless those who prepare for marriage or who have been
married in this place. Strengthen all bonds of friendship and
relationship in our community. Give us joy in life together. Lord, in our mercy,
C: Hear our prayer.
P: Receive these prayers and the hopes and concerns of our hearts, O God, as we entrust into your loving care all for whom we pray, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
C: Amen.
Please be seated
OFFERING
Please stand
OFFERTORY PRAYER
P: Merciful Father,
C: we offer with joy and thanksgiving what you have first given us—our selves, our time, and our possessions, signs of your gracious love. Receive these gifts for the work of your church, and sustain us by your Spirit as we wait for the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION Setting 4 ELW p. 152
CHOIR ANTHEM This, Do, In Remembrance of Me
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. We thank you, generous God, for the refreshment we have received at your banquet table. Keep us awake and watchful, always ready to welcome your coming presence, and strengthen us to share your love and work for your justice in all the world; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
C: Amen
P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you. The Lord look upon you with favor and ✝ give you peace.
C: Amen.
L: Go in peace. Share the good news."
C: Thanks be to God.
PARTING HYMN Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers ELW 244
POSTLUDE
ANNOUNCEMENTS
ALTAR FLOWERS are given to the Glory of God by the Alersmeyer family.
TODAY’S SERVERS
Organist: Iris Ji
Liturist:
Altar Guild: Heidi Rudolph, Holly Webb
Ushers: Vicki & Todd Campbell
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
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Deborah-Esther Circle next meets this Tuesday, Nov. 10 in Bethany Hall 12n-2:30pm. Bring your lunch. Dessert and Beverage provided. We will be making Christmas placemats for our neighbors at Cedar Creek Assisted Living. Bring paper cutting scissors (fancy craft scissors too, if you want). We welcome old Christmas card donations.
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.
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.
UPCOMING EVENTS/OPPORTUNITIES
Operation Christmas Child Once again this year it's time to start collecting items and packing shoeboxes to be sent by Samaritans Purse to third world countries. The collection of items will begin on Sunday, October 25th and continue until the packing event on November 15th. Everyone is welcome to help pack shoeboxes after the service on November 15th. Please see the display table in the Bethany Room for more information. Any questions can be directed to Todd or Vicki Campbell.
November 22-Milestone Sunday
November 29-Hanging of the Greens
PLEASE KEEP IN YOUR PRAYERS: Family of Lois Gardt, Garland Skinner, 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.)
