I believe in God the Father Almighty,
Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ,
His only Son our Lod, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell; the third day He rose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;
from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy universal church,
the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.


response reading 68. Isaiah 40 (1)
PRES: A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the LORD
CONG: make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.
PRES: Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low;
CONG: the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain.
PRES: And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it.
CONG: For the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
PRES: A voice says, "Cry out." And I said, "What shall I cry?"
CONG: "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field.
PRES: The grass withers and the flowers fall, because the breath of the LORD blows on them. Surely the people are grass.
CONG: The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.


hymnal 180
1 When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
2 On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of his resurrection share;
When his chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
3 Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all his wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder,
When the roll is called up yonder, I'll be there.


hymnal 633
Take these gifts, take these gifts, O our God:
All we have, all we have comes from you.
With our voices raised in thanks, Lord, we give to you.Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,
2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.
8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.


Hymnal 179
1 O turn ye, O turn ye, for why will ye die? When God, in great mercy, is coming so nigh?
Now Jesus invites you, the Spirit says Come! And angels are waitingi to welcome you home.
2 And now Christ is ready your souls to receive, O how can you question, if you will believe?
If sin is your burden, why will you not come? 'Tis you He makes welcome, He bids you come home.
3 In riches, in pleasures, what can you obtain, to soothe your affliction, or banish your pain?
To bear up your spirit when summon'd to die, or waft you to mansions of glory on high?
4 Why will you be starving, and feeding on air? Thiere's mercy in Jesus, enough and to spare!
If still you are doubting, make trial and see, and prove that His mercy is boundless and free?