Worship and Devotions

Welcome visitors and old friends. Welcome regardless of belief, ethnic background, sexual orientation, gender, socio-economic status, marital status, age, abilities, or life situation. Welcome believers and doubters as well as doubting believers. Welcome to share the fullness of Christ's love for the world!(Adapted from The welcome message from the Thomas Community in Finland. "Celebrating milestone moments" by Rev. Jukka Joensuu. Canada Lutheran January/February 2024 Vol. 39 No. 1; chorus of ELW 523)

Sunday October 11, 2026

Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

In Isaiah we are given a vision of the great feast to come, when God will wipe away death forever. In Jesus’ parable about a great banquet, those invited do not come, so the invitation is extended to others. In our liturgy God spreads a table before us. Even amid anxiety and hardship we rejoice in the peace of God which surpasses all understanding. With great joy we feast at the table of the Lord, and we go forth to share the wonderful invitation with others hungering and thirsting for the abundant life of God.

Music

For the Beauty of the Earth

For the Beauty of the Earth (Tune: Dix - 4vv) [with lyrics for congregations] (youtube.com)

Prayer of the Day

Lord of the feast, you have prepared a table before all peoples and poured out your life with abundance. Call us again to your banquet. Strengthen us by what is honorable, just, and pure, and transform us into a people of righteousness and peace, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

Music

O God, Beyond All Praising

O God Beyond All Praising | Catholic Choir, Piano w/Lyrics | Proulx/Holst/Thaxted | Sunday 7pm Choir

Readings

Semicontinuous Readings

Exodus 32:1-14; Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23; Philippians 4:1-9

Gospel - Matthew 22:1-14

Alternate Readings

Isaiah 25:1-9; Psalm 23

Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14

Glory to you, O Lord.

Jesus tells a parable indicating that the blessings of God’s kingdom are available to all, but the invitation is not to be taken lightly.

1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad, so the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Music

Lift Up Your Heads

Lift Up Your Heads (ACS Accompaniment Edition) - ACS 1032 - YouTube

Prayers of Intercession

Seeking the Spirit of God who makes all things new, we pray for the church and the world.

A brief silence.

Holy God, we remember your promise of unity on your holy mountain. Empower the World Council of Churches and all those working across religious difference, that the world may know your undivided love. Grant wisdom, courage, and imagination to all of us and our leaders, lay and ordained. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We give you thanks for abundant harvests and the many gifts of your good creation. Make us faithful caretakers of land, water, soil and air, that all life might flourish. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We give thanks for local and global peace efforts. Uplift the voices of First Nation communities and theologians, and further the work of truth-telling and reparations in solidarity with our First Nation siblings. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We give thanks for ministries working to end food and housing insecurity. Open our hearts to your abundance and our minds to new ways of sharing that abundance for the good of all. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We ask you to be with all the candidates in the upcoming municipal elections and the upcoming provincial election. Grant those who vote wisdom and move them to get out and vote. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We remember your promise to wipe away every tear. Heal and console all who are sick, suffering or in mourning. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Here other intercessions may be offered.

We remember your promise to swallow up death forever. W give thanks for those who have gone before us. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Trusting in your boundless grace, O God, we lift up these prayers and those in our hearts, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Music

We Praise You, O God ELW 870

We Praise You, O God [Video Score]

Let All Things Now Living ELW 881

Let All Things Now Living (Michael Card) - MVL - roncobb1 - YouTube