Please take some time to write down the names, on the available Saint cards, of the dearly departed Saints in your life who taught you the faith by their lives well-lived, by their words well-spoken, and their encouragement well-placed—in you.
The names on the cards will be read aloud during the distribution of communion creating for us “a great cloud of witnesses.”
Prelude “More Love to Thee, O Christ” with “Nearer, My God, to Thee” W.H. Doane, Lowell Mason Arranged by Joshua Evanovich
Welcome and Announcements
Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who redeems us in Christ Jesus, whose steadfast love endures forever.
Amen.
*Dialogue for All Saints
Praise the Lord, all you saints! Praise him all you heavenly hosts!
Let us praise the name of the Lord: For his name only is exalted!
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: Isaiah, Jeremiah and all you Patriarchs and Prophets!
Miriam, Ruth and Naomi: Elizabeth, Mary and all you Holy Women!
Matthew, Mark and Luke: James and John and all you Evangelists and Apostles!
Stephen, Thomas, Peter and Paul: Philip, Bartholomew and all you Holy Martyrs!
Praise the Lord! O praise the name of the Lord!
These are the saints whose robes are washed white in the blood of the Lamb. Praise the Lord!
We are the saints who are the living body of Christ, the Church.
Praise the Lord! O praise the name of the Lord!
*Time of Remembrance
We pray for those from this communion who have gone to their heavenly home this past year: O God, the generations rise and pass away before you. You are the strength of those who labor; you are the rest of the blessed dead. We rejoice in the company of your saints. We remember all who have lived in faith, all who have peacefully died, and especially those most dear to us who rest in you, whose names we remember before you now.
John Glenn Pew
Give us in time our portion with those who have trusted in you and have striven to do your holy will. To your name, with the Church on earth and the Church in heaven, we ascribe all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen.
*Opening Hymn For All the Saints v1-3
Verse 3:
Oh, blest communion, fellowship divine,
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
Yet all are one in thee, for all are thing.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
*Prayer of the Day
Almighty God, you have knit your people together in one communion in the mystical body of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Grant us grace to follow your blessed saints in lives of faith and commitment, and to know the inexpressible joys you have prepared for those who love you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
First Reading: Revelation 7:9-17
In the sequence of the visions of John of Patmos, four angels are commanded to prevent from all harm God’s servants who are marked with a seal. The number of those sealed comes to 144,000: 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel. A numberless host from the nations now supplements the 144,000, all of whom shout out with the heavenly court to praise the one seated on the throne as well as the Lamb. Clothed in white robes, they are drawn close to the throne and its shelter, having purified themselves in the blood of the Lamb.
After this I saw, and look—a massive throng that no one could number, from every nation: clans, peoples, and tongues, clothed in white robes and with palm branches in their hands. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb and cried in a great voice:
Rescue belongs to our God, to the one seated upon the throne and to the Lamb. All the attendants stood around the throne, as well as the elders and the four living animals, and they prostrated before the throne and worshipped God: Amen. Blessing and glory and wisdom
and thanksgiving and honor and power and strength belong to our God forever. Amen. One of the elders asked me, “Who are those clothed in white robes, and where do they come from?” I replied, “My Master, you know.” The elder said to me: They come from the great tribulation; they washed their robes and whitened them in the blood of the Lamb. For this reason they are before God’s throne and serve day and night in God’s temple. And the one who sits upon the throne will be a shelter over them; they will neither hunger nor thirst,
neither sun nor any burning will fall on them, because the Lamb in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and guide them to fountains of living water. God shall wipe every tear from their eyes.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
A Living Psalm of Praise
“Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major IV Sarabande” J.S. Bach Performed by Lilith Holtz
In honor of Grace Holtz, performed at her memorial service August 1, 2026
The Epistle Lesson 1 John 3:1-3
Becoming God’s Children
The First Letter of John shares with John’s Gospel an attitude toward the world as a self-perpetuating mentality that attempts to do without God. In this reading, God’s love is presented as the antidote to that false sense of security, because it makes the connection to God direct, as “children” to their Father. The concept of Israel as God’s children is fundamental within the Hebrew Bible, in books like Exodus and Deuteronomy, and is pivotal within this passage.
Look at the sort of love the Father has given us: we can be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it has not known God. Beloved, now we are God’s children, and it has not yet been disclosed what we shall be. We know that when it is disclosed we shall be similar to him, because we shall see him just as he is. And everyone who has this hope in him self-purifies, just as that one is pure.
Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
*Gospel Acclamation
They are before the | throne of God,* and the one who is seated on the throne will | shelter them. (Rev. 7:15)
*Gospel Matthew 5:1-12 Glory to you O Lord
Among the Gospels, only Matthew depicts Jesus as teaching from a mountain to announce God’s solace for people who are righteous. The righteous are among the crowds beneath him, and he assures them, even if they experience hardship, that God favors them. The Latin translation of the Greek term “favored” is beati (bay-ah’-tee), a usage which has resulted in calling this opening section of the Sermon on the Mount the Beatitudes. This reading identifies Jews in Jesus’ time with the prophets of ancient Israel. Jesus makes the additional point that the prophets’ willingness to confront adversity is a model for the resistance that Jesus’ own followers may later encounter.
He saw the crowds and went up into the mountain, and when he had sat down his committed students came forward. He opened his mouth and taught them: The poor in spirit are favored, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven; Mourners are favored, because they will be strengthened; The gentle are favored, because they will inherit the earth; Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness are favored, because they will be satisfied; The merciful are favored, because they will receive mercy; The pure in heart are favored, because they will see God; The peacemakers are favored, because they will be called God’s sons; Those persecuted on account of righteousness are favored, because theirs is the kingdom of heaven;
You are favored when they revile you and persecute you and say every evil against you, lying, on my account. Rejoice and celebrate!—because your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets before you.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon Pastor Kurt Christenson
*Hymn of the Day Jerusalem My Happy Home
*Prayers of Intercession
Response to each petition:
Merciful God, receive our prayer.
*Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.
*Exchange of Peace
We are fellow-citizens with the saints and of the household of God, through Christ our Lord, who came and preached peace to those who were far off and those who were near. Ephesians 2.17,19
The Peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you.
Offering
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Offering Music “Rest in Peace”
Text: Fred Pratt Green Music: Russel Schulz-Widmar
*Offering Prayer
Holy God, the earth is yours and everything in it, yet you have chosen to dwell among your creatures. Come among us now in these gifts of bread and wine, and strengthen us to be your body for the world through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
*The Great Thanksgiving
*Preface
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. By the witness of your saints you show us the hope of our calling and strengthen us to run the race set before us, that we may delight in your mercy and rejoice with them in glory. And so, with all the saints, with the choirs of angels and all the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
*Sanctus
*Eucharistic Prayer of the Saints
Holy are you, O Lord, and great is your majesty. All the saints in heaven and on earth sing their praise of your eternal glory.…Do this for the remembrance of me. In heaven and on earth, O God, the saints and angels unite around your holy altar to proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died! Christ is risen! Christ will come again!
We remember and hold fast to Christ's examples of faith and life as the saints before us have done…as together we lift our voices to you, O God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in eternal glory, now and forever. Amen.
*The Lord’s Prayer
Lord, remember us in your Kingdom and teach us to pray:
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen.
Agnus Dei
We Commune in the Company of the Saints
The names of the faithful departed are read aloud and become for us the Great Cloud of Witnesses
*Communion Blessing and Prayer
Now may the body and blood of our Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ strengthen and keep you in his grace. Amen.
We thank you, generous God, for the refreshment we have received at your banquet table. Send us now to spread your generosity into all the world, through the one who is our dearest treasure, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
*Sending Hymn “For All the Saints” Verses 5-7
5 The golden evening brightens in the west;
soon, soon to faithful servants cometh rest;
sweet is the calm of paradise the blest.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
6 But then there breaks a yet more glorious day:
the saints triumphant rise in bright array;
the King of glory passes on his way.
Alleluia! Alleluia!
7 From earth's wide bounds, from ocean's farthest coast,
through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
singing to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia! Alleluia!
*Blessing & Dismissal
Go out confident that your lives are safe in God. Keep your hands clean and your hearts pure. Do not act falsely and do not swear deceitfully. Trust in the Lord, even in the face of death, and follow in the footsteps of all God’s saints. And may God keep a protective eye on you; May Christ Jesus show you his grace and mercy; and may the Holy Spirit give you a vision of the life of the world made new.
Go in peace. Love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Postlude “In Paradism” Gabriel Fauré
