This Slide Indicates Children’s Time

1 Come, ye thankful people, come;Raise the song of harvest home.All be safely gathered inEre the winter storms begin;God, our maker, doth provideFor our wants to be supplied.Come to God’s own temple, come;Raise the song of harvest home.

892 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

2 All the world is God’s own field,Fruit unto His praise to yield;Wheat and tares together sown,Unto joy or sorrow grown.First the blade and then the ear,Then the full corn shall appear.Lord of harvest, grant that weWholesome grain and pure may be.

892 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

3 For the Lord, our God, shall come

And shall take His harvest home,From His field shall in that dayAll offenses purge away,Give His angels charge at lastIn the fire the tares to cast,But the fruitful ears to storeIn His garner evermore.

892 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

4 Even so, Lord, quickly comeTo Thy final harvest home;Gather Thou Thy people in,Free from sorrow, free from sin,There, forever purified,In Thy garner to abide:Come with all Thine angels, come,Raise the glorious harvest home.

892 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

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Stand

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Opening Versicles

L The Lord Almighty grant us a quiet night and peace at the last.

C Amen.L It is good to give thanks to the Lord,C to sing praises to Your name, O

Most High;L to herald Your love in the morning,C Your truth at the close of the day.

Sit

Readings From Holy Scripture

Old Testament Reading

P The Old Testament Reading is from Proverbs, the thirty-first chapter.

10 An excellent wife who can find?She is far more precious than jewels.11The heart of her husband trusts in her,and he will have no lack of gain.12She does him good, and not harm,all the days of her life.13She seeks wool and flax,and works with willing hands.14She is like the ships of the merchant;she brings her food from afar.

Old Testament Reading

15She rises while it is yet nightand provides food for her householdand portions for her maidens.16She considers a field and buys it;with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.17She dresses herself with strengthand makes her arms strong.18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.Her lamp does not go out at night.19She puts her hands to the distaff,

Old Testament Reading

and her hands hold the spindle.20She opens her hand to the poorand reaches out her hands to the needy.21She is not afraid of snow for her household,for all her household are clothed in scarlet.22She makes bed coverings for herself;her clothing is fine linen and purple.23Her husband is known in the gateswhen he sits among the elders of the land.

Old Testament Reading

24She makes linen garments and sells them;she delivers sashes to the merchant.25Strength and dignity are her clothing,and she laughs at the time to come.26She opens her mouth with wisdom,and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.27She looks well to the ways of her householdand does not eat the bread of idleness.28Her children rise up and call her blessed;

Old Testament Reading

her husband also, and he praises her:29“Many women have done excellently,but you surpass them all.”30Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.31Give her of the fruit of her hands,and let her works praise her in the gates.P This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

ReadingL A reading from Philippians, the second

chapter.1So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5Have this mind

Readingamong yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in

Reading

heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.12Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.L This is the Word of the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

Stand

Catechism

The Second Commandment

You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. What does this mean?We should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.

Creed

First ArticleC I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

Second Article And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell.

Creed

The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

Creed

Third Article I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,and the life T everlasting. Amen.

CollectL Lord Jesus, in Your earthly ministry You were

loved and served by devoted women, including Mary and Martha in whose home You enjoyed rest and refreshment. Give us grace to recognize and affirm the varied and singular gifts You bestow on women (and especially upon [name of women’s organization]) that Your kingdom may be extended, Your Church enriched, and Your people lovingly served to the glory of Your holy name; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Lord's PrayerC Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in

heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we

forgive those who trespass against us;

and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the

power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Sit

Sermon

WivesIn the world, the ideal is an independent with economic

resources and political clout – a self-sufficient autonomous person

In the church, the ideal is a dependant person, subordinate and reliant upon others. We are now free from the

enslavement to social status/wealth/power.

1 Peter 2:16 “Live as free people, but don’t hide behind your freedom

when you do evil. Instead, use your freedom to serve God.”

Subordination does not establish a chain of command in which to exercise power…

Rather it promotes a chain of transmission…From the Triune God to his appointed agents for the

delivery of blessings in the church and world.Father – SonSon – Church

Husbands – WivesChristians – Christians

Christians – World

Receive Grace – Transmit Grace To Build up, not harm.

To heal, not wound

Sub-mission = part of the missionMissio is Latin for “send”

Husband and wife are sent together by God to deny themselves and take up their cross – an act of faith, trusting

in God above our own perceptions

This is a spiritual discipline exercised in everyday life can be daunting and difficult.

Submission requires a conflict of wills, otherwise there is simply common agreement.

Made possible by knowing that Christ is hidden within the vocation and that both husband/wife are submitting to His

will.

What the church and wife do…The church responds to what she receives with a tangible

action – Galatians 5:22-23

God works through the wife to spread His love, mercy and care.

Receiving goes hand in hand with living out the faith

Proverbs 31

What do we notice?

•She has other vocations•She works outside the home

•Her economic activity contributes to the well-being of the family (Proverbs 14:1)

Today is much more difficult to balance our schedules than in Solomon’s day – Industrial Revolution changed the way

we work and live

So…what are we to do when our different vocations pull us in different directions?Mother, wife, workplace…

All vocations involving loving and serving our neighborTherefore, the most urgent “calling” will be from the

neighbor with the greatest need and this will change as the days change.

This is not always clear cut and is never easy.Vocations are not isolated, they form a complex and

interlocking web of love and service.

LOVE SPILLS OVER

Offering

Stand

Prayer

P Gathered in the name of Jesus and assured of His promised presence, let us call on our heavenly Father for ourselves, for our brothers and sisters in Christ throughout the world, and for all people.

P Almighty God, we give thanks for all Your goodness and bless You for the love that sustains us from day to day. We praise You for the gift of Your Son, our Savior, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. We thank You for the Holy Spirit, the Comforter; for Your holy

PrayerChurch, for the Means of Grace, for the lives of

all faithful and just people, and for the hope of the life to come. Help us to treasure in our hearts all that You have done for us, and enable us to show our thankfulness in lives that are wholly given to Your service. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.P Grant Your wisdom and heavenly grace to

all pastors and to those who hold office in Your Church that, by their devoted service, faith may abound and Your kingdom increase. Lord, in Your mercy,

Prayer

C hear our prayer.P Send the light of Your truth into all the

earth. Raise up faithful servants of Christ to advance the Gospel both at home and in distant lands. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.P In Your mercy strengthen all newly

established congregations and support them in challenging times. Make them steadfast, abounding in the work of the Lord, and let their faith and zeal for the Gospel refresh and renew the witness of

Prayer

Your people everywhere. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.P Preserve our nation in justice and honor

that we may lead a peaceable life with integrity. Grant health and favor to all who bear office in our land, especially the president and congress of the United States, the governor and legislature of this state/commonwealth, and to all those who make, administer, and judge our laws. Help them to serve this people

Prayer

according to Your holy will. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.P Receive our grateful thanks for all who

have served our country in the armed forces over many years, putting themselves in harm's way to protect the citizens of our land. Help us to honor them for the sacrifices they have made. Lord, in Your mercy,

C Hear our prayer.

Prayer

P Sanctify our homes with Your presence, and bless them with joy. Keep our children in the covenant of their Baptism and enable their parents to bring them up in lives of faith and devotion. Unite the members of all families in a spirit of affection and service that they may show Your praise in our land and in all the world. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.P By Your Word and Holy Spirit comfort all

who are in sorrow or need, sickness or

Prayer

adversity [especially _______]. Be with those who suffer persecution for the faith. Have mercy on those to whom death draws near [especially _______]. Bring consolation to those in sorrow and grant to all a measure of Your love, taking them into Your tender care. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.P We remember with thanksgiving those

who have loved and served You in Your Church on earth and who now rest from

Prayer

their labors [especially _______]. Keep us in fellowship with all Your saints and bring us at last to the joys of Your heavenly kingdom. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.P All these things and whatever else You

know that we need, grant us, Father, for the sake of Him who died and rose again and now lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Collect of the Day

L Almighty and most gracious God and Father, we implore You to turn the hearts of all who have forsaken the faith once delivered to Your Church, especially those who have wandered from it or are in doubt through the corruption of Your truth. Mercifully visit and restore them that in gladness of heart they may take pleasure in Your Word and be made wise to salvation through faith in Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C Amen.

Evening Prayer

C I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

L Let us bless the Lord.C Thanks be to God.

P The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the T Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.

C Amen.