Propers Plus for All Saints Day

ALL SAINTS’ DAY

(observed)

Divine Service Setting One – Page 151

As we Gather: “Sing with all the saints in glory, Sing the resurrection song!” is a wonderful theme for the observance of All Saints’ Day. We here in the Church Militant continue to fight the good fight of faith yet we rejoice that in the Church Triumphant those who have gone before now rest from their struggle with sin and enjoy being with Christ in Paradise. “Life eternal! Heav’n rejoices: Jesus lives who once was dead” are words to sustain us through our earthly pilgrimage.

Processional Hymn:

“Sing With All the Saints in Glory”  LSB 671

(Note: This hymn by William J. Irons was sung at the funeral of President Ronald Reagan. In Lutheran Service Book this hymn is set to the tune Mississippi composed by Dr. William Bradley Roberts, Director of Music Ministry at St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C..)

Introit

These are the ones coming out of the great tribu- | lation.*

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood | of the Lamb.

In you, O LORD, do I take refuge; let me never be | put to shame;*

in your righteousness de- | liver me.

For you are my rock and my | fortress;*

and for your name’s sake you lead me and | guide me.

Into your hand I commit my | spirit;*

you have redeemed me, O LORD, | faithful God.

Glory be to the Father and | to the Son*

and to the Holy | Spirit;

as it was in the be- | ginning,*

is now, and will be forever. | Amen.

These are the ones coming out of the great tribu- | lation.*

They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood | of the Lamb.

Rev. 7:14; Ps. 25:20; Ps. 31:3

Collect of the Day

Almighty and everlasting God, You knit together Your faithful people of all times and places into one holy communion, the mystical body of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Grant us so to follow Your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living that, together with them, we may come to the unspeakable joys You have prepared for those who love You; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Reading from the Book of Concord –

Augsburg Confession Article XXI – Worship of the Saints

Our churches teach that the history of saints may be set before us so that we may follow the example of their faith and good works, according to our calling. For example the emperor may follow the example of David [2 Samuel] in making war to drive away the Turk from his country. For both are kings. But the Scriptures do not teach that we are to call on the saints or to ask the saints for help. Scripture sets before us the one Christ as the Mediator, Atoning Sacrifice, High Priest, and Intercessor [I Timothy 2:5-6]. He is to be prayed to, He has promised that He will hear our prayer [John 14:13]. This is the worship that He approves above all other worship, that He be called upon in all afflictions “If anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father” (1 John 2:1).

First Reading Revelation 7:9–17

⁹After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” ¹¹And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹²saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

¹³Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” ¹⁴I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

¹⁵“Therefore they are before the throne of God,

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.

¹⁶They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;

the sun shall not strike them,

nor any scorching heat.

¹⁷For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd,

and he will guide them to springs of living water,

and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Epistle Lesson 1 John 3:1–3

¹See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. ³And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Holy Gospel Matthew 5:1–12

¹Seeing the crowds, [Jesus] went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him.

²And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

³“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

⁵“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

⁶“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

⁷“Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

⁸“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

⁹“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

¹⁰“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. ¹²Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Hymn “Oh, How Blest Are They” LSB 679

Hymn ~ “Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones” LSB 670