24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
24TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST
11-08-2026 10:00AM Worship (in person and online)
+ We Rejoice in the Spirit +
THE OPENING RITE:
L The day of the Lord is near.
C Any time is God’s time!
L The day of the Lord is coming.
C We want to be ready at all times!
L This might be the very day and hour of the Lord’s coming.
C We will not fear as those who have no hope! We will be prepared!
L But the truth is that sometimes we are wise and sometimes foolish, sometimes watchful and sometimes careless,
sometimes ready and sometimes unprepared. And so we confess as individuals and as a congregation…
C O Lord, you know our failings better than we do; our sins are revealed in the light of your face.
We are not always the faithful servants you expect us to be or the committed Christians we pretend to be. Our days and years pass by; the things we trust in fade like grass.
Often we miss the moments you offer us –
those moments meant to bless, assure, and strengthen us…
those moments for our faithful witness or our loving service.
Before it is too late, we pray for your forgiveness.
While there is still time, we beg for a second chance. Have mercy on us, Lord! Amen.
L The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord will stand forever. Through the living Word, (+) Jesus
Christ, God forgives your every debt, your every sin, all your failings and missed moments… and gives you a new heart
and a new spirit. So take the grace now, live the grace now, follow Christ now, believe now, allow your life to change for
the better now, serve God now. O my sisters and brothers, turn to God. He will not turn away from you! Hallelujah!
OPENING SONG: “LEANING ON THE EVERLASTING ARMS” Brown #220
PRAYER OF THE DAY (together):
Almighty God, you have created your people to be the Body of Christ here on earth.
Give us the light that we need, and awaken us to the needs of others, that we may be worthy of your trust.
We want to be ready when the trumpet sounds, when the saints go marching in. Amen.
+ We Receive God’s Saving Word +
FIRST READING: AMOS 5:18-24
[The DAY OF THE LORD – Wonderful worship, no matter how sincere, will never be a worthy substitute for daily lives of justice and
righteousness in service to God.]
SECOND READING: 1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18
[The DAY OF THE LORD – The faithful who have already died and the faithful who are still alive will all be saved and will dwell with
Christ forever.]
GOSPEL VERSE: “Victory is mine, victory is mine, victory today is mine!
I TOLD SATAN ‘GET THEE BEHIND!’… victory today is mine!
(2) Joy is mine…
(3) Peace is mine…”
HOLY GOSPEL: MATTHEW 25:1-13
[The DAY OF THE LORD – Will you be ready for judgment or ready for resurrection? Don’t wait “too long” and risk “too late”!]
SONG SELECTION ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE SERMON: Pastor Neil or Pastor Gwen
SONG RESPONSE: “IT’S ABOUT TIME FOR HIS COMING”
(1) It’s about time for His coming, it’s about time for His coming,
It’s about time for His coming, the coming of the Lord.
It’s about time for His coming, it’s about time for His coming,
It’s about time for His coming, the coming of the Lord!
(2) It’s about time, are you ready? …
(3) It’s about time, yes I’m ready! …
THE APOSTLES’ CREED (together):
I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
THE PRAYERS… We pray for NEW LIFE in the Spirit and the MISSION of the Church to the world!
+ We Share God’s Holy Meal +
THE PEACE GREETING… We offer words and signs of GOD’S LOVE alive and real among us!
OFFERING OF TITHES (10%) AND GIFTS… Have a love for justice and practice generosity!
In the Sanctuary, place your offering in the offering plate or scan the QR code on the screen.
At home, mail a check or money order to St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2169 74th Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19138 or scan the QR code on the screen. You can also contribute online through bit.ly/stpetersgiving and set up a one-time donation or a recurring weekly gift to the categories you select. Or you can text Give+ at 833-914-0896 and follow the instructions for your contribution. Thank God, praise God, and serve God with your faithful giving.
SONG SELECTION: ALL SAINTS CHOIR
THE OFFERTORY SONG: “Thank you, Lord… thank you, Lord… thank you, Lord… I just want to thank you, Lord!
(2) Been so good…
(3) Love you, Lord…”
OFFERING PRAYER led by the Communion Assistant:
God of grace and glory, we thank you for the gift of creation and the gift of our lives,
for the gift of salvation and the gift of Jesus Christ,
for the gift of your Holy Spirit and the gift of your Church.
Take our attitude of gratitude and transform it into caring and sharing towards the least, the lost,
and the lonely all over the face of this earth.
Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everflowing stream. Amen.
THE PREFACE:
L The Lord be with you. C And also with you.
L Lift up your hearts! C We lift them up in love for God!
L Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. C It is right to give God our thanks and praise.
L Almighty God, today we celebrate Christ’s coming among us in the word of life and the feast of victory.
Today we want to humble ourselves, repent, and be grateful for the gift of God’s saving grace.
Today we pray to do our best to serve Christ in faith, hope, and love.
And today we add our voices with all the faithful of every time and place in singing…
C [singing]… (1) “O when the saints go marching in… O when the saints go marching in…
O Lord, I want to be in that number – when the saints go marching in!
(2) O when they gather ‘round that throne…
(3) O when they crown him King of kings…
(4) And on that hallelujah day…”
THE EUCHARISTIC WORDS by the Celebrant, who recalls and re-enacts Jesus’ Holy Meal.
THE LORD’S PRAYER (spoken)
COMMUNION AND BLESSINGS… All believers in Christ are welcome at the Lord’s Table! You may come up by the center aisle and kneel or stand at the altar. Get an empty glass as you come forward if you want wine from the chalice. We will also have a tray of pre-poured glasses of grape juice at the altar. You may return to your seats by the side aisles. If you cannot physically come to the altar but want to receive Holy Communion, please tell one of our ushers.
COMMUNION SONG: “COME, LET US EAT” Brown #119
COMMUNION SONG: “I WANT TO BE READY” Brown #41
THE COMMUNION BLESSING by the Celebrant after all have communed.
POST-COMMUNION PRAYER by the Communion Assistant.
+ We Rejoice in Our Mission +
THE BENEDICTION by the Pastor…We are sent forth to be and become the BODY OF CHRIST for the world!
CLOSING SONG: “WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE SERVE” Brown #295
PENTECOST 24 11-08-2026
One of two things is surely bound to happen.
The Lord Jesus will return in your lifetime to judge the world.
Or you will die – complete your life’s journey on earth – and go to meet Jesus.
Either way, you have an appointment sometime in the future.
And no one knows the day nor the hour.
In this parable Jesus told, the real problem is not falling asleep. We all do sometime.
The problem is running out of oil. If you don’t have oil, you don’t have fire.
If you don’t have oil, you don’t have light.
Do you have the fire, my sister? Are you shining your light, my brother?
Are you living wisely or are you living foolishly?
We want to be ready when the trumpet sounds, when the saints go marching in.
Don’t wait until the midnight hour to try to get ready, because your life might end at 11:55!
TODAY
9:00AM All Saints Choir warm-up.
10:00AM + PENTECOST SEASON WORSHIP + (in person and online)
12:30PM From the Throne Ministries worship in Knapp Chapel (rental).
We invite you to share in our new life together –
LOVE, NOT HATE. PEACE, NOT VIOLENCE.
MERCY, NOT GREED. JUSTICE, NOT ABUSE.
HUMILITY, NOT ARROGANCE. GOD’S TRUTH, NOT LIES. THE WAY OF JESUS, NOT JUST “MY WAY”.
Let justice roll and righteousness flow.
Beyond support of our 2025 Budget ($187,927.00 is what we envision spending this year) are various special opportunities for giving on behalf of others. They include:
ELCA World Hunger Appeal (meeting international, national, and local hunger and poverty needs);
$2,536.00 received to date in 2026. Your spirit of love is on the shine!
Lutheran Charities Appeal (assisting three local social ministry organizations – KenCrest Services, Lutheran
Settlement House, and Gemma Services – that serve thousands of neighbors with various needs);
$15 last week and $1,224.00 received to date in 2026. Your compassion is showing!
Mission Offering (For July – December we have selected Pure Heart Mission, a grassroots neighborhood
charitable organization begun by resident Lamar Glover; $20 last week $305.00 received to date. .
And our January 1 –June 30 Mission Offering was Sisters of St. Joseph’s Refugee Housing Project. We received $512.00. Giving is a blessing both ways!
“God’s Global Barnyard” (an ELCA development project that involves sending chickens, goats, cows, and
Other animals and item somewhere in the world to overcome poverty. $20 to date.
Lutheran Disaster Response and Lutheran World Relief: $225 to date,
BOILER BLUES! We had some sort of boiler “catastrophe” on October 18, and our boiler is currently not working. We are still investigating and have not yet come to a “repair or replace” decision. Please be aware that this process could take a few weeks or more. Depending on the weather temperature, we may be in a chilly sanctuary on a Sunday or worship downstairs in Rhoda Hall (which has some electric heat). We are grateful for the warm sunshine, we are grateful for expertise and advice we have received in this process, and we are grateful that it takes more than a broken boiler to stop the good news of Jesus from warming hearts.
ThiS week At st. peTer’s
Monday, 6:00PM Oak Lane Wildcat cheerleaders in Rhoda Hall.
Monday, 7:00PM. CHURCH COUNCIL meeting (Zoom).
Tuesday, 7:00PM Area Girl Scout leaders in Rhoda Hall.
Tuesday, 7:30PM A.A. 12-STEP PROGRAM. Take advantage of a second chance at being alive and sober!
Wednesday, 10:30AM Senior Ministry “Games and Social Activity”. Celebrate life and friendship!
Thursday, 6:00PM Oak Lane Wildcat cheerleaders in Rhoda Hall.
Thursday, 7:30PM AL-ANON STEP GROUP. Find and share support to overcome codependence!
Friday, 6:30PM Girl Scout troops.
Saturday, 11:00AM Women’s Ministry “Gathering”. Continue to be “Clothed in the Word”!
Saturday, 3:00PM Rhoda Hall rental event.
What’s Happening…
November 15… PENTECOST 25. Worship at 10:00AM (in person and online).
November 17… LOVE Revolution Team meeting on Zoom at 7:00PM.
November 18… Scholarship Committee meeting on Zoom, 7:00PM.
November 21… All Saints Choir rehearsal, 2:00PM.
November 21… Briar Road A.A. Anniversary in Rhoda Hall, 7:00PM.
November 22… CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY. .
November 24… “Feast Incarnate” meal delivered to University Incarnation in West Philadelphia, 5:00PM.
Volunteers are needed to help prepare the meal and transport..
November 26… DAY OF THANKSGIVING. Give thanks, live thanks, share love.
November 28… Rental event in Rhoda Hall, 1:00PM.