We give thanks for all who are serving in worship today:

Leslie Garrett Woodward 84

Alumni Choir
Acolyte

Lauren Allen-Wood 16

William Voss

Lynn G. Atkins (Director)

Robert Beard 65

Pianist
Ann Renee Garrett Bell 78
Carol Baugham
C. D. Cauthorne, Jr. 88
Cheryl Garrett Goddard 76
Chris Hall 76
Leading Worship
Kim Beard Kacani 76
Rev. Matthew Bean
Danny Minton (Accompianist) 70
Rev. Rodney Bitely
Cindy Moss Mistretta 76
Rev. Gary Olson
David Ross 78
Rev. Michael Pottschmidt
Lynn Moore Strader 76
Robert Schulze
Keri Beard Todd 73
Rev. E. Taylor Doctor 03
William Disney Tredway 81
Rev. David Voss
Kim Usry 78
Rev. Robert Wind
Brian Vaughan 76

Luther Memorial School

Closing Worship Service

October 9, 2016

Stand

OPENING HYMN Children of the Heavenly Father

CLOSING HYMN Go My Children with My Blessing

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Luther Memorial School at 1301 Robin Hood Road is now closed

in the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

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Let us bless the Lord.

We exalt His name.

(Psalm 34:3)

BENEDICTION
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The Lord bless and keep you.

The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious unto

you.
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All are welcome to join in fellowship, share memories, and

walk the halls and classrooms of the school until 5pm.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and + give you peace.
Amen.

ALUMNI CHOIR Like as a Father

OPENING VERSICLES
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Rev. Robert Wind

This is the day which the Lord has made:

let us rejoice and be glad in it.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
Make me know Your ways, O Lord.
Teach me your paths.
Sanctify us in Your truth.
Your Word is truth.
From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the Lord is to be praised.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy
Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be
forever. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

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Sit

Gracious God and Father, we confess that we cannot come to you

by our own reason or strength. We thank you that you have
come to us in Christ. Draw us to your Word and enlighten us with
your Spirit, that we may be kept in the one true faith. Lead us to
do your will, and to trust in your grace alone, in the name of your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Cherubini

Composer: Luigi

READINGS FROM HOLY SCRIPTURE

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OLD TESTAMENT READING Ecclesiastes 3:1-15
Doctor

This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Rev. E. Taylor

For everything that happens in lifethere is a season, a right time for

everything under heaven:
A time to be born, a time to die;
a time to plant, a time to collect the harvest;
A time to kill, a time to heal;
a time to tear down, a time to build up;
A time to cry, a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, a time to dance;
A time to scatter stones, a time to pile them up;
a time for a warm embrace, a time for keeping your distance;
A time to search, a time to give up as lost;
a time to keep, a time to throw out;
A time to tear apart, a time to bind together;
a time to be quiet, a time to speak up;
A time to love, a time to hate;
a time to go to war, a time to make peace.
What good comes to anyone who works so hard, all to gain a few
possessions? I have seen the kinds of tasks God has given each of us
to do to keep one busy, and I know God has made everything
beautiful for its time. God has also placed in our minds a sense of
eternity; we look back on the past and ponder over the future, yet we
cannot understand the doings of God. I know there is nothing better
for us than to be joyful and to do good throughout our lives; to eat
and drink and see the good in all of our hard work is a gift from God. I
know everything God does endures for all time. Nothing can be added
to it; nothing can be taken away from it. We humans can only stand in
awe of all God has done. What has been and what is to bealready
is. And God holds accountable all the pursuits of humanity.

Stand
RITE OF CLOSING

Rev. Gary Olson

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By the grace of God, the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ has been
proclaimed and taught at Bethlehem Lutheran Day School also
known as Luther Memorial School for the past 160 years. We are
here today for the closing of this institution. While saddened by
its closure, we are mindful of the blessings of God which have
been poured out so richly upon us and all who have been taught
here. We are confident that our gracious God will continue to
gather His people so that, with all the saints, they may enjoy the
eternal blessings promised to those who are His.

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The Lord be with you.

And also with you.

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Let us pray.
Lord God, our heavenly Father, we thank You for the many
blessings which You have showered upon Luther Memorial
School, especially for the teaching of the Gospel and dedicated
teachers and staff and for Your continued presence with Your
people. Forgive us where we have been slow to receive Your
Word and unwilling to obey it. We rejoice in Your goodness and
in the promise that You will never leave us or forsake us. Grant
that no one among us may be left without the proclamation of
the Gospel and the hope of everlasting life. Bless Your Church
and her ministry throughout the world so she may give faithful
witness to the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ both in word and
deed. Preserve and protect Your people at all times, and bring
them at last to the heavenly home which You have prepared for
all who serve You in faith and love; through Jesus Christ, our Lord,

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who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now
and forever.
Amen.
O changeless God of the Ages, You have told us that there is a
season and a time for everything under heaven. There is a time
to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot.
It is indeed with sadness that we close the doors of this Christian
institution of learning. We praise and thank You for the ministry
that this school provided. Grant that the promise that Your Word
will not return void but will accomplish what You proposed, will be
realized in the lives of those who were taught about Your Son,
their Savior through the ministry of this school.
Amen.

THE MESSAGE
Pottschmidt

Rev. Michael

RECOGNITION OF FACULTY AND STAFF

Rev. David Voss

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Lord God, you have blessed generation after generation of Luther

Memorial School students with your Word and wisdom. We give
thanks for all who have attended or served your school. We ask
that you bless the family of faculty and staff with your peace and
a satisfaction that you have used them for a very special
purpose. The children they have touched have been forever
blessed with wonderful memories and the seeds of faith. We
give thanks that your Spirit has shaped them to be a blessing
upon their families and communities. Lord, we give thanks.
Hear our prayer.
Gracious Father, we thank you for gathering us together this day
as your children. We are united not only by our love for the
school, but even greater, by your love for us through Jesus Christ.

Loving God, as we speak to you from our hearts, we ask that you
bless our prayers with the power of your Holy Spirit. Those who
would like to speak a word of prayer to the Lord are invited to do
so at this time.
During this time, we remain silent as we listen to
those who desire to speak a short word of prayer.

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PRAYERS
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We pray for one another, that you may continue to bless us with
a Spirit of unity. Lord, in your mercy.
Hear our prayer.

We give thanks to you, Holy God, that you have heard us on this
day. Lift us up and make your will be known so that we may
move forward with confidence and joy. We pray all of these
things in Jesus name.
Amen.

Sit
ALUMNI CHOIR My Tribute

Arranged By: Ed Lojeski

Composer: Andrae
Crouch

EPISTLE READING Romans 5:1-5

Bob Schulze

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with

God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained
access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in
hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings,
knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces
character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to
shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through
the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
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This is the Word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Stand

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HOLY GOSPEL READING John 14:25-31

Rev. Rodney Bitely

[Jesus said,] These things I have spoken to you while I am still with
you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all
that I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled,
neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, I am going away,
and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced,
because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And
now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take
place you may believe. I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler
of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, but I do as the Father
has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father.
Rise, let us go from here.
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Rev. Matthew Bean

Forever, O Lord, Your Word is firmly set in the heavens.

Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place
where Your glory dwells.
Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it.
Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place
where Your glory dwells.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit
Lord, I love the habitation of Your house and the place
where Your glory dwells.

LORDS PRAYER
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This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

RESPONSORY
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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,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

United by the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ, let us speak the
prayer that our Savior taught us:

HYMN OF THE DAY On Eagles Wings