SERVING in Worship Today:

• Children’s Prayground: Kathye Hamm

• Assisting Minister: Eden Rawling

• Lector: Vivian, Oliver, Ryan L.

• Skit: Maggie, Zoey, Eden, & Wyatt

• Communion ministers: Vivian, Sebastian, Oliver, Ryan L., Wyatt, Eden, Zoey

• Ushers: Dave Schlief, Maggie Barendt, Tom LaFleur, Debra White

• Wine walkers:  Debbie Carlson, Lauren Knoll

• Prayer station: Robin Pizanti

• Altar Guild: Contact Joanne Sorensen to join the team!

• Coffee Service: Ron Hankinson, Susan Duncan

READING: Isaiah 2:1-5

The visionary message presented in this reading focuses on a future day when God establishes a universal reign of peace. Divine decisions will make war obsolete, and the worshiping community responds: “Let us walk in the light of that Lord now!”

1 The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

 2 In days to come

  the mountain of the Lord’s house

 shall be established as the highest of the mountains

  and shall be raised above the hills;

 all the nations shall stream to it.

  3 Many peoples shall come and say,

 “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,

  to the house of the God of Jacob,

 that he may teach us his ways

  and that we may walk in his paths.”

 For out of Zion shall go forth instruction

  and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

 4 He shall judge between the nations

  and shall arbitrate for many peoples;

 they shall beat their swords into plowshares

  and their spears into pruning hooks;

 nation shall not lift up sword against nation;

  neither shall they learn war any more.

 5 O house of Jacob,

  come, let us walk

 in the light of the Lord!

GOSPEL: Matthew 24:36-44

Jesus describes his second coming as a sudden, turbulent event that will bring about deep change to our normal, day-to-day lives. Therefore, he urges people to stay awake, be aware, and wait expectantly, because the Son of Man will come unannounced.

The holy gospel according to Matthew. Glory to you, O Lord.

[Jesus said to the disciples,] 36 “About that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37 For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in the days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, 39 and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so, too, will be the coming of the Son of Man. 40 Then two will be in the field; one will be taken, and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken, and one will be left. 42 Keep awake, therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”