A Service of Thanksgiving and Praise

for Pastor James Walter

Grace Lutheran Church

Hillcrest at Kavanaugh
Little Rock, Arkansas

November 26, 2021

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 THE ORDER OF VESPERS
FOR
A SERVICE OF THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE
Pre-Service Music

Choir I AM Forever WHO I AM ~ Kurt von Kampen

Though mountains slide into the sea,

And waters rush where fields should be,
Though monuments and nations fall,
Your holy city stands through all.
When nothing seems to stay the same,
You teach us your eternal name

Refrain:
I AM forever WHO I AM.
Above you, beneath you,
Around you and within you.
Be still and know that I am God.

We buy and sell, we lose or gain;
Our fortunes shift like sun and rain.
Sustain our lives, reward our toil
With bread and honey, wine and oil.
Save us and others from our greed;
You always give us what we need. Refrain
Our lust for power, wealth, and land
Diminishes the earth you planned.
Prevent our crimes and futile wars;
Convince us that all things are yours.
We rage and burn and kill and steal,
But you redeem, restore, and heal. Refrain

Like shepherds watching for the light,
Aware of dangers in the night,
We hear the angel: "Do not fear,
The Savior of the world is near."
We run, we see, we touch, we laugh.
You came to earth on our behalf. Refrain
Each generation looks for truth,
And doubt can trouble age or youth.
If other gods would take your place,
Remember us with love and grace.
Reclaim us if we go astray;
You are the Truth, the Life, the way. Refrain

Some days seem long, though life is brief,

And death is waiting like a thief.
When vision fades and dreams go dry,
We will on unseen things rely.
Our stories take up but a page,
But yours goes on from age to age. Refrain

Lighting of the Chancel Candles

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Ringing of the Church Bell

Stand

Processional Hymn: We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God LSB 941

Text: © 1999 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000249
Tune: Public domain

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Versicles Psalm 51:15; Psalm 70:1

Psalmody
Psalm Psalm 46
Service Note: The Psalm will be sung responsively by whole verse, with the Pastor singing verses
marked P, and the congregation singing those marked C.

P God is our ref- | uge and strength,*

a very present help in | trouble.

C Therefore we will not fear though the | earth gives way,*

though the mountains be moved into the heart | of the sea,
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 P though its waters | roar and foam,*
though the mountains tremble at its | swelling.

C There is a river whose streams make glad the cit- | y of God,*

the holy habitation of the | Most High.

P God is in the midst of her; she shall | not be moved;*

God will help her when | morning dawns.

C The nations rage, the kingdoms | totter;*

he utters his voice, the | earth melts.

P The LORD of hosts is | with us;*

the God of Jacob is our | fortress.

C Come, behold the works | of the LORD,*

how he has brought desolations | on the earth.

P He makes wars cease to the end | of the earth;*

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots | with fire.

C “Be still, and know that | I am God.*

I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted | in the earth!”

P The LORD of hosts is | with us;*

the God of Jacob is our | fortress.

C 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.

Sit

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Office Hymn: Lord, Thee I Love with All My Heart LSB 708

Text and tune: Public domain

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Readings

First Reading Hebrews 12:1–2

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside
every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set
before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set
before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne
of God.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gradual 1 Timothy 6:12

P Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and
about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Second Reading Romans 8:31–39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did
not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give
us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is
to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the
right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of
Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or
sword? As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure
that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from
the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

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Responsory Psalm 86:11; Psalm 119:105

Stand

Sermon Hymn: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God LSB 656

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 Tune and text: Public domain

Sit

Sermon Rev. Dr. Leroy Leach

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Canticle
Stand

Antiphon Psalm 141:2

Magnificat: Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord LSB 935

Tune: © Oxford University Press. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000249
Text: © 1962, renewed 1990 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000249

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Prayer
Kyrie Mark 10:47

Lord’s Prayer

C 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.

Salutation 2 Timothy 4:22

Collects

P Almighty God, grant to Your Church Your Holy Spirit and the wisdom that comes down
from above, that Your Word may not be bound but have free course and be preached to
the joy and edifying of Christ’s holy people, that in steadfast faith we may serve You and,
in the confession of Your name, abide unto the end; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

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 P O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to
us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to
obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies,
may live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Benedicamus Psalm 103:1

Benediction 2 Corinthians 13:14

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Recessional Hymn: Thine the Amen, Thine the Praise LSB 680

Text and tune: © 1983 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110000249

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Post-Service Music

Acknowledgments
Vespers from Lutheran Service Book. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible,
English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All
rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2021 Concordia Publishing House. “I AM Forever Who I AM” by Kurt von
Kampen; © 2002 Concordia Publishing House. “We Praise You and Acknowledge You, O God” by Kevin Hildebrand; © 2018
Concordia Publishing House. “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” by Jeffrey Blersch; © 2016 Concordia Publishing House. “Tell Out My
Soul” by Paul Manz in Six Advent Improvisations; © 1990 Birnamwood Publications/MorningStar Music Publishers. “Lord, Thee I
Love with All My Heart” by David Cherwien in Lord, Thee I Love: Hymn Settings for Organ; © 2017 Augsburg Fortress. THINE by
Philip Gehring in Hymn Prelude Library, Volume Eleven; © 2017 Concordia Publishing House. All music used by permission under
One License #A-724158.

THE ALTAR FLOWERS

The flowers today are placed today by the Walter Family in memory of Pastor James Walter
in thanksgiving and praise for his life and service to the church.

THOSE WHO SERVE

Pastor: Kent Schaaf

Preacher: Rev. Dr. Leroy Leach
Director of Parish Music: Charles Russell
Early Childhood Center Director: Colleen Moorman
Parish Administrator: Monica Whitfield
Deaconess: Eileen Esget
Choir: Adult Choir
Trumpet: Kiera Klein
French Horn: Jimmy Rhine, Jr.
Trombone: Jeff Ralston, Joel Junkans
Euphonium: Raymond Harrill
Glockenspiel: Shaun Baker
Altar Guild: Jonathan & Dawn Cline
Crucifer: James Junkans

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