Worship Service Text





Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost          August 8, 2021       

 


Welcome Everyone!

As we live out each day, we reflect on our faith in our words and actions. Each of us is an example of the Christian life as we struggle to live in forgiving love toward one another, and also as we continue to trust in the forgiveness Christ won for us. In today’s Old Testament Reading, Elijah almost gives up, but he is strengthened with miraculous food. Then in the Epistle, Paul provides a list of what our life in Christ should look like because of our new birth in Baptism. In the Gospel, Jesus spells out the connection between receiving His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper and living in hope each day. He is the bread of life from heaven, who enables each of us to discard our old ways, live in the new life of God’s forgiving love, and adorn ourselves with gladness.

 

                                                                                       

Order of Service:   LSB 203  Divine Service – Setting Four

Sermon Title:       “Who’s Will is the Best Will?”

Opening Hymn:         LSB 821  Alleluia!  Sing to Jesus

Hymn of the Day:   LSB 750  If Thou But Trust in God to Guide Thee

Communion Hymns:  LSB 617  O Lord, We Praise Thee

                                LSB 628  Your Table I Approach

                                LSB 637  Draw Near

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

 The Lord’s Supper is meant for baptized and confirmed believers who confess they are sinners in need of God’s mercy.  As Lutherans, we believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine, we are receiving the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith.  Visitors are asked to consult with the pastor or an elder prior to communing.

 

His Giving . . . Our Response in Giving

August 1: Attendance 43

Offerings: $ 1054.00

 

Pastor Brian is taking some holidays and will be leaving on Monday, August 9, and he will be back in the office on Thursday, September 2. We are currently working to arrange lay services for August 15, 22 & 29. In the case of pastoral emergency while Pastor Brian is away, please call:

August 9 – 22: Pastor Steven Bartlett (807) 707-3574

August 23 – September 1: Pastor Keith Blom (807) 629-5756  

 

1 Kings 19:1–8

                1Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2Then Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” 3Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.

            4But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” 5And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold, an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” 6And he looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. 7And the angel of the Lord came again a second time and touched him and said, “Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” 8And he arose and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.

 

Ephesians 4:17—5:2

17This I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

            25Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil. 28Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

            1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

 

John 6:35–51

35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

            41So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— 46not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48I am the bread of life. 49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

 

 


Tenth Sunday after Pentecost August 1, 2021


Welcome Everyone!

In today’s Gospel, the crowds are still trying to stay close to Jesus, but He says it’s for the wrong reason. They want to fill their stomachs, and He declares that He is the bread of life. As the manna in the wilderness wasn’t produced by Moses, but was a gift from God, so Jesus didn’t come to produce physical bread. He is God’s gift to us for what we need in every part of our lives here in time and for eternity. The Epistle focuses on our being part of the Body of Christ, with “one Lord, one faith, one Baptism.” Indeed, we are gifts of God to one another, called to faith to speak the truth in love and to work together to build up the Body to the measure of Christ Himself.



Order of Service: LSB 184 Divine Service – Setting Three

Sermon Title: “Jesus is Different, and He makes Us Different, Too”

Opening Hymn: LSB 822 Alleluia! Let Praises Ring

Hymn of the Day: LSB 712 Seek Ye First

Communion Hymns: LSB 625 Lord Jesus Christ, Life-Giving Bread

    LSB 629 What Is This Bread

    LSB 636 Soul, Adorn Yourself With Gladness

Closing Hymn: LSB 918 Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer

The Lord’s Supper is meant for baptized and confirmed believers who confess they are sinners in need of God’s mercy. As Lutherans, we believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine, we are receiving the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith. Visitors are asked to consult with the pastor or an elder prior to communing.


His Giving . . . Our Response in Giving

July 21/25: Attendance 9/50 Offerings: $ N/A


Pastor Brian is taking some holidays and will be leaving on Monday, August 9, and he will be back in the office on Thursday, September 2. We are currently working to arrange lay services for August 15, 22 & 29. In the case of pastoral emergency while Pastor Brian is away, please call:

August 9 – 22: Pastor Steven Bartlett (807) 707-3574

August 23 – September 1: Pastor Keith Blom (807) 629-5756


Exodus 16:2–15

2The whole congregation of the people of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, 3and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”

4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I am about to rain bread from heaven for you, and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in my law or not. 5On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather daily.” 6So Moses and Aaron said to all the people of Israel, “At evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, 7and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your grumbling against the LORD. For what are we, that you grumble against us?” 8And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you in the evening meat to eat and in the morning bread to the full, because the LORD has heard your grumbling that you grumble against him—what are we? Your grumbling is not against us but against the LORD.”

9Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, ‘Come near before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.’” 10And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. 11And the LORD said to Moses, 12“I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’” 13In the evening quail came up and covered the camp, and in the morning dew lay around the camp. 14And when the dew had gone up, there was on the face of the wilderness a fine, flake-like thing, fine as frost on the ground. 15When the people of Israel saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. And Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.”

Ephesians 4:1–16

1I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. 8Therefore it says,“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” 9(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) 11And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 15Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 16from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.


John 6:22–35

22On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” 28Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”




Ninth Sunday after Pentecost July 25, 2021


Welcome Everyone!

God cares for us, but we aren’t always aware of it. When Jesus stilled the storm that was hindering the disciples in the boat, all they saw was His power, and they were terrified. But when other people saw Him, they recognized a healer and brought the sick to Him. God always cares, of course; the rainbow is a reminder He won’t flood the earth again—out of care for us. In today’s Epistle, Paul prays that God’s love in Christ would fill us. God will do that; He cares that much for us. We ask today that God would strengthen us to care for the people around us. May they see His love through our caring.



Order of Service: LSB 151 Divine Service – Setting One

Sermon Title: “Strains, Pains and Gains”

Opening Hymn: LSB 587 I Know My Faith is Founded

Hymn of the Day: LSB 754 Entrust Your Days and Burdens

Communion Hymns: LSB 620 Jesus Comes Today with Healing

    LSB 638 Eat This Bread

    LSB 643 Sent Forth by God’s Blessing

Closing Hymn: LSB 752 Be Still, My Soul




The Lord’s Supper is meant for baptized and confirmed believers who confess they are sinners in need of God’s mercy. As Lutherans, we believe that in, with, and under the bread and wine, we are receiving the body and blood of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the strengthening of our faith. Visitors are asked to consult with the pastor or an elder prior to communing.


Genesis 9:8–17

8 God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“Behold, I establish my covenant with you and your offspring after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the livestock, and every beast of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark; it is for every beast of the earth. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”


Ephesians 3:14–21

14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.




Mark 6:45–56

45Immediately [Jesus] made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him 55and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.



Eighth Sunday After Pentecost

July 18, 2021


Opening Hymn - 903 This Is the Day the Lord Has Made

This is the day the Lord has made; He calls the hours His own.

Let heav’n rejoice, let earth be glad; And praise surround the throne.


Today He rose and left the dead, And Satan’s empire fell;

Today the saints His triumphs spread; And all His wonders tell.


Hosanna to the_anointed King, To David’s holy Son!

Help us, O Lord; descend and bring; Salvation from Your throne.


Blessèd is He who comes to us; With messages of grace;

He, in the Lord’s name, comes to us; To save our fallen race.


Hosanna in the highest strains; The Church on earth can raise.

The highest heav’ns, in which He reigns, Shall give Him nobler praise.

Text: Public domain


Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.



Confession of Sins

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.


Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.


Gloria in Excelsis

C To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

    Goodwill from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

    We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing—

    Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.


  To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

    O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

    Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry,

    Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high—


  For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

    Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

    You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

    In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.


Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. Heavenly Father, though we do not deserve Your goodness, still You provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may acknowledge Your gifts, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 23:1–6

1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the LORD. 2Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the LORD. 3Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. 4I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the LORD.

5“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: Ephesians 2:11–22

11Remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15by abolishing the law of commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.


Holy Gospel: Mark 6:30–44

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the sixth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

30The apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is now late. 36Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38And he said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they had found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39Then he commanded them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. 41And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven and said a blessing and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people. And he divided the two fish among them all. 42And they all ate and were satisfied. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.



Hymn of the Day - 641 You Satisfy the Hungry Heart

ref You satisfy the hungry heart; With gift of finest wheat.

Come give to us, O saving Lord, The bread of life to eat.


As when the shepherd calls his sheep, They know and heed his voice;

So when You call Your fam’ly, Lord, We follow and rejoice. Refrain


With joyful lips we sing to You, Our praise and gratitude

That You should count us worthy, Lord, To share this heav’nly food. Refrain


Is not the cup we bless and share; The blood of Christ outpoured?

Do not one cup, one loaf, declare; Our oneness in the Lord? Refrain


The myst’ry of Your presence, Lord, No mortal tongue can tell:

Whom all the world cannot contain; Comes in our hearts to dwell. Refrain


You give Yourself to us, O Lord; Then selfless let us be,

To serve each other in Your name; In truth and charity. Refrain

Text: © 1977 Archdiocese of Philadelphia, admin. International Liturgy Publications. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114


Sermon – “Are you Satisfied?”


Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

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.



Benedicamus and Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

C Amen.


Closing Hymn: 730 What Is the World to Me

What is the world to me; With all its vaunted pleasure

When You, and You alone, Lord Jesus, are my treasure!

You only, dearest Lord, My soul’s delight shall be;

You are my peace, my rest. What is the world to me!


The world seeks to be praised; And honored by the mighty

Yet never once reflects; That they are frail and flighty.

But what I truly prize; Above all things is He,

My Jesus, He alone. What is the world to me!


The world seeks after wealth; And all that mammon offers

Yet never is content; Though gold should fill its coffers.

I have a higher good, Content with it I’ll be:

My Jesus is my wealth. What is the world to me!


What is the world to me! My Jesus is my treasure,

My life, my health, my wealth, My friend, my love, my pleasure,

My joy, my crown, my all, My bliss eternally.

Once more, then, I declare: What is the world to me!

Text: Public domain

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, July 11, 2021


Opening Hymn - 908 Lord, Open Now My Heart to Hear

Lord, open now my heart to hear, And through Your Word to me draw near;

Let me Your Word e’er pure retain; Let me Your child and heir remain.


Your Word inspires my heart within; Your Word grants healing from my sin;

Your Word has pow’r to guide and bless; Your Word brings peace and happiness.


To God the Father, God the Son, And God the Spirit, Three in One,

  Shall glory, praise, and honor be, Now and throughout eternity.

Text (st. 2): © 1993 Mark A. Jeske. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Text (sts. 1, 3): Public domain



Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.


Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.


Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.


Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.


Collect of the Day

P Let us pray. O Lord, You granted Your prophets strength to resist the temptations of the devil and courage to proclaim repentance. Give us pure hearts and minds to follow Your Son faithfully even into suffering and death; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


Old Testament Reading: Amos 7:7–15

7This is what [the Lord God] showed me: behold, the Lord was standing beside a wall built with a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand. 8And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?” And I said, “A plumb line.” Then the Lord said, “Behold, I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel; I will never again pass by them;

9the high places of Isaac shall be made desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste,and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.”

10Then Amaziah the priest of Bethel sent to Jeroboam king of Israel, saying, “Amos has conspired against you in the midst of the house of Israel. The land is not able to bear all his words. 11For thus Amos has said, “‘Jeroboam shall die by the sword,

and Israel must go into exile away from his land.’” 12And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there, 13but never again prophesy at Bethel, for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.”

14Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. 15But the LORD took me from following the flock, and the LORD said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: Ephesians 1:3–14

  3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.


HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 6:14–29

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 6th chapter.

C Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22For when Herodias’s daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.


Hymn of the Day - 658 Preserve Your Word, O Savior

Preserve Your Word, O Savior, To us this latter day,

And let Your kingdom flourish; Enlarge Your Church, we pray.

O keep our faith from failing; Keep hope’s bright star aglow.

Let nothing from truth turn us, While living here below.


Preserve, O Lord, Your honor, The bold blasphemer smite;

Convince, convert, enlighten,The souls in error’s night.

Reveal Your will, dear Savior, To all who dwell below,

Great light of all the living, That all Your name may know.


Preserve, O Lord, Your Zion, Bought dearly with Your blood;

Protect what You have chosen, Against the hellish flood.

Be always our defender, When dangers gather round;

When all the earth is crumbling, Safe may Your Church be found.


Preserve Your Word and preaching, The truth that makes us whole,

The mirror of Your glory, The pow’r that saves the soul.

Oh, may this living water, This dew of heav’nly grace,

Sustain us while here living, Until we see Your face.


Preserve in wave and tempest, Your storm-tossed little flock;

Assailed by wind and weather, May it endure each shock.

Stand at the helm, our pilot, And set the course aright;

Then we will reach the harbor, In Your eternal light.

Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114



Sermon – “Listen to What the Lord God Almighty Has to Say”


Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth

and of all things visible and invisible.


And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light,

very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.


And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


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

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.


Benedicamus

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

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

C Amen, amen, amen.


Closing Hymn: 656 A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

A mighty fortress is our God, A trusty shield and weapon;

He helps us free from ev’ry need, That hath us now o’ertaken.

The old evil foe, Now means deadly woe; Deep guile and great might

Are his dread arms in fight; On earth is not his equal.


With might of ours can naught be done, Soon were our loss effected;

But for us fights the valiant One, Whom God Himself elected.

Ask ye, Who is this? Jesus Christ it is, Of Sabaoth Lord,

And there’s none other God; He holds the field forever.


Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us,

We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not overpow’r us.

This world’s prince may still, Scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none.

He’s judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him.


The Word they still shall let remain, Nor any thanks have for it;

He’s by our side upon the plain, With His good gifts and Spirit.

And take they our life, Goods, fame, child, and wife, Though these all be gone,

Our vict’ry has been won; The Kingdom ours remaineth.

Text: Public domain

Sunday after Pentecost






Sunday, July 4, 2021


Opening Hymn - 802 Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.


Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light, Nor wanting, nor wasting,

Thou rulest in might; Thy justice like mountains high soaring above

Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.


To all life Thou givest— to both great and small—In all life Thou livest, 

the true Life of all; We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree

And wither and perish—but naught changes Thee.


Great Father of glory, pure Father of light, Thine angels adore Thee,

all veiling their sight; All laud we would render: O help us to see

’Tis only the splendor of light that hides Thee.

Text: Public domain



Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the TSon and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 


Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. 

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. 


Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.


This Is the Feast

C This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.


This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.


This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.


This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.


This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. O God, Your almighty power is made known chiefly in showing mercy. Grant us the fullness of Your grace that we may be called to repentance and made partakers of Your heavenly treasures; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 2:1–5

  1 He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet, and I will speak with you.” 2And as he spoke to me, the Spirit entered into me and set me on my feet, and I heard him speaking to me. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels, who have rebelled against me. They and their fathers have transgressed against me to this very day. 4The descendants also are impudent and stubborn: I send you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD.’ 5And whether they hear or refuse to hear (for they are a rebellious house) they will know that a prophet has been among them.”


P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1–10

1I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6Though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 7So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? 

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.


Holy Gospel: Mark 6:1–13

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 6th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

1[Jesus] went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.

7And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.” 12So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent. 13And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn of the Day - 840 Christ High-Ascended, Now in Glory Seated

Christ high-ascended, now in glory seated, Throned and exalted, victory completed,

Death’s dread dominion finally defeated, We are His witnesses.


Christ from the Father ev’ry pow’r possessing, Who on His chosen lifted hands in blessing, Sends forth His servants, still in faith confessing, We are His witnesses.


Christ, who in dying won for us salvation, Lives now the firstborn of the new creation;

To win disciples out of ev’ry nation, We are His witnesses.


Christ in His splendor, all dominion gaining, Christ with His people evermore remaining, Christ to all ages gloriously reigning, We are His witnesses.


As at His parting, joy shall banish grieving, Faith in His presence strengthen our believing; Filled with His Spirit, love and pow’r receiving, We are His witnesses.

Text: © 1984 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114




Sermon – “Limited Omnipotence?”


Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.



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.



Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.


Hymn to Depart - 856 O Christ, Who Called the Twelve

O Christ, who called the Twelve; To rise and follow You,

Forsaking old, familiar ways; For ventures bold and new:

Grant us to hear Your call; To risk security

And, bound in heart and will to You, Find perfect liberty.


O Christ, who taught the Twelve; The truth for ages sealed,

Whose words and works awakened faith, The ways of God revealed:

Instruct us now, we pray, By Your empow’ring Word.

True teacher, be for all who seek; Their light, their life, their Lord.


O Christ, who led the Twelve; Among the desolate

And broke as bread of life for all; Your love compassionate:

Lead us along the ways; Where hope has nearly died

And help us climb the lonely hills; Where love is crucified.


O Christ, who sent the Twelve; On roads they’d never trod

To serve, to suffer, teach, proclaim; The nearer reign of God:

Send us on ways where faith; Transcends timidity,

Where love informs and hope sustains; Both life and ministry.


O Christ, the_apostles’ Lord, The martyrs’ strength and song,

The crucified and risen King; To whom the saints belong:

Though generations pass, Our tribute still we bring,

Our hymns a sacrifice of praise, Our lives an offering.

Text: © 1993 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

June 27, 2021


Opening Hymn - 733 O God, Our Help in Ages Past

O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,

Our shelter from the stormy blast, And our eternal home:


Under the shadow of Thy throne, Thy saints have dwelt secure;

Sufficient is Thine arm alone, And our defense is sure.


Before the hills in order stood, Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting Thou art God, To endless years the same.


A thousand ages in Thy sight, Are like an evening gone,

Short as the watch that ends the night, Before the rising sun.


Time, like an ever-rolling stream, Soon bears us all away;

We fly forgotten as a dream, Dies at the op’ning day.


O God, our help in ages past, Our hope for years to come,

Be Thou our guard while troubles last, And our eternal home!

Text: Public domain


Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word, call upon Him in prayer and praise, and receive the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ in the fellowship of this altar, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinn ed in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.


Confession of Sins

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.


Gloria in Excelsis

C To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

    Goodwill from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

    We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing—

    Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.


  To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

    O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

    Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry,

    Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high—


  For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

    Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

    You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

    In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.


Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. Heavenly Father, during His earthly ministry Your Son Jesus healed the sick and raised the dead. By the healing medicine of the Word and Sacraments pour into our hearts such love toward You that we may live eternally; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. 

C Amen.


Old Testament Reading: Lamentations 3:22–33

22The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;

23they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

24“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

25The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.

26It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.

27It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth.

28Let him sit alone in silence when it is laid on him;

29let him put his mouth in the dust—there may yet be hope;

30let him give his cheek to the one who strikes, and let him be filled with insults.

31For the Lord will not cast off forever, 32but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33for he does not willingly afflict

or grieve the children of men. 

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 8:1–9, 13–15

1We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, 4begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. 6Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. . . .

13I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness 14your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. 15As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. 

Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.


Holy Gospel: Mark 5:21–43

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the fifth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

21When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. 22Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet 23and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” 24And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32And he looked around to see who had done it. 33But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler’s house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement. 43And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn of the Day - 755 In the Very Midst of Life

In the very midst of life Snares of death surround us;

Who shall help us in the strife Lest the foe confound us?

Thou only, Lord, Thou only! We mourn that we have greatly erred,

That our sins Thy wrath have stirred. Holy and righteous God!

Holy and mighty God! Holy and all-merciful Savior! Eternal Lord God!

Save us lest we perish, In the bitter pangs of death. Have mercy, O Lord!


In the midst of death’s dark vale; Pow’rs of hell o’ertake us.

Who will help when they assail, Who secure will make us?

Thou only, Lord, Thou only! Thy heart is moved with tenderness,

Pities us in our distress. Holy and righteous God!

Holy and mighty God! Holy and all-merciful Savior!

Eternal Lord God! Save us from the terror

Of the fiery pit of hell. Have mercy, O Lord!

In the midst of utter woe; When our sins oppress us, 

Where shall we for refuge go, Where for grace to bless us?

To Thee, Lord Jesus, only! Thy precious blood was shed to win

Full atonement for our sin. Holy and righteous God!

Holy and mighty God! Holy and all-merciful Savior!

Eternal Lord God! Lord, preserve and keep us

In the peace that faith can give. Have mercy, O Lord!

Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114


Sermon – “Fear Vs. Belief”


Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth

and of all things visible and invisible.


And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light,

very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.


And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


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.




Benedicamus and Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.


Closing Hymn: LSB 738 Lord of All Hopefulness

Lord of all hopefulness, Lord of all joy, 

Whose trust, ever childlike, no cares could destroy:

Be there at our waking, and give us, we pray,

Your bliss in our hearts, Lord, at the break of the day.


Lord of all eagerness, Lord of all faith,

Whose strong hands were skilled at the plane and the lathe:

Be there at our labors, and give us, we pray,

Your strength in our hearts, Lord, at the noon of the day.


Lord of all kindliness, Lord of all grace,

Your hands swift to welcome, Your arms to embrace:

Be there at our homing, and give us, we pray,

Your love in our hearts, Lord, at the eve of the day.


Lord of all gentleness, Lord of all calm,

Whose voice is contentment, whose presence is balm:

Be there at our sleeping, and give us, we pray,

Your peace in our hearts, Lord, at the end of the day.

Fourth Sunday after Pentecost

June 20, 2021


Opening Hymn - 717 Eternal Father, Strong to Save

Eternal Father, strong to save, Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,

Who bidd’st the mighty ocean deep, Its own appointed limits keep:

O hear us when we cry to Thee, For those in peril on the sea.


O Christ, the Lord of hill and plain, O’er which our traffic runs amain

By mountain pass or valley low; Wherever, Lord, Thy people go,

Protect them by Thy guarding hand; From ev’ry peril on the land.


O Christ, whose voice the waters heard; And hushed their raging at Thy word,

Who walkedst on the foaming deep; And calm amid its rage didst sleep:

O hear us when we cry to Thee; For those in peril on the sea.


O Spirit, whom the Father sent; To spread abroad the firmament;

O Wind of heaven, by Thy might; Save all who dare the eagle’s flight,

And keep them by Thy watchful care; From ev’ry peril in the air.


Most Holy Spirit, who didst brood; Upon the chaos dark and rude,

And bid its angry tumult cease, And give, for wild confusion, peace:

O hear us when we cry to Thee; For those in peril on the sea.


O Trinity of love and pow’r, Our people shield in danger’s hour;

From rock and tempest, fire and foe, Protect them wheresoe’er they go;

Thus evermore shall rise to Thee; Glad praise from air and land and sea.

Text (sts. 1–4): Public domain

Text (sts. 2–3): © The Church Pension Fund. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114


Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.


Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.


Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.


Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.


Collect of the Day

P Let us pray. Almighty God, in Your mercy guide the course of this world so that Your Church may joyfully serve You in godly 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. 

C Amen.


Old Testament Reading: Job 38:1–11

1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said:

2“Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge?

3Dress for action like a man; will question you, and you make it known to me.

4“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. 5Who determined its measurements—surely you know!

Or who stretched the line upon it? 6On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, 7when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8“Or who shut in the sea with doors when it burst out from the womb, 9when I made clouds its garment and thick darkness its swaddling band,

10and prescribed limits for it and set bars and doors, 11and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, and here shall your proud waves be stayed’?”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 6:1–13

1Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 3We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, 4but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

11We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians; our heart is wide open. 12You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted in your own affections. 13In return (I speak as to children) widen your hearts also.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.


HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 4:35–41

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 4th chapter.

C Glory be to Thee, O Lord.

35On that day, when evening had come, [Jesus] said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” 

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise be to Thee, O Christ.


Hymn of the Day - 739 Precious Lord, Take My Hand

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, let me stand;

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn. Through the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light. Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.


When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near,

When my life is almost gone, Hear my cry, hear my call;

Hold my hand lest I fall. Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.


When the darkness appears; And the night draws near

And the day is almost gone, At the river I stand;

Guide my feet, hold my hand, Take my hand, precious Lord; lead me home.

Text: © 1938 (renewed) Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp., admin. Alfred Music. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114



Sermon – “Does Jesus Care?”


Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.


Offertory

C Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit. A-men.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.



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

   P The Lord be with you.

   C And with thy spirit.


Benedicamus

  A Bless we the Lord.

  C Thanks be to God.


Benediction

      P The Lord bless you and keep you.

   The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

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

      C Amen, amen, amen.


Closing Hymn: 729 I Am Trusting Thee, Lord Jesus

I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus, Trusting only Thee;

Trusting Thee for full salvation, Great and free.


I am trusting Thee for pardon; At Thy feet I bow,

For Thy grace and tender mercy; Trusting now.


I am trusting Thee for cleansing; In the crimson flood;

Trusting Thee to make me holy; By Thy blood.


I am trusting Thee to guide me; Thou alone shalt lead,

Ev’ry day and hour supplying; All my need.


I am trusting Thee for power; Thine can never fail.

Words which Thou Thyself shalt give me; Must prevail.


I am trusting Thee, Lord Jesus; Never let me fall.

I am trusting Thee forever; And for all.

Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sunday, June 13, 2021


Opening Hymn - 892 Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

Come, ye thankful people, come; Raise the song of harvest home.

All be safely gathered in; Ere the winter storms begin;

God, our maker, doth provide; For our wants to be supplied.

Come to God’s own temple, come; Raise the song of harvest home.


All the world is God’s own field, Fruit unto His praise to yield;

Wheat and tares together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown.

First the blade and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear.

Lord of harvest, grant that we; Wholesome grain and pure may be.


For the Lord, our God, shall come; And shall take His harvest home,

From His field shall in that day; All offenses purge away,

Give His angels charge at last; In the fire the tares to cast,

But the fruitful ears to store; In His garner evermore.


Even so, Lord, quickly come; To Thy final harvest home;

Gather Thou Thy people in, Free from sorrow, free from sin,

There, forever purified, In Thy garner to abide:

Come with all Thine angels, come, Raise the glorious harvest home.

Text: Public domain


Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the TSon and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 


Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. 

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. 


Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.


This Is the Feast

C This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God.


This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.


This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.


This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.


  This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. Blessed Lord, since You have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


Old Testament Lesson: Ezekiel 17:22–24

  22Thus says the Lord GOD: “I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of the cedar and will set it out. I will break off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. 23On the mountain height of Israel will I plant it, that it may bear branches and produce fruit and become a noble cedar. And under it will dwell every kind of bird; in the shade of its branches birds of every sort will nest. 24And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it.”


P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1–17

  1We know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

  6So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

  11Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

  16From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? 

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.


Holy Gospel: Mark 4:26–34

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the 4th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

    26[Jesus] said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. 27He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. 28The earth produces by itself, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. 29But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

   30And he said, “With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable shall we use for it? 31It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown on the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth, 32yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes larger than all the garden plants and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.”

   33With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it. 34He did not speak to them without a parable, but privately to his own disciples he explained everything.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn of the Day - 584 Faith and Truth and Life Bestowing

Faith and truth and life bestowing, Open now the Scriptures, Lord,

Seed to life eternal sowing, Scattered on the wind abroad.

Let not hearts, Your Word receiving, Like a barren field be found,

Choked with thorns and unbelieving, Shallow earth or stony ground.


May the Spirit’s pow’r unceasing; Bring to life the hidden grain,

Daily in our hearts increasing, Bearing fruit that shall remain.

So in Scripture, song, and story, Savior, may Your voice be heard.

Till our eyes behold Your glory; Give us ears to hear Your Word.

Text: © 1997 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114


Sermon – “God’s Gifts Feed and Strengthen Us”


Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth

and of all things visible and invisible.


And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light,

very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.


And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


Offering


Offertory

C What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?

I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord.

I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people,

in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.


Service of the Sacrament

Preface

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.


P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.


P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.


P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who on this day overcame death and the grave and by His glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, ever more praising You and saying: 


Sanctus

C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow’r and might:

  Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

  Hosanna. Hosanna.

  Hosanna in the highest.

  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

  Hosanna in the highest.


Prayer of Thanksgiving

     P Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.


Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

     C Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

     P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

     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.


The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”


In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”


Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.


Agnus Dei

C Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

  Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

  Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.



Distribution of Holy Communion


Nunc Dimittis

C Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.


Post-Communion Collect

P Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.


Hymn to Depart - 921 On What Has Now Been Sown

On what has now been sown, Thy blessing, Lord, bestow;

The pow’r is Thine alone; To make it sprout and grow.

Do Thou in grace the harvest raise, And Thou alone shalt have the praise!


To Thee our wants are known, From Thee are all our pow’rs;

Accept what is Thine own; And pardon what is ours.

Our praises, Lord, and prayers receive, And to Thy Word a blessing give.


O grant that each of us, Now met before Thee here,

May meet together thus; When Thou and Thine appear

And follow Thee to heav’n, our home. E’en so, amen, Lord Jesus, come!

Text: Public domain








 June 6, 2021 – Second Sunday after Pentecost


Hymn LSB 525 Crown Him with Many Crowns

Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne;

Hark how the heav’nly anthem drowns; All music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing; Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless king; Through all eternity.


Crown Him the virgin’s Son, The God incarnate born,

Whose arm those crimson trophies won; Which now His brow adorn:

Fruit of the mystic rose, Yet of that rose the stem,

The root whence mercy ever flows, The babe of Bethlehem.


Crown Him the Lord of love, Behold His hands and side,

Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.

No angels in the sky, Can fully bear that sight,

But downward bend their wond’ring eyes; At mysteries so bright.


Crown Him the Lord of life, Who triumphed o’er the grave

And rose victorious in the strife; For those He came to save.

His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring; And lives that death may die.


Crown Him the Lord of heav’n, Enthroned in worlds above,

Crown Him the king to whom is giv’n; The wondrous name of Love.

Crown Him with many crowns; As thrones before Him fall;

Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, For He is king of all.

Text: Public domain


Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.


P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.


Confession of Sins

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.


Gloria in Excelsis

C To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

    Goodwill from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

    We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing—

    Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.


  To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

    O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

    Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry,

    Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high—


  For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

    Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

    You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

    In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.


Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. 

Almighty and eternal God, Your Son Jesus triumphed over the prince of demons and freed us from bondage to sin. Help us to stand firm against every assault of Satan, and enable us always to do Your will; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.



Old Testament Reading Genesis 3:8–15

8They heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” 10And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” 11He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” 12The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” 13Then the LORD God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” 14The LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.

15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1

  13Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak, 14knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 15For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

16So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. 17For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, 18as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

1For we know that if the tent, which is our earthly home, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.



Holy Gospel Mark 3:20–35

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the third chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

20Then [Jesus] went home, and the crowd gathered again, so that they could not even eat. 21And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” 23And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house.

28“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

31And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. 32And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you.” 33And he answered them, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn LSB 645 Built on the Rock

Built on the Rock the Church shall stand; Even when steeples are falling.

Crumbled have spires in ev’ry land; Bells still are chiming and calling,

Calling the young and old to rest, But above all the souls distressed,

Longing for rest everlasting.


Surely in temples made with hands; God, the Most High, is not dwelling;

High above earth His temple stands, All earthly temples excelling.

Yet He who dwells in heav’n above; Chooses to live with us in love,

Making our bodies His temple.


We are God’s house of living stones, Built for His own habitation.

He through baptismal grace us owns; Heirs of His wondrous salvation.

Were we but two His name to tell, Yet He would deign with us to dwell

With all His grace and His favor.


Here stands the font before our eyes, Telling how God has received us.

The_altar recalls Christ’s sacrifice And what His Supper here gives us.

Here sound the Scriptures that proclaim; Christ yesterday, today, the same,

And evermore, our Redeemer.


Grant, then, O God, Your will be done, That, when the church bells are ringing,

Many in saving faith may come; Where Christ His message is bringing:

“I know My own; My own know Me. You, not the world, My face shall see.

My peace I leave with you. Amen.”

Text: Public domain


Sermon – “A Lunatic, the Devil or God”


Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.


And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.


I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.


Benedicamus and Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.



Hymn LSB 922 Go, My Children, with My Blessing

Go, My children, with My blessing, Never alone.

Waking, sleeping, I am with you; You are My own.

In My love’s baptismal river; I have made you Mine forever.

Go, My children, with My blessing—You are My own.


Go, My children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure.

Here you learned how much I love you, What I can cure.

Here you heard My dear Son’s story; Here you touched Him, saw His glory.

Go, My children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure.


Go, My children, fed and nourished, Closer to Me;

Grow in love and love by serving, Joyful and free.

Here My Spirit’s power filled you; Here His tender comfort stilled you.

Go, My children, fed and nourished, Joyful and free.


I the Lord will bless and keep you; And give you peace;

I the Lord will smile upon you; And give you peace:

I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother.

Go, My children; I will keep you; And give you peace.

Text: © 1983 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114


 Holy Trinity Sunday - May 30, 2021


Hymn LSB 507 Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty! God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!


Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,

Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;

Cherubim and seraphim falling down before Thee,

Which wert and art and evermore shalt be.


Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,

Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see,

Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,

Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.


Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! 

All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea.

Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!

God in three persons, blessèd Trinity!

Text: Public domain


Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.


Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.


Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.


Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.


Collect of the Day

P Almighty and everlasting God, You have given us grace to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity by the confession of a true faith and to worship the Unity in the power of the Divine Majesty. Keep us steadfast in this faith and defend us from all adversities; for You, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, live and reign, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


First Reading: Isaiah 6:1–8

1In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. 3And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!” 4And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. 5And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

6Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

8And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: Acts 2:14a, 22–36

14Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, . . .

22“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25For David says concerning him,

“‘I saw the Lord always before me,

for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken;

26therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced;

my flesh also will dwell in hope.

27For you will not abandon my soul to Hades,

or let your Holy One see corruption.

28You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

29“Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

Sit at my right hand,

35until I make your enemies your footstool.’

36Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.


HOLY GOSPEL: John 3:1–17

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 3rd chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn LSB 571: God Loved the World So That He Gave

God loved the world so that He gave; His only Son the lost to save,

That all who would in Him believe; Should everlasting life receive.


Christ Jesus is the ground of faith, Who was made flesh and suffered death;

All then who trust in Him alone; Are built on this chief cornerstone.


God would not have the sinner die; His Son with saving grace is nigh;

His Spirit in the Word declares; How we in Christ are heaven’s heirs.


Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son; Forgives all sins which you have done;

And, justified by Jesus’ blood, Your Baptism grants the highest good.


If you are sick, if death is near, This truth your troubled heart can cheer:

Christ Jesus saves your soul from death; That is the firmest ground of faith.


D Glory to God the Father, Son, And Holy Spirit, Three in One!

   To You, O blessèd Trinity, Be praise now and eternally!

Text: Public domain



Sermon – “A Great Mystery”


Athanasian Creed

C Whoever desires to be saved must, above all, hold the catholic faith.

Whoever does not keep it whole and undefiled will without doubt perish eternally.

And the catholic faith is this,

that we worship one God in Trinity and Trinity in Unity, neither confusing the persons nor dividing the substance.

For the Father is one person, the Son is another, and the Holy Spirit is another.

But the Godhead of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit is one: the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit:

the Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, the Holy Spirit uncreated;

the Father infinite, the Son infinite, the Holy Spirit infinite;

the Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Holy Spirit eternal.

And yet there are not three Eternals, but one Eternal,

just as there are not three Uncreated or three Infinites, but one Uncreated and one Infinite.

In the same way, the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, the Holy Spirit almighty;

and yet there are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.

So the Father is God, the Son is God, the Holy Spirit is God;

and yet there are not three Gods, but one God.

So the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, the Holy Spirit is Lord;

and yet there are not three Lords, but one Lord.

Just as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge each distinct person as God and Lord, so also are we prohibited by the catholic religion to say that there are three Gods or Lords.

The Father is not made nor created nor begotten by anyone.

The Son is neither made nor created, but begotten of the Father alone.

The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son, neither made nor created nor begotten, but proceeding.

Thus, there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

And in this Trinity none is before or after another; none is greater or less than another;

but the whole three persons are coeternal with each other and coequal, so that in all things, as has been stated above, the Trinity in Unity and Unity in Trinity is to be worshiped.

Therefore, whoever desires to be saved must think thus about the Trinity.

But it is also necessary for everlasting salvation that one faithfully believe the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, it is the right faith that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is at the same time both God and man.

He is God, begotten from the substance of the Father before all ages; and He is man, born from the substance of His mother in this age:

perfect God and perfect man, composed of a rational soul and human flesh;

equal to the Father with respect to His divinity, less than the Father with respect to His humanity.

Although He is God and man, He is not two, but one Christ:

one, however, not by the conversion of the divinity into flesh, but by the assumption of the humanity into God;

one altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

For as the rational soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ,

who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead,

ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father, God Almighty, from whence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

At His coming all people will rise again with their bodies and give an account concerning their own deeds.

And those who have done good will enter into eternal life, and those who have done evil into eternal fire.

This is the catholic faith; whoever does not believe it faithfully and firmly cannot be saved.


Prayer of the Church

P Triune God in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


Service of the Sacrament

Preface

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.


P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.


P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.


P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who overcame the assaults of the devil and gave His life as a ransom for many that with cleansed hearts we might be prepared joyfully to celebrate the paschal feast in sincerity and truth. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus

C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;

Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.

Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;

Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!


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.


The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”


In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”


Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.


Agnus Dei

C Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.



Distribution of Holy Communion


Nunc Dimittis


C Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.


Thanksgiving

        A O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, 

        P And His mercy endureth forever.


Post-Communion Collect

P Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.


Benedicamus

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

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

C Amen, amen, amen.


Hymn LSB 504: Father Most Holy

Father most holy, merciful, and tender; Jesus, our Savior, with the Father reigning

Spirit of comfort, advocate, defender, Light never waning;


Trinity blessèd, unity unshaken, Goodness unbounded, very God of heaven,

Light of the angels, joy of those forsaken, Hope of all living,


Maker of all things, all Thy creatures praise Thee;

All for Thy worship were and are created; Now, as we also worship Thee devoutly,

Hear Thou our voices.


D Lord God Almighty, unto Thee be glory, One in three persons, over all exalted!

   Glory we offer, praise Thee and adore Thee, Now and forever.

Text: Public domain


 Day of Pentecost

Sunday, May 23, 2021


Opening Hymn - 913 O Holy Spirit, Enter In

O Holy Spirit, enter in, And in our hearts Your work begin,

Your dwelling place now make us. Sun of the soul, O Light divine,

Around and in us brightly shine, To joy and gladness wake us

That we may be Truly living, To You giving

Prayer unceasing; And in love be still increasing.


Give to Your Word impressive pow’r, That in our hearts from this good hour

As fire it may be glowing, That in true Christian unity

We faithful witnesses may be, Your glory ever showing.

Hear us, cheer us; By Your teaching; Let our preaching

And our labor; Praise You, Lord, and serve our neighbor.


O mighty Rock, O Source of life, Let Your dear Word, in doubt and strife,

In us be strongly burning; That we be faithful unto death

And live in love and holy faith, From You true wisdom learning.

Your grace and peace; On us shower; By Your power

Christ confessing, Let us see our Savior’s blessing.

Text: Public domain


Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the TSon and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 


Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. 

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.

   We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. 


Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.


This Is the Feast

C This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Power, riches, wisdom, and strength, and honor, blessing, and glory are His.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Sing with all the people of God, and join in the hymn of all creation:

Blessing, honor, glory, and might be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.


Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O God, on this day You once taught the hearts of Your faithful people by sending them the light of Your Holy Spirit. Grant us in our day by the same Spirit to have a right understanding in all things and evermore to rejoice in His holy consolation; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 37:1–14

  1The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.” 4Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. 5Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”

7So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. 9Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” 10So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.

11Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off.’ 12Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD.”


P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Special Music – “Come Down, Lord”


Epistle Reading : Acts 2:1–21

1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”

14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

17“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams;

18even on my male servants and female servants

in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.

19And I will show wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below,

  blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke;

20the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,

  before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day.

21And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”


P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? 

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.


Holy Gospel: John 15:26–27; 16:4b–15

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 15th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

  26[Jesus said:] “When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me. 27And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from the beginning. . . .

 “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”


P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn of the Day - 650 Holy Spirit, Ever Dwelling

Holy Spirit, ever dwelling; In the holiest realms of light;

Holy Spirit, ever brooding; O’er a world of gloom and night;

Holy Spirit, ever raising; Those of earth to thrones on high;

Living, life-imparting Spirit, You we praise and magnify.


Holy Spirit, ever living; As the Church’s very life;

Holy Spirit, ever striving; Through us in a ceaseless strife;

Holy Spirit, ever forming; In the Church the mind of Christ:

You we praise with endless worship; For Your gifts and fruits unpriced.


Holy Spirit, ever working; Through the Church’s ministry;

Quick’ning, strength’ning, and absolving, Setting captive sinners free;

Holy Spirit, ever binding; Age to age and soul to soul

In communion never ending, You we worship and extol.

Text: Public domain



Sermon – “Are You a Holy Spirit Filled Christian?”


Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.


And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.


I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.


Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.


Hymn to Depart - 503 O Day Full of Grace

O day full of grace that now we see; Appearing on earth’s horizon,

Bring light from our God that we may be; Replete in His joy this season.

God, shine for us now in this dark place; Your name on our hearts emblazon.


O day full of grace, O blessèd time, Our Lord on the earth arriving;

Then came to the world that light sublime, Great joy for us all retrieving;

For Jesus all mortals did embrace, All darkness and shame removing.


For Christ bore our sins, and not His own, When He on the cross was hanging;

And then He arose and moved the stone; That we, unto Him belonging,

Might join with angelic hosts to raise; Our voices in endless singing.


God came to us then at Pentecost, His Spirit new life revealing,

That we might no more from Him be lost, All darkness for us dispelling.

His flame will the mark of sin efface; And bring to us all His healing.


When we on that final journey go; That Christ is for us preparing,

We’ll gather in song, our hearts aglow, All joy of the heavens sharing,

And walk in the light of God’s own place, With angels His name adoring.

Text: © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

 \May 16, 2021 – Seventh Sunday of Easter


Hymn LSB 527 O Savior, Precious Savior

O Savior, precious Savior, Whom yet unseen we love;

O name of might and favor, All other names above,

We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing;

We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our holy Lord and King.


O bringer of salvation, Who wondrously hast wrought

Thyself the revelation; Of love beyond our thought,

We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing;

We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our gracious Lord and King.


In Thee all fullness dwelleth, All grace and pow’r divine;

The glory that excelleth, O Son of God, is Thine.

We worship Thee, we bless Thee, To Thee, O Christ, we sing;

We praise Thee and confess Thee, Our glorious Lord and King.


O grant the consummation; Of this our song above

In endless adoration; And everlasting love;

Then shall we praise and bless Thee; Where perfect praises ring,

And evermore confess Thee, Our Savior and our King!

Text: Public domain


Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.


P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.


Confession of Sins

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.


Gloria in Excelsis

C To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

    Goodwill from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

    We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing—

    Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.


  To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

    O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

    Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry,

    Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high—


  For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

    Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

    You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

    In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.


Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. 

O King of glory, Lord of hosts, uplifted in triumph far above all heavens, leave us not without consolation but send us the Spirit of truth whom You promised from the Father; for You live and reign with Him and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


First Reading Acts 1:12–26

  12Then [the apostles] returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

15In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18(Now this man bought a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20“For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and

“‘Let another take his office.’

21So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading 1 John 5:9–15

  9If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. 10Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. 11And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.

13I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. 14And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

C These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, 

the Son of God. 

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.



Holy Gospel John 17:11b–19

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the seventh chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

  [Jesus said:] “Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn LSB 575 My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less

My hope is built on nothing less;Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;

No merit of my own I claim; But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. Refrain


ref On Christ, the solid rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.


When darkness veils His lovely face, rest on His unchanging grace

In ev’ry high and stormy gale; My anchor holds within the veil. Refrain


His oath, His covenant and blood; Support me in the raging flood;

When ev’ry earthly prop gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. Refrain


When He shall come with trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found,

Clothed in His righteousness alone, Redeemed to stand before His throne! Refrain

Text: Public domain


Sermon – “Given the Word, staying in Truth”


Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.


And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.


And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.


Benedicamus and Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.


Hymn LSB 770 What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry; Ev’rything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit; Oh, what needless pain we bear—

All because we do not carry; Ev’rything to God in prayer!


Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful; Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our ev’ry weakness—Take it to the Lord in prayer.


Are we weak and heavy laden, Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee; Thou wilt find a solace there.

Text: Public domain



 Sixth Sunday of Easter - May 9, 2021


Hymn LSB 706: Love in Christ Is Strong and Living

Love in Christ is strong and living, Binding faithful hearts in one;

Love in Christ is true and giving. May His will in us be done.


Love is patient and forbearing, Clothed in Christ’s humility,

Gentle, selfless, kind, and caring, Reaching out in charity.


Love in Christ abides forever, Fainting not when ills attend;

Love, forgiving and forgiven, Shall endure until life’s end.

Text: © 1979 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114


Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.


Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.


Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.


Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.


Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.


Collect of the Day

P O God, the giver of all that is good, by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


First Reading: Acts 10:34–48

  34Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, 35but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. 36As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), 37you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: 38how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. 39And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree, 40but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear, 41not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. 43To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

44While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. 45And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. 46For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, 47“Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” 48And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading: 1 John 5:1–8

1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 2By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. 3For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. 4For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

6This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. 7For there are three that testify: 8the Spirit and the water and the blood; and these three agree.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.


HOLY GOSPEL: John 15:9–17

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 15th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

9[Jesus said:] “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. 17These things I command you, so that you will love one another.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn LSB 845: Where Charity and Love Prevail

Where charity and love prevail; There God is ever found;

Brought here together by Christ’s love; By love are we thus bound.


With grateful joy and holy fear; His charity we learn;

Let us with heart and mind and soul; Now love Him in return.


Forgive we now each other’s faults; As we our faults confess,

And let us love each other well; In Christian holiness.


Let strife among us be unknown; Let all contention cease;

Be God’s the glory that we seek; Be ours His holy peace.


Let us recall that in our midst; Dwells Christ, His only Son;

As members of His body joined; We are in Him made one.


For love excludes no race or clan; That names the Savior’s name;

His family embraces all; Whose Father is the same.

Text: © 1960 World Library Publications. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114



Sermon – “A Perfect Love”


Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.


And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.



I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


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

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.


Benedicamus

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

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

C Amen, amen, amen.


Hymn LSB 537: Beautiful Savior

Beautiful Savior, King of creation,

Son of God and Son of Man! Truly I’d love Thee,

Truly I’d serve Thee, Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.


Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands,

Robed in flow’rs of blooming spring; Jesus is fairer,

Jesus is purer, He makes our sorr’wing spirit sing.


Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight,

Bright the sparkling stars on high; Jesus shines brighter,

Jesus shines purer, Than all the angels in the sky.


Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,

Son of God and Son of Man! Glory and honor,

Praise, adoration; Now and forevermore be Thine!

Text: Public domain


Fifth Sunday of Easter

Sunday, May 2, 2021


Opening Hymn - LSB540 Christ, the Word of God Incarnate

Christ, the Word of God incarnate, Lord and Son of Abraham;

Christ, the radiance of the Father, Perfect God, the great I AM;

Christ, the light, You shine unvanquished, Light and life You bring to all;

Light our path with Your own presence, Grant us grace to heed Your call.


Christ, the living bread from heaven, Food for body, food for soul;

Christ, the manna daily given, Nourish, strengthen, make us whole.

Feed us with the food of heaven, Foretaste of the feast to be;

Quench our thirst with living water, Springing up eternally.


Christ, the shoot that springs triumphant, From the stump of Jesse’s tree;

Christ, true vine, You nurture branches; To bear fruit abundantly.

Graft us into You, O Savior; Prune our hearts so we remain

Fruitful branches in Your vineyard; Till eternal life we gain.


Christ, our good and faithful shepherd, Watching all Your lambs and sheep;

Christ, the gate that guards the sheepfold, Never-failing vigil keep.

When we stray, Good Shepherd, seek us, Find us, lift us, bear us home;

Lamb of God, our shepherd, keep us; Let us hear Your voice alone.


Christ, the way that leads unfailing; To the Father’s home on high,

Christ, the truth that frees the captive, Christ, the life that cannot die.

Mediator to the Father, Sacrifice and great High Priest:

Lead us to Your heav’nly mansions, There to share Your wedding feast.


Christ, the Alpha and Omega, Christ, the firstborn from the dead,

Christ, the life and resurrection, Christ, the Church’s glorious head:

Praise and thanks and adoration; And unending worship be

To the Father and the Spirit; And to You eternally.

Text: © 2001 Steven P. Mueller. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114


Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the TSon and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 


Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father. 

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.

   We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen. 


Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.


Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.


Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.

C Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father:

We worship You, we give You thanks, we praise You for Your glory.

Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God:

You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

You are seated at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer.

For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord,

You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit,

in the glory of God the Father. Amen.


Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. O God, You make the minds of Your faithful to be of one will. Grant that we may love what You have commanded and desire what You promise, that among the many changes of this world our hearts may be fixed where true joys are found; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.


First Reading: Acts 8:26–40

26An angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place. 27And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship 28and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.” 30So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32Now the passage of the Scripture that he was reading was this:

“Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter and like a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opens not his mouth. 33In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.” 34And the eunuch said to Philip, “About whom, I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?” 35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this Scripture he told him the good news about Jesus. 36And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?” 38And he commanded the chariot to stop, and they both went down into the water, Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him. 39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord carried Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. 40But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he passed through he preached the gospel to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Epistle Reading 1 John 4:1–21

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

7Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.


Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.


Holy Gospel: John 15:1–8

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 15th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

1[Jesus said:] “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.” 

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.


Hymn of the Day - LSB 691 Fruitful Trees, the Spirit’s Sowing

Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s sowing, May we ripen and increase,

Fruit to life eternal growing, Rich in love and joy and peace.


Laden branches freely bearing; Gifts the Giver loves to bless;

Here is fruit that grows by sharing, Patience, kindness, gentleness.


Rooted deep in Christ our Master, Christ our pattern and our goal,

Teach us, as the years fly faster, Goodness, faith, and self-control.


Fruitful trees, the Spirit’s tending, May we grow till harvests cease;

Till we taste, in life unending, Heaven’s love and joy and peace.

Text: © 1984 Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114



Sermon – “Jesus is THE True Vine”



Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

          and of all things visible and invisible.


And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

          and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.


And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.


Prayer of the Church

P Lord in your mercy,

C hear our prayer.


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.


Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.


Hymn to Depart – LSB 644 The Church’s One Foundation

The Church’s one foundation; Is Jesus Christ, her Lord;

She is His new creation; By water and the Word.

From heav’n He came and sought her; To be His holy bride;

With His own blood He bought her, And for her life He died.


Elect from ev’ry nation, Yet one o’er all the earth;

Her charter of salvation: One Lord, one faith, one birth.

One holy name she blesses, Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses; With ev’ry grace endued.


Though with a scornful wonder; The world sees her oppressed,

By schisms rent asunder, By heresies distressed,

Yet saints their watch are keeping; Their cry goes up, “How long?”

And soon the night of weeping; Shall be the morn of song.


Through toil and tribulation; And tumult of her war

She waits the consummation; Of peace forevermore

Till with the vision glorious; Her longing eyes are blest,

And the great Church victorious; Shall be the Church at rest.


Yet she on earth has union; With God, the Three in One,

And mystic sweet communion; With those whose rest is won.

O blessèd heav’nly chorus! Lord, save us by Your grace

That we, like saints before us, May see You face to face.

Text: Public domain



Martin Luther’s Speech at the Imperial Diet in Worms (18 April 1521)

1 Most Serene Emperor, Illustrious Princes, Gracious Lords:

2 I this day appear before you in all humility, according to your command, and I implore your

majesty and your august highnesses, by the mercies of God, to listen with favor to the defense of a cause

which I am well assured is just and right. I ask pardon, if by reason of my ignorance, I am wanting in the

manners that befit a court; for I have not been brought up in king’s palaces, but in the seclusion of a

cloister; and I claim no other merit than that of having spoken and written with the simplicity of mind

which regards nothing but the glory of God and the pure instruction of the people of Christ.

3 Two questions were yesterday put to me by his imperial majesty; the first, whether I was the

author of the books whose titles were read; the second, whether I wished to revoke or defend the doctrine

I have taught. I answered the first directly, and I adhere to that answer: that these books are mine and

published by me, except so far as they may have been altered or interpolated by the craft or officiousness

of opponents. As for the second question, I am now about to reply to it; and I must first entreat your

Majesty and your Highnesses to deign to consider that I have composed writings on very different

subjects. In some I have discussed Faith and Good Works, in a spirit at once so pure, clear, and Christian,

that even my adversaries themselves, far from finding anything to censure, confess that these writings are

profitable, and deserve to be perused by devout persons. The pope’s bull, violent as it is, acknowledges

this. What, then, should I be doing if I were now to retract these writings? Wretched man! I alone, of all

men living, should be abandoning truths approved by the unanimous voice of friends and enemies, and

should be opposing doctrines that the whole world glories in confessing!

4 I have composed, secondly, certain works against the papacy, wherein I have attacked such as by

false doctrines, irregular lives, and scandalous examples, afflict the Christian world, and ruin the bodies

and souls of men. And is not this confirmed by the grief of all who fear God? Is it not manifest that the

laws and human doctrines of the popes entangle, vex, and distress the consciences of the faithful, while

the crying and endless extortions of Rome engulf the property and wealth of Christendom, and more

particularly of this illustrious nation? Yet it is a perpetual statute that the laws and doctrines of the pope

be held erroneous and reprobate when they are contrary to the Gospel and the opinions of the church

fathers.

5 If I were to revoke what I have written on that subject, what should I do but strengthen this

tyranny, and open a wider door to so many and flagrant impieties? Bearing down all resistance with fresh

fury, we should behold these proud men swell, foam, and rage more than ever! And not merely would the

yoke which now weighs down Christians be made more grinding by my retractation it would thereby

become, so to speak, lawful, for, by my retractation, it would receive confirmation from your most serene

majesty, and all the States of the Empire. Great God! I should thus be like to an infamous cloak, used to

hide and cover over every kind of malice and tyranny.

6 In the third and last place, I have written some books against private individuals, who had

undertaken to defend the tyranny of Rome by destroying the faith. I freely confess that I may have

attacked such persons with more violence than was consistent with my profession as an ecclesiastic: I do

not think of myself as a saint; but neither can I retract these books. Because I should, by so doing,

sanction the impieties of my opponents, and they would thence take occasion to crush God’s people with

still more cruelty.

2

7 Yet, as I am a mere man, and not God, I will defend myself after the example of Jesus Christ, who

said: “If I have spoken evil, bear witness against me; but if well, why doest thou strike me?” (John

xviii:23). How much more should I, who am but dust and ashes, and so prone to error, desire that every

one should bring forward what he can against my doctrine. Therefore, most serene emperor, and you

illustrious princes, and all, whether high or low, who hear me, I implore you by the mercies of God to

prove to me by the writings of the prophets and apostles that I am in error. As soon as I shall be

convinced, I will instantly retract all my errors, and will myself be the first to seize my writings, and

commit them to the flames.

8 What I have just said will, I think, clearly show that I have well considered and weighed, not only

the dangers to which I am exposing myself, but also the parties and dissensions excited in the world by

means of my doctrine, of which I was yesterday so gravely admonished. But far from being dismayed by

them, I rejoice exceedingly to see the Gospel this day, as of old, a cause of disturbance and disagreement;

for such is the character and destiny of God’s word. “I came not to send peace unto the earth, but a

sword,” said Jesus Christ. “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter

against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s foees shall be those of

his own household.” (Matthew x:34-36)

9 God is wonderful and terrible in His counsels. Let us have a care, lest in our endeavors to arrest

discords, we be bound to fight against the holy word of God and bring down upon our heads a frightful

deluge of inextricable dangers, present disaster, and everlasting desolations. Let us have a care that the

reign of the young and noble prince, the Emperor Charles, on whom, next to God, we build so many

hopes, should not only commence, but continue and terminate its course, under the most favorable

auspices.

10 I might cite examples drawn from the oracles of God. I might speak of Pharaohs, of kings of

Babylon, or of Israel, who were never more contributing to their own ruin than when, by measures in

appearances most prudent, they thought to establish their authority! God removeth the mountains and they

know not (Job ix:5). In speaking thus, I do not suppose that such noble princes have need of my poor

judgment; but I wish to acquit myself of a duty whose fulfillment my native Germany has a right to

expect from her children. And so commending myself to your august majesty, and your most serene

highnesses, I beseech you in all humility, not to permit the hatred of my enemies to rain upon me an

indignation I have not deserved. I have done.

[Having delivered this speech in German, Luther was now asked to repeat it in Latin. After some

hesitation, he did so. He was then reminded that he should answer a simple question: whether he would

retract or not. Thus he continued:]

11 Since your most serene majesty and your high mightinesses require of me a simple, clear and

direct answer, I will give one, and it is this: I cannot submit my faith either to the pope or to the council,

because it is as clear as noonday that they have fallen into error and even into glaring inconsistency with

themselves. If, then, I am not convinced by proof from Holy Scripture, or by cogent reasons, if I am not

satisfied by the very text I have cited, and if my judgment is not in this way brought into subjection to

God’s word, I neither can nor will retract anything; for it cannot be either safe or honest for a Christian to

speak against his conscience. Here I stand; I cannot do otherwise; God help me! Amen.



Third Sunday of Easter - April 18, 2021

Hymn LSB 725: Children of the Heavenly Father

Children of the heav’nly Father; Safely in His bosom gather;

Nestling bird nor star in heaven; Such a refuge e’er was given.

God His own doth tend and nourish; In His holy courts they flourish.

From all evil things He spares them; In His mighty arms He bears them.

Neither life nor death shall ever; From the Lord His children sever;

Unto them His grace He showeth, And their sorrows all He knoweth.

Though He giveth or He taketh, God His children ne’er forsaketh;

His the loving purpose solely; To preserve them pure and holy.

Text: © Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.

Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Collect of the Day

P Let us pray. O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

First Reading: Acts 3:11–21

11While [the lame man who was now healed] clung to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s, astounded. 12And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.

17“And now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18But what God foretold by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ would suffer, he thus fulfilled. 19Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out, 20that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, 21whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets long ago.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 1 John 3:1–7

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.

4Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. 5You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin. 6No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL: Luke 24:36–49

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 24th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

36As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” 37But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. 38And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate before them.

44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn LSB 594: God’s Own Child, I Gladly Say It

God’s own child, I gladly say it: I am baptized into Christ!

He, because I could not pay it, Gave my full redemption price.

Do I need earth’s treasures many? I have one worth more than any

    That brought me salvation free. Lasting to eternity!

Sin, disturb my soul no longer: I am baptized into Christ!

I have comfort even stronger: Jesus’ cleansing sacrifice.

Should a guilty conscience seize me, Since my Baptism did release me

    In a dear forgiving flood, Sprinkling me with Jesus’ blood?

Satan, hear this proclamation: I am baptized into Christ!

Drop your ugly accusation, I am not so soon enticed.

Now that to the font I’ve traveled, All your might has come unraveled,

    And, against your tyranny, God, my Lord, unites with me!

Death, you cannot end my gladness: I am baptized into Christ!

When I die, I leave all sadness, To inherit paradise!

Though I lie in dust and ashes, Faith’s assurance brightly flashes:

    Baptism has the strength divine, To make life immortal mine.

There is nothing worth comparing, To this lifelong comfort sure!

Open-eyed my grave is staring: Even there I’ll sleep secure.

Though my flesh awaits its raising, Still my soul continues praising:

    I am baptized into Christ; I’m a child of paradise!

Text: © 1991 Robert E. Voelker. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Sermon – “We are God’s Children!”

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

     begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

     and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.

Heavenly Father, in this Easter season You have provided us with the pure joy of Your Son’s resurrection and the joy of repentance and forgiveness. Cheer all those who struggle with depression, loneliness, and shame, so that they be assured of Your infinite mercies, which are new every morning. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord, we live in a world where many people do not believe in the resurrection of Your Son. Inspire us to share the joys of Your Son’s resurrection with those who doubt and disbelieve, so that they come to repentant joy. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord, raise up pastors, missionaries, teachers, and musicians so that Your Word of forgiveness and life touch those who do not believe and strengthen the faith of Your Church. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord, send healing and care to all who are sick, injured, and recovering. Strengthen them with Your healing hand and restore them to health. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord, many grieve and mourn the death of loved ones. Stand among them and speak Your Word of peace that passes all understanding. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Lord, every moment of joy comes from You. We thank You for the blessings You have poured out upon us. We rejoice with those who rejoice. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Into Your hands we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in Your mercy, through Jesus Christ, our risen Lord.

C Amen.

Service of the Sacrament

Preface

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

       P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. And most especially are we bound to praise You on this day for the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the very Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us and bore the sins of the world. By His dying He has destroyed death, and by His rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus

C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;

Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.

Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;

Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

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.

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My T body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My T blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

Agnus Dei

C Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Nunc Dimittis

C Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Thanksgiving

        A O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good,

        P And His mercy endureth forever.

Post-Communion Collect

P Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Benedicamus

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

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

C Amen, amen, amen.

Hymn LSB 700: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heav’n, to earth come down!

Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure, unbounded love Thou art;

Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter ev’ry trembling heart.

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit, Into ev’ry troubled breast;

Let us all in Thee inherit; Let us find Thy promised rest.

Take away the love of sinning; Alpha and Omega be;

End of faith, as its beginning, Set our hearts at liberty.

Come, Almighty, to deliver; Let us all Thy life receive;

Suddenly return, and never, Nevermore Thy temples leave.

Thee we would be always blessing, Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,

Pray and praise Thee without ceasing, Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish then Thy new creation, Pure and spotless let us be;

Let us see Thy great salvation, Perfectly restored in Thee,

Changed from glory into glory, Till in heav’n we take our place,

Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love, and praise!

Text: Public domain




Second Sunday in Easter

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Opening Hymn - O Sons and Daughters of the King LSB470

O sons and daughters of the King, Whom heav’nly hosts in glory sing,

Today the grave has lost its sting! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

That night the_apostles met in fear; Among them came their master dear

And said, “My peace be with you here.” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

When Thomas first the tidings heard; That they had seen the risen Lord,

He doubted the disciples’ word. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

 “My piercèd side, O Thomas, see, And look upon My hands, My feet;

Not faithless but believing be.” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

No longer Thomas then denied; He saw the feet, the hands, the side;

“You are my Lord and God!” he cried. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

How blest are they who have not seen; And yet whose faith has constant been,

For they eternal life shall win. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.

   We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

Almighty God, grant that we who have celebrated the Lord’s resurrection may by Your grace confess in our life and conversation that Jesus is Lord and God; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

First Reading: Acts 4:32–35

  32The full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. 33And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. 34There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold 35and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading 1 John 1:1—2:2

1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

5This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

1My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Common

C Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia, alleluia.

Holy Gospel: John 20:19–31

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the 20th chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

19On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23If you forgive the sins of anyone, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld.”

24Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - These Things Did Thomas Count as Real LSB472

These things did Thomas count as real:

The warmth of blood, the chill of steel,

The grain of wood, the heft of stone,

The last frail twitch of flesh and bone.

The vision of his skeptic mind

Was keen enough to make him blind

To any unexpected act

Too large for his small world of fact.

His reasoned certainties denied

That one could live when one had died,

Until his fingers read like braille

The markings of the spear and nail.

May we, O God, by grace believe

And thus the risen Christ receive,

Whose raw imprinted palms reached out

And beckoned Thomas from his doubt.

Text: © 1984 Oxford University Press. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Sermon – “Real and Effective”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Service of the Sacrament

Preface

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who overcame the assaults of the devil and gave His life as a ransom for many that with cleansed hearts we might be prepared joyfully to celebrate the paschal feast in sincerity and truth. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus

C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;

Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.

Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;

Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

P Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

At Your command, Abraham prepared to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on the mountain; yet, in mercy You provided a ram as a substitute. We give You thanks that on Calvary You spared not Your only Son but sent Him to offer His life as a ransom for many.

As we eat and drink His body and blood, grant us, like Abraham our father, to trust in Your promise now fulfilled in Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

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.

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

Agnus Dei

C Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Nunc Dimittis

C Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Post-Communion Collect

P Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.

Hymn to Depart - Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise LSB917

Savior, again to Thy dear name we raise

With one accord our parting hymn of praise;

Once more we bless Thee ere our worship cease,

Then, lowly bending, wait Thy word of peace.

Grant us Thy peace upon our homeward way;

With Thee began, with Thee shall end, the day.

Guard Thou the lips from sin, the hearts from shame,

That in this house have called upon Thy name.

Grant us Thy peace, Lord, through the coming night;

Turn Thou for us its darkness into light.

From harm and danger keep Thy children free;

For dark and light are both alike to Thee.

Grant us Thy peace throughout our earthly life,

Our balm in sorrow and our stay in strife;

Then, when Thy voice shall bid our conflict cease,

Call us, O Lord, to Thine eternal peace.



Service Outline – April 4, 2021

HYMN LSB 465 “Now All the Vault of Heaven Resounds”

Now all the vault of heav’n resounds, in praise of love that still abounds:

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

Sing, choirs of angels, loud and clear! Repeat their song of glory here:

“Christ has triumphed! Christ has triumphed!” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Eternal is the gift He brings, therefore our heart with rapture sings:

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!”

Now still He comes to give us life, and by His presence stills all strife.

Christ has triumphed! He is living! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

O fill us, Lord, with dauntless love; set heart and will on things above

That we conquer through Your triumph;

Grant grace sufficient for life’s day, that by our lives we truly say:

“Christ has triumphed! He is living!” Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Adoring praises now we bring, and with the heav’nly blessed sing:

“Christ has triumphed! Alleluia!”

Be to the Father and our Lord, to Spirit blest, most holy God,

All the glory, never ending! Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!

Text: © 1958 Augsburg Publishing House. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

INVOCATION

P In the name of the Father and of the  Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

OPENING SENTENCES

P Alleluia! Christ is risen!

C He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

P Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

C Death is swallowed up in victory!

P O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?

C Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

P “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no

longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the

life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and

alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:8–11

C “I caused Your grief and sighing by evils multiplying as countless as the

sands.” It was our sin that caused Christ to die to ransom us from the death of

sin. By the power of Your death and resurrection, Lord Jesus, forgive us and

raise us to new life.

P The risen Jesus is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

Whoever believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. In the stead

and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of

the Father and of the  Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

COLLECT OF THE DAY

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus

Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant

that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from

the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and

reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 25:6-9

6On this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all peoples

a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine,

of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

7And he will swallow up on this mountain

the covering that is cast over all peoples,

the veil that is spread over all nations.

8He will swallow up death forever;

and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces,

and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth,

for the LORD has spoken.

9It will be said on that day,

 “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us.

This is the LORD; we have waited for him;

let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE READING 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

ALLELUIA and VERSE

P Alleluia!

C Alleluia! Christ Jesus abolished death

P and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.

C Alleluia!

HOLY GOSPEL Mark 16:1–8

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the sixteenth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

1When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

HYMN LSB 461 “I Know That My Redeemer Lives”

I know that my Redeemer lives; what comfort this sweet sentence gives!

He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever-living head.

He lives triumphant from the grave; He lives eternally to save;

He lives all-glorious in the sky; He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love; He lives to plead for me above;

He lives my hungry soul to feed; He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply; He lives to guide me with His eye;

He lives to comfort me when faint; He lives to hear my soul’s complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears; He lives to wipe away my tears;

He lives to calm my troubled heart; He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heav’nly friend; He lives and loves me to the end;

He lives, and while He lives, I’ll sing; He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death;

He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name! He lives, my Jesus, still the same;

Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives: I know that my Redeemer lives!

Text: Public domain

SERMON – “Alleluia! Christ is Risen!”

HYMN LSB 466 “Christ Has Arisen, Alleluia”

Christ has arisen, alleluia. Rejoice and praise Him, alleluia.

For our Redeemer burst from the tomb, even from death, dispelling its gloom. Refrain

Refrain Let us sing praise to Him with endless joy;

Death’s fearful sting He has come to destroy.

     Our sin forgiving, alleluia! Jesus is living, alleluia!

For three long days the grave did its worst, until its strength by God was dispersed.

He who gives life did death undergo; and in its conquest His might did show. Refrain

The angel said to them, “Do not fear! You look for Jesus who is not here.

See for yourselves the tomb is all bare; only the grave cloths are lying there.” Refrain

“Go spread the news: He’s not in the grave; He has arisen this world to save.

Jesus’ redeeming labors are done; even the battle with sin is won.” Refrain

Christ has arisen; He sets us free; Alleluia, to Him praises be.

Jesus is living! Let us all sing; He reigns triumphant, heavenly King. Refrain

Text: © 1977 Howard S. Olson. Used by permission: CPH Limited Promotional License no. 119000000

NICENE CREED

C I believe in one God,

   the Father Almighty,

   maker of heaven and earth

      and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

   the only-begotten Son of God,

   begotten of His Father before all worlds,

   God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made,

   being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made;

   who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

   and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man;

   and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

   He suffered and was buried.

   And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

      and ascended into heaven

   and sits at the right hand of the Father.

   And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

   whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

   the Lord and giver of life,

   who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

   who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

   who spoke by the prophets.

   And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

   I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

   and I look for the resurrection of the dead

   and the life  of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P Having been sent through our Baptism by the risen Christ to proclaim good news to

the world, let us pray for the whole Church and for all people. Almighty God, we give

You the highest praise and thanksgiving for breaking into our world in the incarnation

of Christ, His atoning death, and His most glorious resurrection from the dead. We

worship You and we give You thanks for Your great glory. By Your power and defeat of

death grant us faith, forgiveness, and new life. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Give to Your whole Church on earth both the fear and the joy of bearing witness to

Christ’s resurrection each in their own community, family, and vocation. Lord, in Your

mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Bless the preaching of Your Word with resurrection power that many may come to a

constantly renewed repentance and faith and that the bright light of Your truth may

shine through our lives. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P May the witness of Your Church cause an increase of justice, peace, and defense

against all evil by those in position of authority in government and of all who serve to

preserve and protect our citizens. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Of Your great love, grant healing, peace and comfort to all who are ill, to the injured,

and to the dying by Your great promise of forgiveness and eternal life. Lord, in Your

mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P Receive these our prayers and praises for the sake of our risen Lord Jesus Christ,

who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever,

C Amen.

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.

BENEDICTION

P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and  give you peace.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 457 “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today”

Jesus Christ is ris’n today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!

Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia! Unto Christ, our heav’nly king, Alleluia!

Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia! Sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia! Our salvation have procured; Alleluia!

Now above the sky He’s king, Alleluia! Where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

Sing we to our God above, Alleluia! Praise eternal as His love; Alleluia!

Praise Him, all ye heav’nly host, Alleluia! Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Alleluia!

Text: Public domain



Good Friday Service Outline – April 2, 2021

Hymn LSB 451 “Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted”

Stricken, smitten, and afflicted, see Him dying on the tree!

’Tis the Christ, by man rejected; yes, my soul, ’tis He, ’tis He!

’Tis the long-expected Prophet, David’s Son, yet David’s Lord;

Proofs I see sufficient of it: ’Tis the true and faithful Word.

Tell me, ye who hear Him groaning, was there ever grief like His?

Friends through fear His cause disowning, foes insulting His distress;

Many hands were raised to wound Him, none would intervene to save;

But the deepest stroke that pierced Him was the stroke that justice gave.

Ye who think of sin but lightly, nor suppose the evil great

Here may view its nature rightly, here its guilt may estimate.

Mark the sacrifice appointed, see who bears the awful load;

’Tis the Word, the Lord’s anointed, Son of Man and Son of God.

Here we have a firm foundation, here the refuge of the lost:

Christ, the Rock of our salvation, is the name of which we boast;

Lamb of God, for sinners wounded, sacrifice to cancel guilt!

None shall ever be confounded, who on Him their hope have built.

Text: Public domain

INVOCATION

P In the name of the Father and of the  Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION

P Throughout these days of Lent, we have solemnly and reflectively followed Jesus’ mission

for the salvation of the world. As we confront the culmination of Jesus’ Passion, we are

compelled to face the harsh reality of our sin and the brokenness that it brings.

C Lord God, we need Your grace. We need Your forgiveness. We have failed to follow

Your will. We have refused to obey Your law. We are unable to fulfill Your plan. We are

crushed under the weight of our sin, and the harsh reality of sin’s horror hangs heavy

around us. It is sin that made the cross necessary. It is our sin that required the

Savior’s death. Lord, we need Your grace. We need Your forgiveness.

P We need a Savior. It was sin that made the cross necessary, but it was love that drove

Jesus to the cross and held Him there. It was love for you. Because of His love and His

perfect sacrifice, your sins have been covered. The debt has been paid. The burden has been

removed. As you hear and experience that reality tonight, you know throughout that you have

God’s grace. You have God’s forgiveness in the name of the Father and of the  Son and of

the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

P Let us pray. Almighty God, graciously be with us for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was

willing to be betrayed, to be given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death on the cross

that He might draw the whole world to Himself. Grant that we who glory in His death for our

forgiveness and life may also glory in His call to take up our cross and follow Him; through

Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God,

now and forever.

C Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Isaiah 52:13—53:12

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely;

he shall be high and lifted up,

and shall be exalted.

14 As many were astonished at you—

his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,

and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—

15 so shall he sprinkle many nations;

kings shall shut their mouths because of him;

for that which has not been told them they see,

and that which they have not heard they understand.

1 Who has believed what they heard from us?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,

and like a root out of dry ground;

he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,

and no beauty that we should desire him.

3 He was despised and rejected by men;

a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;

and as one from whom men hide their faces

he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;

yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But he was wounded for our transgressions;

he was crushed for our iniquities;

upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,

and with his stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

we have turned every one to his own way;

and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,

yet he opened not his mouth;

like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,

and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,

so he opened not his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;

and as for his generation, who considered

that he was cut off out of the land of the living,

stricken for the transgression of my people?

9 And they made his grave with the wicked

and with a rich man in his death,

although he had done no violence,

and there was no deceit in his mouth.

10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him;

he has put him to grief;

when his soul makes an offering for sin,

he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;

the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

11 Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;

by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,

make many to be accounted righteous,

and he shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,

and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,

because he poured out his soul to death

and was numbered with the transgressors;

yet he bore the sin of many,

and makes intercession for the transgressors.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

APOSTLE’S CREED

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life  everlasting. Amen.

SERMON – “God’s Servant Suffered For You”

We are now going to begin the part of the service called Tenebrae, meaning

“darkness” or “shadows.” It has been practiced by the church as early as the 7 th

Century. It began as a service for the monastic community, however, Tenebrae later

became an important part of the worship for all believers during Holy Week. We join

Christians of many generations throughout the world in using the liturgy of Tenebrae.

As the congregation sings a verse of O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken

LSB 439, the first candle is extinguished. As the following five candles are

extinguished, the congregation sings another verse of the same hymn. The seventh

candle, the Paschal Candle will be taken from the sanctuary as the final verse is sung.

The Paschal Candle will be returned extinguished.

 SERVICE OF TENEBRAE 

THE FIRST WORD Luke 23:32–34a (“Father, forgive them . . .”)

32  Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.  33  And when they

came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on

his right and one on his left.  34  And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what

they do.” 

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

P Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Prince of Peace. When You were mocked, You did not

respond with harsh words. When You were tormented, You did not react in anger. When You

were nailed to the cross, You prayed for the forgiveness of those who caused You to suffer.

Give to us the virtues of gentleness, patience, and a forgiving spirit. Teach us also to love our

enemies, and as children of the heavenly Father, to live in Your peace.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 439 “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken” Verse 1

O dearest Jesus, what law hast Thou broken

That such sharp sentence should on Thee be spoken?

Of what great crime hast Thou to make confession, what dark transgression?

THE SECOND WORD Luke 23:35–43 (“Today you will be with Me in paradise.”)

35  And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved

others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”  36  The soldiers also

mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine  37  and saying, “If you are the King of the

Jews, save yourself!”  38  There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.”

39  One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save

yourself and us!”  40  But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are

under the same sentence of condemnation?  41  And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the

due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.”  42  And he said, “Jesus,

remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43  And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you,

today you will be with me in paradise.”

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

P Lord Jesus Christ, in Your infinite mercy, You heard the plea of the dying thief on the cross

next to You. We pray that You would open our hearts to welcome those who turn to You, and

rejoice in their salvation. When our last hour comes, hold us firm in our faith, and bring us also

to live with You in paradise.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 439 “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken” Verse 7

O wondrous love, whose depth no heart hath sounded,

That brought Thee here, by foes and thieves surrounded!

All worldly pleasures, heedless, I was trying, while Thou wert dying.

THE THIRD WORD John 19:25–27 (“Here is your son . . . here is your mother.”)

25  but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of

Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.  26  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved

standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” 27  Then he said to the

disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

P Lord Jesus Christ, while You suffered the agony of the cross, Your thoughts turned to the

welfare of others. Your concern was for Your mother in her sorrow. We pray that You would

regard with pity all parents who mourn the death of their children, and all parents who sorrow

because their children have gotten into trouble or forsaken their faith. By the power of Your

healing, we pray that parents and children know peace and that relationships be restored.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 439 “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken” Verse 11

But since my strength will nevermore suffice me

To crucify desires that still entice me,

To all good deeds O let Thy Spirit win me, and reign within me!

THE FOURTH WORD Matthew 27:45–47(“My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”)

45  Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46  And

about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema

sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  47  And some of the

bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

P Lord God, Father of all people and Creator of all that exists, You hold all people in Your

power. We pray that You would not forsake the world that Your Son died to redeem. Even

though we still see the influence of sin and evil all around us, assure us of Your continued

presence in our midst. Help us to know Your love in our lives, so we can show Your presence

to others.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 439 “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken” Verse 3

Whence come these sorrows, whence this mortal anguish?

It is my sins for which Thou, Lord, must languish;

Yea, all the wrath, the woe, Thou dost inherit, this I do merit.

THE FIFTH WORD John 19:28–29 (“I thirst.”)

28  After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”  29  A

jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch

and held it to his mouth.

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

P Lord Jesus Christ, You endured not only spiritual anguish but also physical pain on the

cross in our place. We thirst for the healing that only You can provide. When we find

ourselves suffering, give us peace and patience to endure the pain that comes our way. Bring

to our minds all that You endured for us, and give us the strength to bear our burdens by the

grace of Your holy example.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 439 “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken” Verse 2

They crown Thy head with thorns, they smite, they scourge Thee;

With cruel mockings to the cross they urge Thee;

They give Thee gall to drink, they still decry Thee; they crucify Thee.

THE SIXTH WORD John 19:30 (“It is finished.”)

  30  When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head

and gave up his spirit.

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

P Lord Jesus Christ, You are the Author and Finisher of our faith. You did not stop short of

finishing the task given to You by Your Father for the sake of us and the world. We pray that

You would complete in us also everything that You intend for us, so that as children of the

heavenly Father, we may live for His glory.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 439 “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken” Verse 4

What punishment so strange is suffered yonder!

The Shepherd dies for sheep that loved to wander;

The Master pays the debt His servants owe Him, who would not know Him.

THE SEVENTH WORD Luke 23:44–46 (“Into Your hands I commit My spirit.”)

44  It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth

hour, 45  while the sun's light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.  46  Then

Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And

having said this he breathed his last.

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

PRAYER

P Lord Jesus Christ, as You gave Your life on the cross in our place, You commended Your

spirit into the loving hands of Your heavenly Father. Give us the grace to trust in You for all

things. When our last hour comes, grant us peace, that we may close our eyes with

confidence, knowing that we also will dwell forever in the hands of our heavenly Father.

C Amen.

HYMN LSB 439 “O Dearest Jesus, What Law Hast Thou Broken” Verse 12

I’ll think upon Thy mercy without ceasing,

That earth’s vain joys to me no more be pleasing;

To do Thy will shall be my sole endeavor, henceforth forever.

READING John 19:38–42 (The burial of Jesus)

38  After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of

the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him

permission. So he came and took away his body.  39  Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to

Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in

weight.  40  So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the

burial custom of the Jews.  41  Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden,

and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.  42  So because of the

Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

P O Lord, have mercy on us. C Thanks be to God.

HYMN LSB 449 “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded”

O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,

Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown.

O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss, till now was Thine!

Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.

What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;

Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;

Look on me with Thy favor, and grant to me Thy grace.

What language shall I borrow, to thank Thee, dearest Friend,

For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?

O make me Thine forever! And should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never, outlive my love for Thee.

Be Thou my consolation, my shield, when I must die;

Remind me of Thy passion, when my last hour draws nigh.

Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,

My heart by faith enfold Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.

Text: © 1941 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: CPH Limited Promotional License no. 119000000

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.

STREPITUS

The loud, sudden sound following the Lord’s Prayer is to symbolize the death of Jesus and

the closing of the tomb. As we depart from this service in silent meditation, we remember our

need for deliverance and forgiveness and the price paid for achieving and fulfilling God’s

promises. It is finished.

SILENCE FOR MEDITATION



Maundy Thursday Service Outline – April 1, 2021

Hymn LSB 445 “When You Woke That Thursday Morning”

When You woke that Thursday morning, Savior, teacher, faithful friend,

Thoughts of self and safety scorning, knowing how the day would end;

Lamb of God, foretold for ages, now at last the hour had come

When but One could pay sin’s wages: You assumed their dreadful sum.

Never so alone and lonely, longing with tormented heart

To be with Your dear ones only, for a quiet hour apart:

Sinless Lamb and fallen creature, one last paschal meal to eat,

One last lesson as their teacher, washing Your disciples’ feet.

What was there that You could give them, that would never be outspent,

What great gift that would outlive them, what last will and testament?

“Show Me and the world you love Me, know Me as the Lamb of God:

Do this in remembrance of Me, eat this body, drink this blood.”

One in faith, in love united, all one body, You the head,

When we meet, by You invited, You are with us, as You said.

One with You and one another, in a unity sublime,

See in us Your sister, brother, one in ev’ry place and time.

One day all the Church will capture, that bright vision glorious,

And Your saints will know the rapture, that Your heart desired for us,

When the longed-for peace and union, of the Greatest and the least

Meet in joyous, blest communion, in Your never-ending feast.

Text: © 1991 Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: CPH Limited Promotional License no. 119000000

Invocation, Confession & Absolution

P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and

cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have

sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we

have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our

neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For

the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead

us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy

name. Amen.

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you

all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore

forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. O Lord, in this wondrous Sacrament You have left us a remembrance of Your

passion. Grant that we may so receive the sacred mystery of Your body and blood that the

fruits of Your redemption may continually be manifest in us; for You live and reign with the

Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading Exodus 24:3-11

3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD and all the just decrees. And

all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the LORD has spoken we

will do.”  4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the LORD. He rose early in the morning and

built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of

Israel.  5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and

sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD.  6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in

basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar.  7 Then he took the Book of the

Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the LORD has

spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.”  8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the

people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in

accordance with all these words.”

9 Then Moses and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel went

up,  10 and they saw the God of Israel. There was under his feet as it were a pavement of

sapphire stone, like the very heaven for clearness.  11 And he did not lay his hand on the chief

men of the people of Israel; they beheld God, and ate and drank.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading 1 Corinthians 11:23-32

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night

when he was betrayed took bread,  24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said,

“This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”  25 In the same way also he

took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as

often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”  26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink

the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.

27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy

manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord.  28 Let a person examine

himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  29 For anyone who eats and drinks

without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.  30 That is why many of you

are weak and ill, and some have died.  31 But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be

judged.  32 But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be

condemned along with the world.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Gospel Reading John 13:1-17; 31b-35

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the thirteenth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

1 Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart

out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to

the end.  2 During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot,

Simon’s son, to betray him,  3 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his

hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God,  4 rose from supper. He

laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.  5 Then he poured

water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that

was wrapped around him.  6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, do you wash my

feet?”  7 Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you

will understand.”  8 Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I

do not wash you, you have no share with me.”  9 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet

only but also my hands and my head!”  10 Jesus said to him, “The one who has bathed does not

need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every

one of you.”  11 For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are

clean.”

12 When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place,

he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you?  13 You call me Teacher and

Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  14 If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,

you also ought to wash one another’s feet.  15 For I have given you an example, that you also

should do just as I have done to you.  16 Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than

his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.  17 If you know these things,

blessed are you if you do them. . . .

“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.  32 If God is glorified in him,

God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.  33 Little children, yet a little while I

am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you,

‘Where I am going you cannot come.’  34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one

another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  35 By this all people will

know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn LSB 446 “Jesus, Greatest at the Table”

Jesus, greatest at the table, the almighty Son of Man,

Laid aside His outer clothing, poured some water in a pan;

As the Twelve lay, hushed in silence, He the servant’s task began.

Marvel how their Lord and teacher, gently taught them not to vie

As He humbly knelt before them, dusty feet to wash and dry,

By His tender touch expressing, true compassion from on high.

Jesus took the role of servant, when upon that gruesome span,

For all human sin He suffered, as a vile and loathsome man;

On the cross poured out like water, to fulfill the Father’s plan.

Can we fathom such deep mercy? Do we see what God has done?

Who can grasp this great reversal: love that gives His only Son?

Christ, the sinless for the sinners, for the many dies the One.

Jesus gave to His disciples, a commandment that was new:

“Show My love to one another, Do as I have done for you;

All the world will know you love Me, as you love each other too.”

Text: © 2001 Stephen P. Starke, admin. Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission: CPH Limited Promotional License no.

119000000

Sermon – “We Need to Be Washed By Jesus”

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things

visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father

before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not

made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for

us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy

Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under

Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according

to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose

kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father

and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who

spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I

acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of

the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Father, on the night when He was betrayed, Christ Jesus humbled Himself to stoop down

and bathe His disciples’ feet, even the feet of the one who would betray Him. Grant us the

fervent desire to embody this attitude of service and kindness to all that the love of Christ may

abound through all our speech and actions. Hear our prayer and

C humble us, O Lord.

P On this night, Christ prayed that His disciples would be one in faith. He prayed for those

who would hear His disciples’ proclamation, that all would come to know that You sent Him

into the world to be the light of the world. Just as Christ encouraged others to boldly proclaim

the message of salvation, so also hear our prayer and

C renew our witness, O Lord.

P On this night, Christ acknowledged the world’s hatred and persecution of those who

confess Him as Lord and Savior. Heavenly Father, fix our eyes constantly on Jesus, that we

may remain steadfast in the midst of strife and harassment. Hear our prayer and

C grant us Your peace.

P On this night, Your Son and our Savior gave us His last will and testament, giving us His

true body and blood that we receive Him for the forgiveness of sins and nourishment of faith.

Give us truly penitent hearts. Cleanse us and feed us with the precious body and blood of

Your Son, that we live godly lives and boldly resound with the one true confession of faith with

the whole company of saints, in heaven and on earth.

C Amen.

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.

Hymn LSB 434 “Lamb of God, Pure and Holy”

Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer,

Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer.

All sins Thou borest for us, else had despair reigned o’er us:

Have mercy on us, O Jesus! O Jesus!

Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer,

Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer.

All sins Thou borest for us, else had despair reigned o’er us:

Have mercy on us, O Jesus! O Jesus!

Lamb of God, pure and holy, Who on the cross didst suffer,

Ever patient and lowly, Thyself to scorn didst offer.

All sins Thou borest for us, else had despair reigned o’er us:

Thy peace be with us, O Jesus! O Jesus!

Text: Public domain

Stripping of the Altar

P After our Lord had instituted the Sacrament and they had sung a hymn, He went out to

Gethsemane to await the unfolding of the plan set in motion. As we hear the psalm—which

Jesus prayed and fulfilled on the cross—the linens, paraments, ornaments, and candles will

be removed from the chancel, symbolizing the abuse our Lord endured in the hours that

followed.

Reading Psalm 22

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Why are You so far from saving Me, from the words of My groaning?

O My God, I cry by day, but You do not answer,

and by night, but I find no rest.

Yet You are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.

In You our fathers trusted;

they trusted, and You delivered them.

To You they cried and were rescued;

in You they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man,

scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

All who see Me mock Me;

they make mouths at Me; they wag their heads;

“He trusts in the LORD; let Him deliver Him;

let Him rescue Him, for He delights in Him!”

Yet You are He who took Me from the womb;

You made me trust You at My mother’s breasts.

On You was I cast from My birth,

and from My mother’s womb You have been My God.

Be not far from Me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help.

Many bulls encompass Me; strong bulls of Bashan surround Me;

they open wide their mouths at Me, like a ravening and roaring lion.

I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax; it is melted within My breast;

My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

and My tongue sticks to My jaws;

you lay Me in the dust of death.

For dogs encompass Me;

a company of evildoers encircles Me;

they have pierced My hands and feet—

I can count all My bones—they stare and gloat over Me;

they divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.

But You, O LORD, do not be far off!

O You My help, come quickly to My aid!

Deliver My soul from the sword,

My precious life from the power of the dog!

Save Me from the mouth of the lion!

You have rescued Me from the horns of the wild oxen!

I will tell of Your name to My brothers;

in the midst of the congregation I will praise You:

You who fear the LORD, praise Him!

All you offspring of Jacob, glorify Him,

and stand in awe of Him, all you offspring of Israel!

For He has not despised or abhorred

the affliction of the afflicted,

and He has not hidden His face from Him,

but has heard, when He cried to Him.

From You comes My praise in the great congregation;

My vows I will perform before those who fear Him.

The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied;

those who seek Him shall praise the LORD!

May your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations shall worship before You.

For kingship belongs to the LORD, and He rules over the nations.

All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship;

before Him shall bow all who go down to the dust,

even the one who could not keep himself alive.

Posterity shall serve Him;

it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation;

they shall come and proclaim His righteousness to a people yet unborn,

that He has done it.

The service ends in silence. The lights are dimmed.



PALM SUNDAY / SUNDAY OF THE PASSION

March 28, 2021

AS WE GATHER

Palms and passion hardly seem to fit together but in Jesus they do. The palms welcomed Jesus to the triumph of suffering that paid the full price of our sin, and the hosannas cried out to Him who exchanged His life for death that we might live. There are no palms and hosannas that do not end in the cross, and there is no passion that does not lead us to faith and to rejoice in what His suffering accomplished. Our Lord came to the cross not as an unwilling victim but as the One who alone surrendered His life into death. We do not come to the Lord under coercion or as people compelled but at the bidding of the Gospel and by the power of the Holy Spirit! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

INVOCATION

Pastor: In the name of the Father and of the  Son and of the Holy Spirit.

People: Amen.

Pastor: Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.

People: Hosanna in the highest!

Pastor: Brothers and sisters in Christ: In the five weeks of Lent, we have been preparing for this week, for the events of our Lord’s death and resurrection. The great and wondrous paschal mystery now lies before us as we enter with Christ with palms and hosannas before He confronts the cross. Everything in Lent points to this week. As we commemorate how our Lord entered to the welcome of palms and hosannas, we also remember His death, which gives us life, and His resurrection, through which we dwell with Him for all eternity.

PALM SUNDAY GOSPEL John 12:12–19

Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the twelfth chapter.

People: Glory to You, O Lord.

12 The next day the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13 So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!” 14 And Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, just as it is written,15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey's colt!” 16 His disciples did not understand these things at first, but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written about him and had been done to him. 17 The crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to bear witness. 18 The reason why the crowd went to meet him was that they heard he had done this sign. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, “You see that you are gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after him.”

Pastor: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People: Praise to You, O Christ.

COLLECT

Pastor: Let us pray.

Most merciful God, as the people of Jerusalem, with palms in their hands, gathered to greet Your dearly beloved Son when He came into His Holy City, grant that we may ever hail Him as our King and, when He comes again, may go forth to meet Him with trusting and steadfast hearts and follow Him in the way that leads to eternal life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

HYMN: All Glory, Laud, and Honor LSB442

ref All glory, laud, and honor To You, Redeemer, King,

To whom the lips of children Made sweet hosannas ring.

1 You are the King of Israel and David’s royal Son,

Now in the Lord’s name coming, Our King and Blessèd One. Refrain

2 The company of angels Is praising You on high,

And we with all creation In chorus make reply. Refrain

3 The multitude of pilgrims With palms before You went;

Our praise and prayer and anthems Before You we present. Refrain

4 To You before Your passion They sang their hymns of praise;

To You, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. Refrain

5 As You received their praises, Accept the prayers we bring,

O Source of ev’ry blessing, Our good and gracious King. Refrain

Text: Public domain

SALUTATION

Pastor: The Lord be with you.

People: And also with you.

PRAYER OF THE DAY

Pastor: Let us pray. Almighty and everlasting God, You sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, to take upon Himself our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross. Mercifully grant that we may follow the example of His great humility and patience and be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

People: Amen.

OLD TESTAMENT READING Zechariah 9:9–12

9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

    Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your king is coming to you;

    righteous and having salvation is he,

humble and mounted on a donkey,

    on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

10 I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim

    and the war horse from Jerusalem;

and the battle bow shall be cut off,

    and he shall speak peace to the nations;

his rule shall be from sea to sea,

    and from the River to the ends of the earth.

11 As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you,

    I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.

12 Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope;

    today I declare that I will restore to you double.

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

EPISTLE Philippians 2:5–11

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Pastor: This is the Word of the Lord.

People: Thanks be to God.

VERSE Philippians 2:8b

He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

READING OF THE PASSION

Pastor: The Passion of our Lord according to St. Mark, the fourteenth and fifteenth chapters.

People: Glory to You, O Lord.

READING PART 1 Mark 14:1–25

14 It was now two days before the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to arrest him by stealth and kill him, 2 for they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar from the people.”

3 And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. 4 There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? 5 For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6 But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. 8 She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9 And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

10 Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11 And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.

12 And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13 And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, 14 and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” 16 And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

17 And when it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18 And as they were reclining at table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19 They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” 20 He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the dish with me. 21 For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.”

22 And as they were eating, he took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. 24 And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25 Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”

HYMN “The Death of Jesus Christ, Our Lord” LSB 634

1 The death of Jesus Christ, our Lord, We celebrate with one accord;

It is our comfort in distress, Our heart’s sweet joy and happiness.

2 He blotted out with His own blood The judgment that against us stood;

For us He full atonement made, And all our debt He fully paid.

READING PART 2 Mark 14:26–42

26 And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ 28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” 29 Peter said to him, “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” 30 And Jesus said to him, “Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” 31 But he said emphatically, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And they all said the same.

32 And they went to a place called Gethsemane. And he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 And he took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be greatly distressed and troubled. 34 And he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death. Remain here and watch.” 35 And going a little farther, he fell on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 And he said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” 37 And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour? 38 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they did not know what to answer him. 41 And he came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? It is enough; the hour has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Rise, let us be going; see, my betrayer is at hand.”

HYMN “Go to Dark Gethsemane” LSB 436

1 Go to dark Gethsemane, All who feel the tempter’s pow’r;

Your Redeemer’s conflict see, Watch with Him one bitter hour;

Turn not from His griefs away; Learn from Jesus Christ to pray.

2 Follow to the judgment hall, View the Lord of life arraigned;

Oh, the wormwood and the gall! Oh, the pangs His soul sustained!

Shun not suff’ring, shame, or loss; Learn from Him to bear the cross.

READING PART 3 Mark 14:43–72

43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. 44 Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” 45 And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. 46 And they laid hands on him and seized him. 47 But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. 48 And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? 49 Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” 50 And they all left him and fled.

51 And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, 52 but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.

53 And they led Jesus to the high priest. And all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes came together. 54 And Peter had followed him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. And he was sitting with the guards and warming himself at the fire. 55 Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking testimony against Jesus to put him to death, but they found none. 56 For many bore false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree. 57 And some stood up and bore false witness against him, saying, 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and in three days I will build another, not made with hands.’” 59 Yet even about this their testimony did not agree. 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst and asked Jesus, “Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?” 61 But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am, and you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.” 63 And the high priest tore his garments and said, “What further witnesses do we need? 64 You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?” And they all condemned him as deserving death. 65 And some began to spit on him and to cover his face and to strike him, saying to him, “Prophesy!” And the guards received him with blows.

66 And as Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came, 67 and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and said, “You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus.” 68 But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you mean.” And he went out into the gateway and the rooster crowed. 69 And the servant girl saw him and began again to say to the bystanders, “This man is one of them.” 70 But again he denied it. And after a little while the bystanders again said to Peter, “Certainly you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.” 71 But he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, “I do not know this man of whom you speak.” 72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

HYMN “Jesus, I Will Ponder Now” LSB 440

1 Jesus, I will ponder now, On Your holy passion;

With Your Spirit me endow, For such meditation.

Grant that I in love and faith, May the image cherish

Of Your suff’ring, pain, and death, That I may not perish.

4 Grant that I Your passion view, With repentant grieving.

Let me not bring shame to You, By unholy living.

How could I refuse to shun, Ev’ry sinful pleasure

Since for me God’s only Son, Suffered without measure?

READING PART 4 Mark 15:1–39

15 And as soon as it was morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 2 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” 3 And the chief priests accused him of many things. 4 And Pilate again asked him, “Have you no answer to make? See how many charges they bring against you.” 5 But Jesus made no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.

6 Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. 7 And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 8 And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. 9 And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. 12 And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” 13 And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” 14 And Pilate said to them, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” 15 So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.

16 And the soldiers led him away inside the palace (that is, the governor's headquarters), and they called together the whole battalion. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on him. 18 And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 And they were striking his head with a reed and spitting on him and kneeling down in homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. And they led him out to crucify him.

21 And they compelled a passerby, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross. 22 And they brought him to the place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull). 23 And they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24 And they crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. 25 And it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26 And the inscription of the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27 And with him they crucified two robbers, one on his right and one on his left. 29 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30 save yourself, and come down from the cross!” 31 So also the chief priests with the scribes mocked him to one another, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross that we may see and believe.” Those who were crucified with him also reviled him.

33 And when the sixth hour had come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 35 And some of the bystanders hearing it said, “Behold, he is calling Elijah.” 36 And someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to take him down.” 37 And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

HYMN “O Perfect Life of Love” LSB 452

1 O perfect life of love! All, all, is finished now,

All that He left His throne above, To do for us below.

5 In perfect love He dies; For me He dies, for me.

O all-atoning Sacrifice, I cling by faith to Thee.

READING PART 5 Mark 15:40–47

40 There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41 When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.

42 And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44 Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. 45 And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. 46 And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47 Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

HYMN “Glory Be to Jesus” LSB433 433 Glory Be to Jesus

Glory be to Jesus, Who in bitter pains

Poured for me the lifeblood, From His sacred veins!

Grace and life eternal, In that blood I find;

Blest be His compassion, Infinitely kind!

Blest through endless ages, Be the precious stream

Which from endless torment, Did the world redeem!

Abel’s blood for vengeance, Pleaded to the skies;

But the blood of Jesus, For our pardon cries.

Oft as earth exulting, Wafts its praise on high,

Angel hosts rejoicing, Make their glad reply.

Lift we, then, our voices, Swell the mighty flood;

Louder still and louder, Praise the precious blood!

Text: Public domain

SERMON

CREED Nicene Creed

People: I believe in one God,

     the Father Almighty,

     maker of heaven and earth

     and of all things visible and invisible.

  And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light,

     very God of very God,

     begotten, not made,

     being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

     and ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of the Father.

     And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead,

     whose kingdom will have no end.

  And I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the Lord and giver of life,

     who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

     who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life  of the world to come. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

Pastor: Let us pray the Lord that He may hear us on behalf of the people of God and all people as they have need.

Silence for meditation and prayer

Pastor: That the humility of our Lord’s suffering and death bring forth in us the fruits of faith and renewed faithfulness, for us and for all who hear His Passion today, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: That the sufferings of Christ in our place not only strengthen us in faith but give us courage to proclaim His salvation to the ends of the earth, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: That the wounds of the sick, the suffering, the grieving, and the dying find healing in the wounds of Christ our Lord, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: That His gracious humility in giving us His righteousness as our baptismal clothing and His flesh and blood as our true and everlasting food equip us with all that we need to do the good works of faith, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: That by His gracious example of humility unto death we learn humility of faith, repent of our sin and unrighteousness, and learn to delight in His will and walk in His ways all the days of our lives, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: That the Lord receive the tithes and offerings we bring, with the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving in our worship, as testament of our faith and as sign of our gratitude, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: That the Lord bless His Church, those who minister in His name, and all the baptized people of God in their vocations of worship, witness, intercession, and service, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy.

Pastor: That God visit His grace to us and to all nations, that we have good leaders and that we be good citizens, until the day when we join the saints before the Lord in His eternal city, where He has prepared for us an everlasting place, let us pray to the Lord.

People: Lord, have mercy. Amen.

LORD’S PRAYER Matthew 6:9–13

People: 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.

BENEDICTION

Pastor: The Lord bless you and keep you.

  The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

  The Lord look upon you with favor and  give you peace.

People: Amen.

HYMN “Ride On, Ride On in Majesty” LSB 441

1 Ride on, ride on in majesty! Hark! All the tribes hosanna cry.

O Savior meek, pursue Thy road, With palms and scattered garments strowed.

2 Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die.

O Christ, Thy triumphs now begin, O’er captive death and conquered sin.

3 Ride on, ride on in majesty! The angel armies of the sky

Look down with sad and wond’ring eyes, To see the_approaching sacrifice.

4 Ride on, ride on in majesty! Thy last and fiercest strife is nigh.

The Father on His sapphire throne, Awaits His own anointed Son.

5 Ride on, ride on in majesty! In lowly pomp ride on to die.

Bow Thy meek head to mortal pain, Then take, O God, Thy pow’r and reign.



Wednesday, March 24, 2021

423 Jesus, Refuge of the Weary

Jesus, refuge of the weary, blest Redeemer, whom we love,

Fountain in life’s desert dreary, Savior from the world above:

Often have Your eyes, offended, gazed upon the sinner’s fall;

Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all.

Do we pass that cross unheeding, breathing no repentant vow,

Though we see You wounded, bleeding, see Your thorn-encircled brow?

Yet Your sinless death has brought us, life eternal, peace, and rest;

Only what Your grace has taught us, calms the sinner’s deep distress.

Jesus, may our hearts be burning, with more fervent love for You;

May our eyes be ever turning, to behold Your cross anew

Till in glory, parted never, from the blessed Savior’s side,

Graven in our hearts forever, dwell the cross, the Crucified.

Text: Public domain

Opening Versicles

P This is the day which the Lord has made;

C let us rejoice and be glad in it.

P From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

P Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful.,

C slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.

P Jesus said: If any man would come after Me,

C let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

P Christ was wounded for our transgressions.

C He was bruised for our iniquities.

P From the rising of the son to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

C 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.

Collect for the Word

P Blessed Lord, you have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen.

Gospel Lesson: Luke 22:1-6

22 Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called the Passover. 2 And the chief priests and the scribes were seeking how to put him to death, for they feared the people. 3 Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. 4 He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. 5 And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. 6 So he consented and sought an opportunity to betray him to them in the absence of a crowd.

P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Responsory

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is put away.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

Sermon – “Significant Deal – Wednesday of Holy Week”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P In peace let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

P For the gift of divine peace and of pardon, with all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

P For the holy Christian Church, here and scattered throughout the world, and for the proclamation of the Gospel and the calling of all to faith, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this nation, for our cities and communities, and for the common welfare of us all, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

P For seasonable weather and for the fruitfulness of the earth, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who labor, for those whose work is difficult or dangerous, and for all who travel, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

P For all those in need, for the hungry and homeless, for the widowed and orphaned, and for all those in prison, let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy.

P For the sick and dying and for all those who care for them, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P Finally, for these and for all our needs of body and soul, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Blessing

P Let us bless the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the T Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you. C Amen.

560 Drawn to the Cross

Drawn to the cross, which Thou hast blessed, with healing gifts for souls distressed,

To find in Thee my life, my rest, Christ crucified, I come.

Thou knowest all my griefs and fears,, Thy grace abused, my misspent years;

Yet now to Thee with contrite tears, Christ crucified, I come.

Wash me and take away each stain; let nothing of my sin remain.

For cleansing, though it be through pain, Christ crucified, I come.

And then for work to do for Thee, which shall so sweet a service be

That angels well might envy me, Christ crucified, I come.



Sunday in Lent - March 21, 2021

Hymn LSB 435 Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain

Come to Calv’ry’s holy mountain, Sinners, ruined by the fall;

Here a pure and healing fountain, Flows for you, for me, for all,

In a full, perpetual tide, Opened when our Savior died.

Come in poverty and meanness, Come defiled, without, within;

From infection and uncleanness, From the leprosy of sin,

Wash your robes and make them white; Ye shall walk with God in light.

Come in sorrow and contrition, Wounded, impotent, and blind;

Here the guilty, free remission, Here the troubled, peace may find.

Health this fountain will restore; They that drink shall thirst no more.

They that drink shall live forever; ’Tis a soul-renewing flood.

God is faithful; God will never, Break His covenant of blood,

Signed when our Redeemer died, Sealed when He was glorified.

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what

we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our

neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the

sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so

that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.

Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray. Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31:31–34

31“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. 33But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: Hebrews 5:1–10

1Every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. 3Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. 4And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.

5So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him,

“You are my Son,

today I have begotten you”;

6as he says also in another place,

“You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, 10being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

HOLY GOSPEL Mark 10:32–45

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the tenth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

32And they were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to happen to him, 33saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles. 34And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

35And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” 36And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” 37And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” 38Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” 39And they said to him, “We are able.” And Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized, 40but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared.” 41And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. 42And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn LSB 424 O Christ, You Walked the Road

O Christ, You walked the road, Our wand’ring feet must go.

You faced with us temptation’s pow’r, And fought our ancient foe.

No bread of earth alone, Can fill our hung’ring hearts.

Lord, help us seek Your living Word, The food Your grace imparts.

No blinding sign we ask, No wonder from above.

Lord, help us place our trust alone, In Your unswerving love.

When lures of easy gain, With promise brightly shine,

Lord, help us seek Your kingdom first; Our wills with Yours align.

O Christ, You walked the road, Our wand’ring feet must go.

Stay with us through temptation’s hour, To fight our ancient foe.

Text: © 1997 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Sermon – “Christ Endured So That We Can Too”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P As God’s chosen ones, beloved sons and daughters of God, appointed not just to be served but to serve, let us pray for the Church, for the world, and for all people according to their needs. For the Church throughout the world, that during this Lenten season we intensify our repentance, prayer, and generosity. Let us pray to the Lord,

C Lord, have mercy.

P For people of every language and nation in the world, that all may be delivered from warfare, oppression, and violence, and live in the peace and safety God intends for His creation. Let us pray to the Lord,

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who serve in positions of authority, that they may defend the innocent, maintain justice, and establish peace. By the death and resurrection of Your Son, reconcile us in conflicts that all may bear witness to Your power and peace. Let us pray to the Lord,

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who are sick, facing surgery, or struggling in any way that their brokenness may be turned to health, and that they may experience the love of God through our care and concern. Let us pray to the Lord,

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the people of this congregation, that as Melchizedek served Abram and as Jesus served us by giving His life, so we may grow in serving both God and our neighbor. Let us pray to the Lord,

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who have gone before us in faith and have died, we give thanks. When our days on earth come to a close, bring us to that place of never-ending praise, worship, and thanks to You in heavenly splendor. Let us pray to the Lord,

C Lord, have mercy.

P Appointed by Jesus to serve in this broken world, we entrust our prayers to the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

C Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.

Hymn LSB 532 The Head That Once Was Crowned with Thorns

The Head that once was crowned with thorns, is crowned with glory now;

A royal diadem adorns, the mighty Victor’s brow.

The highest place that heav’n affords, is His, is His by right,

The King of kings and Lord of lords, and heav’n’s eternal Light;

The Joy of all who dwell above, the Joy of all below,

To whom He manifests His love, and grants His name to know.

To them the cross, with all its shame, with all its grace, is giv’n;

Their name an everlasting name, their joy the joy of heav’n.

They suffer with their Lord below, they reign with Him above,

Their profit and their joy to know, the myst’ry of His love.

The cross He bore is life and health, though shame and death to Him:

His people’s hope, His people’s wealth, their everlasting theme.




Wednesday, March 17, 2021

440 Jesus, I Will Ponder Now

Jesus, I will ponder now, on Your holy passion;

With Your Spirit me endow, for such meditation.

Grant that I in love and faith, may the image cherish

Of Your suff’ring, pain, and death, that I may not perish.

Make me see Your great distress, anguish, and affliction,

Bonds and stripes and wretchedness, and Your crucifixion;

Make me see how scourge and rod, spear and nails did wound You,

How for them You died, O God, who with thorns had crowned You.

Yet, O Lord, not thus alone, make me see Your passion,

But its cause to me make known, and its termination.

Ah! I also and my sin, wrought Your deep affliction;

This indeed the cause has been, of Your crucifixion.

Grant that I Your passion view, with repentant grieving.

Let me not bring shame to You, by unholy living.

How could I refuse to shun, ev’ry sinful pleasure

Since for me God’s only Son, suffered without measure?

If my sins give me alarm, and my conscience grieve me,

Let Your cross my fear disarm; peace of conscience give me.

Help me see forgiveness won, by Your holy passion.

If for me He slays His Son, God must have compassion!

Graciously my faith renew; help me bear my crosses,

Learning humbleness from You, peace mid pain and losses.

May I give You love for love! Hear me, O my Savior,

That I may in heav’n above, sing Your praise forever.

Text: Public domain

Opening Versicles

P This is the day which the Lord has made;

C let us rejoice and be glad in it.

P From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

P Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful.,

C slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.

P Jesus said: If any man would come after Me,

C let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

P Christ was wounded for our transgressions.

C He was bruised for our iniquities.

P From the rising of the son to its setting,

C 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.

Collect for the Word

P Blessed Lord, you have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen.

Gospel Lesson: John 12:20–36

20 Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30 Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 34 So the crowd answered him, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. 36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

P This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.

Responsory

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is put away.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

Sermon – “Significant Final Appearance – Tuesday of Holy Week”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who

are wearied by the changes and chances of life may find our rest in You; Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P O Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, Lord, in Your mercy grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last; Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P Visit our dwellings, O Lord and drive from them all the snares of the enemy; let Your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let Your blessing be on us always; Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P Eternal God, the hours both of day and night are Yours, and to You the darkness is no threat. Be present, we pray, with those who labor in these hours of night, especially those who watch and work on behalf of others. Grant them diligence in their watching, faithfulness in their service, courage in danger, and competence in emergencies. Help them to meet the needs of others with confidence and compassion; Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us at the end of the day, at the end of our life, at the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with Your holy Word and Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair, the night when death draws near. Abide with us and with all the faithful, now and forever. C Amen

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Blessing & Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

P The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the T Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.

C Amen.

839 O Christ, Our True and Only Light

O Christ, our true and only light, enlighten those who sit in night;

Let those afar now hear Your voice, and in Your fold with us rejoice.

Fill with the radiance of Your grace, the souls now lost in error’s maze;

Enlighten those whose inmost minds, some dark delusion haunts and blinds.

O gently call those gone astray, that they may find the saving way!

Let ev’ry conscience sore oppressed, in You find peace and heav’nly rest.

Shine on the darkened and the cold; recall the wand’rers to Your fold.

Unite all those who walk apart; confirm the weak and doubting heart,

That they with us may evermore, such grace with wond’ring thanks adore

And endless praise to You be giv’n, by all Your Church in earth and heav’n.




March 14, 2021 –4th Sunday in Lent

 

Hymn LSB 542 When I Behold Jesus Christ

When I behold Jesus Christ, true God who died for me,

I wonder much at His love, as He hung on the tree. 

 

Refrain:

What kind of love is this? What kind of love is this?

You showed Your love, Jesus, there, to me on Calvary.

What kind of love is this? What kind of love is this?

You showed Your love, Jesus, there, to me on Calvary.

For me You gave all Your love, for me You suffered pain;

I find no words, nothing can, Your selflessness explain.   Refrain

 

You had no sin, holy Lord, but You were tortured, tried;

On Golgotha there for all, my sins You bled and died.   Refrain

 

What love is this? Greater love, no one has ever known.

My life with God— this I owe, to You, and You alone.   Refrain

 

Invocation

P   In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C   Amen.

 

Exhortation

P       Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C       who made heaven and earth.

P       If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C       But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P       Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

 

Confession of Sins

C       Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Absolution

P       Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C       Amen.

 

Collect of the Day

P       The Lord be with you.

C       And also with you.

P       Let us pray. Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C       Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading:             Numbers 21:4–9

            4From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

P       This is the Word of the Lord.

C         Thanks be to God.

 

Epistle Reading                  Ephesians 2:1–10

            1And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

P       This is the Word of the Lord.

C         Thanks be to God.

 

Holy Gospel:           John 3:14–21

P       The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the third chapter.

C       Glory to You, O Lord.

                14[Jesus said:] “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

            16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been carried out in God.”

P       This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C       Praise to You, O Christ.

 

Hymn LSB 571 God Loved the World So That He Gave

God loved the world so that He gave, His only Son the lost to save,

That all who would in Him believe, should everlasting life receive.

 

Christ Jesus is the ground of faith, Who was made flesh and suffered death;

All then who trust in Him alone, are built on this chief cornerstone.

 

God would not have the sinner die; His Son with saving grace is nigh;

His Spirit in the Word declares, how we in Christ are heaven’s heirs.

 

Be of good cheer, for God’s own Son, forgives all sins which you have done;

And, justified by Jesus’ blood, your Baptism grants the highest good.

 

If you are sick, if death is near, this truth your troubled heart can cheer:

Christ Jesus saves your soul from death; that is the firmest ground of faith.

 

  Glory to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Three in One!

    To You, O blessed Trinity, b e praise now and eternally!

 

Text: Public domain

 

Sermon – “You are Loved by God”

 

Nicene Creed

C       I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

 

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

 

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

 

Prayer of the Church       

P         In peace let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For those who are ailing and those who grieve, that they may be strengthened in body and spirit, confident of the love of Christ, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord:

C         Lord, have mercy.

P         We pray this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C        Amen.

 

Lord’s Prayer

P       Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

 

Benedicamus and Benediction

P       Let us bless the Lord.

C       Thanks be to God.

P       The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C       Amen.

 

Hymn LSB 588 Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so.

Little ones to Him belong; they are weak, but He is strong. Refrain

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

 

Jesus loves me! He who died, heaven’s gates to open wide.

He has washed away my sin, lets His little child come in. Refrain

Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! Yes, Jesus loves me! The Bible tells me so.

 




, March 10, 2021

693 O Holy Spirit, Grant Us Grace

O Holy Spirit, grant us grace, that we our Lord and Savior

In faith and fervent love embrace, and truly serve Him ever.

The hour of death cannot bring loss, when we are sheltered by the cross

That canceled our transgressions.

Help us that we Thy saving Word, in faithful hearts may treasure;

Let e’er that Bread of Life afford, new grace in richest measure.

O make us die to ev’ry sin, each day create new life within,

That fruits of faith may flourish.

And when our earthly race is run, death’s bitter hour impending,

Then may Thy work in us begun, continue till life’s ending,

Until we gladly may commend, our souls into our Savior’s hand,

The crown of life obtaining.

Text: Public domain

Opening Versicles

P This is the day which the Lord has made;

C let us rejoice and be glad in it.

P From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

P Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful.,

C slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.

P Jesus said: If any man would come after Me,

C let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

P Christ was wounded for our transgressions.

C He was bruised for our iniquities.

P From the rising of the son to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

C 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.

Collect for the Word

P Blessed Lord, you have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Gospel Lesson: Matthew 23:1–12

23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Responsory

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is put away.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

Sermon – “Significant Teaching – Tuesday of Holy Week”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Be present, merciful God, and protect us through the hours of this night, so that we who are wearied by the changes and chances of life may find our rest in You;

Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P O Lord, support us all the day long of this troubled life, until the shadows lengthen and the evening comes and the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over, and our work is done. Then, Lord, in Your mercy grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest and peace at the last;

Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P Visit our dwellings, O Lord and drive from them all the snares of the enemy; let Your holy angels dwell with us to preserve us in peace; and let Your blessing be on us always;

Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P Eternal God, the hours both of day and night are Yours, and to You the darkness is no threat. Be present, we pray, with those who labor in these hours of night, especially those who watch and work on behalf of others. Grant them diligence in their watching, faithfulness in their service, courage in danger, and competence in emergencies. Help them to meet the needs of others with confidence and compassion;

Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer

P Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us at the end of the day, at the end of our life, at the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with Your holy Word and Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair, the night when death draws near. Abide with us and with all the faithful, now and forever.

C Amen

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Blessing

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the T Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.

C Amen.

425 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of Glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God;

All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were a tribute far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!

Text: Public domain




Third Sunday in Lent - March 7, 2021

Hymn LSB 427 In the Cross of Christ I Glory

1 In the cross of Christ I glory,

    Tow’ring o’er the wrecks of time.

All the light of sacred story

    Gathers round its head sublime.

2 When the woes of life o’ertake me,

    Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,

Never shall the cross forsake me;

    Lo, it glows with peace and joy.

3 When the sun of bliss is beaming

    Light and love upon my way,

From the cross the radiance streaming

    Adds more luster to the day.

4 Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure

    By the cross are sanctified;

Peace is there that knows no measure,

    Joys that through all time abide.

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 20:1–17

1And God spoke all these words, saying,

2“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3“You shall have no other gods before me.

4“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

13“You shall not murder.

14“You shall not commit adultery.

15“You shall not steal.

16“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:18–31

18The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”

20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

26For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL: John 2:13–25

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the second chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

13The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

18So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn LSB 579 The Law of God Is Good and Wise

1 The Law of God is good and wise

And sets His will before our eyes,

Shows us the way of righteousness,

And dooms to death when we transgress.

2 Its light of holiness imparts

The knowledge of our sinful hearts

That we may see our lost estate

And turn from sin before too late.

3 To those who help in Christ have found

And would in works of love abound

It shows what deeds are His delight

And should be done as good and right.

4 But those who scornfully disdain

God’s Law shall then in sin remain;

Its terror in their ear resounds

And keeps their wickedness in bounds.

5 The Law is good; but since the fall

Its holiness condemns us all;

It dooms us for our sin to die

And has no pow’r to justify.

6 To Jesus we for refuge flee,

Who from the curse has set us free,

And humbly worship at His throne,

Saved by His grace through faith alone.

Text: Public domain

Sermon – “The Ten Commandments Are Good”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

       maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Offertory

C Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.

PRAYER OF THE CHURCH

P In peace let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all pastors in Christ, for all servants of the Church, and for all the people, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all public servants, for the government and those who protect us, that they may be upheld and strengthened in every good deed, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who are ailing and those who grieve, that they may be strengthened in body and spirit, confident of the love of Christ, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who work to bring peace, justice, health, and protection in this and every place, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who bring offerings, those who do good works in this congregation, those who toil, those who sing, and all the people here present who await from the Lord great and abundant mercy, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For favorable weather, for an abundance of the fruits of the earth, and for peaceful times, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For our deliverance from all affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P We pray this through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Benedicamus

A Bless we the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

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

C Amen, amen, amen.

Hymn LSB 865 Lord, Help Us Ever to Retain

1 Lord, help us ever to retain

The Catechism’s doctrine plain

    As Luther taught the Word of truth

    In simple style to tender youth.

2 Help us Your holy Law to learn,

To mourn our sin and from it turn

    In faith to You and to Your Son

    And Holy Spirit, Three in One.

3 Hear us, dear Father, when we pray

For needed help from day to day

    That as Your children we may live,

    Whom You baptized and so received.

4 Lord, when we fall or go astray,

Absolve and lift us up, we pray;

    And through the Sacrament increase

    Our faith till we depart in peace.



Wednesday, March 3, 2021

547 The Lamb

The Lamb, the Lamb, O Father, where’s the sacrifice?

Faith sees, believes God will provide the Lamb of price! Refrain

Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me His own! The Lamb is reigning on His throne!

The Lamb, the Lamb, one perfect final offering.

The Lamb, the Lamb, let earth join heav’n His praise to sing.

Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me His own! The Lamb is reigning on His throne!

The Lamb, the Lamb, as wayward sheep their shepherd kill

So still, His will on our behalf the Law to fill.

Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me His own! The Lamb is reigning on His throne!

He sighs, He dies, He takes my sin and wretchedness.

He lives, forgives, He gives me His own righteousness. Refrain

Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me His own! The Lamb is reigning on His throne!

He rose, He rose, my heart with thanks now overflows.

His song prolong till ev’ry heart to Him belong. Refrain

Text: © 1987 and 1997 MorningStar Music Publishers. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Opening Versicles

P This is the day which the Lord has made;

C let us rejoice and be glad in it.

P From the rising of the sun to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

P Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful.,

C slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and repents of evil.

P Jesus said: If any man would come after Me,

C let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

P Christ was wounded for our transgressions.

C He was bruised for our iniquities.

P From the rising of the son to its setting,

C the name of the Lord is to be praised.

C 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.

Collect for the Word

P Blessed Lord, you have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning. Grant that we may so hear them, read, mark, learn, and take them to heart that, by the patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Gospel Lesson: Mark 12:28–37

28 And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” 34 And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that no one dared to ask him any more questions.

35 And as Jesus taught in the temple, he said, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 36 David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared,

“‘The Lord said to my Lord,

“Sit at my right hand,

    until I put your enemies under your feet.”’

37 David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son?” And the great throng heard him gladly.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Responsory

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven and whose sin is put away.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

P We have an advocate with the Father; Jesus is the propitiation for our sins.

C He was delivered up to death; He was delivered for the sins of the people.

Sermon – “Significant Questions – Tuesday of Holy Week”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P In peace let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the gift of divine peace and of pardon, with all our heart and with all our mind, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the holy Christian Church, here and scattered throughout the world, and for the proclamation of the Gospel and the calling of all to faith, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this nation, for our cities and communities, and for the common welfare of us all, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For seasonable weather and for the fruitfulness of the earth, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For those who labor, for those whose work is difficult or dangerous, and for all who travel, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For all those in need, for the hungry and homeless, for the widowed and orphaned, and for all those in prison, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the sick and dying and for all those who care for them, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy.

P Finally, for these and for all our needs of body and soul, let us pray to the Lord:

C Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Luther’s Evening Prayer

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Blessing

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Benediction

P The almighty and merciful Lord, the Father, the T Son, and the Holy Spirit, bless and preserve you.

C Amen.

543 What Wondrous Love Is This

What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

What wondrous love is this, that caused the Lord of bliss

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!

When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down,when I was sinking down, sinking down,

When I was sinking down, beneath God’s righteous frown,

Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.

To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing; to God and to the Lamb I will sing;

To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM,

While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, while millions join the theme, I will sing.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on.

And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing His love for me,

And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, and through eternity I’ll sing on.

Text: Public domain



CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH

Sunday, February 28, 2021

Opening Hymn - 526 You Are the Way; through You Alone

1 You are the way; through You alone

    Can we the Father find;

In You, O Christ, has God revealed

    His heart and will and mind.

2 You are the truth; Your Word alone

    True wisdom can impart;

You only can inform the mind

    And purify the heart.

3 You are the life; the empty tomb

    Proclaims Your conqu’ring arm,

And those who put their trust in You

    Not death nor hell shall harm.

4 You are the way, the truth, the life;

    Grant us that way to know,

That truth to keep, that life to win

    Whose joys eternal flow.

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.

   We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Absolution LSB 151

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O God, You see that of ourselves we have no strength. By Your mighty power defend us from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading Genesis 17:1–7, 15–16

1When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, 2that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly.” 3Then Abram fell on his face. And God said to him, 4“Behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be the father of a multitude of nations. 5No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham, for I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. 6I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations, and kings shall come from you. 7And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. . . .

15And God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16I will bless her, and moreover, I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall become nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Psalm Psalm 22:23–31

23You who fear the LORD, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,

and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!

24For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted,

   and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. 25From you comes my praise in the great congregation;

my vows I will perform before those who fear him. 26The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the LORD!

May your hearts live forever!

27All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.

28For kingship belongs to the LORD, and he rules over the nations.

29All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive.

30Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; 31they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Epistle Reading Romans 5:1–11

1Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through 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. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and 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.

6For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. 10For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the eighth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

27And Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi. And on the way he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that I am?” 28And they told him, “John the Baptist; and others say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29And he asked them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him, “You are the Christ.” 30And he strictly charged them to tell no one about him.

31And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

34And he called to him the crowd with his disciples and said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? 37For what can a man give in return for his life? 38For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - 688 “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake

1 “Come, follow Me,” the Savior spake, “All in My way abiding;

Deny yourselves, the world forsake, Obey My call and guiding.

O bear the cross, whate’er betide, Take My example for your guide.

2 “I am the light, I light the way, A godly life displaying;

I bid you walk as in the day; I keep your feet from straying.

I am the way, and well I show How you must sojourn here below.

3 “My heart abounds in lowliness, My soul with love is glowing;

And gracious words My lips express, With meekness overflowing.

My heart, My mind, My strength, My all, To God I yield, on Him I call.

4 “I teach you how to shun and flee What harms your soul’s salvation,

Your heart from ev’ry guile to free, From sin and its temptation.

I am the refuge of the soul And lead you to your heav’nly goal.”

5 Then let us follow Christ, our Lord, And take the cross appointed

And, firmly clinging to His Word, In suff’ring be undaunted.

For those who bear the battle’s strain The crown of heav’nly life obtain.

Text: Public domain

Sermon – “Are You Sure You Have the Right Jesus?”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

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.

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

Agnus Dei

C Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Nunc Dimittis

C Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Post-Communion Collect

P Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.

C Amen.

Hymn to Depart - 848 Lord, Whose Love through Humble Service

1 Lord, whose love through humble service

    Bore the weight of human need,

Who upon the cross, forsaken,

    Offered mercy’s perfect deed,

We, Your servants, bring the worship

    Not of voice alone, but heart,

Consecrating to Your purpose

    Ev’ry gift that You impart.

2 Still Your children wander homeless;

    Still the hungry cry for bread;

Still the captives long for freedom;

    Still in grief we mourn our dead.

As, O Lord, Your deep compassion

    Healed the sick and freed the soul,

Use the love Your Spirit kindles

    Still to save and make us whole.

3 As we worship, grant us vision,

    Till Your love’s revealing light

In its height and depth and greatness,

    Dawns upon our quickened sight,

Making known the needs and burdens

    Your compassion bids us bear,

Stirring us to tireless striving,

    Your abundant life to share.

4 Called by worship to Your service,

    Forth in Your dear name we go,

To the child, the youth, the aged,

    Love in living deeds to show;

Hope and health, goodwill and comfort,

    Counsel, aid, and peace we give,

That Your servants, Lord, in freedom

    May Your mercy know and live.

Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church

Website: www.christthunderbay.ca

Pastor: Brian Falkenholt

Pastors Phone: (807) 707-4080

Email: pastorbrainfalkenholt@hotmail.ca

Admin.: Loren Howk

Email: loren.chelc@tbaytel.net

Church Email: chelc@tbaytel.net

Phone: (807) 767-3361




Sunday, February 21, 2021

First Sunday in Lent

Opening Hymn - 600 Mark How the Lamb of God’s Self-Offering

1 Mark how the Lamb of God’s self-off’ring Our human sinfulness takes on

In the birthwaters of the Jordan As Jesus is baptized by John.

Hear how the voice from heaven thunders, “Lo, this is My belovèd Son.”

See how in dovelike form the Spirit Descends on God’s Anointed One.

2 From this assurance of God’s favor Jesus goes to the wilderness,

There to endure a time of testing That readied Him to teach and bless.

So we, by water and the Spirit Baptized into Christ’s ministry,

Are often led to paths of service Through mazes of adversity.

3 Grant us, O God, the strength and courage To live the faith our lips declare;

Bless us in our baptismal calling; Christ’s royal priesthood help us share.

Turn us from ev’ry false allegiance, That we may trust in Christ alone:

Raise up in us a chosen people Transformed by love to be Your own.

Invocation

P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone.

   We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading Genesis 22:1–18

1After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 2He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.” 3So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. 5Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.” 6And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here am I, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” 8Abraham said, “God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

9When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. 11But the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here am I.” 12He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.” 13And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. 14So Abraham called the name of that place, “The LORD will provide”; as it is said to this day, “On the mount of the LORD it shall be provided.”

15And the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven 16and said, “By myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, 18and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading James 1:12–18

12Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.

16Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel Mark 1:9–15

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the first chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

9In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

12The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn of the Day - 418 O Lord, throughout These Forty Days

1 O Lord, throughout these forty days You prayed and kept the fast;

Inspire repentance for our sin, And free us from our past.

2 You strove with Satan, and You won; Your faithfulness endured;

Lend us Your nerve, Your skill and trust In God’s eternal Word.

3 Though parched and hungry, yet You prayed And fixed Your mind above;

So teach us to deny ourselves, Since we have known God’s love.

4 Be with us through this season, Lord, And all our earthly days,

That when the final Easter dawns, We join in heaven’s praise.

Sermon – “The Purpose of Jesus’ Temptation”

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ,

     the only-begotten Son of God,

     begotten of His Father before all worlds,

     God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God,

     begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father,

     by whom all things were made;

     who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven

     and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary

     and was made man;

     and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate.

     He suffered and was buried.

     And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures

     and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.

And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life,

who proceeds from the Father and the Son,

who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified,

     who spoke by the prophets.

     And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church,

     I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins,

     and I look for the resurrection of the dead

     and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Service of the Sacrament

Preface

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Lift up your hearts.

C We lift them to the Lord.

P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who overcame the assaults of the devil and gave His life as a ransom for many that with cleansed hearts we might be prepared joyfully to celebrate the paschal feast in sincerity and truth. Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:

Sanctus

C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of Sabaoth adored;

Heav’n and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.

Sing hosanna in the highest, sing hosanna to the Lord;

Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!

Prayer of Thanksgiving

P Blessed are You, O Lord our God, king of all creation, for You have had mercy on us and given Your only-begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

At Your command, Abraham prepared to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice on the mountain; yet, in mercy You provided a ram as a substitute. We give You thanks that on Calvary You spared not Your only Son but sent Him to offer His life as a ransom for many.

As we eat and drink His body and blood, grant us, like Abraham our father, to trust in Your promise now fulfilled in Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.

Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

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.

The Words of Our Lord

P Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.”

In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

Pax Domini

P The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C Amen.

Agnus Dei

C Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace.

Distribution of Holy Communion

Nunc Dimittis

C Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of ev’ry people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Post-Communion Collect

P Let us pray.

We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.

Hymn to Depart - 702 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

1 My faith looks up to Thee, Thou Lamb of Calvary, Savior divine.

Now hear me while I pray; Take all my guilt away;

O let me from this day. Be wholly Thine!

2 May Thy rich grace impart Strength to my fainting heart; My zeal inspire!

As Thou hast died for me, Oh, may my love to Thee

Pure, warm, and changeless be, A living fire!

3 While life’s dark maze I tread And griefs around me spread, Be Thou my guide;

Bid darkness turn to day, Wipe sorrow’s tears away,

Nor let me ever stray. From Thee aside.

4 When ends life’s transient dream, When death’s cold, sullen stream

Shall o’er me roll, Blest Savior, then, in love, Fear and distrust remove;

O bear me safe above, A ransomed soul!




The Transfiguration of Our Lord - February 14, 2021

Hymn LSB 413 O Wondrous Type! O Vision Fair

O wondrous type! O vision fair, Of glory that the Church may share

Which Christ upon the mountain shows, Where brighter than the sun He glows!

With Moses and Elijah nigh, The_incarnate Lord holds converse high;

And from the cloud the Holy One, Bears record to the only Son.

With shining face and bright array, Christ deigns to manifest today

What glory shall be theirs above, Who joy in God with perfect love.

And faithful hearts are raised on high, By this great vision’s mystery,

For which in joyful strains we raise, The voice of prayer, the hymn of praise.

D O Father, with the_eternal Son, And Holy Spirit ever one,

We pray Thee, bring us by Thy grace, To see Thy glory face to face.

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and

cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Confession of Sins

P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have

sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what

we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our

neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the

sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so

that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name.

Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives

you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I

therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the

Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Kyrie

P In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the

unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the

Lord.

C Lord, have mercy.

P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C Amen.

Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory to God in the highest, and peace to His people on earth.

C Lord God, heavenly king, almighty God and Father: We worship You, we give You

thanks, we praise You for Your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord

God, Lamb of God: You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. You are seated

at the right hand of the Father; receive our prayer. For You alone are the Holy One, You

alone are the Lord, You alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the

glory of God the Father. Amen.

Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O God, in the glorious transfiguration of Your beloved Son You confirmed the mysteries of the

faith by the testimony of Moses and Elijah. In the voice that came from the bright cloud You

wonderfully foreshowed our adoption by grace. Mercifully make us co-heirs with the King in

His glory and bring us to the fullness of our inheritance in heaven; through the same Jesus

Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: 2 Kings 2:1–12

1 When the LORD was about to take Elijah up to heaven by a whirlwind, Elijah and Elisha

were on their way from Gilgal. 2 And Elijah said to Elisha, “Please stay here, for the LORD has

sent me as far as Bethel.” But Elisha said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not

leave you.” So they went down to Bethel. 3 And the sons of the prophets who were in Bethel

came out to Elisha and said to him, “Do you know that today the LORD will take away your

master from over you?” And he said, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

4 Elijah said to him, “Elisha, please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to Jericho.” But he

said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So they came to

Jericho. 5 The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho drew near to Elisha and said to him,

“Do you know that today the LORD will take away your master from over you?” And he

answered, “Yes, I know it; keep quiet.”

6 Then Elijah said to him, “Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me to the Jordan.” But

he said, “As the LORD lives, and as you yourself live, I will not leave you.” So the two of them

went on. 7 Fifty men of the sons of the prophets also went and stood at some distance from

them, as they both were standing by the Jordan. 8 Then Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and

struck the water, and the water was parted to the one side and to the other, till the two of

them could go over on dry ground.

9 When they had crossed, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you, before I am

taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please let there be a double portion of your spirit on

me.” 10 And he said, “You have asked a hard thing; yet, if you see me as I am being taken from

you, it shall be so for you, but if you do not see me, it shall not be so.” 11 And as they still went

on and talked, behold, chariots of fire and horses of fire separated the two of them. And Elijah

went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12 And Elisha saw it and he cried, “My father, my father!

The chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw him no more.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 3:12–18; 4:1–6

12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil

over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought

to an end. 14 But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant,

that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. 15 Yes, to this day

whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. 16 But when one turns to the Lord, the veil

is removed. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is

freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being

transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from

the Lord who is the Spirit.

1 Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have

renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with

God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to

everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to

those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the

unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the

image of God. 5 For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves

as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has

shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus

Christ.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia,

alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL Mark 9:2–9

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the ninth chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter and James and John, and led them up a high

mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became

radiant, intensely white, as no one on earth could bleach them. 4 And there appeared to them

Elijah with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 And Peter said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good

that we are here. Let us make three tents, one for you and one for Moses and one for

Elijah.” 6 For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified. 7 And a cloud overshadowed

them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” 8 And

suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them but Jesus only.

9 And as they were coming down the mountain, he charged them to tell no one what

they had seen, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn LSB 416 Swiftly Pass the Clouds of Glory

Swiftly pass the clouds of glory, Heaven’s voice, the dazzling light;

Moses and Elijah vanish; Christ alone commands the height!

Peter, James, and John fall silent,Turning from the summit’s rise

Downward toward the shadowed valley, Where their Lord has fixed His eyes.

Glimpsed and gone the revelation, They shall gain and keep its truth,

Not by building on the mountain, Any shrine or sacred booth,

But by following the Savior, Through the valley to the cross

And by testing faith’s resilience, Through betrayal, pain, and loss.

Lord, transfigure our perception, With the purest light that shines,

And recast our life’s intentions, To the shape of Your designs,

Till we seek no other glory, Than what lies past Calv’ry’s hill

And our living and our dying, And our rising by Your will.

Text: © 1994 Oxford University Press. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Sermon – “His Transfiguration Foreshadows Our Own”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

     who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

     born of the virgin Mary,

     suffered under Pontius Pilate,

     was crucified, died and was buried.

     He descended into hell.

     The third day He rose again from the dead.

     He ascended into heaven

     and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

     From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

     the holy Christian Church,

          the communion of saints,

     the forgiveness of sins,

     the resurrection of the body,

     and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Offertory

C What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of

thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord. I will take the cup of salvation and will

call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His

people, in the courts of the Lord’s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.

Prayer of the Church

P: Let us pray for the Church, the world, and all people in their various needs. We give thanks,

heavenly Father, that You sent Your Son to be our Savior. Bless all who proclaim His true glory

in going to the cross as the atonement for our sins. Grant that His light may shine through us

here in our congregation, wherever people of faith gather around Word and Sacrament, and

through Your servants everywhere in their public and private lives. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

P: Lord over all, who has placed the world’s leaders in power, give them opportunity and

guidance that they may strive for peace among the nations and rededicate themselves to

human liberty and justice for their citizens. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

P: O Holy Spirit, bless artists and tradespeople, farmers and ranchers, scientists and

technicians; use the gifts You have given them to open our eyes to understand Your good

creation and share its blessings. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

P: Lord Jesus, guide and protect armed forces deployed and police, fire, and first responders

at home. Give them courage and compassion so that we all may live in peace and dignity. Lord,

in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

P: Loving Lord, hear the spoken and silent prayers of those unknown to us—the lonely and

forgotten in society, those in broken homes, and all who need nurture, justice, and dignity.

Answer them according to Your gracious will. Likewise, we pray for those near and dear to us,

[especially . . .]. Use us to surround them with Your love, that they may know Your presence to

heal and comfort. Lord, in Your mercy,

C: hear our prayer.

P: Heavenly Father, use the Word we have heard and the Sacrament we shall receive to

strengthen the faith the Spirit has graciously placed within us. Grant us to celebrate the feast,

even as we place all these petitions before You, knowing that Your answers are better than

our prayers. Receive them all for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Benediction

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.

Hymn LSB 417 Alleluia, Song of Gladness

Alleluia, song of gladness, Voice of joy that cannot die;

Alleluia is the anthem, Ever raised by choirs on high;

In the house of God abiding, Thus they sing eternally.

Alleluia, thou resoundest, True Jerusalem and free;

Alleluia, joyful mother, All thy children sing with thee,

But by Babylon’s sad waters, Mourning exiles now are we.

Alleluia cannot always, Be our song while here below;

Alleluia, our transgressions, Make us for a while forgo;

For the solemn time is coming, When our tears for sin must flow.

Therefore in our hymns we pray Thee, Grant us, blessèd Trinity,

At the last to keep Thine Easter, With Thy faithful saints on high;

There to Thee forever singing, Alleluia joyfully.




February 7, 2021 –5th Sunday after the Epiphany

Hymn LSB 398 Hail to the Lord’s Anointed

Hail to the Lord’s anointed, Great David’s greater Son!

Hail, in the time appointed, His reign on earth begun!

He comes to break oppression, To set the captive free,

To take away transgression, And rule in equity.

He comes with rescue speedy, To those who suffer wrong,

To help the poor and needy, And bid the weak be strong;

To give them songs for sighing, Their darkness turn to light,

Whose souls, condemned and dying, Were precious in His sight.

He shall come down like showers, Upon the fruitful earth;

Love, joy, and hope, like flowers, Spring in His path to birth.

Before Him on the mountains, Shall peace, the herald, go;

And righteousness in fountains, From hill to valley flow.

Kings shall fall down before Him, And gold and incense bring;

All nations shall adore Him, His praise all people sing.

To Him shall prayer unceasing, And daily vows ascend;

His kingdom still increasing, A kingdom without end.

O’er ev’ry foe victorious, He on His throne shall rest,

From age to age more glorious, All blessing and all-blest.

The tide of time shall never, His covenant remove;

His name shall stand forever—, That name to us is Love.

Text: Public domain

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?

C But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared.

P Since we are gathered to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ, and saying: God, be merciful to me, a sinner.

Confession of Sins

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.

Absolution

P Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Gloria in Excelsis

C To God on high be glory and peace to all the earth;

    Goodwill from God in heaven proclaimed at Jesus’ birth!

    We praise and bless You, Father; Your holy name, we sing—

    Our thanks for Your great glory, Lord God, our heav’nly King.

  To You, O sole-begotten, the Father’s Son, we pray;

    O Lamb of God, our Savior, You take our sins away.

    Have mercy on us, Jesus; receive our heartfelt cry,

    Where You in pow’r are seated at God’s right hand on high—

  For You alone are holy; You only are the Lord.

    Forever and forever, be worshiped and adored;

    You with the Holy Spirit alone are Lord Most High,

    In God the Father’s glory. “Amen!” our glad reply.

Collect of the Day

P The Lord be with you.

C And also with you.

P Let us pray.

O Lord, keep Your family the Church continually in the true faith that, relying on the hope of Your heavenly grace, we may ever be defended by Your mighty power; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 40:21–31

21Do you not know? Do you not hear?

Has it not been told you from the beginning?

Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?

22It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,

and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers;

who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,

and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;

23who brings princes to nothing,

and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

24Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,

scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,

when he blows on them, and they wither,

and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25To whom then will you compare me,

that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

26Lift up your eyes on high and see:

who created these?

He who brings out their host by number,

calling them all by name,

by the greatness of his might,

and because he is strong in power

not one is missing.

27Why do you say, O Jacob,

and speak, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD,

and my right is disregarded by my God”?

28Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

29He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he increases strength.

30Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted;

31but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading 1 Corinthians 9:16–27

16If I preach the gospel, that gives me no ground for boasting. For necessity is laid upon me. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward, but not of my own will, I am still entrusted with a stewardship. 18What then is my reward? That in my preaching I may present the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my right in the gospel.

19For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. 20To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. 23I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

24Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Holy Gospel: Mark 1:29–39

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the first chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

29Immediately [Jesus] left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

35And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn LSB 586 Preach You the Word

Preach you the Word and plant it home, To men who like or like it not,

The Word that shall endure and stand, When flow’rs and men shall be forgot.

We know how hard, O Lord, the task, Your servant bade us undertake:

To preach Your Word and never ask, What prideful profit it may make.

The sower sows; his reckless love, Scatters abroad the goodly seed,

Intent alone that all may have, The wholesome loaves that all men need.

Though some be snatched and some be scorched, And some be choked and matted flat,

The sower sows; his heart cries out, “Oh, what of that, and what of that?”

Of all his scattered plenteousness, One-fourth waves ripe on hill and flat,

And bears a harvest hundredfold: “Ah, what of that, Lord, what of that!”

Preach you the Word and plant it home, And never faint; the Harvest Lord

Who gave the sower seed to sow, Will watch and tend His planted Word.

Text: © 1971 The Franzmann Family. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Sermon – “Why?”

Nicene Creed

C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life T of the world to come. Amen.

Prayer of the Church Isaiah 40:22–23, 28–29, 31

P Let us pray for people around the world in their various needs and for the Church wherever it gathers around Word and Sacrament. Isaiah wrote, “The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.” Let us ask God’s blessings on all who tend fields, flocks, and fisheries, all who protect wildlife and forests, all who tend parks and gardens.

C Creator Lord, give them a sense of Your presence to bring forth the fruits of Your good creation. Answer their prayers with good weather and bountiful harvests.

P Isaiah wrote, “(He) stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and brings princes to nothing,” Let us ask God’s blessings on governments and citizens, on armed forces and peacemakers.

C Sovereign Lord, guide and direct those in the powers that be on this earth that they may govern for the benefit of all. Give courage to those who defend freedoms and protect communities. Instill wisdom in those who make, administer, and judge laws in each nation, and those who seek peace across their borders.

P Isaiah wrote, “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength.” Let us ask God’s blessings on those near and dear to us, [including . . .], on all who are weary and heavy laden, all who struggle in the face of illness or injustice, all mourning the loss of family or friends, employment or home, freedom or opportunity.

C Strengthening Lord, give them an increase of faith to place their hope in Your power and love. Use doctors and nurses, counselors and emergency workers to answer their prayers with the relief, health, and comfort that fit Your gracious plans for them.

P Isaiah wrote, “They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.” Let us ask God’s blessings on the Church here and around the world, pastors and lay leaders, missionaries and evangelists, teachers and new Christians alike.

C Lord of the Church, protect Your people against persecution from without and indifference from within; give us all a desire to listen to Your Word, a thirst to serve with the gifts You have placed within us, and a renewal of strength to spread the news of Your gracious salvation.

P These and any other things You would have us ask of You, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:

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.

Benedicamus and Benediction

P Let us bless the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

P The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look upon you with favor and T give you peace.

C Amen.

Hymn LSB 709 The King of Love My Shepherd Is

The King of love my shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am His, And He is mine forever.

Where streams of living water flow, My ransomed soul He leadeth

And, where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth.

Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love He sought me

And on His shoulder gently laid, And home rejoicing brought me.

In death’s dark vale I fear no ill, With Thee, dear Lord, beside me,

Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me.

Thou spreadst a table in my sight; Thine unction grace bestoweth;

And, oh, what transport of delight, From Thy pure chalice floweth!

And so through all the length of days, Thy goodness faileth never;

Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise, Within Thy house forever!

Text: Public domain



Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany - January 31, 2021

Hymn LSB 583: God Has Spoken by His Prophets

God has spoken by His prophets, Spoken His unchanging Word;

Each from age to age proclaiming, God, the one, the righteous Lord.

In the world’s despair and turmoil, One firm anchor holds us fast:

God is king, His throne eternal; God the first, and God the last.

God has spoken by Christ Jesus, Christ, the everlasting Son,

Brightness of the Father’s glory, With the Father ever one;

Spoken by the Word Incarnate, God of God, before time was;

Light of Light, to earth descending, He reveals our God to us.

God is speaking by His Spirit, Speaking to our hearts again,

In the ageless Word declaring, His own message, now as then.

Through the rise and fall of nations, One sure faith yet standing fast;

God abides, His Word unchanging; God the first, and God the last.

Text: © 1953, renewed 1981 The Hymn Society, admin. Hope Publishing Co. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Invocation

P In the name of the Father, and of the T Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Exhortation

P Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto

God our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us

forgiveness.

P Our help is in the name of the Lord,

C who made heaven and earth.

P I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord,

C and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.

Confession of Sins

P O almighty God, merciful Father,

C I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with

which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal

punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I

pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter

sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and

merciful to me, a poor, sinful being.

Absolution

P Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the

Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of

my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son

and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

Gloria Patri

C Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in

the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Kyrie

C Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy

upon us.

Gloria in Excelsis

P Glory be to God on high:

C and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

We praise Thee, we bless Thee, we worship Thee,

we glorify Thee, we give thanks to Thee, for Thy great glory.

O Lord God, heav’nly King, God the Father Almighty.

O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ;

O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father,

that takest away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.

Thou that takest away the sin of the world, receive our prayer.

Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

For Thou only art holy; Thou only art the Lord.

Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost,

art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Salutation

P The Lord be with you.

C And with thy spirit.

Collect of the Day

P Let us pray.

Almighty God, You know we live in the midst of so many dangers that in our frailty we

cannot stand upright. Grant strength and protection to support us in all dangers and

carry us through all temptations; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives

and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 18:15–20

15“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among

you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen— 16just as you desired of

the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly, when you said, ‘Let me not

hear again the voice of the LORD my God or see this great fire any more, lest I

die.’ 17And the LORD said to me, ‘They are right in what they have spoken. 18I will raise

up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his

mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. 19And whoever will not listen

to my words that he shall speak in my name, I myself will require it of him. 20But the

prophet who presumes to speak a word in my name that I have not commanded him to

speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die.’”

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1–13

1Concerning food offered to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.”

This “knowledge” puffs up, but love builds up. 2If anyone imagines that he knows

something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, he is

known by God.

4Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “an idol has no

real existence,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5For although there may be socalled

gods in heaven or on earth—as indeed there are many “gods” and many

“lords”— 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for

whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through

whom we exist.

7However, not all possess this knowledge. But some, through former association

with idols, eat food as really offered to an idol, and their conscience, being weak, is

defiled. 8Food will not commend us to God. We are no worse off if we do not eat, and

no better off if we do. 9But take care that this right of yours does not somehow become

a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in

an idol’s temple, will he not be encouraged, if his conscience is weak, to eat food

offered to idols? 11And so by your knowledge this weak person is destroyed, the brother

for whom Christ died. 12Thus, sinning against your brothers and wounding their

conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food makes my

brother stumble, I will never eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Alleluia and Verse

C Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia.

HOLY GOSPEL: Mark 1:21–28

P The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the first chapter.

C Glory to You, O Lord.

21They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath [Jesus]

entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22And they were astonished at his teaching,

for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23And immediately

there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24“What

have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who

you are—the Holy One of God.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come

out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice,

came out of him. 27And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among

themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even

the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28And at once his fame spread everywhere

throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Hymn LSB 541 “Away from Us!” the Demon Cried

“Away from us!” the demon cried, When Christ, the Lord, drew near.

“Our dark, disordered world is lost, When You, the Light, appear!”

But Jesus spoke with God’s own pow’r;,“Come forth!” was His command;

For evil cannot bear the Light, Nor sin the Truth withstand.

O risen Christ, God’s living Word, To us, we pray, draw near.

Come, speak the truth that cleanses sin, With love that conquers fear.

Drive out the doubt that cripples faith; Expel our pride and greed

That we, from pow’rs that threaten us, May, by Your grace, be freed.

Then help us, Lord, to greet each day, With hearts and wills made new

And, when You call us forth to serve, To rise and follow You.

Text: © 2000 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission: LSB Hymn License no. 110006114

Sermon – “Who Are You Listening To?”

Apostles’ Creed

C I believe in God, the Father Almighty,

maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord,

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate,

was crucified, died and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day He rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.

From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church,

the communion of saints,

the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body,

and the life T everlasting. Amen.

Offertory

C Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.