The Service in PDF format is at: 03-07-2018 mid-week 4

Midweek of Lent 4

March 7, 2018

Vespers

The Betrayal: A Place of Eternal Love

Human love changes over time. Sometimes it deepens; other times it fades. Our Lord, however, brings a love that is eternal. His love for you existed before you were born and continues into life everlasting. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for you. This evening, we meditate upon our Lord’s eternal love.

When Jesus rises from prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, nothing is what it seems. This is the hour when darkness reigns. A kiss becomes betrayal. Disciples no longer follow. Religious leaders fight against their God. Yet, into this hour of darkness, Jesus brings an eternal love. Into this world of constant changes, Jesus brings an unchanging mission. He is faithful to His name and comes to save us from our sin.

Meditate this evening upon your Savior’s eternal love. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, and, in a world of constant change, what a blessing it is to know our Savior’s love that never fails.

 

PRELUDE

 

OPENING PRAYER

P:  O Lord, open my lips,

C:  and my mouth will declare Your praise.

P:  Make haste, O God, to deliver me;

C:  make haste to help me, O Lord.

All:   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.
Praise to You, O Christ, Lamb of our salvation.

 

OFFICE HYMN  Red Book 115              “Jesus, Name Above All Names”

Jesus, Names above all names,

beautiful Savior, glorious Lord,

Emmanuel, God is with us,

blessed Redeemer, living Word.

 

Jesus, loving shepherd

Vine of the branches, Son of God

Prince of Peace, Wonderful  counselor

Lord of the universe, Light of the world

 

Jesus, Way of salvation,

King of kings, Lord of Lords,

The way the truth, and the Life,

Mighty creator, my Savior and friend.

 

+ Readings +

 

FIRST READING            1 Peter 5:6–11

6Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, 7casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 8Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

P:  O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:  Thanks be to God.

 

HOLY GOSPEL              Luke 22:47–53

47While He was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss Him, 48but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49And when those who were around Him saw what would follow, they said, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51But Jesus said, “No more of this!” And He touched his ear and healed him. 52Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against Him, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53When I was with you day after day in the temple, you did not lay hands on Me. But this is your hour, and the power of darkness.”

P:  O Lord, have mercy on us.

C:  Thanks be to God.

 

SERMON HYMN  Green Book 306                  “Chief of Sinners Though I Be”

1 Chief of sinners though I be,
Jesus shed his blood for me,
Died that I might live on high,
Lived that I might never die.
As the branch is to the vine,
I am his and he is mine.

2 Oh, the height of Jesus’ love!
Higher than the heav’ns above,
Deeper than the depths of sea,
Lasting as eternity.
Love that found me – wondrous thought –
Found me when I sought him not.

3 Only Jesus can impart
Balm to heal the wounded heart,
Peace that flows from sin forgiv’n,
Joy that lifts the soul to heav’n,
Faith and hope to walk with God
In the way that Enoch trod.

4 Chief of sinners though I be,
Christ is All-in-All to me;
All my wants to him are known,
All my sorrows are his own.
He sustains the hidden life
Safe with him from earthly strife.

5 O my Savior, help afford
By Your Spirit and your Word!
When my wayward heart would stray,
Keep me in the narrow way;
Grace in time of need supply
While I live and when I die.

 

SERMON          “The Betrayal: A Place of Eternal Love” (Luke 22:47–53)

+ Prayer +

COLLECTS

P:  O Lord, hear my prayer.

C:  And let my cry come to You.

 

COLLECT OF THE DAY

P:  Almighty God, in Your eternal love for us, You sent Your Son into this world, and gave Him the name that is above every name, Jesus, for He is the one who saves us from our sin. In Him, you have named us to be Your children, heirs of Your heavenly kingdom and partakers of Your heavenly grace.

Forgive us, we pray, for those times when we have not lived as Your children, when we have shown ourselves to be something less than that name. In Your eternal love, renew us, that as Your children, we might grow in faith and love toward You.

Through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and ever. Amen.

C:  Amen.

 

COLLECT FOR GUIDANCE IN LIFE

P:  Almighty and ever-living God, You make us both to will and to do those things that are good and acceptable in Your sight.  Let Your fatherly hand ever guide us and Your Holy Spirit ever be with us to direct us in the knowledge and obedience of Your Word that we may obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C:  Amen. 

 

COLLECT FOR PEACE

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

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 grace of our Lord  Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

C:  Amen.

 

CLOSING HYMN  Green Book 320        “O God, Our Help in Ages Past”

1 Our God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Our shelter from the stormy blast,
And our eternal home:

2 Under the shadow of your throne
Your saints have dwelt secure;
Sufficient is your arm alone,
And our defense is sure.

3 Before the hills in order stood
Or earth received its frame,
From everlasting you are God,
To endless years the same.

4 A thousand ages in your sight
Are like an evening gone,
Short as the watch that ends the night
Before the rising sun.

5 Time, like an ever-rolling stream,
Soon bears us all away;
We fly forgotten, as a dream
Dies at the op’ning day.

6 O God, our help in ages past,
Our hope for years to come,
Still be our guard while troubles last
And our eternal home!

POSTLUDE