The Service in PDF format is at: 03-15-2022 Service

Peace Lutheran Church

Third Mid-Week Service of Lent

March 15, 2023

Pre-Service Music

 Welcome

Procession

Leader: Jesus Christ, you are the light of the world;

All: the light no darkness can over-come;

Leader: Stay with us now, for it is evening,

All: and the day is almost over.

Leader: Let your light scatter the darkness,

All:  and shine within your people here.

Evening Hymn

All:

  1. Joyous light of heavenly glory, loving glow of God’s own face, you who sing creation’s story, shine on every land and race. Now as evening falls around us we shall raise our songs to you, God of daybreak, God of shadows, come and light our hearts anew.
  2. In the stars that grace the darkness, in the blazing sun of dawn, in the light of peace and wisdom, we can hear your quiet song. Love that fills the night with wonder, love that warms the weary soul, Love that bursts all chains asunder, set us free and make us whole.
  3. You who made the heaven’s splendor, every dancing star of night, make us shine with gentle justice, let us each reflect your light. Mighty God of all creation, gentle Christ who lights our way, Loving Spirit of salvation, lead us on to endless day.

Evening Thanksgiving

Leader:  May God be with you all,

All:  and also with you;

Leader:  Let us sing our thanks to God,

All:  It is right to give God thanks and praise.

Leader:  Blessed are you, Creator of the universe – from old you have led your people by night and day. May the light of your Christ make our darkness bright, for your Word and your presence are the light of our pathways, and you are the light and life of all creation.

All:  Amen

Psalmody, Readings and Canticles

Psalm 141

All:  Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

Group One:  O God, I call to you, * come to me now;  O hear my voice when I call to you, Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.  Keep watch within me, God; deep in my heart may the light of your love be burning bright.  Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.  All praise to the God of all Creator of life; all praise ge to Christ and the Spirit of love.  Let my prayer rise up like incense before you, the lifting up of my hands as an offering to you.

* At this point Group two starts

(Silence for meditation)

Leader:  May our prayers come before you, O God, as incense, and may your presence surround and fill us, so that in union with all creation, we might sing your praise and your love in our lives.

All:  Amen.

Old Testament Reading:   Zachariah 3:1-10

1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right side to accuse him.

2 The LORD said to Satan, “The LORD rebuke you, Satan! The LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebuke you! Is not this man a burning stick snatched from the fire?”

3 Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel.

4 The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.”

5 Then I said, “Put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.

6 The angel of the LORD gave this charge to Joshua:

7 “This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here.

8 “ ‘Listen, High Priest Joshua, you and your associates seated before you, who are men symbolic of things to come: I am going to bring my servant, the Branch.

9 See, the stone I have set in front of Joshua! There are seven eyes on that one stone, and I will engrave an inscription on it,’ says the LORD Almighty, ‘and I will remove the sin of this land in a single day.

10 “ ‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”

Leader:  The light shines in the darkness

All:  and the darkness has not overcome it

Hymn:    “Amazing Grace”

1 Amazing grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.

2 ‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!

3 Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.

4 The Lord has promised good to me;
His Word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.

Message     “You Can’t be Retried”

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The Annunciation

Luke 1: 26-28, 30-32, 38

Leader:  An angel went from God to a town called Nazareth to a woman whose name was Mary. The angel said to her, “Rejoice, O highly favored, for God is with you. You shall bear a child, and his name sall be Jesus, the Chosen One of God Most High.” And Mary said, “I am the servant of my God, I live to do your will.”

(Immediately to “The Magnificat”)

The Magnificat

Luke 1: 46-55

  1. My soul proclaims your greatness O God, and my spirit rejoices in servant here, and blessed be all my life though. Great and mighty are you. O Holy One, strong in your kindness evermore. How you favor the weak and lowly one, humbling the proud of heart.
  2. You have cast the mighty down from their thrones, and uplifted the humble of wondrous things, and left the wealthy no part. Great and mighty are you, O Faithful One, strong is your justice strong your love. As you promised to Sarah and Abraham, Kindness forever more.
  3. My soul proclaims your greatness O God, and my spirit rejoices in servant here, and blessed be all my life though.

Litany and Prayers

All: (Hum first round then sing) God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: In peace, in Peace, we pray to you:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For peace and salvation, we pray to you:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For peace between nations, for peace between peoples:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For us who are gathered to worship and praise your:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all of your servants who live out your gospel:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all those who govern, that justice might guide them:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all those who labor in service to others:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader:  Grant weather that nourishes all of creation:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: Keep watch on our loved ones and keep us from danger:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: For all the beloved who res in your mercy:

All:  God of mercy, Hold us in love,

Leader: Help us, comfort us, all of our days:

All:  Keep us, hold us, gracious God.

Leader: Great and merciful God, Source and Ground of all goodness and live, give to your people the peace that passes all understanding, and the will to live your Gospel of mercy and justice, through Jesus Christ our Lord.

All: Amen

Leader: God, remember us in your love and teach us to pray:

All: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come; your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial, and deliver us from evil. For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, mow and forever. Amen

Final Blessing

Leader: Let us bless our God:

All: praise and thanks to you.

Leader: May God, Creator bless us and keep us, may Christ be ever light for our lives, may the Spirit of Love be our guide and path, for all of our days.

All: Amen

Post-Service Music