The Bulletin is at: 03-18-2018 – Bulletin
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FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT
March 18, 2018
AS WE GATHER: Over the years, Jesus’ twelve apostles have been assigned different symbols or “shields,” which bear emblems that remind us of an aspect of their life. The symbol often used for John, one of the sons of Zebedee, is a chalice with a serpent on it. This unflattering symbol comes from today’s Gospel, where John and his brother James ask to sit at Jesus’ right and left hand. Jesus responds, “The cup that I drink you will drink” (Mark 10:39a). John does not understand what he is asking. In time John does see that Jesus will drink from the cup of suffering, the cup of death, the cup filled with the sin of the world. Thanks be to God that Jesus drank this cup for John and for us to give salvation.
A WORD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP TODAY Psalm 51
P: Cast me not away from your presence,
C: And take not your Holy Spirit from me.
P: Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
C: And uphold me with a willing spirit.
P: O Lord, open my lips.
C: And my mouth will declare your praise.
CONFESSING TO GOD
C: Lord, we come before you in prayer today, asking for forgiveness. Jesus says, “Whoever desires to be great among you must become like a servant.” We have missed the mark of serving others. Busy with our own desires, we have forgotten to pay attention to the needs, hurts and challenges of others. Lord, with your forgiveness also give us new eyes and renewed energy to serve. Open our hearts and eyes to what you would like us to do.
SONG OF CONFESSION: “Open Our Eyes”
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord,
Help us to listen
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus.
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus
To reach out and touch Him
And say that we love Him.
Open our ears, Lord,
Help us to listen
Open our eyes, Lord,
We want to see Jesus.
P: Jesus says today that “He came not to be served, but to serve.” He serves you in a special way today as he grants forgiveness. As a called and ordained servant of Jesus, I announce the grace of God to all of you. In the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
P: We pray.
C: Almighty God, our redeemer, in our weakness we have failed to be your messengers of forgiveness and hope in the world. Renew us by your Holy Spirit, that we may follow your commands and proclaim your reign of love; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
HEARING FROM GOD’S WORD
Old Testament Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
The Lord writes his new covenant on the hearts of his people.
“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, not 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. For 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. And 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.”
CHOIR ANTHEM “Waitin’ For the Mornin’”
By Pepper Choplin
Waitin’ for the mornin’ (x3) when the sun is gonna rise. (x2)
O when I’m prayin’ on my knees, and my heart is gripped with agony,
I’m waitin’ for the mornin’ when the sun is gonna rise, gonna rise up!
I’m waitin’ and though the shadows of pain and death try to shroud my soul with hopelessness,
I’m waitin’ for the mornin’ when the sun is gonna rise. (x5)
When my joy and strength are almos’ gone, I’m gonna keep the faith and just hold on,
‘cause I’m waitin’ for the mornin’ when the sun is gonna rise,
Gonna rise up! And when the darkness tries to overcome, it won’t last forever and will soon be done,
so I’m waitin’ for the mornin’ when the sun is gonna rise. (until the end)
Jesus explains that proper discipleship entails servanthood.
And 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.” And he said to them, “What do you want me to do for you?” And they said to him, “Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory.” Jesus 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?” And 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, but 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.” And when the ten heard it, they began to be indignant at James and John. And 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. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant,[a] and whoever would be first among you must be slave[b] of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
SERMON SONG “Make Me a Servant”(x2)
Make me a servant, humble and meek,
Lord, let me lift up those who are weak,
And may the pray’r of my heart always be:
Make me a servant, make me a servant,
Make me a servant today.
C: I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
Creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.
He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit
And born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
Was crucified, died, and was buried.
He descended into hell.
On the third day he rose again.
He ascended into heaven,
And is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again 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.
OFFERING
We give our offerings as a sign of our lives offered to God.
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 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 (names…) 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: 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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“I Know that My Redeemer Lives” TOSB 90
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 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, all glory to his name!
He lives, my Savior, still the same;
What joy this blest assurance gives:
I know that my Redeemer lives!
“Great is the Lord” TOSB 66
Great is the Lord,
He is holy and just,
By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true,
By His mercy He proves He is love.
Great is the Lord, and worthy of glory,
Great is the Lord, and worthy of praise.
Great is the Lord, now lift up your voice,
Now lift up your voice:
Great is the Lord
Great is the Lord
Great is the Lord,
He is holy and just,
By His power we trust In His love.
Great is the Lord, He is faithful and true,
By His mercy He proves He is love
Great are you Lord,
And worthy of glory
Great are you Lord, and worthy of praise.
Great are you Lord,
I lift up my voice,
I lift up my voice:
Great are you Lord!
Great are you Lord!
“Great is Thy Faithfulness” TOSB 55
- “Great is Thy faithfulness,” O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not,
As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. – Refrain
Refrain – “Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided
“Great is Thy faithfulness,” Lord unto me!
- Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness mercy and love. – Refrain
- Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! – Refrain
P: The Lord Almighty—Father, + Son and Holy Spirit—bless us and direct our days and our deeds in His peace.
C: Amen.
CLOSING SONG: “The Solid Rock” TOSB 222
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand,
All other ground is sinking sand.
When darkness seem to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace;
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil. (Refrain)
His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the whelming flood;
When all around my soul 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;
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne. (Refrain)
P: Go in Peace. Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!