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FOURTH SUNDAY IN LENT
March 31, 2019
THEME: The parable of the prodigal son may be one of the most familiar in the repertoire of our Teacher. Jesus speaks His truth into the heart of every person who needs Him, regardless of whether their brokenness is known to everyone and their brother or known only to the sinner and his or her Creator. Jesus’ story of a son’s foolish ways and a father’s lavish grace is a moving tale with a profound impact. But that’s not even the full story. The elder son, who wrongly thought that he had it all together and had not sinned against his father, looks with indignation upon the prodigal’s homecoming celebration. The father responds with a message for both of his children, and both of his children desperately need the father’s mercy. We do too. Reflect on your brokenness and confess it. Rejoice in your Father’s forgiveness and receive it. Relish the celebration of the feast that’s been prepared for you and share its joy with every other prodigal you know.
A WORD ABOUT OUR WORSHIP TODAY Psalm 27
P: The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
C: The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
P: One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
C: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
P: Make me to know Your ways, O Lord.
C: Teach me Your paths.
CONFESSING TO GOD
P: The paths of God begin with an honest evaluation of ourselves. God is our light, but often it has been the dark paths of sin that we have chosen to travel. During this moment of silence, we reflect upon our need for God’s help.
Silent Reflection
P: We confess…
C: Lord, you have called us to follow you. Instead of following you, we have gone different ways. Forgive us this day for the times that we have intentionally wandered away from the paths You would like us to go. Forgive us too for those times that we have unintentionally wandered causing harm to ourselves and to others. Give us a new heart with Your forgiveness. Continue to shine Your light in our lives!
P: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son.” God is rich in mercy and is always generous with forgiveness. Receive God’s light today through the forgiveness of your sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by Jesus’ authority, I declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
C: Amen.
OPENING HYMN: “Spirit of the Living God” TOSB 195 twice
Spirit of the living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
P: Let us pray.
P: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning. Though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul.
C: Grant that we may acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and share Your love with all those who, like us, are lost and hopeless without You; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, 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: Isaiah 12:1-6
The Lord God has become my salvation.
You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
C: Thanks be to God.
CHOIR ANTHEM: “The Greatest Commandment” By: Pepper Choplin
Love the Lord with all your heart.
Love the Lord with all your soul.
Love the Lord with all your mind,
and all your strength,
O love the lord, your God.
Love the Lord with all your heart.
Love the Lord with all your soul.
Love the Lord with all your mind,
and all your strength.
O love the Lord, your God.
Love the Lord-
and love your neighbor as yourself.
Love your neighbor as yourself.
If you love the Lord with all your heart,
Love your neighbor as yourself.
Love the Lord with all your heart.
Love the Lord with all your soul.
Love the Lord with all your mind,
and all your strength,
O love the Lord, your God.
Love the Lord, your God.
Love the Lord with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind,
with all your strength, love the Lord
Gospel Reading: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32
The father embraces his prodigal son.
Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him.And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
So he told them this parable:
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.”’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.
SERMON SONG: “There is a Redeemer”
There is a Redeemer, Jesus God’s own Son
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Holy One.
Refrain: Thank you, O my Father for giving us Your Son;
And leaving Your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.
Jesus, my redeemer, Name above all names.
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah, Hope for sinners slain
Refrain: Thank you, O my Father for giving us Your Son;
And leaving Your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.
When I stand in glory, I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve My King forever, In that holy place.
Refrain: Thank you, O my Father for giving us Your Son;
And leaving Your Spirit ‘til the work on earth is done.
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: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for all people according to their needs.
P: For the blessing of all creation, that our loving and creating Father would preserve and defend all that He has made, working all things together for the good of those who love Him, especially working in the hearts and minds of those who have wandered from His house, that through repentance and faith sinners turn to Him and take refuge in His fatherly care, let us pray to the Lord.
C: You are a hiding place for me!
P: For the blessing of the Church of Jesus, that our gracious Savior guide the hearts, minds, and ministries of all who love Him and seek to make His Gospel known, that we would be defended from our adversaries, strengthened in our discipleship, and emboldened in our witness to a lost and dying world, let us pray to the Lord.
C: You preserve me from trouble!
P: For those who struggle in heart, body, mind, and relationship, that healing would come to those for whom we pray, [including . . .], that the Holy Spirit would bind up the brokenhearted, mend the hurting, heal the sick, strengthen the weak, and grant perfect peace to all who belong to Him, let us pray to the Lord.
C: You surround me with shouts of deliverance!
P: For these and all other prayers we bring before the Father’s throne of grace, that through the intercession of His perfect Son and in the company of the eternal Spirit, we take confidence in knowing that our prayers are heard and answered by Him who knows all things and directs all things according to His gracious will, let us pray to the Lord.
C: You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; You surround me with shouts of deliverance.
P: We pray all these things in the precious name of our Savior Jesus Christ.
C: Amen.
THE GREAT THANKSGIVING
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.
WORDS OF CONSECRATION
LORD’S PRAYER
DISTRIBUTION
“Glorify Thy Name” TOSB 49
Father, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Jesus, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
Spirit, we love Thee, we praise Thee, we adore Thee.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth,
Glorify Thy name, glorify Thy name.
Glorify Thy name in all the earth.
“Let Us Break Bread Together” TOSB 126
- Let us break bread together on our knees,
Let us break bread togeter on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
- Let us drink wine together on our knees,
Let us drink wine together on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
- Let us bow ’round the altar on our knees,
Let us bow ‘round the altar on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
- Let us praise God together on our knees,
Let us praise God together on our knees;
When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun,
O Lord, have mercy on me!
“Just As I Am” TOSB 119
- Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
- Just as I am, and waiting not,
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
- Just as I am, tho’ tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
- Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
- Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!
P: Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid;
C: for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.
P: Confident of our salvation, let us go forth in the name of the Lord.
CLOSING SONG: “Do, Lord! Psalm 27” TOSB 41
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue.
You’re my light and my salvation, I won’t be afraid!
You’re the stronghold of my life, by You all things were made.
Foes attack me, hassle me, but I will never fade,
For I move in the strength of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue
Though a host encamp against me, I will never fear!
Even though a war surrounds me, You are always near.
One thing I have asked of you that I will seek for sure
Is to live in the house of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue
You will hide me in Your shelter in the day of strife;
You’ll conceal me in Your tent or set me on the height.
Now my head is lifted up above the storms of night,
So I’ll sing to the name of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue
Glory be to God the Father and to God the Son;
Glory be to God the Spirit, ever Three in one.
As it was in the beginning, till our race is won
We can live in the light of the Lord.
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Do Lord, O do, Lord, O do remember me!
Look away beyond the blue
P: Go in Peace. Serve the Lord!
C: Thanks be to God!