Christ Lutheran Church – LCMS

Lent Worship Wednesday April 1, 2020

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Lisa

April 1, 2020 – Week 5: To Save the Lost

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10

Please click the link to view the Sermon Message https://youtu.be/fP4NPWr6cF4

Opening Hymn….. Come to Calvary’s Holy Mountain LSB 435 (v.1, 2 & 4)

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.

2. 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.

4. 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.

Invocation and Litany

P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

C Amen.

P Let your hand be ready to help me,

C For I have chosen your precepts.

P I long for your salvation, O Lord,

C And your law is my delight.

P Let my soul live and praise you,

C And let your rules help me.

P I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,

C For I do not forget your commandments.

Confession and Absolution

P Let us confess our sins to God and ask his forgiveness for the sake of Jesus Christ.

C Almighty God, we have gone astray like lost sheep. We have turned away from your Word and to listen to the tempting voices the world around us. We have followed our own desires instead of following your will. Have mercy on us and forgive us for the sake of Jesus our Savior.

P God has had mercy on us. He sent his Son to seek and to save the lost, to seek and to save us. Jesus suffered, died and rose from the dead to bring us forgiveness and life. I announce to you that your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P Be our Shepherd, Lord, and hold us safely in your mighty hand!

Prayer of the Day

P Almighty God, you promised through the prophet Isaiah that you would come to search for your lost sheep. You would rescue them all. In the person of Jesus your Son, you kept your promise to seek and to save the lost. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection we have been rescued from sin, death and the devil and brought safely into your kingdom. Fill us with your Spirit so that we will be bold witnesses for our Savior, seeking those still lost in the darkness of sin and sharing with them the good news of the Shepherd who came to give his life to save them. Hear our prayer in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hymn………………….. I Am Jesus’ Little Lamb LSB 740

I am Jesus’ little lamb,

Ever glad at heart I am;

For my Shepherd gently guides me,

Knows my need and well provides me,

Loves me ev’ry day the same,

Even calls me by my name.

2. Day by day, at home, away,

Jesus is my staff and stay,

When I hunger, Jesus feeds me,

Into pleasant pastures leads me;

When I thirst, he bids me go

Where the quiet waters flow.

3. Who so happy as I am,

Even now the Shepherd’s lamb?

And when my short life is ended,

By his angel host attended,

He shall fold me to his breast,

There within his arms to rest.

Old Testament Reading…………….. Ezekiel 34:11-16

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.

Epistle Reading………….. Romans 10:8-13

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Gospel Reading………………. Luke 19:1-10

[Jesus] entered Jericho and was passing through. And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

Sermon Hymn……….. The King of Love My Shepherd Is LSB 709 (v. 1 & 3)

1. The King of love my shepherd is,

Whose goodness faileth never;

I nothing lack if I am his

And he is mine forever.

3. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,

But yet in love he sought me

And on his shoulder gently laid

And home rejoicing brought me.

Sermon…………………. To Save the Lost

P There is more than one way to get lost. Children can become separated from their parents in a store, or they may leave their own backyards, leading to a frantic search through the neighborhood. Adults may find themselves lost on the highway after taking a wrong turn, and they hope that their faithful GPS will get them out of trouble. Older adults suffering from memory loss may become confused and wander away from home or be unable to find their way back home.

But sometimes you might be safe at home, all alone, and yet you feel lost, or maybe feel at a loss. Perhaps you are facing a difficult decision regarding your finances or health or employment. You may be struggling with issues in your relationships with family or friends or co-workers. You may have become lost in grief and feel unable to move forward in your own life after the death of a loved one. You may be lost in guilt or shame as you fight against a particular sin or temptation. Or you may find yourself lost in doubt or fear, feeling as if you are somehow separated from God himself, wondering if he really does forgive all of your sins.

You may feel lost, you may be lost, but God always comes looking for you. He came among us to seek and to save the lost. He said through the prophet Ezekiel that he, God himself, would search for his sheep; he would seek them out. Just like a shepherd lives and works and searches among his scattered sheep, God himself would live and work and search among his scattered people. He would rescue his lost people. Ezekiel proclaimed this message of hope and promise to the people of Israel in exile. God would find them, he said, and bring them back to the land of Israel. But God’s promise to seek and find the lost would be fulfilled in a way that would extend beyond those exiles from Israel. Someday God would come to live on earth; he would come in person, in the flesh, to live among the lost, like a shepherd among his sheep. God would find all of his scattered flock and rescue them and bring them safely to the home he has prepared for them.

In Jesus Christ, God himself had come to live among his scattered sheep. He came, as Jesus said, “to seek and to save the lost.” And, as Jesus traveled through the town of Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, he searched out one of his lost sheep—and found him a tree. This particular sheep, a small one, was named Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was the chief tax collector in Jericho. The job of tax collector is not popular in any era, but for the Jews in Jesus’ day, tax collectors were an especially despised segment of society. Zacchaeus was a Jew who worked for the hated Roman overlords. He was rich, not because he was paid well, but because he overcharged people in collecting taxes and kept the extra income for himself—something he admits to later in his meeting with Jesus. Zacchaeus had heard about Jesus and he wanted to see this miracle-working rabbi for himself. Being too short to see over the crowds gathered around Jesus, Zacchaeus climbed a sycamore tree to get a good look. He just wanted to see Jesus, but the short-statured tax collector got more than he bargained for. Jesus walked right over to the tree, looked up and invited himself to Zacchaeus’ home. The tax collector hurried down and took Jesus to his home. The people watching were shocked and angry that Jesus would go as a guest to the house of such a person, a man they called a “sinner.” Who would even want to be seen with such a person, much less eat with him! Zacchaeus was a traitor, a Jew who worked for the Romans and stole money from his own people. And Jesus was a guest in his home!

Jesus, the guest who invited himself, found Zacchaeus that day, and the tax collector believed in his guest as Messiah and Savior. Zacchaeus, “the wee little man” of the children’s song, put his new faith into action in a big way, giving half of his wealth to the poor and promising to restore fourfold what he had taken from people through his dishonest tax collecting.

That day in Jericho, Zacchaeus climbed a tree to find Jesus in the crowd, but in reality, it was Jesus who found him. That is what Jesus does. He is God in the flesh, God in person, who came among his people to seek and to save the lost—and that is what Jesus is still doing today. Jesus sought and found you. In Baptism he claimed you as his own lost lamb. He rescued you from sin, death and the devil and brought you safely home to himself. And by his Spirit at work in the Gospel message, in the good news of his life, death and resurrection, Jesus is still seeking the lost. He works through our words of witness to find his lost sheep and bring them home.

The people of Jericho grumbled about Jesus and Zacchaeus, scandalized that Jesus had gone to be the guest “of a man who is a sinner.” But that is what Jesus is doing today. He searches for his lost sheep, inviting himself into the hearts and homes of sinners like you and me. That is why he was on the road that day as he passed through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem and the cross that awaited him. He was on his way to suffer and die and rise to win forgiveness and eternal life for every lost sheep. That was Jesus’ purpose; that is why he came—to seek and to save the lost. Amen.

Hymn of Response… The King of Love My Shepherd Is LSB 709 (v. 4 & 6)

4. 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.

6. And so through all the length of days

Thy goodness faileth never,

Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise

Within thy house forever!

Offering (Thank you to everyone who has donated their offerings during this time of no in person worship. You may give your offerings at the Pathway Bank Drive up Window.)

Prayers Each response ends with the following petition:

P Jesus, Good Shepherd,

C You came to seek and to save the lost.

P Lord and Savior, in Jericho you found the lost sinner Zacchaeus and called him to faith in yourself. You were born among us, as one of us, as our Shepherd, to find and save your lost sheep. Through your death and resurrection, you rescued us from sin, death and the devil and made us your own in holy Baptism. Jesus, Good Shepherd,

C You came to seek and to save the lost.

P Lord and Savior, so many people are lost in loneliness and despair. They may be lost in grief or fear or doubt. Work through your saving Word to bring to them the comfort that they need. Work through us as we share with them the hope that we have in your name. Jesus, Good Shepherd,

C You came to seek and to save the lost.

P Lord and Savior, by the power of the Holy Spirit, work through our witness as we share the good news of salvation with those still lost in sin. As you did with Zacchaeus, invite yourself into their hearts and homes through the Gospel that we share. Jesus, Good Shepherd,

C You came to seek and to save the lost.

P Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

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 For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.

C As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered,

P So will I seek out my sheep,

C And I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered

P The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

C Amen.

Closing Hymn….. How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds LSB 524 (v.1, 3 & 4)

1. How sweet the name of Jesus sounds

In a believer’s ear!

It soothes our sorrows, heals our wounds,

And drives away our fear.

3. Dear name! The rock on which I build,

My shield and hiding place;

My never-failing treasury filled

With boundless stores of grace.

4. O Jesus, shepherd, guardian, friend,

My Prophet, Priest and King,

My Lord, my life, my way, my end,

Accept the praise I bring.

By Carol Geisler. © 2020 Creative Communications for the Parish, a division of Bayard, Inc., 1564 Fencorp Dr., Fenton, MO 63026. 800-325-9414. www.creativecommunications.com. All rights reserved. Reprinted with Permission.

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Fifth Sunday in Lent Worship for Sunday March 29, 2020

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Lisa

Fifth Sunday in Lent – Sunday, March 29^th, 2020

Divine Service 4 LSB Hymnal pg. 203-212

ANNOUNCEMENTS

T Confession and Absolution

Hymn of Invocation – Christ, the Life of All the Living…………… LSB 420

1      Christ, the life of all the living,
    Christ, the death of death, our foe,
Who, Thyself for me once giving
    To the darkest depths of woe:
Through Thy suff’rings, death, and merit
I eternal life inherit.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

2      Thou, ah! Thou, hast taken on Thee
    Bonds and stripes, a cruel rod;
Pain and scorn were heaped upon Thee,
    O Thou sinless Son of God!
Thus didst Thou my soul deliver
From the bonds of sin forever.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

3      Thou hast borne the smiting only
    That my wounds might all be whole;
Thou hast suffered, sad and lonely,
    Rest to give my weary soul;
Yea, the curse of God enduring,
Blessing unto me securing.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

4      Heartless scoffers did surround Thee,
    Treating Thee with shameful scorn
And with piercing thorns they crowned Thee.
    All disgrace Thou, Lord, hast borne,
That as Thine Thou mightest own me
And with heav’nly glory crown me.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

5      Thou hast suffered men to bruise Thee,
    That from pain I might be free;
Falsely did Thy foes accuse Thee:
    Thence I gain security;
Comfortless Thy soul did languish
Me to comfort in my anguish.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

6      Thou hast suffered great affliction
    And hast borne it patiently,
Even death by crucifixion,
    Fully to atone for me;
Thou didst choose to be tormented
That my doom should be prevented.
    Thousand, thousand thanks shall be,
    Dearest Jesus, unto Thee.

7      Then, for all that wrought my pardon,
    For Thy sorrows deep and sore,
For Thine anguish in the Garden,
    I will thank Thee evermore,
Thank Thee for Thy groaning, sighing,
For Thy bleeding and Thy dying,
    For that last triumphant cry,
    And shall praise Thee, Lord, on high.

Text: Public domain

Stand – The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation & Exhortation…………………………………………………. LSB 203

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

C Amen.

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 & Absolution………………………. LSB 203

C Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. 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 T Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C Amen.

T Service of the Word

Responsive Psalm…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. Psalm 130

P ¹Out of the depths

C I cry to you, O Lord!

P ²O Lord, hear my voice!

C Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

P ³If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities,

C O Lord, who could stand?

P ⁴But with you there is forgiveness,

C that you may be feared.

P ⁵I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,

C and in his word I hope; ⁶my soul waits for the Lord

P more than watchmen for the morning,

C more than watchmen for the morning.

P ⁷O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love,

C and with him is plentiful redemption.

P ⁸And he will redeem Israel

C from all his iniquities.

Kyrie ♫…………………………………………………………………………. LSB 204

C Lord, have mercy;

Christ, have mercy;

Lord, have mercy.

During Lent the Gloria is omitted.

Salutation and 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.

Sit

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.

Epistle……………………………………………………………………….. Romans 8:1–11

1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. 7For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. 8Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

P This is the Word of the Lord.

C Thanks be to God.

Stand

During Lent the Alleluia is omitted.

Verse ♫…………………………………………………………………………………. LSB 205

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

Holy Gospel……………………………………………………………….. John 11:17–27, 38–53

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

C Glory to You, O Lord.

17When Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” . . .38Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” 45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed……………………………….. Inside back cover of LSB Hymnal

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.

Sit

Hymn of the Day – Christ Is Our Cornerstone……………………………………………………………………. LSB 912

Please rise for verse 3 in Honor of the Triune God

1      Christ is our cornerstone,
    On Him alone we build;
With His true saints alone
    The courts of heav’n are filled.
On His great love
    Our hopes we place
    Of present grace
And joys above.

2      Here may we gain from heav’n
    The grace which we implore,
And may that grace, once giv’n,
    Be with us evermore
Until that day
    When all the blest
    To endless rest
Are called away.

        3 Oh, then, with hymns of praise
    These hallowed courts shall ring;
Our voices we will raise
    The Three in One to sing
And thus proclaim
    In joyful song,
    Both loud and long,
That glorious name.

Text: Public domain

Sermon Message…………………………………………….. “If Only…” John 11:21

Grace, mercy and peace to you, from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.

The text for our message this morning is the Gospel Reading from John chapter 11, especially the lament from Martha in verse 21. I encourage you to open up your Bibles to that reading, or to follow along where the readings are printed in your worship folder.

These are certainly some interesting times, aren’t they? I found it to be very surreal as I went to town the other day, to deliver worship folders and devotionals to some of our isolated members who don’t have access to internet, and seeing all the empty parking lots, and closed store fronts, and being the only car sitting at a stop light. These are certainly interesting times. I tried to listen to the radio on that drive to get updates on the latest news, but turned it off fairly quickly as each broadcast I tried just seemed to ooze panic and desperation. It brought to my mind a scene from an old movie that my brother and I used to watch when we were kids, “Night of the Living Dead,” where in the wake of the rapid spread of a zombie apocalypse, you could hear a car radio in the background and the terrified voice of a newsman conveying the hopelessness of the situation. And yet as I rang the bell at the homes of our members, I was greeted not with desperation and fear, but with smiles and joy, at the opportunity to connect with another person, and especially to receive tools for connecting with fellow members of the Body of Christ, around His Word and promises. While the world all around us is echoing the lament of Martha from our Gospel reading, “If only…” Martha said to Jesus, “If only you had been here earlier, then my brother would not have died.” Likewise, the world laments, “If only this person were in charge instead of that person…” or “If only all the other people saw things like I see them…” or “If only we had done this or that… then all this could have been avoided, or we wouldn’t be experiencing things the way that we are.” The world around us, in light of the spread of a potentially deadly virus that is out of our control, clamors for answers, and when the answers are not quick in coming, the world is quick to judge and quick to despair. And as encouraged as I was to see the hope and joy in the faces of the members that I visited, that so contrasted the fear of the world, I couldn’t help but remember, that even as Christians, we are not immune to the same pressures, temptations and fears that the world outside the faith experiences. How often do we slip into the pattern of laments like, “If only I was smarter, prettier, stronger or more accomplished…” or “If only my boss treated me like I deserve, if only my spouse made me feel special, or if only I had what my neighbor has…” We are not immune to any of those very same thoughts, but what is different, is what gives that understanding of HOPE and JOY to those members I visited, even in their isolation. St. Paul reminds us in His letter to the Philippians, chapter 4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I say REJOICE. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with THANKSGIVING, let your requests be made known to God. And the PEACE of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” That’s what the Psalmist is doing in our Psalm for today, Psalm 130,

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord!
O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!
If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.

Jesus’ response to Martha’s lament is a message of hope. Not just a message in words but a message in action, as in the midst of her grief Jesus assures her that HE himself is the Resurrection and the Life, that those who instead of giving into despair, place their trust in Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promised redemption, will have eternal life, no matter how unfathomable that may seem in the midst of their current circumstances. And then Jesus backs up his hopeful words by calling Martha’s brother out of the grave, proving the validity of his claims, and restoring HOPE to those that were hopeless. That very same hope restored to Martha, and to her brother Lazarus… the very same hope proclaimed by the Psalmist, is available to you now, right in the midst of great turmoil in the world ravaged by virus, and right in the midst of the turmoil in your own lives ravaged by the temptations and results of sin. “Oh Israel, HOPE in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.” In Jesus there is forgiveness. In Jesus there is peace. In this time of struggle, “wait for the Lord,” because in Jesus there is HOPE.

Amen.

May the PEACE of God, which passes all worldly understanding guard and protect your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen!

Prayer of the Church

P We come, O Lord, with the dry bones of our broken hopes and disappointed dreams. Bind us up in Christ, that we may learn to pray with confidence, trusting in Your mercy to supply us with all things needful to us and to our salvation.

Brief silence

Almighty God, everlasting Father, You saw Israel in their despair and raised them up to hope by placing Your Spirit upon them. Raise us up from our weariness and grant us Your Spirit, that we may be strong in faith, bold in witness, holy in life and steadfast in hope. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O God of power and might, You hold in Your hand all the might of man. Give to us good government and faithful leaders who will heed Your Word and pursue righteousness and justice. Bless and defend us against all our enemies, and teach us to be good and faithful citizens of this land, using all Your manifold resources wisely and for the good of all. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O eternal God, You carry the grief of those who mourn and remember all who die in Christ. Give comfort to the grieving and peace to the dying, that they would not grieve as people without hope but trust in You to deliver us from death to life everlasting. Hear us especially on behalf of the families of…

** Linda Johnson & her Husband & some of their adult children, (Rebecca Hadenfeldt’s Aunt & Uncle and Family). Linda has been diagnosed with COVID-19 she was placed on a ventilator March 21. Her husband has been quarantined to his home with mild symptoms as well as some of their adult children that were exposed prior to her hospitalization. They all have symptoms ranging from fevers, headaches, and nausea.

*Those suffering from Cancer:

Flora Meester, friend of Catherine Garrett

Cheryl Klock, Julie Whitefoot’s Sister

Barb Meyer

Jeff Bexten, Former member of CLC

Pat Hughes, Barb Teichmeier’s Sister

Deb Homolka, Rick Gilbert’s Sister

Lorie Stahl, Ravenna NE

…and for all those we name in our hearts. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O gracious God, You daily and richly grant us all things we need for this body and life. Bless our labors, and grant us wisdom to use the fruits of those labors wisely and well, for the care of our families, for the poor in their needs, and for the support of Your work in this congregation. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O loving God, You established the family and ordered our relationships by Your Word. Renew husbands and wives in their love for each other, and refresh Your families in the grace of caring, that our homes may be places of blessing and peace where we serve each other in Your name. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P O Lord, God Almighty, through Your Son You have kept the promise of the ages and rescued us from sin. You have raised up the dry bones of a people captive to death and made us alive in Christ forever. Sustain us in this hope, that we may endure the tests, trials and troubles of this life and be ready when our Savior comes again in His glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C Amen.

Lord’s Prayer……………………………… Inside back cover of LSB Hymnal

P Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:

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.

Sit

Offering

Stand

Benedicamus & Benediction…………………………………………………… LSB 212

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.

Sit

Hymn to Depart – When I Survey the Wondrous Cross……………………. LSB 425

1      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.

2      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.

3      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?

4      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

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV^® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version^®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
Jax Campbell – March 31
Robert Schultz – March 31
Justin Bredthauer – April 1
Arlene Hadenfeldt – April 1
Dwight Jones – April 1
Kristen Harders – April 3
Aaron Rasmussen – April 3

Thank You to all who donated to the church last week through the Pathway Bank Drive-Thru.
**Don’t forget you can give your weekly donations at Pathway Bank Drive-Up window, just remember to tell them which Fund you are giving too.

Sunday, March 29 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Ezek. 37:1–14, Psalm 130, Rom. 8:1–11
John 11:1–45 (46–53) or John 11:17–27, 38–53

No worship or Activities at Church
Watch your email for more information regarding Worship and church activities during this time of self home quarantine.

Check out this website from LCMS Synod for resources during this time away from the physical church building.
https://www.lcms.org/how-we-serve/mercy/health-ministry/pandemic

Sunday, April 5 – Palm Sunday
Is. 50:4–9a, Psalm 118:19–29 or 31:9–16
Phil. 2:5–11, John 12:12–19

Prayers This Sunday
** Linda Johnson & her Husband & some of their adult children, (Rebecca Hadenfeldt’s Aunt & Uncle and Family). Linda has been diagnosed with COVID-19 she was placed on a ventilator March 21. Her husband has been quarantined to his home with mild symptoms as well as some of their adult children that were exposed prior to her hospitalization. They all have symptoms ranging from fevers, headaches, and nausea.

*Those suffering from Cancer:
Flora Meester, friend of Catherine Garrett
Cheryl Klock, Julie Whitefoot’s Sister
Barb Meyer
Jeff Bexten, Former member of CLC
Pat Hughes, Barb Teichmeier’s Sister
Deb Homolka, Rick Gilbert’s Sister
Lorie Stahl, Ravenna NE

Christ Lutheran Church
Cairo, NE

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

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Lent Worship Wednesday March 25, 2020

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Lisa

Please click the link below to view Pastor Wright’s Sermon message for today. https://youtu.be/LA_rSwv37q0

March 25, 2020 – Week 4: The Cup That I Drink
Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink.” Mark 10:39

Opening Hymn – Today Your Mercy Calls Us – LSB 915 (verses 1, 2 & 4)

Today your mercy calls us to wash away our sin.
However great our trespass, whatever we have been,
However long from mercy our hearts have turned away,
Your precious blood can wash us and make us clean today.
Today your gate is open, and all who enter in
Shall find a Father’s welcome and pardon for their sin.
The past shall be forgotten, a present joy be giv’n.
A future grace be promised, a glorious crown in heav’n.
O all-embracing Mercy, O ever-open Door,
What should we do without you when heart and eye run o’er?
When all things seem against us, to drive us to despair,
We know one gate is open, one ear will hear our prayer.

Invocation and Litany

P In the name of the Father, and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath.
C Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
P Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
C My soul also is greatly troubled. But you, O Lord—how long?
P Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
C Save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
P For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise? …
C The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer.

Confession and Absolution

P Let us confess our sins to God and ask his forgiveness for the sake of Jesus our Lord.
C Almighty God, we have sinned against you in our thoughts, words and actions. Instead of serving others in love, as Jesus did, we seek to put our own good above the good of others. We do not truly love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Forgive us for Jesus’ sake and help us to live as your humble servants.
P God sent his Son to be our Savior. On the cross Jesus suffered the penalty of death in our place. Through his suffering, death and resurrection we have forgiveness for our sins and the gift of eternal life. I announce to you that your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
C The Lord has heard my plea; the Lord accepts my prayer!

Prayer of the Day

P Almighty God, Jesus our Lord came not to be served but to serve. He came to give his life as a ransom for us, to bring us into a right relationship with you. Obedient to your holy will, he drank the cup of suffering. To save us he drank the cup of your wrath against sin. If we are mocked or ridiculed for our faith, help us to bear that cross in confident faith. We ask you to be with your saints around the world who are persecuted for their faith. Help them to bear that suffering with patience, knowing that through Christ Jesus, the victory already belongs to them. Hear our prayer and accept our praise in the name of Jesus, who offered up his life for us. Amen.

Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 51:21-23

Therefore hear this, you who are afflicted, who are drunk, but not with wine: Thus says your Lord, the Lord, your God who pleads the cause of his people: “Behold, I have taken from your hand the cup of staggering; the bowl of my wrath you shall drink no more; and I will put it into the hand of your tormentors, who have said to you, ‘Bow down, that we may pass over’; and you have made your back like the ground and like the street for them to pass over.”

Epistle Reading – 1 Thessalonians 5:8-11

But since we belong to the day, let us be so-ber, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Gospel Reading – Mark 10:35-45

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 indig-nant at James and John. And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gen-tiles lord it over them, and their great ones ex-ercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoev-er would be first among you must be slave 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 Hymn – Son of God, Eternal Savior – LSB #842 (verses 1 &2)

Son of God, eternal Savior,
Source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us
Hallows all our human race,
You our Head, who, throned in glory,
For your own will ever plead:
Fill us with your love and pity,
Heal our wrongs and help our need.
As you, Lord have lived for others,
So may we for others live.
Freely have your gifts been granted;
Freely may your servants give.
Yours the gold and yours the silver,
Yours the wealth of land and sea;
We but stewards of your bounty
Held in solemn trust will be

Sermon – “The Cup That I Drink”

P “Teacher’s pet!” Did you ever say that to anyone in grade school? Did anyone ever say that to you? You know what it means. It was that boy or girl who knew all the answers, who got the best grades, who could do no wrong—and even if that special student was in the wrong, they never got in trouble for it. Maybe even as adults you have seen the same thing at work, that one particular employee who gets all of the best assignments, even if he isn’t especially talented, and certainly not as talented as you! It’s the employee who could rob the place and the boss would turn a blind eye to it all. We never quite get over those teacher’s pets.
In our Gospel reading today, James and John want to be the teacher’s pets. They seem to think they already are the teacher’s pets, teacher with a capital “T.” They deserve special treatment, or so they imagine. Listen to the demand they make of their Teacher, the Son of God: “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” It seems that they did not recall Jesus’ earlier lessons about humble service, but they had no trouble remembering the lessons on confident prayer: “We want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.”
Certain that Jesus is the promised Messiah, and confident that he will reign in glory over Israel, James and John ask for places of honor in the kingdom. They want to be seated at Jesus’ side, reigning beside the King at his right and left, right next to the throne. Jesus doesn’t grant their re-quest, but he has a brief quiz for them. It seems that there are some job requirements for such exalt-ed positions.
Jesus responds, “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?” Jesus will soon drain a terrible cup of agony and death. He will be baptized, drowned, in a fiery river of suffering. The two disciples respond that yes, they are able to share the baptism and the cup. Jesus tells them that they will do just that. In the years to come the two disciples will share with their Lord the cup of suffering as they endure the earliest acts of persecution against Jesus’ followers. James will be murdered by King Herod. While John may be the only disciple to escape martyrdom, he will be exiled because of his faith. Though they will suffer for their faith, Jesus does not grant their request. Only the heavenly Father can grant those places of honor in the throne room of heaven.
The other disciples are angry about the request of James and John. They don’t want any teacher’s pets within their ranks, and it is not the first time the disciples have argued about “who is the great-est.” It is time for another lesson from the Teacher, a lesson in humble service, with Jesus himself as the object lesson, the illustration. The Gentiles, the unbelievers, like to lord it over each other, Jesus said. They like to throw their authority around. But it must not be that way among the children of God, among the followers of Jesus Christ. If you want to be great, Jesus said, be the servant. If you want to be first in line, you must be the slave of the others. It’s not how the world works, but it is how things are done in the kingdom of God. There are no teacher’s pets here. There are servants. That is how we are to live, humbly seeking ways to help and serve each other just as Jesus came to help and serve us. What would it look like to put others first, ahead of yourself, in your family, among your friends, in your workplace, in this congregation? What would it look like to think of what is good for others instead of what is good for yourself? We are called to follow in the servant footsteps of our humble King. Jesus is God in the flesh, the one for whom and by whom the universe was created. Yet even the Ruler of all things did not come among us to be served. He came “to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
On the cross Jesus would drink the terrible cup of suffering. He would drink the cup of God’s wrath against human sin. The prophet Isaiah calls it the bowl of God’s wrath, the cup of staggering. Yet God also promises through his prophet that his people will not have to drink it. He will take the cup of wrath from their hands. He will give that cup to his own Son. In Gethsemane on the night he was betrayed, Jesus prayed and pleaded with his Father. In his distress, Jesus’ sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood as he begged, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). Jesus came to serve. He came to put our good ahead of his own. In humble obedience he submitted to his Father’s will and drank the full cup of God’s anger against our sin, against the sins of the world. Jesus drained the cup of wrath to the last drop, so there would be nothing left in it for us to drink.
Jesus our Servant-King offers us a cup to drink, but it is not the cup of suffering and wrath. It is the cup of salvation, the cup of wine that is his blood, with the bread that is his body. It is a cup that nourishes our faith for a life of service, for a life of putting the good of others ahead of our own good. It is a cup that nourishes our faith for eternal life. Jesus said, “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:54). Jesus offers us the cup of life. Drink up! Amen.

Hymn of Response – Son of God, Eternal Savior – LSB #842 (verses 3 & 4)

Come, O Christ, and reign among us,
King of love and Prince of Peace;
Hush the storm of strife and passion,
Bid its cruel discords cease.
By your patient years of toiling,
By your silent hours of pain,
Quench our fevered thirst of pleasure,
Stem our selfish greed of gain.
Son of God, eternal Savior,
Source of life and truth and grace,
Word made flesh, whose birth among us
Hallows all our human race:
By your praying, by your willing
That your people should be one,
Grant, O grant our hope’s fruition:
Here on earth your will be done.

Offering (Just a reminder you may drop off your weekly offerings at the Drive Thru Window of Pathway Bank in Cairo)

Prayers
P Jesus, Servant-King,
C Hear our prayer.

+
P Lord Jesus, you did not come among us to be served, but to serve and to give your life to ransom us. Help us to walk in your footsteps, serving others in your name and bringing to them the good news of salvation. Jesus, Servant-King,
C Hear our prayer.

P Lord Jesus, there are many people who could benefit from our loving service. Help us to seek out opportunities to bring hope and comfort to those who are hurting, especially … and all those we name in our hearts. Jesus, Servant-King,
C Hear our prayer.

P Lord Jesus, you drained the cup of suffering and wrath so that we would never drink from it. Through faith in your name we have forgiveness for our sins. Feed us now with your body and blood in your holy Supper. Keep our faith strong until the day when we live in your presence forever. Jesus, Servant-King,
C Hear our prayer.
P Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

P Whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
C And whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
P For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve,
C And to give his life as a ransom for many.
P Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.
C Amen.

Closing Hymn – Lord Jesus, Think on Me – LSB #610 (verses 1,2 & 4,5)

Lord Jesus, think on me
And purge away my sin;
From worldly passions set me free
And make me pure within.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
By anxious thoughts oppressed;
Let me your loving servant be
And taste your promised rest.
Lord Jesus, think on me
Nor let me go astray;
Through darkness and perplexity
Point out your chosen way.
Lord Jesus, think on me,
That, when this life is past,
I may the eternal brightness see
And share your joy at last.

Christ Lutheran Church
Cairo, NE

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

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Worship & Announcements for Sunday March 22, 2020

Posted on March 21, 2020 by Lisa

Fourth Sunday in Lent – March 22, 2020

Divine Service 4 LSB Hymnal pg. 203-212

† Confession and Absolution

Hymn of Invocation – Christ, Whose Glory Fills the Skies LSB 873

1 Christ, whose glory fills the skies,
Christ, the true and only light,
Sun of righteousness, arise;
Triumph o’er the shades of night.
Dayspring from on high, be near;
Daystar, in my heart appear.

2 Dark and cheerless is the morn
Unaccompanied by Thee;
Joyless is the day’s return
Till Thy mercy’s beams I see,
Till they inward light impart,
Glad my eyes, and warm my heart.

3 Visit then this soul of mine,
Pierce the gloom of sin and grief;
Fill me, radiancy divine,
Scatter all my unbelief;
More and more Thyself display,
Shining to the perfect day.

Text: Public domain

The sign of the cross may be made by all in remembrance of their Baptism.

Invocation & Exhortation LSB 203

P In the name of the Father and of the † Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
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 & Absolution LSB 203

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

† Service of the Word
Kyrie ♫ LSB 204

C Lord, have mercy;
Christ, have mercy;
Lord, have mercy.
During Lent the Gloria in Excelsis is Omitted

Salutation and Collect of the Day – Lent 4

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 Isaiah 42:14–21

14For a long time I have held my peace; I have kept still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor; I will gasp and pant. 15I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn the rivers into islands, and dry up the pools. 16And I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them. 17They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, “You are our gods.” 18Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! 19Who is blind but my servant, or deaf as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as my dedicated one, or blind as the servant of the LORD? 20He sees many things, but does not observe them; his ears are open, but he does not hear. 21The LORD was pleased, for his righteousness’ sake, to magnify his law and make it glorious.

P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

Epistle Ephesians 5:8–14

8For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

P This is the Word of the Lord.
C Thanks be to God.

During Lent the Alleluia is omitted.

Verse ♫ LSB 205

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

Holy Gospel John 9:1–41

P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the ninth chapter.
C Glory to You, O Lord.

1As [Jesus] passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. 2And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work. 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud 7and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing. 8The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar were saying, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” 9Some said, “It is he.” Others said, “No, but he is like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” 10So they said to him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” 11He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud and anointed my eyes and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ So I went and washed and received my sight.” 12They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.” 13They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. 14Now it was a Sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. 15So the Pharisees again asked him how he had received his sight. And he said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, and I washed, and I see.” 16Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” And there was a division among them. 17So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him, since he has opened your eyes?” He said, “He is a prophet.” 18The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?” 20His parents answered, “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21But how he now sees we do not know, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.” 22(His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed that if anyone should confess Jesus to be Christ, he was to be put out of the synagogue.) 23Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?” 28And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.” 30The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out. 35Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.” 40Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.”

P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C Praise to You, O Christ.

Apostles’ Creed

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

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.

Children’s Message – “I’ll Be with you Always.” – Jesus – Matt. 28:20

Hymn of the Day – God Loved the World So That He Gave LSB 571

Please rise for verse 6 in Honor of the Triune God

1 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.

2 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.

3 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.

4 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.

5 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.

6 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 – “I was blind, Now I see!” – John 9:25

Grace, Mercy, and Peace to you, from God our Heavenly Father, and our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.

As I begin this morning, I have to admit to you that this week I made a mistake. A mistake in that I did not trust my normal sources of information. The ones that I had vetted, the ones that I trust to give unbiased and accurate reporting, and instead I simply turned on the T.V. To one of the major news agencies. And listening to their report, I indeed got the information that I was looking for, but the way that they delivered it was a mistake. As I watched the program, they took a map of the United States, and in order to show the pervasive nature of the spread of the Covid 19 Virus, they put a pinpoint at every location on the map where the virus had been diagnosed. But in addition to that, they made the pinpoints into concentric circles to show how if that particular diagnosis had led to a spread of the virus within the community, then how big that spread was would determine how large the circle would be. So if it had spread to 10 people it was a small circle. But if it had spread to 100 people it was a larger circle. And of course all these circles were in bright RED for DANGER, BE AFRAID! With all those circles on the map it reminded me of that movie from the 80’s, War Games, with Matthew Broderick, where in an encounter with a computer at N.O.R.A.D that had taken over control of the U.S. military, various scenarios were being played out on the screen of what would happen in a global thermonuclear war. Where if one country launched a bomb, that would cause another country to launch to launch theirs, and everywhere these bombs would explode it would create a circle on the map, varying in size based on the type of bomb it was and how much damage it would do. And in scenario after scenario, the entire map would be covered with the bomb damage circles. That exactly what we got in this news program, an image that portrayed there is no feasible escape. Not only was it a representation of what WILL happen it was what has already happened. It was the image of the impact that is already out there, and the viewer is left with the overwhelming conclusion that they truly should be afraid. Unfortunately, that was the last thing I did before trying to go to bed. It was a fruitless effort, as I lay there in my mind, I WAS afraid. But at the same time, in having to deal with that, I recognized that my heart had also been touched. Now what do I mean by that? I mean that I was certainly of the belief that the effect of this virus was something “out there.” Something other people were dealing with. That that may be reality for them, but that it didn’t affect me. I was looking at it all through a very ego-centric lens. A self-centered lens that said, “It’s not immediately around me, so why worry?” In fact we live in a part of the country that is smack dab in the middle of a big hourglass shape on the U.S. map where very few incidents of the virus have occurred and it seems like we are pretty safe right here. At least in comparison to some of the locations more to the extremes of the map. But dealing with that image of the circles made me realize how blind I had been. It made me realize, especially in connection with this Gospel reading something that I believe God is speaking to you and to me. That the reality of the spread, not of the Covid virus, but the reality of the spread of SIN is inescapable. There truly is no area or barrier where we are safe from the spread or the effect of sin. The reality is, we are all sinners. That sin effects our whole world, and that sin is REAL! And if it is true, what God declared all the way back in Genesis, in the Garden of Eden, that the wages of sin is death, Then its real not just for people “out there”, or for people that are not part of the church, but it is real for each and every one of us. There is no escaping it. In this Gospel reading, right around the Temple area, Jesus and His disciples encounter this man who was born blind. And Jesus heals him. But before that takes place, the disciples look at the man, and their initial reaction is not one of compassion. They don’t initially go to Jesus and say, “Hey, Jesus, here’s a man who was born blind. You healed others, what can you do for him?” Instead, they go to Jesus and they say, “Look, here’s a man that was born blind, was it his sin that made this happen, or was it the sin of his parents that caused it?” Looking for some kind of karmic reaction that would explain somehow why this man deserved his fate. But if this blindness was the result of his sin, then what hope do any of us have? What makes us think that somehow we are in a buffer area, where sin will not affect us? For who amongst us is not also a sinner? Thankfully that’s not how Jesus looked at the man in the Gospel account, and neither is it how Jesus looks at you. Jesus says, it’s not about who in particular sinned, but about the reality that the result of sin on the entirety of creation is, just as Moses described it in Genesis. The reality of the effect of sin in the world is DEATH. Death, disease, decay, all are the result of mankind’s sin. And that result is for ALL people. Not for some… ALL. But Jesus did not come to condemn that blind man, nor did he come to condemn you. He came to save you and me. He came to redeem the world through His life, death and resurrection. Jesus looked at the blind man with compassion in the same way he looks at you and me. That though we are sinners, and our sin isolates us from our God, it does not separate us from God’s love. It is because of His love for us that He sent Jesus to become sin for us. That by dying on the cross he would declare that God’s love is greater than all our sin, and that by Jesus’ death and resurrection God’s love overcame our sin and the power of the devil, so that nothing the world can throw at us, not shame, or guilt, or disease, or even death, can separate us from the love of God. The message I want to share with you today is, that this virus, just like sin, is real. That were are affected by it, and that the world is affected by it. And as people of God, redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ who died and rose again in order to save us rather than condemn us, we have a hope that the world outside of that understanding simply does not have. Our eyes have been opened. We were blind in our sin, and we could not open them ourselves, but Jesus just like the man in the text, opened our eyes. Not in the waters of the pool of Siloam, but in the waters of baptism He has washed our eyes, and our eyes are now opened. We were blind in our sin but now we see, and don’t need to be afraid. Not only that, but as children of God, we have a hope and a peace, and even a joy that we need to be sharing with the world around us, especially to those, “out there” who are still blinded by sin with no understanding of God’s redemption in Jesus. In the midst of all of this fear in the world, where it looks like there is no hope, we need to be conduits of the hope we understand in Jesus for our world. In His love, God did not leave us in our sin. He did not leave us blind, trying to find some way out of our darkness on our own. Instead He broke in to our darkness, washed our sin away, and opened our eyes to His redeeming love. My prayer for you is that in this time of isolation and separation from the world around us and even from each other from coming together for worship in person, my prayer is that you will be conduits of that hope for all the people you do come in contact with. Sharing that hope with your family, your co-workers, your neighbors, through prayer, through the internet, through phone calls, letters, acts of kindness and acts of service, that anyone around you lost in darkness and despair would have hope because you shared the good news of Jesus with them. Do not live lives like the world lives. Do not live in fear. But secure in the knowledge that even in your isolation, you are not alone, Jesus promised He will not leave you nor forsake you, and He will lead you, and all who believe to eternal life. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

P Blessed Lord, You give sight to the blind, You open the ears of the deaf, and You make the lame to walk. Hear the prayers of Your people on behalf of all people as they have need.

Brief silence

In the darkness of sin and its death, we cry to You, O Lord. Open our ears by Your Word, our minds by Your Spirit, and our hearts by Your grace, that we may know and be thankful for all the blessings You have given to us in Christ, our Lord, especially the gifts of forgiveness, life and salvation. Strengthen us in faith, that we may serve You with all our body, mind, soul and strength. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.

P Defended by Your grace, we ask You, O Lord, to provide us with good and faithful leaders who will honor the cause of justice in our land, preserve the precious gift of liberty, and protect the lives of those least able to defend themselves. Bless the members of our armed forces and protect them as they defend us, and grant Your blessing to all emergency workers who come to our aid in time of need. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.

P Enjoying the riches of Your grace, we ask You, O Lord, to give us generous hearts, that we may share with the poor what You have provided and work for the common good of all. Be with those who are unemployed and in search of honest labor, the underemployed in pursuit of better jobs, and the homeless seeking basic shelter for themselves and those in their families. Lord, in Your mercy,
C hear our prayer.

P Knowing Your healing will and gifts, we pray You, O Lord, to remember the sick in their afflictions, to calm those troubled in mind, and to keep steadfast the dying. Hear us especially for…
Flora Meester, friend of Catherine Garrett
Cheryl Klock, Julie Whitefoot’s Sister
Barb Meyer
Jeff Bexten, Former member of CLC
Pat Hughes, Barb Teichmeier’s Sister
Judy Kemptar, Kristin Schultz mother
Deb Homolka, Rick Gilbert’s Sister
Lorie Stahl, Ravenna NE
Show us Your gracious will, O Lord, and sustain those who are afflicted in body or mind until that day when You will bestow upon us new bodies fit for the eternal life You have prepared for us in Christ. Lord, in Your mercy,

C hear our prayer.

P All these things, O Lord, we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, asking You to grant our prayers not for our sake but for the sake of Him alone. Teach our hearts to be content with Your will and to trust that You will answer us with what is best for us and at the right time for our need. So do we pray, giving testimony of our confidence in Your gracious favor in Christ by answering with one voice.
C Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

P Hear us as we pray in His name and as He has taught us:
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.

Offering

Benedicamus & Benediction LSB 212

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 to Depart – Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness LSB 849

1 Praise the One who breaks the darkness
With a liberating light;
Praise the One who frees the pris’ners,
Turning blindness into sight.
Praise the One who preached the Gospel,
Healing ev’ry dread disease,
Calming storms, and feeding thousands
With the very Bread of peace.

2 Praise the One who blessed the children
With a strong, yet gentle, word;
Praise the One who drove out demons
With the piercing, two-edged sword.
Praise the One who brings cool water
To the desert’s burning sand;
From this Well comes living water,
Quenching thirst in ev’ry land.

3 Let us praise the Word Incarnate,
Christ, who suffered in our place.
Jesus died and rose victorious
That we may know God by grace.
Let us sing for joy and gladness,
Seeing what our God has done;
Let us praise the true Redeemer,
Praise the One who makes us one.

Acknowledgments
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2018 Concordia Publishing House.

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK
Jamie & Heather Hadenfeldt – March 25 (20)

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK
Travis Grabowski – March 22
Rose Bredthauer – March 23
Ethan Frankforter – March 24
Lisa Jones – March 27
Tab Kilzer – March 27
Dick Hadenfeldt – March 28
Dorothy Schultz – March 28

Our Attendance Members/Visitors
Weds. March 4 – 53/0
March 8 – 83/9
Weds. March 11 – 37/0
March 15 – 90/2

Don’t forget you can give your weekly donations at Pathway Bank Drive Up window.
Our Offerings Sun. 3/15/2020
Building Fund $.00
General Fund $3,510.00
Gideon’s Donations $269.00
Mission Fund $188.00
Weds 3-11-2020 Donations $1183.00
Special Mission (3rd special offering) $150.00
Special Gifts – (SS $) $7.00

PRAYERS THIS WEEK

Suffering from Cancer
Flora Meester, friend of Catherine Garrett
Cheryl Klock, Julie Whitefoot’s Sister
Barb Meyer
Jeff Bexten, Former member of CLC
Pat Hughes, Barb Teichmeier’s Sister
Judy Kemptar, Kristin Schultz mother
Deb Homolka, Rick Gilbert’s Sister
Lorie Stahl, Ravenna NE.

Weekly Calendar

Sunday, March 22 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
Is. 42:14–21, Psalm 142, Eph. 5:8–14, John 9:1–41 or John 9:1–7, 13–17, 34–39 There will be no in person Worship, Bible Studies or Sunday School through Sunday March 29, 2020 due to the CDC recommendations on the COVID-19 Virus. Please stay up to date with CLC on the Church website, Facebook page and your emails from church. If you are in need of Pastoral Care, please contact Pastor Wright directly.

Sunday, March 29 – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Ezek. 37:1–14, Psalm 130, Rom. 8:1–11, John 11:1–45 (46–53) or John 11:17–27, 38–53 No worship or Activities at Church Today
Watch your email for more information regarding Worship and the COVID-19 Virus. It is our hope to be back in the building for Weds. April 1 Lent Worship and then Holy Week & Easter Worship. Keep in mind these dates are all subject to change.

SAVE the DATE
Moses Basket Auction March 8 – April 12
Thrivent Choice Dollars Expire March 31
Church Clean Up Day (Outside & Inside) 9am Potluck Lunch April 4
Palm Sunday April 5
Maundy Thursday April 9
Good Friday April 10
Easter Sunday April 12
HFH Build – Pour Cement in GI April 18
GO BIG GIVE May 7
Vacation Bible School May 26-29
Project Hunger Easter Basket Extravaganza June 6
Our 100th Anniversary Celebration July 10 & 11, 2021

BUTTER BRAIDS PICK UP AT ABC
All Belong to Christ Daycare/Preschool Fundraiser Order Pick Up Information
Butter Braids orders are still currently scheduled to be here this Monday, March 23rd starting at 4:30. Given the current situation our country finds itself in, if you are unable to pickup your orders, please let Tina or Robin know ASAP (308-485-5832) so that an alternative plan can be made for storing your orders. Our hopes are that most everyone can pick up their orders as we sold 400 this year!! Great Job everyone!!!

The Moses Comfort Dog team will be holding the…
8th Annual Silent Easter Basket Auction
…to benefit the ministry. Funds raised will be used to cover travel expenses for local, regional and national deployments. Anyone who would like to donate a basket can bring it to the church beginning Sunday, March 8. The deadline for donors to bring baskets is Sunday, March 29. Bids will be taken until 9:00 a.m. on Easter morning (April 12), and baskets may be picked up at the church or delivered to the highest bidder. The baskets will be on display at the church. Some of the baskets will also be displayed at the Medina Street Vault and Pathway Bank in Cairo from April 6 – 11. As the LCC mission statement states, “The Comfort Dog Ministry will enable us to share the joy and forgiveness we have in Jesus, assist in providing comfort to the grieving and distressed and open doors and hearts that are often closed to Christian ministry.” In addition to traveling with other LCC comfort dogs to provide comfort in crisis situations, Moses and his team attend funeral visitations and visit hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools and local events. The team appreciates the continued support of the Christ Lutheran Church family.

PLEASE NOTE
All Services and Activities have been cancelled through March 29
This date may be extended please stay up to date with the church email, website and Facebook pages
LENT, HOLY WEEK & EASTER Dates and Times
April 1 ABC (Easter Egg Hunt) Lenten Pulled Pork Supper 6 pm
Weds. Lent Worship 7 pm
April 5 Palm Sunday / Confirmation (Comm.) 10:30 am
Ladies Aid Cake Coffee Fellowship
April 9 Maunday Thursday (Comm.) Worship 7 pm
April 10 Good Friday Worship 7 pm
April 12 Easter Sunday Sunrise Worship 7 am
LYF Easter Breakfast Following Worship

CANCELLED
Man Feast 2020 – Peace Lutheran, GI; Sun. March 29
Has been cancelled due to the recommendations from the CDC regarding the COVID-19 Virus.

POSTPONED
Heartland Lutheran H.S – RED & BLUE
Red and Blue Attendees, Due to the concerns over the COVID-19 virus and Heartland Lutheran working to be a community leader in helping to mitigate the spread of the virus, we will be adhering to the social gathering guidelines. Therefore, we are postponing Red & Blue. This event will be happening. We will honor all donations and ticket or sponsorship purchases at the time of the event. Again, Red & Blue will be happening, it just will not be happening on March 28. If you would still like to make a donation, please contact the office via email or phone to arrange drop-off. Thank you! Timothy Leech Chief School Administrator of HLHS GI, NE Phone: 308-385-3900

DATE CHANGE
Project Hunger – 24th Annual “Easter Basket Extravaganza”
A Silent Auction previously set for Sat. April 4 has been moved due to the COVID-19 recommended guidelines to Sat., June 6, 2020 all other details are the same. Baskets will be displayed at the Conestoga Mall Proceeds from the “Easter Basket Estravaganza” stay in our community to help stock the Community Food Pantry, and provide food for the Food Bucks Program, Salvation Army Kitchen, Hope Harbor, Department of Health & Human Services Gap Program, Food for Thought Program, Crossroads Rescue Mission, and Project Hunger’s Gathering Table Feeding program. Sponsored by Project Hunger http://www.projecthunger.org Bidding begins at 10:00 a.m. Final Bids at 3:00 p.m. There will be a buy it now option to avoid the wait!

CANCELLED
Old Gospel Hour Hymn Sing Sun. March 29th 4:00 p.m.
Grace Baptist Church 9th & Baxter Street St Paul NE. If you have questions contact Dennis Patrick at 702-469-0788

CLOSED
Given the current COVID-19 circumstances, our office will be closed to the public until further notice. Our events have been suspended, and we are evaluating the status of our other programs. As of right now, there will still be someone in the office, but that will also be re-evaluated as the situation progresses. Please feel free to contact us by calling the office at 308-385-5510, messaging us on Facebook, or email info@gihabitat.org. We appreciate your understanding.

CANCELLED
It is with a heavy heart we must cancel the home dedication scheduled forC this weekend. The Leons have put in all their sweat equity hours, the Career Pathways Institute students have built a wonderful house, and the Masons (who donated the land) were anxious to meet with the home buyers and celebrate with them. However, no one could foresee the circumstances we now face. Fortunately, the Leons will still get to move into the house. We hope to be able to bring you a tour of the home on Facebook. If possible, one day we will all be able to celebrate this home together.

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Lent Worship Wednesday March 18, 2020

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Lisa

Follow the link to hear the Sermon Message given by Pastor Wright https://youtu.be/qs84k0RNFrg

To Seek and Save – A Series of Services for Lent and Holy Week

March 18, 2020 – Week 3: Up to Jerusalem
They were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. Mark 10:32

Opening Hymn Jesus, I Will Ponder Now – LSB #440 (verses 1, 2 & 6)

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.
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.

Invocation and Litany

P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
C My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
P He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.
C Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep …
P The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life.
C The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forev-ermore.

Confession and Absolution

P Let us confess our sins to God and ask his forgiveness for the sake of Jesus our Savior.
C Almighty God, we have sinned against you in our thoughts, words and actions. We do not love you or share your love with others as we should. We put our needs ahead of the needs of others. We listen to your Word but then turn away to follow our own sinful desires. Have mercy on us and forgive our sins.

P God, in mercy, sent his Son to be our Savior. Jesus carried our sins in his own body to the cross. He rose from the dead, and through faith in his name we have the hope and promise of eternal life. I announce to you that your sins are forgiven in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
C From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

Prayer of the Day

P Lord Jesus, for our sake and in obedience to your Father’s will, you set your face to go to Jerusa-lem, knowing that there you would be arrested, condemned and crucified. Yet you also knew that you would rise to life in triumph over sin, death and the devil. As you faithfully followed your Fa-ther’s will, help us to follow faithfully in your steps, during this Lenten season and always. Amen.

Old Testament Reading Isaiah 2:1-3

The word that Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem. It shall come to pass in the latter days that the moun-tain of the house of the Lord shall be estab-lished as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

New Testament Reading Revelation 21:1-5

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Gospel Reading Mark 10:32-34

And they were on the road, going up to Jeru-salem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. And they were amazed, and those who fol-lowed were afraid. And taking the twelve again, he began to tell them what was to hap-pen to him, saying, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be deliv-ered over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliv-er him over to the Gentiles. And they will mock him and spit on him, and flog him and kill him. And after three days he will rise.”

Sermon Hymn “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake – LSB #688 (verses 1 & 2)

“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.
“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.

Sermon Message – Up to Jerusalem

When you travel, do you plan ahead? Do you work with a travel agent or set everything up for yourself? Will you need airline tickets or a rental car? Which hotel is best for you and your family? What sights will you see along the way? Is it business travel or are you getting away for a nice family vacation?
When it was time for Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem, he and his disciples would “go up” to the city in the hills of Judea. Jesus’ itinerary was set. This was his purpose; this was the reason he had come. As the cross drew nearer, Jesus would say, “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” (John 12:27). This was no vacation trip. This was “business,” his Father’s business, the fulfillment of the promise made in Eden. Jesus’ travel plan was established and in place before he was born in Bethlehem; his travel plan was in place before the world was created. Jesus’ itinerary was foretold in great detail in the inspired writings of the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus knew exactly what lay ahead for him.
There was excitement and anticipation as Jesus and his disciples approached Jerusalem. The crowds of Jewish pilgrims going up for the Passover knew that Jesus was coming to the festival. Among many of them there was the hope that this miracle-working rabbi might, in fact, be the Messiah. People had been asking, “When the Christ appears, will he do more signs than this man has done?” (John 7:31) Some were not so sure. They had questions and they debated among themselves: “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was? So there was a division among the people over him” (John 7:41-42). But maybe, just maybe it was true. Maybe Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Messiah! Some people were hopeful. Surely he was going to Jerusalem at Passover to establish his throne and his kingdom! Many of the people wanted to see that, but many of the religious leaders were not so eager to see a new king usher in a new kingdom. They wanted to stop him but they were afraid because he was so popular with the people: “Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him” (John 7:44).
The kingdom of God would come, but not in the way that people expected. The King would be glorified, but the cross would come first. On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus told his disciples what to expect and his description of what lay ahead was not at all what they expected. Even on the way the disciples no doubt wondered why Jesus was headed, so to speak, into the enemy camp. The disciples were frightened. They knew that the Pharisees and chief priests had tried for a long time to trap Jesus and accuse him of false teaching. They despised his miracles and accused him of being in league with the devil. These opponents endlessly criticized the disciples and their Mas-ter. And now Jesus was headed right into their headquarters—in Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, Jesus would be delivered into the hands of his enemies. He would be betrayed by one of his own disciples, and even the cost of the betrayal—thirty pieces of silver—was foretold in Scripture. Jesus told his disciples that he would be betrayed, arrested, condemned to death, mocked, flogged and crucified. And then, in a puzzling and astounding statement, Jesus told his followers that on the third day after his death he would rise from the dead. It was true that, ac-cording to Jewish teaching, the righteous would rise from their graves on the last day. Martha had confessed this to Jesus before her brother Lazarus was raised. She had said concerning her brother, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day” (John 11:24). Jesus’ dis-ciples knew about that resurrection. But what did Jesus mean by saying he would rise in three days? Was he going to rise from the dead now, before the Day of Judgment? What was that all about? Earlier, when Jesus was transfigured, he had told Peter, James and John not to tell any-one about what they had seen that day until he had risen from the dead. The three disciples had discussed “what this rising from the dead might mean” (Mark 9:10). This business of “rising from the dead” was new territory for them. But death wasn’t new to them. They knew what death was, and if Jesus was announcing that he would die in Jerusalem, then why were they going there? They didn’t want Jesus to die and they didn’t especially want to die either. But this was what the itinerary foretold. Jesus, when warned earlier about approaching Jerusalem, had said, “I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem’” (Luke 13:33). There in Jerusalem he would perish, and there he would rise.
According to Scripture, our own itinerary, apart from Jesus, ends in certain death. It is deadly path and destination of our own choosing. “The wages of sin is death,” Scripture tells us. We, by our sin and rebellion against God, delivered ourselves into the grip of the enemy. We are on a dead-end road. Apart from Jesus, we were captive to sin, death and the devil, helpless to free ourselves. Only Jesus our Savior, who went up to Jerusalem for our sake, could set us free and put our feet on a new path and give us a new travel plan. By his suffering and death, Jesus paid the penalty we owed for our sin and destroyed the devil, who held us enslaved by death. By his resurrection, the greatest miracle, the greatest of the Messiah’s signs, an event foretold yet still so unexpected, Jesus guarantees for us the gift of eternal life in his presence. We have a new itin-erary and a new destination. There was a cost for this trip, a cost so great we could never pay it. Jesus paid the price with his blood shed on the cross.
When we die, when we fall asleep in Jesus, we will immediately be at home with the Lord. Our fi-nal, eternal destination will be fully revealed when Jesus returns in glory as Judge and King. God will make all things new. He will create a new heaven and a new earth. Our home will be “the holy city, new Jerusalem,” the place where God himself will dwell with us, where he will wipe away our tears. It is our final destination, where we will live in the presence of our Savior forever. It is the trip of a lifetime, with all expenses paid. Amen.

Hymn of Response “Come, Follow Me,” the Savior Spake – LSB #688 (verses 4 & 5)

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.”
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.

Prayers – Each petition ends with the following response:
P Jesus our Savior,
C Lead us to follow in your footsteps.
+

P Lord Jesus, you set your face to go to Jerusalem, knowing that you walked in the way of the cross, into suffering and death, for the sake of our salvation. Help us to take up our crosses and follow you. Jesus our Savior,
C Lead us to follow in your footsteps.

P Lord Jesus, you did not turn away from suffering and pain, but endured it all for us. Help us to bring comfort, peace and hope to those who are suffering, especially … and all those we name in our hearts. Jesus our Savior,
C Lead us to follow in your footsteps.

P Lord Jesus, during this season of Lent, as we remember your suffering and death, we also look forward to celebrating your resurrection and the life that we have in your name. Keep us faithful until you return in glory to take us to yourself forever. Jesus our Savior,
C Lead us to follow in your footsteps.

P Amen.

Lord’s Prayer

Benediction

P And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
C Prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
P And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
C “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.
P He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,
C And God himself will be with them as their God.
P The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C Amen.

Sit

Closing Hymn When I Survey the Wondrous Cross – LSB #425 (verses 1, 2 &4)

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.
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!

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Cairo Senior Center Gathering Place Announcement 3-18-2020

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Lisa

We have a Task Force here in Cairo ready to serve our Seniors as well as ANYONE else in the community who may need assistance during this time of social distancing. We can provide delivery of food and other necessities to doorsteps, help with pickup of prescriptions or whatever else may be of help! Please do not hesitate to reach out ! Call 485-4634 or reach out to one of the Task Force members if you would like assistance!

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Regarding COVID-19 and Worship at Christ Cairo

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Lisa

Dear Christ Lutheran Church,
In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and recommendations by the CDC, DHHS and our LCMS President Harrison, the Board of Elders and Pastor have decided that the church office will be closed and there will be no in person worship services held here through Sunday, March 29, 2020.
All other extra activities, such as Sunday School; Bible Studies, Sunday morning or Weekday; Weds Lenten Dinners & Worship and Confirmation class will not be held during this time period.
8th Grade Confirmation students and parents, Pastor will be in touch with you by telephone during this time, in preparation for Confirmation Sunday on April 5th. It is our hope that this is only a 2 week time period, but please keep in mind this time may be extended longer.
We are working on a way to make worship services available to you all. It is our hope that Pastor Brian’s sermon will be available via the church website http://www.christlutheranchurchcairo.com
and in your email. The Order of Service, Holy Scripture Readings and Prayers will be emailed to you and also posted to the church website and Facebook page. If you know of any member of our congregation that does not have access to email and/or the internet please let them know that there will be a few printed copies of the services here at church. They are welcome to stop by and pick them up or Lisa can mail those out to them. Pastor Brian will be happy to meet with them and deliver the printed services if needed.
If you are in need of any Pastoral Care (Prayer needs; Private confession or even Family Communion) during this time, please contact Pastor and he will set up a time to meet with you.
Thank you for understanding and please know this was not an easy decision to make but it is important to follow the lead of those who know more about this disease.

In God’s Name We Pray,

Christ Lutheran Church
Cairo, NE

This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

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Announcements and Readings for the week of March 15, 2020

Posted on March 10, 2020 by Lisa

Welcome to Christ Lutheran Church
503 W Medina St., P O Box 9 Cairo, NE. 68824 – LCMS
Rev. Brian L. Wright – Pastor

Sunday school for all Ages
(2 yr. old’s – Adult) 9:00 a.m.
Fellowship 10:00 a.m.
Worship (Communion on the 1st, 3rd & 5th Sundays) 10:30 a.m.

Pastor – Rev. Brian L. Wright
(303) 506-6481 iamwings@msn.com
Church Office
(308) 485-4863 christcairo@gmail.com

All Belong to Christ Preschool and Daycare –
Robin Seim – Director
(308) 485-5832 allbelongtochristdaycare@gmail.com

Moses Comfort Dog
Primary Handlers Shawn & Nancy Harders
Shawn – 308-380-6168 Nancy – 308-380-0589
nancyharders@gmail.com

Join US on Facebook
Christ Lutheran Church LCMS Cairo NE
Moses Comfort Dog
All Belong to Christ Daycare and Preschool
Christ Lutheran LYF (Cairo, NE)

CLC / All Belong to Christ Websites
www.christlutheranchurchcairo.com
www.allbelongtochristd.wixsite.com

We WELCOME you to Christ Lutheran Church this Sunday morning. There are children’s quiet bags located under the mailboxes that may be borrowed during the worship service and returned to the pegs following the service.

Please check out our Media Center located in the Fellowship Hall. There you will find many publications; Happy Times, My Devotions, Portals of Prayer (large and small print), Church’s monthly calendar, past week’s bulletin, LWML Quarterly, extra church directories and constitutions.

Our Missions for 2019
All Belong to Christ Daycare & Preschool of Christ Cairo; Heartland Lutheran High School, Grand Island, NE; New Hope Christian School, Cairo, NE.; Mission Central and Orphan Grain Train.

New Member Classes
Please speak with Pastor Brian or contact the church office at 308-485-4863 if you are interested in becoming a member of Christ Cairo.

Serving in God’s House Today

Pastor Rev. Brian Wright
Music Kimberly Dibbern / Steve Hansen
Acolyte Kendal Knuth
Usher Helpers David Hadenfeldt / Carlie Sokol
Elders Scott Reynolds / Rob Schultz
Moses Ted Dibbern
Coffee Fellowship LYF
Altar Kimberly Dibbern
Ushers Joshua Harders / Ted Dibbern

ANNIVERSARIES THIS WEEK

Troy & Carly Callahan – March 15 (17)
Keith & Sheyanne Harders – March 16 (7)

BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK

David Hadenfeldt – March 16
Rachel Rice – March 21
Tori Strode – March 21

Our Attendance Members Visitors

Weds. Feb. 26 88 1
March 1 92 0
Weds. March 4 53 0
March 8 83 9

PRAYERS THIS WEEK

 Prayers for Pastor, Lisa & Family, Our Church Family and the Congregation of St John Lutheran Church at Stryker OH, as the Wright family deliberate the call.

Suffering from Cancer

 Flora Meester, friend of Catherine Garrett
 Cheryl Klock, Julie Whitefoot’s Sister
 Barb Meyer
 Jeff Bexten, Former member of CLC
 Pat Hughes, Barb Teichmeier’s Sister
 Judy Kemptar, Kristin Schultz mother
 Deb Homolka, Rick Gilbert’s Sister
 Lorie Stahl, Ravenna NE.

Pastor Wright will be in the Church office most weeks M-Th; 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
You may call Pastor Wright at 303-506-6481 or email him at iamwings@msn.com

Bulletin announcements need to be submitted to the church office by
Wednesday evening to appear in the following Sunday’s Bulletin.

Don’t Forget to Check your Church Mailbox

Sunday, March 15 – Third Sunday in Lent
Ex.17:1–7, Psalm 95:1–9
Rom. 5:1–8, John 4:5–26 (27–30, 39–42)

Sunday School Adult – The Gideons International 9 am
LYF Coffee Fellowship 10 am
Worship with Communion 10:30 am
Roast Beef Dinner The Gathering Place 11 – 1 pm

Monday March 16
Spring Pastor Conference Kearney NE
Tuesday March 17 Spring Pastor Conference Kearney NE
Wednesday March 18 Men’s Bible Study 8 am
Women’s Bible Study 9 am
Moses to ABC 9:30 am
Moses to Boys Town & Hope Harbor 3 pm
Confirmation Class 5:30 pm
Choir Practice 6 pm
Whitefoot’s Lent Supper 6 pm
Lent Worship 7 pm

Thursday March 19 Moses to GI Primrose & Heritage
Friday March 20 SPRING! 🌷
Moses to Visit Centura March 20
Saturday March 21
Cairo VFD Smorgasbord 4:30 – 8 pm

Sunday, March 22 – Fourth Sunday in Lent
Is. 42:14–21, Psalm 142
Eph. 5:8–14, John 9:1–41 or John 9:1–7, 13–17, 34–39

Sunday School Adult Bible Study 9 am
VOLUNTEER NEEDED - Coffee Fellowship 10 am
Worship 10:30 am

SAVE the DATE
Moses Basket Auction March 8 – April 12
ABC Deliver Butter Braid Sales Mon. March 23
The Gathering Place BINGO Night Supper 5-7 Bingo 6-8 March 23
HLHS Red/Blue March 28
MAN FEST 2020 Peace GI Sun. March 29
Gospel Hymn Sing Sunday March 29
Thrivent Choice Dollars Expire March 31
Project Hunger Easter Basket Extravaganza April 4
Church Clean Up Day (Outside & Inside) 9am Potluck Lunch April 4
Palm Sunday April 5
Maundy Thursday April 9
Good Friday April 10
Easter Sunday April 12
HFH Build – Pour Cement in GI April 18
GO BIG GIVE May 7
Vacation Bible School May 26-29
Our 100th Anniversary Celebration July 10 & 11, 2021

This Morning we Welcome “The Gideons International” “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations” Matthew 28:19 The Gideons International is an Association of Christian business and professional men and their wives dedicated to telling people about Jesus through associating together for service, sharing personal testimony, and by providing Bibles and New Testaments. While we are often recognized for our work with hotels, we also place and distribute Scriptures in strategic locations so they are available to those who want them, as well as to those who may not know they need them.

The Moses Comfort Dog team will be holding the…
8th Annual Silent Easter Basket Auction …to benefit the ministry. Funds raised will be used to cover travel expenses for local, regional and national deployments. Anyone who would like to donate a basket can bring it to the church beginning Sunday, March 8. The deadline for donors to bring baskets is Sunday, March 29. Bids will be taken until 9:00 a.m. on Easter morning (April 12), and baskets may be picked up at the church or delivered to the highest bidder. The baskets will be on display at the church. Some of the baskets will also be displayed at the Medina Street Vault and Pathway Bank in Cairo from April 6 – 11. As the LCC mission statement states, “The Comfort Dog Ministry will enable us to share the joy and forgiveness we have in Jesus, assist in providing comfort to the grieving and distressed and open doors and hearts that are often closed to Christian ministry.” In addition to traveling with other LCC comfort dogs to provide comfort in crisis situations, Moses and his team attend funeral visitations and visit hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools and local events. The team appreciates the continued support of the Christ Lutheran Church family.

March 18 Wayne & Julie Whitefoot – Lenten Supper 6 pm
Weds. Lent Worship 7 pm
March 25 Bredthauer & Dibbern – Lenten Supper 6 pm
Weds. Lent Worship 7 pm
April 1 ABC (Easter Egg Hunt) Lenten Pulled Pork Supper 6 pm
Weds. Lent Worship 7 pm
April 5 Palm Sunday / Confirmation (Comm.) 10:30 am
Ladies Aid Cake Coffee Fellowship
April 9 Maunday Thursday (Comm.) Worship 7 pm
April 10 Good Friday Worship 7 pm
April 12 Easter Sunday Sunrise Worship 7 am
LYF Easter Breakfast Following Worship

Man Feast 2020
Peace Lutheran, GI; Sun. March 29
Tickets $25 a meal of smoked ribs, speaker Danny Woodhead, North Platte native, NCAA Division II running back at Chadron State, he played 10 seasons in the NFL including a 2011 Super Bowl apperance, Christian man, husband and father of 4 with a powerful story to tell, and fellowship with 500 guys. Doors open at 5pm; Event begins at 5:30 pm and will end around 8:30 pm. Tickets may be ordered at www.peacegi.org or tinyurl.com/ManFeast2020 you may also call Pastor Mike Reiners at 308-380-8145

Heartland Lutheran H.S – RED & BLUE
Sat. March 28 – Riverside Golf Club, GI – Our evening this year will include a Social Cocktail Hour, Silent Auction, Games, Dinner, Live Auction, Drinks, and More! You will not want to miss such a great evening giving to a great cause, so mark March 28 on your calendars now! Red and Blue Ticket Purchase deadline is MARCH 20. Red and Blue, HLHS’s annual banquet and auction, is Saturday, March 28 at Riverside Country Club. Doors open at 4:30, with silent auction, and dinner at 6pm. Our website is ready for you to purchase tickets, sponsorships, and other extras online: qtego.net/qlink/heartlandlutheranhs Tickets may also be purchased through the school office Monday-Friday from 8:00am-4:00pm. If you have questions, please call or email Tim Leech at principal@heartlandlutheran.org.

Thrivent Choice Dollars – Expire Tues., March 31
Attention Thrivent Members – Please direct your Thrivent Choice Dollar to Heartland Lutheran High School before they expire on March 31, 2020. This does not cost you anything but your time. You must renew the distribution of your Choice Dollars every year. There are two ways to direct your Choice Dollars. Go to www.thriventchoice.com or call 1-800-847-4836 and say “choice dollars” when asked. Thank you for choosing HLHS when making your Choice Dollars donation. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Director of Advancement: Karl Bergdolt.

Project Hunger
24th Annual “Easter Basket Extravaganza” A Silent Auction Sat., April 4, 2020 Baskets will be displayed at the Conestoga Mall Proceeds from the “Easter Basket Estravaganza” stay in our community to help stock the Community Food Pantry, and provide food for the Food Bucks Program, Salvation Army Kitchen, Hope Harbor, Department of Health & Human Services Gap Program, Food for Thought Program, Crossroads Rescue Mission, and Project Hunger’s Gathering Table Feeding program. Sponsored by Project Hunger http://www.projecthunger.org Bidding begins at 10:00 a.m. Final Bids at 3:00 p.m. There will be a buy it now option to avoid the wait!

Volunteers needed for the Habitat For Humanity Build on April 18 (8am-Noonish) They will be pouring walls for the crawlspace, it will be a half day. The address is 2086 Nelson Lane. It may not be on google maps yet, but it is in the development that they started building on last year right off Capital Ave. HFH will not be working on March 28. If you would like to help please contact Lee Echtenkamp 308-850-8816.

Old Gospel Hour Hymn Sing
Sunday March 29th 4:00 p.m.
Come and Celebrate God’s goodness by singing praises to our Lord! Grace Baptist Church 9th & Baxter Street St Paul NE. Rolls & drinks will be served following the hymn sing. If you have questions contact Dennis Patrick at 702-469-0788

Readings from Holy Scripture

Old Testament Exodus 17:1–7

1All the congregation of the people of Israel moved on from the wilderness of Sin by stages, according to the commandment of the LORD, and camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2Therefore the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?” 3But the people thirsted there for water, and the people grumbled against Moses and said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our livestock with thirst?” 4So Moses cried to the LORD, “What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5And the LORD said to Moses, “Pass on before the people, taking with you some of the elders of Israel, and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb, and you shall strike the rock, and water shall come out of it, and the people will drink.” And Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7And he called the name of the place Massah and Meribah, because of the quarreling of the people of Israel, and because they tested the LORD by saying, “Is the LORD among us or not?”

Epistle Romans 5:1–8

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.

Holy Gospel John 4:5–30, 39–42

5[Jesus] came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. 7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8(For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.) 10Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” 11The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? 12Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” 13Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty forever. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.” 16Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” 17The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; 18for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. 20Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” 21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. 22You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. 23But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” 25The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” 26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” 27Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” 28So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, 29“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” 30They went out of the town and were coming to him. . . .39Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me all that I ever did.” 40So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them, and he stayed there two days. 41And many more believed because of his word. 42They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Responsive Psalm Psalm 95:1–9

P 1Oh come, let us sing to the LORD;*
C let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!

P 2Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;*
C let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

P 3For the LORD is a great God,*
C and a great King above all gods.

P 4In his hand are the depths of the earth;*
C the heights of the mountains are his also.

P 5The sea is his, for he made it,*
C and his hands formed the dry land.

P 6Oh come, let us worship and bow down;*
C let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!

P 7For he is our God,*
C and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

P Today, if you hear his voice,*
C 8do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness,

P 9when your fathers put me to the test*
C and put me to the proof, though they had seen my work.

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Announcements and Readings for the week of March 8, 2020

Posted on March 6, 2020 by Lisa