THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

The First Sunday in Lent

March 10th, 2019 PRELUDE Chorale Partita on Bless Now, O God, the Journey Wells

Holy Communion (V) TOWER BELLS

WELCOME

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

INTRODUCTION
The assembly stands. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is
These forty days called Lent are like none others. It is our opportune time
marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
to return to the God who rescues; to receive the gifts of God’s grace; to
believe with the heart and confess with the mouth the wonder of God’s
Blessed be the Holy Trinity, Father +Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, who
love; and to resist temptation at every turn. is a struggle Jesus knew. It is a
brings us out of captivity into freedom, out of the wilderness into the
struggle Jesus shares. The nearness of the Lord, in bread and wine, water
promised land, out of death into life.
and word, will uphold and sustain us.
Amen. Thanks be to God!
CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags and Let us examine ourselves in light of God’s commandments, confessing our
a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed. An sins before God and in the presence of one another:
usher will gladly provide you with assistance.
Here and after the presider recites each commandment, the congregation
As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate all will sing one verse of the Kyrie (ELW 155), as indicated.
cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.

We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion
registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so
that we may record your presence with us.

PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW

Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it. I am
weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me
fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor. I do not have a strong and
firm faith; at times I doubt and am unable to trust you altogether. O Lord,
help me. Strengthen my faith and trust in you. In you I have sealed the God said to the people: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of
treasure of all I have. I am poor; you are rich and came to be merciful to the slavery. You shall have no other Gods.
poor. I am a sinner; you are upright. With me, there is an abundance of sin; Lord, have mercy.
in you is the fullness of righteousness. Therefore I will remain with you, of You shall not make for yourself any idol.
whom I can receive, but to whom I may not give. Amen. Christ, have mercy.
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God. We invite you to stand.
Lord, have mercy.
GATHERING SONG: Bless Now, O God, the Journey (ELW 326)
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Kyrie, eleison. GREETING

Honor your father and your mother. Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. The grace of our
Christe, eleison. Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
You shall not murder. And also with you.
Kyrie, eleison.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
You shall not commit adultery.
Lord, have mercy. Let us pray.
O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them
You shall not steal. to the promised land. Guide us now, so that, following your Son, we may
Christ, have mercy. walk safely through the wilderness of this world toward the life you alone
can give, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Lord, have mercy.
Please be seated
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.
Kyrie, eleison. A MESSAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN

You shall not covet your neighbor’s family or household.
Christe, eleison.
Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord your
God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all
your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:
Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than
these."
Kyrie, eleison.
Silence is kept for reflection.
God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin and
made us alive together with Christ. Almighty God, Father (+)Son, and Holy
Spirit have mercy on us, forgive us our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ,
strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us
in eternal life. Amen.
FIRST READING Deuteronomy 26:1-11
The annual harvest festival, called the Feast of Weeks, provides the setting
for this reading. This festival celebrates the first fruits of the produce of the
land offered back to God in thanks. In this text, worshipers announce God’s
gracious acts on behalf of Israel.
1
When you have come into the land that the LORD your God is giving you
as an inheritance to possess, and you possess it, and settle in it, 2you shall
take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you harvest from
the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you shall put it in a
basket and go to the place that the LORD your God will choose as a
dwelling for his name. 3You shall go to the priest who is in office at that
time, and say to him, “Today I declare to the LORD your God that I have
come into the land that the LORD swore to our ancestors to give us.” 4When
the priest takes the basket from your hand and sets it down before the altar
of the LORD your God, 5you shall make this response before the LORD your
God: “A wandering Aramean was my ancestor; he went down into Egypt
and lived there as an alien, few in number, and there he became a great
nation, mighty and populous. 6When the Egyptians treated us harshly and 12
Upon their hands they will | bear you up,
afflicted us, by imposing hard labor on us, 7we cried to the LORD, the God lest you strike your foot a- | gainst a stone. R
of our ancestors; the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction, our toil,
and our oppression. 8The LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand 13
You will tread upon the lion | cub and viper;
and an outstretched arm, with a terrifying display of power, and with signs you will trample down the lion | and the serpent.
and wonders; 9and he brought us into this place and gave us this land, a 14
I will deliver those who | cling to me;
land flowing with milk and honey. 10So now I bring the first of the fruit of I will uphold them, because they | know my name.
the ground that you, O LORD, have given me.” You shall set it down before 15
They will call me, and I will | answer them;
the LORD your God and bow down before the LORD your God. 11Then you, I will be with them in trouble; I will rescue and | honor them.
16
together with the Levites and the aliens who reside among you, shall With long life will I | satisfy them,
celebrate with all the bounty that the LORD your God has given to you and and show them | my salvation. R
to your house.
SECOND READING: Romans 10:8b-13
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God. Paul reminds the Christians at Rome of the foundation of their creed, the
confession of faith in the risen Christ as Lord.
PSALM 91:1-2, 9-16 “The word is near you,
8b

on your lips and in your heart”

Refrain: (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9because if you confess with
your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him
from the dead, you will be saved. 10For one believes with the heart and so is
justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. 11The scripture
says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” 12For there is no
distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is
generous to all who call on him. 13For, “Everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord shall be saved.”
Tone:
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

1
You who dwell in the shelter of | the Most High, GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Please stand. All sing the response, the cantor will sing the verse then all
who abide in the shadow of | the Almighty— repeat “Glory and praise…”
2
you will say to the LORD, “My refuge | and my stronghold,
my God in whom I | put my trust.” R
9
Because you have made the | LORD your refuge,
and the Most High your | habitation,
10
no evil | will befall you,
nor shall affliction come | near your dwelling.
11
For God will give the angels charge | over you, Verse: One does not live by | bread alone,*
to guard you in | all your ways. but by every word that comes from the | mouth of God. (Matt. 4:4)
GOSPEL: Luke 4:1-13 SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson
As the Gospel is announced, worshippers are invited to trace a cross upon
their forehead, then over their lips, and then over their hearts, silently Silence for reflection follows the sermon.
praying, “May the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ be ever on my mind, on The congregation stands for the hymn
my lips, and in my heart.”
HYMN OF THE DAY: A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (ELW 505)
The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.

After being filled with the Holy Spirit at his baptism, Jesus is led in the
wilderness. Through his responses to the temptations of the devil, he
defines what it means to be called “the Son of God.”
1
Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the
Spirit in the wilderness, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.
He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was
famished. 3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this
stone to become a loaf of bread.” 4Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One
does not live by bread alone.’ ”
5
Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the
kingdoms of the world. 6And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their
glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to
anyone I please. 7If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” 8Jesus
answered him, “It is written,
‘Worship the Lord your God,
and serve only him.’ ”
9
Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle
of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself
down from here, 10for it is written,
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to protect you,’
11
and
‘On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
12
Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the
test.’ ” 13When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until
an opportune time.

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Please be seated.
CREED How am I worthy of the love that He thus gave me?
As they recite the creed, worshippers are invited to bow beginning with the Flow on, ye tears, in a turbulent flood.
words “born of the virgin Mary,” until the words “he descended to the Weep that my Lord gave his body and blood;
dead.” O Savior mine, my all in all, Who died to save me.
Suffered and died to save me.
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
We invite you to please stand and sing:
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's only Son, our Lord, who was conceived
by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius OFFERTORY HYMN: Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW 188)
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at
the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and
the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen.

The Congregation may kneel for prayer

THE GREAT LITANY (ELW 238)

Please rise and greet one another in the peace of the risen Christ.

PEACE

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.
OFFERING PRAYER
Please be seated.
God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of
ANNOUNCEMENTS grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your
bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ANTHEM AT THE OFFERING The Holy Passiontide Now Brings to Amen.
Mind Again from the Schemelli Gesangbuch J. S. Bach
DIALOGUE
The Holy Passiontide now brings to mind again
The stripes and agony, the bitter woe and pain
Which uncomplainingly my Jesus bore to save me.
With what a boundless grace and pure redeeming love
Was His true heart inspired to come from heaven above!
 us into the path of love and light. In every age you sent prophets to call us
to love you by serving all humanity in love. The cry of the poor has become
your own cry; your people’s hunger and thirst for just peace is your own
desire.

In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant to preach good news to
the afflicted, to break bread with the outcast and despised, and to ransom
those in bondage to prejudice and sin.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave
thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
PREFACE Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to
drink, saying:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the
Lord’s death until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we await the day when
Jesus shall return to free all the earth from the bonds of slavery and death.
Come, Lord Jesus! And let the church say, Amen. Amen.

Send your Holy Spirit, our advocate, to fill the hearts of all who share this
bread and cup with courage and wisdom to pursue love and justice in all the
world. Come, Spirit of freedom! And let the church say, Amen. Amen.

Join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age,
that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection, we might live in the freedom
and hope of your Son. Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the
Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever.
Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
Worshippers are invited to bow with the consecration of the Lord’s body LORD'S PRAYER
and blood, each time the words “Do this for the remembrance of me,” are
spoken.
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, you have brought us this
far along the way. In times of bitterness you did not abandon us, but guided
 COMMUNION HYMN: Oh, Love, How Deep (ELW 322)

INVITATION TO COMMUNION

All who desire to die to themselves, pick up their cross, and live in Christ,
come to the feast of the Lord’s body and blood.

Lutherans believe, teach and confess that we receive the true Body and
Blood of Christ in Holy Communion. If you desire to pick up the cross and
live in Christ, we hope you will receive with us. Even if you do not feel
prepared to receive the sacrament today we hope you will join us at the
table. Simply hold your hands over your heart and the pastor will give you
a blessing. Pastor will be glad to discuss Holy Communion and Holy
Baptism with you!

Please be seated.
LAMB OF GOD

Once the altar is cleared and the hymn is sung, the congregation stands.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION BLESSING

Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with
in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit.
treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Amen.
DISMISSAL
POST COMMUNION HYMN Now, Lord (ELW 201)
Go in peace. Love as God has loved you.
Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Chorale Prelude on O World I Must Now Leave Thee Brahms

UPCOMING COMMEMORATIONS

Harriet Tubman, died 1913; Sojourner Truth, died 1883; renewers of

society
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Harriet Tubman, born into slavery, helped about 300 others to escape
slavery until the institution was abolished. Sojourner Truth, whose birth
name was Isabella, was freed after slavery was abolished, and discerned a
call to be a preacher. Taking the name Sojourner Truth, she set out on an
evangelistic journey, where people found her testimony to be deeply
moving.

Gregory the Great, Bishop of Rome, died 604

Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Born into wealth and power, Gregory was for a time the chief administrator
of the city of Rome. Giving this up for a life in the church, he was elected
pope in 590. He influenced public worship through the establishment of a
lectionary and prayers to correlate with the readings. Gregorian chant is
named in his honor.