Hymn - In the Cross of Christ I Glory, LSB 427
In the cross of Christ I glory, Tow'ring o'er the wrecks of time. All the light of sacred story Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o'ertake me, Hopes deceive, and fears annoy, Never shall the cross forsake me; Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming Light and love upon my way, From the cross the radiance streaming Adds more luster to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure By the cross are sanctified; Peace is there that knows no measure, Joys that through all time abide. | | Invocation P:+In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C:+Amen. | | Opening Sentences - Psalm 1:1–3; 96:12–13; Isaiah 61:1, 3 P:+Blessed is the man whose delight is in the law of the LORD. C:+He is like a tree planted by streams of water. P:+The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; C:+that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD. P:+Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy before the LORD, C:+for He comes, for He comes to judge the earth. | | Confession and Absolution P:+Let us confess our sins to God our heavenly Father. C:+Heavenly Father, we confess that we are bound to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have “eaten forbidden fruit” in our thoughts, words, and deeds. We have not produced spiritual fruit in keeping with the new life You have won for us. For the sake of Jesus’ sacrifice on the tree of the cross, grant us Your forgiveness. Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let Your face shine, that we may be saved! Amen. P:+After His triumph over Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, Jesus went to the synagogue in Nazareth and announced that the prophecy of Isaiah was being fulfilled in Him. The prophet had written, “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to grant to those who mourn in Zion a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” As a called and ordained servant of Christ I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C:+Amen. Thanks be to God. | | First Reading - Galatians 5:1, 13-25 +For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. . . . +For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. +But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. +If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. | | Second Reading - Luke 20:45—21:4 +And in the hearing of all the people he said to his disciples, “Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplaces and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows’ houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.” +Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.” | | Responsory - Isaiah 11:1, 10; 1 Peter 2:24 P:+There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots shall bear fruit. C:+Christ Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. P:+In that day the Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of Him shall the nations inquire, and His resting place shall be glorious. C:+Christ Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. P:+There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots shall bear fruit. C:+Christ Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. | | Hymn - What Wondrous Love Is This, LSB 543
What wondrous love is this, O my soul, O my soul! What wondrous love is this, O my soul! What wondrous love is this that caused the Lord of bliss To bear the dreadful curse for my soul, for my soul, To bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
When I was sinking down, sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down, sinking down, When I was sinking down beneath God’s righteous frown, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul, for my soul, Christ laid aside His crown for my soul.
To God and to the Lamb I will sing, I will sing; To God and to the Lamb I will sing; To God and to the Lamb, who is the great I AM, While millions join the theme, I will sing, I will sing, While millions join the theme, I will sing.
And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on; And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on. And when from death I’m free, I’ll sing His love for me, And through eternity I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on, And through eternity I’ll sing on. | | Sermon - The Widow's Offering | | Prayers P:+Let us pray for the Church here and around the world, and people everywhere in their various needs. For everyone weighed down by their bondage to sin and an inability to stop sinning by thought, word, and deed, let us pray to the Lord. C:+For the sake of Christ’s sacrifice on the tree of the cross, heavenly Father, open their ears to hear the Gospel anew; free them to live before You in Your kingdom. P:+For everyone who has fallen prey to society’s distorted morality, let us pray to the Lord. C:+For the sake of Christ’s sacrifice on the tree of the cross, heavenly Father, surround them with faithful and caring members of the Body of Christ; call them back in repentance and hope. P:+For those who work in healthcare, doctors, nurses, administrators, janitorial, and all others. Keep them safe as they work to save lives, let us pray to the Lord. C:+For the sake of Christ’s sacrifice on the tree of the cross, heavenly Father, accompany them with Your Holy Spirit; protect them from harm, and give them wisdom in all circumstances. P:+For ourselves and the Church around the world as we seek to produce true spiritual fruit, that we may stay connected and bless one another, let us pray to the Lord. C:+For the sake of Christ’s sacrifice on the tree of the cross, heavenly Father, assure us that we are Your pleasant planting; forgive our errors, and send us to serve in faithfulness and love. P:+These and any other things You would have us ask, heavenly Father, grant to us for the sake of the sufferings and death of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. C:+Amen. | | Lord’s Prayer 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. | | Collect for Peace P:+Let us pray. O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments C:+and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and quietness; P:+through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C:+Amen. | | Benediction P:+The blessing of God Almighty—who created you, forgave all your sins, and strengthens you for service in His kingdom—be upon you now and forever. C:+Amen. | | Hymn - Now the Light Has Gone Away, LSB 887
Now the light has gone away; Father, listen while I pray, Asking Thee to watch and keep And to send me quiet sleep.
Jesus, Savior, wash away All that has been wrong today; Help me ev’ry day to be Good and gentle, more like Thee.
Let my near and dear ones be Always near and dear to Thee; O bring me and all I love To Thy happy home above.
Now my evening praise I give; Thou didst die that I might live. All my blessings come from Thee; Oh, how good Thou art to me!
Thou, my best and kindest Friend, Thou wilt love me to the end. Let me love Thee more and more, Always better than before. | |
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+ WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Celebrant/Liturgist – Pastor Scott Jonas Organist – Jim Thielker
Acknowledgments Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. | | | | | | |
