| Prelude Greeting and Welcome Lighting of the Candles Hymn of Invocation – 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. Opening Sentences – Psalm 51:15; 70:1 P: O Lord, open my lips, C: and my mouth will declare Your praise. P: Make haste, O God, to deliver me; C: make haste to help me, O Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. Praise to You, O Christ, Lamb of our salvation.
Collect of the Day P: Let us pray. O Lord, the precious blood of Jesus washes away our sins and restores our spirits. Grant to us all the renewal and refreshing of the Holy Spirit, that we may with joy know the blood of our Savior has cleansed us from sin, has paid the price of our redemption, and nourishes us to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. First Reading – 2 Chronicles 14:1–7; 16:1–9a Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David. And Asa his son reigned in his place. In his days the land had rest for ten years. And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God. He took away the foreign altars and the high places and broke down the pillars and cut down the Asherim and commanded Judah to seek the Lord, the God of their fathers, and to keep the law and the commandment. He also took out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the incense altars. And the kingdom had rest under him. He built fortified cities in Judah, for the land had rest. He had no war in those years, for the Lord gave him peace. And he said to Judah, “Let us build these cities and surround them with walls and towers, gates and bars. The land is still ours, because we have sought the Lord our God. We have sought him, and he has given us peace on every side.” So they built and prospered. In the thirty-sixth year of the reign of Asa, Baasha king of Israel went up against Judah and built Ramah, that he might permit no one to go out or come in to Asa king of Judah. Then Asa took silver and gold from the treasures of the house of the Lord and the king’s house and sent them to Ben-hadad king of Syria, who lived in Damascus, saying, “There is a covenant between me and you, as there was between my father and your father. Behold, I am sending to you silver and gold. Go, break your covenant with Baasha king of Israel, that he may withdraw from me.” And Ben-hadad listened to King Asa and sent the commanders of his armies against the cities of Israel, and they conquered Ijon, Dan, Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali. And when Baasha heard of it, he stopped building Ramah and let his work cease. Then King Asa took all Judah, and they carried away the stones of Ramah and its timber, with which Baasha had been building, and with them he built Geba and Mizpah. At that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said to him, “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the king of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians and the Libyans a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, he gave them into your hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him….”
P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Second Reading – Colossians 1:15–20 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. P: This is the Word of the Lord. C: Thanks be to God. Catechism – The Second Article C: I believe 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. What does this mean? I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the virgin Mary, is my Lord, who has redeemed me, a lost and condemned person, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil; not with gold or silver, but with His holy, precious blood and with His innocent suffering and death, that I may be His own and live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as He is risen from the dead, lives and reigns to all eternity. This is most certainly true. Gospel – Matthew 15:28–31 Then Jesus answered her, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed instantly. Jesus went on from there and walked beside the Sea of Galilee. And he went up on the mountain and sat down there. And great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute, and many others, and they put them at his feet, and he healed them, so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel. P: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise to You, O Christ. Sermon Versicles P: Hear my prayer, O Lord; C: let my cry come to You. P: In the day of my trouble I call upon You, C: for You answer me. P: Hide Your face from my sins, C: and blot out all my iniquities. P: Create in me a clean heart, O God, C: and renew a right spirit within me. P: Cast me not away from Your presence, C: and take not Your Holy Spirit from me. P: Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, C: and uphold me with a willing spirit. P: Because Your steadfast love is better than life, C: my lips will praise You. P: For You have been my help, C: and in the shadow of Your wings I will sing for joy. P: Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth; C: unite my heart to fear Your name. P: I give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, C: and I will glorify Your name forever. P: May all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You. C: May those who love Your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” P: Save Your people and bless Your heritage! C: Be their shepherd and carry them forever. P: Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; C: listen to my plea for grace.
Prayers P: Let us pray. O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. P: Gracious Lord, for the sake of Your holy name, You have forgiven all the sins of the penitent and rescued from the captivity of death all whom You have redeemed through the precious blood of Your dear Son. Grant that we may live not in weakness before temptation or in the pain of guilt but according to Your steadfast love and goodness may know Your comfort, consolation, and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. C: Amen. P: In Your mercy, O Lord, regard all those in any sickness, need, or sorrow, that they may be sustained in affliction, supported in need, and delivered according to Your mercy. Give them patience, endurance, and hope, so that at length they may at last know the fullness of Your mercy and be brought with us to everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. C: Amen. I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. Benedicamus P: Let us bless the Lord C: Thanks be to God.
Blessing P: The Lord bless us, defend us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. C: Amen. Hymn – Jesus, Refuge of the Weary (LSB 423) Jesus, refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, whom we love, Fountain in life’s desert dreary, Savior from the world above: Often have Your eyes, offended, Gazed upon the sinner’s fall; Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all. Do we pass that cross unheeding, Breathing no repentant vow, Though we see You wounded, bleeding, See Your thorn-encircled brow? Yet Your sinless death has brought us Life eternal, peace, and rest; Only what Your grace has taught us Calms the sinner’s deep distress. Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You; May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew Till in glory, parted never From the blessèd Savior’s side, Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the cross, the Crucified. Postlude + WORSHIP LEADERS + Preacher/Liturgist – Pastor Scott Jonas Pianist – Janet Leet Sound/Video – John Steele
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