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Thursday, February 20, 2025

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale
Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter


February 20, 2025

True Worship - article by Joel Hempel

 

How should we worship God? What is the best, most God-pleasing way for a congregation – when gathered together – to reverence our Lord?

 

When Marcia and I were at Valparaiso University, worship in the Chapel of the Resurrection using traditional Lutheran liturgy was glorious. I served as an acolyte and loved it! At the seminary, I grew in my understanding and appreciation of traditional liturgy. Then, after seminary, we were called to the inner city of Cincinnati. Traditional liturgy didn’t work – at least for most services. We made the necessary adjustments and hired an African American pianist. It wasn’t long before we fell in love with Michael’s adapted version of traditional hymns and the introduction of Negro Spirituals to our worship. He turned our mostly white group of singers into a swaying, almost Gospel-sounding choir.

 

Since joining GLC in 1990, worship services have been a combination of traditional and blended liturgies, as well as informal Saturday evening services. Then about ten years ago, a cantor who worked briefly for GLC stated, “True worship is traditional liturgical worship”.

 

Like some of you, Marcia and I have children and grandchildren who now attend non-denominational or other-denominational churches - and we are thankful to God that their faith in Jesus Christ is solid and God-pleasing. But their worship in no way resembles traditional Lutheran liturgy. Is that God-pleasing? 

 

What is the biblically mandated order of a true worship service?

 

Maybe you can prove me wrong, but I can’t find anywhere in Scripture where God describes or dictates the prescribed order of corporate worship. I can find no specific format or style that is more pleasing to God than another.

 

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. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. (Jn 4:23–24)

 

In the past and continuing into the present, there have been “worship wars” within our denomination as in other church bodies. We bicker over traditional v. non-traditional or contemporary liturgy, music, instruments, and songs. We disagree on whether officiating  ministers should wear robes or not. We argue about whether or not to have video screens on the wall or paper bulletins in hand.

 

Guess what? These are not God’s issues. What does he care about when it comes to worship?

  • Do we worship the One True God: Father-Son-Holy Spirit?
  •  Are the words and messages in worship based on the truth of Scripture?
  • Are we worshipping together as one (see Hebrews 10:24-25; John 17:20-21)?
  • Do we care about and attend to one another when we come to worship (see 1 Cor. 11:17-22; Acts 2:42-46, 4:32-35)?
  • Are we ensuring worship creates peace, builds up one another, and is conducted in a decent and orderly manner (see 1 Cor. 14:26,33,40)?
  • Do we include the Sacraments, prayer, songs of praise and thanksgiving, and the proclamation of God’s Word (1 Cor. 11:23-26; Psalm 150; 2 Tim. 4:1-2; Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:18-20; 1 Chronicles 25:6-7)?
  • Are we giving financially for the church’s work and the care of those in need (Matt. 2:11; 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-14; Proverbs 3:9)?
  • Are we loving and worshipping God with all of our heart, strength, body, soul, and mind (see Matt 22:37; Mark 12:30; Romans 12:1-2)?

 

What is true worship? It is worship that is true to God’s Word.

 

Let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe (Hebrews 12:28).

CCLS Admissions Open

 

Christ Community Lutheran School is now accepting admissions applications for the 2025-2026 school year. CCLS serves infant to 8th grade students in a Christ-centered environment of academic excellence as the association school of Concordia Lutheran Church, Glendale Lutheran Church, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church and The Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens. If you would like more information about our school, please visit the Admissions page of our CCLS website (ccls-stlouis.org/admissions).

Finance Update

Next Sunday's Bible Readings

Deuteronomy 34:1-12; Hebrews 3:1-6; Luke 9:28-36

Worship Leaders

This Sunday - 2/23

Lector: Ann Jonas

Children's Message: Stephanie Chapa

Communion: Steve Phelps & Sem Student

Greeters: Jerry & Beth Nicolaus

Sound/Video: Ken Clark

Ushers: Steve Phelps, Ron Froesel, Judy George, Jeanne Lipinski

Next Sunday - 3/2

Lector: Beth Nicolaus

Children's Message: Ryan Philpot

Communion: Steve Phelps & Sem Student

Greeters: Ken & Jeanne Clark

Sound/Video: Paul Barbercheck

Ushers: Sandy Barbercheck, Judy George, Ken Clark, Gerry Lucas

The Word Within the Word
Online Calendar

Glendale Lutheran Church

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Worship Bulletin


Welcome to Glendale Lutheran!


2025 Altar Flowers – Many, many openings are still available! All you need to do is pick a date and sign up on the kiosk. Altar Flower FAQ sheets are there as well those who haven’t done this before. For those of you who prefer to sign up online, our Sign-up Genius remains active. Please call or email Michelle in the church office with any questions!

The Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany

February 23, 2025

9:15am

Divine Service I

Prelude 


Greeting and Welcome


Lighting of the Candles


Hymn of Invocation – All Glory, Laud, and Honor (LSB 442)


Refrain: All glory, laud, and honor

To You, Redeemer, King,

To whom the lips of children

   Made sweet hosannas ring.


You are the King of Israel

And David’s royal Son,

Now in the Lord’s name coming,

Our King and Blessèd One. Refrain


The company of angels

Is praising You on high,

And we with all creation

In chorus make reply. Refrain


The multitude of pilgrims

With palms before You went;

Our praise and prayer and anthems

Before You we present. Refrain


To You before Your passion

They sang their hymns of praise;

To You, now high exalted,

Our melody we raise. Refrain


+ Preparation +


Invocation

P: In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit

C: Amen.


Confession and Absolution

P: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


Silence for reflection on God's Word and for self-examination.


P: Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.

C: Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. 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.


+ Word +


Introit 

P: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way.

C: Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!

P: For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.

C: Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

P: Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

C: Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.

All: 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

P: Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way.


Kyrie

P: In peace let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy. 

P: For the peace from above and for our salvation let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy. 

P: For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy. 

P: For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise let us pray to the Lord.

C: Lord, have mercy.

P: Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.

C: Amen. 


This Is the Feast

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain, 

whose blood set us free to be people of God.

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Power, riches, wisdom and strength, 

and honor, blessing, and glory are His.

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Sing with all the people of God, 

and join in the hymn of all creation.

Blessing, honor, glory, and might 

be to God and the Lamb forever. Amen.

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

For the Lamb who was slain has begun His reign. Alleluia.

This is the feast of victory for our God.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

 

Salutation and Collect of the Day

P: The Lord be with you. 

C: And also with you. 

P: Let us pray. O God, the Strength of all who put their trust in You, mercifully grant that by Your power we may be defended against all adversity; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen. 


First ReadingGenesis 45:3–15

Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

So Joseph said to his brothers, “Come near to me, please.” And they came near. And he said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry. You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.’ And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here.” Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.


P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.


Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:21–26, 30–42

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 

Why am I in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory.

So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 


P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.


Alleluia

Alleluia. Lord, to whom shall we go?

You have the words of eternal life.

Alleluia, alleluia.


Holy Gospel Mark 6:1-6

P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the sixth chapter.

C: Glory to You, O Lord. 


[Jesus] went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief.

And he went about among the villages teaching.


P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.

C: Praise to You, O Christ. 


Children’s Hymn – This Is the Day (AGPS 241)


This is the day, this is the day

That the Lord hath made,

That the Lord hath made.

I will rejoice, I will rejoice

And be glad in it,

And be glad in it.

This is the day that the Lord hath made,

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

This is the day, this is the day

That the Lord hath made.

(Repeat)


Children’s Sermon – Stephanie Chapa


Hymn of the Day – “Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery"


Come, behold the wondrous mystery

In the dawning of the king

He the theme of Heaven's praises

Robed in frail humanity

In our longing, in our darkness

Now, the light of life has come

Look to Christ who condescended

Took on flesh to ransom us


Come, behold the wondrous mystery

He is the perfect son of man

In His living, in His suffering

Never trace nor stain of sin

See the true and better Adam

Come to save the hell-bound man

Christ, the great and sure fulfilment

Of the law in Him, we stand


Come, behold the wondrous mystery

Christ, the Lord upon the tree

In the stead of ruined sinners

Hangs the lamb in victory

See the price of our redemption

See the Father's plan unfold

Bringing many sons to glory

Grace unmeasured, love untold


Come, behold the wondrous mystery

Slain by death, the God of life

But no grave could ever restrain Him

Praise the Lord, He is alive

What a foretaste of deliverance

How unwavering our hope

Christ in power resurrected

As we will be when He comes


What a foretaste of deliverance

How unwavering our hope

Christ in power resurrected

As we will be when He comes


Sermon 


Apostles' Creed

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 + everlasting. Amen.


Prayers

+ Celebrating birthdays this week: 23 – Adelaide Sowers; 25 – Anna Hinderliter; 28 – Garrett Das


Special Celebrations and Needs:

+ Church family members: Marcia Hempel, with Covid; Julie Atwood-Wise, upon the death of her mother, Twylah Atwood; Carol Froesel, diagnosed with fibrosis of the lungs; Jack Bentzinger, recovering from a fall; Cathie Albers, recovering from hip surgery; Sue DeFosset, recovering from knee surgery; Paul Schultz, in hospice; Ken Kight, in hospice; Sherman Moore

+ Friends of our congregation: Linda, friend of Rodger Lubben, recovering from minor surgery; Karen, extended family member of the Wehmuellers, with cancer; Larry Duncan, extended family of the Wehmuellers, in the hospital with heart issues; Barbara Huggins, in rehab

+ Those who are homebound or in nursing facilities: Jules Bush, Frank & Sharon Gaal, Mary Guion, Jane Keathley, Vicki Lucas, Cindy Smith, Shirley Williams


Offering


Offertory

What shall I render to the Lord 

for all His benefits to me?

I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving 

and will call on the name of the Lord.

I will take the cup of salvation 

and will call on the name of the Lord.

I will pay my vows to the Lord 

now in the presence of all His people,

in the courts of the Lord's house, 

in the midst of you, O Jerusalem.


+ Sacrament +


Preface

P: The Lord be with you.

C: And also with you. 

P: Lift up your hearts. 

C: We lift them to the Lord. 

P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

C: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

P: It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. And most especially are we bound to praise You on this day for the glorious resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the very Paschal Lamb, who was sacrificed for us and bore the sins of the world. By His dying He has destroyed death, and by His rising again He has restored to us everlasting life. Therefore with Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, and with all the witnesses of the resurrection, with angels and archangels, and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and saying:


Sanctus

Holy, holy, holy Lord,

God of pow’r and might:

Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

Hosanna, Hosanna. Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.

Hosanna in the highest.

 

Prayer of Thanksgiving

P: Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross.  

 

Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us do in His own testament. Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: Amen.


The Words of Our Lord

P: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night when He was betrayed, took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to the disciples and said: “Take, eat; this is My + body, which is given for you. This do in remembrance of Me.” In the same way also He took the cup after supper, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying: “Drink of it, all of you; this cup is the new testament in My + blood, which is shed for you for the forgiveness of sins. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”


Proclamation of Christ

P: As often as we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

C: Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

P: O Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, in giving us Your body and blood to eat and to drink, You lead us to remember and confess Your holy cross and passion, Your blessed death, Your rest in the tomb, Your resurrection from the dead, Your ascension into heaven, and Your coming for the final judgment. So remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:


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.


Pax Domini 

P: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

C: Amen. 


Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, You take away

the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away

the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, You take away

the sin of the world.

Grant us peace. 


Distribution 


Distribution Hymn – Thy Body, Given for Me, O Savior (LSB 619)


Thy body, giv’n for me, O Savior,

Thy blood which Thou for me didst shed,

These are my life and strength forever,

By them my hungry soul is fed. Refrain


Refrain: Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood

Be for my soul the highest good!


With Thee, Lord, I am now united;

I live in Thee and Thou in me.

No sorrow fills my soul, delighted

It finds its only joy in Thee. Refrain


Who can condemn me now? For surely

The Lord is nigh, who justifies.

No hell I fear, and thus securely

With Jesus I to heaven rise. Refrain


Though death may threaten with disaster,

It cannot rob me of my cheer;

For He who is of death the master

With aid and comfort e’er is near. Refrain


My heart has now become Thy dwelling,

O blessèd, holy Trinity.

With angels I, Thy praises telling,

Shall live in joy eternally. Refrain


Blessing


Thank the Lord

Thank the Lord and sing His praise;

tell ev'ryone what He has done.

Let all who seek the Lord rejoice

and proudly bear His name.

He recalls His promises and

leads His people forth in joy

with shouts of thanksgiving.

Alleluia, alleluia. 


Post-Communion Collect

P: Let us pray. We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You that of Your mercy You would strengthen us through the same in faith toward You and fervent love toward one another; 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 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 + give you peace.

C: Amen. 


Closing Hymn – Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word (LSB 655)


Lord, keep us steadfast in Your Word;

Curb those who by deceit or sword

Would wrest the kingdom from Your Son

And bring to naught all He has done.


Lord Jesus Christ, Your pow’r make known,

For You are Lord of lords alone;

Defend Your holy Church that we

May sing Your praise eternally.


O Comforter of priceless worth,

Send peace and unity on earth;

Support us in our final strife

And lead us out of death to life.


Postlude 


+ WORSHIP LEADERS +

Preacher/Liturgist/Celebrant – Pastor Scott Jonas

Organist/Pianist – Seth Carruthers

Communion – Steve Phelps & Seminary Student

Lector – Ann Jonas

Sound/Video – Ken Clark

Ushers – Steve Phelps, Ron Froesel, Judy George, Jeanne Lipinski

Greeters – Jerry & Beth Nicolaus

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.