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Thursday, March 18, 2021

Weekly Newsletter

Glimpses of Glendale
Glendale Lutheran Church Newsletter
March 18, 2021
The last two weekends have felt more like it did before Covid. We averaged 60 on Sunday and 20 on Saturday. We are still able to social distance and sit in every other pew. We are still singing less than we used to but the voices are stronger. Kids were all over the place and even their screaming was a missed sound. God is bringing us through this tough season.

It made me and the elders come to the conclusion that we should add an Easter service. Our usual service time will remain 9:15am but then there will be the same service at 10:30am. This will allow for the influx of guests and Saturday night regulars. Those who are worried about a fuller first service can come to the second.

I mentioned this on Sunday in the announcements but I hear from other pastors that some people are not returning because they feel scared or guilty. If you are feeling scared, that is totally understandable. Come back to services when God tells you that you are ready. If you are feeling guilty know that God forgives you. Also, it may not be guilt you are feeling but loss or discomfort. Loss is because you’ve missed us and we’ve missed you. Discomfort is because it takes time to get used to being around so many people again even if they are your church family.

I have guilt also. Like you, I’ve never dealt with a pandemic before. I’m sure there are members who needed me and I didn’t know. I’ve tried to keep everyone connected but I’ve failed. Please forgive me. For those who have been watching service online and are ready to reconnect, give me a call. I’d love to talk with you. For those who aren’t ready to come to service, know that I’m more than willing to come to you with communion and conversation. Thanks for being a wonderful congregation.
Please wear a mask during worship services.
Daily Bible Reading
Easter Lilies!

Order your Easter lilies now! The cost is $7.00 per plant. Forms are by the mailboxes, or you can email or call Michelle in the church office with the number of plants and dedication you'd like, and put the check in my mailbox next time you're in the building.
Financial Update
Next Sunday's Bible Readings
Zechariah 9:9-12; Philippians 2:5-11; Mark 14:1—15:47
Worship Leaders 3/21
Lector: Beth Nicolaus
Communion: Andy Ortstadt
S/V: Ken Clark
Bible Class S/V: Tony Petzoldt
Usher: Mike Toney
Worship Leaders 3/28
Lector: Marcia Hempel
Communion: Mike Toney
S/V: Tony Petzoldt
Bible Class S/V: Mike Murphy
Usher: John Steele
The Word Within the Word

Worship Bulletin


Welcome to Glendale Lutheran!

Pastor Scott Jonas would love to talk to you. You can contact him via cell 805-345-6658 or email scottjonas314@gmail.com.
Join us for Midweek Lenten Worship, Wednesday at 6:30pm.
 
Holy Week & Easter Services:
           April 1, Maundy Thursday – 6:30pm
           April 2, Good Friday – 6:30pm
           April 4, Easter Sunday – 9:15am & 10:30am

Women’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study meets weekly in Family Life Center at 9:15am. Women’s Thursday Evening Bible Study meets the first and third Thursday of each month at 7:00pm. All women are welcome!
 
Men’s Bible Study meets Mondays at 7:30am.
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
9:15am
Prelude

Greeting and Welcome

Lighting of the Candles

Hymn of Invocation – Beautiful Savior (LSB 537)

Hymn of Invocation – Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise (LSB 802)

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.
 
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.
 
To all life Thou givest—to both great and small—
In all life Thou livest, the true Life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree
And wither and perish—but naught changes Thee.
 
+ Preparation +
 
Invocation
P:  In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C:  Amen.
 
Opening Sentences – Jeremiah 31:31, 33; Mark 10:43–44
P:  The days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant.
C:  I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.
P:  And I will be their God,
C:  and they shall be My people.
P:  Whoever would be great among you must be your servant,
C:  and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.
 
Confession and Absolution – Jeremiah 31:34; Hebrews 5:9
P:  Bearing our sins and in need of a Savior, let us go to our heavenly Father, asking for forgiveness.
 
Time for reflection on the word of God and for personal examination.
 
P:  Most merciful, heavenly Father, You promised a covenant written on Your people’s hearts.
C:  But we do not always rely on Your promises and great love. We are sorry.
P:  Gracious Holy Spirit, through Your use of Word and Sacrament, many people know the Lord.
C:  But we have not taken advantage of every opportunity to share Your Word with others. We are sorry.
P:  Jesus taught that the greatest in the Kingdom is the servant of all.
C:  But our hearts have not always been humble and eager for service. We are sorry. Our thoughts, words, and deeds fall short. As fallen sinners, we are helpless to change. For Jesus’ sake, forgive us, and give us new and clean hearts to love You and serve our neighbors.
P:  God promised in the new covenant, “I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” In the sacrifice of Himself, Jesus, being perfect, “became the source of eternal salvation.” 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 +
 
First ReadingJeremiah 31:31–34
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.”
 
P:  This is the Word of the Lord.
C:  Thanks be to God.
 
Epistle Hebrews 5:1–10
For every high priest chosen from among men is appointed to act on behalf of men in relation to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. He can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, since he himself is beset with weakness. Because of this he is obligated to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he does for those of the people. And no one takes this honor for himself, but only when called by God, just as Aaron was.
So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; as he says also in another place, “You are a priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.”
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
 
P:  This is the Word of the Lord.
C:  Thanks be to God.
 
Holy Gospel – Mark 13:14-27
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Mark, the thirteenth chapter.
C: Glory to You, O Lord.
 
“But when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. Let the one who is on the housetop not go down, nor enter his house, to take anything out, and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! Pray that it may not happen in winter. For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be. And if the Lord had not cut short the days, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he shortened the days. And then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘Look, there he is!’ do not believe it. False christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.
[Jesus said:] “But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.
 
P: This is the Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to You, O Christ.                                                                                                 
 
Children’s HymnHis Banner over Me Is Love (AGPS 118)
 
I’m feasting at His banqueting table;
His banner over me is love.
I’m feasting at His banqueting table;
His banner over me is love.
I’m feasting at His banqueting table;
His banner over me is love,
His banner over me is love.
 
He placed my feet on the firm foundation;
His banner over me is love.
He placed my feet on the firm foundation;
His banner over me is love.
He placed my feet on the firm foundation;
His banner over me is love,
His banner over me is love.
 
Children’s Sermon
 
Hymn of the Day – Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me (LSB 761)
 
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy riven side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure:
Cleanse me from its guilt and pow’r.
 
Nothing in my hand I bring;
Simply to Thy cross I cling.
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
 
While I draw this fleeting breath,
When mine eyelids close in death,
When I soar to worlds unknown,
See Thee on Thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee.
 
Sermon
 
Apostles' Creed
C:  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.
 
Prayer of the Church
+ Celebrating birthdays this week: 21 – Jenny Lane; 24 – Jeri Crotzer, Nathan Hempel, Elizabeth Ryan, Steven Schmidt; 25 – Bill Bach; 26 – Rick Faeth; 27 – Gwendolyn Boehme

Special Celebrations and Needs:
+ Church family members: Janet Hurley, upon the death of her sister, Beverly; Ken Kight, upon the death of his father; family and friends of Charlotte Moret upon her death; prayer of thanksgiving for Lily Ruth Sullivan, newborn granddaughter of John & Sharon Willmann; prayer of thanksgiving for Fiona Marie Wise, newborn granddaughter of Julie Atwood-Wise; prayer of thanksgiving for Charlotte Nichole Jacobson, newborn granddaughter of Bob & Debbie Jacobson
+ Friends of our congregation: Rebecca Guion, daughter-in-law of Mary Guion, who is receiving treatment for lymphoma; Ryan Barnett’s father, who has cancer; the family and friends of former Glendale Lutheran member Nancy Allen upon her death
+ Those who are homebound or in nursing facilities: Mary Guion, Corinne Gutzler, Anne Hammann, Bettie Welch, Joan Winkler, Ruth Wussler
 
Offertory 
Offering
Please scan the following QR code or visit https://tithe.ly/give?c=815174 to make a donation using your mobile device.
+ Sacrament +

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.”

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.

Pax Domini
P:  The peace of the Lord be with you always.
C:  And also with you.

Distribution

Blessing

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 HymnIn Christ Alone
 
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid ground,
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All,
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
 
In Christ alone who took on flesh,
Fullness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness,
Scorned by the ones He came to save.
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied.
For ev’ry sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay,
Light of the world, by darkness slain;
Then bursting forth in glorious day,
Up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory,
Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine,
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
 
No fear in life, no fear in death,
This is the pow’r of Christ in me;
From life’s first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No pow’r of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Til He returns or calls me home,
Here in the pow’r of Christ I’ll stand!
 
Postlude – Jesus, I Will Ponder Now
 
+ + +
 
+ WORSHIP LEADERS +
Preacher/Celebrant/Liturgist – Pastor Scott
Pianist/Organist – Jim Thielker
Communion – Andy Ortstadt
Sound/Video – Ken Clark
Lector – Beth Nicolaus
Usher – Mike Toney
Bible Class Sound/Video – Tony Petzoldt
 
+ + +
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.