03/15/26

As We Gather

The Lord is grieved by the spiritual blindness of His people, but He does not forsake them. Instead, He promises to turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground (Is 42:16). The Lord does not give up on His servant, Israel, but sends another Servant who is the light of the world (John 9:5). Jesus’ light comes to us in His Word, His water, and His Supper. These are His means for opening our eyes to see and to live as children of light (Eph 5:8). Baptized into Christ, we look forward to the day when these words will come pass: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you” (Eph 5:14).

Children Activity Bags We value children in our worship services. If needed, there is a family room available for families with children. The family room has a diaper changing table, a closed-circuit TV to watch the worship service, toys and books for children. The family room is located across from the kitchen in the long hallway, the first door on the right, just past the bathrooms. There are “King’s Kids” bags with activities for children to help them worship. They are near the usher’s station on a small rack. Please return the bag to the rack after the service.

Holy Communion The Scripture teaches the Lord’s Supper is a precious gift of God in which Christ gives us His true body and blood (in a miraculous way), together with the bread and wine, for the forgiveness of our sins and the strengthening of our faith. Because the Bible teaches that this Sacrament may also be spiritually harmful if misused, and that participation in the Lord’s Supper is an act of confession of faith, we ordinarily commune those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. If you have a question, please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service. For those who prefer a non-alcoholic alternative, there is grape juice at the center of each tray. Those not receiving the Sacrament, including children, are invited to come to the altar, cross their arms over their chest, and receive a special blessing.

Philosophers Without Christ are Ignorant of God  “You may note that philosophers have at various times disputed rather shrewdly about God and the providence with which God governs all things. To some people their statements have seemed so pious that they have almost made prophets of Socrates, Xenophon, and Plato. But because in these discussions philosophers show that they do not know that God sent His Son Christ for the salvation of sinners, these very beautiful discussion really show consummate ignorance of God and are mere blasphemies.”  What Luther Says # 3328

Lent 4

        March 15, 2026

Welcome 

Opening Hymn                           Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus           LSB 685 vs 1-2

Invocation, Confession and Absolution    (portions of Psalm 119:33-40)

P:   We gather in the name and at the invitation of our great and gracious triune God:

C:   In the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

P:   Teach me, O Lord, to follow your decrees; then I will keep them to the end. 

C:   Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart. 

P:   Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. 

C:   Turn my heart toward your statutes and not toward selfish gain. 

P:   Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.

C:   Fulfill your promise to your servant, so that you may be feared. 

P:   Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good. 

C:   How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness. 

All:   Most merciful God, we confess that we were born in utter sin. To this day and by nature, we have eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. We have trusted in the things we have made rather than You. Our thoughts, words, and actions have been unfruitful and dark. We have been blind to our sin, but You have seen it. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, open our eyes. 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.

(Silence for Meditation)

P:   Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. Jesus is the light of the world and your salvation. He has enlightened you with His gifts and given you ears to hear Jesus’ words. It is He who is speaking to you. As a called and ordained servant of Christ and by His authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Praise                     Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus                         LSB 685 vs 3-4

Prayer of the Day

All:  Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve judgment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs. Give us new eyes, that we may see Your merciful goodness and give thanks for all the ways Your light scatters our darkness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

O T  Lesson                      (The Lord turns darkness into light.)               Isaiah 42:14–17

“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant. ¹⁵ I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation; I will turn rivers into islands and dry up the pools. ¹⁶ I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. ¹⁷ But those who trust in idols, who say to images, ‘You are our gods’, will be turned back in utter shame.

N T Lesson                      (Walking as children of the light)                   Ephesians 5:8–14

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light ⁹ (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) ¹⁰ and find out what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. ¹² For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. ¹³ But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴ for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Gospel Lesson           (Jesus heals a man who had been born blind.)          John 9:1–11

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. ² His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” ³ “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. ⁴ As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. ⁵ While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” ⁶ Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. ⁷ “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. ⁸ His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” ⁹ Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” ¹⁰ “How then were your eyes opened?” they demanded. ¹¹ He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 

Message Song                                    Death Was Arrested

Alone in my sorrow and dead in my sin  Lost without hope, with no place to begin;

Your love made a way to let mercy come in,  when death was arrested and my life began.

Ash was redeemed, only beauty remains;   my orphan heart was given a name.

My mourning grew quiet, my feet rose to dance,   

when death was arrested and my life began.

Chorus 

Oh, Your grace so free, washes over me. You have made me new now life begins with You.

It’s Your endless love  pouring down on us.  

You have made us new, now life begins with You!

Released from my chains, I’m a pris’ner no more. 

My shame was a ransom He faithfully bore.

He cancelled my debt and He called by His friend,  

                                              when death was arrested and my life began.                               Chorus

Our Savior displayed on a criminals’ cross. Darkness rejoiced as though heaven had lost.           But then Jesus arose with our freedom in hand. 

                                      That’s when death was arrested and my life began!                           Chorus

Bridge

Oh, we’re free, free forever, we’re free! Come join the song of the redeemed.

Yes, we’re free, free, forever amen. When death was arrested and my life began!

When death was arrested and my life began! 2x’s

CCLI Song #7046448 ©2015 Seems Like Music  CCLI License # 11390779Adam Kersh Music/Bcoker Music/Centricity Songs/Paul Taylor Smith Publishing

Message                                            But This Happened…
1.      For our good      and for our salvation     that God’s work     may be displayed in our lives.               

                                                                                                                                                    1 Peter 1: 3ff

2.      We have been brought out of darkness     and into His marvelous      light!

                                    1 Peter 2:9ff

3.      How much light do I need? Enough for the next   step   of   faith    !  Eph. 5: 8ff

Notes:

Nicene Creed

 C:   I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary  and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father.  And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. 

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life ✠ of the world to come. Amen.

Offering   

Offertory                                                        Doxology                                                        LSB 805Prayers of the Church  

After each petition:

 P:  Lord, in your mercy,

 C:  hear our prayer.   

The 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.

The Lord’s Supper

Preface                                                                      page 160 in the hymnal

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 …. And ever more praising You and singing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                         page 161 in the hymnal

C:  ♪ 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.

The Words of Institution (Jesus Institutes the Lord’s Supper)

Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord                    page 163 in the hymnal

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

C:  ♪ Amen.

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                            page 163 in the hymnal                                      

C:  ♪ 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 Hymn                                   Glory Be to Jesus                                       LSB 433                                                                                

                                                            Come Find Forgiveness and Love     (Choir)         10:30

Post Communion Canticle                                                      page 164 in the hymnal

C:  ♪ 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 Thanksgiving

All: Blessed are You, heavenly Father, for You have once again fed and nourished us at Your Table through the body and blood of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. As Lord of our lives, strengthen and support us so that we may walk as children of the light, and, sharing that kindly light, proclaim Your love to all the world. Bless us day by day, and keep us hope-filled as we await Your eternal kingdom, where You live and reign with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Benediction                                                                                                     

P:   The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord look upon you with favor and ✠ give you peace. 

C: Amen.

Sending Hymn                         Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me       LSB 683  tune 717

Announcements 

Dismissal

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.      

C:   Thanks be to God!   

Postlude

¹² Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”