03/16/25

As We Gather

How then shall we live? What a profound question for Christians to consider midway through Lent! The readings for this Sunday point us to the repentance that bears the good fruit of God’s kingdom. If the tree remains unfruitful, the tree will have to be cut down. It is a hard word to hear, but God remains merciful, and most of all, He seeks that we bear the good fruits of faith and repentance in our daily lives. He works His good will in our lives as Paul teaches in Philippians 2: 12-13 that we would be fruitful in things of His Kingdom!

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 (1 Cor: 11:27), 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.

 We Are Christians Not By Birth, But By Rebirth “We are called solely because we believe in the Lord, who is true God and man at the same time, not simply because we believe God has created us, as He has created other creatures. For the heavens, too, are God’s, and in this respect they are just as good as we are; so are the Turks, the heathen, the Jews, aye, the devil himself, so far as his nature as an angel is concerned. The mere fact that we have been created by God makes us no better, and gives us nothing better than it does others. But we are Christians and are so called because we believe in the Son of God, who with the Father, is true, eternal God, and also true man, born of the Virgin in order to become our Lord and Savior and who was given and revealed to us as such that we should believe and call on Him together with the Father. This then is the article which separates the faith of the Christians from the religion and the faith of all other men. This article makes all other religions false and futile. What Luther Says # 618

Lent 3

March 23, 2025

Welcome 

Opening Hymn                     Great Is Thy Faithfulness           LSB 809

Invocation, Confession and Absolution    (portion of Psalms 1)

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:   Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked 

C:   or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.

P:   But his delight is in the law of the Lord, 

C:   and on his law he meditates day and night.

P:   He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season 

C:   and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

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

C:   Almighty God, maker of all things and judge of all people, we confess that we have turned away from You. Turn our hearts away from sin and its temptation and grant us by the Holy Spirit to the kind of fruit You desire so that we will love and serve You with all our heart, mind, body, and soul. In the holy name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

Silence for meditation and reflection.

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 forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the ✠ Son and of the Holy Spirit. May our prayers reflect His desire for the salvation of all.

C:   Amen.

Hymn of Response                  Renew Me, O Eternal Light                         LSB 704

Prayer of the Day

All:  O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy. As we are mindful of the grace You have showered upon us, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways. Open their hearts and minds, as well, to the truth of their need to have Jesus as their Savior. Let us  hold fast to the unchangeable truth of Your Word; 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 seeks for the  wicked to repent and live)       Ezekiel 33:7–20

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. ⁸ When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. ⁹ But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself. ¹⁰ “Son of man, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?” ’ ¹¹ Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?’ 

NT Lesson               (God gives us hope when we are tempted)       1 Corinthians 10:1–13

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. ² They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. ³ They all ate the same spiritual food ⁴ and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. ⁵ Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert. ⁶ Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. ⁷ Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.” ⁸ We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. ⁹ We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. ¹⁰ And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel. ¹¹ These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. ¹² So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! 

¹³ No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. 

Holy Gospel                   (Unless you repent, you also will perish.)                       Luke 13:1–9

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. ² Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? ³ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. ⁴ Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? ⁵ I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” ⁶ Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. ⁷ So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ ⁸ “ ‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. ⁹ If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.’ ” 

Message Song                                       Before You                                              Randy Butler

Is there any forgiveness for the things I’ve done

Is there pardon for sinners, I know that I’m one

Before you,   Before you

Would you take this heart of foulness make it clean again

Would you pour on me Your mercy as I confess my sin

Before you,    Before you

Point my feet in the way they should go     Place your Holy Spirit in me

Lead me in the ways everlasting     I long to have a heart that’s pure

I need to have a heart that’s pure      Before you,   Before you

Oh Lord forgive me, I need your mercy (2x)

Is there any forgiveness for the things I’ve done

Is there forgiveness for sinners, I know that I am one

Before you,   Before you

CCLI License#11390779

Message                                              If it Bears Fruit

1. Often, ____________       in life are not what needs changing, it is our _______   . Matt 13
2. The _________________    of our heart by God is not ________________     at times.  John 15
3. Through God’s Word and our ___________     use of it, God _________  our lives for our _________    and His _________       .  Psalm 1; Philippians 2: 12-13

Notes:

The Apostle’s 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 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.

 Offering 

Offertory                              Praise God, from Whom All Blessing Flow                 LSB 805

Prayers 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 194 in the hymnal

P:  The Lord be with you.

C:  ♪ And with thy spirit.

P:  Lift up your hearts.

C:  ♪ We lift them up unto the Lord.

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

C:  ♪ It is meet and right so to do.

P:  It is truly good, right, and salutary …. And with the host of heaven we sing:

Sanctus — Holy, Holy, Holy                                          page 195 in the hymnal

P:  ♪ Ho -ly, ho-ly, ho-ly Lord God of Sa – ba – oth. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory.   

          Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He, blessed is He, blessed is

          He who cometh in the name of the Lord.  Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna in the highest.

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

Pax Domini—The Peace of the Lord                    page 197 in the hymnal

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

Agnus Dei – Lamb of God                                                             page 198 in the hymnal                                      

C:  ♪ O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takest away the sin of the world; have mercy upon us.

         O Christ, Thou Lamb of God, that takes away the sin of the world; 

         grant us Thy peace.  A – men.

Distribution Hymn                                           My Faith Looks Up to Thee             LSB 702

                               Come To Me                   Choir      (10:30)     

Nunc Dimittis                                                                                   page 199 in the hymnal        

C: ♪ Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace according to Thy Word, for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of Thy people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.                                                                                                                                          

Post Communion Collect                                                                                 

All: Merciful God, for freedom You have set us free through Christ’s liberating death and resurrection. In this freedom, teach us to live in the fruit of the Spirit given us in our Baptism and strengthened in the Supper. May we bear in our bodies the fulfillment of the Law of Christ as we love our neighbors as ourselves; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 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.
Sending Hymn                       God Has Spoken by His Prophets                             LSB 583

Announcements

   Dismissal 

P:   Go in peace as you serve the Lord.

C:   Thanks be to God.

Postlude  

 No parable more fully describes the profound character of God’s mercy than the prodigal son and the waiting father. We are the rebels who begin to think we deserve our heavenly Father’s kindness and who demand from Him what is not our right to claim. But instead of disowning us, He meets us with joy, welcomes us with His forgiveness, restores our tattered righteousness with the robe of Christ’s holiness, and sets His Table before us. This is what happens every Sunday as the Lord reclaims us from our sins, restores joy to our heavy hearts, reminds us of His baptismal promise, and feeds our body and soul with the body and blood of His Son. This is the source of our holy joy and this is the peace that passes all understanding.

Family Room & Children Activity Bags- 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 the LCMS ordinarily communes only those who have been instructed in the teachings of our church and who have confessed their faith in these teachings. Please speak to Pastor Ralph before the service if you have a question about this. 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.

 What is Repentance? “To repent means to feel the wrath of God in earnest because of one’s sin, so that the sinner experiences anguish of heart and is filled with a painful longing for the salvation and the mercy of God.” What Luther Says #3851

Fourth Sunday in Lent

March 30, 2025

Welcome

Opening Hymn                         Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing                   LSB 686

Invocation, Confession and Absolution         (Portions of Psalm 51)

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:   Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,

C:   and cleanse me from my sin!

P:   Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your steadfast love;

C:   according to Your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions.

P:   Merciful Father,

C:   though we deserve nothing of Your kindness, deliver us according to the mercy You have promised in Your Son, Jesus Christ. Remind us that You have restored us as Your own sons and daughters. Instill in us the will and desire for all that is good and right and true. Make us to know Your will and grant us Your Holy Spirit that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.

Silence for meditation and reflection.

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 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.

Hymn                                        Praise and Thanksgiving                                             LSB 789

Prayer of the Day

All:  Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; 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                   (God’s love for His people gives great hope!)                   Isaiah 12: 1-6

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O Lord. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. ²Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” ³With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. ⁴ In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. ⁵Sing to the Lord, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. ⁶ Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”                                                                                      

N T Lesson             (If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.)      2 Corinthians 5:16–21

So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. ¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! ¹⁸ All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: ¹⁹ that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. ²⁰ We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. ²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Gospel Lesson          (My son was dead and now he is alive again.)    Luke 15:1–3, 11b–32

Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him. ² But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” ³ Then Jesus told them this parable: Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. ¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. ²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ³¹ “ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ” 

Message Song                             How Can I Keep from Singing

There is an endless song     It echoes in my soul

I hear the music ring    And though the storms may come

   I am holding on     To the rock I cling          

                         Chorus          How can I keep from singing Your praise

How can I ever say enough    How amazing is Your love

How can I keep from shouting Your name

I know I am loved by the King

And it makes my heart want to sing

I will lift my eyes    In the darkest night

For I know my Savior lives    And I will walk with You

Knowing You’ll see me through    And sing the songs You give      Chorus

Bridge     I can sing in the troubled times    Sing when I win

I can sing when I lose my step    And fall down again

I can sing ‘cause You pick me up    Sing ‘cause You’re there  

I can sing ‘cause You hear me, Lord    When I call to You in prayer

I can sing with my last breath     Sing for I know

That I’ll sing with the angels     And the saints around the throne    Chorus 

                     Last time    I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart…

I am loved by the King, and it makes my heart…

want to sing!   I can sing! I can sing!

www.ccli.comCCLI License # 11390779

Message                                  Repentance and Forgiveness

1. Notice where Jesus spends His time – with __________________    and _________________   .
2. Repentant people are ____________   to their ______________     kind of people!
3. We ______________   God’s work when people _________________________________________     .

Notes:

The Apostle’s 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 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.

Offering

Offertory                                                Lord of All Good                          LSB 786   Tune 878

 Prayers 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.

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 of Communion

Distribution Hymn                          God Moves in a Mysterious Way                   LSB 765

                                                         O Living Bread from Heaven       Choir            (10:30 am)

Post Communion Canticle      Nunc Dimittis -Song of Simeon      page 211 in the hymnal     

C:   ♪ O Lord, now let Your servant      Depart in heav’nly peace,    For I have seen the glory     Of Your redeeming grace:     A light to lead the Gentiles    Unto Your holy hill,    The glory of Your people,   Your chosen Israel.  All glory to the Father,   All glory to the Son,  All glory to the Spirit,    Forever Three in One;    For as in the beginning,    Is now, shall ever be,   God’s triune name resounding    Through all eternity.

Post Communion Thanksgiving

All: God of love, through Your Son You have restored us to You as Your own sons and daughters, forgiven all our sins, and delivered us to everlasting life. By the guidance of Your Word and Spirit, keep us in this holy faith and fear, that we may learn submission to You and our hearts may rest in Your peace; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, one Lord, 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                             My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less                          LSB 576       

Announcements

Dismissal

P:  Go in peace as you serve the Lord.

C:  Thanks be to God!

Postlude