THE ORDER OF WORSHIP

The Third Sunday in Lent

March 24th, 2019 PRELUDE O vos omnes Carlo Gesualdo (1566-1613)

Holy Communion (V) TOWER BELLS

INTRODUCTION WELCOME

The warnings are plentiful and blunt on the third PENITENTIAL RITE
Sunday in Lent. Lent is a season of repentance. Cut it out or get cut down!
The warnings are accompanied by God’s invitation to attentiveness: The assembly stands. All may make the sign of the cross, the sign that is
“Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live.” The marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins.
landowner’s ultimatum is forestalled by the gardener’s readiness to till the
ground one more year. That is good news for all of us. Thanks be to God! Blessed be the Holy Trinity, Father +Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, who
brings us out of captivity into freedom, out of the wilderness into the
CHILDREN are always welcome to our Worship Service. Rainbow bags promised land, out of death into life.
and a cry room are available. A staffed nursery is also available if needed. Amen. Thanks be to God!
An usher will gladly provide you with assistance.
Let us examine ourselves in light of God’s commandments, confessing our
As a worship courtesy, we ask that you please turn off or set to vibrate all sins before God and in the presence of one another:
cellular telephones and pagers during the worship service.
The congregation will sing the entire Kyrie (ELW 155), in Greek.
We ask that all present today please fill out the Attendance and Communion
registration card found in your bulletin and place it in the offering plate so
that we may record your presence with us.

PRAYER UPON ENTERING THE PEW

Gracious God, I thank You that I am Your child, accepted in Christ through
holy baptism and called to be fruitful. May I see and rejoice that along with
all people I live by the Spirit of Christ. May I live every moment mindful of
your love in Christ, bringing forth spiritual fruit: love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. May you be
glorified in your Church and in my life. In the name of the Father, and of
the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The congregation speaks each response.

God said to the people: I am the Lord your God who brought you out of
slavery. You shall have no other Gods.
Lord, have mercy.
You shall not make for yourself any idol. God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin and
Christ, have mercy. made us alive together with Christ. Almighty God, Father (+)Son, and Holy
Spirit have mercy on us, forgive us our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ,
You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God. strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us
Lord, have mercy. in eternal life. Amen.

Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. We invite you to stand.
Kyrie, eleison.
GATHERING SONG: Great Is Thy Faithfulness (ELW 733)
Honor your father and your mother.
Christe, eleison. GREETING

You shall not murder. Now is the acceptable time, now is the day of salvation. The grace of our
Kyrie, eleison. Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you all.
You shall not commit adultery. And also with you.
Lord, have mercy.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
You shall not steal.
Christ, have mercy. Let us pray.
Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and
Lord, have mercy. obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives, through Jesus
Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Kyrie, eleison. Amen.

You shall not covet your neighbor’s family or household. Please be seated.
Christe, eleison.
A MESSAGE FOR OUR CHILDREN
Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord your
God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all FIRST READING Isaiah 55:1-9
your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this:
Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than To those who have experienced long years in exile, the return to their
these." homeland is a celebration of abundant life. God calls them into an
Kyrie, eleison. everlasting covenant of love. Those who return to the Lord will enjoy new
life and forgiveness, because God’s ways are not our ways.
Silence is kept for reflection.  1Ho, everyone who thirsts,
  come to the waters;
 and you that have no money,
  come, buy and eat!
 Come, buy wine and milk
  without money and without price.
 2Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
  and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
 Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good,
  and delight yourselves in rich food.
 3Incline your ear, and come to me;
  listen, so that you may live.
 I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
  my steadfast, sure love for David.
 4See, I made him a witness to the peoples,
  a leader and commander for the peoples.
 5See, you shall call nations that you do not know,
  and nations that do not know you shall run to you,
 because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
  for he has glorified you.
 6Seek the LORD while he may be found,
  call upon him while he is near;
 7let the wicked forsake their way,
  and the unrighteous their thoughts;
 let them return to the LORD, that he may have mercy on them,
  and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
 8For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
  nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.
 9For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
  so are my ways higher than your ways
  and my thoughts than your thoughts.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
PSALM 63:1-8
Refrain:
Tone:
1
O God, you are my God; eager- | ly I seek you;
   my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and
weary land where there | is no water.
2
Therefore I have gazed upon you in your | holy place,
   that I might behold your power | and your glory.
3
For your steadfast love is better than | life itself;
   my lips shall | give you praise.
4
So will I bless you as long | as I live
   and lift up my hands | in your name. R
5
My spirit is content, as with the rich- | est of foods,
   and my mouth praises you with | joyful lips,
6
when I remember you up- | on my bed,
   and meditate on you in | the night watches.
7
For you have | been my helper,
   and under the shadow of your wings I | will rejoice.
8
My whole being | clings to you;
   your right hand | holds me fast. R
SECOND READING: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Paul uses images from Hebrew story and prophecy to speak the truth of
Jesus Christ: He is our rock, our water, our food, and our drink. Christ is
the living sign of God’s faithfulness.
1
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors
were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2and all were
baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3and all ate the same
spiritual food, 4and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from
the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.
5
Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were
struck down in the wilderness.
  6Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not
desire evil as they did. 7Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it
is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.”
8
We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and
twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9We must not put Christ to the
test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10And do not
complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11These
things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written
down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12So if you
think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13No testing has
overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will
not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also
provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
All sing the response, the choir will sing the verse then all repeat “Glory
and praise…”
Verse: Jesus began | to proclaim,*
Repent, for the kingdom of heaven | has come near. (Matt. 4:17)
GOSPEL: Luke 13:1-9
As the Gospel is announced, worshippers are invited to trace a cross upon
their forehead, then over their lips, and then over their hearts, silently
praying, “May the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ be ever on my mind, on
my lips, and in my heart.”
The holy gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Asked about current tragic events, Jesus turns a lesson about whether
suffering is deserved into a hard call to obedience. He then tells a parable
that holds out hope that the timeline for ultimate judgment will be tempered
by patience.
1
At that very time there were some present who told him about the
Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2[Jesus]
asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way
they were worse sinners than all other Galileans? 3No, I tell you; but unless
you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4Or those eighteen who were
killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were
worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5No, I tell you; but
unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.”
  6Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard;
and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7So he said to the
gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig
tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’
8
He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put
manure on it. 9If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can
cut it down.’ ”
The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.
Please be seated.
SERMON Pastor Charles Peterson
Silence for reflection follows the sermon, please stand for the hymn.
HYMN OF THE DAY: There’s a Wideness in God’s Mercy (ELW 588)
CREED
As they recite the creed, worshippers are invited to bow beginning with the
words “born of the virgin Mary,” until the words “he descended to the dead.”
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God's 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at
the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and
the dead. For those who travel, for those who are sick and suffering, and for those
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of who are in captivity, let us | pray to the Lord.
saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life Lord, have mercy.
everlasting. Amen.
For deliverance in the time of affliction, wrath, danger, and need, let us |
The congregation may kneel or sit for prayer. pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
For our bishops, Elizabeth and Suzanne, our bishops, for all servants of the
Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus, and for all people, church, for Trinity Lutheran Church, and for all people who await from the
according to their needs. Lord great and abundant mercy, let us | pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Pastor may offer other prayers.

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

The congregation will be invited to offer their own thanksgivings and

prayers. A time of silence follows.

Giving thanks for all who have gone before us and are at rest, rejoicing in
the communion of name/s and all the saints, we commend ourselves, one
another, and our whole life to you,
For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us | pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

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.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let
us | pray to the Lord. The litany may be followed by one or more additional prayers.
Lord, have mercy.
O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just
For the health of the creation, for abundant harvests that all may share, and works: give to us, your servants, that peace which the world cannot give,
for peaceful times, let us | pray to the Lord. that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; and also that we,
Lord, have mercy. being defended from the fear of our enemies, may live in peace and
For public servants, the government, and those who protect us; for those quietness; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you
who work to bring peace, justice, healing, and protection in this and every and the Holy Spirit, God forever. Amen.
place, let us | pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Please rise and greet one another in the peace of the risen Christ.
PEACE DIALOGUE

The peace of Christ be with you always.

And also with you.
Please be seated.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

OFFERTORY
Kyrie from Missa Susanne un jour Orlando de Lassus (1532-1594)

We invite you to please stand and sing:

OFFERTORY HYMN Create in Me a Clean Heart (ELW 188)

PREFACE

HOLY, HOLY, HOLY

OFFERING PRAYER

God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of
grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your
bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER LORD'S PRAYER

God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, you have brought us this
far along the way. In times of bitterness you did not abandon us, but guided
us into the path of love and light. In every age you sent prophets to call us
to love you by serving all humanity in love. The cry of the poor has become
your own cry; your people’s hunger and thirst for just peace is your own
desire.

In the fullness of time, you sent your chosen servant to preach good news to
the afflicted, to break bread with the outcast and despised, and to ransom
those in bondage to prejudice and sin.

In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave
thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying:
Take and eat; this is my body, given for you.
Do this for the remembrance of me.
Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to
drink, saying:
This cup is the new covenant in my blood,
shed for you and all people for the forgiveness of sin.
Do this for the remembrance of me.

For as often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup we proclaim the
Lord’s death until he comes.
Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. INVITATION TO COMMUNION

Remembering, therefore, his death and resurrection, we await the day when
Jesus shall return to free all the earth from the bonds of slavery and death.
Come, Lord Jesus! And let the church say, Amen. Amen.
Send your Holy Spirit, our advocate, to fill the hearts of all who share this
bread and cup with courage and wisdom to pursue love and justice in all the
world. Come, Spirit of freedom! And let the church say, Amen. Amen.
Join our prayers and praise with your prophets and martyrs of every age,
that, rejoicing in the hope of the resurrection, we might live in the freedom
and hope of your Son.
Through him, with him, in him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and
honor is yours, almighty Father, now and forever. Amen.
All who desire to die to themselves, pick up their cross, and live in Christ,
come to the feast of the Lord’s Body and blood.
Please be seated.
Lutherans believe, teach and confess that we receive the true Body and
Blood of Christ in Holy Communion. If you desire to pick up the cross and
live in Christ, we hope you will receive with us. Even if you do not feel
prepared to receive the sacrament today we hope you will join us at the
table. Simply hold your hands over your heart and the pastor will give you
a blessing. Pastor will be glad to discuss Holy Communion and Holy
Baptism with you!
LAMB OF GOD

COMMUNION HYMN
Come to Me, All Pilgrims Thirsty (Sat., ELW 777)

COMMUNION MUSIC (Sunday)

Sanctus from Missa Susanne un jour Orlando de Lassus

Once the altar is cleared and the hymn is sung, the congregation stands.
BLESSING
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine upon you with
grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us
In the name of the Father, +Son, and Holy Spirit.
in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for
Amen.
those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our
treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
DISMISSAL
Amen.
Go in peace. Love as God has loved you.
POST COMMUNION HYMN Now, Lord (ELW 201)
Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE Solitude in the Grove, a shape note hymn

Words by Isaac Watts, music by Ananias Davisson, 1817
Fantasia on a shape note hymn by Eric Haas composed in 2018