Mid-Week Lenten Service - III

Transcription

1 Note on using this service in the home: It is recommended that each household (or each single person if living alone) set aside a day and a time to hear God s Word and to pray during Lent. Wednesday may be a good day as this is the traditional time for Lenten services. The service for this week is Vespers from Lutheran Service Book. (Evening services have been used because 1) our Lenten services have traditionally been in the evening; 2) I thought most would be using this service in the evening. The scripture Mid-Week Lenten Service - III passages have not been printed out allowing each household to read from their own Bible. (If you or someone you know needs a Bible, please contact me.) The head of the household may lead the service, speaking the L parts, with the rest of those present responding with the C parts. It is also suggested that a candle be lit at the beginning of the service, to help set aside the time for worship as well as to be reminded that Christ is the light of the world. The brief devotional messages for this Lenten season will be taken from the New Testament book of Hebrews. We are also studying Hebrews during the Adult Bible Class on Sundays, 9:30 a.m. Feel free to forward this on to friends and family. Pastor William D. Gassett, First Lutheran Church, Natchez, Mississippi ( Artwork: Denial of St. Peter by Nicolas Tournier; c Oil on canvas; Location: Museo del Prado, Madrid Vespers L O Lord, open my lips, C and my mouth will declare Your praise. L Make haste, O God, to deliver me; C make haste to help me, O Lord.

2 Vespers, page 2 C 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. Praise to You, O Christ, Lamb of our salvation. Psalm 38 Reading From the Passion According to Saint Mark: St. Mark 14:53-72 Silence for reflection on God s Word and prayer. Responsory Lent LSB 231 L Deliver me, O Lord, my God, for You are the God of my salvation. C Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me. L In You, O Lord, do I put my trust, leave me not, O Lord, my God. C Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me. L Deliver me, O Lord, my God, for You are the God of my salvation. C Rescue me from my enemies, protect me from those who rise against me. Devotion: Perfect Redemption in the Blood of Christ Hebrews 9: Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you. 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. This reading in Hebrews is a continuation from last week s devotion. The writer of Hebrews began chapter 9 telling his readers about the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the only day of the year when the High Priest, and only the High Priest, could walk behind the curtain into the Most Holy Place (or Holy of Holies), the place where God promised to be present with His people. But he could only enter if he came bearing blood, first for his own sins and then for the sins of the people. This annual entry of the High Priest into the Holy of Holies emphasized the inaccessibility of God to the people. The layout of the Tabernacle with the Holy of Holies off-limits to all but the High

3 Vespers, page 3 Priest, one day a year, was a symbol of the heavenly sanctuary, which remained closed. The old system could not breach the gap between sinful humanity and God; but it did point forward to the unlimited access that has been opened up by the offering of Christ s blood on the cross. The contrast with the ritual of the Day of Atonement is complete. Christ has entered the perfect sanctuary with his own blood to provide effective cleansing from sin. 1 The blood of Christ purifies the conscience by removing the guilt of sin. This was, of course, good news to Peter who had denied knowing Jesus, as we read about in the Passion reading in this service. After the resurrection of Jesus Peter would learn how Jesus blood, shed on the cross, provided cleansing even for his sin. Jesus is (not was) the mediator of a new covenant wherein there is cleansing from all sins. Perfect redemption is given only through Christ s blood (cf. Eph. 1:7; 1 John 1:7) 2 Whose sins are not covered by the perfect redemption in the blood of Christ? Yours, because you knew better but did it anyway? Yours, because you just keep on sinning? Yours, because you feel guilty but never feel clean? There are no exceptions! Your sins are forgiven in the blood of the Christ. Believe that, because that is the promise of the Savior. Where is one place the blood of the covenant is still poured out for the forgiveness of sins? Listen to the words of Christ when He instituted the Holy Supper: And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (St. Matthew 26:27-29) Christ invites you to believe that, too, and to delight in the wonderful gift of the Holy Supper. Hymn (may be sung or read): # 563 Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness (st. 1,4) 1. Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness My beauty are, my glorious dress; Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed, With joy shall I lift up my head. 4, Lord, I believe, were sinners more Than sands upon the ocean shore, Thou hast for all a ransom paid, For all a full atonement made. Antiphon (Common) LSB 231 L Let my prayer rise before You as incense, C and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. 1 Pfitzner, V. C.; Abingdon new Testament Commentaries: Hebrews; 1997, Abingdon Press; page Ibid, page 132.

4 Vespers, page 4 Magnificat LSB 231 C My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior;! for He has regarded the lowliness of His For behold, from this day all generations will call me blessed.! For the Mighty One has done great things to me, and holy is His and His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.! He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their He has cast down the mighty from their thrones and has exalted the lowly.! He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent empty He has helped His servant Israel in remembrance of His mercy as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever. C 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. Prayer Kyrie LSB 233 C Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy. Lord's Prayer LSB 233 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. Collects L O Lord, hear my prayer. C And let my cry come to You.

5 Vespers, page 5 Collect of the Day P O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast 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. Additional Collects of Intercession and Thanksgiving (add your own prayers during this time) O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast 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. Faithful God, whose mercies are new to us every morning, we humbly pray that You would look upon us in mercy and renew us by Your Holy Spirit. Keep safe our going out and our coming in, and let Your blessing remain with us throughout this day. Preserve us in Your righteousness, and grant us a portion in that eternal life which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Gracious Lord, we give You thanks for the day, especially for the good we were permitted to give and to receive. The day is now past, and we commit it to You. We entrust to You the night and rest in Your peace, for You are our help, and You neither slumber nor sleep. Hear us for the sake of Your name. Almighty God, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts that He may rule and direct us according to Your will, comfort us in all our temptations and afflictions, defend us from all error, and lead us into all truth that we, being steadfast in faith, may increase in all good works and in the end obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. God of love, through Your Son You have commanded us to love one another. By the guidance of Your Word and Spirit, deliver us from impenitence and teach us the truth that we might confess our sins, receive Your forgiveness, and be reconciled to one another; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Collect for Peace L O God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works, give to us, Your servants, that peace which the world cannot give, that our hearts may be set to obey Your commandments and also that we, being defended from the fear of our enemies, may

6 Vespers, page 6 live in peace and quietness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C Amen. Benedicamus LSB 234 L Let us bless the Lord. C Thanks be to God. Benediction LSB 234 L The grace of our Lord T Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. C Amen. CLOSING HYMN (may be sung or read): # 425 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross 1 When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of Glory died, My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride. 2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast Save in the death of Christ, my God; All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them to His blood. 3 See, from His head, His hands, His feet Sorrow and love flow mingled down! Did e er such love and sorrow meet Or thorns compose so rich a crown? 4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small; Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all! Acknowledgments Vespers from Lutheran Service Book 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. Created by Lutheran Service Builder 2006 Concordia Publishing House.