Morrison Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church. Gathering Rite: Turn My Heart, Divine Service II (page 30 and following in Christian Worship Supplement)

Transcription

1 2 nd Sunday in Lent February 25, 2018 Lent has to last a while and come around every year if for no other reason than this, that it is so hard for us to get the points made so strikingly in Lent. This Sunday we see God s seriousness in Lent in this: Salvation and suffering go hand in hand, for Jesus and for us too! Communion is a part of worship today. Because God speaks of communing together as an expression of unity in faith we practice close communion. All WELS members are welcome to commune with us. Visitors, please speak with the pastor or an elder before communing. Gathering Rite: Turn My Heart, Divine Service II (page 30 and following in Christian Worship Supplement) Choir: Refrain Congregation: Refrain Choir: Have mercy, gracious God, forgive my selfish ways. Choir: O wash away my guilt and cleanse me from my sin. Choir: I know my failings well, they prey upon my mind. Refrain 1 Morrison Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod Our mission is to Glorify God as we Gather around the Gospel to help people Grow in the Gospel and Go with the Gospel Welcome! We thank God that you have joined us at worship today. Restrooms are located in the basement. Hearing loop headphones and Large Print Hymnals are available from an usher. If your children need to leave worship, please take them to the basement. A TV broadcasts the service in the basement. Today we gather together in the presence of God. He is present among us in a special way through his Word and Sacrament. We humbly acknowledge our sin and rejoice in the good news of forgiveness through the life and death of Christ. This is the focus of our worship.

2 Choir: I turned my face from you to seek out evil paths. Choir: Your punishment is just, your sentence fair and right. Choir: You see me as I am: a sinner from my birth. Refrain Choir: Great Lover of all truth, teach wisdom to my heart. Choir: O purge me, make me clean, and wash me new once more. Choir: Let songs of joy ring out from crushed and silent bones. Refrain Choir: Create in me, O God, a clean and righteous heart. Choir: Do not abandon me, but keep me close to you. Choir: Give back to me the joy of walking in your way. Refrain Choir: Then I shall teach your path to bring the wayward home. Choir: Deliver me from death that I might sing your praise. Choir: Accept my gift to you: a broken, contrite heart. Refrain Stand M: Our help is in the name of the Lord, C: who made heaven and earth. M: Let us confess our sins in the presence of God and of one another. Silence for self-examination M: Almighty God, our heavenly Father, C: we have sinned against you 2

3 in our thoughts, in our words, in our deeds, and in all that we have not done. Forgive us in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Deliver and restore us, that we may rest in peace. M: By the mercy of God we are redeemed by Jesus Christ, and in him we are forgiven. Let us rest in his peace all our days and serve him in the newness of life. C: Amen. THE WORD Salutation M: The Lord be with you C: And also with you. Prayer of the Day M: Let us pray. Almighty God, you see that we have no power to defend ourselves. Guard and keep us both outwardly and inwardly from all adversities that may happen to the body and from all evil thoughts that may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. Be seated Choir I Will Sing of My Redeemer (8:00 a.m.) First Lesson: Genesis 28:10-17 Notice that Jacob s suffering is largely his own fault. Were there ever more beautiful promises given to one more obviously a sinner? God lets Jacob suffer some of the consequences of his sins. To the extent that those well deserved consequences tempt him to the even greater sin of despairing of God s mercy, to that extent his suffering is a cross. But God does not want to drive him to despair. God prevents that from happening by showing himself as gracious; he comes with grace to sinners who deserve 3

4 nothing but suffering in consequence of their sins. In consequence of his sins he has nothing and humanly speaking should expect to have nothing for the indefinite future. But look at how quickly his perspective changes when God is gracious. With the ground for a bed and a rock for a pillow he has heaven! For God is there in grace. And so, what do the details of the future matter? Suffering is certain because of sin; the merciful presence of God is also certain and that because of grace and grace alone. Not all suffering is, of course, a direct consequence of our own sin. But much is, and the suffering proves it. Sinner is my name; it is for me that Jesus came in Lent. My suffering reminds me of sin, the real reason for it; it reminds as well of his suffering and the real fruit of it in the redemption of this sinner. 10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you. 16 When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it. 17 He was afraid and said, How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven. (NIV) Psalm of the Day: Psalm 73 (p.94 of CW) Second Lesson Romans 5:1-11 To the world the real meaning of Lent makes no sense at all. Only the Christian gets it, and that as a result of the miracle of faith worked by the proclamation of the gospel. And this is that miracle: Christ the holy one, Christ the innocent, suffered for man the sinner, for man the guilty. The suffering was real. So too was its result: Christ suffering for sinners and in their place makes them innocent in God s sight. Because we would never get the point or hang on to it, we suffer, too. Our suffering, whether from the purifying and purging hand of God or from his permission granted to the devil to scourge us as he scourged Job and Paul, helps us to despair of ourselves and our own strength and to live by faith in his suffering for us sinners. Reconciled we now cling to him confidently in suffering as we await the final manifestation of the glory of his resurrection. Therefore we embrace the suffering Savior and do not run away from our own suffering; both are gifts of grace for sinners who have become saints by virtue of Christ s suffering and through faith in his merit. Only a Christian can grasp that. 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. 6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person 4

5 someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (NIV) Verse of the Day (sung, page 31 CWS) Stand M: The Gospel according to Mark chapter 8. C: Glory be to you, O Lord. Gospel: Mark 8:31-38 There it is, the stark reality: the love of God is inseparably connected to the cross, both his and ours! The price of our salvation is steep indeed! The suffering was as real as the resurrection which followed it. The cross of the Christian is likewise as real as the glory which follows it. In both cases, no cross, no crown! In Christ s case the cross is redemptive. In our case the cross is the necessary consequence of his redemptive work, not its cause but nevertheless an indispensable consequence. Be careful in defining it; the cross is not all suffering. It is all suffering that comes as a result of following Jesus, e.g., persecution, the excruciating pain to self of denying self, even the struggle against both self-righteousness and despair. Our cross drives us to his cross both for forgiveness and for strength. 5

6 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. Get behind me, Satan! he said. You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns. 34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father s glory with the holy angels. (NIV) M: This is the Gospel of the Lord. C: Praise be to you, O Christ. Be seated Hymn of the Day: Hymn 434 Sermon The Real Message of Lent Romans 5:1-11 Stand Nicene Creed We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation, he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and became fully human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate. He suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the 6

7 Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who in unity with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Be seated Offering During the offering, please sign the friendship register in your pew. Thank you! Stand Prayer of the Church THE SACRAMENT Preface M: The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. M: Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them up to the Lord. M: Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. C: It is good and right so to do. M: It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who willingly died under the curse of this world s sin so that we may live forever in the light of God s blessing. Therefore with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song: Holy, Holy, Holy (sung) Isaiah 6:3; Matthew 21:9 The word hosanna is a Hebrew word that means Lord, save us! The crowds cried Hosanna! at Jesus entrance into Jerusalem, and it is still the cry of Christians today. The Lord has saved us! Hosanna! 7

8 1. O holy, holy, holy 2. Hosanna in the highest! Lord God of pow r and might, How truly blest is he Your glory, earth and heaven Who in God s name is coming In countless ways recite. To set his people free! Hosanna! Come and save us, He comes to bring salvation Lord God of hosts on high, And with his blood outpoured, And in your grace and mercy Deliver us from bondage Receive our fervent cry. Hosanna, mighty Lord! Prayer of Thanksgiving M: Blessed are you, O Lord of heaven and earth. We praise and thank you for sending your Son, Jesus Christ, and we remember the great acts of love through which he has ransomed us from sin, death, and the devil s power. By his incarnation, he became one with us. By his perfect life, he fulfilled your holy will. By his innocent death, he overcame hell. By his rising from the grave, he opened heaven. Invited by your grace and instructed by your Word, we approach your table with repentant and joyful hearts. Strengthen us through Christ s body and blood, and preserve us in the true faith until we feast with him and all his ransomed people in glory everlasting. C: Amen. 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. Words of Institution As he speaks the Words of Institution, the minister both proclaims the words of Jesus to the congregation and sets apart the bread and wine for the Lord s use. M: Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take and eat; this is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me. 8

9 Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them saying, Drink from it, all of you; this is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me. The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: Amen. Lamb of God Agnus Dei (sung, page 36 of CWS) John 1:29 Be seated Communion Because God speaks of communing together as an expression of unity in faith we practice close communion. All WELS members are welcome to commune with us. Visitors, please speak with the pastor or an elder before communing. 9

10 Distribution Hymns: Hymn 765 Hymn 536 Stand Song of Simeon (sung) 1. O Lord, now let your servant 2. All glory to the Father, Depart in peace, assured: All glory to the Son, For I have seen your promised All glory to the Spirit, Incarnate saving Word Forever three in one; A Light that will enlighten For as in the beginning, All gloom where Gentiles dwell; Is now, shall ever be, The brilliant, crowning glory God s triune name resounding Of those in Israel! Through all eternity. M: We give you thanks, O Lord, for the foretaste of the heavenly banquet that you have given us to eat and to drink in this sacrament. Through this gift you have fed our faith, nourished our hope, and strengthened our love. By your Spirit help us to live as your holy people until that day when you will receive us as your guests at the wedding supper of the Lamb, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. Blessing M: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord look on you with favor and give you peace. C: Amen. Be seated Closing Hymn: Hymn

11 Questions/Comments about Zion? Contact: Pastor Randy Ott home: ; mobile: ; Principal Rick Muchka , school: , President Charles Edinger , Elders: DJ Kittell School Board: Joel Dobberpuhl Faculty: Hannah Holzhueter, Brenda Kuchenbecker, Katie Muchka, Tim Pingel, Rick Muchka Website: Synod : Custodians: Dick Tisler (church) Paig Alexander (school) Secretary: Nancy Pantzlaff Wisconsin Lutheran Child and Family Service Appleton (WELS counseling) Kathleen Jasman Living Hope Counseling Ministries De Pere (WELS counseling) Dr. John Johnson, Director,

12 News From Zion M o r r i s o n Z i o n L u t h e ra n Ch u rc h P a s t o r R a n d y O t t w w w. m zl u t h. o r g ( h o m e ) (m o b i l e ) o t t r z l u t h. o r g ( e m a i l ) Thank You to Pastor Robert Johannes for leading us in worship today. Pastor Johannes recently retired from St. Peter, Mishicot. He now lives in Manitowoc. Pastor Ott will return home late Sunday night. Call Returned Dear Pastor Ott and members of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, After much prayerful consideration, the Holy Spirit has led me to decline your call to serve as your pastor. I am very honored and humbled you chose to call me to be your pastor. Although I feel my talents and abilities could be used at either congregation, I just felt it was best for God s kingdom I continue to serve here in Portage and continue to share the good news of Jesus with the people here. I am very thankful you have given me this opportunity to talk with your members and to get to know your congregation over the last several weeks. I know this is what is best for my family as well as both congregations at this time. You will be in my prayers as you continue to search for a new pastor. Your servant in Christ, Pastor Scott Schultz. Call Meeting We will have a call meeting to call a Young Adult/Outreach Pastor after late worship on March 18. Commons Bible Study. We will conclude the study, Reformation: Grace, Faith, Scripture, this Sunday as we explore My Bible: The Bible into People s Hands. We meet Sunday at 9:15 a.m. New Commons Bible Study Next week we will begin a study on Peter. This 8 lesson course will look at the life of Peter and apply the lessons we learn to our lives today. The book from the God s People Series that accompanies the study is available for $5. Please pay Pastor Ott when you can. Books are in the office. Please sign the sheet on the desk when you pick one up! Adult Christ Light Class meets in the church at 9:15 a.m. each Sunday. Please join us as we study lessons from Bible History. Book Study will not meet tonight. Next Sunday we will discuss chapter 4 of Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up? 12 False Christs. We meet at 7:00 p.m. in the church basement. Men s Bible Study: Men, join us for 30 minutes on Monday nights at 7:00 p.m. as we grow together in God s Word and become better Christian leaders of our own families. All ages are encouraged and welcomed. CD Ministry Meeting Would you like to help encourage our members to stay close to Jesus? If so, join us at the CD Ministry Meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at 7:00 p.m. We will meet in the church basement. Announcements Midweek Lenten Worship Community in Christ is the theme of this year s midweek Lenten worship series. We will look at John 13 and see why and how being a community in Christ is God s plan to bless us. Worship is each Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. This week we see how God uses coming together in Christ to bless us. Midweek Soup Suppers will be served after the morning service and at 6:00 p.m. before the evening service. Donations from these meals will support the Preaching/Teaching Fund which gives financial support and encouragement to our members preparing for ministry. If you would like to serve or cook, a sign up sheet is in the basement on the back table by the kitchen. Women s Home Bible Study All Women are invited to join us and bring a friend as we discuss Love Rules: A Study of the Ten Commandments. The book can be ordered online at Amazon.com or Abbey Laabs can order one for you. If you want to host or have any questions, please speak with Abbey Laabs or contact her at abbeymlaabs@gmail.com. Soup For Souls Chicken dumpling soup, homemade bread, and rhubarb crisp are restocked and in both the school and church freezers. Please feel free to take a meal of soup and dessert along with a homemade card to a friend, relative, or coworker and share the message of our Savior s love! Scrip Dates to order in person: Monday, Feb. 26 school 8:00-8:30 a.m. If you want to place an order outside these times you can either call or text Michelle at or drop your order off in the office.! Concessions Help Tamara Schultz needs your help for concessions at a wrestling tournament at MLHS on Saturday, March 3. They need workers and dessert donations. Desserts could be brought to school for Tamara to pick up on Friday March 2. Thanks! Lakeshore WELS Men s Conference Sat., March 17, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Hosted by St. John s, Two Rivers. For more info go to Camp Bird Camp Bird for Lutherans is a youth camp for children in grades 5-8. For more information or to download the registration form, please visit Camp Philip brochures are available in the basement. Benefit for Lilie Christel is March 10, 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Reedsville Sportsman Club. Lilie is a 9 year old from our area who is battling Leukemia and complications from treatment. See the poster in the basement for ways to help and more details. Volume 6 Issue 8 Feb. 25, 2018 Second Sunday in Lent Our Mission is to Glorify God as we Gather around the Gospel so that we Grow in the Gospel and Go with the Gospel

13 Page 2 Sunday 9:15 a.m. Commons Bible Study, school 9:15 a.m. Adult Christ Light Study 9:15 a.m. Sunday School Monday 7:00 p.m. Men s Bible Study, commons Tuesday 7:00 p.m. CD Ministry Meeting Wed. 11:00 a.m. Midweek Lenten Worship 12:00 p.m. Soup Supper 5:00 p.m. Confirmation Class 5:30 p.m. Bible History Class grades 1-4, school 6:00 p.m. Soup Supper Weekly Calendar News From Zion Our Stewardship of the Means of Grace Worship: 308 (133, 175) Ash Wed.: 241 (127, 114) Communed: 127 (46, 81) Bible Study: 86 (15, 10, 30, 15, 16, X) Youth Group: 14 Plans Underway for Long-term Relief Strategy in Puerto Rico News From Our High Schools The FVL Theatre will perform Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs of the Black Forest on March 9 and 10 at 6:30 pm. Visit fvlhs.org or FVL's Facebook page for more info. You may purchase admission tickets online or at the door. FVL s Family Open House is March 6 from noon-7 pm. Parents and middle school students are invited for personal tours and a drawing for tuition discount coupons. Public and homeschool students are also welcome to attend our Discover FVL! event on Thursday, March 15 from 12:30-4:30 pm. Reservations can be made online or by contacting Rylee Kohls at rkohls@fvlhs.org. MLHS Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, WELS Christian Aid and Relief has announced its plan to call a disaster response coordinator for Puerto Rico who would serve for one year and work with the national pastors of the Confessional Evangelical Lutheran Church of Puerto Rico to identify and prioritize specific needs, plan construction and repair projects, and coordinate volunteer efforts. He would also help to coordinate continuing theological training for two men whose training was interrupted by Hurricane Maria last fall. The decision was made after President Mark Schroeder, World Mission Administrator Rev. Larry Schlomer, Director of Missions Operations Mr. Sean Young, and Rev. Tim Satorius, WELS Liaison to Puerto Rico, went to Puerto Rico in January to meet with national leaders and discuss further the most effective ways Christian Aid and Relief could help the hurricane-devastated island. Christian Aid and Relief approved the Puerto Rican church leaders request to engage a Spanishspeaking WELS pastor for one year. This pastor will help coordinate the logistics of rebuilding the church in Humacao that was taken out by the hurricane and repairing the damages to the church building in Guayama. He will also oversee the relief efforts of WELS resources and volunteers in Puerto Rico. Finally, he will encourage and guide two young men in their pastoral training so they can lead these churches into the future. Schlomer says, The whole country is in a recovery mode. The leaders of the church have other jobs and have their hands full with the spiritual care of the members. This missionary would be able to spend time on the many logistical questions that will be needed in rebuilding and repairing. He will also be able to quicken the pace of training for the two young men that the church in Puerto Rico have chosen as leaders. Following Hurricane Maria, Christian Aid and Relief already has helped provide groceries to families in need and sent an immediate gift of $5,000 through Direct Relief. An additional $5,000 was provided for meals for March 9-11 Tickets are on sale. Contact the MLHS Main office at or stop in to reserve your tickets today. Reserved Seating is $12 and General Admission is $7. Seats are filling up fast. Lancer Spring Showcase Tasting Event Is March 24. Go to springshowcase for tickets. Enjoy an evening sampling wines and appetizers from area vendors, great selections of silent and live auction items, and time with Lancer parents, friends and families! MLHS seeks an evening custodian (15 hours/ week). Contact Scott Reinhard screinhard@mlhslancers.org. if interested. 7:00 p.m. Midweek Lenten Worship 7:45 p.m. Choir Thursday 8:00 p.m. Women s Home Bible Study Sunday 8:00 a.m. Lent 3 Worship 9:15 a.m. Commons Bible Study, school 9:15 a.m. Adult Christ Light Study 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Lent 3 Worship 7:00 p.m. Real Jesus Discussion, chapter 4 WELS NEWS people in the church and community suffering from this disaster. This enabled members of the national church to provide meals for 50 people a day for four weeks. [Creating this position] will help the community in Puerto Rico see our Lutheran churches in an active recovery mode with recovery help available for many. Knowing that their partner, WELS, is ready and willing to assist them will be a shot in the arm at a time when they very much need it, says Schlomer. Our prayer is that the church infrastructure is repaired and even better than before. We hope that the two new national leaders are well on their way down the path to becoming fully trained pastors. We pray that the partnership with our church in Puerto Rico is vibrant and active to reach the many still lost in darkness. Learn more about Christian Aid and Relief at wels.net/relief. Pastor Randy Ott ; ; ottrr@mzluth.org Principal Rick Muchka , richard.muchka@mzls.org President Charles Edinger , candmedinger@icloud.com Elders: DJ Kittell psalm1830ministries@gmail.com School Board: Joel Dobberpuhl Website: Synod : Secretary: Nancy Pantzlaff Church Custodian: Dick Tisler School Custodian: Paig Alexander Wisconsin Lutheran Child & Family Service Appleton (WELS counseling) Kathleen Jasman Living Hope Counseling Ministries De Pere (WELS counseling) Dr. John Johnson Glorify Gather Grow Go