Palm Sunday Worship: April 9, 10:15am. Maundy Thursday: April 13 Supper 6pm Worship 7pm. Good Friday Worship: April 14, 7 pm

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1 Spring Clean-Up Day for Church Building April 8th Many hands make light work! Please mark your calendars to help with a good Spring Cleaning in the church building on Saturday, April 8 th, beginning at 9am. Our custodians, Jon and Jeannette Myrvik will prepare a list of tasks that others could help with on that day to make the building sparkle for Easter the following week! Have fun together in the process! Palm Sunday Worship: April 9, 10:15am Maundy Thursday: April 13 Supper 6pm Worship 7pm Good Friday Worship: April 14, 7 pm Easter: April 16 Worship 8am Breakfast 8:45 Worship 10:15 ** NOTICE ** In preparation for spring cleanup of our cemetery grounds on April 12, families are asked to remove flowers from grave sites. If not removed by April 12, remaining flowers will be discarded by those helping with cleanup. Cemetery grounds cleanup is scheduled for Wednesday, April 12. If you are able to help, it is greatly appreciated. Cleanup will start between 5:30 and 6:00 pm. Parsonage Update Bids are coming in for the parsonage repairs and remodel project. The Council has discussed that some of the funding could come out of our savings. When the Council finds a close estimate to the actual cost, plans are to bring it to the congregation for a request to fund or pledge to the project and probably cover the remaining expenses from savings.

2 Real Talk. Real People. Real Church. ++ Wednesday, April Wednesday, April :45 to 6:15pm: Simple Meal for ALL who come 6:15 to 7:45: Real Talk ++ Child Care Provided ++ See Information in our April/May CONNECTIONS newsletter for more details. This is for YOU! This Week at Christ Lutheran Today, Sunday, April 2, a.m. Sunday Morning Live education time 9 a.m. Fellowship/Refreshments 10:15 a.m. Worship with Holy Communion 11:30 a.m. (approx. Worship on Cable 180 Wednesday, April 5 6 p.m to 6:45 p.m Tenth Grade Students, Parents, Mentors 6 p.m. Supper 7 p.m. Lenten Worship 8 p.m. Choir Unveiling Your Spiritual Gifts: God s Masterpiece Workshop at Christ Lutheran on Saturday, April 29, from 8 am to 2pm ** See Special Insert for Details, Including How to Register. For Christ Lutheran Folks, as well as area residents. ** Pastor Shelly s Schedule This Week Sunday through Wednesday: Cottonwood Thursday to Saturday: Mankato ** Please Call Anytime ** Saturday, April 8 9:00 a.m. Church Bldg. Spring Cleaning Next Sunday, April 9 9 a.m. Sunday Morning Live education time 9 a.m. Fellowship/Refreshments 10:15 a.m. Palm Sunday Worship 11:15 a.m. 1st Communion Lesson (5th Gr.) 11:30 a.m. Offering Counting TRAINING 11:30 a.m. (approx.) Worship on Cable 180

3 Purchase $5 Raffle Tickets from our Luther Leaguers for the opportunity to receive gift certificates to local businesses. Here are some of the youth and adults you may contact: Kaitlyn Fischer; Kally Brower; Tyson Merkins; Jacob Myers; Erin Eaton-Jones; Shailey Marczak; Brennen Jarcho; Zane Laleman; Calli Newton; Jada Peterson; Taylor St. Pierre; Whitney Fischer ( ), Jonathan Olson ( ), Carolyn Olson ( ), Trac Sterner ( ), John Sterner ( ). Thanks for your support! He s Got the Whole World in His Hands WELCA Spring Gathering Saturday, April 22 9 am to Noon First English Lutheran Church in TYLER If Questions, contact Anne Isaackson: gregisaa@mvtvwireless.com Prayer Requests The Apostle Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:6-7 to, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Your prayers are a gift to those requesting them, and encouragement for one another as we experience challenges, sorrows, or thanksgivings of any kind. Health Concerns, as well as Others In Our Hearts and On Our Minds: Robert Fedde (Kim Marczak s father), Frank Edmondson, Sue Gropel, Lisa Jones, Ellen Lenz, Anna (Olson) Meyer, Bud Pederson, Cayson Rialson, Mary Schwisow, Jared Stevens All those dealing with illness, addictions, depression, unemployment, under-employment, and any challenges in their lives. Families of our Congregation. This week pray for: Jonathan and Carolyn Olson, Christina, Laura Pastor Shelly and Erik Olson, Sam, Gunnar, Anna Sonny and Ione Olson Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Care Center Residents. This week pray for Virginia Isaackson, Beverly Kremin, Lila Mauland, Mary Schwisow, Ruth Stensrud, Louis Wood AT Fieldcrest Assisted Living in Cottonwood. Workers in Other Countries, Missionaries, and Local Congregation Missions. This week pray for Hunter s Helping Hands [our CLC mission of clothing, supplies, misc. needs for children].

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5 Welcome to Christ Lutheran Church Community of Faith! April 2, 2017 Fifth Sunday in Lent ** Baptismal Promises ** You have made public profession of your faith. Do you intend to continue in the covenant promise God made with you in holy baptism: T G T G L, T G C, T, J, A? I do, and I ask God to help and guide me. And to Strive for Justice and Peace in all the Earth April 2, Dave Schwarz, Anika Schwarz April 5, Dani Brower Christ Lutheran Church Location: 126 Front Street (corner of Front and North First on the lake) mailing address: P.O. Box 166, Cottonwood, Minnesota Office Phone and Voice Mail: Interim Pastor Shelly Olson ; cell ; prshelly3@gmail.com Pastoral Asst. Gwen Arneson ; cell ; gwenarneson@yahoo.com Organist Gwen Arneson See Pastoral Assistant above Administrative Asst. Rhoda Schmidt ; cell ; christlutheran@christcotton.com Accounting Asst. Melanie Olsen cell ; melaniesolsen@live.com Custodians Jon & Jeannette Myrvik cell ; ; jjmyrvik@charter.net

6 + + + GATHERING (The page number notations in the worship bulletin refer to the pages in the front portion of the hymnal. The hymn numbers in brackets are found in the latter half of the hymnal.) Prelude Call to Worship Holy Communion Fifth Sunday in Lent April 2, 2017 Christ Lutheran Church Cottonwood, Minnesota In today s lessons, God s power over death is revealed. The prophet Ezekiel prophesies God breathing new life into dry bones. To those living in exile or living in the shadows of death, this story proclaims God s promise of resurrection. In baptism, we die with Christ that we might also be raised with him to new life. Our baptismal promise for this week invites us to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Welcome, Prayer Requests, Call Committee Update Please stand as you are able. Thanksgiving for Baptism P: In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. P: Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God s mercy and forgiveness and called to strive for justice and peace in all the earth. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism into Christ s death. We give you thanks, O God, for all the ways you have called forth life through water. Through the waters of the flood you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river your son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all. We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your cleansing Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. -2-

7 Gathering Hymn All Are Welcome [641] Greeting P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: And also with you. Kyrie pages The worship leader will sing the verses and the congregation sings the refrain. Prayer of the Day P: Let us pray. C: Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us the power of your Spirit, that we might be raised to new life in Christ and serve you in righteousness all our days, striving for justice and peace for all the world. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Please be seated. WORD First Reading Ezekiel 37: The hand of the L89: came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the L89: and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. 3 He said to me, Mortal, can these bones live? I answered, O Lord G8:, you know. 4 Then he said to me, Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the L89:. 5 Thus says the Lord G8: to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. 6 I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the L89:. 7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord G8:: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. 11 Then he said to me, Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely. 12 Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord G8:: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 And you shall know that I am the L89:, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. 14 I will put my -3-

8 spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the L89:, have spoken and will act, says the L89:. L: Word of God, word of life. C: Thanks be to God. Second Reading Matthew 25: When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34 Then the king will say to those at his right hand, Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me. 37 Then the righteous will answer him, Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38 And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39 And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? 40 And the king will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me. 41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me. 44 Then they also will answer, Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you? 45 Then he will answer them, Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me. 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. L: Word of God, word of life. C: Thanks be to God. Reflections Pastor Shelly Olson, Dave Schwarz, Anika Schwarz Hymn of the Day Light Dawns on a Weary World [726] Please stand as you are able. Confession of Faith (The Apostles Creed is found inside the back cover of the hymnal.) Prayers of God s People The congregation will respond to the prayer petitions with, hear our prayer. -4-

9 Sharing of God s Peace P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. Please share a sign of God s peace with your neighbors. Please be seated. MEAL Offering Choir Offering Seed That in Earth Is Dying Herresthal, arr. Ellingsboe Offertory Prayer A: Let us pray. Merciful God, receive our praise and thanksgiving and the offering of our lives, that following in the way of the cross, we may know the joy of the resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Great Thanksgiving 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 our thanks and praise. Words of Institution 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. Invitation to Holy Communion P: Return to God with all your heart. Be fed for the journey to strive for justice and peace in all the world. Please be seated. Anyone who has communed elsewhere is welcome to commune here. Those who do not yet commune are invited to come forward for a blessing. -5-

10 Please come forward at the invitation of the ushers to kneel or stand and receive communion at the rail, then return to your seat via the side aisles. If you prefer grape juice rather than wine, please indicate that to your server. If you would like communion brought to you at your seat, please let the usher know. Communion Distribution Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service [712] Let Justice Flow like Streams [717] Lord of Glory, You Have Bought Us [707] Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love [708] Please stand as you are able. Blessing after Communion P: Now may the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. Prayer after Communion A: Compassionate God, you have fed us with the bread and drink of heaven. Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage so that we may always hunger for justice and work for peace. Let our prayers be the song of our grateful hearts, through Christ our Lord. SENDING Blessing and Sending P: The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and + give you peace. A: Go in peace. Remember the poor. C: Thanks be to God. Sending Hymn We Are Called [720] Postlude Prayer for the Journey God of compassion, whose Son became poor for our sake: Help us to see the face of Christ in those who are poor, and in serving them to serve you. Give us generous hearts so that those living in poverty may have adequate food, clothing, and shelter. By your Spirit move us to affirm the dignity of all people and to work for just laws that protect the most vulnerable in society; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen. -6-