Communications. Creative. Sample. Christ. a series of special services for Holy Week. in the strangest places: Foreshadowed, Fulfilled, Forever FD9

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1 a series of special services for Holy Week Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever

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3 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever a series of special services for Holy Week by Dr. Reed Lessing INDEX About Christ In The Strangest Places 4-6 Maundy Thursday REFUGE 7-35 Good Friday NOBODY Easter BURIED

4 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever ABOUT CHRIST IN THE STRANGEST PLACES To tablets of stone, a fe vessels of oil, simple markings, a small army, a remote field, a solemn oath these are some of the strangest people, places and things through hich God revealed himself to his people in the Old Testament. The Old Testament is chock-full of passion themes, from the serpent being crushed in Genesis 3:15 to Isaiah s Fourth Servant Song. Yet this series looks at some of the lesser-knon Old Testament passion themes and focuses on them by means of single ords. For each service the kit contains: sample bulletins ith complete orders of service sermons prayers music for the accompanist. Ordering Information Additional resources are available from for the Parish. Contact us for current pricing and availability. Call us at Or visit our ebsite:.creativecommunications.com. Bulletins For This Kit: Maundy Thursday Refuge Joshua 20:7-9 Code FUF Pre-printed bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUG Blank bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUH Blank bulletins 8.5 x 14 Good Friday Nobody Deuteronomy 7:7 Code FUJ Pre-printed bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUL Blank bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUM Blank bulletins 8.5 x 14 4

5 Easter Sunday Buried 2 Kings 13:21 Code FUO Pre-printed bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUS Blank bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUU Blank bulletins 8.5 x 14 A Complete Series For The Weeks Of Lent Is Available: Those ho desire may supplement this series ith other services for all of Lent. They are available as a kit and include all the Leader s Guide features described above. The kit includes a CD-ROM (Mac/PC) in RTF format ith text of services and of bulletins, plus PDF files of the kit. Ash Wednesday Mine! Exodus 20:17 The commandments point out our desire to acquire Week 1 Nothing 2 Kings 4:1-7 Elisha provides for a ido Week 2 Marked Isaiah 44:5 God marks his people Week 3 Enlist Judges 6:16 Gideon s call Week 4 Invest Jeremiah 32:25 Jeremiah buys a field in artime Week 5 Finish 1 Kings 11:3 Solomon can t finish hat he started Code FDU Kit ith all 6 services Code FUP Pre-printed bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FU2 Blank bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUT Blank bulletins 8.5 x 14 5

6 The Ash Wednesday Kit Can Be Ordered Independently: Ash Wednesday Mine! Exodus 20:17 Code FD3 Ash Wednesday Kit Code FUB Pre-printed bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUD Blank bulletins 8.5 x 11 Code FUE Blank bulletins 8.5 x 14 Take Home Prayer Cards: A set of Prayer Cards incorporates bulletin art and prayers from the series. Hand them out at each service, or before them to publicize the services. Code FUA Prayer Cards For Six-Service Kit Code FU3 Ash Wednesday Prayer Card Code FU4 Maundy Thursday Prayer Card Code FU5 Good Friday Prayer Card Code FU6 Easter Sunday Prayer Card Other Resources: Code FU7 Promotional Bulletin Insert Code FU8 A Display Poster 11 x 17 Code PHBJ Cloth Banner Suitable For Worship Bible Study Resources: Code RLS Christ In The Strangest Places Student Guide Code RLL Christ In The Strangest Places Leader Guide 6

7 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever a series of special services for Holy Week by Dr. Reed Lessing Maundy Thursday REFUGE Order Of Service 8-11 Complete Script For Worship Leaders Scripture Readings Homily REFUGE Prayers 26 Music Guide

8 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever R E F U G E ORDER OF SERVICE Maundy Thursday Gathering Melody: Picardy P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and ith fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly-minded, for ith blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descending comes our homage to demand. P Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done hat is evil in your sight. C Cleanse me ith hyssop, and I ill be clean; ash me, and I ill be hiter than sno. P Hide your face from my sins. C Blot out all my iniquity. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood, He ill give to all the faithful his on self for heav nly food. P Most merciful God, C Create in me a pure heart, O God, and rene a steadfast spirit ithin me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a illing spirit, to sustain me. Then I ill teach transgressors your ays, and sinners ill turn back to you. Amen. 8

9 Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the ay; As the Light of light, descending from the realms of endless day, Comes, the po rs of hell to vanquish, as the darkness clears aay. P Upon this your confession, I by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. Hymn Melody: Toplady Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; Let the ater and the blood, from thy riven side hich floed, Be of sin the double cure: cleanse me from its guilt and po r. Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy la s demands; Could my zeal no respite kno, could my tears forever flo, All for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling. Naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; ash me, Savior, or I die. While I dra this fleeting breath, hen mine eyelids close in death, When I soar to orlds unknon, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. Prayer of the Day Old Testament Reading: Joshua 20:7-9 Psalm 46 Epistle Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6 9

10 Holy Gospel Melody: Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe, Christ, yourself for me once giving to the darkest depths of oe: Through your suff ring, death, and merit life eternal I inherit. Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you. Matthe 26:17-35 Christ, you come ith grace, surprising, found ithin the strangest place: Manger, fishing sco and village all have seen your fairest face. Teach us, Lord, to seek you truly, and to lift our voices duly. In our lives e give you praise and proclaim you all our days. Message: REFUGE All of scripture, Christ, reveals you, pointing to your cross and tomb. All of Christendom no feels you, bursting through our Lenten gloom. Open up, O Word, to cheer us, dell ithout, ithin and near us. Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you. The Creed Offering And Prayers Lord s Prayer Litany (If Holy Communion is celebrated, it may occur here.) P We continue our prayers ith a litany based on the prayer Jesus has taught us. C Our Father in heaven, P You are holy. You are above us. To you e pray. C Halloed be your name. P Your name is holy. Keep it holy among us, and throughout this orld, this needy orld. C Your kingdom come. P Come, O Father, ith your holy kingdom to us, and through us to many others. C Your ill be done on earth as in heaven. P If it s your ill, it has to be good. Let it be done here on earth, Lord. Please. C Give us today our daily bread. P Our bread for today is plenty, but e ask enough for all the needy in this orld. 10

11 C Forgive us our sins as e forgive those ho sin against us. P We cannot live ithout your forgiveness, O Lord, and this orld ill destroy itself unless e forgive each other. Help us to keep the forgiveness floing. C Lead us not into temptation. P You are strong, and e are eak. When e alk ith you, e are strong. C But deliver us from evil. P Evil is many-faced and many-sided. Only you are stronger. Be our strong rock. C For the kingdom, the poer, and the glory are yours no and forever. P You can hear. You can anser. You can prevail. And you let us call you Our Father. We thank and praise you. So be it. C Amen! Benediction Closing Verse Melody: Lasset Uns Mit Jesu Ziehen Let us ever alk ith Jesus, follo his example pure, Flee the orld, hich ould deceive us and to sin our souls allure. Ever in his footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, Full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father s bidding. Faithful Lord, abide ith me; Savior, lead, I follo thee. 11

12 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever R E F U G E COMPLETE SCRIPT FOR WORSHIP LEADERS This Lenten Gathering is interrupted by verses of the hymn sung by the congregation to the tune Picardy : P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and ith fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly-minded, for ith blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descending comes our homage to demand. P Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done hat is evil in your sight. C Cleanse me ith hyssop, and I ill be clean; ash me, and I ill be hiter than sno. P Hide your face from my sins. C Blot out all my iniquity. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood, He ill give to all the faithful his on self for heav nly food. P Most merciful God, C Create in me a pure heart, O God, and rene a steadfast spirit ithin me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a illing spirit, to sustain me. Then I ill teach transgressors your ays, and sinners ill turn back to you. Amen. 12

13 Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the ay; As the Light of light, descending from the realms of endless day, Comes, the po rs of hell to vanquish, as the darkness clears aay. P Upon this your confession, I by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. This hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Toplady : Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; Let the ater and the blood, from thy riven side hich floed, Be of sin the double cure: cleanse me from its guilt and po r. Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy la s demands; Could my zeal no respite kno, could my tears forever flo, All for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling. Naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; ash me, Savior, or I die. While I dra this fleeting breath, hen mine eyelids close in death, When I soar to orlds unknon, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. The Prayer of the Day is offered by the pastor: P Holy God, you are the source of all love, made evident in your Son s ne commandment: that e love one another as he has loved us. Let your Spirit s might engrave this commandment into our hearts, that each corpuscle of our blood might see the ords of Christ s command, and carry them to every member of our body. Then e ill truly love you by loving those around us. Through Jesus Christ our Lord, ho lives and reigns ith you and the Holy Spirit, one God, no and forever. C Amen. 13

14 The Old Testament Reading, Joshua 20:7-9, is read by the pastor: P So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the ilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. These ere the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone ho killed a person ithout intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation. Psalm 46 is read by the pastor: P God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore e ill not fear though the earth gives ay, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its aters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its selling. There is a river hose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God ill help her hen morning dans. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is ith us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the orks of the LORD, ho he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes ars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bo and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots ith fire. Be still, and kno that I am God. I ill be exalted among the nations, I ill be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is ith us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. The Epistle Reading, Ephesians 4:1-6, is read by the pastor: P I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to alk in a manner orthy of the calling to hich you have been called, ith all humility and gentleness, ith patience, bearing ith one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit just as you ere called to the one hope that belongs to your call one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, ho is over all and through all and in all. The Holy Gospel is surrounded by verses sung by the congregation to the tune Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben : Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe, Christ, yourself for me once giving to the darkest depths of oe: Through your suff ring, death, and merit life eternal I inherit. Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you. 14

15 Matthe 26:17-35 is read by the pastor: P No on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where ill you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover? He said, Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I ill keep the Passover at your house ith my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it as evening, he reclined at table ith the telve. And as they ere eating, he said, Truly, I say to you, one of you ill betray me. And they ere very sorroful and began to say to him one after another, Is it I, Lord? He ansered, He ho has dipped his hand in the dish ith me ill betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is ritten of him, but oe to that man by hom the Son of Man is betrayed! It ould have been better for that man if he had not been born. Judas, ho ould betray him, ansered, Is it I, Rabbi? He said to him, You have said so. No as they ere eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took a cup, and hen he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, hich is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I ill not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day hen I drink it ne ith you in my Father s kingdom. And hen they had sung a hymn, they ent out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, You ill all fall aay because of me this night. For it is ritten, I ill strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock ill be scattered. But after I am raised up, I ill go before you to Galilee. Peter ansered him, Though they all fall aay because of you, I ill never fall aay. Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster cros, you ill deny me three times. Peter said to him, Even if I must die ith you, I ill not deny you! And all the disciples said the same. This verse is sung by the congregation to the tune Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben : Christ, you come ith grace, surprising, found ithin the strangest place: Manger, fishing sco and village all have seen your fairest face. Teach us, Lord, to seek you truly, and to lift our voices duly. In our lives e give you praise and proclaim you all our days. 15

16 The Message, entitled REFUGE, is delivered by the pastor: P The text is a list. No, preaching from a list can be sermonic suicide... a certain sleeper. It s best to avoid lists, shun lists, never preach on lists. Nevertheless, the text from the book of Joshua is a list. No if you are into genealogies, census reports and tabulations... lists, then in the second half of Joshua you have come to the pot at the end of the rainbo! After the conquest, and beginning in chapter 12, is the list of defeated Amorite and Canaanite kings. Then, in staccato-like fashion from chapters 13 to 19 are lists of cities and lands and rivers and lakes and borders of Manasseh, Reuben, Gad, Caleb, Judah, Ephraim, Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan and last but not least... Joshua himself. To those lists add this, our text Joshua 20:7-9. It s true, you say, Sermonic suicide... a certain sleeper! Perhaps not so fast. This list of cities runs from north to south in Canaan and then south to north in the Transjordan. Spread out over all of the Promised land, they are intended to be an ever-present help in trouble. Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan are certainly not household names. For us, the uninitiated, they mean little and nothing, just a list. But if you ere on the run in ancient Israel... this list meant... hy, it meant... everything! Let me explain... in Israelite culture if someone in your family as killed, your relatives ould call a meeting and somebody ould be appointed as a blood avenger. This blood avenger as a representative from the family ho as to find the killer and release his neck from the burden of having to carry a head. Admittedly, it as a bit crude, but it kept la and order. Of course, the major problem ith such a system as an accidental death. Using Deut. 19:5 as an example, a man goes into a forest ith his neighbor to cut ood. As he sings his axe to chop don a tree, the axe s head flies off, hits his neighbor, and kills him. No hat happens? The dead man s family calls a meeting, and they appoint a blood avenger... and they don t choose rotund Uncle Earl. No, it s fleet-footed Cousin Nick. And Nick s orders are clear, Chase the guy ith the loose axe head and kill him! I bet you re saying, That s not fair. He didn t mean to kill his neighbor. He just had a loose axe-head! You re right. But no one kne hat else to do. No one, that is, except Yaheh, the God of Israel. It s in his heart to provide cities of refuge all over the land so that they function as an ever-present help in trouble! In the battle hymn of the Reformation EIN FESTE BURG INS UNSER GOTT Luther describes the one chasing us The old evil Foe, no means deadly oe... Tho devils all the orld should fill, all eager to devour us... This orld s prince may still, scol fierce as he ill... With dread craft and might he arms himself to fight. On earth he has no equal! 16

17 The avenger of blood comes to kill and steal and destroy. We see him in the rear-vie mirror... e feel his hot breath behind us... e kno hat it s like to run and run and run for our very lives!!! As tempter he s chasing after us screaming, Whatever it is you ant to do, just do it. Have some anger? Act it out. Have some sexual fantasies? Go ahead, full throttle. Have some gossip? Let it fly. As deceiver he continues ith these ords, There are no limits, no consequences, no responsibilities... Ready, set, go! We give in to these temptations and deceptions and then, as accuser he plants his foot upon our necks, saying, No that you ve said this, thought this, done this, drunk this, smoked this, seen this, God is finished ith you! The strategy reminds me of a girl in my high school: RUSH EM, MUSH EM, CRUSH EM... FLUSH EM. No our text speaks of a refuge for those ho kill accidentally, unintentionally, ithout premeditation. That leaves us out, for countless times e have sinned intentionally, ith premeditation, ith malicious forethought... making us easy prey for the lion seeking to devour us. His strategy is clear, I ll chase... until I kill you! And the corpses of failed Christians are all around to see. No one knos hat to do... except Yaheh, the God of Israel and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It s in his heart to provide a city of refuge that is ever-present help in trouble! The cities of refuge find fulfillment in him ho is not only similar to, yet greater than Joshua and Jonah, Melchizekek and Moses, tabernacle and temple... but is the one ho also similar to, yet greater than any city of Refuge. Jesus Christ is the final expression of Yaheh s heart for a safe-place, an asylum, a sanctuary, a harbor, a mighty fortress, a refuge, an ever-present help in trouble! For the accuser of our brothers ho accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled don. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb! So run not aimlessly run not hopelessly run not desperately, but today, run to the Refuge. It as Luther ho pounded the table at Marburg ith, HOC EST CORPUM MEAM... THIS IS MY BODY. Our ever-present help in trouble. For the forgiveness and love and mercy and salvation that as accomplished at Calvary are no present in the bread and ine by the poer of the Word... real body and real blood... at the table set before us in the presence of our enemy! No to the casual observer... this real present help in trouble, this sacrament of the table ith sursum corde, sanctus, verba, agnus dei, nunc dimitis is a list like Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, Golan just a list! 17

18 But to the baptized, the the instructed, to repentant, those of us ho kno hat it s like be tempted, deceived, accused, chased, harassed, slam-dunked, to those of us ho kno to run... this refuge, this gift, this list, means... hy, it means... everything! Amen. This verse is sung by the congregation to the tune Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben : All of scripture, Christ, reveals you, pointing to your cross and tomb. All of Christendom no feels you, bursting through our Lenten gloom. Open up, O Word, to cheer us, dell ithout, ithin and near us. Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you. This Creedal Statement (from Luther s Small Catechism) may be offered by to voices: 1 What is the Sacrament of the Altar? 2 It is the true body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ under the bread and ine, for us Christians to eat and to drink, instituted by Christ. 1 Where is this ritten? 2 The holy Evangelists Matthe, Mark, Luke, and St. Paul (the Apostle) rite thus: Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same night in hich he as betrayed, took bread; and hen he had given thanks he brake it and gave it to his disciples, saying, Take, eat; this is my body, hich is given for you. This do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup hen had supped, and hen he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; this cup is the ne testament in my blood, hich is shed for you for the remission of sins. This do, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 1 What is the benefit of such eating and drinking? 2 That is shon us by these ord, Given and shed for you for the remission of sins ; namely, that in the Sacrament forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation are given us through these ords. For here there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life and salvation. The Offering is gathered. These Prayers are offered by the pastor and another voice: P Blessed God, our heavenly Father, e are thankful to be your children by adoption through faith in Christ your Son. 18

19 1 Support our faith and keep us ever as your children and heirs of eternal life. P Enlarge the love e have for our Savior, ho loved us first and gave himself as an offering for our sins, evident in the Supper hich he gave for us to share. 1 Besto the Holy Spirit upon us in rich measure, that by his help e may keep your commandments, and thereby offer vigorous proof of our faith and love. P Teach us to love one another. 1 Help us ith every ord e speak and every deed e do to glorify your name; may e shun everything that ould dishonor it. P Ho precious is the Book Divine, by inspiration given! 1 May e never neglect to read it for ourselves, nor fail to hear it taught and preached by our pastor. P Truly, O Father, e deserve only your rath and punishment because of our many sins. Your holy La rightly condemns us. 1 But forgive us for the sake of Christ your Son, ho kept the La in our stead and gave his life on the cross for us. In his name e ask it. Amen. This Lord s Prayer Litany is offered by the pastor and the congregation. If Holy Communion is celebrated, it may take place at this time according to local custom. P We continue our prayers ith a litany based on the prayer Jesus has taught us. C Our Father in heaven, P You are holy. You are above us. To you e pray. C Halloed be your name. P Your name is holy. Keep it holy among us, and throughout this orld, this needy orld. C Your kingdom come. P Come, O Father, ith your holy kingdom to us, and through us to many others. C Your ill be done on earth as in heaven. P If it s your ill, it has to be good. Let it be done here on earth, Lord. Please. C Give us today our daily bread. P Our bread for today is plenty, but e ask enough for all the needy in this orld. C Forgive us our sins as e forgive those ho sin against us. P We cannot live ithout your forgiveness, O Lord, and this orld ill destroy itself unless e forgive each other. Help us to keep the forgiveness floing. C Lead us not into temptation. P You are strong, and e are eak. When e alk ith you, e are strong. C But deliver us from evil. P Evil is many-faced and many-sided. Only you are stronger. Be our strong rock. C For the kingdom, the poer, and the glory are yours no and forever. 19

20 P You can hear. You can anser. You can prevail. And you let us call you Our Father. We thank and praise you. So be it. C Amen! The Benediction is said by the pastor: 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 ith favor and + give you peace. C Amen! This Closing Verse is sung by the congregation to the tune Lasset Uns Mit Jesu Ziehen PM: Let us ever alk ith Jesus, follo his example pure, Flee the orld, hich ould deceive us and to sin our souls allure. Ever in his footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, Full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father s bidding. Faithful Lord, abide ith me; Savior, lead, I follo thee. 20

21 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever R E F U G E SCRIPTURE READINGS The Old Testament Reading, Joshua 20:7-9, is read by the pastor: P So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, and Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah. And beyond the Jordan east of Jericho, they appointed Bezer in the ilderness on the tableland, from the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead, from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan, from the tribe of Manasseh. These ere the cities designated for all the people of Israel and for the stranger sojourning among them, that anyone ho killed a person ithout intent could flee there, so that he might not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, till he stood before the congregation. Psalm 46 is read by the pastor: P God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore e ill not fear though the earth gives ay, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its aters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its selling. There is a river hose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God ill help her hen morning dans. The nations rage, the kingdoms totter; he utters his voice, the earth melts. The LORD of hosts is ith us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Come, behold the orks of the LORD, ho he has brought desolations on the earth. He makes ars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bo and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots ith fire. Be still, and kno that I am God. I ill be exalted among the nations, I ill be exalted in the earth! The LORD of hosts is ith us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. 21

22 The Epistle Reading, Ephesians 4:1-6, is read by the pastor: P I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to alk in a manner orthy of the calling to hich you have been called, ith all humility and gentleness, ith patience, bearing ith one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit just as you ere called to the one hope that belongs to your call one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, ho is over all and through all and in all. Matthe 26:17-35 is read by the pastor: P No on the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, Where ill you have us prepare for you to eat the Passover? He said, Go into the city to a certain man and say to him, The Teacher says, My time is at hand. I ill keep the Passover at your house ith my disciples. And the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover. When it as evening, he reclined at table ith the telve. And as they ere eating, he said, Truly, I say to you, one of you ill betray me. And they ere very sorroful and began to say to him one after another, Is it I, Lord? He ansered, He ho has dipped his hand in the dish ith me ill betray me. The Son of Man goes as it is ritten of him, but oe to that man by hom the Son of Man is betrayed! It ould have been better for that man if he had not been born. Judas, ho ould betray him, ansered, Is it I, Rabbi? He said to him, You have said so. No as they ere eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. And he took a cup, and hen he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, hich is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I ill not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day hen I drink it ne ith you in my Father s kingdom. And hen they had sung a hymn, they ent out to the Mount of Olives. Then Jesus said to them, You ill all fall aay because of me this night. For it is ritten, I ill strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock ill be scattered. But after I am raised up, I ill go before you to Galilee. Peter ansered him, Though they all fall aay because of you, I ill never fall aay. Jesus said to him, Truly, I tell you, this very night, before the rooster cros, you ill deny me three times. Peter said to him, Even if I must die ith you, I ill not deny you! And all the disciples said the same. 22

23 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever R E F U G E HOMILY The Message, entitled REFUGE, is delivered by the pastor: P The text is a list. No, preaching from a list can be sermonic suicide... a certain sleeper. It s best to avoid lists, shun lists, never preach on lists. Nevertheless, the text from the book of Joshua is a list. No if you are into genealogies, census reports and tabulations... lists, then in the second half of Joshua you have come to the pot at the end of the rainbo! After the conquest, and beginning in chapter 12, is the list of defeated Amorite and Canaanite kings. Then, in staccato-like fashion from chapters 13 to 19 are lists of cities and lands and rivers and lakes and borders of Manasseh, Reuben, Gad, Caleb, Judah, Ephraim, Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulon, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan and last but not least... Joshua himself. To those lists add this, our text Joshua 20:7-9. It s true, you say, Sermonic suicide... a certain sleeper! Perhaps not so fast. This list of cities runs from north to south in Canaan and then south to north in the Transjordan. Spread out over all of the Promised land, they are intended to be an ever-present help in trouble. Kedesh, Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth and Golan are certainly not household names. For us, the uninitiated, they mean little and nothing, just a list. But if you ere on the run in ancient Israel... this list meant... hy, it meant... everything! Let me explain... in Israelite culture if someone in your family as killed, your relatives ould call a meeting and somebody ould be appointed as a blood avenger. This blood avenger as a representative from the family ho as to find the killer and release his neck from the burden of having to carry a head. Admittedly, it as a bit crude, but it kept la and order. Of course, the 23

24 major problem ith such a system as an accidental death. Using Deut. 19:5 as an example, a man goes into a forest ith his neighbor to cut ood. As he sings his axe to chop don a tree, the axe s head flies off, hits his neighbor, and kills him. No hat happens? The dead man s family calls a meeting, and they appoint a blood avenger... and they don t choose rotund Uncle Earl. No, it s fleet-footed Cousin Nick. And Nick s orders are clear, Chase the guy ith the loose axe head and kill him! I bet you re saying, That s not fair. He didn t mean to kill his neighbor. He just had a loose axe-head! You re right. But no one kne hat else to do. No one, that is, except Yaheh, the God of Israel. It s in his heart to provide cities of refuge all over the land so that they function as an ever-present help in trouble! In the battle hymn of the Reformation EIN FESTE BURG INS UNSER GOTT Luther describes the one chasing us The old evil Foe, no means deadly oe... Tho devils all the orld should fill, all eager to devour us... This orld s prince may still, scol fierce as he ill... With dread craft and might he arms himself to fight. On earth he has no equal! The avenger of blood comes to kill and steal and destroy. We see him in the rear-vie mirror... e feel his hot breath behind us... e kno hat it s like to run and run and run for our very lives!!! As tempter he s chasing after us screaming, Whatever it is you ant to do, just do it. Have some anger? Act it out. Have some sexual fantasies? Go ahead, full throttle. Have some gossip? Let it fly. As deceiver he continues ith these ords, There are no limits, no consequences, no responsibilities... Ready, set, go! We give in to these temptations and deceptions and then, as accuser he plants his foot upon our necks, saying, No that you ve said this, thought this, done this, drunk this, smoked this, seen this, God is finished ith you! The strategy reminds me of a girl in my high school: RUSH EM, MUSH EM, CRUSH EM... FLUSH EM. No our text speaks of a refuge for those ho kill accidentally, unintentionally, ithout premeditation. That leaves us out, for countless times e have sinned intentionally, ith premeditation, ith malicious forethought... making us easy prey for the lion seeking to devour us. His strategy is clear, I ll chase... until I kill you! And the corpses of failed Christians are all around to see. No one knos hat to do... except Yaheh, the God of Israel and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It s in his heart to provide a city of refuge that is ever-present help in trouble! 24

25 The cities of refuge find fulfillment in him ho is not only similar to, yet greater than Joshua and Jonah, Melchizekek and Moses, tabernacle and temple... but is the one ho also similar to, yet greater than any city of Refuge. Jesus Christ is the final expression of Yaheh s heart for a safe-place, an asylum, a sanctuary, a harbor, a mighty fortress, a refuge, an ever-present help in trouble! For the accuser of our brothers ho accuses them before our God day and night has been hurled don. They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb! So run not aimlessly run not hopelessly run not desperately, but today, run to the Refuge. It as Luther ho pounded the table at Marburg ith, HOC EST CORPUM MEAM... THIS IS MY BODY. Our ever-present help in trouble. For the forgiveness and love and mercy and salvation that as accomplished at Calvary are no present in the bread and ine by the poer of the Word... real body and real blood... at the table set before us in the presence of our enemy! No to the casual observer... this real present help in trouble, this sacrament of the table ith sursum corde, sanctus, verba, agnus dei, nunc dimitis is a list like Shechem, Hebron, Bezer, Ramoth, Golan just a list! But to the baptized, the the instructed, to repentant, those of us ho kno hat it s like be tempted, deceived, accused, chased, harassed, slam-dunked, to those of us ho kno to run... this refuge, this gift, this list, means... hy, it means... everything! Amen. 25

26 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever R E F U G E PRAYERS These Prayers are offered by the pastor and another voice: P Blessed God, our heavenly Father, e are thankful to be your children by adoption through faith in Christ your Son. 1 Support our faith and keep us ever as your children and heirs of eternal life. P Enlarge the love e have for our Savior, ho loved us first and gave himself as an offering for our sins, evident in the Supper hich he gave for us to share. 1 Besto the Holy Spirit upon us in rich measure, that by his help e may keep your commandments, and thereby offer vigorous proof of our faith and love. P Teach us to love one another. 1 Help us ith every ord e speak and every deed e do to glorify your name; may e shun everything that ould dishonor it. P Ho precious is the Book Divine, by inspiration given! 1 May e never neglect to read it for ourselves, nor fail to hear it taught and preached by our pastor. P Truly, O Father, e deserve only your rath and punishment because of our many sins. Your holy La rightly condemns us. 1 But forgive us for the sake of Christ your Son, ho kept the La in our stead and gave his life on the cross for us. In his name e ask it. Amen. 26

27 Christ in the strangest places: Foreshadoed, Fulfilled, Forever M U S I C G U I D E Picardy Toplady Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben Lasset Uns Mit Jesu Ziehen PM

28 Maundy Thursday REFUGE Melody: Picardy & b c Œ.. 1? b c. 6 & b. Œ Œ 6? b Ó.. 11 & b. Œ.? 11 ẇ b.. 16 & b ẇ 16? b. 28

29 This Lenten Gathering is interrupted by verses of the hymn sung by the congregation to the tune Picardy : P In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. Let all mortal flesh keep silence, and ith fear and trembling stand; Ponder nothing earthly-minded, for ith blessing in his hand Christ our God to earth descending comes our homage to demand. P Against you, you only, have I sinned, and done hat is evil in your sight. C Cleanse me ith hyssop, and I ill be clean; ash me, and I ill be hiter than sno. P Hide your face from my sins. C Blot out all my iniquity. King of kings, yet born of Mary, as of old on earth he stood, Lord of lords in human vesture, in the body and the blood, He ill give to all the faithful his on self for heav nly food. P Most merciful God, C Create in me a pure heart, O God, and rene a steadfast spirit ithin me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a illing spirit, to sustain me. Then I ill teach transgressors your ays, and sinners ill turn back to you. Amen. Rank on rank the host of heaven spreads its vanguard on the ay; As the Light of light, descending from the realms of endless day, Comes, the po rs of hell to vanquish, as the darkness clears aay. 29

30 Maundy Thursday REFUGE Melody: Toplady & b b 2 3. j.. j. 1? b b 2 3. J. J. 5 & b b.. 5? b b & b b. j. j. Ó 9? b b. J. J. Ó 30

31 This hymn is sung by the congregation to the tune Toplady : Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; Let the ater and the blood, from thy riven side hich floed, Be of sin the double cure: cleanse me from its guilt and po r. Not the labors of my hands can fulfill thy la s demands; Could my zeal no respite kno, could my tears forever flo, All for sin could not atone; thou must save, and thou alone. Nothing in my hand I bring; simply to thy cross I cling. Naked, come to thee for dress; helpless, look to thee for grace; Foul, I to the fountain fly; ash me, Savior, or I die. While I dra this fleeting breath, hen mine eyelids close in death, When I soar to orlds unknon, see thee on thy judgment throne, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee. 31

32 Maundy Thursday REFUGE Melody: Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben & # c? # 1 c 6 & # # 6? # 11 & # # 11? # 32

33 The Holy Gospel is surrounded by verses sung by the congregation to the tune Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben : Christ, the life of all the living, Christ, the death of death, our foe, Christ, yourself for me once giving to the darkest depths of oe: Through your suff ring, death, and merit life eternal I inherit. Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you. Matthe 26:17-35 is read by the pastor. This verse is sung by the congregation to the tune Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben : Christ, you come ith grace, surprising, found ithin the strangest place: Manger, fishing sco and village all have seen your fairest face. Teach us, Lord, to seek you truly, and to lift our voices duly. In our lives e give you praise and proclaim you all our days. The Message, entitled REFUGE, is delivered by the pastor. This verse is sung by the congregation to the tune Jesu, Meines Lebens Leben : All of scripture, Christ, reveals you, pointing to your cross and tomb. All of Christendom no feels you, bursting through our Lenten gloom. Open up, O Word, to cheer us, dell ithout, ithin and near us. Thousand, thousand thanks are due, dearest Jesus, unto you. 33

34 Maundy Thursday REFUGE Melody: Lasset Uns Mit Jesu Ziehen PM 1 & # # c 1? # # c 6 & # #? # # 6 # 11 & # # 11? # # # 17 & # # 17? # # 34

35 This Closing Verse is sung by the congregation to the tune Lasset Uns Mit Jesu Ziehen PM: Let us ever alk ith Jesus, follo his example pure, Flee the orld, hich ould deceive us and to sin our souls allure. Ever in his footsteps treading, body here, yet soul above, Full of faith and hope and love, let us do the Father s bidding. Faithful Lord, abide ith me; Savior, lead, I follo thee. 35