Spirit Alive! upbeat Christ-Centered

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1 Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit 3461 Cedar Crest Blvd. Emmaus, PA PHONE FAX Spirit Alive! upbeat Christ-Centered Sunday, March 10, :45 am The Holy Spirit Empowers Us for Ministry in Daily Life Gathered by God s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we invite and welcome all people to join us on our journey to become more faithful ministers of Jesus Christ in our homes, our communities, and the world.

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3 ELW refers to the Evangelical Lutheran Worship, the red worship book. Page numbers are in the front of the book with hymn numbers following in the middle & end. During worship, please silence all communication devices. *As you are able, please stand. Gathering Gathering and Fellowship Welcome and Theme of the Day These forty days called Lent are like no other. It is our opportune time to return to God who rescues; to receive the gifts of God s grace; to believe with the heart and confess with the mouth the wonder of God s love in Jesus; and to resist temptation at every turn. This is no small pilgrimage on which we have just embarked. It is a struggle Jesus knew. It is a struggle Jesus shares. The nearness of the Lord, in bread and wine, water and word, will uphold and sustain us. *Confession All may make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism. The season of Lent sets us on a journey. The journey begins in the wilderness. We follow the way of Jesus, who faced trials, trouble, temptation, and testing. Like Jesus, we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is with us. God s Word is in our hearts. Our call is to trust in God alone, to do God s will in all things. For God leads us not only into the wilderness, but also through the wilderness. God is faithful, leading us into freedom, but we are conditioned to the slavery of sin. Comfortable with the way things are, we lose sight of the way God intends them to be. We bring our confession before God who is more powerful than Pharaoh in Egypt, mightier than the devil in the wilderness. God, our refuge and fortress, forgive us when we fail to trust in you. We fall to temptation; we are swayed by false words; we speak false words ourselves. We choose our ease and comfort over your claims upon us and upon the world. In turning from you, we settle for less than the abundant generosity you intend. Forgive us, we pray. 3

4 Scripture declares, The Lord is generous to all who call on God s name. Friends, believe the good news: God does not turn away from us, but desires to bring us into the glorious freedom offered in Jesus Christ. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Thanks be to God! *Gathering Song Come, Now Is the Time to Worship CHORUS: Come, now is the time to worship. Come, now is the time to give your heart. Come, just as you are to worship. Come just as you are before your God. Come. Verse 1 soloist: One day every tongue will confess You are God. One day every knee will bow. Still, the greatest treasure remains for those who gladly choose You now. CHORUS Verse 2 soloist: Willingly we choose to surrender our lives. Willingly our knees will bow. With all our heart, soul, mind, and strength we gladly choose You now. CHORUS Ending: Come, come, just as you are come, come. Come. *Prayer of the Day Let us pray together. God Most High, thank you for signs of your power and grace shown to us even in the wilderness. Give us courage to stand firm in your Word in every time of trial and testing, that we may enter the land of your freedom and receive the salvation you so generously give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Word First Reading A Reading from Romans 10:8b-13. NRSV Bible Paul reminds the Christians at Rome of the foundation of their creed, the confession of faith in the risen Christ as Lord. The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, No one who 4

5 believes in Jesus will be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. After the reading, The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God! Word for God s Children Children ages 3 7 are invited to the All Saints Room. They will return after the Sermon. We encourage at least one parent to be present. *Gospel The Good News from Luke 4:1-13. CEV Bible Open our hearts, Lord After being filled with the Holy Spirit at his baptism, Jesus is led in the wilderness. Through his responses to the temptations of the devil he defines what it means to be called the Son of God. Now Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by the Devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when the time was up he was hungry. The Devil, playing on his hunger, gave the first test: Since you re God s Son, command this stone to turn into a loaf of bread. Jesus answered by quoting Deuteronomy: It takes more than bread to really live. For the second test he led him up and spread out all the kingdoms of the earth on display at once. Then the Devil said, They re yours in all their splendor to serve your pleasure. I m in charge of them all and can turn them over to whomever I wish. Worship me and they re yours, the whole works. Jesus refused, again backing his refusal with Deuteronomy: Worship the Lord your God and only the Lord your God. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness. For the third test the Devil took him to Jerusalem and put him on top of the Temple. He said, If you are God s Son, jump. It s written, isn t it, that he has placed you in the care of angels to protect you; they will catch you; you won t so much as stub your toe on a stone? Yes, said Jesus, and it s also written, Don t you dare tempt the Lord your God. That completed the testing. The Devil retreated temporarily, lying in wait for another opportunity. This is the Good News! Thanks be to God! 5

6 Sermon Pr. Spencer Steele *Word in Song I Want Jesus to Walk with Me ELW Hymn 325 *Small Catechism of Martin Luther In ancient and modern times, during Lent the whole Church anticipates Easter through acts of repentance and spiritual renewal. We review the basics of our faith during these Sundays in Lent, so that we all will be renewed by our baptismal covenants and made ready for the celebration of Easter. The First Article: On Creation I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. What does this mean? I believe that God has created me and all that exists. God has given me and still cares for my body and soul: eyes, ears, and all limbs and senses; all reason and mental faculties. God daily and abundantly provides family and friends, shoes and clothing, food and drink, shelter and all property. God provides me with all the necessities and nourishment for my body, my spirit, and my life. God protects me against all danger and shields me from all evil. God, like a loving parent, does all of this out of divine goodness, love and mercy. I do not deserve this, nor can I earn such goodness and love. For all that God provides, I owe God my thanks and praise, service and obedience. This is most certainly true. Luther s Small Catechism, ELW, page 1162 *Prayers of the People Seeking the grace, mercy, and love of almighty God, we offer our prayers for the church, for people in need, and for all of creation. After each petition: Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. Reveal your will as you receive our prayers, and conform our ways to your ways; through the saving work of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 6

7 *Share the Peace The peace of Christ be with you always. And also with you. The people greet one another with the peace of Christ. Offering Desert Song Ligerwood/Brooke Jeff Gross, soloist The assembly responds to the Word of God by gathering an offering for the mission of the church, including the care of those in need. The music is offered as a gift to the glory of God. You may give your offering in the offering plate, or by using a credit or debit card at the Giving Kiosk, or Give by Text ( ), or through Simply Giving, or by sending it to the church office. The table is set. *Offering Prayer Let us pray. Merciful God, receive the sacrifice of 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 Christ our Lord. Amen. *Word in Meal Meal Lent is a season of turning Turning from what is hurtful, and toward what is healing. Turning from what is shattered, and toward what is whole. Re-turning to the Lord. From earliest days, God turned toward creation, bringing light from darkness, firm ground from the deep, life from the dust. Adam and Eve turned from the garden to toil and struggle. Abraham and Sarah turned from a life of wandering to the land that you showed them. Your people Israel turned from captivity to cry to you, and God delivered them from captivity. In the wilderness Jesus turned away from the tempter and toward his mission in the world. And now, may all creation turn toward the Lord, seeking your mercy and trusting in your word, that we may share in your glory with all the saints in light. 7

8 God ordained for everything a season, a time to break down, and a time to build up, a time to keep, and a time to put aside. Let this now be a time of healing, a time of justice, a time of reconciliation, a time of renewal and a time of peace. Words of Institution Remembering, therefore, Christ s turn toward the world, Jesus journey to the cross, and Christ s resurrection from the dead, we turn toward the Lord in the gifts of bread and wine, signs of God s mercy and balm for our souls. Amen. Come Lord Jesus. Send now, we pray, your Holy Spirit, that these gifts may be healing and redemption for us and for your world, the turning toward a new day. Amen. Come Holy Spirit. *Lord s Prayer Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and forever. Amen. *Invitation to Communion Return to God with all your heart. Receive bread for the journey, drink for the desert. Amen Sacrament of Holy Communion All who are baptized and believe in the presence of Jesus Christ in Holy Communion are welcome to receive the Sacrament. To facilitate flow, the ushers invite the side sections, the front few rows and then the back rows. The people come forward, using the center aisle in two lines, to receive the bread from the ministers, then go to the side to dip their bread into the wine. Grape juice is used in our celebration so that all may freely receive. In addition, gluten free wafers are available. After receiving the elements, people may kneel at the altar rail for prayer, and return to their seats using the side aisles. Children may receive the sacrament if they have completed instruction with a pastor. Children who do not commune may come forward for a blessing. 8

9 Communion Songs The assembly sings of the loving sacrifice of Christ. One Bread, One Body ELW Hymn 496 On Eagle s Wings ELW Hymn 787 We Walk By Faith ELW Hymn 635 *Prayer Let us pray. Compassionate God, you have fed us with the bread of heaven. Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage: may our fasting be hunger for justice, our alms, a making of peace, and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts; through Christ our Lord. Amen. *Blessing Sending As Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, so we spend forty days in this season of Lent. May the God of the Exodus lead us into freedom. May the Holy Spirit bind us to God s will. May Christ, God s only Son, + show us the way of true justice and peace. Amen. *Sending Song Jesus Walked this Lonesome Valley on next page *Dismissal The assisting minister sends the assembly into mission. Marked with the cross of Christ, go forth to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God! 9

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11 Devotions for Lent 2019 are available in both lobbies, entitled With Our Savior Family Devotions, is an opportunity every day of Lent to bring yourself and your family closer to the joy of Easter through scripture, reflection, prayer and activities. The Saving Passion Devotions has excerpts from Henri Nouwen, a spiritual thinker, whose engaging insights are paired with original reflections and prayers about the saving passion of God s Son in a way that will captivate and inspire us. Please take only one per household. Large print copies are available. They are gifts from the Faith Formation for Adults Mission Team. Lenten Worship and Study will be held Mondays, March 11 April 15 at 7pm and Wednesdays, March 13 - April 17, at noon. Meeting God at the Cross is a new experiential time of Taize worship which we are creating to help us focus on Christ during Lent in the Fellowship Center. We will also offer a Lenten study, Book of Faith: Beyond Question, after worship in the All Saints Room. Books are available at first class or from Deacon Jane, All are welcome. Healing Worship: Hope + Wholeness on Sunday, March 10, 2019 at 12:30 pm in the All Saints Room. Come and slow down. Listen for God s voice. Be anointed with oil. Pray for healing, hope, wholeness. CCLI # One License A The Toolkit all content Changing Church Forum, Inc. Reproducible for church use only. Liturgy from Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2019 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License # New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by Permission. All rights reserved. HymnPrint.net License # The Message (MSG) Copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission. Some liturgy reprinted by permission of Westminster John Knox Press from Feasting on the Word Worship Companion Used by permission. Thanksgiving at the Table from Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks: A Collection of Litanies, Laments, and Thanksgivings at Font and Table by Gail Ramshaw, copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. The liturgical text in this file is intended for corporate worship and may be reproduced by the purchaser of Pray, Praise, and Give Thanks for local use only, but not for sale, provided all copies carry this copyright notice: Copyright 2017 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reproduced by permission. ] 11

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