THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT

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1 THE FIRST SUNDAY IN LENT Order of Worship February 22, :00 am Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod) 3014 McKinley St N E info@gloriadeilcms.org Minneapolis, MN website:

2 Welcome to God s house today!!! A special welcome to visitors and guests; we are pleased that you have joined us today! If you have no church family and if we can be of any help to you please call the pastor or speak with him after the service. We invite all guests to sign the Guest Register or the visitor s card in the pew. We pray that as we continue to celebrate Christ s resurrection, through God s Word and all of worship, you will feel God s love for you and be empowered to live as God s child this week. Today s Focus The 40 days before Easter were originally celebrated as the final preparation of newly converted candidates for baptism. It tested whether or not they could live in a disciplined, Christ-like way. Today, the lessons speak about the testing, temptations and trials we face in life. For us, as for Jesus during his testing in the wilderness, Lent can be a time for checking the real priorities of our lives. Is there something you d like us to pray for today? There are yellow Prayer Request cards at the Usher counter. Please hand your request to an usher before the service or hand it to them during the offering. They will give them to the pastor to include in the prayers for today. The Lord s Supper is celebrated on the 1st & 3rd Sundays /month. We joyfully share our conviction that this is The Lord's Table. We receive the true Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, together with the bread and wine in a manner our human reason cannot understand. (Real Presence) By communing together with our Lord and one another: - we express a common faith that Jesus is Son of God and Son of Man - that Jesus is our Savior and only way for salvation; - That Jesus offers us His Body and Blood in a mysterious yet real way - that Christ's sacrificial death assures us of the forgiveness of our sins; - and that God is strengthening us in this Sacrament to live a more godly life and to amend with the help of the Holy Spirit, those areas not in conformity with God s will. - We declare these statements because it is our concern for people to not be hypocritical between their faith and practice. Those who share these convictions are welcome to come and celebrate the blessings of God's Table at the Altar. Persons unable to approach the Altar may be communed in the pew, please notify the Pastor or Elder if you wish this service. - The white wine in the center is denatured (alcohol removed) wine. MIDWEEK 2 February 25 th at 6:30 pm continues our journey down the road to understand the Lenten Lies, we will consider some of those lies as we also consider the answers of Jesus who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Our theme for Midweek 2 is You Have To Be A Rock, Matthew 26:40-41.

3 AS WE GATHER The season of Lent is a time when we bear witness to Jesus' great temptation, when He courageously encountered and defied the schemes of Satan. Noah is called by God to build an ark that I m sure took a lot of courage to do in the face of those who scoffed at him and God blessed him and us with the sign of His covenantal love. Jesus obeys God's command to be tempted by Satan, eventually becoming the Lamb of sacrifice in our place, becoming no ordinary Lamb but the fulfillment of God s Covenant in that He alone is the Lamb of sacrifice and victory. WE ENTER TO WORSHIP AND BE BLESSED PRESERVICE MUSIC/WELCOME CALL TO WORSHIP Baptized into Thy Name LSB 590 INVOCATION/CONFESSION/ABSOLUTION INTROIT HYMN OF PRAISE A Mighty Fortress LSB 657 PRAYER FOR THE DAY THE LORD COMES TO US IN HIS WORD OLD TESTAMENT READING Genesis 9:8-17 ESV EPISTLE READING 1 Peter 3:18-22 ESV GOSPEL ANTHEM Wings of a Dove Ferguson Karmon Christopherson, Soloist GOSPEL READING Mark 1:9-15 ESV THE APOSTOLE S CREED HYMN OF THE DAY Great is Thy Faithfulness LSB 809 SERMON With or Without Water Genesis 9:8-17 OUR RESPONSE TO THE WORD OFFERING RESPONSE OF GOD S PEOPLE OFFERTORY Create in Me LSB 956 OFFERING PRAYER/PRAYER OF THE CHURCH THE LORD S PRAYER BENEDICTION CLOSING HYMN Let us Ever Walk with Jesus LSB 685 WE DEPART TO SERVE

4 DIAL-A-DEVOTION is a daily devotion supported by Trinity Lutheran Church, White Bear Lake. There is a new devotion and prayer each day. Call and follow the directions. BIRTHDAYS 28 th Brian Morelli IN OUR PRAYERS Jean Brede - Karmon Christopherson - Harvey Gresens - Don Grunnes Madeline Heining; Ashley Kruse -Lorraine Niemela Millie Eckhardt- Roselyn Norman - Rev. Gerald Peterson REQUESTED PRAYERS Lisa Kleinwolterink (K & M Christopherson s daughter) Mandy (niece of Deb Forsberg) Dick Gillund (Patty & Meridel s brother) Dennis Larson (Dorothy Woll s brother) Jimmy Royal (friend of Patty & Meridel s brother) Lawrence Schlais, Jr. (Larry Schlais father) John Svac (Bev s son) TODAY S LUTHERAN HOUR "Regrets, Reality, and Grace-filled Restoration" Through Christ's forgiveness, regrets give way to restoration. Luke 15 NEXT WEEK ON THE LUTHERAN HOUR March 1 "The True Author of Your Life Story" When Christ's story becomes yours by faith, life changes. 2 Cor. 7:10 Listen on WCCO AM at 6:05 am, Sunday mornings, or listen anytime at If you subscribe to XM Satellite Radio you can also hear The Lutheran Hour on XM 170 Sundays at noon. SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY A New Year - what better time to ponder on what type of follower of Jesus do I want to be on 2015? Come and learn to Invite, Invite, Invite! Everyone Needs Jesus CONSTANT SEEKERS 16:11 Our next time of prayer will be Monday, March 2nd at 6:30 pm in the Koinonia Room. If you cannot join us, please be a part of the group by praying individually at home. WED MORNING BIBLE CLASS at 10 am noon. We will be continuing our study of Genesis chapters 14 & 15. See you there!!! LUTHERANS FOR LIFE Be strong and courageous, the Lord goes before you every day. Be strong and courageous, the Lord went before you, even before you were you. His For Life work through you becomes clearer every day. Hearts and minds are changed. Our life-affirming younger generation inspires us all. More pastors connect the Gospel to

5 the life issues. More educators teach our children to value every life. We have the most powerful and positive For Life message in the universe and nothing can stand against it! Be strong and courageous! Rev. Dr. James I. Lamb, executive director of Lutherans For Life STEWARDSHIP Mark 1:13 And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him. God the Father cares for Jesus even in the midst of his temptation in the wilds. God cares for us in every situation as well. Jesus realized this and always acted from the basis of trust in God the Father s provision. This is likewise the basis for our life lived in Christ: God cares for us, so we need not act out of fear or greed. LIVING WITH GOD THUIRSDAYS, March 5 th May 14 th Rev. Dr. Tom Trapp will offer a course called Living with God offered at no charge. This second 10-week class covers Joshua, Judges, 1&2 Samuel, 1&2 Kings on Thursdays beginning March 5 at either 1-3 p.m. or 6:30-8:30 p.m. Classes will be held at Emmaus Lutheran Church, 1074 Idaho Ave W, St. Paul, MN Please register in advance by contacting Emmaus: emmaus@q.com, Find out more online at ANNUAL SPRING KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM CLEANING Our kitchen and our tables and chairs need their yearly cleaning. Thursday, March 26th at 9:00 a.m. is the day for both men and women to put on your scrubbing clothes and help with the project. The more hands, the faster the project will go. Please bring your own rubber gloves, rags and buckets; we ll purchase the cleaning supplies. We ll keep a coffee pot on. Let s make it a party!! WE REALLY NEED YOUR HELP!! There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board. FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY We need volunteers to sign-up for a Sunday to serve treats during fellowship time the second Sunday of each month after our church service. We do have not anyone for March and several other months. Verlayne will have the tables set up and the coffee made. You just need to bring treats, juice, plates, forks and napkins. Could you find one or two people to help you serve one Sunday? If we can't find volunteers we may have to quite having Fellowship Sunday. It's simple to do and everyone enjoys the treats and the fellowship time. Please check the sign-up sheet and pick a Sunday to serve. If you have questions talk to Verlayne. THANK YOU to those who helped to assemble the March newsletter: Arlene Derksen, Verlayne Sather, Mary Schneider and Lil Troiden.

6 EASTER GARDEN You will find an insert with all of the pertinent information for our Easter Garden this year. At the time of the printing of the March newsletter, the information we had was not correct. Please refer to the insert when ordering. There is a sign-up sheet on the narthex bulletin board. March 29 th is the deadline! OUR WEEKLY CALENDAR 02/22 Sun Lent 1 8:45 am Education Hour 10 am Worship 11:15 am Adult Bible Class 1-3 pm TLCM Worship 6 pm NA 02/23 Mon 6:30 pm AL-ANON 1 8 pm AA & AL ANON 2 02/25 Wed 10 am Bible Class 6:30 pm Midweek Service 6:30 pm TLWCC Bible Class 02/26 Thur 10 am API 02/27 Fri Pastor s Day Off 5 pm TLWCC Music Practice 8 pm AA 02/28 Sat 10 am TLWCC Worship 2 pm TLCM Music Practice 6 pm TLWCC Worship & Fellowship 03/01 Sun Lent 2 8:45 am Education Hour 10 am Worship w/hc 11:15 am Adult Bible Class 1-3 pm TLCM Worship 6 pm NA Attendance: 02/15 33; Ash Wednesday 14/15 - $550 Giving: 02/15 Loose/Regular $2,139; Lent $1; Memorial $45; Rental $100; Candle $15; Flowers $24; Hansen Funeral $100; Refund $13.44; EPIC $46.15; Total $2, Needed for 2015 Budget: $3, SERVING TODAY Elder: Karmon Christopherson; Ushers: Altar Care: Pastor & Diane; Counters: Lorraine Niemela, Verlayne Sather

7 SALVATION ARMY FOOD SHELF Remember the needy when you are shopping! Food as well as household supplies are needed at the Salvation Army. 75 lbs. of food was donated during the month of February. Thanks! Today s Scripture Readings Genesis 9:8-17: God said to Noah: When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh! God s commitment to remember the promise God makes is an act of amazing trust and grace and as we enter this period of Lent I want you to think deeply on the consequences of God s promise. Lent is a time for repentance and owning the faults of our humanity not simply our personal faults but our collective ones. James 1:12-18: God tempts no one, but He does test us in order to try to get us to succeed and growth in our faith and trust. Only Satan tempts with the underlying desire to cause us to fail. It is in this sense, James describes how temptation draws us away from God through our own lust and sinfulness. Mark 1:9-15: Clearly, Jesus is baptized not for His sin but for ours. He takes our sin upon Himself to open the heavens. The Father is well pleased with His beloved Son because He willingly goes forth to the cross as the unblemished Lamb, carrying the sins of the world. Just as the Old Testament scapegoat was driven into the wilderness, carrying the people s sin, so Jesus our substitute is driven into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan for us. Where we fail in the face of temptation and succumb to sin and rebellion against God, He remained steadfast in the faith and did not flinch in the face of His calling to be our Savior. The angels of God also ministered to Him in the wilderness, even as they minister to us, speaking the Father s word to Him by which He lived in faithfulness to God and defeated every temptation. He who carries our sin and defeats the devil preaches the Gospel of God s kingdom to us, saying, Repent and believe the good news of salvation in my suffering and death for you! Next Week s Readings Lent 2 Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16; Psalm 22:23-31; Romans 5:1-11; Mark 8:27-38

8 Catechesis Note for the Week I Believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son and my Lord Yes Jesus is God s promised Messiah (Anointed One in Hebrew or the Christ (in Greek) is God. He has the attributes of God, possesses the names of deity, does the works of deity, and is worshiped as God. His closest disciples recognized Him as deity as well as the enemies of Jesus. In fact the claims of Christ are so clear that the only option when considering what He says is that Jesus was either a Liar, Lunatic or Lord. A fourth option is that he was a legend but this is impossible as we can prove the historicity of the New Testament. Was Jesus a Legend? Legends take at least two generations to develop and with most of the New Testament written by 68 AD there was no time for any legend to develop. Even non-christian historians like Josephus, the 1 st century Jewish historian, speaks about Jesus in his writings. Was Jesus a liar? If, when Jesus made His claims, He knew He was not God, then He was lying, but if He was a liar, then He was also a hypocrite because He told others to be honest, whatever the cost, and more than that He would also be a fool, because it was His claims to being God that led to His crucifixion. Everything we know of Him discourages this option. When we look at the words and actions of Jesus, it is incomprehensible that someone who spoke of morality and truth was the greatest liar of history. Was Jesus a lunatic? Jesus claimed to be God. He did not leave any other options. His conversation was reasonable and logical with healthy relationships with others. The people heard Him teach with an authority they had never heard before. But if He didn t know His claims were false He was certainly and sincerely deluded and a lunatic. He doesn t fit the profile of a lunatic. Was /Is Jesus Lord? Jesus was indeed Lord. And if He is Lord what will your response be, will you accept Him or reject Him? we must either accept or reject His Lordship we are without excuse.

9 EASTER GARDEN Easter Sunday is April 5 th! If you wish to contribute to the Easter Garden this year below is a list of flowers available. We are ordering again from Bachman s and need your order by March 29th. A sign-up sheet is on the entryway bulletin board. As always, you can bring your own too! Below is a list of the flowers and correct prices which we received after the March newsletter was printed! Easter lilies $7.50 (6 ) white Asiatic Lily $5.50 (6 ) pink, yellow, orange Mums $10.00 (6 ) yellow, white, purple Azaleas $15.50 (6 ) pink, white, pink/white bi-color Tulips $8.50 (6 ) yellow, purple, orange, pink Hydrangea $18.00 (6.5 ) blue Pansy Bowl $17.50 (14 )

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