St. Paul Lutheran Church In Jesus name, Do justice, Love kindness, Walk humbly with God. St. Paul is an open, affirming, and inclusive church, welcoming all who seek God. 515 South Wheaton Avenue - Wheaton, Illinois - 630-668-5953 First Sunday in Lent February 14, 2016 I-Sight The Last will be First
Welcome to St. Paul Visiting today? We are glad you are here! Stop by the Welcome Center and receive a sweet gift. Interim Pastor Bill hopes you can help him learn names more easily by wearing your name tags for worship. He likes to use people s names at the communion rail when serving the bread, and the name tags make that so much easier. Thank you! Rainbow bags for toddlers are on the wooden rack up front on the right. A staffed nursery for infants to three-year-olds is on the lower level during worship services. Assisted listening headphones are available for those having difficulty hearing. Large-print bulletins are available. See an usher for assistance. Please write your name and other information on the welcome pad as it gets passed along. About our Worship We follow an ancient pattern through the liturgy (which literally means the work of the people ). Some parts of the service may change each week, but there is a consistent flow: praising God, hearing God s word, offering our prayers and gifts, celebrating communion, and being sent into the world for service. The format remains fairly constant, but the style will vary widely. Sometimes we sing with the pipe organ, and the ministers chant. Sometimes we worship accompanied by piano, guitars, drums, violins, flutes or whatever our folk play. We range from Bach to blues, because we know that different styles connect to different people. So we all worship together, and change the style every few weeks. It s one of the ways we minister to and with each other and build community. Thank you for being part of our worship and community today! *At the asterisk, stand as you are able. P: Presiding Minister A: Assisting Minister L: Lector C: Congregation ELW Page Numbers are printed in the lower corners in the front portion of the hymnal. Hymn Numbers are large numbers printed beside hymn titles in the rest of the book. Serving Today Assisting Minister Vanessa Young Lectors 8:30 Mina Kerr 11:00 Pat Pape Communion Deacons 8:30 Bob Cook 11:00 Carlo D Agostino Bread Hosts 8:30 Lydia Trevino 11:00 Barb Deli Crucifer/Acolytes 8:30 Sherri, Marina & C.J. D Agostino 11:00 Cyreno Pastore, Oliver & Alex Michalak Greeters 8:30 Mike Impola, Jo Ann Larsen 11:00 John & Margie Zienda, Mike & Dawn Harrington Ushers 8:30 Grant Eckhoff, Ann Holmstrom, Brian Keys, Ron Mertzlufft 11:00 John Campbell, Mike Harrington, Mike Michalak Fellowship Marilyn Sodergren, Deana Sons Altar Care Lori Bateman, Lydia Trevino, Nancy Wilen Welcome Center 8:30 Nancy Wilen 11:00 Marilyn Sodergren Counters Terrie & Diana Troxel, Dan Marsh
Preparing to Worship Prelude Kelvingrove [ELW, #798] arr. C. Heine Gathering Together in Worship *Opening Rite My Soul Thirsts for God T. Witt
P: Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name. C: Let me turn and follow you and never be the same. P: In your company I ll go where your love and footsteps show. C: Thus I ll move and live and grow in you and you in me. Repeat My Soul Thirsts for God *The 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. *Prayer of the Day P: God of abundant mercy, you taught your children to forgive, and then to forgive again. Remind us to offer grace and forgiveness to all people for any offense, for the glory of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen Responding to the Word of God P: The Holy Gospel according to Mark C: Glory to you, O Lord.
*The Gospel Mark 10:17-31 As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Jesus said to him, Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother. He said to him, Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth. Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me. When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God! And the disciples were perplexed at these words. But Jesus said to them again, Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. They were greatly astounded and said to one another, Then who can be saved? Jesus looked at them and said, For mortals it is impossible, but not for God; for God all things are possible. Peter began to say to him, Look, we have left everything and followed you. Jesus said, Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first. P: The Gospel of the Lord C: Praise to you, O Christ. Children s Message Christ s All-encompassing Holiness is Revealed Pr. Bill Hutchison Sermon I-Sight The Last will be First Pr. Bill Hutchison
*Hymm of the Day: ELW, 798 (vv. 1,2,5) Will You Come and Follow Me
*Apostle s Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen *Prayers of the People After each petition of the prayers: A: Lord, in your mercy C: Hear our prayer. *Passing the Peace P: The peace of the Lord be with you always. C: And also with you. P: Let us share the peace. Offering St. Paul Choir (11:00 a.m.) Do Not be Afraid P. Stopford
*Offertory Response: ELW, #801 Change My Heart, O God
*Offertory Prayer A: God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen Sharing the Eucharistic Meal *The Great Thanksgiving ELW, p. 190 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. *Sanctus P: It is indeed right... And join their unending hymn.
*Eucharistic Prayer *The Lord s Prayer 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 The Distribution of Communion The body and blood of Christ are present in this sacrament, for the forgiveness of sin and the strengthening of faith. All people are welcome to share in this meal with us. Parents, if you have a young child who receives communion, please indicate that when the minister comes to you. Those who do not receive communion are welcome to come forward for a blessing; simply keep your hands folded. Come forward and receive the bread from the minister. Gluten-free bread is available. The gold chalice contains wine; you may drink directly from the cup or dip your bread into the wine. The pottery chalice contains nonalcoholic grape juice, which you may receive by dipping your bread into the juice. Return to your seat by the side aisles. If you would like communion brought to you, simply let an usher know. Agnus Dei ELW, p. 191
Music During Communion Hymn: ELW, #803 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross
*Post-Communion Blessing P: May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the gifts of Christ s body and blood strengthen, keep and unite us, now and forever. C: Amen *Post-Communion Prayer *Benediction A: Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen Going Out into the World Sent by God P: The blessing of God Almighty, the wisdom and power of Christ Jesus, and the light of the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. C: Amen
*Sending Hymn: ELW, #802 Let Us Ever Walk with Jesus
*Dismissal A: Go in peace. Remember the poor. C: Thanks be to God. Postlude Let Us Ever Walk With Jesus Various Composers
Cover photo: Closer up -the "Eye of the Needle Gate" at Alexander Nevsky Compound, Jerusalem. The "Eye of the Needle Gate" is relevant to Jesus' teaching: Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God. When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astounded and said, Then who can be saved? - Matthew 19:24-25(NRSVC)
Theme for the Day In Christ God Restores and Reorders our Eye-sight Mark 10:17-31 Left to our own devices, we fall short of the mark of living according to God s ways. Our pride and selfishness, our need to be first, tend to get in the way of bringing healing to those who suffer and striving for justice in the world around us. In Lent, and in our Gospel text for today, we are reminded that in Christ God forgives us and restores us while at the same time reordering our priorities and our ability to see straight.