Trinity Lutheran Church Contemporary Worship Service March 4, 2012 10:45 CALL TO WORSHIP L: Come, join the journey of Jesus today! C: We come in our different ways, walking in our own styles, at our own speeds. But we come to join the journey. L: Come, walk into the truth of who you are and who God is. Walk the way with Jesus into real life, as he listens and learns, tells and teaches, as he laughs and cries, as he lives and dies. Come, walk with God who is the Way, the Truth, the Life. C: We come to join the journey of Jesus today! OPENING SONG All Are Welcome Dakota Road Verse 3: All are welcome friend and stranger At the banquet of the Savior all All are welcome, all are welcome here. From the woman who comes crying leaving tears at Jesus feet To the man who knows the right way but cannot see. (Chorus) From the ones who feel forgotten those who sense their place is gone To the ones who live in hunger, here you belong. (Chorus) Go into the streets and cities to the farms and families. Tell about the splendid table, God s mercy. (Chorus) CONFESSION OF SIN: L: The story of Christ s passion and death holds up a mirror to our own weakness and sin. We come together as adults and children who have messed up and turned away from God; we struggle with loving our neighbors and even ourselves. Together we confess our sins. C: O God, we want to be your faithful followers, but just like your first disciples, we fall away or fall asleep. We deny you or betray you or abandon you. We are afraid of what your cross means for our lives. Have mercy and forgive us. Open our ears and hearts and minds to hear your story in a new way and receive your grace and forgiveness again. Amen.
PRAYER OF THE DAY Jesus, whose love took the shape of a cross: in the hour of deepest agony your mother and your beloved disciple did not flee, but stood beside you. You call us to pour out our lives in service to others, yet the suffering of your people seems to have no end. When we feel numb and helpless at the horror, remind us of Mary, the unnamed women, and John who could not save you from death, but did not leave you to face it alone. Strengthen us in keeping vigil; have mercy upon us all. Amen. READING If the World was a Village CHILDREN S TIME SONG Christ Be Our Light ELW # 715 VIDEO FROM THE ELCA WORLD HUNGER APPEAL READINGS Psalm 130 Waiting for Divine Redemption A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with you, so that you may be revered. I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, more than those who watch for the morning. O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem. It is he who will redeem Israel from all its iniquities. 2
Isaiah 58: 1-12 False and True Worship Shout out, do not hold back! Lift up your voice like a trumpet! Announce to my people their rebellion, to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet day after day they seek me and delight to know my ways, as if they were a nation that practiced righteousness and did not forsake the ordinance of their God; they ask of me righteous judgments, they delight to draw near to God. Why do we fast, but you do not see? Why humble ourselves, but you do not notice? Look, you serve your own interest on your fast-day, and oppress all your workers. Look, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to strike with a wicked fist. Such fasting as you do today will not make your voice heard on high. Is such the fast that I choose, a day to humble oneself? Is it to bow down the head like a bulrush, and to lie in sackcloth and ashes? Will you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself from your own kin? Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rearguard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry for help, and he will say, Here I am. If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry 3
and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. The Lord will guide you continually, and satisfy your needs in parched places, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in. SONG We Can Make A Difference Dakota Road We can make a difference in ev'rything we do. We can make a difference, it's up to me and you. Children of the light, the Spirit shows us how. We can make a difference now. Some say we shouldn't be heard, we've got something to say. Some say we are lost, we can find the way. Some say we don't care, we've got love today. We can make a difference. (Chorus) He needs someone to lean on, it just takes one shoulder. She has a lonely heart, just takes one to hold her. They're afraid to take a chance, just takes one who's bolder. We can make a difference. (Chorus) GOSPEL: Matthew 25:35-41 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, 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. 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? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you? 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. 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; HOMILY The Gospel Is More Than Words Pastor Evavold 4
SONG You Are My All In All You are my strength when I am weak You are the Treasure that I seek You are my all in all Seeking you as a precious Jewell Lord, to give up I d be a fool You are my all in all Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is your name Jesus, Lamb of God Worthy is your name Taking my sin, my cross my shame Rising again, I bless your name You are my all in all When I fall down you pick me up When I am dry you fill my cup You are my all in all AFFIRMATION OF FAITH We believe in God, the one who comes before us and goes behind us, creating life and opportunities to love and care for the world. We believe in Jesus Christ who walks with us into real life each day. He is God, yet human like us and experienced all life s joy and pains and challenges like we do. But his love is so great that not sin nor suffering nor even death could stop it. Today the love of Jesus lives and continues to bring new life to the world. We believe in the Holy Spirit who comes like the wind and blows in and through us to bring God s power and light to all the world. The Spirit breathes life into us, the body of Christ we call the church, and enables us to follow the way of Christ. We believe in God, who goes before and behind, with, in and through us, bringing hope and life and newness to the world. 5
OFFERING SONG Pass My Love Around Ylvisaker I have no feet but your feet, do the loving deed; I have no hands but your hands, fill the need. You are my eyes to see their pain, you are my heart beat. Do it in my name, rememb ring who you are! Pass my love around! You re my hands, my eyes, I gave you ears to hear their cries. Pass my love around, you re an angel in disguise, for you can make it come alive, for you can make it come alive. And when you feel the heartache do the loving deed; and when you see the suff ring, fill the need. You are my eyes to see their pain, you are my heart beat. Do it in my name, respond right from the start! PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE L: In this season of desert pilgrimage, let us call to mind the prophet's vision: If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, C: The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your need in parched places, and make your bones strong. [Isaiah 58:10a, 11a] L: Let us pray. Holy God, whose loving kindness is everlasting: Lift the burden of all who are weary from the search for food and refresh those who are parched from thirst. Lord, in mercy, C: As you sent manna in days of old, grant living bread in our wilderness. L: O God, source of all consolation: Comfort with the sure sense of your presence all who feel forsaken, whose hope is dried up. Lord, in mercy, C: As you sent manna in days of old, grant living bread in our wilderness. L: Lord Jesus, who cried out in thirst upon the cross: open our ears to all cries of affliction, and through us provide food and drink. Lord, in mercy, C: As you sent manna in days of old, grant living bread in our wilderness. L: God our creator, who makes our bones strong: through our prayers and gifts heal the ravages of poverty and disease, that those now suffering may one day leap for joy. Lord, in mercy, C: As you sent manna in days of old, grant living bread in our wilderness. L: Merciful God, you ask us to cleanse our hearts, to loose the bonds of oppression, and to repair the ancient ruins. Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, that we might pour ourselves out for the hungry and offer refreshment to those who thirst. In the name of Jesus we pray; C: Amen. 6
THE INVITATION With the breaking of the bread and sharing of the cup, Jesus offered the disciples peace and friendship, trust and forgiveness, the love and embrace of God. Jesus offers the same to all people. Jesus we have joined your journey to the cross along with millions of disciples through the years. Like them, we, too are sinners hungry for grace. So we come eager, hesitant, scandalized to receive your gift of love. In return, receive our gifts of love and use them to further your caring in the world. Amen. WORDS OF INSTITUTION THE 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. DISTRIBUTION SONG Blessed Are They ELW #728 BENEDICTION Go into the world, knowing that Christ is with you. Be Christ s body. Tell Christ s story to all you meet, and live Christ s life on behalf of the world. The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds centered on Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 7
SENDING SONG The Lamb Verse 3: Verse 4: Verse 5: The lamb, the lamb O Father, where s the sacrifice? The lamb, the lamb God will provide the lamb of Christ. Worthy is the lamb, whose death makes me his own. The lamb is reigning on his throne The lamb, the lamb one perfect final offering The lamb, the lamb let earth join heav n his praise to sing The lamb, the lamb as wayward sheep their shepherd kill So still, his will on our behalf the law fulfilled. He sighs, he dies he takes my sin and wretchedness He lives, forgives He gives me his own righteousness. He rose, he rose my heart with thanks now overflows His song, prolonged till every heart to him belongs. DISMISSAL: Go in peace, serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. 8