Fifth Sunday in Lent Messiah Lutheran Church March 18, 2018 440.331.2405 www.messiahfairview.org E-mail church@messiahfp.org
TO OUR GUESTS: WELCOME! May the God who led you here today refresh you with his grace and peace in Christ Jesus as you spend this hour with us. We re glad you re here. Some helpful things to know Restless children? Nursery care is available during Sunday morning services. We also have a room where parents can tend to little ones while watching and listening to the service. Ask an usher for directions. Large print bulletins and personal audio receivers are available at Sunday services for any who may find them helpful. Don t hesitate to ask an usher. May you commune at Messiah? Yes, if you re a baptized communicant elsewhere and are able to respond with joyful confidence when Christ invites you to meet him in the sacrament here. As he says of the bread, This is my body, and of the cup, This is my blood ; and of both he says, given and shed for you. Our communion procedures: the sacrament is distributed at the head of the aisle. Come forward as the usher directs. For receiving the wine, two cups are available, one to drink from and a second to dip the host in. Follow your preference. If you choose not to commune but would like even so to receive a blessing, approach the pastor with your arms crossed. For a gluten-free host, quietly ask the pastor. Let us know that you were here. You ll find a visitor s card in the pew rack that you can fill out and either hand to an usher or drop in the offering plate. 2
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT MARCH 18, 8:30 & 11:00 A.M. The congregation is invited to participate at the places marked with bold type WE PREPARE FOR GOD S GIFTS A Time for Music & Prayer A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth, J. Pachelbel, Toccata in A Minor, Jan Pieter Sweelinck Asking God s Forgiveness Stand In the name of the Father, and the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Most merciful God SILENCE IS KEPT FOR SELF-EXAMINATION. We confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen. 3
Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and, for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the Church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Opening Hymn Water, Blood, and Spirit Crying 4
Greeting The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you. 5
Today s Prayer The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. O God, with steadfast love you draw us to yourself, and in mercy you receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that through life and death we may live in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. GOD S WORD From the Old Testament Jeremiah 31:31-34 31 The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32 It will not be like the covenant that I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, Know the LORD, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. 6
From the Book of Psalms 51:1-9 Cantor sings refrain; all repeat refrain Cantor sings verses in regular print; all sing verses and refrain in bold print 1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; According to your abundant mercy blot out my trans- gressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my in- iquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my trans- gressions, and my sin is ever be- fore me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment. Refrain 5 Behold, I was brought forth in in- iquity, and in sin did my mother con- ceive me. 6 Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shal be clean; wash me, and I shall be whit- er than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have bro- ken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my in- iquities. Refrain 7
From a New Testament letter Hebrews 5:5-10 5 Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one who said to him, You are my Son, today I have begotten you ; 6 as he says also in another place, You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. 7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him, 10 having been designated by God a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek. The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. From one of the four Gospels John 12:20-33 Gospel Acclamation On My Heart Imprint Your Image, #811 The Holy Gospel is recorded in the 12 th chapter of St. John. Glory to you, O Lord. 20 Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, Sir, we wish to see Jesus. 22 Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23 Jesus answered them, The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25 Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. 27 Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say Father, save me from this hour? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name. Then a voice came from heaven, I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again. 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, An angel has spoken to him. 30 Jesus answered, This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31 Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted 8
up from the earth, will draw all people to myself. 33 He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. Sit God s Word for Today Pastor Burcer Stand Hymn for Today Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church, #321 Confessing our Faith We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit he became incarnate from the virgin Mary, and was made man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried. On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. 9
Offering our Prayers Lord in your mercy... hear our prayer. After each portion of the prayers: Sharing Christ s peace Sit The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you. Gathering Our Gifts Greet those around you with these or similar words Little Innocent Lamb, Messiah School Kindergarten Grade 3 Choir (11:00) The Gifts Are Presented Create in Me a Clean Heart 10
Let us pray. Receive, O God, Our bodies and souls and all our talents, together with these offerings we bring before you. For you have bought us to be your own, that we may live for you. Amen. CHRIST, OUR FOOD AND DRINK Preparing our hearts The Lord be with you. And also with you. Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise. It is indeed right, our duty and our joy...we praise your name and join their unending hymn: 11
Prayer of Consecration Sit. Holy, mighty and merciful Lord...now and forever. Amen. 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. To learn how we distribute communion, see the inside front cover. Communion Hymns Seed That in Earth Is Dying #330 Stand Post Communion Prayer 12
A Thanksgiving A Final Word and Promise ON OUR WAY A Hymn For the Bread Which You Have Broken #494 A Mission Go in peace. Serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Music as we leave Fugue in C Major (Jig Fugue), D. Buxtehude Liturgy setting reproduced under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License SB131019SB131019 13
SERVING TODAY Preaching Minister Pastor Burce Presiding Minister Pastor Bridger Assisting Minister Ron Coulter (8:30); Mike Thiel (11:00) Lector Elizabeth Coulter (8:30); Kristine Kascak (11:00) Communion Assistants Eric Anderson, Linda Herhuth, Lee Vysoky (8:30); Nancy Mickan, Peggy Schauer, Bob Zalac (11:00) Acolytes Jason Epperson, Colin Neumann (8:30); Evan Thiel, Luke Thiel (11:00) Cantor Trudy Gustke (8:30); Brad Paton (11:00) Messiah School Choir Kindergaren Grade 3(11:00) Directed by Kate Ilg Organist Deborah Zudell-Dickey Deacons Trish Kvasnicka, Steve Turnbull (8:30); Mark & Amy Hunger (11:00) Greeters Scott & Jill Straffen (8:30); Tom Chalfant (11:00) Ushers Craig Jernigan, Ken Novack (8:30); Grant Howes, Luke Howes, Ariana Laurie, Ken Pillivang(11:00) Altar Guild Chris Gator, Martha Trapp Nursery Jodi Norris, Eleanor Schauer (11:00) Trustee Mike Green 14
IN OUR PRAYERS + The Church s witness to the cross of Christ as hope for the world + People struggling to live where danger abounds + People striving this Lent to see Jesus + Our national, state and local governments + The family and friends of Fred Corbin + In need of healing: Wanda Clark, John Gruner, Jim Huetter, Dottie Juergens, Ken Negrey, Chuck Raquet THIS WEEK S COMMEMORATIONS March 17 PATRICK, d. 461, the great missionary to Ireland. March 19 JOSEPH, Mary s husband and the guardian of our Lord, whose faith and courage helped bring the light of Christ into the world. March 21 JONATHAN EDWARDS, d. 1758, the greatest theologian of the American colonial era and a renowned preacher whose sermons helped fuel a widespread renewal called the First Great Awakening. GOD S WORD FOR NEXT WEEK Palm Sunday Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Mark 14:1-15:47, Mark 15:1-39 We encourage you to read the lessons as part of your preparation for divine services. 15
Messiah Lutheran Church 21485 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, OH 44126 (440) 331-2405 E-mail church@messiahfp.org Messiah Lutheran School 4401 W. 215 th St., Fairview Park, OH 44126 (440) 331-6553 Email school@messiahfp.org www.messiahfairview.org + + + Servants and Missionaries All MLC members Senior Pastor Jerome Burce Associate Pastor Seth Bridger Visitation Pastor Ronald K. Morgan Music Director Connie Triplett Youth Director Kate Ilg Messiah School Principal Helen Casselberry Administrator Darlene Waugh Pierstorf Memorial Fund Director Martin Uhle + + + To the glory of God, through the strength of the Spirit. 16