March 6, 2016 First English Lutheran Church This Week in Our Parish Monday, 3/7 10:00 WoW Bible Study at WSM Tuesday, 3/8 9:15 Bible Study-FE 4:00 WoW Bible Study-FE Wednesday, 3/9 9:00 Quilting 9:30 Men s Coffee- FE 3:45 Confirmation 5:30 Soup & Sandwich Supper at FIC/SUMC 7:00 Lent Service at FIC/SUMC Friday, 3/11 9:00 Coffee & Goodies @ Hub 71 Sunday, 3/13 Daylight Savings Time Ends-Spring Forward 1 Hour 8:30 Worship Service Fellowship 2/28/16 61 General $ 992.00 Loose $ 58.00 Initial Offering $ 5.00 Assessments $ 25.00 Building $ 143.00 $1,223.00 3/2/16 72 Lent Offering $ 413.00 Ministers: Every Disciple Pastors: Steven A. Bruer James M. Hallaway Parish Website: www.firstenglishbethany.org Worship Assistants Organist: Mary Hanninen Ushers: Corrine Neissess & Marlene Schiotz Greeters: Diane Pederson & Mille Hendrickson Reader: Lucille Erickson Communion Server: Karen Kocurek Communion Set-up & Clean-up: Arlette Markulla & Ellen Yrjo Communion Helper: Karson Kocurek Mission Statement First English Lutheran Church is a caring inclusive Christian Community, Dedicated to Word and Sacrament ministry; Growing in Christ; Sharing the faith; Serving neighbors; and Supporting each other.
Prayer upon entering the sanctuary: Thank you Lord for making this place of worship. Thank you Lord for bringing me here today. As I enter Lord, would you prepare me to exalt you? Would you prepare me to minister to others? Would you prepare me to hear your Word in ways that lead to change where needed, Amen PRELUDE/BELLS/WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS WE GREET ONE ANOTHER INVOCATION Leader: Gathered together in this place as the family of God, let us begin in His name. All: In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen! OPENING PRAYER Let us pray: Holy Father, Mighty Lord, You have welcomed us this day into fellowship with You and one another. May this time be a celebration of what You have done through Your Son Jesus and by Your grace and mercy, a time that prepares us for service in this world. On this Lenten journey we are mindful that it is only by your grace that we are welcomed into Your Kingdom. Open our hearts now as Your Church gathers to worship. We place our trust in You and joyfully give you praise. We pray this in Jesus holy name. And together we respond by saying as one: Amen OPENING HYMN RED # 185 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross * CONFESSION OF OUR SIN Leader: Like the son who squanders his inheritance, so we often waste what the Lord has given to us: our time, our words, and our actions. We don t honor the family to which we have been baptized into. We don t bless the world as we have been called. Instead of running further from the family, let us turn and look towards our Heavenly Father, trusting in His infinite grace and mercy and confessing our sins. (a time of silent reflection) Leader: Holy Lord, merciful Father, All: We have not honored you with our lives. Have mercy on us. Embrace us and guide us in this life that we may honor you with all we say and do. We have often allowed the cares of this life to distract us from Your love and mercy, and from the sharing of Your Gospel with our neighbors. Forgive us Lord, help us to live fruitful lives because of the great love you have bestowed upon us. Make us shine like the stars of heaven with Your Grace. Amen.
* WORDS OF FORGIVENESS Pastor: See how the Father loves you! He came to you and me and has embraced us even in the midst of our confession. He sent His Son Jesus into the world, to die and rise, that we might forever be a part of His family. Therefore, by the grace and mercy of a loving God, receive His forgiveness of all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. * HYMN OF PRAISE RED # 202 Amazing Grace * PRAYER OF THE DAY (unison) God of compassion, you welcome the wayward, and you embrace us all with your mercy. By our baptism clothe us with garments of your grace, and feed us at the table of your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen FIRST LESSON Isaiah 12:1-6 Pew Bible page 733 SECOND LESSON 2 Corinthians 5:16-21 Pew Bible page 1228 * GOSPEL Luke 15:1-3,11-32 Pew Bible page 1112 SERMON When We Feel Lost SERMON HYMN LBW # 506 Dear Lord and Father of Mankind * AFFIRMATION OF FAITH (unison) I believe in God the Father, Who has created me and all things. I believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who existed before time began, Who entered flesh in Bethlehem, born of the virgin Mary; Who proclaimed the Kingdom in Word and deed; Who suffered, died and was buried. He rose again, from the dead, as sign that His sacrifice was sufficient for my salvation. He ascended into heaven, where even now He serves as my High Priest, interceding for me. I believe He will come again, triumphantly, as the King of kings. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity, Who was sent by the Father and the Son to bring me to faith, and to work in me that I might mature in holiness, service and love. I believe the Spirit guides me on this journey. He leads me, comforts me, challenges me, directs me, disciplines me, shaping me into the image of Jesus. He strengthens me when I am weak, and afflicts me when I lean on my own understanding. He is my constant companion, continually present through times of testing and refreshment. I believe this to be true for me, and I try to live by faith. Now and for eternity. Amen.
OFFERING * OFFERTORY W&P # 146 We Are An Offering * WORDS OF INSTITUTION * LORD S PRAYER DISTRIBUTION OF THE ELEMENTS * POST COMMUNION PRAYER Leader: Heavenly Father, we praise You for welcoming us and caring for us in this precious meal. By Your Son Jesus You have saved us and the whole world. Sustain us in the one true faith until life everlasting. And we respond together by saying as one: Amen. * BENEDICTION Now as members of the Father s family, redeemed by Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit upon You, go and seek the lost, care for those whom God leads you to, and live as Christ. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad. Sing, all you who are upright in heart! Now, he invites us to share his blessing with our neighbors and coworkers, our friends and family. So, receive this ancient blessing for you to give to all you meet. May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face shine on you, and be gracious to you. May the lord look upon you with favor, and grant you his peace! In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit! Amen * CLOSING HYMN RED # 186 The Old Rugged Cross * BELLS * DISMISSAL Leader: Renewed and refreshed and filled with God s Word and Spirit, go now with a smile on your face and God s peace in your heart and serve the Lord. People: Thanks be to God! LEAVE THIS SERVICE FILLED WITH HOPE & PROMISE AND FOLLOW JESUS ALL THE WAY!!!!! * Please stand for these portions of the service if able.
Today s Announcements Wednesday we continue our Lenten pilgrimage toward the cross at Sebeka United Methodist Church starting at 7:00. A Soup & Sandwich supper will be served before the service starting at around 5:30 p.m. The theme for our Lent this year is: Living Lent As People of the Resurrection. Each week, we will concentrate on one word to consider as we live Lent as people of the Resurrection. During the Midweek sermons we discover the ways in which the passion narratives of Christ take on more significant meaning for us when we see them through the lens of the empty tomb. Each service helps us see that we are always alive in Christ, who died and was raised. Wednesday Pastor Steve Bruer will be preaching on Praise with Psalm 34:1-10 as the primary Scripture lesson. Come and worship with us on Wednesday nights! Assessments update:. We need $1,700.00 to pay this off. Don t forget to daily pray for Pastor Jim and his work in India! Please listen to these radio stations for winter weather church related cancellations, postponements, or announcements: KRCQ DL 102.3 FM, KWAD Wadena 920 AM, KDKK Park Rapids 97.5 FM. Remember in Prayer Reed Anderson Jennifer Karppinen Cassity Borgan Pastor Jim s foster daughter Naomi Pastor Jim-India Jane Bruer Dale Nordick Charlie Blixt Joan Bruer Mike Maurer Alice Peterson Donna Roiko Marie Wortiska Norma Dissmore Steve Thompson Sharon Berg John Rader Colton Polman Chris Erickson Jackie Ranallo Thomas Merchlewicz Vickie Hinchley Jim Johnson Ashley Anderson Lynnette Yliniemi Tracey Skroski Carol Mortenson Ramona Olson Joann Koskela Bruce Blanchard Elvin Yrjo Susan Gullekson Our Country & Military Luke Hallaway Kyle Soppeland Jason Wilker Our Churches, Pastors, Leaders, and Staff Our Shut-ins
Dates to Remember 3/9 5:30 pm Soup/Sandwich supper at FIC/SUMC 3/9 7:00 pm Midweek Lenten Service at FIC/SUMC 3/13 Daylight Savings Time begins-move clocks ahead 1 hour 3/16 5:30 pm Soup/Sandwich supper at Bethany 3/16 7:00 pm Midweek Lenten Service at Bethany 3/24 7:00 pm Maundy Thursday Service at Bethany 3/25 3:30 pm Good Friday Service at Bethany 3/25 7:00 pm Good Friday Service at First English 3/27 Resurrection Sunday Service o 6:30 A.M. Bethany Breakfast served after worship o 8:30 A.M. First English-Cinnamon Rolls after service o 9:30 A.M. Friends in Christ March 2016 Food Shelf Campaign Be The Hero. Fight Hunger And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. "Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied."blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh. Luke 6:20-21 Please remember the hungry during our congregation s March Campaign. We will be collecting food and cash donations for the Menahga Area Food Shelf throughout the month of March. Monetary Donations Welcome! Minnesota FoodShare is a Program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches *Matching Funds by Hunger Solutions & Feinstein Foundation