St. Mark s Lutheran Church Growing Together in Christ INVITATION TO LENT Friends in Christ, with the whole church we have entered the time of remembering Jesus' passover from death to life, through which our life in Christ is renewed. During this holy season we acknowledge our need for repentance and for God's mercy. We are created to experience joy in communion with God, to love one another, and to live in harmony with creation. But our sinful rebellion separates us from God, our neighbors, and creation, so that we do not enjoy the life our creator intended. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to a discipline that contends against evil and resists whatever leads us away from love of God and neighbor. I invite you, therefore, to the discipline of Lent self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament. Let us continue our journey through these forty days to the great Three Days of Jesus' death and resurrection. You are invited to join for a Vespers service each Sunday during this season of Lent beginning at 4:30 PM with an opportunity for conversation around ice cream sundaes at 5:00. The theme for these services is the Lord s Prayer. Silent Prayer / Prelude Greetings, Announcements ORDER OF WORSHIP * Congregation is invited to stand as you are able and to respond with the words in bold type. Meditation Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery ELW 334 Congregation is invited to join in singing the first verse plus the verse for the day Holy Communion Liturgy Sundays of Lent 2
Lent 1 February 14 Lent 4 March 6 From the dawning of creation Give us eyes to see you clearly; you have loved us as your own; make us children of your light. stay with us through all temptation, Give us hearts to live more nearly make us turn to you alone. as your gospel shining bright. Lent 2 February 21 Lent 5 March 13 In our call to be a blessing, God of all our fear and sorrow, may we be a blessing true; God who lives beyond our death, may we live and die confessing hold us close through each tomorrow, Christ as Lord in all we do. love as near as ev ry breath. Lent 3 February 28 Living Water of salvation, be the fountain of each soul; springing up in new creation, flow in us and make us whole. GATHERING *CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who brings us safely through the sea, who gives us water from the rock, who leads us into the land of milk and honey. Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Silence is kept for reflection. The congregation is invited to kneel or sit for the Confession and make the sign of the cross, the sign marked at baptism, as the presiding minister begins. Merciful Father, we have sinned against heaven and before you. We do not fully live as your sons and daughters. We use your gifts to our own ends. Forgive us and restore us, that we may resist all that draws us away from you, and be at peace with one another. Amen. My friends hear the good news. We are reconciled to God through Christ; for his sake, God does not count our trespasses against us. Once dead in sin, we are now alive to God. Once lost, we now are found. God clothes you in the finest robe of all, the righteousness of Jesus Christ, forgiving you all your sins and making of you a new creation. 3 *GATHERING HYMN *GREETING The free gift of grace in Jesus Christ, the reconciling love of God, and the life and peace of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. And also with you. *KYRIE *PRAYER OF THE DAY February 14 - O Lord God, you led your people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide us now, so that, following your Son, we may walk safely through the wilderness of this world toward the life you alone can give, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. February 21 - God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world. Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share 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. February 28 - Eternal God, your kingdom has broken into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us to hear your word and obey it, and bring your saving love to fruition in our lives, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 4
March 6 - 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. March 13 - Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness, and your grace waters our desert. Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love given to all through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. WORD FIRST READING A: A reading from. The reading is concluded with The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. THE RESPONSIVE READING SECOND READING A: A reading from. The reading is concluded with The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. * LENTEN ACCLAMATION CHILDREN S MESSAGE SERMON *HYMN OF THE DAY *APOSTLES CREED With the whole church, let us confess our faith. 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. *GOSPEL The holy gospel according to. Glory to you, O Lord. The gospel is proclaimed, concluding: The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ. 5 PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Each petition ends in Lord, in your mercy, Congregation is invited to affirm with hear our prayer P: To you, gracious God, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your boundless mercy; through Jesus Christ, our Savior. PEACE P: The peace of Christ be with you always. C: And also with you. The people may greet one another with a sign of Christ's peace, and may say Peace be with you or similar words. 6
MEAL GATHERING OF THE GIFTS OFFERTORY A time of silence is held in preparation for God s gift of Holy Communion *OFFERTORY RESPONSE *GREAT THANKSGIVING (Spoken) The Lord be with you. C: And also with you. Lift up your hearts. C: We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord, our God. C: It is right to give him thanks and praise. *PREFACE It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. You call your people to cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast that, renewed in the gift of baptism, we may come to the fullness of your grace. And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn: *HOLY, HOLY, HOLY *OFFERTORY PRAYER A: Let us pray. God, our provider, C: 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. Amen. 7 8
Blessed are you, O God of the universe, your mercy is everlasting and your faithfulness endures from age to age. Praise to you for creating the heavens and the earth. Praise to you for saving the earth from the waters of the flood. Praise to you for bringing the Israelites safely through the sea. Praise to you for leading your people through the wilderness to the land of milk and honey. Praise to you for the words and deeds of Jesus, your anointed one. Praise to you for the death and resurrection of Christ. Praise to you for your Spirit poured out on all nations. *INVITATION TO COMMUNION All who thirst, all who hunger, come and be filled with the goodness of God. Thanks be to God! LAMB OF GOD In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread, and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and eat; this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me. Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the remembrance of me. With this bread and cup we remember our Lord's passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith: Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again. O God of resurrection and new life: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us and on these gifts of bread and wine. Bless this feast. Grace our table with your presence. Come, Holy Spirit. Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth, burning with justice, peace, and love. Come, Holy Spirit. With your holy ones of all times and places, with the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God, blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever. Amen. Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us. 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. 9 Feasting at the Table A Word of Welcome: The Sacrament of Holy Communion is the meal of the Church. All baptized Christians are welcome to the Lord s Table to receive the gift of His body and blood. Please come forward by the side aisle to the chancel rail picking up a cup along the way. A ramp is available in the side entrance to the left for those who prefer not to use steps. Wine is offered from the first chalice. If you prefer Grape juice, please cover you cup until the Grape Fruit chalice is offered. Following a table blessing, please return by the side aisle. Children who have not yet received instruction for First Holy Communion are welcome to come to the altar to receive a special blessing. If you are unable to come forward please let the pastor or ushers know, and you will be served in the pew. *COMMUNION BLESSING The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen and preserve you in eternal life. Amen. *POST-COMMUNION CANTICLE 10
DISMISSAL A: Go in peace. Remember the poor. Thanks be to God. From Sundays and Seasons.com. Copyright 2016 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #47891. New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. In a commitment to good stewardship, please leave this worship booklet in the pew rack for future use. You are encouraged to take the bulletin with you for use throughout the week. If you have no use for the bulletin, you are invited to deposit it in the recycle box as you exit this level of the church. Thank you for worshipping at St Mark s Lutheran Church! *POST-COMMUNION PRAYER A: Let us pray. O God, we thank you for gathering and feeding us as a mother hen embraces her young. Release us now to go on our way in these forty days, ready to see our work as prayer, ready to fast from complacency, and ready to share with those in need; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. *BLESSING 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. *SENDING SONG 11 ST MARK S LUTHERAN CHURCH Growing Together in Christ 5 Brooke Manor, Birdsboro, PA 19508 (610) 582-8167 stmarkbirdsboro@dejazzd.com Website: www.stmarkbirdsboro.org The Rev. Robert A. Kramer, Pastor (717) 405-0044 Pastor Bob s e-mail: pastorbob@stmarkbirdsboro.org 12