Contrasts of the Cross: Justice and Mercy Peace Lutheran Church 2090 Commerce Drive North Mankato, MN 56003
Peace Lutheran Church Evangelical Lutheran Synod Serving Christ with united hearts and hands and voices Church Staff Pastor Timothy Hartwig: 507-382-6826 Vicar Matthew Behmer: 763-516-1967 Church Office: 507-385-1386 Jesus Lambs at Peace Preschool Teacher/Director: Joslyn Moldstad Phone: 507-385-7752 Email: joslynm@chartermi.net Divine Service 6:30 PM March 9, 2016 Fifth Wednesday in Lent Welcome to Peace! The purpose of our congregation is to worship God, who gives life through Word and Sacrament; to serve one another in love and fellowship; and to proclaim forgiveness and salvation to all through Jesus Christ alone. Before Worship As you prepare to worship your Lord this evening, spend a few quiet minutes in prayer before the service. Review the lessons, the service notes, and pray this prayer: Prayer of the Day Almighty God, we confess that we deserve to be punished for our evil deeds. But we ask you graciously to cleanse us from all sin and to comfort us with your salvation; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. For the Children A Cry-Room is available if your little ones need a moment. It is the first room on the left as you walk into the church building. Sound and video are piped into the room to enable you to hear and see the service. Facilities Restrooms are located down the hall and on the right side. 2
The Divine Service: Vespers, p. 120 The Confession of Sin P: Dearly beloved! We have come together in the presence of God our heavenly Father, to render thanks for the great benefits that we have received at His hand, to set forth His most worthy praise, to hear His holy Word, and to ask for ourselves and on behalf of others, those things that are necessary for our life and salvation. O come, let us worship Him! Let us kneel and bow down before Him. Let us confess our sins with penitent hearts, and obtain forgiveness by His infinite grace and mercy. C: Almighty and most merciful Father, we have strayed from Your ways like lost sheep. We have followed the devices and desires of our hearts. We have offended against Your holy law. We have done those things which we should not have done, and we have not done those things which we should have done. Have mercy on us, O Lord! Spare us and restore us, according to the promises You have declared to us in Jesus Christ, our Lord. For His sake grant that we may live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of Your holy name. P: The almighty and merciful Lord has granted us pardon and forgiveness of all our sins, grace for true repentance and amendment of life, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Hymn #426:1-4, Jesus Sinners Doth Receive The Versicles P: O Lord, open my lips. 3
P: Make haste, O God, to deliver me. The Psalmody Psalm 32 P: Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, C: whose sins are covered. P: Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him 4
C: and in whose spirit is no deceit. P: When I kept silent, C: my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. P: For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; C: my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. P: Then I acknowledged my sin to you C: and did not cover up my iniquity. P: I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD - C: and you forgave the guilt of my sin. P: Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you C: while you may be found; P: surely when the mighty waters rise, C: they will not reach him. P: You are my hiding place; C: you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. P: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; C: I will counsel you and watch over you. P: Do not be like the horse of the mule, C: Which have no understanding P: but must be controlled by bit and bridle C: or they will not come to you. P: Many are the woes of the wicked, C: but the LORD s unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him. P: Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous; C: sing, all you who are upright in heart! All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning is now, and ever shall be, forever more. Amen. Passion History Part 5 Jesus Condemned to Death 5
A Responsory P: O Lord, have mercy upon us. The Sermon Hymn: #292:1, 4-6, 9, 15, O Dearest Jesus The Sermon 2 Corinthians 5:21 Contrasts of the Cross: Justice and Mercy 21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. The Offering The members of Peace Lutheran Congregation have joined together to do the Lord s work in this community and around the world. Visitors need not feel obligated to participate in this offering which supports our ministry. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. II Corinthians 9:7 Please fill out the Friendship Register. Adult Choir/Congregation, The Tree of Life Congregation and Choir: The tree of life with ev'ry good In Eden's holy orchard stood, And of its fruit so pure and sweet God let the man and woman eat. Yet in this garden also grew another tree, of which they knew; Its lovely limbs with fruit adorned against whose eating God had warned. Choir: The stillness of that sacred grove was broken, as the serpent strove With tempting voice Eve to beguile and Adam too by sin defile. O day of sadness when the breath of fear and darkness, doubt and death, Its awful poison first displayed within the world so newly made. 6
What mercy God showed to our race, a plan of rescue by his grace; In sending One from woman's seed, the One to fill our greatest need - For on a tree uplifted high His only Son for sin would die, Would drink the cup of scorn and dread to crush the ancient serpent's head! Congregation and Choir: Now from that tree of Jesus' shame flows life eternal in His name; For all who trust and will believe, Salvation's living fruit receive And of this fruit so pure and sweet the Lord invites the world to eat, To find within this cross of wood the tree of life with ev'ry good. Text by Stephen B. Starke Tune by Bruce W. Becker Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-721927. The Prayers, beginning with The Kyrie The Lord s Prayer 7
The Collect P: Abide with us, Lord, for it is toward evening and the day is far spent. Abide with us and with Your whole Church. Abide with us in the end of the day, in the end of our life, and in the end of the world. Abide with us with Your grace and goodness, with 8
Your holy Word and Sacrament, with Your strength and blessing. Abide with us when the night of affliction and temptation comes upon us, the night of fear and despair when death shall come. Abide with us and with all the faithful through time and eternity. The Benedicamus P: Let us bless the Lord. The Benediction P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. The Closing Hymn #569, Now Rest Beneath Night s Shadow 9
Thank you to those who served in our service today: Organist: Katie Hartwig; The ushers; Cover artwork: Don Moldstad. To God be the Glory! Join Us For Supper! Lenten suppers will be served from 5:15-6:15PM every Wednesday during the Lenten season. We have awesome cooks in our congregation come and enjoy the food and fellowship! Midweek Lenten services are held Wednesdays at 6:30pm. The theme is Contrasts of the Cross: March 16 Shame and Glory 3/20 Palm Sunday 8:30AM Divine Service 10:45AM Divine Service 3/24 Maundy Thursday 6:30PM Divine Service with Holy Communion 3/25 Good Friday 6:30PM Tenebrae Service 3/27 Easter Sunday 6:30AM Sunrise Service 7:30AM Easter Breakfast 9:00AM Festival Service 10:00AM Easter Egg Hunt 10
Easter Breakfast For many years now, the Peace Softball Team has done a wonderful job preparing and serving our Easter breakfast. This year will be no different as far as the wonderful meal is concerned. Menu: French toast, sausages, fruit, milk, juice and coffee. Message from the softball team: The free-will donation will go to the Building Fund. This year donations will be matched, up to $2000.00! We look forward to serving you breakfast (7:30-8:45) and hope you will join us in donating to the Building Fund. The softball season begins on Monday evening, April 25 th. We hope you will come and cheer us on this season! 11