RECONCILED! WEEK OF LENT IV

RECONCILED! WEEK OF LENT IV LAETERE MARCH 5 & 6, 2016 ST. MARK S LUTHERAN CHURCH & SCHOOL STEELEVILLE, ILLINOIS AS WE GATHER We live in a world of broken relationships. Without reconciliation, life is not unlike plants without water or a dead battery. But Isaiah looked forward to a day in which God s people would not only return from exile in the short term but will draw water from the wells of salvation, as do we. David was drained, his strength dried up as by the heat of summer, but he rejoiced that God forgave and reconciled him. The father in Jesus parable single-handedly reconciled his prodigal son to himself and offered that to his elder son, as our heavenly Father does to us each day. In the grace of God, that life has passed away; behold, the new has come. In Christ, that reconciled life is full of joy and rejoicing! PREPARATION HYMN TODAY YOUR MERCY CALLS US LSB 915 INVOCATION P = Presider C = Congregation P In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen. SEASONAL SENTENCES P This day in the season of Lent is called Laetere, meaning joy. Although a somber season because of our Lord s suffering and death, our worship today is in Lent but not part of it a little Easter. C So let us rejoice and be glad in Jesus name! Amen. P O Lord, open my lips, C and my mouth will declare Your praise. P Make haste, O God, to deliver me; C make haste to help me, O Lord. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. 1

KYRIE LORD RESPONSES ARE SUNG TO THE TUNE OF WEM IN LEIDENSTAGEN, LSB 433 P In peace, let us pray to the Lord. C Lord God, show us mercy. Hear us as we pray. Grant to us your pardon, peace at end of day. P For the peace from above and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord. C Lord God, show us mercy. Hear us as we pray. Grant to us your pardon, peace at end of day. P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord. C Lord God, show us mercy. Hear us as we pray. Grant to us your pardon, peace at end of day. P For this holy house and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord. C Lord God, show us mercy. Hear us as we pray. Grant to us your pardon, peace at end of day. P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord. C Amen. HYMN GLORY BE TO JESUS LSB 433 Glory be to Jesus, who in bitter pains poured for me the lifeblood from His sacred veins. Grace and life eternal in that blood I find; blest be His compassion, infinitely kind. PRAYER OF THE DAY P Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning. C Though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Fill us with such thanks, praise, and joy that we may be Christ s ambassadors of reconciliation in all our relationships through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. 2

OLD TESTAMENT ISAIAH 12:1-6 GOD HAS ANSWERED OUR PRAYERS! P You will say in that day: C I will give thanks to you, O LORD, for though You were angry with me, Your anger turned away, that You might comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation. P With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: C Give thanks to the LORD, call upon His name, make known His deeds among the peoples, proclaim that His name is exalted. Sing praises to the LORD, for He has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. P This is the Word of our Lord. C Thanks be to God! PSALM 32 ANTIPHON: PSALM 32:11 P Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, C and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! P Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, C whose sin is covered. P Blessed is the one against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, C and in whose spirit there is no deceit. P For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away C through my groaning all day long. P For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; C my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. P I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity; C I said, I will confess my transgressions to the LORD, and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. P Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, C and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! P Therefore let everyone who is godly offer prayer to You at a time when You may be found; C surely in the rush of great waters, they shall not reach him. 3

P You are a hiding place for me; You preserve me from trouble; C You surround me with shouts of deliverance. P Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, C and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! P I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; C I will counsel you with my eye upon you. P Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding, C which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. P Many are the sorrows of the wicked, C but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. P Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, C and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! EPISTLE 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-21 BE RECONCILED TO GOD. 16 From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. P This is the Word of our Lord. C Thanks be to God! ANTHEM: GLORY BE TO JESUS (Sunday) 1 ST - & 2 ND -GRADE STUDENTS OF ST. MARK S LUTHERAN SCHOOL 4

VERSE LUKE 15:22A & 24A PLEASE STAND P The father said to his servants, This my son was dead, and is alive again; C he was lost, and is found. HOLY GOSPEL LUKE 15:1-3 & 11-32 THE PRODIGAL SON & FATHER P The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 15 th chapter. C [LSB 157] Glory to You, O Lord. P Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear [Jesus]. And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, C This man receives sinners and eats with them. P So He told them this parable: There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, C Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me. P And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, C How many of my father s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants. P And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, C Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. P But the father said to his servants, Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. 5

P And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, C Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound. P But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, C Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him! P And he said to him, Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found. P This is the Gospel of our Lord. C [LSB 157] Praise to You, O Christ! PLEASE BE SEATED HYMN CHIEF OF SINNERS THOUGH I BE LSB 611 SERMON OUR PROFUSELY PRODIGAL GOD! LUKE 15:1-3 & 11-32 The Point: Waste (son s devouring) makes haste (father s showering)! The Problem: Haste (our ravaging) makes waste (Father s lavishing)! The Promise: Because God wasted Jesus for our sins, His Spirit hastens our celebration here on Earth and eternally. 6

OFFERING OFFERTORY While we worship the Lord with our offerings, please write your names in the fellowship registers, indicating the date and time of the service you are attending. To help us serve you more effectively, please use the blanks provided to indicate a change in mailing address, phone numbers (home, work, cell, fax) or e-mail address(es). Please tear out the sheets with names on them and let them stick out of the top of the folder so that the ushers can collect them. Thank you! PLEASE STAND AS THE OFFERTORY IS INTRODUCED. C [LSB 159] What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me? I will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving and will call on the name of the Lord. I will take the cup of salvation and will call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the Lord s house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH P Let us pray for all who, like the people of Isaiah s day, languish under fear and oppression: C Reconciling Lord, use police and military people and resources, political powers and courageous leaders, to restore liberty and freedom to all who are displaced or denied justice. P Let us pray for all who, like David in his earlier days, deny their transgressions, defend their iniquities, and groan in their misery: C Reconciling Lord, by Your Word of Law and Gospel bring them to true contrition and repentance. Grant that we may act as Your embracing arms. P Let us pray for clergy and lay leaders around the world, who, like Paul, are Christ s ambassadors through whom God is making His appeal: C Reconciling Lord, strengthen and protect Your Church around the world, all who bring the good news of salvation to the people they meet. Guide us as we carry the ministry of reconciliation in our various relationships. Help us encourage one another on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to You each day. P Let us pray for all who reflect the family members in Jesus parable those who find themselves destitute, those harboring resentment, and those offering compassionate care: C Reconciling Lord, where generations are at odds, bring understanding. Where families are fractured, bring healing. Where people are forgotten, unseen, and marginalized, bring dignity and new hope. SPECIAL PETITIONS & PRAISES P Into Your hands, heavenly Father, we commend all for whom we pray C trusting in Your mercy for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. 7

APOSTLES CREED (Saturday) C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Christian: the ancient text reads catholic, meaning the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian doctrine. SATURDAY WORSHIP CONTINUES ON PAGE 11 WITH THE LORD S PRAYER. 8

NICENE CREED (Sunday) C I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end. And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen. Us means all people. Christian: the ancient text reads catholic, meaning the whole Church as it confesses the wholeness of Christian doctrine. 9

SACRAMENT The Lord s Supper is celebrated at this congregation in the confession and glad confidence that, as He says, our Lord gives into our mouths not only bread and wine but His very body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness of sins and to strengthen our union with Him and with one another. Our Lord invites to His table those who trust His words, repent of all sin, and set aside any refusal to forgive and love as He forgives and loves us, that they may show forth His death until He comes. Because those who eat and drink our Lord s body and blood unworthily do so to their great harm and because Holy Communion is a confession of the faith which is confessed at this altar, any who are not yet instructed, in doubt, or who hold a confession differing from that of this congregation and The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, and yet desire to receive the sacrament, are asked first to speak with our pastor or an elder. Alcohol-removed white wine is offered in the center of the tray. For further study, see Matthew 5:23f; 10:32f; 18:15-35; 26:26-29; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34. PROPER PREFACE P It is truly good, right, and salutary that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to You, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God, C through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who by His dying and rising has reconciled us to You, our welcoming heavenly Father, so that with cleansed hearts we might be prepared joyfully to celebrate the paschal feast in sincerity and truth. P Therefore, with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven we laud and magnify Your glorious name, evermore praising You and singing: SANCTUS HOLY ISAIAH 6:3 & MATTHEW 21:9 LSB 161 C Holy, holy, holy Lord God of pow r and might: Heaven and earth are full of Your glory. Hosanna, hosanna. Hosanna in the highest. Blessèd is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna is a Hebrew word of praise meaning save us now. 10

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING P Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. C With confident faith in Christ, our refuge, we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross and His Easter victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil. P Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to assure us of the reconciliation He has won for us. C Grant us faithfully to eat His body and drink His blood by which we are nourished and refreshed. P Gather us together, we pray, from the ends of the earth to celebrate with all the faithful the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. C Graciously receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. P To You alone, O Father, be all glory, honor, and worship C with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. LORD S PRAYER MATTHEW 6:9 13 C 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. SATURDAY EVENING WORSHIP CONTINUES WITH THE PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING ON PAGE 12. WORDS OF OUR LORD MATTHEW 26:26 28 MARK 14:22 24 LUKE 22:19 20 1 CORINTHIANS 11:23 25 PAX DOMINI THE PEACE OF THE LORD JOHN 20:19 P The peace of the Lord be with you always. C Amen. 11

AGNUS DEI LAMB OF GOD JOHN 1:29 LSB 163 C Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world; grant us peace. DISTRIBUTION HYMN NOW THE SILENCE LSB 910 HYMN SOUL, ADORN YOURSELF WITH GLADNESS LSB 636 HYMN WHAT IS THIS BREAD LSB 629 CANTICLE NUNC DIMITTIS SONG OF SIMEON LSB 165 PLEASE STAND C Lord, now You let Your servant go in peace; Your word has been fulfilled. My own eyes have seen the salvation which You have prepared in the sight of every people: A light to reveal You to the nations and the glory of Your people Israel. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen. PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING P Gracious God, our heavenly Father, C keep us firm in confident faith throughout our days of pilgrimage that, on the day of Your Son s coming, we may, together with all Your saints, celebrate the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord. Amen. BENEDICTION P God is a hiding place for us; He preserves us from trouble. C He surrounds us with shouts of deliverance. P The Lord bless you and keep you in His welcoming embrace. The Lord make His face shine on you in His reconciling grace. The Lord look upon you as His new creation and give you peace. C Amen! HYMN GOD LOVED THE WORLD SO THAT HE GAVE LSB 571 CREATIVE WORSHIP FOR THE LUTHERAN PARISH, SERIES C, PART 2 COPYRIGHT 2015 CONCORDIA PUBLISHING HOUSE ALL RIGHTS RESERVED; USED BY PERMISSION 12