Thy Will Be Done... on Earth as It Is in Heaven Wednesday Lenten Service March 26, 2014
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Port Hudson The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod 9100 Highway YY Leslie, Missouri Parsonage 573-459-6432 Church 573-459-6431 Rev. William F. Zastrow, Pastor Mary Sprick, Secretary Kathy Scheer, Choir Director Jenny Hullinghoff, Evening Organist Laura Nichols, Morning Organist ebenezerlutheran@hotmail.com ebenezerlutheranchurch.wordpress.com AS WE GATHER: The Third Petition, Thy will be done, is often spoken through gritted teeth as someone gives in to allow God to override what he or she wants. We hear again the Good News that God s will is always for our benefit, bringing good from ill and continuing into our eternal salvation. Hearing His Word moves us to rejoice that His will is being done, either through us or in spite of us. Thanks be to God! HYMN God Himself Is Present LW 206 INVOCATION In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. OPENING SENTENCES Joel 2:13; Matthew 16:24; Isaiah 53:5 Return to the Lord, your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; 2
and He relents over disaster. Jesus told His disciples, If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. Christ was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities. SALUTATION The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray. PRAYER OF THE DAY O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. PSALM Psalm 95:1 9; antiphon: v. 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 3
All: All: Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In His hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are His also. The sea is His, for He made it, and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! For he is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand. Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as at Meribah, as on the day at Massah in the wilderness, when your fathers put Me to the test and put Me to the proof, though they had seen My work. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 4
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. HYMN I Leave All Things to God s Direction LW 429 OLD TESTAMENT READING Exodus 17:1 7 (God provides water in spite of the people s grumbling.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. CHOIR EPISTLE Romans 5:1 8 (God uses even suffering for our good.) This is the Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. CATECHISM The Lord s Prayer: The Third Petition Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. What does this mean? The good and gracious will of God is done even without our prayer, but we pray in this petition that it may be done among us also. How is God s will done? God s will is done when He breaks and hinders every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, which do not want us to hallow God s name or let His kingdom come; and when He strengthens and keeps us 5
firm in His Word and faith until we die. This is His good and gracious will. HOLY GOSPEL John 4:5 30, 39 42 (A Samaritan woman recognizes Jesus as the Christ.) The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the fourth chapter. Glory to You, O Lord. (The Gospel is read.) This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to You, O Christ. SERIES HYMN Our Father, Who from Heaven Above LW 431 Thy gracious will on earth be done As 'tis in heaven before Thy throne; Obedience in our weal and woe And patience in all grief bestow. Curb flesh and blood and every ill That sets itself against Thy will. SERMON OFFERING OFFERTORY Page 175 of LW Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me, Cast me not away from Thy presence; and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. 6
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen. LUTHER S MORNING PRAYER Let us pray. I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. LUTHER S EVENING PRAYER Let us pray. I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have graciously kept me this day; and I pray that You would forgive me all my sins where I have done wrong, and graciously keep me this night. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen. PRAYER OF THE CHURCH Let us pray. Our Father who art in heaven. 7
We give thanks, heavenly Father, that we may with all boldness and confidence ask You as dear children ask their dear father. Hallowed be Thy name. Your name is holy in itself, but we ask You to help us to keep it holy in our daily living. Grant that all who bear the name of Christ may bring glory to Your name. Thy kingdom come. Give us Your Holy Spirit, Father, so that we may believe Your Holy Word and lead godly lives throughout our days. Bless clergy and laity alike so that they may reflect Your rule in their life and teaching. Extend Your kingdom of grace. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Break every evil plan and purpose of the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, Lord, and move the leaders of nations to bring about the justice, peace, and freedom You have in mind for their citizens. Give us this day our daily bread. O God, You give daily bread to everyone without our prayers, but we ask especially for those near and dear to us in their various needs. Bless those who provide food and shelter, those who care for the sick and sorrowing, and all who protect us at home and abroad. Help us to receive with thanksgiving everything that has to do with the support and needs of the body. 8
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Were You to look at our sins, gracious God, You would deny our every request, for we sin daily. Because You have forgiven us every trespass, move us to forgive those who sin against us. May justice be tempered with compassion in our communities. And lead us not into temptation. Temptations come to us from the devil, the world, and our sinful nature, heavenly Father. Strengthen us so that we may overcome them and win the final victory. Give wisdom to parents and teachers so that our youth may see clearly the correct decisions to make. But deliver us from evil. We remember those who have gone before us in the faith, O Lord, and pray You to give us a blessed end that we may join them and You in heaven. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Amen, amen. Yes, yes, it shall be so! BENEDICTION The LORD bless you and keep you. The LORD make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. The LORD look upon you with favor and + give you peace. Numbers 6:24 26 Amen, Amen. Amen. 9
HYMN Love in Christ Is Strong and Living LW 376 DISMISSAL Go in peace as you serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. Creative Worship for the Lutheran Parish, Series A, Part 2. Copyright 2013 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved. Used by permission. 10