WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who forgives all our sin,
whose mercy endures forever. Amen.
Let us return to God, confessing our sin in the assurance of God’s abiding love.
(Silence for reflection)
Compassionate One, you are slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, but our lives do not always reflect you and your love for the world. We do not show others the tender compassion you have shown to us. We do not welcome others with the radical hospitality you grant to all people. We oppress others, even though you have set us free again and again. We squander the abundant gifts of the earth. Transform our lives and guide us again in the way of the cross. Amen
Beloved in Christ, God’s arms are always stretched open wide to welcome the wandering ones home. In ☩ Christ your sins are forgiven. You have a place in God’s house forever. Amen.
CHURCH CHOIR: GIVE THANKS
APOSTOLIC GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. And also with you.
KYRIE page 147 (front of hymnal)
HYMN OF PRAISE page 149
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: 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.
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 55:1-9
1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. 3 Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. 4 See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. 5 See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. 6 Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; 7 let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. “Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM: PSALM 63:1-8 (please read responsively)
1 O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2 Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory.
3 For your steadfast love is better than life itself; my lips shall give you praise.
4 So will I bless you as long as I live and lift up my hands in your name.
5 My spirit is content, as with the richest of foods, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
6 when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches.
7 For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
8 My whole being clings to you; your right hand holds me fast
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-13
1 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, 2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 and all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5 Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. 6 Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. 7 Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” 8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. 9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. 10 And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 So if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. 13 No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: LUKE 13:1-9
The Holy Gospel according to Luke the 13th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
1 At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices.2 [Jesus] asked them, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all other Galileans?3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. 4 Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” 6 Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. 7 So he said to the gardener, ‘See here! For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?’ 8 He replied, ‘Sir, let it alone for one more year, until I dig around it and put manure on it. 9 If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”’ The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Kurt Bockoven
HYMN OF THE DAY: #623 ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME (v.1-3)
APOSTLES’ CREED
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.
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION (please answer “Hear Our Prayer”)
OFFERATORY
Please be seated. Offering plates will be passed during this time.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray: God Gracious Provider, you set your immense treasures among us, opening your heart to the world. As we prepare to feast on your bountiful love, deepen our commitment to sharing those treasures with others, through our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
HOLY COMMUNION / LORD’S PRAYER
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Lift up your hearts. We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give our thanks and praise.
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy… and join their unending hymn: (Please sing:153) Holy, holy, holy Lord, Lord God of power and might, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.
In the night he was betrayed…. Do this for the remembrance of me.
Our Father who art in heaven….
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
All who are hungry, come! The feast of grace is spread.
(All who hunger for God’s grace are welcome at this meal. White grape juice and gluten free wafers are available for those who need them. Children who have not had first communion training are welcome to come for a blessing.)
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
Let us pray: Generous Host, you have shared your feast with us and made us new. Send us now to set tables of love and grace in our communities, that your liberating love might nourish the world into freedom, in the name of the crucified one, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
BLESSING
God our tender parent, God the crucified one, God the reconciling Spirit, ☩ bless you now and forever. Amen
CLOSING HYMN: #658 O JESUS, JOY OF LOVING HEARTS (v.1-3)
DISMISSAL: Go in peace. Care for others as God cares for you.
Thanks be to God.
Welcome guests, we’re glad you’re here!
Mid-Week Lenten Service Wednesday, March 26. Meal at 5:30, Service at 6:30 pm. Quilters Meet March 24.
Centerpiece Class April 15, 6:30 pm. Please register and pay by the bulletin board across from the office for class. Bible Study Wednesdays at 8:15 at Gabby Lou’s. Prayer Chain – Contact Janet Ewalt.
Thank You to Our Assistants: Tieskotter Family Helpers with Erik as Acolyte, Carter Bockoven as Acolyte, Scott and Linda Snyder Helpers/Ushers, Angie Bennett Reader, Vicky and Frank Tribon Altar Guild, Charlie Todd Video; Reagan Rose Piano, Angi and Howard Haugerud Sunday School Teachers, Sandy Strozyk and Scott Snyder Offering Counters.
Please Remember Our Homebound and Senior Care Residents: Merle Roelofs, Lee Fishbaugher, Walt Ward, Mel Mikkelson.
Please Keep in Prayers: Carole Engen, Bernie Hurley, Lu Ommen, Marlin Easler, Sondra Taubert, Amy Timmerman, Brad Osmonson.
Liturgy taken from sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright 2014 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SB134626. CCLI Streaming License #20959486
GREENFIELD LUTHERAN CHURCH ~ 507-886-3272 ~ office@greenfieldlutheran.com
