WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who journeys with us these forty days,
and sustains us with the gift of grace. Amen. Let us acknowledge before God and one another our need for repentance and God’s mercy.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy God, we confess to you our faults and failings. Too often we neglect and do not trust your holy word; we take for ourselves instead of giving to others; we spoil rather than steward your creation; we cause hurt though you call us to heal; we choose fear over compassion. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, as we seek to follow in your way of life. Amen.
Hear the good news: God so loved the world that God gave the only Son, so that all may receive life. This promise is for you! God embraces you with divine mercy,
☩ forgives you in Christ’s name, and revives you in the Spirit’s power. Amen.

CHURCH CHOIR: The Garden of Prayer

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 203 (front of hymnal)

HYMN OF PRAISE page 204

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: O God, our leader and guide, in the waters of baptism you bring us to new birth to live as your children. Strengthen our faith in your promises, that by your Spirit we may lift up your life to all the world 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.

OPENING HYMN: #323 God Loved the World (v. 1, 2, and 5)

FIRST READING: GENESIS 12:1-4a
1The LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. 2I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” 4aSo Abram went, as the LORD had told him; and Lot went with him. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

PSALM 32 (please read responsively)
1I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?
2My help comes from the LORD, the maker of heaven and earth.
3The LORD will not let your foot be moved nor will the one who watches over you fall asleep.
4Behold, the keeper of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep;
5the LORD watches over you; the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6the sun will not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.
7The LORD will preserve you from all evil and will keep your life.
8The LORD will watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth forevermore

SECOND READING: ROMANS 4:1-5, 13-17
1What then are we to say was gained by Abraham, our ancestor according to the flesh? 2For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3For what does the scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” 4Now to one who works, wages are not reckoned as a gift but as something due. 5But to one who without works trusts him who justifies the ungodly, such faith is reckoned as righteousness. 13For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17as it is written, “I have made you the father of many nations”)—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL: JOHN 3:1-17
The Holy Gospel according to John the 3rd Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ”The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON Pastor Kurt Bockoven

HYMN OF THE DAY: #592 Just As I Am
(Offering plates will be passed during this time)

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”)

OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray, God of good gifts, receive these and all our offerings as we present them in faithful service for the sake of your gospel. Prepare our hearts to receive you in this meal as you pour out your very presence through Christ Jesus, the wellspring of eternal life. 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:)
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
Come and receive Jesus, our strength in the wilderness.
(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: Embodied God, at your table, we have tasted the goodness of Jesus. With the eyes of our hearts open to your promise, empower us to hear the needs of our neighbors and touch the world with your love. Amen.

BLESSING
God, the giver of love, ☩ Christ, the resurrection and the life, and the Holy Spirit of rebirth bless you in this Lenten journey. Amen.

CLOSING HYMN: #660 Lift High the Cross (v.1, 3 and 4)

DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Serve in love. Thanks be to God.

6:30 PM Lenten Services on Wednesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29
Soup Supper 5:30 pm PRIOR to service.
Reagan Rose Piano Recital is on Sunday, March 12th at 11 am with brunch to follow
FISH FRY Diner on March 24 from 4-7 pm Advance Ticket Sales only

Thank You to Today’s Assistants: Gulbranson Family and TBD, Jim for video, Reagan Rose for Organ/Piano.
Please remember our homebound and senior care residents: Merle Roelofs, Carla Erickson, Joyce Hanlon, Lee Fishbaugher, Walt Ward, Mel Mikkelson, Thelma Applen.
Please keep in prayers: David & Kim Wangen, Bernie Hurley.

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