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.
OPENING HYMN: #522 AS WE GATHER AT YOUR TABLE
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.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray: Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness, and your grace waters our desert. Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love given to all 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.
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 43:16-21
16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, 17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: 18 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. 19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. 20 The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, 21 the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise. “Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM: PSALM 126
(please read responsively)
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, then were we like those who dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad indeed.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses of the Negeb.
5 Those who sowed with tears will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.
SECOND READING: PHILIPPIANS 3:4b-14
[Paul writes:] 4b If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, 11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: JOHN 12:1-8
The Holy Gospel according to John the 12th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me. The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Kurt Bockoven
HYMN OF THE DAY: #466 IN THE SINGING (repeat verse 1 after verse 2)
EXPRESSIONS OF FAITH PRESENTATIONS
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”)
PASSING OF THE PEACE
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: #802 LET US EVER WALK WITH JESUS (v. 1,2 and 4)
DISMISSAL: Go in peace. Care for others as God cares for you.
Thanks be to God.
Welcome guests, we’re glad you’re here!
COFFEE FELLOWSHIP AFTER SERVICE TODAY. ALL ARE WELCOME!
Worship & Music TODAY AT 11 AM. Lenten Service Wednesday, April 9. Meal 5:30, Service 6:30 pm. Quilters April 7 &14. Stewardship April 8, 4:30 pm. Miriam Circle April 9, 10 am. Palm Sunday April 13. Centerpiece Class April 15, 6:30 pm. Register/pay prior. Church Council April 16 at 6:30 pm. Maundy Thursday Service April 17, 6:30 pm. Good Friday Service April 18, 6:30 pm. EASTER SUNDAY Services April 20, 7 and 9 am. Greenfield Cemetery Association Annual Meeting Tuesday, April 22, 10 am at the Community Center. Bible Study Wednesdays 8:15 at Gabby Lou’s.
Thank You to Our Assistants: Morem Family with Zach & Kylie as Acolytes, Linda & Scott Snyder Helpers/Ushers, Eric Slindee Reader, Kandace Johnson Altar Guild, Steve Donney Video; Reagan Rose Piano, Gina Flaby & Teresa Michel Sunday School Teachers, Sandy Strozyk & Mary Beth Ostrom Offering Counters. Joanne Burmeister Coffee Fellowship.
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. Janet Ewalt.
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
