WELCOME & ANNOUNCEMENTS
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, our creator, our protector, our wellspring of life. Amen.
Trusting that God receives our words and the meditations of our hearts, let us confess our sin.
(Silence for reflection)
Merciful God, you speak blessing and compassion into the world. Forgive us for the ways we act with judgment, cruelty, or indifference. We ignore the needs of our neighbors; we resist your call to oppose injustice; we give in to scarcity and fear; we assume the worst about one another. Cleanse us from our faults and release us from their grasp. Show us your loving kindness. Restore our hearts and repair your world, that we may live in Christ’s ways. Amen
God proclaims these words of assurance: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.” In ☩ Christ, you are forgiven. In the Spirit, you are made free. Refreshed by the waters of mercy, live anew as beloved children of God. Amen.
CHURCH CHOIR: FILL US WITH YOUR LOVE
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. O Lord Jesus, make us instruments of your peace, that where there is hatred, we may sow love, where there is injury, pardon, and where there is despair, hope. Grant, O divine master, that we may seek to console, to understand, and to love in your name, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING: GENESIS 45:3-11, 15
3 Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?” But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence. 4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Come closer to me.” And they came closer. He said, “I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. 5 And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 6 For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. 7 God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. 8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. 9 Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, ‘Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. 10 You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children’s children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. 11 I will provide for you there—since there are five more years of famine to come—so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.’ ” 15 And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him. “Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
PSALM 37:1-11, 39-40 (please read responsively)
1 Do not be provoked by evildoers; do not be jealous of those who do wrong.
2 For they shall soon wither like the grass, and like the green grass fade away.
3 Put your trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and find safe pasture.
4 Take delight in the Lord, who shall give you your heart’s desire.
5 Commit your way to the Lord; put your trust in the Lord, and see what God will do.
6 The Lord will make your vindication as clear as the light and the justice of your case like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the Lord and wait patiently. Do not be provoked by the one who prospers, the one who succeeds in evil schemes.
8 Refrain from anger, leave rage alone; do not be provoked; it leads only to evil.
9 For evildoers shall be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord shall possess the land.
10 In a little while the wicked shall be no more; even if you search out their place, they will not be there.
11 But the lowly shall possess the land; they will delight in abundance of peace.
39 But the deliverance of the righteous comes from you, O Lord; you are their stronghold in time of trouble.
40 You, O Lord, will help them and rescue them; you will rescue them from the wicked and deliver them, because in you they seek refuge.
SECOND READING: 1 CORINTHIANS 15:35-38, 42-50
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” 36 Fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And as for what you sow, you do not sow the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 42 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable, what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a physical body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 Thus it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first, but the physical, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the man of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we will also bear the image of the man of heaven. 50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: LUKE 6:27-38
The Holy Gospel according to Luke the 6th Chapter. Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus said:] 27 “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. 29 If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. 30 Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. 31 Do to others as you would have them do to you. 32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. 33 If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. 34 If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. 37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven; 38 give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you get back.” The gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON Pastor Kurt Bockoven
HYMN OF THE DAY: WONDERFUL GRACE OF JESUS (insert)
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 of grace, your love reaches to the heavens, and your abundance to the depths of the seas. Bless what we offer to your service: our gifts, our abilities, and our hearts. Let us overflow with gratitude and generosity, now and always. 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
The joy of the Lord is our strength. Come, eat this meal of gladness
(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: Nourishing God, at this table you have refreshed us with holy gifts of food and drink. Strengthen us for service, and send us out to embody your good news of liberation and healing for the sake of the world. In the name of Christ we pray, Amen.
BLESSING
The Spirit of the triune God ☩ bless you with joy, anoint you with compassion, and send you in love. Amen
CLOSING HYMN: #608 SOFTLY AND TENDERLY JESUS IS CALLING
DISMISSAL: Go in peace. Live in hope. Thanks be to God.
Welcome guests, we’re glad you’re here!
Confirmation Wednesdays, Meal at 6 pm, Class at 6:30 pm. Bible Study Wednesdays at 8:15 at Gabby Lou’s. Prayer Chain – Contact Janet Ewalt to be added. Thank you to the members of the Martha Leah Circle for the treats and serving at the Root River Conference. Thank you from the Gunderson Care Center to the Greenfield Youth: “Thank you for remembering us with handmade Valentines! We appreciated reading all the verses and appreciate you thinking of us! We have them hanging up on our Altar area. It means so much.” See details about the St. Patrick’s High Tea on March 15 in the insert!
Thank You to Our Assistants: Stevens and Krage Families Helpers/Acolytes, Stephanie Morse Reader, Jim Harstad Video; Reagan Rose Piano, Kandace Johnson Altar Guild. Sam and Carston Grabau Sunday School Teachers.
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, The family of Marilyn Morem, Kaylee and Pastor Kurt Bockoven.
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
