As we continue to adjust to the temporary supension of public worship, please find the links below to listen to and follow along to our service for the 4th Sunday in Lent.
4THSUNDAY IN LENT
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus heals a man born blind, provoking outrage from religious authorities. The Pharisees interrogate the man who was miraculously healed, but disbelieve his testimony and drive him away. In compassion, Jesus seeks out the man again and invites him to place his faith in him. As we face a time of anxiety and uncertainty we are reminded that God is in control and He is the healing God of compassion and grace. We cling to His grace and compassion now more than ever. PROCESSIONAL HYMN: LIFT HIGH THE CROSS (837) Refrain: Lift high the cross, the love of Christ proclaim Till all the world adore His sacred name. Come, Christians, follow where our Captain trod, Our king victorious, Christ, the Son of God. [Refrain] Led on their way by this triumphant sign, The hosts of God in conqu'ring ranks combine. [Refrain] All newborn soldiers of the Crucified Bear on their brows the seal of Him who died. [Refrain] O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree, As Thou hast promised, draw us all to Thee. [Refrain] Let ev'ry race and ev'ry language tell Of Him who saves our lives from death and hell. [Refrain] So shall our song of triumph ever be; Praise to the Crucified for victory! [Refrain]
INVOCATION
Pastor: In the name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. People: Amen.
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Pastor: If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
People:
But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Pastor:
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father:
People:
Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against You in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved You with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in Your will and walk in Your ways to the glory of Your holy name. Amen.
Pastor:
Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
People: Amen.
THE SCRIPTURE READINGS
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord. People: Thanks be to God!
Psalm 57:1-3
Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me; God sends forth his love and his faithfulness.
Romans 8:26-39
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[j]37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[k]neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 9:1-38
As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him. 4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. 5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6 After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. 7 “Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing. 8 His neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging asked, “Isn’t this the same man who used to sit and beg?” 9 Some claimed that he was. Others said, “No, he only looks like him.” But he himself insisted, “I am the man.” 10 “How then were your eyes opened?” they asked. 11 He replied, “The man they call Jesus made some mud and put it on my eyes. He told me to go to Siloam and wash. So I went and washed, and then I could see.” 12 “Where is this man?” they asked him. “I don’t know,” he said. 13 They brought to the Pharisees the man who had been blind. 14 Now the day on which Jesus had made the mud and opened the man’s eyes was a Sabbath. 15 Therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he had received his sight. “He put mud on my eyes,” the man replied, “and I washed, and now I see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” But others asked, “How can a sinner perform such signs?” So they were divided. 17 Then they turned again to the blind man, “What have you to say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” The man replied, “He is a prophet.” 18 They still did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they sent for the man’s parents. 19 “Is this your son?” they asked. “Is this the one you say was born blind? How is it that now he can see?” 20 “We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. 21 But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” 22 His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. 23 That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” 24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see! 26 Then they asked him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered, “I have told you already and you did not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to become his disciples too?” 28 Then they hurled insults at him and said, “You are this fellow’s disciple! We are disciples of Moses! 29 We know that God spoke to Moses, but as for this fellow, we don’t even know where he comes from.” 30 The man answered, “Now that is remarkable! You don’t know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to the godly person who does his will. 32 Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.” 34 To this they replied, “You were steeped in sin at birth; how dare you lecture us!” And they threw him out. 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 “Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” 37 Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.” 38 Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
THE APOSTLE’S CREED
I believe in God, the Father Almighty maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his 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 into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
SERMON HYMN: AMAZING GRACE
Amazing grace--how sweet the sound-That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost but now am found, Was blind but now I see! The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be As long as life endures. Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; His grace has brought me safe thus far, His grace will lead me home. Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail And mortal life shall cease, Amazing grace shall then prevail In heaven's joy and peace. When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun. SERMON
THE PRAYERS THE LORD’S PRAYER
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen CLOSING HYMN:GO MY CHILDREN WITH MY BLESSING (922) Go, my children, with my blessing, Never alone. Waking, sleeping, I am with you; You are my own. In my love's baptismal river I have made you mine forever. Go, my children, with my blessing - You are my own. Go, my children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure. Here you learned how much I love you, What I can cure. Here you heard my dear Son's story; Here you touched him, saw his glory. Go, my children, sins forgiven, At peace and pure. Go, my children, fed and nourished, Closer to me; Grow in love and love by serving, Joyful and free. Here my Spirit's power filled you; Here his tender comfort stilled you. Go, my children, fed and nourished, Joyful and free. I the Lord will bless and keep you And give you peace; I the Lord will smile upon you And give you peace; I the Lord will be your Father, Savior, Comforter, and Brother. Go, my children; I will keep you And give you peace.
THE BLESSING
Pastor: 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. People: Amen, Amen, Amen!
Greetings in Christ,
After prayerful deliberation and closely monitoring the information from the CDC and the response from our city the pastor, elders, and trustees of St Paul Lutheran Church have decided to cancel services and activities for this Sunday and this Wednesday evening. This is a fluid situation here and around the world and we will remain diligent in doing all that we can to promote the spiritual and physical health and safety of all the members of our community. And above all we continue to remain steadfast in the love grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Christians we affirm the centrality of resurrection life over death and we live in hope and not in fear. Let us cling to the words of St. Paul from the assigned epistle for tomorrow:
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. (Romans 5: 3-5)
Peace,
Pastor Dave
On Tuesday evening, December 24, at 7:00 (CHRISTMAS EVE) we will celebrate the birth of our Savior in a special service of Word, Carols, and Candles. This somewhat bilingual service will be followed by a fellowship time with tamales and hot chocolate and various other Christmas snacks. If you would be willing to bring some of your favorite holiday foods or snacks to contribute, please do so.
A special worship service for CHRISTMAS DAY will be held the next morning, Wednesday at 10:00. Again, more Christmas carols will be sung and the message heard as we gather together as family in Christ. Come and join us as we worship and celebrate together in Jesus’ name... sharing the REAL meaning of Christmas!
Above all, Christmas is a time to worship our God and to hear again his message to us – a message that points us to Jesus, the greatest of all possible gifts we could receive! Come join us as we worship our Lord and share together in the message and love of Christ, our Savior.
