St. Paul Lutheran Church and Child Development Center - San Antonio TX

The Ringing of the Bells and The Welcome

The Invocation

Pastor:            En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo.

People:         Amen.

Entrance Hymn(Lamb of God)

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us. 

Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;

grant us peace.

The Confession of Sins

Pastor:           Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.

People:         Amen.

Pastor:           If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

All:                 O most merciful God, we confess that we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.  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.

Pastor:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros. 

People:         Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:           Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros

People:         Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:         Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

The Forgiveness

Pastor:           Almighty God, in his mercy, has given his Son to die for us and for his sake, forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister in the Church of Jesus Christ, and by his authority, I declare to you the forgiveness of your sins, in the name of the Father,  and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

People:          Amen.

The Readings   

Isaiah (Isaías) 53:4-8

But he endured the suffering that should have been ours, the pain that we should have borne.  All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God. But because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received. All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. But the Lord made the punishment fall on him, the punishment all of us deserved.  “He was treated harshly, but endured it humbly; he never said a word.  Like a lamb about to be slaughtered, like a sheep about to be sheared he never said a word. He was arrested and sentenced and led off to die, and no one cared about his fate. He was put to death for the sins of our people.

Hebrews (Hebreos) 4:14-16; 5:7-9

Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God—Jesus, the Son of God. ¹⁵Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way    that we are, but did not sin. ¹⁶Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it. In his life on earth Jesus made his prayers and requests with loud cries and tears to God, who could save him from death. Because he was humble and devoted, God heard him. ⁸ But even though he was God’s Son, he learned through his sufferings to be obedient. ⁹ When he was made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him.

Luke (San Lucas) 23:26-27, 32-43

²⁶ The soldiers led Jesus away, and as they were going, they met a man from Cyrene named Simon who was coming into the city from the country. They seized him, put the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. ²⁷ A large crowd of people followed him; among them were some women who were weeping and wailing for him. ³² Two other men, both of them criminals, were also led out to be put to death with Jesus. ³³When they came to the place called “The Skull”, they crucified Jesus there, and the two criminals, one on his right and the other on his left. Jesus said, “Forgive them, Father! They don’t know what they are doihis clothes among themselves by throwing dice. The people stood there watching while the Jewish leaders jeered at him: “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah whom God has chosen!” ³⁶ The soldiers also mocked him: they came up to him and offered him cheap wine, ³⁷and said, “Save yourself if you are the king of the Jews!” ³⁸ Above him were written these words: “This      is the King of the Jews.”  One of the criminals hanging there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” ⁴⁰The other one, however, rebuked him, saying, “Don’t you fear God? You received the same sentence he did. ⁴¹Ours, however, is only right, because we are getting what we deserve for what we did; but he has done no wrong.” ⁴²And he said to Jesus, “Remember me, Jesus, when you come into your kingdom!”   ⁴³ Jesus said to him, “I promise you that today you will be in Paradise with me.”

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss

and pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast

save in the death of Christ, my God;

all the vain things that charm me most,  

I sacrifice them to his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet

sorrow and love flow mingled down.

Did e'er such love and sorrow meet

or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,

that were a tribute far too small;

love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all!

The Sermon

The Litany

Pastor:           God the Father, in heaven,

People:          have mercy.

Pastor:           God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

People:          have mercy.

Pastor:           God the Holy Spirit,

People:          have mercy.

Pastor:           Be gracious to us.

People:          Spare us, good Lord.

Pastor:           Be gracious to us.

People:          Help us, good Lord.

Pastor:           By the mystery of Your holy Incarnation; by Your holy Nativity; by Your Baptism, fasting, and temptation; by Your agony and bloody sweat; by Your Cross and Passion; by Your precious Death and Burial; by Your glorious Resurrection and Ascension; and by the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter:

People:          Help us, good Lord.

Pastor:           In all our time of tribulation; in all our time of prosperity; in the hour of death; and in the day of judgment:

People:          Help us, good Lord.

Pastor:           We poor sinners implore You

People:          to hear us, O Lord.

Pastor:           To prosper the preaching of Your Word; to bless our prayer and meditation; to strengthen and preserve us; to give heart to our sorrow and strength to our repentance:

People:          We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

Pastor:           To draw us to Yourself; to bless those who are instructed in the faith; to watch over and console the poor, the sick, the distressed, the lonely, the forsaken, the abandoned, and all who stand in need of our prayers; to give abundant blessing to all our works of mercy; to have mercy on us all:

People:          We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

Pastor:           To turn our hearts to You; to turn the hearts of our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers; and graciously to hear our prayers:

People:          We implore You to hear us, good Lord.

Pastor:           Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,

People:          we implore you to hear us.

Pastor:           Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

People:          have mercy.

Pastor:           Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world,

People:          have mercy.

Pastor:           Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us Your peace. O Christ,

People:          hear us.

Pastor:           O Lord,

People:          have mercy.

Pastor:           O Christ,

People:          have mercy.

Pastor:           O Lord,

People:          have mercy.

All:                  Amen.

The Lords Prayer (Prayed quietly by all)

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

Lamb of God (550)

Your only Son no sin to hide

But You have sent Him from Your side

To walk upon this guilty sod

And to become the Lamb of God

Oh Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God

I love the holy Lamb of God

Oh wash me in His precious blood

My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God

Your gift of love they crucified

They laughed and scorned Him as He died

The humble King they named a fraud

And sacrificed the Lamb of God

Oh Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God

I love the holy Lamb of God

Oh wash me in His precious blood

My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God

I was so lost I should have died

But You have brought me to Your side

To be led by Your staff and rod

And to be called a lamb of God

Oh Lamb of God sweet Lamb of God

I love the holy Lamb of God

Oh wash me in His precious blood

My Jesus Christ the Lamb of God

Readings Continued   Luke (San Lucas) 23:44-46

^44-45 It was about twelve o’clock when the sun stopped shining and darkness covered the whole country until three o’clock; and the curtain hanging in the Temple was torn in two. ⁴⁶Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Father! In your hands I place my spirit!” He said this and died.

The Removal of the Christ Candle 

Our King and Blessèd One. [Refrain]

The multitude of pilgrims With palms before You went:

Our praise and prayers and anthems

Before You we present. [Refrain]

To you before Your passion They sang their hymns of praise;

To You, now high exalted, Our melody we raise. [Refrain]

As You received their praises, Accept the prayers we bring,

O Source of ev'ry blessing, Our good and gracious King. [Refrain]

Confession and Forgiveness

Pastor:            Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:            Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:           Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.

Pastor:            Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

People:           Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.

(Silent Prayer) (Momento de Oración Personal)

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 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.

Zechariah 9:9-10

⁹ Rejoice, rejoice, people of Zion! Shout for joy, you people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you! He comes triumphant and victorious, but humble and riding on a donkey—on a colt, the foal of a donkey. ¹⁰ The Lord says, “I will remove the war chariots from Israel and take the horses from Jerusalem; the bows used in battle will be destroyed. Your king will make peace among the nations; he will rule from sea to sea, from the River Euphrates to the ends of the earth.”

Reader:           This is the Word of the Lord.

People:           Thanks be to God!

Philippians 2:5-11

⁵The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had: ⁶He always had the nature of God, but he did not think that by force he should try to remain equal with God.  ⁷Instead of this, of his own free will he gave up all he had, and took the nature of a servant.  He became like a human being and appeared in human likeness.  ⁸He was humble and walked the path of obedience all the way to death—his death on the cross.  ⁹For this reason God raised him to the highest place above and gave him the name that is greater than any other name.  And so, in honor of the name of Jesus all beings in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will fall on their knees, and all will openly proclaim that  Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Reader:           This is the Word of the Lord.

People:           Thanks be to God!

Luke 22:1-8, 14-23, 31-34, 39-53; 23:13-25

¹ The time was near for the Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called the Passover. ²The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly.  ³Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples. ⁴So Judas went off and spoke with the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard about how he could betray Jesus to them. ⁵They were pleased and offered to pay him money. ⁶Judas agreed to it and started looking for a good chance to hand Jesus over to them without the people knowing about it.  ⁷ The day came during the Festival of Unleavened Bread when the lambs for the Passover meal were to be killed. ⁸Jesus sent off Peter and John with these instructions: “Go and get the Passover meal ready for us to eat.”...   ¹⁴ When the hour came, Jesus took his place at the table with the apostles. ¹⁵He said to them, “I have wanted so much to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer! ¹⁶For I tell you, I will never eat it until it is given its full meaning in the Kingdom of God.”  ¹⁷ Then Jesus took a cup, gave thanks to God, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. ¹⁸I tell you that from now on I will not drink this wine until the Kingdom of God comes.”  ¹⁹ Then he took a piece of bread, gave thanks to God, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.” In the same way, he gave them the cup after the supper, saying, “This cup is God’s new covenant sealed with my blood, which is poured out for you.  ²¹ “But, look! The one who betrays me is here at the table with me! ²²The Son of Man will die as God has decided, but how terrible for that man who betrays him!”  ²³ Then they began to ask among themselves which one of them it could be who was going to do this....  ³¹ “Simon, Simon! Listen! Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. ³²But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.”  ³³ Peter answered, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you and to die with you!”  ³⁴ “I tell you, Peter,” Jesus said, “the cock will not crow tonight until you have said three times that you do not know me.”....  ³⁹ Jesus left the city and went, as he usually did, to the Mount of Olives; and the disciples went with him. ⁴⁰When he arrived at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”  41 Then he went off from them about the distance of a stone’s throw and knelt down and prayed. ⁴²“Father,” he said, “if you will, take this cup of suffering away from me. Not my will, however, but your will be done.” ⁴³An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. ⁴⁴In great anguish he prayed even more fervently; his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.  ⁴⁵ Rising from his prayer, he went back to the disciples and found them asleep, worn out by their grief. ⁴⁶He said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation.”  ⁴⁷ Jesus was still speaking when a crowd arrived, led by Judas, one of the twelve disciples. He came up to Jesus to kiss him. ⁴⁸But Jesus said, “Judas, is it with a kiss that you betray the Son of Man?” ⁴⁹ When the disciples who were with Jesus saw what was going to happen, they asked, “Shall we use our swords, Lord?”

⁵⁰And one of them struck the High Priest’s slave and cut off his right ear. ⁵¹But Jesus said, “Enough of this!” He touched the man’s ear and healed him.  ⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and the elders who had come there to get him, “Did you have to come with swords and clubs, as though I were an outlaw? I was with you in the Temple every day, and you did not try to arrest me. But this is your hour to act, when the power of darkness rules.”.......        ^23:13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people, ¹⁴and said to them, “You brought this man to me and said that he was misleading the people. Now, I have examined him here in your presence, and I have not found him guilty of any of the crimes you accuse him of. ¹⁵Nor did Herod find him guilty, for he sent him back to us. There is nothing this man has done to deserve death. ¹⁶So I will have him whipped and let him go.” ¹⁸ The whole crowd cried out, “Kill him! Set Barabbas free for us!” ¹⁹(Barabbas had been put in prison for a riot that had taken place in the city, and for murder.) ²⁰ Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he appealed to the crowd again. ²¹But they shouted back, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” ²² Pilate said to them the third time, “But what crime has he committed? I cannot find anything he has done to deserve death! I will have him whipped and set him free.” ²³But they kept on shouting at the top of their voices that Jesus should be crucified, and finally their shouting succeeded. ²⁴So Pilate passed the sentence on Jesus that they were asking for. ²⁵He set free the man they wanted, the one who had been put in prison for riot and murder, and he handed Jesus over for them to do as they wished.

Pastor:             This is the Gospel of the Lord.

People:           Praise to You, O Christ.

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.

Kid Sermon

Sermon Hymn: Crown Him with Many Crowns (525)

Crown Him with many crowns, The Lamb upon His throne;

Hark how the heav'nly anthem drowns All music but its own.

Awake, my soul, and sing, Of Him who died for thee,

And hail Him as thy matchless KingThrough all eternity.

Crown Him the virgin's Son, The God incarnate born,

Whose arm those crimson trophies won Which now His brow adorn;

Fruit of the mystic rose, Yet of that rose the stem,

The root whence mercy ever flows,The babe of Bethlehem.

Crown Him the Lord of Love, Behold His hands and side,

Rich wounds, yet visible above, In beauty glorified.

No angels in the sky, Can fully bear that sight,

But down-ward bends their wond'ring eyes At mysteries so bright.

Crown Him the Lord of Life, Who triumphed o'er the grave

And rose victorious in the strife, For those He came to save.

His glories now we sing, Who died and rose on high,

Who died eternal life to bring, And lives that death may die.

Crown Him the Lord of heav'n, Enthroned in worlds above,

Crown Him the King to whom is giv'n The wondrous name of Love.

Crown Him with many crowns, As thrones before him fall;

Crown Him, ye kings, with many crowns, For He is King of all.

Sermon

Prayers

Padre Nuestro

Padre Nuestro, que estás en el Cielo

Santificado, santificado sea tu nombre

Vénganos tu reino, Señor.  Hágase tu santa voluntad

En la tierra como en el Cielo se hace tu santa voluntad.

Padre nuestro.....

Danos hoy, danoslo Señor, nuestro pan, el pan de cada día.

Y perdona nuestras deudas así como nosotros perdonamos.

Padre nuestro.....

No nos dejes caer en tentación, antes bien líbranos del mal.

No nos dejes caer en tentación, líbranos del mal.

Padre nuestro.....

Service of the Sacrament

Pastor:             The Lord be with you.

People:           And also with you.

Pastor:             Lift up your hearts.

People:           We lift them to the Lord. 

Pastor:             Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

People:           It is right to give Him thanks and praise.  

Pastor:             It is indeed right and just, our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, holy Father, almighty and eternal God,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. For as the time of his passion and resurrection draws near the whole world is called to acknowledge his hidden majesty. The power of the life-giving cross reveals the judgement that has come upon the world and the triumph of Christ crucified. He is the victim who dies no more, the Lamb once slain, who lives forever, our advocate in heaven to plead our cause. As we prepare to celebrate this Easter feast, with joyful hearts and minds, we bless you for your mercy and join with saints and angels forever praising you!

People:           Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving

Blessed are You, Lord of heaven and earth, for You have had mercy on those whom You created and sent Your only-begotten Son into our flesh to bear our sin and be our Savior. With repentant joy, we receive the salvation accomplished for us by the all-availing sacrifice of His body and His blood on the cross. Gathered in the name and the remembrance of Jesus, we beg You, O Lord, to forgive, renew, and strengthen us with Your Word and Spirit. Grant us to faithfully eat His body and drink His blood as He bids us to in His own testament. Gather us together from the ends of the earth to celebrate, with all the faithful, the marriage feast of the Lamb in His kingdom, which has no end. Receive our prayers; deliver and preserve us. To You alone be all glory, honor, and worship, now and forever. Amen.

Pastor:            La paz del Señor sea con ustedes.

People:           Y también contigo.

Lamb of God

Lamb of God, You take away the sin of the world;

have mercy on us.