The Third Sunday in Lent
March 12, 2023
Samaritan Woman at the Well, Icon from the Protaton Church on Mount Athos (1290)
210.532.7341
stpaulsa.org
GROSS: …I know that you’re an atheist….
ECCLESTON: You know, I’m no longer sure now. I’d certainly made great play a number of years ago about my atheism. And things have changed in my life. And I know – I’m no longer so certain. I – so I guess I would have to say agnostic now.
GROSS: Really? Can you talk about what’s changed?
ECCLESTON: Oh, children. I had children. I have two very beautiful and center-of-my-life children, Albert and Esme. I lost my father. I watched him suffer through his dementia. I had my own crisis earlier in the year. I don’t – life has happened to me, I would say – life.
GROSS: So is having witnessed your children’s birth and early development and your father’s death made you feel the need to believe in something or feel the presence of something in your life?
ECCLESTON: I just feel that when I was stomping around saying I was an atheist, I was not thinking about it enough. I think I was – I mean, there is certainly a huge part of me that feels intense anger against organized religion. But I do feel, at the moment, a little more spiritually open to what may be religious beliefs….
GROSS: Did reading the Book of Job also make you think about religion?
ECCLESTON: Well, I had an extraordinary experience with the Book of Job. I was invited to Westminster Cathedral to celebrate the anniversary of the publication of the King James Bible. And I was positioned in a very sacred area of Westminster Cathedral. And they asked me to read Job. And I read Job, the section where God turns on Job and says, who are you to question me? Did you create the stars? Did you create the sea? – this extraordinary dramatic moment. And I was asked to read that text in front of the archbishop of Canterbury. Now, his name escapes me, but one of his distinctive features was he had very pronounced eyebrows. And when I finished it, I glanced at him and he waggled them at me… As if to say, that’s got you thinking, hasn’t it, son? And then about a year later – I had taken my mother on holiday to Cornwall, in the southwest of England, to give her a break from my father. And we walked into a tiny church on the coast. There was just myself and my mom in there in the 300, 400-year-old church – tiny. And the book was open. And I, being an actor, of course – I went and stood there. And the book was open at Job, the same section I’d read two years earlier in Canterbury. And I read it. And my mom has a very strong faith. And I read it out loud. And she looked at me, and she said, oh, you did that very well. I said, well, I’ve rehearsed it, Mom.
Chris Eccleston interview with Terry Gross, Fresh Air. National Public Radio (2017)
Welcome to St. Paul Lutheran Church!
We are glad that you are with us today! If you are new to our church, you may not be familiar with Lutheran liturgy. No worries. This bulletin is designed to help guide you through the worship service. We encourage you to participate in as much or as little of the service as you feel comfortable. Thank you for being a part of our worship. We hope that the Lord blesses you through our time together!
Restrooms, Changing Stations, and Nursing Room
Restrooms are located in the lobby (narthex) of the sanctuary. Both the men’s and women’s rooms have diaper changing tables for the little ones. We also have a nursing room for mothers and babies that is located across the breezeway, straight out of the doors on the east side of the lobby.
Children in the Liturgy
We pray that all children would know that God made them, He loves them, and He goes with them everywhere. We are glad to have little ones with us in the service. We know that they sometimes can squirm, squawk, and squeal. Please don’t feel embarrassed by it! All kids are always welcome here at St. Paul. We encourage you to help them follow along and engage with them in the action of the liturgy – observe the movement of the procession, hear the music, sing the songs, smell the fire of the candles, respond with a loud Amen, make the sign of the cross, touch the water in the baptismal font, and wonder at the images and symbols that are all around. What Jesus does here is sure to engage us all.
A Note on Holy Communion
In this service we celebrate a sacred ritual of the Christian Church called the Eucharist, or the Lord’s Supper. In this rite we recall the last meal that Jesus had with his disciples. In this blessed meal we have our eyes opened and we recognize Him in the breaking of the bread. Though our faith is grounded in history, this liturgy is not merely a nostalgic looking back at the past – it is a celebration and a deep recognition that in this meal our Lord Jesus Christ is truly and really present with us in the bread and the wine. We cling to the hope of resurrection that will be ours when all things will be fully redeemed and restored in Him. All baptized Christians who have a sincere sorrow for their sin and see in this holy mystery the true body and blood of Christ are invited to receive Holy Communion.
Notes for the Second Sunday in Lent
For what do you thirst? The lessons today draw us deeper into Lent by urging us to consider this question. In Exodus, the Israelites face the terror of the desert and its deprivation of water. They take their anger out on Moses, who reveals God’s provision when he strikes the rock and water bursts forth. The story of Jesus and the Samaritan woman in John’s gospel also takes place near a water source – a well. The woman comes looking for physical water but departs having encountered Jesus, the living water, who calls her to drink from the well of eternal life. We are called and loved into that same stream of living water that only Jesus can bring.
Greeting and Welcome
The assembly stands and faces the entrance of the sanctuary. We begin with a procession – the cross leading the way – an image of our life in Christ and journey to heaven. Some bow as the cross passes, honoring the mystery of salvation.
Thy Strong Word (578)
Thy strong Word did cleave the darkness; At Thy speaking it was done.
For created light we thank Thee, While Thine ordered seasons run.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end.
Thy strong Word bespeaks us righteous; Bright with Thine own holiness,
Glorious now, we press toward glory, And our lives our hopes confess.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end.
From the cross Thy wisdom shining Breaketh forth in conqu’ring might;
From the cross forever beameth All Thy bright redeeming light.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Praise to Thee who light dost send!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia without end.
Give us lips to sing Thy glory, Tongues Thy mercy to proclaim,
Throats that shout the hope that fills us, Mouths to speak Thy holy name.
Alleluia! Alleluia! May the light which Thou dost send
Fill our songs with alleluias, Alleluias without end!
Invocation
En el nombre del Padre, y del X Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo.
All Amen.
Confession and Forgiveness
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us
All But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.
All Señor, ten piedad de nosotros.
Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.
All Cristo, ten piedad de nosotros.
Señor, ten piedad de nosotros
All Señor, ten piedad de nosotros
Silence is Kept
Let us then confess our sins to God our Father:
All 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.
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 forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
All Amen.
The Kyrie
Prayer of the Day
The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Let us pray.
All Eternal God, give us insight to discern your will for us, to give up what harms us, and to seek the perfection we are promised in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Scripture Readings
Exodus 17:1-7
The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.” Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?” 3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?” 4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, “What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me.” 5 The Lord answered Moses, “Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massahand Meribahbecause the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Romans 5:1-8
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And weboast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but wealso glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God
A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to St John.
All Glory to You, O Lord.
John 4:5-29
5 So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of land that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. 6 Jacob’s well was there. Jesus, tired from his journey, sat down there at the well. It was about noon. 7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 His disciples had gone into the town to buy food. 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” (For Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans.) 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.” 11 [The woman] said to him, “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the well is deep; where then can you get this living water? 12 Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this well and drank from it himself with his children and his flocks?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; 14 but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” 15 The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”16 Jesus said to her, “Go call your husband and come back.” 17 The woman answered and said to him, “I do not have a husband.” Jesus answered her, “You are right in saying, ‘I do not have a husband.’ 18 For you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true.” 19 The woman said to him, “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. 20 Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” 21 Jesus said to her, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. 22 You people worship what you do not understand; we worship what we understand, because salvation is from the Jews. 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and truth.” 25 The woman said to him, “I know that the Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” 26 Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking with you.”27 At that moment his disciples returned, and were amazed that he was talking with a woman, but still no one said, “What are you looking for?” or “Why are you talking with her?” 28 The woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, 29 “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?”
The Gospel of the Lord.
All Praise to you, O Christ.
The Apostle’s Creed
All 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 X of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen
Children’s Sermon
Jesus, Refuge of the Weary (423)
Jesus, refuge of the weary, Blest Redeemer, whom we love,
Fountain in life’s desert dreary, Savior from the world above:
Often have Your eyes, offended, Gazed upon the sinner’s fall;
Yet upon the cross extended, You have borne the pain of all.
Do we pass that cross unheeding, Breathing no repentant vow,
Though we see You wounded, bleeding, See Your thorn-encircled brow?
Yet Your sinless death has brought us Life eternal, peace, and rest;
Only what Your grace hath taught us Calms the sinner’s deep distress.
Jesus, may our hearts be burning With more fervent love for You;
May our eyes be ever turning To behold Your cross anew
Till in glory, parted never From the blessed Savior’s side,
Graven in our hearts forever, Dwell the cross, the Crucified.
Sermon
Prayer of the Church
After the pastor says Lord in Your Mercy, all respond with Hear our Prayer.
For a Holy Lent – to focus on Christ in our praying, fasting, and giving.
For blessing in our outreach; CDC, Thrift Ship, Food Pantry, LINC, Presa
Pastors Philip, Roy, Naresh, Christoph, Matt, and all church planters
For U.S. Leaders: President Joe, Governor Greg, Mayor Ron
For those in Military: Jarred, Alissa, Mark, Tom, Thomas, Ricky
Church Leaders; LCMS President Matthew, District President Michael
Persecuted Christians in: Burma, China, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia
Global Partner Church: The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Uruguay
For Comfort, Health, Encouragement, and Recovery:
The people of Ukraine
Joy Garra (friend of Virginia Mason – diagnosed with breast cancer)
Rosa Figueroa (friend of Alva-Alicia – back in the hospital)
Keith Everett (thanksgiving after receiving kidney transplant)
Pat Garcia (cousin of Rick Garza in need of liver transplant)
Marianna (thanksgiving for successful gallbladder surgery)
Linda Wenck (as she undergoes chemotherapy treatment)
Michael Garcia (brother of Eva, with upcoming treatments for cancer)
Daniel (brother of Patricia Perez, recovering from surgery)
Diane Beasley
Ana Garcia (cousin of Paul and JoAnn – diagnosed with cancer)
Cecilia Luna (friend of America Alderete – diagnosed with cancer)
Joe Ojeda (blessing and guidance as he begins pastoral formation)
Tillie Cropper
Alex Rivera
Gulley Rivera
Roy Wessel (for God’s provision
Everett Mason
Vicky Dean (sister of Melissa Hild)
Yesenia (daughter of Anna Marquez)
Teresa Medellin (neighbor of Alicia Guerrero)
Mildred Westphal
Albert Pedroza (neighbor of Thomas Robledo)
Cayley (granddaughter of Robert and Linda Chetwood)
Austin Hernden
Robin Beasley Jr
Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow (805)
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.
Prayer Before Reception of Holy Communion
O Lord, I believe and profess that you are truly Christ,
The Son of the living God, who came into the world
To save sinners of whom I am the first.
Accept me as a partaker of your mystical supper, O Lord,
For I will not reveal your mystery to your enemies,
Nor will I give you a kiss as did Judas, But like the thief I profess to you:
Remember me, O Lord, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Master, when you come in your kingdom.
Remember me, O Holy One, when you come in your kingdom.
May the partaking of your Holy mysteries, O Lord,
Be not for my judgment or condemnation,
But for the healing of my soul and body.
O Lord, I also believe and profess, that this,
Which I am about to receive,
Is truly your most precious Body, and your life-giving Blood,
Given for me for remission of all my sins and for life everlasting. Amen
Service of the Sacrament
The Lord be with you.
All And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
All We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
All It is right to give Him thanks and praise.
It is indeed right and good to give you thanks and praise, almighty God and everlasting Father, through Jesus Christ your Son. For in these forty days you lead us into the desert of repentance that through a pilgrimage of prayer and discipline we may grow in grace and learn to be your people once again. Through fasting, prayer and acts of service you bring us back to your generous heart. Through study of your holy word you open our eyes to your presence in the world and free our hands to welcome others into the radiant splendor of your love. As we prepare to celebrate the Easter feast with joyful hearts and minds we bless you for your mercy and join with saints and angels forever praising you and saying:
Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of Sabaoth adored;
Heaven and earth with full acclaim shout the glory of Your name.
Sing hosana in the highest, sing hosana to the Lord;
Truly blest is He who comes in the name of the Lord!
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.
All Amen.
The Consecration
The Acclamation and Invitation
As often as we eat of this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim your Death, O Lord, and profess your Resurrection until you come again.
All Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.
Behold the Lamb of God, behold Jesus, who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb.
All Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.
La paz del Señor sea con ustedes.
All Y Tambien contigo
Sharing of the Peace
Greet each other in the name of Jesus by saying, ‘the Peace of the Lord be with you’ as a sign of forgiveness & reconciliation in preparation for reception of the Blessed Sacrament.
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 Distribution
Eucharistic Dismissal
Lord, Bid Your Servant Go in Peace (937)
Lord, bid Your servant go in peace, Your word is now fulfilled.
These eyes have seen salvation’s dawn, This child so long foretold.
This is the Savior of the world, The Gentiles’ promised light,
God’s glory dwelling in our midst, The joy of Israel.
With saints of old, with saints to come, To You we lift our voice;
To Father, Son, and Spirit blest Be honor, love, and praise.
Post-Communion Prayer
We give thanks to You, almighty God, that You have refreshed us through this salutary gift, and we implore You, that of Your mercy, You would strengthen us in faith toward You and in fervent love toward one another; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Announcements
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.
Serving Today @ St. Paul
Music Jim Wollmann, Ronnie Biediger, Judy Foerster
Duty Elders Rick Garza, George Fernandez, Paul Mallow
Altar Servers Michael Cruz & Chris Leon
Lector Chris Leon
Cantor Kevin Moore
Preacher/Celebrant Rev. Dave Murillo (davem@stpaulsa.org)
Liturgist Rev. Carlos Boerger (carlosb@stpaulsa.org)
Parish Administrator Suzanne Segovia (suzannes@stpaulsa.org
CDC Director Deborah Stephenson (deborahs@stpaulsa.org)
Deaconess Claire Jackson
Pastoral Intern Michael Cruz
Announcements
Confirmation Class
Confirmation class meets in Room 6 from 12 –3. Lunch will be provided.
New Member Catechumenate
New member class is being offered for all who are new to St. Paul and want to become members. We will meet from 9 – 10am in the library next to Pastor Dave’s office. For more info see pastor Dave.
Easter Donations
It is an Easter tradition here at St. Paul to give away Easter baskets as well as cascarones (hallowed out egg with confetti) to all the kids. We are seeking donations to help with this ministry. If you can help, see Judy Simon.
Easter Breakfast
Easter Sunday from 8 – 10am we are having a potluck in the gym before the Easter service. Please contact Suzanne at the church office for more info.
Vacation Bible School
VBS is happening June 19th – June 23rd. Hover on the QR code to sign up!
