ORDER OF WORSHIP
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 119, 2023

  + GATHERING +

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

PRELUDE 

Holy God
Russian Orthodox Traditional

CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS

In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another.

     Silence is kept for reflection.

Most merciful God,
we confess that we are captive 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.
Amen.

In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the   Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

GATHERING HYMN        

Christ the LIfe of All the Living
ELW 339

Christ, the life of all the living, 
Christ, the death of death, our foe,
Christ, yourself for me once giving 
to the darkest depths of woe:
through your suff'ring, death, and merit 
life eternal I inherit.
Thousand, thousand thanks are due, 
dearest Jesus, unto you.

You have suffered great affliction 
and have borne it patiently,
even death by crucifixion, 
fully to atone for me;
for you chose to be tormented 
that my doom should be prevented.
Thousand, thousand thanks are due, 
dearest Jesus, unto you.

Then, for all that bought my pardon,
for the sorrows deep and sore,
for the anguish in the garden,
I will thank you evermore;
thank you for the groaning, sighing, 
for the bleeding and the dying,
for that last triumphant cry,
praise you evermore on high.

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

In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace from above,
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For the peace of the whole world,
for the well-being of the Church of God,
and for the unity of all,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

For this holy house,
and for all who offer here their worship and praise,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord, have mercy.

Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
Amen.

PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray.
Bend your ear to our prayers, Lord Christ, and come among us. By your gracious life and death for us, bring light into the darkness of our hearts, and anoint us with your Spirit, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

+ WORD +  

FIRST READING:      1 Samuel 16:1-13
Samuel anointed David even though he was the eighth-oldest son of Jesse and did not match his brothers in height or other physical characteristics. With the anointing came endowment with the Spirit of the Lord, designating David as the Lord’s chosen successor to Saul.

¹The LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons." ²Samuel said, "How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me." And the LORD said, "Take a heifer with you, and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.' ³Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you." ⁴Samuel did what the LORD commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, "Do you come peaceably?" ⁵He said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
⁶When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, "Surely the LORD's anointed is now before the LORD." ⁷But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." ⁸Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." ⁹Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." ¹⁰Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen any of these." ¹¹Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all your sons here?" And he said, "There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here." ¹²He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The LORD said, "Rise and anoint him; for this is the one." ¹³Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the LORD came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 23   (read in unison)

 ¹The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
 ²He makes me lie down in green pastures;
 he leads me beside still waters;
 ³he restores my soul.
 He leads me in right paths
 for his name's sake.
 ⁴Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
 I fear no evil;
 for you are with me;
 your rod and your staff —
 they comfort me.
 ⁵You prepare a table before me
 in the presence of my enemies;
 you anoint my head with oil;
 my cup overflows.
 ⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
 all the days of my life,
 and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
 my whole life long.

SECOND READING:     Ephesians 5:8-14
Because we now live in the divine light which is Jesus Christ, we conduct our lives in ways that reflect the light of Christ, so that our activity is truly pleasing to God.

⁸For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light — ⁹for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. ¹⁰Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. ¹²For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; ¹³but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, ¹⁴for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
 "Sleeper, awake!
 Rise from the dead,
 and Christ will shine on you."

The Word of the Lord.  
Thanks be to God.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION         

Gospel Acclamation Setting Six (Lent)
ELW p 171 (sing twice)

Let your steadfast love come to us, O Lord.
Save us as you promised; we will trust your word.

GOSPEL:      John 9:1-41
Jesus heals a man born blind, provoking a hostile reaction that he regards as spiritual blindness to the things of God.

The holy gospel according to John.
Glory to you, O Lord.

¹As [Jesus] walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. ²His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" ³Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God's works might be revealed in him. ⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. ⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." ⁶When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man's eyes, ⁷saying to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. ⁸The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, "Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?" ⁹Some were saying, "It is he." Others were saying, "No, but it is someone like him." He kept saying, "I am the man." ¹⁰But they kept asking him, "Then how were your eyes opened?" ¹¹He answered, "The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.' Then I went and washed and received my sight." ¹²They said to him, "Where is he?" He said, "I do not know."
¹³They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. ¹⁴Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. ¹⁵Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see." ¹⁶Some of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath." But others said, "How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?" And they were divided. ¹⁷So they said again to the blind man, "What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened." He said, "He is a prophet."
¹⁸The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight ¹⁹and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" ²⁰His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; ²¹but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." ²²His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. ²³Therefore his parents said, "He is of age; ask him."
²⁴So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, "Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner." ²⁵He answered, "I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see." ²⁶They said to him, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?" ²⁷He answered them, "I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?" ²⁸Then they reviled him, saying, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. ²⁹We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from." ³⁰The man answered, "Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. ³¹We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. ³²Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. ³³If this man were not from God, he could do nothing." ³⁴They answered him, "You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?" And they drove him out.
³⁵Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" ³⁶He answered, "And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him." ³⁷Jesus said to him, "You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he." ³⁸He said, "Lord, I believe." And he worshiped him. ³⁹Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind." ⁴⁰Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?" ⁴¹Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains.

The gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, O Christ.

SERMON

HYMN OF THE DAY    

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound 
ELW 779

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.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!

Through many dangers, toils, and snares    
I have already come;
'tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.

The Lord has promised good to me;
his word my hope secures;
he will my shield and portion be
as long as life endures.

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.

NICENE CREED

We believe in one God,
   the Father, the Almighty,
   maker of heaven and earth,
   of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
   the only Son of God,
   eternally begotten of the Father,
   God from God, Light from Light,
   true God from true God, 
   begotten, not made,
   of one Being with the Father;
   through him all things were made. 
   For us and for our salvation
      he came down from heaven,
      was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary
      and became truly human.
      For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
      he suffered death and was buried.
      On the third day he rose again
      in accordance with the scriptures;
      he ascended into heaven
      and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
      He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
      and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
   who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
   who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified,
   who has spoken through the prophets.
   We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.
   We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
   We look for the resurrection of the dead,
   and the life of the world to come. Amen.

Hear Our Prayer
ELW 178

Hear our prayer, hear our prayer,
Lord make us whole:
peace to all people,
hope for each soul. 
God of grace, in this place,
hear now our prayer.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE

Sustained by God’s abundant mercy, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of creation.

     A brief silence.

We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your steadfast love and your promise to renew your whole creation; through Jesus Christ our Savior.
Amen.

EXCHANGE OF PEACE

Peace of Christ be with you all.
    And also with you.

We prepare now to receive our offerings as we return to God a portion of what God has entrusted to us.

  + MEAL +  

OFFERING
You may place your offerings in the offering plate as it is passed during the service.  Alternatively, some are using Tithe.ly for online giving or are using their bank’s online banking option.  Whichever way you choose to give, we are grateful for your stewardship and generosity.

MUSICAL OFFERING

Holy God, Hnly and Glorious
(Susan R. Briehl, Robert Buckley Farlee)

OFFERING SONG  

As the Grains of Wheat
ELW 465

Refrain
    As the grains of wheat once scattered on the hill
    were gathered into one to become our bread; 
    so may all your people from all the ends of earth 
    be gathered into one in you.

As this cup of blessing is shared within our midst,
may we share the presence of your love.    Refrain 

Let this be a foretaste of all that is to come
when all creation shares this feast with you.    Refrain 

OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Blessed are you, O God, maker of all things.  Through your goodness you have blessed us with these gifts: our selves, our time, and our possessions.  Use us, and what we have gathered, in feeding the world with your love, through the one who gave himself for us, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.

    HOLY COMMUNION

THE GREAT THANKSGIVING

DIALOGUE
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.

PREFACE    

Praise upon praise belongs to you, God of David, for through the length of days your goodness faileth never.  You created a world of verdant pastures and streams of living water where we should nothing lack.  Out of the house of Jesse you named a shepherd son to be your people’s king.  With rod and staff you walked with your children through the shadow of slavery and the valley of exile and every kind of evil. 

When your sheep strayed in sin, you sent your own Son to be our shepherd king and to restore our souls.  He came to lay each one of us across his shoulders and bring us home to you.  He set a table in the face of his enemies and laid down his life that you might take it up again in glory.  And because you promise goodness and mercy to follow us all our days, we give our thanks with all who dwell in your house forever, with angels and archangels and all the company of heaven as we join the unending hymn.  

SANCTUS

Holy, Holy, Holy
ELW 192      

Holy, holy, holy Lord, 
Lord God of pow'r and might, 
Heav'n 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, hosanna in the highest.

THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE 

Anointing God, Samuel poured oil on the head of David, and your Spirit came mightily upon him.    

Send your Holy Spirit upon your church to make us faithful disciples and, with your same Spirit, anoint these gifts of bread and wine that they may be for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ; who, at supper with his disciples, took bread, gave you thanks, broke the bread, and gave it to them, saying, “Take, eat: this is my body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

After supper he took the cup.  Again he gave you thanks, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Drink this, all of you: this is my blood of the new covenant, which is shed for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins.  Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Great is the mystery of faith.
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

Searching God, you alone give your followers eyes of faith. Teach your church to see as you see, and set its sights on your kingdom.  In the face of evil, lift the burden of fear.  In the shadow of death, give comfort.  In the company of enemies, spread your welcome table until that day when every cup runneth over and your children look upon one everlasting banquet, and all are made one around your heavenly feast, as faith shall at last be made sight; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in the power of the Holy Spirit, with all honor and glory, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

LORD'S PRAYER
Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be Your name,
  Your kingdom come,
  Your will be done,
    on earth as in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins,
  as we forgive those
    who sin against us;
Save us from the time of trial,
  and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the pow'r,
  and the glory are yours
  now and forever.
Amen. Amen. Amen.

DISTRIBUTION 
This holy meal is for all the baptized children of God.  We commune at the altar rail.  The ushers will direct you down the center aisle.  Please go to an open spot at the altar rail.  After you have received the host, the first chalice is for intinction and the second chalice is for drinking.  A third chalice of grape juice is also offered.  Please let the Pastor know if you wish to receive gluten-free wafers.  You may wish to remain at the rail for a time of personal prayer following which you may return to your pew down the side aisle. 

LAMB OF GOD     

O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
have mercy on us.
O Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world;
grant us peace, grant us peace.

HYMNS DURING COMMUNION

Lead Me, Guide Me 
ELW 7685

Refrain
   Lead me, guide, me, along the way.
   for if you lead me, I cannot stray.
   Lord, let me walk each day with thee.
   Lead me, O Lord, lead me.

I am weak and I need they strength and pow'r
to help me over my weakest hour. 
Help me through the darkness thy face to see. 
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.   Refrain

Help me tread in the paths of righteousness,
be my aid when Satan and sin oppress. 
I am putting all my trust in thee.
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.   Refrain

I am lost if you take your hand from me,
I am blind without thy light to see.
Lord, just always let me thy servant be.
Lead me, O Lord, lead me.   Refrain

O Lord, Now Let Your Servant
ELW 313  (v. 1)

O Lord, now let your servant
    depart in heav'nly peace,
    for I have seen the glory
    of your redeeming grace:
    a light to lead the nations
    unto your holy hill,
    the glory of your people,
    your chosen Israel.

BLESSING AFTER COMMUNION
And now may the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ preserve us on to life everlasting.  
Amen.

PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
God of abundance, with this bread of life and cup of salvation you have united us with Christ, making us one with all your people.  Now send us forth in the power of your Spirit, that we may proclaim your redeeming love to the world and continue forever in the risen life of Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

+ SENDING +  

SENDING HYMN      

Be Thou My Vision
ELW 793

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
naught be all else to me, save that thou art:
thou my best thought both by day and by night,
waking or sleeping, thy presence my light.

Be thou my wisdom, and thou my true word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord.
Thou my soul's shelter, and thou my high tow'r,
raise thou me heav'nward, O Pow'r of my pow'r.

Riches I heed not, nor vain, empty praise,
thou mine inheritance, now and always:
thou and thou only, the first in my heart,
great God of heaven, my treasure thou art.

Light of my soul, after victory won,
may I reach heaven's joys, O heaven's Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
still be my vision, O Ruler of all.

BENEDICTION

DISMISSAL
Go in peace.  Follow the way of Jesus.
Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE  

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Liturgical Text and Music from Evangelical Lutheran Worship, © 2006, 2020, 2022 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies License #SAS016761.  All rights reserved.

Christ the LIfe of All the Living, Text: Ernst Christoph Homburg, 1605-1681; tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878, alt. Music: Das grosse Cantional, Darmstadt, 1687.  Public domain.

Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound. Text: John Newton, 1725-1807, alt., sts. 1-4; anonymous, st. 5, Music: W. Walker, Southern Harmony, 1835; arr. Edwin O. Excell, 1851-1921, alt. Public domain.

Holy God, Holy and Glorious, Text: Susan R. Briehl, b. 1952. Text © 2002 GIA Publications, Inc.  Music: Robert Buckley Farlee, b. 1950.  Music © 2001 Robert Buckley Farlee, admin. Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

As The Grains of Wheat, Text:Didache, 2nd cent.; Marty Haugen, b. 1950,  Music: Marty Haugen, Text and music © 1990 GIA Publications, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

Hear Our Prayer, Text and music: Paul Andress, b. 1956.  Text and music © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.

The Lord's Prayer, Music: Jack S. Upton, Jr.  Used by permission.

Lead Me, Guide Me, Text and music:  Doris Akers, 1922-1995. Text and music © 1953 Doris Akers, admin Unichappell Music, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.  

O Lord, Now Let Your Servant, Text: Ernest E. Ryden, 1886-1981, alt., based on the Nunc dimittis. Text © 1925 Board of Publication, Lutheran Church in America, admin. Augsburg Fortress.  Music: Finnish folk tune; arr. hymnal version.  Arr. © 2006 Augsburg Fortress.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.  

Be Thou My Vision, Text: Irish, 8th cent.; vers. Eleanor H. Hull, 1860-1935, alt.; tr. Mary E. Byrne, 1880-1931.  Music: Irish traditional. Public domain.

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone), Words and Music: John Newton, Chris Tomlin, Louie Giglio. CCLI Song # 4768151 © worshiptogether.com songs | sixsteps Music | Vamos Publishing.  Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under CCLI License # 2241477.  All rights reserved.