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Sunday Morning Worship
Pam Smith
Pam Smith
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Notes
Playlist

Order of Worship
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Fourth Sunday in Lent

Prelude

Introduction to the day
The fourth of the Old Testament promises providing a baptismal lens this Lent is the promise God makes to Moses: those who look on the bronze serpent will live. In today’s gospel Jesus says he will be lifted up on the cross like the serpent, so that those who look to him in faith will live. When we receive the sign of the cross in baptism, that cross becomes the sign we can look to in faith for healing, for restored relationship to God, for hope when we are dying.

In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Hymn  There in God’s Garden  (vs. 1, 4, 6)      ELW 342

There in God's garden
stands the Tree of Wisdom,
whose leaves hold forth
the healing of the nations:
Tree of all knowledge,
Tree of all compassion,
Tree of all beauty.

See how its branches
reach to us in welcome;
hear what the Voice says,
"Come to me, ye weary!
Give me your sickness,
give me all your sorrow,
I will give blessing."

All heav'n is singing,
"Thanks to Christ whose passion
offers in mercy
healing, strength, and pardon.
Peoples and nations,
take it, take it freely!"
Amen! My Master!

Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever.
Amen.

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 our Lord.
Amen.

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

Gracious God,
have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned from you and given ourselves into the power of sin. We are truly sorry and humbly repent. In your compassion forgive us our sins, known and unknown, things we have done and things we have failed to do. Turn us again to you, and uphold us by your Spirit, so that we may live and serve you in newness of life through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

God, who is rich in mercy, loved us even when we were dead in sin, and made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. In the name of + Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Almighty God strengthen you with power through the Holy Spirit that Christ may live in your hearts through faith. Amen.

Prayer of the Day
O God, rich in mercy, by the humiliation of your Son you lifted up this fallen world and rescued us from the hopelessness of death. Lead us into your light, that all our deeds may reflect your love, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.

First Reading      Numbers 21:4-9
Though God provides food and water for the Israelites in the wilderness, they whine and grumble. They forget about the salvation they experienced in the exodus. God punishes them for their sin, but when they repent God also provides a means of healing: a bronze serpent lifted up on a pole.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22         (read responsively by full verse)
Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; (Ps. 107:19)

 1O give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
 for his steadfast love endures forever.
 2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,
 those he redeemed from trouble
 3and gathered in from the lands,
 from the east and from the west,
 from the north and from the south.
 17Some were sick through their sinful ways,
 and because of their iniquities endured affliction;
 18they loathed any kind of food,
 and they drew near to the gates of death.
 19Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
 and he saved them from their distress;
 20he sent out his word and healed them,
 and delivered them from destruction.
 21Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,
 for his wonderful works to humankind.
 22And let them offer thanksgiving sacrifices,
 and tell of his deeds with songs of joy.

Second Reading      Ephesians 2:1-10
While we were dead in our sinfulness, God acted to make us alive as a gift of grace in Christ Jesus. We are saved not by what we do but by grace through faith. Thus our good works are really a reflection of God’s grace at work in our lives.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel      John 3:14-21
To explain the salvation of God to the religious leader, Nicodemus, Jesus refers to the scripture passage quoted in today’s first reading. Just as those who looked upon the bronze serpent were healed, so people will be saved when they behold Christ lifted up on the cross.

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

Sermon 

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 the People
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need.

A brief silence.

You sent your Son that the world might be saved through him. Inspire the witness of the church throughout the world. Empower missionaries, Bible translators, and ministries of service in your name. Bless our partners in ministry, our ELCA global partner churches, and Young Adults in Global Mission. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

From east to west your steadfast love is shown. Nourish seas and deserts, wilderness areas and cities. Give water to thirsty lands; nurture spring growth that feeds hungry creatures; bless farmers as they prepare for the growing season. Hear us, O God.
Your mercy is great.

You sustained your people in the wilderness. Give courage to all who lead in times of crisis and scarce resources. Prosper the work of those who aid victims of famine and drought. Bring peace in places where scarce resources cause violence. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Your mercy endures forever. Deliver all who cry to you, especially those who are hungry or without homes. Give life in places where death seems triumphant; give healing to those who are sick and comfort to those who mourn, particularly Alena, Jenna, Petra, Marilyn, Jerod & Julia, Nick, Julie, Jean, Fritz, Marcella, Michael, Jack, Anne, JoAnn, Sandy, Beth, Johnny, Allen, Betty, Dione, Theresa, David, Dottie, Tim, Henry, Mary, Greg, Ann Joyce, Barbara, Shelby, and the Lawrence family. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

By grace we have been saved. Fill this congregation to overflowing with that grace, that we show mercy to others. Nourish any in our midst who are hungry, especially children, and bless our ministries of feeding and shelter. Give us patience and courage when the way seems long. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

Your Son was lifted up that whoever believes might have eternal life. We praise you for all who have died in Christ. Bring us with all the saints into the fullness of your promises. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

The 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 today our daily bread.
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 power,
    and the glory are yours,
    now and forever. Amen.

Offering Prayer
Faithful God, you walk beside us in the desert and wilderness places and you care for us with tender mercy and steadfast love. May our lives, our time, and our treasure be an offering reflecting your love for the world through Jesus.
Amen.

Hymn  Lift High the Cross     (vs. 1, 3, 4)    ELW 66

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

O Lord, once lifted on the glorious tree,
as thou hast promised, draw us all to thee.   Refrain

So shall our song of triumph ever be:
praise to the Crucified for victory!   Refrain

Benediction

Postlude


There in God’s Garden  Text:Király Imre von Pécselyi, c. 1590-c. 1641; tr. Erik Routley, 1917-1982. Text © 1976 Hinshaw Music, Inc., Fred Bock Publishing Group, Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved. Music: K. Lee Scott, b 1950. Music © Birnamwood Publication, a div. of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274. 

Lift High the Cross    Text: George W. Kitchin, 1827-1912; rev. Michael R. Newbolt, 1874-1956. Music: Sydney H. Nicholson, 1875-1947.  Text and Music © 1974 Hope Publishing Company. Reprinted and/or streamed with permission under OneLicense #A-722274.  All rights reserved.