Worship Service for Lent 3
Rev. Gregory Mech | March 7, 2021 | Third Sunday in Lent | Divine Service Setting Four with Holy Communion | Immanuel Lutheran Church – Joplin, Missouri | 8:00 or 10:30 am
Thank you for supporting Immanuel Lutheran financially. Learn more at immanueljoplin.com/GIVE.
Special thanks to all who helped to make this broadcast possible today:
Rev. Gregory Mech, DCE Jason Glaskey, organist Betty Lingenfelter, the COVID Committee and Board of Elders.
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
A portion of the Holy Gospel from John 2, one of the readings assigned for the Third Sunday in Lent. May God richly bless you as you hear His Word! Welcome to Immanuel Lutheran Church.
The Third Sunday in Lent
March 7, 2021 — Divine Service, Setting Four with Holy Communion
INVOCATION, CONFESSION and DECLARATION OF GRACE
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Our help is in the name of the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 124:8
If You, O Lord, kept a record of sins, O Lord, who could stand?
But with You there is forgiveness; therefore You are feared. Psalm 130:3-4
Since we have come to hear God’s Word and call upon Him in prayer and praise, let us first consider our unworthiness and confess before God and one another that we have sinned in thought, word, and deed, and that we cannot free ourselves from our sinful condition. Together as His people let us take refuge in the infinite mercy of God, our heavenly Father, seeking His grace for the sake of Christ and saying, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Almighty God, have mercy upon us, forgive us our sins, and lead us to everlasting life. Amen.
Almighty God, merciful Father, in Holy Baptism You declared us to be Your children and gathered us into Your one, holy Church, in which You daily and richly forgive us our sins and grant us new life through Your Spirit. Be in our midst, enliven our faith, and graciously receive our prayer and praise; through Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
KYRIE
Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.
SALUTATION and COLLECT OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray. O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
KIDS TALK
OLD TESTAMENT Exodus 20:1–17a responsive reading
God spoke all these words, saying,
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,
for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother,
that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house;
you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm 19: 7-12, 14
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening thee eyes;
the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the just decrees of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
EPISTLE 1 Corinthians 1:18–31
The word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
This is the Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
VERSE
Return to the Lord, your God,
for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love.
HOLY GOSPEL John 2:13–25
The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the second chapter.
Glory to You, O Lord.
The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, O Christ.
NICENE CREED
I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.
HYMN OF THE DAY “In the Cross of Christ I Glory” 427
In the cross of Christ I glory,
Towering o’er the wrecks of time.
All the light of sacred story
Gathers round its head sublime.
When the woes of life o’ertake me,
Hopes deceive, and fears annoy,
Never shall the cross forsake me;
Lo, it glows with peace and joy.
When the sun of bliss is beaming
Light and love upon my way,
From the cross the radiance streaming
Adds more luster to the day.
Bane and blessing, pain and pleasure
By the cross are sanctified;
Peace is there that knows no measure,
Joys that through all time abide.
SERMON
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
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.
BENEDICAMUS and BENEDICTION
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with favor and give you peace.
Amen.
Those not partaking of the Sacrament of the Lord’s Table are dismissed with this blessing. Thank you for joining us before God’s altar in fellowship today.
SERVICE OF THE SACRAMENT
Distribution of the Sacrament will be by family groups, at the direction of the usher. Children may come forward for a contactless blessing. Once you have received the body and the blood of our Lord Christ, depart in peace.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “I AM Forever WHO I AM”
Text: Richard W. Wiegmann; Tune: Kurt E. von Kampen
Copyright 2002 Concordia Publishing House
Though mountains slide into the sea,
And waters rush where fields should be,
Though monuments and nations fall,
Your Holy City stands through all.
When nothing seems to stay the same,
You teach us Your eternal name.
I AM forever WHO I AM,
Above you, beneath you,
Around you and within you.
Be still and know that I am God.
We buy and sell, we lose or gain;
Our fortunes shift like sun and rain.
Sustain our lives, reward our toil
With bread and honey, wine and oil.
Save us and others from our greed;
You always give us what we need.
I AM forever WHO I AM,
Above you, beneath you,
Around you and within you.
Be still and know that I am God.
Our lust for power, wealth and land
Diminishes the earth You planned.
Prevent our crimes and futile wars;
Convince us that all things are yours.
We rage and burn and kill and steal,
but You redeem, restore and heal.
I AM forever WHO I AM,
Above you, beneath you,
Around you and within you.
Be still and know that I am God.
Like shepherds watching for the light,
Aware of dangers in the night,
We hear the angel:
“Do not fear, the Savior of the world is near.”
We run, we see, we touch, we laugh.
You come to earth on our behalf.
I AM forever WHO I AM,
Above you, beneath you,
Around you and within you.
Be still and know that I am God.
Each generation looks for truth,
And doubt can trouble age or youth.
If other gods would take Your place,
Remember us with love and grace.
Reclaim us if we go astray;
You are the Truth, the Life, the Way.
I AM forever WHO I AM,
Above you, beneath you,
Around you and within you.
Be still and know that I am God.
Some days seem long, though life is brief,
And death is waiting like a thief.
When vision fades and dreams go dry,
We will on unseen things rely.
Our stories take up but a page,
But Yours goes on from age to age.
I AM forever WHO I AM,
Above you, beneath you,
Around you and within you.
Be still and know that I am God.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” 425
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 ever 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.
DISTRIBUTION HYMN “O Lord, We Praise Thee” 617
O Lord, we praise Thee, bless Thee and adore Thee,
In thanksgiving bow before Thee,
Thou with Thy body and Thy blood didst nourish
Our weak souls that they may flourish:
O Lord, have mercy!
May Thy body, Lord, born of Mary,
That our sins and sorrows did carry,
And Thy blood for us plead
In all trial, fear, and need:
O Lord, have mercy!
Thy holy body into death was given,
Life to win for us in heaven.
No greater love than this to Thee could bind us;
May this feast of that remind us!
O Lord, have mercy!
Lord, Thy kindness did so constrain Thee
That Thy blood should bless and sustain me.
All our debt Thou hast paid;
Peace with God once more is made:
O Lord, have mercy!
May God bestow on us His grace and favor
That we follow Christ our Savior
And live together here in love and union
Nor despise this blest Communion!
O Lord, have mercy!
Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us;
Grant that heavenly minded He make us;
Give Thy Church, Lord to see
Days of peace and unity:
O Lord, have mercy!
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