Midweek Lenten Worship
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church Tucson, Arizona
February 21, 2024
Welcome to Grace! Our mission at Grace is to teach the inspired and inerrant Word of God, to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the crucified and risen Savior of the world, and to nurture believers for lives of Christian service. Check out the GRACE WEBSITE at www.GraceLutheranSAZ.org SEASON OF LENT The Lenten Season is observed during the six weeks prior to Easter. The traditional goal of Lent is to prepare believers for a proper celebration of the events of Holy Week, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The purple color of the altar paraments and vestments reminds us that Lent is also a season of repentance. The Bible tells us that repentance is always the divine work of the Holy Spirit through the Law and the Gospel. The Law crucifies the old Adam, the sinful nature within us, and the Gospel raises up the new man, the new creation in us. For us, the Lenten focus on the cross and suffering of Jesus is not aimed at an emotional response. It is a pointed proclamation and confession of the Law and the Gospel, a preaching of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. Lent is properly a season of repentance when it brings the cross to sinners and sinners to the cross of Christ as the fountain and source of forgiveness, life, and salvation. This Lenten season, the theme for our midweek services is “God on Trial.” The unbelieving world has always insisted on putting God on trial. As our society becomes more secular, we Christians are increasingly aware of the many ways in which God—and his people—are judged. Temptations are many in this environment: treating unbelievers as enemies, retreating from the world, even questioning God ourselves. How do we live as people of God in this hostile world? We find our model—and our motivation—in Jesus. This series takes us back to the moments when God was literally on trial before men in the person of Christ. In these inspired episodes, we find forgiveness for us and all people, love for our enemies, strength for our faith, and courage to testify to the truth. WORSHIP NOTES The order of worship we will follow is printed in this worship folder for you to follow along and participate. You’ll notice that the service is a dialogue between God and us, his people. The pastor speaks to God along with the congregation and also speaks the Word of God to the people. The hymns we are using come from the blue Christian Worship hymnal, which is found in the hymnal racks in each pew. LARGE PRINT worship folders are now available for those who desire one. Those wishing to leave an offering can do so at either exit today or give online at www.GraceLutheranSAZ.org/give. (You can also scan the QR code to the right to access the online giving page.) We would greatly appreciate a record of your attendance in our worship today. Please take a moment to sign the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of each row. Thank you! PARKING There is no cost to park in our parking lot during worship services. If you receive a citation by mistake, please let our office staff know so it can be cleared. 1
ORDER OF WORSHIP WELCOME
OPENING HYMN—Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive
Christian Worship 733
Please stand
RESPONSIVE SENTENCES Minister: In the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. Congregation: Amen. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:5-8
CONFESSION OF SIN We confess together: Father, I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your child. Yet in mercy you sacrificed your only Son to purge away my guilt. For his sake, O God, be merciful to me, a sinner, and in the joy of your Holy Spirit let me serve you all my days.
Silence for personal examination and confession
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DECLARATION OF FORGIVENESS If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Upon this, your confession, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son (+) and of the Holy Spirit. 1 John 1:9 Thanks be to God. Amen.
PRAYER Lord God, you are compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in love. Fill us with the peace of your forgiveness so that our hearts may be set to obey your commandments; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Please be seated
RESPONSIVE READING FROM PSALM 71 In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go. Since my youth, God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.
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.
PSALM PRAYER Lord God, support us all the years of our lives that we may follow your gracious will both in good times and bad, that our lives may be an unending testimony to your love and faithfulness; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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PASSION HISTORY ACCORDING TO ST. MARK’S GOSPEL
Mark 14:1-26
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It was two days before the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the experts in the law were looking for some deceptive way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2“Certainly not during the Festival,” they said, “or there will be a riot among the people.” 3
While Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made from pure nard. She broke the alabaster jar and poured it over his head. 4But there were some who were indignant and said to one another, “Why has this perfume been wasted? 5Certainly this perfume could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor!” And they began to scold her. 6
But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing for me. 7In fact, you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you are not always going to have me. 8She did what she could. She anointed my body beforehand for burial. 9Amen I tell you: Wherever the gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman did will also be told in memory of her.” 10
Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray Jesus to them. 11When they heard this, they were glad and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him. 12
On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” 13He sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and there a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Wherever he enters, tell the owner of the house that the Teacher says, ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16
His disciples left and went into the city and found things just as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover. 17
When it was evening, he arrived with the Twelve.
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While they were reclining and eating, Jesus said, “Amen I tell you: One of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19
They began to be sorrowful and said to him one by one, “Surely not I?”
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He said to them, “It is one of the Twelve, one who is dipping bread with me in the dish. Indeed, the Son of Man is going to go just as it has been written about him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.” 21
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While they were eating, Jesus took bread. When he had blessed it, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “Take it. This is my body.” 23
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them. They all drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the new testament, which is poured out for many. 25Amen I tell you: I will certainly not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” 26After they sang a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 4
HYMN—My Song Is Love Unknown
SERMON
Christian Worship 397, stanzas 1-5
God on Trial: Restraint Luke 22:47-53
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While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, and the man called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He came near to Jesus to kiss him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?” 49
When those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said to him, “Lord, should we strike with a sword?” 50 Then one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. 51
But Jesus responded, “Stop! No more of this!” Then he touched the servant’s ear and healed him. 52 Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come out against him, “Have you come out as you would against a robber, with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay hands on me. But this is your hour—when darkness rules.”
Please stand
CONFESSION OF FAITH
Luther's Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed
I believe that Jesus Christ, true God, begotten of the Father from eternity, and also true man, born of the Virgin Mary, is my Lord.
He has redeemed me, a lost and condemned creature, purchased and won me from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil, not with gold or silver but with his holy, precious blood, and with his innocent suffering and death. All this he did that I should be his own, and live under him in his kingdom, and serve him in everlasting righteousness, innocence, and blessedness, just as he has risen from death and lives and rules eternally. This is most certainly true.
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PRAYER Almighty God, you have given us your only Son that he may be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living. Give us grace that we may always receive the priceless gift of his redemption with sincere thankfulness and daily strive to walk in the blessed steps of his most holy life. Amen.
MORNING PRAYER (10:00 AM)
EVENING PRAYER (7:00 PM)
O Lord, our heavenly Father, almighty and everlasting God, you have brought us safely to this new day. Defend us with your mighty power, and grant that this day we neither fall into sin nor run into any kind of danger; and in all we do, direct us to what is right in your sight, through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
Lord God, we thank you for this day of grace now drawing to a close. Stay with us and warm our hearts with your forgiving love in Christ. May your Word keep our faith burning brightly that we may walk in the light of your presence through the darkness of this world. In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
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 today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.
BLESSING Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love. 2 John 3 Amen.
Please be seated
CLOSING HYMN—Lord, Whose Love in Humble Service
Christian Worship 766 6
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY Minister ................................................................................................................... Pastor Seth Scheuerlein Accompanist ........................................................................................................................... Beth Kassulke Vocalist .................................................................................................................. Jeff Weinstein (7:00 PM) Ushers ...................................................................... Stanley Mead (10:00 AM) Dylan Guenther (7:00 PM) Sound and Recording Technicians ...................................... Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler (7:00 PM) Acknowledgements: Scripture readings are taken from The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version® (EHV®) © 2018 The Wartburg Project. All rights reserved. wartburgproject.org. Created by Christian Worship: Service Builder © 2024 Concordia Publishing House. Software distributed in partnership with Northwestern Publishing House.
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