Midweek Lenten Worship
Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church
Tucson, Arizona
March 20, 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.
WELCOME
OPENING HYMN Word of God, Come Down on Earth Christian Worship 537
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.
CONFESSION OF SIN
We confess together:
1 John 1:5-8
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.
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 138
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your unfailing love and your faithfulness.
When I called, you answered me; you greatly emboldened me. Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; with your right hand you save me. The Lord will vindicate me; your love, Lord, endures forever.
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.
16The soldiers led him away inside the palace, which is the Praetorium, and called together the whole cohort of soldiers. 17They put a purple robe on him, twisted together a crown of thorns, and put it on him. 18The soldiers began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19They kept hitting him on the head with a reed and spitting on him. They also kneeled down to pay homage to him.
20When they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothing on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
21A certain man, Simon of Cyrene (the father of Alexander and Rufus), was passing by on his way in from the country. They forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. 22They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha, which means, “The place of a skull.” 23They tried to give him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. 24They crucified him. And they divided his garments, casting lots for them to decide what each of them would take.
25Now it was the third hour when they crucified him. 26The superscription stating the charge against him read, “The King of the Jews.” 27They also crucified two criminals with him, one on his right and one on his left.
29Those who passed by ridiculed him, shaking their heads and saying, “Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, 30save yourself! Come down from the cross!”
31In the same way, the chief priests along with the experts in the law mocked him among themselves. “He saved others,” they said. “He cannot save himself. 32Let the Christ, the King of Israel, come down now from the cross so that we may see and believe!”
Those who were crucified with him also insulted him.
33When it was the sixth hour, darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. 34At the ninth hour Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
35When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah!”
36Someone ran, filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. They said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”
37Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed his last. 38The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39When the centurion who stood facing him saw how he cried out and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
40There were also women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. 41When he was in Galilee, they followed him and served him. Many other women also came up with him to Jerusalem.
42It was already evening, and since it was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath), 43Joseph from Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 44Pilate was surprised that he was already dead. He summoned the centurion and asked him if Jesus had been dead for a long time. 45When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he granted the body to Joseph. 46Joseph bought a linen cloth, took him down, and wrapped him in the linen cloth. He laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of rock, and he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. 47Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses were watching where the body was laid.
SERMON
God on Trial: Sympathy
Luke 23:26-34
26 As they led him away, they seized Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country. They placed the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd of people was following him, including women who were mourning and wailing for him.
28 Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, stop weeping for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. 29 Be sure of this: The days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never gave birth, and the breasts that never nursed.’ 30 Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us!’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31 For if they do these things to the green wood, what will happen to the dry?”
32 Two other men, who were criminals, were led away with Jesus to be executed.
33 When they came to the place called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on his right and the other on his left.
34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”
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.
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)
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.
Amen.
EVENING PRAYER (7:00 PM)
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.
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.
Amen.
Please be seated
2 John 3
THOSE ASSISTING IN WORSHIP TODAY
Minister.......................................................................................................................... Pastor Ron Koehler
Accompanist...........................................................................................................................Teri Guenther
Vocalist..................................................................................................................
Jeff Weinstein (7:00 PM)
Ushers....................................................................................................................
Stanley Mead (10:00 AM)
Dylan Guenther, Ferdie Kramm (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
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