+ THE WORD +
PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray.
Grant us, Lord, the spirit to think and do what is right that we, who cannot do anything that is good without you, may by your help be enabled to live according to your will; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
Please be seated
FIRST READING
1 Then God spoke all these words:
Exodus 20:1-17
2 I am the L your God, who brought you out from the land of Egypt, where you were slaves.
3 You shall have no other gods beside me. 4 You shall not make any carved image for yourself or a likeness of anything in heaven above, or on the earth below, or in the waters under the earth. 5 Do not bow down to them or be subservient to them, for I the L your God am a jealous God. I follow up on the guilt of the fathers with their children, their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren, if they also hate me. 6 But I show mercy to thousands who love me and keep my commandments.
7 You shall not misuse the name of the L your God, for the L will not permit anyone who misuses his name to escape unpunished.
8 Remember the Sabbath day by setting it apart as holy. 9 Six days you are to serve and do all your regular work, 10 but the seventh day shall be a sabbath rest to the L your God. Do not do any regular work, neither you, nor your sons or daughters, nor your male or female servants, nor your cattle, nor the alien who is residing inside your gates, 11 for in six days the L made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. In this way the L blessed the seventh day and made it holy.
12 Honor your father and your mother so that you may spend many days on the land that the L your God is giving to you.
The Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest), which we often sing following the Kyrie, is traditionally omitted during the season of Lent, as our rejoicing is more muted and quiet during this season. We look forward with joyful anticipation to Easter Day when our most jubilant songs of praise will return.
The Ten Commandments teach us that God is to be worshiped above all. Why? He is the God who brought us out of slavery.
This reading continues on the next page.
4
This anthem is based on the words of 1 Corinthians 1:18, which is part of our Second Reading for today.
13 You shall not commit murder.
14 You shall not commit adultery.
15 You shall not steal.
16 You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male servant, his female servant, his ox, his donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
CHOIR ANTHEM God of the Cross Worship Choir
God of the cross, your ways are higher than ours: in your wisdom, your Son Jesus became human for our sake, hung on a cross, bearing the sin of the world. Your glory was concealed in his weakness.
God of the cross, your ways are deeper than ours: in your caring, you command us to deny our sinful selves. Under this cross, we stumble and fail, but your mercy is revealed in our weakness.
For when we see that in our flesh there’s not a trace of good, (Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling.) then we flee for pardon to the only place it can be found: the cross of Christ.
God of the cross, your ways are gentler than ours. In your working, you restore us through your unassuming Word: “Come to the cross; Jesus is mighty to save.” Your glory, once concealed, your mercy now revealed, your power is made perfect in weakness.
5
Words and music: Jon Eiche © 2022 Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.
18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. 19 In fact, it is written:
I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will bring to nothing.
20 Where is the wise man? Where is the expert in the Jewish law? Where is the probing thinker of the present age? Has God not shown that the wisdom of this world is foolish? 21 Indeed, since the world through its wisdom did not know God, God in his wisdom decided to save those who believe, through the foolishness of the preached message. 22 Yes, Jews ask for signs, Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified which is offensive to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 We preach Christ crucified, because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Please stand
Isaiah 29:14
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION John 2:17
Refrain (ALL):
Choir: His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
Refrain (ALL)
Tune: © 2021 Northwestern Publishing House. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.
Whatever it is you trust most, that is what you truly worship. Some worship intelligence. Others worship power. May we worship Christ for what he did on the cross. The Gospel Acclamation points toward the words of the Gospel.
SECOND READING
Corinthians 1:18-25
1
6
Jesus restores his Father’s house to what it was supposed to be: a place of worship for all people.
Psalm 69:9
13 The Jewish Passover was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers sitting at tables. 15 He made a whip of cords and drove everyone out of the temple courts, along with the sheep and oxen. He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those selling doves he said, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a place of business!”
17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me. ”
18
So the Jews responded, “What sign are you going to show us to prove you can do these things?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”
20 The Jews said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! And you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But Jesus was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When Jesus was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and what Jesus had said.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise be to you, O Christ.
Please be seated
7
2:13-22
GOSPEL John
PSALM—I Rejoiced When I Heard Them Say Christian Worship Psalter 122A
The choir will sing verses 1 and 2 and the first two refrains. Please join in singing the remainder of the Psalm.
Our order of worship typically includes the singing of a psalm between the first and second readings. Today we are singing this psalm in place of the Hymn of the Day to draw special attention to its message. In this psalm, David speaks of the importance of Jerusalem as it was the place of worship for God’s Old Testament people. God’s people still rejoice to come to the house of the Lord, where God pours out his blessings on us.
This psalm was not included in the blue Christian Worship hymnals. Rather, it was included in the Christian Worship Psalter which was released in connection with the hymnal in 2021.
8
Text: Richard T. Proulx, adapt. Tune: Hasidic, arr. Richard T. Proulx. Text and tune: © 1993 GIA Publications, Inc. Used by permission: OneLicense no. 710199.
Please stand
The Nicene Creed was first developed in 325 at the First Council of Nicea. It was written to reaffirm the Biblical teaching of the divinity of Jesus, God’s Son. Like the Apostles’ and Athanasian Creeds, the Nicene Creed is a confession of what the Bible teaches.
CONFESSION OF FAITH 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 in unity with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy Christian 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.
Please be seated
9
John 2:13-22 Learn from Jesus How to Worship
SERMON
PRAYER OF THE CHURCH
Gracious Lord, according to your will and promise, you sent your Son into our world to atone for sin and restore eternal life. You planned his path to the cross, and he followed it perfectly. Your Spirit led him to endure the temptations of Satan, but he triumphed. Your own people rejected his message, but he persevered. He confronted the blindness of unbelief, the confusion of doubt, and the hurt of death but was not deterred as he proclaimed your kingdom to the least, the last, and the lost.
Guide us to follow Christ by faith as we walk the road of temptation and trial. Spare us from falling into Satan’s traps, and steel our resolve as his partners confront us. Teach us to use your Word as a weapon to fight against all devilish lies and deceptions. When we fall and we surely will lift us up again with your forgiveness and grace.
As we hear and contemplate the holy record of our Savior’s passion and death, use the sharp message of the law to empty us of pride and self-reliance. Humble us as we view the Savior in his humility, remembering and believing that he endured the cross so we might be freed from its horror. In his suffering show us our healing, in his grief show us our joy, and in his death show us our life.
Protect all who are bearing the cross of persecution and disdain. Supply your power to those fighting temptations and addictions. Watch over all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, and heart. We pray especially for children who are abused, forsaken, or ignored. Comfort all your troubled people with the sweet peace that only Jesus can bring.
Give wisdom and resolve to the leaders of our government that their rule may bring prosperity to our land and peace to our people. Supply insights to those who seek cures and invent devices to make our lives on earth better and safer. Inspire creative minds to touch our hearts in ways that reflect your creating love. You desire that we bask in the glory of your redemption; according to your will, may we also enjoy the wonders of your creation.
Hear our prayers, Lord, for the sake of Jesus, whose journey to the cross we remember during the days of Lent. Comfort and strengthen us by his life and death on our behalf, and thrill us as we look forward to celebrating his victory on Easter. Amen.
10
Brief intercessory prayers may be added in a fitting place.
OFFERTORY:
Ayre
Arcangelo Corelli
OFFERING
Members of Grace respond to their Savior’s love with offerings that are given joyfully, generously, regularly, and in a way that is proportionate to how the Lord has blessed them. Their cheerful gifts support the mission and ministry of our congregation. If you are a guest today, please know that we do not expect you to contribute to our congregation’s work. However, if you would like to give an offering to the Lord in response to his love to you, we are happy to receive it and put it to work in God’s kingdom. If you prefer, use your smart phone to give online by scanning this QR code:
Please fill out the Friendship Register located in the red folder at the end of the row and pass it along. Thank you!
Please stand
+ THE SACRAMENT +
The minister will sing the italicized words. The congregation responds by singing the bolded lines.
PREFACE
Minister: The Lord be with you.
Congregation:
Christian Worship
165
Lift up your hearts.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
11
It is truly good and right that we should at all times and in all places give you thanks, O Lord, holy Father, almighty and everlasting God, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who brought the gift of salvation to all people by his death on the tree of the cross so that the devil, who overcame us by a tree, would in turn by a tree be overcome. Therefore, with all the saints on earth and hosts of heaven, we praise your holy name and join their glorious song:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY (Sanctus)
Christian Worship 167
PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
Blessed are you, Lord God, eternal King and gracious Father. In love you made us the crown of your creation. In mercy you planned our salvation. In grace you sent your Son to redeem us from sin.
We remember and give you thanks that your eternal Son, Jesus Christ, became flesh and made his dwelling among us, that he willingly placed himself under law to redeem those under law, that he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death on a cross, that he has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
This prayer continues on the next page.
12
Matthew 6 and Luke 11
record how Jesus taught his disciples to pray. We use his example prayer as part of our public worship, trusting that he will hear and answer our prayers.
Bless us as we receive your Son’s body and blood in this Sacrament. Forgive our sins, increase our faith, strengthen our fellowship, and deepen our longing for the day when Christ will welcome us to his eternal feast. Praise and thanks and honor and glory be to you, O God our Father, and to your Son and to the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
As he speaks the Words of Institution, the minister both proclaims the words of Jesus to the congregation and sets apart the bread and wine for this special use. The sign of the cross reminds us of Christ’s death.
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.
WORDS OF INSTITUTION
Our Lord Jesus Christ, on the night he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my (+) body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
Then he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; this is my (+) blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
The peace of the Lord be with you always.
Amen.
This song continues on the next page.
13
O CHRIST, LAMB OF GOD (Agnus Dei) Christian Worship 169
Please be seated
DISTRIBUTION
The Bible teaches that the Lord’s Supper is a unique communion of Christ and the individual believer as well as a coming together of people who hold to the same beliefs. Because of these Scriptural truths, we practice Member Communion at Grace. Those who are confirmed members of Wisconsin Synod congregations (WELS) are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper with us.
If you are not a WELS member but have an interest in receiving Holy Communion, please speak with the pastor after church today or at another time. We are aware that there are a number of other teachings about Holy Communion, and we want it to be a blessing for you, so we would look forward to sharing with you what God says about this Sacrament.
PRAYER BEFORE COMMUNION (For private meditation)
Lord Jesus, you have invited me to come and receive your holy Sacrament. I believe that in the bread and wine you give me your true body and blood to eat and drink. Forgive my sins and nourish my faith through this precious meal. I long for the comfort that comes with your promises; I yearn for the assurance of your faithful love. Bless me now as I receive you by faith. Amen.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION (For private meditation)
Thank you, dear Savior, for nourishing my faith with the Sacrament of your body and blood. Lift my heart with your forgiveness, renew my confidence in your grace, empower my love for others, and lead me to long for the eternal banquet of heaven. Amen.
Gluten-free communion wafers and grape juice are available for those who for health or medical reason require it. Please see page 16.
COMMUNION MUSIC:
O Living Bread from Heaven; Jesus Comes
Today with Healing; I Come, O Savior, to Thy Table
Jacob Weber
Please stand
14
Psalm 106:1
SPOKEN RESPONSES
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever.
1 Corinthians 11:26
Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
CLOSING PRAYER
We give thanks, almighty God, that you have refreshed us with this saving gift. We pray that through it you will strengthen our faith in you and increase our love for one another. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Amen.
The blessing of Aaron has been spoken over God’s people for over 3,500 years. The L said, “In this way they will put my name on [them], and I will bless them.” Numbers 6:27
BLESSING
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look on you with favor and (+) give you peace.
Amen.
POSTLUDE MUSIC:
Go, My Children, with My Blessing Valerie A. Floeter
Please be seated
15
+ THANKSGIVING +
ANNOUNCEMENTS CLOSING HYMN Go, My Children, with My Blessing Christian Worship 930
Holy Communion
We provide gluten-free communion wafers for those with wheat allergy, gluten-sensitivity, or celiac disease. These wafers are stored and handled separately to avoid cross-contamination. They are “bread” as Scripture requires and are consecrated along with the rest of the bread. For those requiring gluten-free wafers, please take one from the stand located at the front rail as you approach for communion. Simply hold it so that the pastor can see it at the time of distribution. Grape juice is available for those who for health or medical reason require it instead of wine. Please speak with a pastor about providing grape juice for you on future Sundays.
Today we are distributing Holy Communion in “tables.” The ushers will direct members forward by the side aisles. Groups of about ten will be guided toward the center aisle and will line up to receive the elements together. After each table communes, the pastor will offer a blessing and dismiss the group to return by the center aisle.
To aid in your personal preparation for Holy Communion, a list of Christian Questions can be found on pages 295-296 in the hymnal. These were prepared by Martin Luther for those intending to receive the Sacrament.
Altar Flowers
The flowers beautifying our altar this morning were given by Eric and Erika Hanson who are celebrating God’s blessings of 25 years of marriage.
If you would like to provide flowers for the altar, please call (520-623-6633) or email (office@gracelutheransaz.org) the Grace Central Office to reserve a Sunday. Upcoming available Sundays include April 14, 21, and 28. The cost for the 2 bouquets is $32.50. After the 10:00 AM service you may take the flowers home or leave them to be dropped off to one of our homebound members if a visit is being made.
Fellowship
Following the 10:00 AM service this morning, you are invited to join us in the courtyard and Fellowship Hall for drinks and snacks. We thank the Guenther family for hosting this week in celebration of Ferdie Kramm’s 80th birthday!. Upcoming available dates are April 28 and May 12, 19, & 26. Please sign up on the sheet in the Fellowship Hall.
Those Assisting in Worship This Morning
Preacher................................................................................................................Pastor Ron Koehler
Worship Leader Pastor Nathan Kassulke
Communion Assistant.................................................................................................Paul Kassulke
Accompanist Jim Bakken
Vocalist and Choir Accompanist.................................................................................Teri Guenther
Choir Director Paul Kassulke
Greeters...........................................................................................
Paul & Kay Kassulke (10:00 AM)
Ushers Rusty King, Vic Thornton (7:45 AM)
Jon Dongoske, Ferdie Kramm, DJ Miller, Jenn Miller, Emma Miller, Rick Street (10:00 AM)
Communion Prep Kay Kassulke, Erika Hanson
Sound and Recording Techs ..........................................................Jeremy Snavely, Danny Koehler
Banner Committee Nadine Rentschler, Jeanette O’Donald, Sandy Weir
Acknowledgements:
TODAY
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.
16
