Second Sunday in Lent – February 28, 2021 The Order of Worship at 11:00 am To mitigate spread of COVID-19 in our community, on-site activities— including worship services—have been cancelled. Many activities continue, but in different formats: ZOOM for interactive small groups and classes, togo meals for the Food Ministry, and streaming worship services and music from the archives. Our gathering policies will continue to respond to changes in the best public health data available to us. Worship will be Livestreamed from Redeemer with only leaders present. Throughout worship, participants will be masked even as they speak and sing, and each will remain in an area designated for them alone. Similar protections will probably be required when we are able gradually to open worship further, but for now we are glad return to the familiarity of Redeemer and the musical and technical options it provides us. Thanks to all of the lectors and musicians who have led us during the past weeks as we worshiped from home. Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping from home, to offer any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue to give to support the ministries that continue, socially distant for the common good. As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, even though we are not together in person. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type. This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.
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WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS HYMN 335
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Jesus, Keep Me near the Cross
THANKSGIVING FOR BAPTISM Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, the fountain of living water, the rock who gave us birth, our light and our salvation. | Amen. Joined to Christ in the waters of baptism, we are clothed with God's mercy and forgiveness. Let us give thanks for the gift of baptism. We give you thanks, O God, for in the beginning, your Spirit moved over the waters and by your Word, you created the world, calling forth life in which you took delight. Through the waters of the flood, you delivered Noah and his family. Through the sea, you led your people Israel from slavery into freedom. At the river, your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Holy Spirit. By water and your Word, you claim us as daughters and sons, making us heirs of your promise and servants of all. We praise you for the gift of water that sustains life, and above all we praise you for the gift of new life in Jesus Christ. Shower us with your Spirit, and renew our lives with your forgiveness, grace, and love. To you be given honor and praise through Jesus Christ our Lord in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. | Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY O God, by the passion of your blessed Son you made an instrument of shameful death to be for us the means of life. Grant us so to glory in the cross of Christ that we may gladly suffer shame and loss for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. Please use the Prayer Request link on the webpage to submit your requests. CHILDREN’S SERMON THE GOSPEL Mark 8:31-38 After Peter confesses his belief that Jesus is the Messiah, Jesus tells his disciples for the first time what is to come. Peter’s response indicates that he does not yet understand the way of the cross that Jesus will travel. 3
[Jesus] began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” After the reading: The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You O Christ. SERMON HYMN 596
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Pastor Mark H. Larson My Hope is Built on Nothing Less
AFFIRMATION OF BAPTISM, Receiving New Members Presentation Profession of Faith Do you believe in God the Father? I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God? 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. Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit? 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. 5
Affirmation People of God, do you promise to support these sisters and brothers and pray for them in their life in Christ? We do, and we ask God to help and guide us. Welcome Let us rejoice with these sisters and brothers in Christ. We rejoice with you in the life of baptism. Together we will give thanks and praise to God and proclaim the good news to all the world. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Relying on the promises of God, we pray boldly for the church, the world, and all in need. A brief silence. Your gift of grace is for all people. Give confident faith to all the baptized, that we may follow you wholeheartedly. Give hope and courage to those who suffer for their faith. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. All the ends of the earth worship you. From galaxies to microorganisms, preserve your creation. Teach humanity to wonder at your works and to join you in tending to creation’s well-being. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. You rule over the nations. Raise up advocates for peace and justice within and between nations. Give life where hope seems dead, bring vindication for victims of injustice, and call into existence new realities we cannot even imagine. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. 6
In Jesus you joined humanity in suffering and death. Accompany caregivers and restore all who suffer in body, mind, and spirit. Mercifully tend to (prayer requests are lifted up) Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. You made Abraham and Sarah the ancestors of a multitude of nations. Bless grandparents, parents, and foster parents, and the children who look to them for care and guidance. Console those who deal with infertility, parents who have entrusted their children to adoption, and children longing to be adopted. Equip ministries and services to families, especially Goshen Valley Foster Care. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. We await the day of Christ’s coming in glory. Lead us by the example of all the saints whom you have called to take up their cross and follow you. Comfort us as we grieve their absence (names of the bereaved are lifted up) Your mercy is great. We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. PEACE The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you. Please let us know you worshiped with us today by using the I’m Worshiping link as you would the attendance pad at church. GATHERING OF GIFTS 7
Please use the Help and Give links to support the ministry of Redeemer. MUSIC by Redeemer Jazz Trio THANKSGIVING FOR THE WORD Holy God, our living Water, our faithful Companion, our true Guide, by your Word you created a world with rivers and seas, wells and springs, and in mercy you provided water for your people in the wilderness. For your Word with the water of baptism, we thank you, O God. We thank you, O God. We praise you for Christ, who joined us in our wilderness, calling us to righteousness, granting forgiveness, and walking with us into newness of life. For Jesus, your gracious Word, we glorify you, O God. We glorify you, O God. Through these days of Lent we plead for your Spirit, that strengthened by your Word, we may care for others and for the world you made, and work for justice and peace for all. For your Word in our hearts and minds, we praise you, O God. We praise you, O God. Receive our thanksgiving, and grant us your blessing, Holy God, now and forever. Amen. 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; 8
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.
SENDING God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world. BLESSING God the creator strengthen you; Jesus the beloved fill you; and the Holy Spirit the comforter ☩ keep you in peace. | Amen. HYMN
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Do, Lord, Remember Me
SENDING Go in peace. Be the light of Christ. | Thanks be to God. POSTLUDE by Redeemer Jazz Trio LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Worship attendance for February 21: Livestream 529, Facebook 125 NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER Third Sunday of Lent Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22 CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS | March 21st, 2021 and April 18th, 2021 | 12:30 PM Webinar (links to the meetings will be sent on the Saturday prior to each meeting) The purpose of these meetings will be to vote on incorporating into Redeemer's constitution amendments about membership of the Congregation Council. These amendments address concerns that were raised about the structure and membership of the Council at the congregation meeting on December 6, 2020. Council Members will be available at a Q&A session before each meeting to discuss the amendments and answer questions. The Q&A sessions will be held on March 14th at 12:30 PM and April 11th at 12:30 PM If you will be attending either the congregation meetings or Q&A sessions by phone, please contact the Redeemer main number at (404) 874-8664 for details on how to attend and vote. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Your Congregation Council has approved the following amendments to the Redeemer constitution and recommends their adoption by the congregation: Note: The deleted text is marked through; the added text is underlined.
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C12.01. The voting membership of the Congregation Council shall consist of the called pastors, the financial secretary, the treasurer, and not more than 15 members of this congregation, who are elected as provided in C12.02c. C12.01. The membership of the Congregational Council shall be the 15 members who are elected as provided in C12.02, the financial secretary, the treasurer, and the senior pastor. The voting members of the Council are the elected members and the senior pastor. The financial secretary and the treasurer are voting members only if they are elected Council members. In addition, the following changes will be needed: C12.02.b. Except as provided in C12.03, no person, other than the senior pastor, the financial secretary, and the treasurer, may serve consecutive terms on the Congregation Council. An outgoing Council member shall not be eligible to serve on the Council for the next three years after the conclusion of that member's term. C11.01.c. Officers of this congregation shall serve similar offices of the Congregation Council and shall be voting members of the Congregation Council only if they are elected members of the Council. If approved on March 21, 2021, these changes will be presented to the congregation for a ratification vote at a second congregation meeting on April 18, 2021. If ratified then, these changes will go into effect upon notification that the synod has approved them at its next Synod Council meeting.
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LENTEN SERVICES WEDNESDAYS IN LENT—February 24 – March 24, 2021 7:15 PM | Livestream Midweek Jazz Vespers: Emerging from the Wilderness (NO NOON SERVICES) HOLY WEEK SERVICES Sunday, March 28 | Palm/Passion Sunday 11:00 am | Livestream Wednesday, March 31 | Prayers for Healing 7:00 pm | Zoom Thursday, April 1 | Maundy Thursday 7:00 pm | Livestream Friday, April 2 | Good Friday 12:00 pm, 7:00 pm | Livestream Saturday, April 3 | Holy Saturday 10:00 am Family Easter Vigil | Zoom 7:00 pm Easter Vigil | Livestream EASTER SUNDAY April 4, 2021 Festival Worship | Livestream 9:00 am Jazz Trio 11:00 am Organ and Brass
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THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH OF THE REDEEMER 731 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30308 www.redeemer.org | 404.874.8664 | Emergency Line: 404.874.9759 The Rev. Mark H. Larson ................................................Senior Pastor, ext. 201 The Rev. Ronald Bonner ............. Pastor for Community Engagement, ext. 203 The Rev. Jonathan Trapp ........................... Pastor for Faith Formation, ext. 233 The Rev. Jenny McLellan ...................Pastor for Congregational Care, ext. 224 STAFF Bob Boyd ......................................Director of Operations and Finance, ext. 232 Seth Brown .............................................Facilities and Media Director, ext. 218 Robin Durdin .......................................Office Administration Director, ext. 204 Kate Elkins............................................................... Preschool Director, ext. 252 David Hansen .................................................... Adult Choral Director, ext. 236 Sarah Hawbecker ..................... Organist & Children’s Music Director, ext. 206 Deacon Mary Houck .............. Children & Family Ministries Director, ext. 227 Jennifer Isaacson ................................. Financial Information Director, ext. 237 Karen Medford ..... Parish Nurse, and Adult Faith Formation Director, ext. 230 Hillary Nelson.......................................Youth Director, hnelson@redeemer.org Tawanda Searcy .......................... Receptionist and Wedding Director, ext. 200 Stacey Williams ......................................................................... Head of Security
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