Fifth Sunday in Lent – March 21, 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. 1
WELCOME ANNOUNCEMENTS HYMN
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When the Storms of Life are Raging
The Asian and Pacific Islander Association of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America issued a statement on March 4, 2021 addressing the increase in violence directed toward Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. The ELCA Conference of Bishops affirmed the statement on March 5, 2021. Read the full statement here: https://elca.org/News-and-Events/8089 The statement calls the church to declare a Sunday during this Lenten season to lament in order to express solidarity with, help in healing, and support Asian American victims of violence. March 21, 2021, the Fifth Sunday in Lent, is named as a common date for this day of lament.
LAMENTING RACISM People of color may opt for silence during parts of this lament to contemplate the community’s words. The sin of racism hurts communities of color, fractures human relationships, and denies God’s good creation. Lament is a way for us to recognize the harm caused by racism. Within the whole human family, people of color have experienced both interpersonal aggression and structural oppression instead of abundant life. We recognize and lament the harm racism has caused to African Descent communities; American Indian and Alaska Native communities; Indigenous Peoples within Canada; Arab and Middle Eastern communities; Latinx communities, and Asian and Pacific Islander communities. We cry out to you, hear our lament, O God. We have assigned the notion of race to human beings created in God’s own divine image. We have judged God’s beautiful diversity by our flawed and artificial standards. We cry out to you, hear our lament, O God. Asian siblings are hurting. Many have been targeted, told to "go home," physically attacked, and even killed. We have failed to care for our neighbor. We cry out to you, hear our lament, O God. We have used language and images in ways that equate black and dark with dirt and sin, and that fail to welcome the treasures of darkness in 3
God’s good creation. We cry out to you, hear our lament, O God. We have accepted practices in our churches and in our society that privilege whiteness over diversity and equity. We have been complicit in how racism continues to exclude and harm people of color. We cry out to you, hear our lament, O God. When one part of the body of Christ hurts, the whole body hurts. As we listen to people who are harmed by racism, we call to you, open our hearts, O God. As we reflect on our daily interactions with people and communities of color, we call to you, open our hearts, O God. As we reconsider what we have been taught about race and racism, we call to you, open our hearts, O God. As we contemplate what we have done and what we have left undone, we call to you, open our hearts, O God. As we labor to create a loving and safe community for our siblings of color, we call to you, open our hearts, O God. Holy and merciful God, as your people we recommit ourselves to loving one another as you have loved us. May God’s forgiveness invite us all to face who we are truly as members of the body of Christ. May this rich promise embrace us all, taking away the pain of our battered body. We pray in the name of the one who has made us one, Jesus Christ our Lord. | Amen. Please use the Prayer Request link on the webpage to submit your requests. 4
CHILDREN’S SERMON THE GOSPEL John 12:20-33 Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time to celebrate the Passover festival. Here Jesus’ words about seeds planted in the ground turn the disaster of his death into the promise of a harvest in which everyone will be gathered. Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. “Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die. After the reading: The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You O Christ. SERMON
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Pastor Mark H. Larson
HYMN
He Leadeth Me
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
On this fifth Sunday in Lent, let us offer both our laments and our petitions to God who mercifully tends to all who call upon him. A brief silence. O God, we lament that over the past months many Christians have not been able to assemble in person for worship. And we pray: Strengthen all Christians in every church around the globe in the covenant of their baptism. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.
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We lament that by indulging our own desires, we have misused your creation and have worsened the poverty of others. And we pray: Continue your care for the earth you have made. Protect animals and their habitats and shelter all lands from violent storms, flooding, and wildfires. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. We lament that as a nation we have perpetuated the sin of racism. And we pray: Drive us to action for the dismantling of racism in relationships, communities and societies. Guide us to shape communities that reflect your mercy, justice, and peace as we work to eliminate racial discrimination. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. We lament the suffering people endure all over the world: hunger, homelessness, loneliness, illness. And we pray: End this pandemic. Guide us in healing the sick, supporting the weary, welcoming the migrant, feeding the hungry, and living with others in harmony. We pray especially for . . . . [names from petitions] Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. We lament the countless who have died of COVID and beloved members of our community that have died. And we pray: raise them up to eternal life in Jesus Christ and send your Spirit of comfort on us who mourn, especially… [names from petitions] At the end, bring us with all who have died in Christ into your everlasting presence. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, Father of glory, in your bountiful Spirit, and in the name of Christ, our great high priest, now and forever. Amen. 7
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 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.
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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.
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 660
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Lift High the Cross
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 March 14: Livestream 336, Facebook 54 NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER Sunday of the Passion/Palm Sunday Isaiah 50:4-9a, Psalm 31:9-16, Philippians 2:5-11, Mark 15:139
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETINGS | March 21st, 2021 and April 18th, 2021 | 12:30 PM Webinar 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. 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. 11
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. 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 6:30 pm | Individual Absolution | Zoom 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 12
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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