Our Redeemer Lutheran Church

Welcome!

We extend a warm welcome to all who worship here today! Whether you are a member or a visitor, we pray your time with us this morning is a blessing.

About This Morning’s Scripture Readings:

(Jesus Calls You to Repentance)

“Unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3,5). By this warning, the Lord would turn us away from wickedness and bring us to life in Himself. For He is patient with us, that we not be cut down in our sin but live and bear fruit in Him. As He lives, the Lord has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live” (Ezek. 33:11). So the Scriptures have been “written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11), that we should not desire evil but trust in Christ. He alone is faithful, the Rock who feeds us with His “spiritual food” and pours out His “spiritual drink” (1 Cor. 10:3–4).

The Order of the Holy Communion

Lutheran Service Book p. 184

† In Nomine Jesu †

Organ Prelude; Lighting of the candles; Ringing of the Chimes

† THE PREPARATION †

The Opening Hymn: LSB #507 - “Holy, Holy, Holy”

The congregation is invited to please stand as able.

The Invocation

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19-20)

C: Amen.

The Confession of Sins

P: Beloved in the Lord! Let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins unto God, our Father, beseeching Him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness. (Adapted from Hebrews 10:22)

P: Our help is in the name of the Lord.

C: Who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 124:8)

P: I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the Lord.

C: And You forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5b)

P: O almighty God, merciful Father, ...

A: … I, a poor, miserable sinner, confess unto You all my sins and iniquities with which I have ever offended You and justly deserved Your temporal and eternal punishment. But I am heartily sorry for them and sincerely repent of them, and I pray You of Your boundless mercy and for the sake of the holy, innocent, bitter sufferings and death of Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, to be gracious and merciful to me, a poor sinful being.

P: Upon this your confession, I, by virtue of my office, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce the grace of God unto all of you, and in the stead and by the command of my Lord Jesus Christ I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. (John 20:19-23)

C: Amen.

† THE SERVICE OF THE WORD †

The Introit: Psalm 1:6; Psalm 4:4-8 (NIV)

P: The LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

C: You are not a God who takes pleasure in evil; with You the wicked cannot dwell.

P: The arrogant cannot stand in Your presence; You hate all who do wrong.

C: You destroy those who tell lies; bloodthirsty and deceitful men the LORD abhors.

P: But I, by Your great mercy, will come into Your house; in reverence will I bow down toward Your holy temple.

C: Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies—make straight Your way before me.

Gloria Patri

A: (Sung) Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost; As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

The Kyrie

A: (Sung) Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. (Adapt. from Mark 10:47)

The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted during Lent

The Salutation and Collect for the Day

P: The Lord be with you. (Adapted from 2 Timothy 4:22)

C: (Sung) And with thy spirit.

P: Let us pray …

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C: (Sung) Amen.

The congregation may be seated.

Catechism Reading

P: As the head of the family should teach it in a simple way to his household. What is the Fourth Commandment?

C: Honor your father and mother.

P: What does this mean?

C: We should fear and love God so that we do not despise or anger our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.

P: What is the Fifth Commandment?

C: You shall not murder.

P: What does this mean?

C: We should fear and love God so that we do not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.

P: What is the Sixth Commandment?

C: You shall not commit adultery.

P: What does this mean?

C: We should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and husband and wife love and honor each other.

Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 33:7-20 (NIV)

"Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man to turn from his ways and he does not do so, he will die for his sin, but you will have saved yourself.

"Son of man, say to the house of Israel, 'This is what you are saying: "Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?" ' Say to them, 'As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, O house of Israel?'

"Therefore, son of man, say to your countrymen, 'The righteousness of the righteous man will not save him when he disobeys, and the wickedness of the wicked man will not cause him to fall when he turns from it. The righteous man, if he sins, will not be allowed to live because of his former righteousness.' If I tell the righteous man that he will surely live, but then he trusts in his righteousness and does evil, none of the righteous things he has done will be remembered; he will die for the evil he has done. And if I say to the wicked man, 'You will surely die,' but he then turns away from his sin and does what is just and right-if he gives back what he took in pledge for a loan, returns what he has stolen, follows the decrees that give life, and does no evil, he will surely live; he will not die. None of the sins he has committed will be remembered against him. He has done what is just and right; he will surely live.

"Yet your countrymen say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But it is their way that is not just. If a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, he will die for it. And if a wicked man turns away from his wickedness and does what is just and right, he will live by doing so. Yet, O house of Israel, you say, 'The way of the Lord is not just.' But I will judge each of you according to his own ways."

P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

Epistle Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 (NIV)

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

The congregation is invited to please stand as able.

The Verse: 2 Peter 3:9b (NIV)

P: [The Lord] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

The Holy Gospel: Luke 13:1-9 (NIV)

P: The Holy Gospel is written in the thirteenth chapter of St. Luke, beginning with the first verse.

C: (Sung) Glory be to Thee, O Lord!

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish."

Then he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree, planted in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any. So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, 'For three years now I've been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven't found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?'

" 'Sir,' the man replied, 'leave it alone for one more year, and I'll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.' "

P: Here ends the Gospel.

C: (Sung) Praise be to Thee, O Christ!

The Nicene Creed

C: I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.

And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of His Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made; who for us men and for our salvation came down from heaven and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate. He suffered and was buried. And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures and ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead, whose kingdom will have no end.

And I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified, who spoke by the prophets. And I believe in one holy Christian and apostolic Church, I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins, and I look for the resurrection of the dead and the life… of the world to come. Amen.

The congregation may be seated.

Hymn of the Day: LSB #421 - “Jesus, Grant That Balm and Healing”

The Sermon

The Offertory: LSB pp. 192-193

C: (Sung) Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation; and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen. (Psalm 51:10-12)

Our Tithes and Offerings Are Received (To help us minister to your needs, please complete an attendance card from the pew rack and pass it to the center aisle where the ushers will collect them.)

The congregation is invited to please stand as able.

The General Prayer:

Pastor will conclude each petition of the General Prayer with the words, “Lord, in Your mercy” The congregation is invited to respond with: “Hear our prayer.”

† THE SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION †

To Our Guests

We welcome you to this worship service! It is a sad consequence of the division in Christianity that we cannot extend to all a general invitation to receive the Lord’s Supper. Lutherans believe, because the Bible declares, that in the Lord’s Supper we are given the very Body and Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and that we are bound together as the body of Christ in the confession of the one faith this congregation confesses at the Lord’s Table. Reception of Holy Communion at this time by Christians who are not one in faith with us would imply a oneness which does not exist and for which we must all pray.

Therefore, because the Bible declares it is important for all to know what the Lord gives us in His Supper and that we be one in faith at the table of our Lord, we kindly ask guests who are not members of another Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS) congregation to please abstain from receiving Holy Communion this morning. Instead, during Holy Communion, you are invited to join the congregation in meditating on God’s Word and singing the hymns.

If you wish, Pastor Slater will be pleased to speak with you about our LCMS communion practice and about preparing for a future, informed participation in the blessings and fellowship of the Sacrament with us.

Again, we welcome you and look forward to seeing you again!

The Preface and Proper Preface: LSB p. 194

The Sanctus: LSB p. 195

The Lord’s Prayer: LSB p. 196

The Words of Institution and Pax Domini: LSB p. 197

The Agnus Dei: LSB p. 198

The congregation may be seated.

The Distribution

Distribution Hymns: LSB #563, #588, #761, #730

The congregation is invited to please stand as able.

The Nunc Dimittis: LSB pp. 199-200

The Thanksgiving: LSB pp. 200-201

The Salutation and the Benedicamus: LSB pp. 201-202

The Benediction: LSB p. 202

Please remain standing for Silent Prayer while the candles are extinguished.

Announcements

† Soli Deo Gloria †

Stewardship of Our Talents

We give thanks to God for those who serve as we worship:

Pastor: Rev. Troy Slater

Elder for the Month: Mr. Kenny Pigorsch

Organist: Mrs. Lori Moldenhauer

Acolytes: Katie Roe and Presley Idleman

Greeters: Mark & Barb Kickhaefer

Greeters next Sunday: Pooh and Mackenzie Schlesener

Stewardship of Our Time

Worship attendance last Sunday: 73

Sunday School attendance last Sunday: 32

Worship attendance Wednesday, March 3rd: 42

Stewardship of Our Treasures

We gave thanks to God with our offerings received last Sunday:

Home.............................................................................. $1,674.00

Missions............................................................................... $33.00

Together-In-Mission (Heiney).............................................. $265.00

Sunday School........................................................................ $7.07

Building Fund....................................................................... $11.00

Ash Wednesday offering (for KS Dist. Student funds)............ $25.00

Other income received last Sunday:

Preschool tuition................................................................. $380.00

We gave thanks to God with our offerings received Wed., Feb. 24th:

Home................................................................................. $233.00

Stewardship Thought

Paul reminded the Corinthians of the example of the Children of Israel who were often unfaithful to God and His commands, and instead focused on the things of this life. It was poor stewardship on their part to neglect their relationship with God as their number one priority. This was written (St. Paul says) as a warning to us to put first things first. Godly stewards do the right things for the right reasons.

Where does my “Mission Offering” go?

For each dollar that is given this quarter (January - March) as a designated “Mission” offering, the following is the approximate manner it will be divided (per our 2010 congregational budget):

32 cents - LCMS World Relief

18 cents - Tuition assistance for a Seminary student

18 cents - Lutheran Blind Mission

13 cents - LCMS Kansas District Mission Commitment

13 cents - Support airing “The Lutheran Hour” on KJIL (FM)

6 cents - Fort Wayne seminary student food bank

Thank you for your continued support of our congregation’s mission budget!

We include in our daily prayers:

Members who are home bound or in an extended care facility:

Gene Brammer; Larry Brockmeier; Velma Denver; Louise Gehrke; Bert Wendlandt; Clem Weber; Leona Riffel

Those with special needs:

Verda Fleming; Cecil Rock; Shirley Vinyard; Ed Riffel; Lori Roberts; Marilyn Gregory

Those military members & relatives serving in foreign lands:

Scott Sarapa (son-in-law of Marilyn Gregory deployed to Iraq); Justin Massey (friend of the congregation deployed to Iraq); Immanuel Mgana (friend of the congregation deployed to Iraq); the brother of Mitch Lyons who is deployed to Iraq

Our members celebrating Birthdays this week:

Megan Mortensen, 3/8; Ayden Lawrenz, 3/13; Florence White, 3/13

Our members celebrating Baptismal Anniversaries this week:

Easton Idleman, 3/7; Roger Krause, 3/7; Amber Brockmeier, 3/9; Meghan Brockmeier, 3/9; Verda Fleming, 3/10; Aaron Staatz, 3/10; Shelly Langhofer, 3/12

This Week at Our Redeemer (God Willing):

Sunday, March 7: The Third Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Sunday School for All

10:30 am Divine Service

11:45 am Board of Education meeting

4:30 pm Middle School Catechism class

Tuesday, March 9:

9:00 am Preschool

9:00 am Circuit Pastors’ Conference—Latimer

Wednesday, March 10:

9:00 am Preschool

7:00 pm Midweek Lenten Service

7:30 pm Tabitha Society meeting

Thursday, March 11:

9:00 am Preschool

10:45 am Medicalodges Service w/Communion

Sunday, March 14: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Sunday School for All Ages

10:30 am Worship Service

10:30 am The Lutheran Hour on KJRL-FM (105.7)

4:00 pm Medicalodges Service

News & Notes

KJIL-FM (105.7) - Hear Lutheran Hour speaker Rev. Ken Klaus’ message “The Sinner’s Friend” based on Luke 15:1-2. Throughout His earthly ministry, Jesus proved Himself the Friend of sinners. He reached out to those who needed Him most. Listen to “The Lutheran Hour” every Sunday morning at 10:30 am on KJRL-FM (105.7). This good news broadcast is sponsored in part by Our Redeemer. The Lutheran Hour also airs on XM Radio 170 every Sunday at noon or anytime on the web at www.lutheranhour.org.

Life Quote. “Either all human life—from unborn children to demented mothers and fathers—is created … and therefore infinitely precious, or humans are nothing but the result of mere chance, indistinguishable morally from a sand flea. The choice society makes will determine whether the most vulnerable among us will be respected and protected … or whether we will ‘put them down’ when they become a burden.” Chuck Colson, founder of Prison fellowship. This "Life Quote" is from Lutherans For Life-www.lutheransforlife.org/1-888-364-LIFE.

Our Midweek Lenten services continue this Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm under the theme, “We Preach Christ Crucified”. This week’s message is “The Reason to Endure” based on Hebrews 12:1-3. Join us each Wednesday evening through March at 7:00 pm as we meditate on our Lord’s passion.

Adult Sunday School Class. This morning we continued a look at “the Seven Words of Jesus From the Cross.” Deepen your faith and gain a clearer understanding of the words Jesus spoke during His crucifixion. It’s never too late to begin so join us each Sunday morning at 9:15 am.

EQUIPPING THE PRIESTHOOD OF ALL BELIEVERS... Don't all religions lead to God? Isn't morality simply in the eye of the beholder? How can a good and all-powerful God allow evil? You'll find answers to these questions by listening to Issues, Etc. It's a radio talk show hosted by LCMS Pastor Todd Wilken and produced by Lutheran Public Radio. You can listen to what you want when you want at www.issuesetc.org.

Pilgrimage of the Light volunteers—The churches of Herington are offering the ‘Pilgrimage of the Light’ on Palm Sunday, March 28th. Our Redeemer is once again presenting the Palm Sunday processional scene and we are needing your help. We need volunteers to help with traffic, setting up and picking up the luminaries, candlelighters, and of course actors to serve as the Palm Sunday crowd. Sign up sheets for these areas are located on the small table in the narthex. Please consider helping.

An Afternoon Tea is being hosted by the LWML group of St. John Lutheran Church of Lyons Creek next Sunday afternoon, March 14th, at 3:00 pm at the St. John church. All ladies of Our Redeemer are invited. Eden Keefe will give a presentation and tasting of teas. Please bring a tea cup or mug so you can taste the teas. Please RSVP by March 10th to Mary Brockmeier at 366-7382.

The U.S. Census Bureau needs you! If you are a U.S. citizen, at least 18 yrs old and have work experience, call the U.S. Census Bureau at 1-866-861-2010 today. They are still in great need of applicants for the Dickinson County area.

Easter Lilies. With Easter rapidly approaching, it’s time to start thinking about purchasing Easter lilies for the church sanctuary for the Easter season. As you noticed, there is a form contained in this morning’s bulletin for those who would like to donate an Easter lily to the glory of God in memory of a loved one, in thanksgiving or celebration for something, or for another reason as you may indicate. The cost of each lily is ten dollars. Also, you may take your lily home with you following our Easter morning worship service or you may leave it at the church to continue to beautify our sanctuary. Thank you in advance for your help with this project!

Meals-On-Wheels Volunteers. Looking for a way to serve your neighbor? We are in need of a couple of individuals or families who are willing to serve their homebound neighbors by delivering a much appreciated meal to them. This takes less than an hour of your time, one day out of every six to eight weeks. To help let either Pastor Slater know or Margie Schlesener. Thanks!