Our Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church & Preschool

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 Christ Has Reconciled Us to the Father)

God the Father has opened His heart to us in love. While we were “still a long way off,” He saw us and “felt compassion” (Luke 15:20). Therefore, He gave His only-begotten Son for us, making “Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Cor. 5:21). By the ministry of reconciliation, He runs to us, embraces us in mercy, and clothes us with His glory as beloved sons in Christ Jesus. And so we give thanks unto the Lord our God, who has taken away our sins and turned His anger from us (Is. 12:1). As He has become our salvation, our strength and our song, so we “will trust, and will not be afraid” (Is. 12:2).

The Order of Morning Service

Without 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 #915 - “Today Your Mercy Calls Us”

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 51:1-6 (NIV)

P: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions.

C: Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

P: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.

C: Against You, You only, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are proved right when You speak and justified when You judge.

P: Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

C: Surely You desire truth in the inner parts; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

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 …

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; 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.

The Catechism Reading

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

C: You shall not steal.

P: What does this mean?

C: We should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions, or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.

P: What is the Eighth Commandment?

C: You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

P: What does this mean?

C: We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way.

The Old Testament Reading: Isaiah 12 (NIV)

In that day you will say: “I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: “Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.”

P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

The Epistle Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NIV)

Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

P: This is the Word of the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God.

The congregation is invited to please stand as able.

The Verse: Luke 15:22a, 24a (NIV)

P: The father said to his servants, “This my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

The Holy Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 (NIV)

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

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

Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear [Jesus]. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” …

Then Jesus told them this parable: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

“ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

P: Here ends the Gospel.

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

The Apostles’ Creed

A: I believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His 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 into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The congregation may be seated.

Hymn of the Day: LSB #744 - “Amazing Grace”

The Sermon - based on 2 Corinthians 5:14-21

The Offertory: LSB p. 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 fill out an attendance card from the pew rack and pass it to the center aisle where the ushers will collect them.)

A Hymn: LSB #770 - “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

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 Lord’s Prayer

The Collect for the Word/Church

The Benediction: LSB p. 202

P: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious unto you.

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you and U give you peace.

C: (Sung) Amen, Amen, Amen.

Closing Hymn: LSB #917 - “Savior, Again to Thy Dear Name We Raise”

Announcements

Organ Postlude

† 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:............................................................. The Board of Elders

Acolytes next Sunday:............ Mackenzie Schlesener and Kaylee Slater

Greeters:........................................... Pooh and Mackenzie Schlesener

Greeters next Sunday:............................ Don Kohls and Roger Krause

Stewardship of Our Time

Worship attendance last Sunday:..................................................... 90

Communion attendance last Sunday:................................................ 70

Sunday School attendance last Sunday:............................................ 36

Worship attendance Wednesday, March 10th:.................................. 32

Stewardship of Our Treasures

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

Home............................................................................... $3,274.00

Missions.............................................................................. $107.00

Together-In-Mission (Heiney)................................................ $60.00

Sunday School....................................................................... $10.00

Building Fund........................................................................ $91.00

Preschool donation................................................................. $10.00

We gave thanks to God with our offerings received Wed., March 3rd:

Home.................................................................................. $202.00

Stewardship Thought

If anyone is in Christ they are a new creation. In Christ we are forgiven for all our failures and equipped to live as new creations who manage all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes. Whether we are managing our time, abilities or money we are to live in a way that honors God and blesses others.

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 traveling to Mexico for the servant event

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:

Jeff Kickhaefer, 3/15; Josh Lawrenz, 3/15; Gina Rigg, 3/16

Our members celebrating Baptismal Anniversaries this week:

Mark Wendt, 3/15; Christina Bartel, 3/16; Donna Krause, 3/18; Emma Alt, 3/19; Ray Mueller, 3/20; Kiffany Osban, 3/20

Our members celebrating Wedding Anniversaries this week:

Jerry & Shirley Vinyard March 20 (51 years)

This Week at Our Redeemer (God Willing):

Sunday, March 14: The Fourth Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Sunday School for All

10:30 am Worship Service

4:00 pm Medicalodges Service

Wednesday, March 17:

7:00 pm Midweek Lenten Service

7:30 pm Board of Elders meeting

Thursday, March 18:

10:45 am Medicalodges Service w/Communion

Sunday, March 21: The Fifth Sunday in Lent

9:15 am Sunday School for All Ages

10:30 am Divine Service

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

4:30 pm Middle School Catechism class

News & Notes

KJIL-FM (105.7) - Hear Lutheran Hour speaker Rev. Ken Klaus’ message next week entitled, “Only the Essentials” based on Philippians 3:8. What is the cost of discipleship? Anything we lose now will be more than covered when we receive the great prize Christ won for us. 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. “I think it is vital that society understands and appreciates the sanctity of every human life whether it is a developing child in the womb or somebody approaching the end of their life. When I graduate and become a doctor I am hoping to be able to use my skills to help save lives. I think abortion is never the answer and hope that one day, as a doctor, I will be able to help women to make the right decision.” Siobhan Fearon, 19, of Hull York Medical School. 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 “Peace with God” based on Romans 5:1-11. 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.

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. 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.

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.

If you would like to purchase an Easter Lily for the church sanctuary for the Easter season, a form is contained in this morning’s bulletin for you to do so. Simply complete the form and place it in the offering plate or give it to Helen Mitchell. The cost of each lily is ten dollars. Thank you in advance for your help with this project!