March 7, 2010
The 3rd Sunday
in Lent
A Stephen Ministry Congregation
Our vision is to be
an expanding community
of faith, growing in the Holy Spirit,
and practicing before
the world a Christ centered life.
Missionaries: All
the people of God
Pastor:
Assistant to the
Pastor:
Director of
Music:
Office
Assistant: Darlene Zenami
Aids for hearing, children’s
“activity bulletins,”
and large print bulletins
are available from the ushers.
A nursery room
for mothers and
their infants is available.
Also, child care
for older children
is available
Attendant – Connie
Piepenbrink
Please ask an
usher for assistance.
(A good preparation for Holy Communion
is found on pages 329-330 in our Lutheran Service Book.)
During the Call to Worship and Welcome,
the person seated closest to the center
aisle is asked to take
the
Record of Fellowship book, sign it,
and pass it to others in the row.
The last person to sign is asked to pass
the book back.
Call to Worship
Welcome
The Peace
P: The peace of
the Lord be with you always.
C: And also with
you.
(You are invited to greet one another in the name of
the Lord
And to remain standing for the hymn.)
Hymn: “God Himself Is Present” bulletin page 11
(To sing harmony, turn to page 907 in the
Lutheran Service Book.)
Invocation
P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit.
C: Amen.
Confession and Absolution
P: If we say we
have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
C: But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful
and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
(Silence
for meditation and reflection)
P: Most merciful God,
C:
we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. We have sinned against you in thought, word,
and deed. We have not loved you with our
whole heart. We have not loved our
neighbors as ourselves. We justly
deserve your present and eternal punishment.
For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we
may delight in your will and walk in your ways – to the glory of your holy
name. Amen.
P:
Upon this, your confession, I, as a called and ordained servant of the Word, announce
the grace of God to all of you. And in the stead and by the command of our Lord
Jesus Christ, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C:
Amen. Thanks be to God.
Prayer of the Day
P:
The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P:
We pray together:
C: O God, it is your glory 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. Amen.
First Lesson – Ezekiel 33:7-20
Second Lesson – 1 Corinthians 10:1-13
The Holy Gospel (Please
rise) – Luke 13:1-9
P: The Holy Gospel according to St. Luke, the 13th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.
At that very time there were some present who told Jesus about
the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. He asked them, ‘Do you think that
because these Galileans suffered in this way they were worse sinners than all
other Galileans? No, I tell
you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Or those eighteen who were killed
when the
Then Jesus told this parable: ‘A man had a fig tree planted in
his vineyard; and he came looking for fruit on it and found none. So he said to the gardener, “See
here! For three years I have come
looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” He replied, “Sir, let it alone for
one more year, until I dig round it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well
and good; but if not, you can cut it down.” ’
P: This is the
Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to
you, O Christ.
Sermon
Confession of Faith – The Nicene Creed
P: We confess
together the faith we hold and the faith we share:
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 worshipped 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 Prayers
P: Let us pray for the whole people of God in Christ Jesus and for
all people according to their needs.
(After the pastor ends each
petition with, “Lord, in your mercy,” the congregation responds with, “Hear our
prayer.”)
P: Into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting
in your mercy; through your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
C: Amen.
The Offering
We invite to the Lord’s Supper all
Christians who are baptized, who have communed in a Christian church, and who
share our Lutheran understanding that, along with the bread and wine, we
receive the body and blood of our living Lord Jesus – for the strengthening of
our faith and witness. Children who do
not commune are invited to come for a blessing.
Pastor asks that they fold their hands to show that they are not communing.)
Service of Holy Communion
P: The Lord be with you.
C: And also with you.
P: Lift up your hearts.
C: We lift them to the
Lord.
P: Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C: It is right to give
him thanks and praise.
P: It is truly, good, right, and beneficial that we should always give
thanks to you, holy Lord, almighty Father, everlasting God. You ask your people to cleanse their hearts
and to prepare joyfully for the wedding feast of the Lamb. Renew our passion for faith and life, and
make certain in us that salvation is graciously given to the children of
God. Therefore, with angels and archangels
and all the company of heaven, we laud and magnify your glorious name, evermore
praising you and saying:
C: Holy, holy, holy Lord,
powerful God, mighty God,
P: heaven and earth are full of your glory.
C: Hosanna in the
highest!
P: Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
C: Hosanna in the
highest!
The Words of Institution
P: In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took
bread and gave thanks; broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying: Take and
eat; this is my body, given for you. Do
this for the remembrance of me. Again,
after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink,
saying: This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you for the
forgiveness of sins. Do this for the
remembrance of me.
P: We pray together:
C: 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.
Hymn: “Lamb of God”
The Distribution
(The glasses in the very center of each
tray contain grape juice for those who are not able to drink wine.)
Post Communion Prayer
P: We pray together:
C: We give thanks to you, almighty God,
that you have refreshed us through this salutary gift. And we implore you that, of your mercy, you
would strengthen us through the same in faith toward you and in fervent love
toward one another; through Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.
Announcements
The Benediction (Numbers
P: The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord make his face
shine on you and be gracious to you.
The Lord look upon you with
favor and give you peace.
C: Amen.
Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” bulletin page 12
(To sing harmony, turn to page 809 in
Lutheran Service Book.)
The Sending Forth
P: Go in peace
and serve the Lord.
C: Thanks be to
God.
Post-service Music
+ + +
“Thank you” to Kris Proper for
serving as organist today.
The FLOWERS are given today by Ed
& Janie Fritch.
GOD’S
BLESSINGS to those celebrating birthdays this
week:
Joseph Beck and Marcia Schaefer
on Monday, Marcia Elkins on Tuesday, Joan Adams on Wednesday and Hunter
Wesson on Thursday.
PASTOR
RON will be attending law enforcement chaplain
in-service training, Tuesday through Friday, on
The March meeting for the LOLC
WOMEN'S GROUP will be Friday, March 26th, 10:30 a.m., at Marcia
Elkins home located at 1040 Madison Lakes Parkway, Madison. Come and enjoy devotions
and an Easter Candy-making Demonstration by Marilynn Sowell. Light refreshments
will be served. A sign-up sheet is on the sign-up table. For more information,
contact Marilynn Sowell (706-453-2402).
Our CHURCH PHOTO DIRECTORY was taken over
three years ago. Some have moved away,
and some have joined us.
SPECIAL GIFT OPPORTUNITY: The church could use two large (37-42")
flat screen TVs with wheeled cart for use by the Sunday School to play
instructional DVDs. If you have upgraded
to a larger screen and/or wish to donate a TV, please let me or Charlie
Helms know, and we will arrange to pick up items. Donations of a monetary nature to a special
fund to purchase these items off-budget can be made by dropping your money in
an envelope marked "Sunday School TVs." Thanks for your support! – Charlie Crouch
A LENTEN “SLOPPY JOES” SUPPER will be
served at 6:30 p.m. this Wednesday.
Families hosting are:
Bridwell,
Carson, Stallings, Whitten
The SPRUCING UP of our church grounds will
take place this Wednesday, March 10th, beginning at 9 a.m. Bring tools, etc. For more info, contact Barney Ross,
706-467-9122.
ALTAR CARE volunteers are needed for April. Please lend a hand in this important ministry
and sign up at the round table today.
STEPHEN
MINISTRY would like to thank you for your prayers. We would ask that you pray for us to be truly
servants of Christ, letting Jesus work though us to touch hearts and bring
healing to the wounded who walk among us.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER
April 1st
– 7 p.m., Maundy Thursday Communion service
April 2nd
– 7 p.m., Good Friday worship
April 4th
– 9-9:45 a.m., Easter Breakfast
April 4th
–
WEEKLY CALENDAR:
MONDAY – Weight Watchers, 4:30 p.m.
Exercise
Group, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Loving Hands Quilters, 10 a.m.
Wednesday – Stephen Ministry, 9 a.m.
Sloppy
Joe Supper, 6:30 p.m.
Next Sunday – Choir Practice, 9 a.m.
Youth
Bible Study, 9 a.m.
Adult
Bible Study, 9 a.m.
Church
Service, 10:30 a.m.
Free
Blood Pressure Check, after service
Hymn: “God Himself Is Present”
Text
(sts. 1–3) and Music: Public domain
Hymn: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”
Text
(sts. 1, ref, 2–3) and Music: © 1923, renewed 1951 Hope Publishing Co. Used
by permission: LSB Hymn License .NET, number 100010599.
