20 Mar BULLETIN, MARCH 20, 2022
WELCOME TO MESSIAH & ST. PETER
LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Phone 362-4597
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday March 20, 2022
Third Sunday in Lent
GREETINGS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of God [☩] Father, Son and Holy Spirit who makes a way in the wilderness, walks and guides us in our pilgrimage. Amen.
Holy One, we confess that we have wandered far from you: we have not trusted your promises; we have ignored your prophets in our own day; we have squandered our inheritance of grace; we have failed to recognize you in our midst. Have mercy on us! Forgive us and turn us again to you. Teach us to follow in your ways, assure us again of your love, and help us to love our neighbor. Amen.
Beloved in Christ, the Word draws near to you, and all who call out to God shall be saved. In Jesus, God comes to you again and again and gathers you under wings of love. In [☩] Jesus’ name, your sins are forgiven. God journeys with you and teaches you how-to live-in love. Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN “Beneath the Cross of Jesus” #107
1 Beneath the cross of Jesus
I long to take my stand;
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land,
a home within a wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and burdens of the day.
2 Upon the cross of Jesus,
my eye at times can see
the very dying form of one
who suffered there for me.
And from my contrite heart, with tears,
two wonders I confess:
the wonder of his glorious love
and my unworthiness.
3 I take, O cross, your shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all, the cross.
APOSTOLIC GREETING Page 57
KYRIE and HYMN OF PRAISE Page 57-60
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Eternal God, your kingdom broke into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. Help us hear your word and obey it, demonstrating your saving love to the world through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
FIRST READING ISAIAH 55:1-9
Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food. Incline your ear, and come to me; listen, so that you may live. I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David. See, I made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander for the peoples. See, you shall call nations that you do not know, and nations that do not know you shall run to you, because of the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you. Seek the Lord while he may be found, call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake their way, and the unrighteous their thoughts; let them return to the Lord, that he may have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
PSALM 63:1-8
O God, you are my God; eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Therefore I have gazed upon you in your holy place, that I might behold your power and your glory.
For your steadfast love is better than life itself; my lips shall give you praise.
So will I bless you as long as I live and lift up my hands in your name. O God, eagerly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you.
My spirit is content, as with the richest of foods, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips,
when I remember you upon my bed, and meditate on you in the night watches.
For you have been my helper, and under the shadow of your wings I will rejoice.
My whole being clings to you; your right hand holds me fast. O God, I eagerly seek and thirst for you.
SECOND READING 1 CORINTHIANS 10:1-13
I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, and all ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them, and they were struck down in the wilderness. Now these things occurred as examples for us, so that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not become idolaters as some of them did; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and they rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by serpents. And do not complain as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer. These things happened to them to serve as an example, and they were written down to instruct us, on whom the ends of the ages have come. So, if you think you are standing, watch out that you do not fall. No testing has overtaken you that is not common to everyone. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tested beyond your strength, but with the testing he will also provide the way out so that you may be able to endure it.
LENTEN VERSE Return to The Lord… Page 63
GOSPEL LUKE 13:1-9
At that very time there were some present who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. [Jesus] 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 tower of Siloam fell on them—do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish just as they did.” Then he 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 around it and put manure on it. If it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.’ ”
SERMON followed by Meditation
HYMN of the DAY “Lord, Keep Us Steadfast in Your Word” #230
1 Lord, keep us steadfast in your word;
curb those who by deceit or sword
would wrest the kingdom from your Son
and bring to naught all he has done.
2 Lord Jesus Christ, your pow’r make known,
for you are Lord of lords alone;
defend your holy church, that we
may sing your praise eternally.
3 O Comforter of priceless worth,
send peace and unity on earth;
support us in our final strife
and lead us out of death to life.
PROFESSION of FAITH/NICENE CREED Page 64
PRAYERS of INTERCESSION
Knowing you’re in our hearts and we’re also in yours… Dear God, we offer prayers for the church, the world, and all in need. A brief silence.
We pray for the Christian church around the world in its various expressions: traditional and contemporary, protestant, catholic and non-denominational. Right or wrong in belief, policies, practice or message, every church needs the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Strengthen the commitment of those who lead, serve and participate. Help congregations and conference cabinets contemplate the future of their ministry. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We pray for the health of this planet and the well-being of its creatures: for lands impacted by droughts and at risk of wildfires; for fig trees and vineyards that produce fruit for our nourishment and delight; for animal habitats threatened by climate change. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We pray for those called to positions of civic responsibility: for judges, attorneys, and court administrators tasked with uncovering truth and delivering justice; for activists and community leaders who cast a vision of a more compassionate and equitable society; for those whose job it is to enforce laws and maintain order. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We pray for those who call upon you for mercy: for all who live in poverty and experience hunger; for any who feel tested beyond their strength; for those who are hospitalized or near death, and for all in need of healing (especially those on our prayer list). Merciful God, receive our prayer.
For the advocacy efforts of churches and social service partners: especially this congregation as we contemplate how best to collaborate. Help us alleviate unnecessary struggle and engage in difficulty as needed to promote mercy over deprivation, vengeance or retaliation. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
For those whose earthly journeys have ended, we give thanks. With them and all the saints, we praise you for the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Master gardener and vineyard owner, accept the prayers we bring on behalf of wasted soil and barren trees. We are needy, but hopeful because your ultimate plan came to fruition through your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
PEACE: Exchange In Person, Online or via Text
OFFERING
OFFERTORY “Create in me…” Page 75
THE LORD’S PRAYER Page 76
BLESSING
You are children of God, anointed with the oil of gladness and strengthened for the journey. Almighty God, [☩] motherly, majestic, and mighty, bless you this day and always. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN “O Jesus I Have Promised” #503
1 O Jesus, I have promised
to serve you to the end;
remain forever near me,
my master and my friend.
I shall not fear the battle
if you are by my side,
nor wander from the pathway
if you will be my guide.
2 Oh, let me feel you near me;
the world is ever near
I see the sights that dazzle,
the tempting sounds I hear.
My foes are ever near me,
around me and within;
but, Jesus, then draw nearer
to shield my soul from sin.
3 Oh, let me hear you speaking
in accents clear and still
above the storms of passion,
the murmurs of self-will.
Now speak to reassure me,
to hasten or control;
now speak and make me listen,
O Guardian of my soul.
4 O Jesus, you have promised
to all who follow you
that where you are in glory
your servant shall be too.
And Jesus, I have promised
to serve you to the end;
oh, give me grace to follow,
my master and my friend.
DISMISSAL
Go in peace. Jesus meets you on the way.
Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Altar flowers at St. Peter have been presented by Bruce and Diane Keister in memory of George and Estelle Geise.
Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Jo and David Miller.
MONDAY, MARCH 21 UPPER DAUPHIN CONFERENCE ASSEMBLY
At 7 PM, Messiah will host the Upper Dauphin Conference of the Lower Susquehanna Synod. Representatives of the church, including council and congregation members usually attend conference meetings at the host site. This would include folks from St. Peter’s. Pastor Brody is asking for at least one, if not several, representatives to be in attendance.
Meetings lasts an hour and a half and address the importance of collaborative work among Northern Dauphin County ELCA Lutheran congregations. The church is not made up of independent parts, but one body of Christ on earth. Staff from the synod office will be available for discussion. In case you are unaware, our pastor also serves as the current Conference Secretary.
CCU Focus Group Session: Thursday, March 31st. See Pastor Brody for details.
40 DAYS of GIVING
As in the past, during Lent, you’re invited to help end world hunger during the ELCA’s 40 Days of Giving. Each Sunday we’ll have a Noisy Offering collection, or if you’d rather write a check, earmark it for 40 Days of Giving. Buck-A-Chick ($1—the cost of a chick) are available for children to purchase and color for display in our hallways. See the weekly Bible reference below worth a read and reflection. Study, pray, be challenged and give during the 40 Days of Caring—for the good of our families, our neighbors and communities around the world.
Weekly 40 Days of Giving Bible Verse: Luke 13: 1-9
APRIL “SOUP AND SUCH”
Ham and Bean Soup – $7/quart, mini-loaf French bread – $1.50, pineapple upside down cake – $1.50/slice.
Orders are due Sunday, March 27th. Pick-up 4 to 6 P.M. Thursday, April 7th at Messiah. For more information, please contact Dianna Reed at 717-692-5317. Order forms and upcoming menus available at Messiah.
SPRING WALK @NED SMITH Monday, April 25th
As member churches of CCU, Messiah and St. Peter Lutheran will host an in-person focus group on Thursday, 3/31 at 6:30 PM. Purpose: to gather information from concerned citizens of No. Dauphin Co. and focus the efforts of CCU in partnership with local social service agencies. Christian Churches United already partners with Northern Dauphin Human Services Center to better serve this area.
Visit www.ccuhbg.org to see how CCU, its member churches and other supporters make a tremendous and noticeable impact upon people’s lives.
Please consider attending the focus group or joining us for the spring walk at Ned Smith Center. More details to come.
DRIVE FOR CLEANING SUPPLIES AND CANNED FOODS FOR LOCAL FOOD BANKS
During the month of March, Messiah’s Health Ministry Team is asking for your help in collecting two items: cleaning supplies and canned food items.
The products will be given to the food banks at Upper Dauphin Human Services, Northern Dauphin Human Services Center and Halifax. There is a need for dish washing liquid, laundry detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning products and toiletries. Any canned food items would be appreciated.
In March, two boxes will be placed inside the side door at Messiah for donations—one will be for the cleaning products and one will be for the canned food items. Thank you for your support!