24 Mar BULLETIN, MARCH 27, 2022
WELCOME TO MESSIAH & ST. PETER
LUTHERAN CHURCHES
Phone 362-4597
The Reverend Nancy Brody, Pastor
Greta Wright, Music Director
Sunday March 27, 2022
Fourth Sunday in Lent
GREETINGS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
PRELUDE
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
In the name of God [☩] Father, Son and Holy Spirit who leads the way, walks and guides us in our pilgrimage. Amen.
Holy One, we confess that often we don’t seek you, wander far from you and fail to trust you. Sometimes we don’t listen to voices through which you speak: parents, friends, and elders. We too, ask for our due prematurely, misspend and waste what we earn or are given. We too, sometimes don’t appreciate the blessing of labor or love in our midst. Have mercy on us! Forgive and turn us to you again. Call us home so we learn to follow your ways; assure us of your love; help us love ourselves and each other when we are foolish, fainthearted or stubborn. Amen.
Beloved in Christ, as a good and loving parent, God has made provisions for each and every child. As a good and loving parent, God runs with enthusiasm to greet each child on the road toward home. In Jesus, God the Father became our brother. In his name [☩] your sins are forgiven. Again and again you are welcomed with love. Amen.
ENTRANCE HYMN “I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry” WOV (Blue Hymnal) #770
1 “I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized
to see your life unfold.
I was there when you were but a child,
with a faith to suit you well;
in a blaze of light you wandered off
to find where demons dwell.”
2 “When you heard the wonder of the Word
I was there to cheer you on;
you were raised to praise the living Lord,
to whom you now belong.
If you find someone to share your time
and you join your hearts as one,
I’ll be there to make your verses rhyme
from dusk till rising sun.”
3 “In the middle ages of your life,
not too old, no longer young,
I’ll be there to guide you through the night,
complete what I’ve begun.
When the evening gently closes in
and you shut your weary eyes,
I’ll be there as I have always been,
with just one more surprise.”
4 “I was there to hear your borning cry,
I’ll be there when you are old.
I rejoiced the day you were baptized
to see your life unfold.”
SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM
In Holy Baptism our gracious heavenly Father liberates us from sin and death by joining us to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Once born children of a fallen humanity, in the waters of Baptism we are reborn children of God who inherit eternal life. By water and the Holy Spirit we are made members of the Church, the body of Christ. As we live with him and among his people, we grow in faith, love, and obedience to God’s will. Who presents Preston James to receive the Sacrament of Holy Baptism? Parents and sponsors reply: We do.
Courtney, Tyler, Jessica and Madison, listen closely. In Christian love you present this child for Holy Baptism. You should therefore, faithfully bring him to services in God’s house, teach him the Lord’s Prayer, Creed, and Ten Commandments. As he grows, you should place the Holy Scriptures in his hands and provide instruction for him in the Christian faith, so that, living in the covenant of his Baptism and in communion with the Church, he may lead a godly life all of his days. Do you promise to fulfill these obligations? We do.
THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right to give him thanks and praise.
Holy God, mighty Lord, gracious Father: We give you thanks, for in the beginning your Spirit moved over the waters and you created heaven and earth. By the gift of water you nourish and sustain all living things. By flood waters you condemned the wicked, but saved those you chose, who believed in you, Noah and his family. You led Israel by a pillar of cloud and fire through the sea, out of slavery into freedom of the promised land. In waters of the Jordan your Son was baptized by John and anointed with the Spirit. By his death and resurrection your beloved Son set us free from bondage to sin and death, and opened the way to joy and freedom of everlasting life.
He made water a sign of the kingdom, of cleansing and rebirth. In obedience to his command, we make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Pour out your Holy Spirit, so that the one here baptized may be given new life. Wash away the sin of he who is cleansed by this water. Bring him forth as an inheritor of your glorious kingdom. To you be praise, honor and worship through your Son, Jesus Christ, in unity with the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.
PROFESSION OF FAITH
I ask you to profess your faith in Christ Jesus, reject sin, and confess the faith of the church, the faith in which we baptize.
Do you renounce all the forces of evil, the devil, and all his empty promises? I do.
Do you believe in God the Father?
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.
Do you believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God?
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and buried. He descended to the land of the dead and on the third day, he rose, ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father. From there he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
Do you believe in God the Holy Spirit?
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
BAPTISM
Preston James, I baptize you in the name of the Father [☩], and of the Son [☩], and of the Holy Spirit [☩]. Amen.
ANOINTING
The Lord be with you. And also with you.
God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we give you thanks for freeing your sons and daughters from the power of sin and for raising them up to new life through this holy sacrament. Pour your Holy Spirit upon Preston James: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in your presence. Amen.
Preston James, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.
Parents and sponsors respond: Amen.
Let your light so shine before others that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Let us pray.
O God, giver of all life, look with kindness upon the father and mother of this child, his sponsors and relatives. Let this family ever rejoice in the gifts you have given them. Make Courtney, Tyler, Jessica and Madison teachers and examples of righteousness. Strengthen them in their own baptisms so they may eternally share salvation with those they love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
WELCOME
Through Baptism God has made Preston James our new brother, a member of the priesthood we all share in Christ Jesus. May we proclaim the praise of God and bear his creative redeeming Word to all the world. Preston James, we welcome you into the Lord’s family. We receive you as a fellow member of the body of Christ, a child of the same heavenly Father, and a worker with us in the kingdom of God.
PEACE
The peace of the Lord be with you always. And also with you.
Please offer each other a sign of peace.
PRAYER OF THE DAY
God of compassion, you welcome the wayward and embrace us all with your mercy. By our baptism you clothe us with grace and feed us at your table with love through Jesus Christ, our Savior, brother and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
FIRST READING JOSHUA 5:9-12
The Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away from you the disgrace of Egypt.” And so that place is called Gilgal to this day. While the Israelites were camped in Gilgal they kept the Passover in the evening on the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. On the day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate the produce of the land, unleavened cakes and parched grain. The manna ceased on the day they ate the produce of the land, and the Israelites no longer had manna; they ate the crops of the land of Canaan that year.
PSALM 32
Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!
Happy are they to whom the Lord imputes no guilt, and in whose spirit, there is no guile! Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord.
While I held my tongue, my bones withered away, because of my groaning all day long.
For your hand was heavy upon me day and night; my moisture was dried up as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you, and did not conceal my guilt. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” Then you forgave me the guilt of my sin.
Therefore all the faithful will make their prayers to you in time of trouble; when the great waters overflow, they shall not reach them.
You are my hiding-place; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way that you should go; I will guide you with my eye.
Do not be like horse or mule, which have no understanding; who must be fitted with bit and bridle, or else they will not stay near you.”
Great are the tribulations of the wicked; but mercy embraces those who trust in the Lord.
Be glad, you righteous, and rejoice in the Lord; shout for joy, all who are true of heart.
SECOND READING 2 CORINTHIANS 5:16-21
From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know him no longer in that way. So, if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us. So, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us; we entreat you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
LENTEN VERSE Return to The Lord… Page 63
GOSPEL LUKE 15:1-32
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus.] And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” So, he told them this parable: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.’ So, he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So, he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.”’ So, he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
“Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.’ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’”
SERMON followed by Meditation
HYMN OF THE DAY “Softly and Tenderly Jesus Is Calling” WOV (Blue Hymnal) #734
1 Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
calling for you and for me.
See, on the portals he’s waiting and watching,
watching for you and for me.
Refrain
“Come home, (Come home,)
come home! (come home!)
You who are weary, come home.”
Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, “O sinner, come home!”
2 Why should we tarry when Jesus is pleading,
pleading for you and for me?
Why should we linger and heed not his mercies,
mercies for you and for me? Refrain
3 Oh, for the wonderful love he has promised,
promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned, he has mercy and pardon,
pardon for you and for me. Refrain
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.
Father and mother of all sons and daughters, deepen the church’s capacity to show mercy and welcome. Transform individuals, families and communities with your loving attitude. Help us relish forgiveness, be warmly hospitable, and willing to host. Remove ambivalence and conflict from daily life. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Father and mother of creation, you made land, sky and sea capable of sustaining every living thing. Restore farming practices that don’t deplete or contaminate soil and waterways beyond nature’s ability to compensate. We really need you to balance consumption and waste, overproduction and scarcity. Help those who need to produce harvests and raise animals to survive, succeed. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Father and mother of countries whom you see are divided and overwhelmed. Reconcile nations experiencing conflict. Bring suffering and fighting to an end. Give peace and wisdom to mediators. Train leaders in the art of diplomacy. Foster collaboration among political rivals. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Father and mother to children crying for help in times of distress. Repair disagreements and division among families. Don’t let credit ruin people’s lives. Spare the inexperienced from extreme hardship while helping them learn. Comfort and restore the ashamed, the sick or grieving (especially those on our prayer list). Keep reminding us of what you can and are willing to do. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Father and mother of earthly and eternal homes. Your love comes to us whenever a table is set and food is prepared. Bless feeding ministries. Bring an end to hunger in our community and around the world. Give the homeless not only safety and shelter, but places and people that bring warmth and companionship. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
One who was dead lives again. We give thanks for those who die, confident that steadfast love surrounds them. Shelter them in your love until we are gathered with them, with mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, at your heavenly banquet. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Father and mother God, we bring these prayers and ourselves home to you with hope and surety that you will accept both them and us on account of your one and only Son, Jesus Christ, who lived and died for the sake of a world in need. 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 gladness and strengthened for the journey. May Almighty God, [☩] parent, brother, generous provider bless you this day and always. Amen.
CLOSING HYMN “What Wondrous Love Is This” #385
1 What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse
for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul?
2 When I was sinking down,
sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down, sinking down,
when I was sinking down
beneath God’s righteous frown,
Christ laid aside his crown
for my soul, for my soul,
Christ laid aside his crown for my soul.
3 To God and to the Lamb
I will sing, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb,
who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme, I will sing.
4 And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing God’s love for me,
and through eternity
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on;
and through eternity I’ll sing on.
DISMISSAL
The Lord is with you. Go in peace to love and serve without ambivalence, conflict or inner turmoil. Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE
Revised Common Lectionary copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts. Used by permission. Prayers adapted from Sundays and Seasons, copyright © 2019, Augsburg Fortress. Used with permission. Psalm readings from Lutheran Book of Worship, copyright © 1978. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual Subscription #SB160715 Other quotations from Scripture from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989, National Council of Churches in Christ in the United States of America. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
Altar flowers at St. Peter have been presented by Ron and Doris Rode in celebration of their 66th Anniversary!
Altar flowers at Messiah have been presented by Linda and Kevin Cooper
CCU Focus Group Session: Thursday, March 31st
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 Northern Dauphin County 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.
TIME TO WALK
From PNB: Our walk is less than a month away! I’m holding off on registering the churches’ team until I receive a minimum of $150 in pledges/donations. If you are willing to help get us started, please see me after church today. Every $30 donation qualifies for this year’s Christian Churches United scarlet colored, custom designed, 2022 walk T-shirt. Please donate and/or walk to share well-being and peace of mind with folks who have none.
THANK YOU
To everyone who donates goods for collection drives or provides food of any kind for church events. The wonderful assortment of products, snacks, cookies, cakes, refreshments, candy, eggs, other treats and necessities are truly enjoyed and appreciated. As pastor, I am extremely proud (and grateful) for your giving, generous hearts and talented handiwork. Many benefit from your kind thoughtfulness.
APRIL “SOUP & 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.
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 15: 1-3, 11b-32
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!
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR MARCH
27 4th Sunday in Lent
8:30 AM Worship at St. Peter
10 AM Worship a Messiah
Deadline to order Soup and Such
31 6:30 AM CCU Focus Group Session
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR APRIL
2 Pick up second making of candy
3 Fifth Sunday in Lent
8:30 AM Service at St. Peter
Holy Communion
10:00 AM Service at Messiah
Holy Communion
Messiah Council meeting immediately following service
6 6:30 PM-7:30 PM Cub Scout Pack 156
7 4-6 PM pick up soup and Such @ Messiah
6:30 PM-7:30 PM Cub Scout Pack 156
Please email Pastor Brody at elsiebbrody@gmail.com or call with prayer requests (717)-362-4597.