Welcome to Worship
Mercy in Our Communities
5th Sunday in Lent
March 29, 2020
5th Sunday in Lent
March 29, 2020
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Introduction
The Parable of the Good Samaritan, perhaps the most well-known of Jesus’ parables, deals directly with his charge to be merciful to others. He didn’t extend mercy just to the religious elite or pious few. Jesus’ mercy is for the bruised and broken, for the outcast and shunned, for the Jew and for the Samaritan. Through this parable, Jesus pointed out that he came for the unlikely as he used the unlikely to demonstrate what real mercy, grace and love is all about. Confession and Forgiveness Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who is present, who gives life, who calls into existence the things that do not exist. Amen. Silence is kept for reflection. Gracious God, have mercy on us. We confess that we have turned away from you, knowingly and unknowingly. We have wandered from your resurrection life. We have strayed from your love for all people. Turn us back to you, O God. Give us new hearts and right spirits, that we may find what is pleasing to you and dwell in your house forever. Amen. Receive this good news: God turns to you in love. “I will put my spirit in you, and you shall live,” says our God. All your sin is forgiven in the name of ☩ Jesus Christ, who is the free and abounding gift of God’s grace for you. Amen. SONG: How Great is Our God The splendor of the King Clothed in majesty Let all the earth rejoice All the earth rejoice He wraps Himself in light And darkness tries to hide And trembles at His voice And trembles at His voice (Chorus) How great is our God Sing with me How great is our God And all will see how great How great is our God Age to age He stands And time is in His hands Beginning and the End Beginning and the End The Godhead three in one Father Spirit Son The Lion and the Lamb The Lion and the Lamb (Chorus) Worthy of all praise My heart will sing How great is our God Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee How Great Thou art, How Great Thou Art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee How Great Thou art, How Great Thou Art. How great is our God Sing with me How great is our God And all will see how great How great is our God How great is our God CCLI Song # 4348399 Chris Tomlin | Ed Cash | Jesse Reeves © 2004 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) Wondrously Made Songs (Admin. by Music Services, Inc.) CCLI License # 1252624 Prayer of the Day Gentle Jesus, stay beside me through this day. Take away my pain. Keep me safe. Help me when I’m afraid. Make my body and my soul strong. Make my heart glad. Thank you for your love that surrounds me. Amen. Reading: Luke 10:25-37 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Message “WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR?” |
SONG: Reckless Love
Before I spoke a word You were singing over me You have been so so good to me Before I took a breath You breathed Your life in me You have been so so kind to me (Chorus) O the overwhelming never-ending reckless Love of God O it chases me down fights 'til I'm found Leaves the ninety-nine I couldn't earn it I don't deserve it Still You give Yourself away O the overwhelming never-ending Reckless Love of God yeah When I was Your foe still Your love fought for me You have been so so good to me When I felt no worth You paid it all for me You have been so so kind to me (Chorus) There's no shadow You won't light up Mountain You won't climb up Coming after me (repeat 4x) There's no wall You won't kick down Lie You won't tear down Coming after me O the overwhelming never-ending reckless Love of God O it chases me down fights 'til I'm found Leaves the ninety-nine I couldn't earn it I don't deserve it Still You give Yourself away O the overwhelming never-ending Reckless Love of God CCLI Song # 7089641 Caleb Culver | Cory Asbury | Ran Jackson © 2017 Cory Asbury Publishing (Admin. by Bethel Music Publishing) Richmond Park Publishing (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) Watershed Worship Publishing (Admin. by Watershed Music Group) Bethel Music Publishing CCLI License # 1252624 Prayers of Intercession Turning our hearts to God who is gracious and merciful, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need. A brief silence. God of life, bind your faithful people into one body. Enliven the church with your Spirit and bless the work of those who work for its renewal. Accomplish your work of salvation in us and through us, for the sake of the world. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of life, you love the world you have made and you grieve when creation suffers. Restore polluted lands and waterways. Heal areas of the world ravaged by storms, floods, wildfires, droughts, or other natural disasters (especially). Bring all things to new life. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of life, show redemption to all who watch and wait with eager expectation: those longing for wars to cease, those waiting for immigration paperwork to finalize, those seeking election, and those in dire need of humanitarian relief. Come quickly with your hope. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of life, you weep with those who grieve. Unbind all who are held captive by anxiety, despair, or pain. Fill us with compassion and empathy for those who struggle, and keep us faithful in prayer. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of life, we give thanks for opportunities for this congregation to collaborate with our community in caring for the needs of our neighbors. Strengthen our ties with other local congregations, agencies, and services. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. God of life, you are our resurrection. We remember all those who have died and trust that, in you, they will live again. Breathe new life into our dry bones, that we, too, might live with you forever. Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great. According to your steadfast love, O God, hear these and all our prayers as we commend them to you; through Christ our Lord. Amen. Offering Offering Prayer Holy and generous host, you set a table where we feast as friends. Prepare us to witness to your goodness with every gift you have given us to share, that all people may know your peace through Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen. Blessing Now is the acceptable time. Now is the day of salvation. Holy God, speaking, spoken, and inspiring, ☩ bless you, unbind you, and send you in love and in peace. Amen. Dismissal Go in peace. Share the good news. Thanks be to God! SONG: Go, My Children, with My Blessing (ELW 543) “Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone. Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own. In my love’s baptismal river I have made you mine forever. Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.” “Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure. Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure. Here you heard my dear Son’s story, here you touched him, saw his glory. Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.” 3“Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me. Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free. Here my Spirit’s power filled you, here my tender comfort stilled you. Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.” Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, b. 1919, alt. Text © 1983 Concordia Publishing Housee. Share the good news. |
Adapted from Sundays and Seasons v.20200325.1254Copyright © 2020 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved.Scripture quotations from New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. http://nrsvbibles.org
