Prelude               

O Wondrous Love Is This        Mike Klingbeil, piano

Southern Harmony published in 1940 by William Walker,  Anonymous   

Welcome & Announcements

 

*Kyrie, Confession & Forgiveness

Blessed be the holy Trinity, one God, who forgives all our sin,

whose mercy endures forever. Amen.

 

Let us confess our sin before God, who removes our guilt

and blots out all offenses.

 

Gracious God,

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

For seeking worldly delights that deceive us and dishonor you: Gracious God,

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

For desiring self-reliance instead of hungering for your word:

Gracious God,

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

For failing to recognize your coming reign, and for hindering the work of the Spirit: Gracious God,

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

For drawing from the well of self-serving ambition, and for disdaining the living water Christ offers: Gracious God,

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

For disregarding voices from the margins, and for distrusting signs of your healing and hope in the world: Gracious God,

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

For dwelling in tombs of self-pity and discontent, and for disregarding Christ’s call to come forth to life: Gracious God,

have mercy on us according to your steadfast love.

God’s steadfast love, grace, and forgiveness abound. Through faith, the free gift of God, you have been clothed in the righteousness of Christ. In the name of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. The Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead dwells in you,

pours God’s love into your hearts, and gives you life and peace.

Amen.

 

*Gathering Hymn There is a Balm in Gilead

*Prayer of the Day

Bend your ear to our prayers, Lord Christ, and come among us. By your gracious life and death for us, bring light into the darkness of our hearts, and anoint us with your Spirit, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading 1 Samuel 16:1-13

1 The Lord said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” 2 Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.” And the Lord said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.’ 3 Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do, and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.” 4 Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” 5 He said, “Peaceably. I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

  6 When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely his anointed is now before the Lord.” 7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him, for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 9 Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” 10 Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 11 Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?” And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him, for we will not sit down until he comes here.” 12 He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. The Lord said, “Rise and anoint him, for this is the one.” 13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.

 

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

 

Psalm 23

 

 1 The Lord | is my shepherd;

  I shall not | be in want.

 2 The Lord makes me lie down | in green pastures

  and leads me be- | side still waters.

 3 You restore my | soul, O Lord,

  and guide me along right pathways | for your name’s sake.

 4 Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall | fear no evil;

  for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they | comfort me. / R

 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence | of my enemies;

  you anoint my head with oil, and my cup is | running over.

 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days | of my life,

  and I will dwell in the house of the | Lord forever.  / R

 

The Epistle Lesson  Ephesians 5:8-14

8 Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. 10 Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness; rather, expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly, 13 but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

 “Sleeper, awake!

  Rise from the dead,

 and Christ will shine on you.”

 

Word of God, Word of Life. Thanks be to God.

 

*Gospel Acclamation

 

*Gospel       John 9:1-41 Glory to you O Lord

The Gospel of the Lord.   Praise to you, O Christ.

 

Sermon         Pastor Kurt Christenson

 

*Hymn of the Day Amazing Grace

 

*Prayers of Intercession

Response to each petition: Hear us, O God. Your mercy is great.

 

*Apostle’s Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

 

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

 

*Exchange of Peace

The peace of the Lord be with you. And also with you.

 

Offering

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Text “Give” to (866) 870-5222

 

Offering Music   Duguet  O Saving Victim/O salutaris    

setting by Charles Callahan

• Offering Prayer

O God, maker of heaven and earth, your steadfast love embraces all creation. You send rain and sunshine to nourish the earth and bring forth its bounty. Through these gifts of bread and wine, draw us into the death and life of your Son, who calls us to bear witness to his saving work. We ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

 

*Eucharistic Prayer

It is indeed right, our duty and our joy, that we should at all times and in all places give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God, through our Savior Jesus Christ. You call your people to cleanse their hearts and prepare with joy for the paschal feast, that, renewed in the gift of baptism, we may come to the fullness of your grace.

And so, with all the choirs of angels, with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven, we praise your name and join their unending hymn:

 

 

*Sanctus

Blessed are you, O God of the universe.

Your mercy is everlasting

and your faithfulness endures from age to age….

…With this bread and cup we remember our Lord’s passover from death to life as we proclaim the mystery of faith:

O God of resurrection and new life: Pour out your Holy Spirit on us

and on these gifts of bread and wine. Bless this feast. Grace our table with your presence.

Come, Holy Spirit.

 

Reveal yourself to us in the breaking of the bread. Raise us up as the body of Christ for the world. Breathe new life into us. Send us forth,

burning with justice, peace, and love.

Come, Holy Spirit.

 

With your holy ones of all times and places, with the earth and all its creatures, with sun and moon and stars, we praise you, O God,

blessed and holy Trinity, now and forever.

 

Agnus Dei

 

Communion Distribution

 

Communion Anthem  Shine on Me           Choir

 

*Communion Blessing and Prayer

 

God of our salvation, we give you thanks for this meal that restores our souls, reconciles us to you, and strengthens us for the journey. Through the body and blood of your Son, may we become Christ’s body in the world, bearing witness to your love for all creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.

 

*Sending Hymn Be Thou My Vision

 

*Blessing & Dismissal

Receive the blessing of the holy Trinity: God, who calls all things into existence, Jesus Christ, who redeems us, and the Holy Spirit, whose breath sustains creation,  bless you now and always. Amen.

 

Go in peace. Believe the good news.

Thanks be to God.

 

Postlude                  

Slane  setting by Paul Manz