Fifth Sunday in Lent - Online Worship - March 21, 2021

Today as we share our Lenten journey, we pray to be alive and anew thanks to God’s gifts of glory and grace alone, so we worship, in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen. 

People of God: The Lord knows our transgressions, and our sin is ever before him. We have sinned against God alone. Let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins and those times we have failed to glorify Christ, to be his faithful followers.  (silence for reflection)  Dear friends: The Lord has created in you a clean heart. He alone has renewed you, and put a new and right spirit in you. Surrender your worry and guilt, empty yourself of all that consumes you. Receive the steadfast love of the Lord in the grace of these words: Jesus saves; Jesus forgives you all your sins. Be alive! Glorify the Lord in your life; the grace of the Lord endures forever!

vs. 1
In my life, Lord,
Be glorified,
Be glorified,
In my life, Lord,
Be glorified today.

Friends in Christ, together we call on the Lord: Cast me not away from thy presence, take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation! Fill me with a new and willing spirit, and I will forever glorify you first. Grace alone endures! God is glorified through His grace in His Church, and in His people!

vs. 2
In Your Church, Lord,
Be glorified,
Be glorified,
In Your Church, Lord,
Be glorified today.

vs. 3
In my heart, Lord,
Be glorified,
Be glorified,
In my heart, Lord,
Be glorified today.

Almighty and loving God, through your faithfulness, you broke into our troubled world through the life, death, and resurrection of your Son. In our weakness, we have failed to be faithful to you, to glorify you, and to surrender to you. By your Holy Spirit increase our faith, this Lenten season, to believe we are alive and anew in your grace alone. Create in us clean hearts, renew us, and fill us, for the hour has come, the time is forever now, to glorify you, for you alone are holy. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say – “Father, save me from this hour”? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father; glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.

(New Revised Standard Version)

JEREMIAH 31:31-34; HEBREWS 5:5-10; JOHN 12:20-33

We live in a world of high expectations.  Many things are expected of us - home and work and family.  We in turn have high expectations of others.  Part of our expectation is hard work, commitment and loyalty will be rewarded and recognized.  We appreciate being appreciated.  So do those around us.  So does God!  How are you at making God first?  How are you at giving God the glory?  Do you have high expectations of God?  Do you believe God exceeds your expectations?  Do you know God has high expectations of you?  To meet our expectations, to meet God’s expectations, to glorify the grace of God, Christ came to save us.  As you glorify God and praise his holy name, trust you are alive and anew, lifted up, glorified with the gift of salvation, glorified in grace alone!

1. To glorify God, to glorify The Christ, is to give praise and honor for God’s grace alone!  Jeremiah 31:32-33; John 12:25-27

A. We live in a world that craves and invites us to seek out and to hunger for our own praise and honor.

B. Humility, making God and others first, is honorable.  Being humble glorifies God.  God expects the glory!

C. Lifting up God’s grace alone, surrendering to God’s grace alone, proclaiming God’s grace alone, gives God glory!

2. In praising God, we are to glorify the One who is already glorified, to glorify The Christ, The One glorified in grace alone!  Jeremiah 31:33-34; John 12:28

A. We glorify God and what God has done, when we glorify The Christ, and when we lift up and glorify others.

i. Unless a grain of wheat falls and dies, it remains a single grain, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  John 12:24

ii. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life will keep it for eternal life.  John 12:25

B. We glorify God and what God has done, when we tell others how The Christ is glorified through all God does in grace alone.

i. Others are wanting to see Jesus.  Others are hearing the voice, and they want to know more.  John 12:21

ii. No longer shall they say to each other, "Know the Lord," for they will all know me.  Jeremiah 31:34

3. John 12:32 - Jesus comes to be lifted up to draw all people to himself in salvation, to glorify us and to lift us up out from judgment.  In God’s grace alone, let us glorify God and all that is already glorified.  Trust God is truly glorified, saving us in the grace of Jesus Christ!

Offering is available for our indoor services. Find a Lord of Life with a volunteer bucket to deposit offering in person as you leave worship today. If you find yourself wanting to offer your gifts to Lord of Life, you can do so online using the link below. You can also drop offering at anytime in our secure mailbox at Lord of Life located in the parking lot.

This is the air I breathe,
This is the air I breathe,
Your holy presence living in me.
This is my daily bread,
This is my daily bread,
Your very Word spoken to me.
And I, I’m desp’rate for You.
And I, I’m lost without You.

(repeat)

And I, I’m desp’rate for You.
And I, I’m lost without You.
This is the air I breathe,
This is the air I breathe.

... as we pray to you, Jesus,
Renew us in the blessing to believe anew in your grace alone.

All these things and whatever else you see we need, grant to us we pray, for into your hands, O Lord, we commend all for whom we pray, trusting in your mercy through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Holy Communion will take place after the closing Benediction. If you are not worshipping with us in person but would like to receive Communion, we will be offering Drive Through Communion at our building at 16200 Dodd Lane, Lakeville, Minnesota, following our indoor service. Drive Through Communion will be available between 10:15am & 10:30am.

In order to better serve you in this troubling times, the way we receive Communion has changed slightly. You will be offered a self-contained Communion serving. Each capsule has two layers. The first layer is a thin, clear, cellophane layer which reveals the host. Under the second layer you will find the alcohol free juice. Volunteers will be happy to take you waste after you receive Communion.

The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took a loaf of bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” Again after supper, he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

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.

Friends, return to The Lord your God with all your heart; be alive and anew in God’s grace alone! 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 his peace. In the name of The Father and of The Son and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died;
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

See, from His head,
His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

refrain:
Oh, the wonderful cross,
Oh, the wonderful cross;
Bids me come and die,
And find that I may truly live.
Oh, the wonderful cross,
Oh, the wonderful cross;
All who gather here by grace
Draw near and bless Your name.

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an off’ring far too small:
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

(refrain)

You were the Word at the beginning, 
One with God the Lord Most High.
Your hidden glory in creation,
Now revealed in You, our Christ.
What a beautiful Name it is,
What a beautiful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus Christ, my King.
What a beautiful Name it is,
Nothing compares to this.
What a beautiful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.

You didn’t want heaven without us, 
So Jesus, You brought heaven down.
My sin was great, Your love was greater;
What could separate us now?
What a wonderful Name it is,
What a wonderful Name it is, 
The Name of Jesus Christ, my King.
What a wonderful Name it is,
Nothing compares to this.
What a wonderful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.
What a wonderful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.

Death could not hold You,
The veil tore before You.
You silence the boast
Of sin and grave.
The heavens are roaring
The praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again.

You have no rival,
You have no equal.
Now and forever God, You reign.
Yours is the Kingdom,
Yours is the glory, 
Yours is the Name above all names.

What a powerful Name it is,
What a powerful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus Christ, my King.
What a powerful Name it is,
Nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.

What a powerful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.
What a powerful Name it is,
The Name of Jesus.

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Follow us on facebook to watch our services live on Lord of Life LIVE! Watch with us live at 9:30am on Sundays, or rewatch at your own convenience!

Join us next Sunday, March 28, 9:30 a.m., as we share Palm Sunday, The Passion of Our Lord, “Passion In Grace Alone!” Worship to include a Children’s Message and a Sermon from Pastor Jamie! Worship to be 30 minutes, and to conclude with Holy Communion! Join us in-person or via our live stream efforts on our Facebook page, under “videos.”

Our Holy Week schedule includes our Maundy Thursday Service, Thursday, April 1, on our Facebook page; (no in-person worship) Good Friday, Friday, April 2, 7 p.m., in-person worship or via our live stream efforts; Easter Sunday, Sunday, April 4, 9:30 a.m., in-person worship or via our live stream efforts. Bulletins for Holy Week services available via daily devotions and on our Facebook page. If helpful, you can access the bulletins and our Facebook page on our website (lordoflifemn.org).

As we share worship in this new way, we are seeking volunteers to assist with greeting, ushering, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, worship leaders, and more! You can access details and ways to sign up on our website and Facebook page! Thank you!

Friends, today as always, all who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, are welcome to God’s table of grace as we share Holy Communion. Communion will be offered to you following the closing song as you exit the sanctuary, as we share pre-packaged single servings of communion, including a wafer and grape juice. Carefully pull back the first tab to expose the host, the body of Christ, given for you; then pull back the second tab to expose the blood of Christ, shed for you! Please ask for assistance or clarification as you are served!

For those sharing their generosity today, we thank you for your faithful giving! Offering is collected in baskets by the ushers as you exit the sanctuary.

For those who are not able to join us for worship, you are invited to receive drive-through communion, available Sundays, 10:15-10:30 a.m. at the front curb near the church entrance.

We hope having the service provided for you in this way, will touch you, comfort you, reassure you, and grace you in some way! If you believe others you know would be blessed to receive this bulletin, the sermon notes, or our live stream links, please forward these to them.

In this time when we are committed to safety and social distancing, please trust we are equally committed to keeping us socially and spiritually connected! On behalf of the Kingdom of God, thank you for the ways you make God and neighbor first!

From everyone on every level of leadership and service, we continue to pray for you and to give thanks to God for each of you! Please contact Pastor Jamie if he can serve you in any way: jamie.thompson@lordoflifemn.org

We pray The Holy Spirit breathes anew on us to be God’s people and to be God’s Church, as together we make known and we trust anew God’s gifts of hope, peace, justice, clarity, calm, and comfort forever break forth in new ways for you and your loved ones, today, and as we share every gift of God’s light, love, and grace!

Acknowledgments for today’s service include:

Litany of Renewal In The Glory and Grace Alone In Jesus Christ, written based on Psalm 51. “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” based on the LBW. © 1978 Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW) and With One Voice Hymnal Supplement © 1995 Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis & Board of Publication, Lutheran Church In America, Philadelphia; and Evangelical Lutheran Worship © 2006 Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, MN. Used with permission. “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound” Words and Music Public Domain, CCLI #4755360 “In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified” © 1978 Bob KilpatrickMusic, The Lorenz Corp. CCLI #26368 “Breathe” © 1995 Mercy/Vineyard Publishing CCLI #1874117 “The Wonderful Cross” © 2000 worshiptogether.com songs CCLI #3148435 “What a Beautiful Name” © 2016 Hillsong Music Publishing CCLI #1380826 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.