The Fourth Sunday in Lent - Online Worship - March 19, 2023

Lord of Life LIVE - The Fourth Sunday in Lent

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Sunday Worship - The Fifth Sunday in Lent
”A Thirst Quenched”
Sunday, March 26, 2023, 9:30am
Join us in person or on YouTube for Lord of Life LIVE!
Faith Quest meets during worship!

All are welcome, encouraged to visit the Prayer Cross as moved to do so.

Litany Trusting God’s Grace In Jesus Christ

based on Psalm 116

Today as we share our Lenten journey, we take hold of power and grace even when we cry out like Jesus, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me,” so in assurance and trust, we worship in the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.

Amen. I take glory in the Lord. He protects me. When I was brought low, he saved me. My soul rests in the Lord. He has delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. The Lord calls me to live in the land of the living.

People of Faith: Love the Lord; he hears your voice when you cry out to him. He inclines his ear to hear you! Call on him and glorify his name. Let us take a moment of silence to confess our sins and those times we have not trusted the Lord’s power and grace.

(silence for reflection)

Friends, the Lord is our salvation, we can cry out to him, question him, and call on him, for we are precious in his sight. Today, fear not, Jesus saves; trust in the grace in these seven simple, powerful, renewing words: Jesus Christ forgives you all your sins. Though the snares of death encompass us, though we suffer distress, we have nothing to fear!

Song of Absolute Trust

Fear Not

Pringle

Fear not
For I am with you
Fear not
For I am with you
Fear not
For I am with you
Says the Lord

(repeat)

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful. The Lord preserves the simple; when I wandered off, when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest.

People of great faith: The Lord has delivered your soul from death, your eyes from tears, your feet from stumbling; together, let us walk before the Lord in the land of the living.

Gracious is the Lord, and righteous. I kept my faith, even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted;” even when I said in fear, “no one can be trusted.”

Song of Absolute Trust

Fear Not

Pringle

Fear not
For I am with you
Fear not
For I am with you
Fear not
For I am with you
Says the Lord

(repeat)

Almighty and loving God, out of compassion, you broke into our troubled world through the life, death and resurrection of your Son. In your mercy, may we fear not and know you are with us, hearing our every cry, weeping with us, raising us up, never forsaking us, no matter what we face. With your presence and power, open our eyes and spirits, to trust anew, your grace is in the midst of our every “why.” In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Old Testament Lesson

1 Samuel 16:1-13

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.” 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.’ 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.” 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?” 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. When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” 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.” Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the Lord chosen this one.” Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” 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 he will not sit down until he comes here.” 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.” 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 Rama.

(New Revised Standard Version)

New Testament Lesson

Ephesians 5:8-14

For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light – for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

(New Revised Standard Version)

Song Anew in True Grace

I Love to Tell the Story

Hankey & Fischer

vs. 1
I love to tell the story
Of unseen things above
Of Jesus and his glory
Of Jesus and his love
I love to tell the story
Because I know it’s true
It satisfies my longings
As nothing else would do

refrain:
I love to tell the story
I’ll sing this theme in glory
And tell the old old story
Of Jesus and his love

vs. 2
I love to tell the story
How pleasant to repeat
What seems each time I tell it
More wonderfully sweet
I love to tell the story
For some have never heard
The message of salvation
From God’s own holy Word

(refrain)

vs. 3
I love to tell the story
For those who know it best
Seem hungering and thirsting
To hear it like the rest
And when in scenes of glory
I sing the new new song
I’ll sing the old old story
That I have loved so long

(refrain)

Gospel

John 9:1-17, 34-41

As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?” Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.” But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?” He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.” They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”

They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was the sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask the man how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.” Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”

They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out. Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.” He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him. Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.” Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.”  (New Revised Standard Version)

based on Psalm 116:1-11

I love the Lord because he has heard my voice 
and my supplications.
Because he inclined his ear to me,
Therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
The snares of death encompassed me;
The pangs of Sheol laid hold on me; 
I suffered distress and anguish.
Then I called on the name of the Lord:
“O Lord, I beseech thee, save my life!”
Gracious is the Lord, and righteous; our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple; 
When I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest;
For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death, 
My eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;
I walk before the Lord in the land of the living. I kept my faith,
Even when I said, “I am greatly afflicted”;
Even when I said in fear, “No one can be trusted.” Amen.

Faith Quest meets following today’s Children’s Message!

Grace Is in Every Why

1 SAMUEL 16:1-13; EPHESIANS 5:8-14; JOHN 9:1-17, 34-41

Do you like knowing why things happen?  We all have things that blind us along the way, those things that keep us from seeing God.  We all have times that leave us feeling broken and forsaken, lost and alone, asking God, `Why,’ `Why, God,’ `Why this,’ `Why now,’ `Why when I need you most, have you forsaken me?’  Today our journey through Jesus’ seven last words points us to Jesus crying out on the cross, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”  Today we also hear Jesus coming to a blind man, a man who in ways felt forsaken from birth.  The man is given sight, and we hear the simple power of these seven words: `“Lord, I believe.”  And he worshiped him.’  In the midst of all that can leave us feeling forsaken, our purpose, our sin, our human circumstance, let us like Jesus call on the simple renewing power of the only One who is in the midst of every `why,’ the only One who can come and help, the One who never forsakes us, The One who graces us, “My God, My God!”

1. When you ask “why,” feel blind as to how God is using you, calling you, when you feel lost and forsaken, like you are on your own when it comes to making God and our neighbors first, trust and call on Who never forsakes you, Who graces you!
1 Samuel 16:1-13; John 9:1-4,13-17,34-38; Matthew 27:46

A. The temple leaders blindly led themselves, rather than calling on the simple renewing power of God to open their eyes and hearts.

B. Even Samuel at times felt forsaken in his calling.  Like Samuel, hear Who is faithfully leading you, `My God, My God.’

C. Jesus’ calling led him to the cross, alone, away from the Father and Holy Spirit.  He felt what it was to be forsaken.

D. As Jesus came to the blind man, as Jesus came to the cross, Jesus and The Holy Spirit come to lead us, to grace us and to never forsake us!

2. When you ask “why” and feel blind in the midst of the darkness of your sin, when you feel lost and forsaken like you cannot save yourself, trust Who you can call on, Who never forsakes you, Who saves you, graces you!
Ephesians 5:8-14; John 9:1-4, 13-17; Matthew 27:46

A. The temple leaders were blind to their own sin, trying to judge others, rather than allowing God to be God.  This is darkness.

B. Jesus goes to the cross on his own to save us from our sin and our sins.  This is light, The Light of the world!

C. As Jesus came to the blind man, as Jesus came to the cross, Jesus comes to us, to forgive us, to give us light, to never forsake us, to save us, to grace us!

3. When you ask “why,” and feel blind in the midst of your own human circumstance and condition, during times like these that we face today, when you feel lost and forsaken, like there is no hope, see Who comes to you to restore hope, Who never forsakes you, Who graces you!
John 9:1, 35-38; Matthew 27:46

A. As Jesus came to the blind man to help him see what he had never seen before, trust the One who comes to you, to heal you!

B. As Jesus came to the cross, true God, true man, he experienced the pain of human suffering on his own.  Call on him!

C. When you feel most forsaken, see Who comes to you to open your eyes to the One you can call on, and then point others to the One who will never forsake you, Who graces you!

4. When you ask “why” and feel blind, when you feel lost and forsaken, call on the only One who has the simple, yet, incredible renewing power, to come to you, to save you. Trust God’s grace is in the midst of every why! Like the blind man, let us then share these seven simple powerful words, “Lord I believe … And I worship you!”

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.

Song Anew in Absolute Grace

Grace Alone

Nelson & Brown

Ev’ry promise we can make
Ev’ry prayer and step of faith
Ev’ry diff’rence we will make
Is only by His grace
Ev’ry mountain we will climb
Ev’ry ray of hope we shine
Ev’ry blessing left behind
Is only by His grace

Grace alone
Which God supplies
Strength unknown
He will provide
Christ in us
Our Cornerstone
We will go forth
In grace alone

We will go forth
In grace alone

Prayers, sung response “The Spirit Intercedes For Us”

As God’s people, gifted to trust and to call on God’s simple, renewing, power and grace, let us pray for the needs of all God’s people. . .

... as we pray to you, Jesus,

The Spirit
Intercedes for us 
With sighs too deep
For words to express
Oh oh oh …

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 during our service. 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.

For those worshiping with us in person, we receive communion through intinction; that is, you will receive the bread, the host, then dip into the glass of choice, either a red wine in the chalice closest to the host, or in a light colored non-alcoholic grape juice. All are welcome.

We also offer gluten free and pre-packaged options. Please take these options before arriving at the host to receive a blessing.

The Words of Institution

In the night in which he was betrayed our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat, this is my body, given for you. Do this for the remembrance of me.” Again, after supper, he took the cup, gave thanks, and gave it for all to drink, saying: “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, shed for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin. Do this for the 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.

Songs During Holy Communion

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)

Newton & Tomlin                            

vs. 1
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see

vs. 2
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

refrain:
My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God my Savior
Has ransomed me
And like a flood
His mercy rains
Unending love
Amazing grace

vs. 3
The Lord has promised good to me
His Word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

(refrain twice)

vs. 4
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to shine
But God who called me here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine

You are forever mine

The body and blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace this day, and on into life everlasting.
Amen.

Let us pray.
Almighty God, you gave your Son both as a sacrifice for sin and a model of the godly life. Enable us to receive him always with thanksgiving, and to conform our hearts, and our lives to his, through Jesus Christ, the Lord of life. Amen.

Friends, return to The Lord your God with all your heart; take hold of the simple power of God’s saving Word and grace! 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 peace. In the name of The Father, and of The Son, and of The Holy Spirit.
Amen.

Going Anew in Grace & Hope

Forever

Tomlin

Give thanks to the Lord
Our God and King
His love endures forever
For He is good
He is above all things
His love endures forever
Sing praise
Sing praise

With a mighty hand
And outstretched arm
His love endures forever
For the life that’s
Geen reborn
His love endures forever
Sing praise
Sing praise
Sing praise
Sing praise

refrain:
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever
Forever

From the rising to
The setting sun
His love endures forever
And by the grace of God
We will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise
Sing praise
Sing praise
Sing praise

(refrain) 

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

Today, Sunday, March 19, 9:30 a.m., we share The Fourth Sunday In Lent, “Grace In Every Why!” Faith Quest Sunday School meets today!

Join us next Sunday, March 26, 9:30 a.m., as we share The Fifth Sunday In Lent, “A Thirst Quenched!” Faith Quest Sunday School meets next Sunday!

As we share our worship, we give thanks for every volunteer as you bless our ministry, greeting, ushering, nursery, serving communion, live streaming, AV ministry, set up, clean up, fellowship, 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. 

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 our worship 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.

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 Trusting God’s Grace In Jesus Christ, written based on Psalm 116. “Prayer of The Day,” “Lord’s Prayer,” “Post-Communion Blessing, Prayer, & Benediction,” and “I Love To Tell The Story,” 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. “Fear Not” © 1984 C3 Music Publishing CCLI #13508 “Grace Alone” © 1998 Maranatha! Music, CCLI #2335524 “The Spirit Intercedes For Us” © 1989 Dakota Road Music, OL #62627 “Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)” © 2006 sixsteps Music CCLI # 4768151 “Forever” © 2001 worshiptogether.com Songs CCLI #3148428 All rights reserved. All songs used with permission. CCLI License #1380826 & OneLicense #A-724016.