Third Sunday in Lent – March 12, 2023
The Order of Worship at 9:00 am
As always, we pray that worship at Redeemer is a blessing for you, even as your participation blesses us, whether we are gathering in the name of Christ in-person or online. As you are comfortable, we encourage you to sing the hymns and to sing or speak the congregational portions of the liturgy in bold type.
Please use the links available on the viewing page to let us know that you are worshiping with us, to submit any prayer requests, to let us know if you need help or are available to help a neighbor, and to continue giving financially to support the ongoing ministries of Redeemer.
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WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Beneath
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who journeys with us these forty days, and sustains us with the gift of grace. | Amen.
Let us acknowledge before God and one another our need for repentance and God’s mercy. Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy God, we confess to you our faults and failings. Too often we neglect and do not trust your holy word; we take for ourselves instead of giving to others; we spoil rather than steward your creation; we cause hurt though you call us to heal; we choose fear over compassion. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, as we seek to follow in your way of life. Amen.
Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen
Standing PRAYER OF THE DAY
The Lord be with you. | And also with you.
Merciful God, the fountain of living water, you quench our thirst and wash away our sin. Give us this water always. Bring us to drink from the well that flows with the beauty of your truth through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
A pastor will come through the congregation to receive prayer request cards. If you are worshiping online, please use the Prayer Request button underneath the live feed.
Seated CHILDREN’S SERMONJesus defies convention to engage a Samaritan woman in conversation. Her testimony, in turn, leads many others to faith.
Before the reading: The Holy Gospel according... | Glory to you, O Lord.
[Jesus] came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.
A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” (His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.) The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.) Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?” Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”
Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.” The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!” The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”
Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?” Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people, “Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?” They left the city and were on their way to him.
Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work. Do you not say,
‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting. The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together. For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”
Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.” So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days. And many more believed because of his word. They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”
After the reading: The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You, O Christ.
Seated
SERMON
Standing
HYMN 445 Wash, O God, Our Sons and Daughters
Pastor Mark H. Larson
PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
Each portion of the prayers concludes: Merciful God, | receive our prayer. At the conclusion of the prayers: Amen
Sustained by God’s abundant mercy, let us pray for the church, the world, and all of creation.
A brief silence.
We pray for your church. Bless partnerships with other Christians and inter-religious dialogue. Guide the daily work of denominational and congregational leaders. Strengthen our combined witness for the sake of the gospel, that all experience your life-giving love. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We pray for the universe. All creation teems with life, from the depths of the earth and seas to the skies above. Fill us with awe and reverence for the diversity and preservation of life. Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We pray for the nations of the world. Topple the dividing walls that separate us from our neighbors. Form us into your beloved community where diversity of gender, race, language, ability, and ethnic origin is celebrated and affirmed.
Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We pray for those who suffer in mind, body, or spirit. Be present with all who are lonely and give courage to all who are afraid. Comfort those who live with chronic illness or other sickness (especially). Give them your living water always.
Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We pray for this congregation, especially those preparing for baptism. Nurture their faith and pour your love into their hearts. Inspire our community by their testimony to God’s grace in their lives.
Merciful God, receive our prayer.
Here other intercessions may be offered.
We give thanks for the lives of all your saints (especially Gregory the Great, whom we commemorate today). Their hope in you sustained lives of faith and service. Encourage us with the hope they shared in you.
Merciful God, receive our prayer.
We lift our prayers to you, O God, trusting in your steadfast love and your promise to renew your whole creation, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always. | And also with you.
Please share a sign of blessing with your fellow worshipers in whatever way is comfortable for you.
Seated
GATHERING OF GIFTS
MUSIC by Redeemer Jazz TrioStanding
OFFERING PRAYER
God of good gifts, receive these and all our offerings as we present them in faithful service for the sake of your gospel. Prepare our hearts to receive you in this meal as you pour out your very presence through Christ Jesus, the wellspring of eternal life. Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
The Lord be with you. | And also with you. Lift up your hearts! | We lift them to the Lord. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. | It is right to give our thanks and praise.
EUCHARISTIC PRAYER
O God, Creator of our wilderness world, O God, Savior of the lost, O God, Comforter of the sick and suffering, we give you thanks for your everlasting might; we glorify you for your covenant of mercy.
For forty days you cleansed the earth with the waters of the flood. For forty days you illumined Moses with the words of your law. For forty years you fed your people with manna from heaven.
You became truly human in Jesus our brother. For forty days, with fasting and prayer, he renounced the power of the devil. On the night before he died he 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.
Transform us, O God, with your lively Spirit. Make this food into manna for our journey, the body and blood of your Son. Teach us your words of wisdom and justice. Renew the whole earth with baptismal grace. At the last, lead all your pilgrim people through our wilderness to your Easter garden.
To you, O God, Creator, Savior, Comforter, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be our worship and praise, adoration and thanksgiving, now and forever. | Amen.
Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray…
LORD’S PRAYER
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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
Come and receive Jesus, our strength in the wilderness. Seated
All who seek to meet the Risen Christ in the bread and wine are invited to receive Holy Communion Those who are worshiping online can join the pastors on Zoom for communion following the postlude. Link
Standing
The body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ strengthen you and keep you in his grace. | Amen
Let us pray. | Embodied God, at your table, we have tasted the goodness of Jesus. With the eyes of our hearts open to your promise, empower us to hear the needs of our neighbors and touch the world with your love. Amen.
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
BLESSING
God, the giver of love, ☩ Christ, the resurrection and the life, and the Holy Spirit of rebirth bless you in this Lenten journey. | Amen.
HYMN 454 Remember and Rejoice
SENDING
Go in peace. Serve in love. | Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE by Redeemer Jazz Trio
LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Attendance for March 5: In person:250, Livestream: 147, Facebook 19
NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER Fourth Sunday in Lent
CONGREGATIONAL MEETING | March 26, 2023
Meeting sessions to be held live following each Sunday worship service and also via Zoom at 10am
This meeting will serve as the Annual Meeting of the congregation. The purpose will be to vote on the approval of the 2022 Annual Report. Motion: The congregation of the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer approves the 2022 Annual Report.
Annual Reports will be emailed Saturday, March 11 with hardcopies available March 19
Council Members will be available Sunday, March 12, 19, & 26 following worship services in the Sims Atrium to discuss the annual report and 2023 council goals. Please also feel free to reach out directly to any Council members with questions.
Take the next step in your faith by joining Redeemer's faith community. Through this 6week class, you will get to know the people, ministries, and mission of Lutheran Church of the Redeemer as we get to know you and help you find where you belong.
VBS Needs You!
June 5-9 here at Redeemer our kids will gather for Changemakers Lab, an interactive Vacation Bible School where children learn that everyone can make a difference in the world! WE NEED YOUR HELP this year as we return to a more ‘normal’ version of this powerful faith formation program. Whether you can help now or during the actual event, whether you want to be on stage or behind the scenes or just want to help us shop for supplies, everyone has something they can offer to make VBS a success! Please speak to Deacon Mary if you have questions, or fill out this form if you are ready to sign up. Ages 6th-grade to adult are eligible to volunteer.
TODAY |10:00am | Conference room
Stephen Ministry Information Session
Learn what Stephen Ministry is all about and consider becoming a Stephen Minister through the training being offered at Redeemer beginning in April. You could be the one who provides distinctly Christian spiritual and emotional care to someone who is hurting or in crisis.
Easter Drive
Please help us celebrate Easter with Redeemer Families and welcome our neighbors and friends by donating individually wrapped candy or small Easter items. You can participate on our Amazon List (items will be sent directly to the church) or bring them to the Welcome Desk by Wednesday, March 22, and put them in the bin.
Greetings Redeemer
Redeemer’s Community Engagement ministry voted to organize a band for a summer concert series to bring attention to Redeemer; we are looking for musicians. Sally Rosser and Pastor Bonner are proposing that on select Friday evenings during the summer, the band would play from the front porch of Redeemer. This is an evangelism effort to get people to notice our church and not just hurry by us on their way to work, home, or play. For more details, contact Pastor Bonner at rbonner@redeemer.org.
YOUTH
8th Grade Chalice Usage
On Sunday, January 8, we started using the chalices made by our 8th graders at 9 AM worship. Each 8th-grade Confirmation student had to answer, "What does Communion mean to you?" From 3/12-3/26, the chalice used was painted by Mady Kader. This is Mady's interpretation: My chalice represents Communion. The breaking and eating of bread is Christ’s body broken for us. The drinking of wine is to remind us of the blood He shed for our sins. We are symbolically intermingling Christ’s blood with our own. Sharing a meal together as friends. Making Him a part of us and us a part of Him.”
