Sunday, March 26, 2023 - Order of worship at 9 am - Lutheran Church of the Redeemer Atlanta GA USA

Fifth Sunday in Lent – March 26, 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.

This bulletin contains content protected by copyright and is provided only for you to participate in worship. Please delete or destroy any physical or digital copy of the material following the service.

WELCOME and ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

Almighty God, your Son came into the world to free us all from sin and death. Breathe upon us the power of your Spirit, that we may be raised to new life in Christ and serve you in righteousness all our days, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

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 SERMON

Standing THE HOLY GOSPEL John 11:1-45

Jesus is moved to sorrow when his friend Lazarus falls ill and dies. Then, in a dramatic scene, he calls his friend out of the tomb and restores him to life.

Before the reading: The Holy Gospel according... | Glory to you, O Lord.

Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through

it.” 5Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.

7Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

17When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”

28When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus began to weep. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

38Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I have

said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him.

After the reading: The Gospel of the Lord. | Praise to You, O Christ.

Seated

SERMON Pastor Ron Bonner

Standing

HYMN 333 Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land

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.

You have breathed into us the breath of life. Enliven your church. Deepen our partnerships with our companion churches around the globe and bless the work of missionaries who accompany them. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Your spirit brings life to creation. Enliven the natural world and restore ecosystems in need of healing (local natural places may be named). Uplift prophetic voices that turn us to the needs of the soil beneath our feet and the air all around. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

You redeem the world and its peoples. Free us from systems of oppression. Unbind nations and societies from the sins of racism, sexism, transphobia, and homophobia. Raise up leaders at all levels of government who work to promote the dignity of every human life. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

You weep when we weep. Be present with those who grieve or who are troubled by illness (especially). You hear us when we call to you. Deliver us from the depths of our despair, and free us from the worries that bind us. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

Your Spirit of life dwells in our assembly. Bless the music ministries of this congregation and all who lead us in hymns of praise and thanksgiving and in songs of lament and prayer. Merciful God, receive our prayer.

You are the resurrection and the life. Even though we die, we will live. With thanksgiving, we remember all your saints who now live in your eternal love. 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.

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 Trio

Standing 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 328

Restore in Us O God

SENDING

Go in peace. Serve in love. | Thanks be to God.

POSTLUDE by Redeemer Jazz Trio

LAST WEEK AT REDEEMER Attendance for March 19: In person:235, Livestream: 173

NEXT WEEK AT REDEEMER Sixth Sunday in Lent

CONGREGATIONAL MEETING | Today

Meeting sessions to be held live following each Sunday worship service and also via Zoom at 10am Link to Webinar

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.

Link to 2022 Annual Report. A limited number of hardcopies are available at the welcome desk.

Council Members will be available today 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.

It’s time to pre-order Lilies in honor/memory of family or friends to visually enhance our Easter worship. In addition, professional brass quartet and timpani will be here so you are also encouraged to make donations to the special musician’s fund which will also be listed in the Easter bulletin in honor/memory of family or friends along with the flowers.

Text © 1989 Hope Publishing Company Music © 1985 Hope Publishing Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Onelicense.net #A725004

To order online click HERE or you can use an envelope that is available in the pew racks. Please drop envelopes at the Welcome desk in the Sims Atrium. All donations are due by Sunday, March 26.

COMMUNITY

New Member Class today | 10-10:45 am | Reception room

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.

At-Home Pastoral Visit

If you or a loved one would like to receive a pastoral visit with communion at your home or residence, please contact Pastor Jenny McLellan at 404-874-8664 ext. 224 or jmclellan@redeemer.org

Sunday, April 16 Join us as we welcome Bishop Axel Piper and Pastor Christoph Burger from our Companion Synod - The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria –Church District of Augsburg and Swabia. Bishop Piper will preach at the 9 am service, Pastor Christoph will preach at the 11 am service

Later that evening they will travel to Savannah for a celebration and signing of a 10-year extension agreement as companion synods. To join the celebration and learn more RSVP for dinner by April 3. Click here: https://www.elcases.org/BavariaPartnership

The gathering begins at 5:30 PM

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.

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.

Volunteers needed to sing in the choir for the 7pm Easter Vigil service on Saturday, April 8th. All are welcome – we will sing two hymns just as the choir (When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land and St. Patrick’s Breastplate), a psalm, and support the Easter Proclamation and congregational hymn singing. We will meet at 5pm that day to rehearse. Please email Kira at kgarvie@redeemer.org if you are interested!

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 spiritually 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.”

Fundraising, Pick Up Your Envelope!

This Summer, Redeemers High School Youth will embark on a mission trip to Puerto Rico with the YouthWorks Organization! Please visit the Youth table in Sims Atrium before and following Sunday worship service until April 9. Donations can also be made via the offering plate, online, or by leaving in Jennifer Isaacson's office or Hillary Nelson's mailbox. Please include a memo note designating for the "Puerto Rico Youth Trip." Thank you for your support! Our Fundraiser will focus on who is attending and why they are attending this Mission Trip.

Julian Carlson: “I am looking forward to going to Arecibo, Puerto Rico to make a change. I want to grow my faith with God and my bond with the others.”

Sam Pinyon: “I am so excited to go on this Mission Trip to Puerto Rico as I believe I was put on this Earth by God to help people. This Mission Trip is important to me as one of the things that brings me the most joy is helping people in need.”

Post-High School and College Youth Care Packages: On Sunday, April 16, we will make Care Packages for our post-high school, college & higher education students. Please send Hillary your student’s mailing address for a special mailing surprise by Sunday, April 9.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES

Vacation Bible School Registration is Open!

Join us June 5-9 here at Redeemer for Changemakers Lab, an interactive Vacation Bible School where children learn that everyone can make a difference in the world! Find more details and register at this link, or speak to Deacon Mary. To register a youth (6th grade and up) or adult as a volunteer, please use this form.

Family Easter Vigil and Celebration

Saturday, April 8 from 10- 12:30, join us for an Easter festival including live animals, face painting, a family photo booth, and more! Then go with us on a journey from the somber atmosphere of Holy Week to the joy of Easter in an Easter Vigil service specially designed for families. After the service, we will head back outside for an egg hunt. The event kicks off at 10:00 am and ends at 12:30 pm. In the case of inclement weather we will move indoors. No RSVP is required; don’t forget to invite a friend!

MUSIC

Music and Arts Camp – “Carnival of the Animals” – June 12-16

Registration is now open. Rising kindergarteners through 6th graders will experience music, art, and drama all based on this year’s animal theme! The camp is from 9:00 am4:00 pm, with free before and after-care. Tuition for the week is $165 and includes all activities, snacks, and a T-shirt. Sibling discounts apply, and financial need-based scholarships are available. All are welcome, so tell your friends and neighbors. For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Sarah Hawbecker at 404-874-8664, ext. 206 or shawbecker@redeemer.org. Follow the camp and share our posts on Facebook atfacebook.com/RedeemerMusicCamp/

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

Mary’s Voice in John’s Gospel - Led by Edward Scherlacher

Pastor Jonathan Book Study

Tuesdays

Study of 'The Warmth of Other Suns' by Isabel Wilkerson.

Be Still and Journey – Led by Pat Cornwell

Sundays

Sundays | 10 am | Rudisill Hall

Come hear about the Bishop’s pilgrimage to Israel and Palestine attended by fourteen Redeemer members.

TODAY: Movie Screening and Discussion: The Present

April 23: From Tiberias to Bethlehem

April 30: From Jerusalem to Petra

Lent 2023

Wednesday night Pastor’s Class

Join Pr. Mark for a Lenten Book Study on Entering the Passion of Jesus

6 PM | Rudisill Hall & Zoom

Calendar for March 26 – April 1, 2023

Visit https://www.redeemer.org/blog/this-week/ for Zoom Links

Sunday,

Youth