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February 25, 2024CALL TO WORSHIP P: People of the covenant: God does not remember us according to our sins and transgressions. C: God remembers us according to God’s own steadfast love! P: The God of our salvation teaches us right paths and leads us in truth. C: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness; we put our trust in God. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Trusting in God’s promise of salvation, let us confess our sin and repent. Silence for Reflection P: Merciful God, C: we confess that we have not been sincere Christians. We claim to follow Jesus but have not taken his path of sacrificial love. We profess to be disciples, but we are not willing to bear the cost of discipleship. We affirm the virtue of self-denial, but we indulge our selfish desires and seek earthly gain. Forgive us, we pray. Free us for sincere repentance through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. P: Brothers and sisters, in Jesus Christ, + crucified, risen, and coming again, we are forgiven and set free to live in faithfulness with God and with one another! Thanks be to God! C: Amen. HYMN “Christ, the Life of All the Living” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpWU7SOzHXg PRAYER OF THE DAY P: God, your Son Jesus Christ bore the cross for our salvation and was raised from the dead for the redemption of the world. Give us the courage to take up our cross and follow him, that through his grace we may accept the cost of faithful discipleship and receive the joy of everlasting life with Christ, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. READINGS: Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16 & Romans 4:13-25 SERMON & READINGS https://youtu.be/hvqbk4N6kJs PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: O Lord, we give you thanks for the example of Abraham and for all the saints who have gone before us - for those who waited for your promises to come to pass - for those who lived in hope while around them it seemed to be only darkness. Help us to examine our own faith - to look seriously at our resistance to talk about the cross and sacrifice. And to consider our reluctance to give up the things of this world. Are we willing to risk our reputations, our comfort, and our security for the sake of following you. Lord, hear our prayer, C: and in your love, answer. P: We pray, O Lord, that you would make us bold in our faith. Through our self-denial, help us make visible to all our brothers and sisters the reality of your power and care for us. Lord, hear our prayer, C: and in your love, answer. P: We pray, O Lord, for those people whose names are resting on our hearts (especially Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Brian, and Marilyn). We pray for the members of our church who are struggling with their health. We pray for those who feel lost. Help them to see that your light shines around them and your word is close to hand. Lord, hear our prayer, C: and in your love, answer. P: All these things we pray to, through your Son Jesus, who died that we might live, and who lives that we might never die. C: Amen. LENT OFFERING PRAYER During Lent we are collecting unscented bottles of lotion to distribute to residents of local nursing homes. Financial gifts may be sent to the church. P: God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Sung by 3C https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdXP5zDSIfg BENEDICTION P: May the blessing of God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, uphold you on the way. C: Amen. HYMN “The Glory of These Forty Days” CHARGE P: Go And...Have the Conversation! So that you can better love God and your neighbor. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 Lenten Mid-Week Worship Week 1: ”Forgiveness When We’ve Done Wrong (As We All Have)” CALL TO WORSHIP Philippians 1:2 P: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. C: Amen. CONFESSION P: Let us confess our sins and delight in the wonder of God’s love. Silence for reflection P: If we claim to be sinless, we are self-deceived and strangers to the truth. If we confess our sins, God is just and may be trusted to forgive our sins and cleanse us from every kind of wrong. C: Spirit of God, search our hearts. P: God of mercy, C: we have sinned against you and against others. We have sinned in what we have done, and in what we have failed to do. We are truly sorry. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, forgive us all that is past and raise us to newness of life. Amen. P: Almighty God, who pardons all who repent, forgive your sins, strengthen you by the Holy Spirit, and keep you in life eternal; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer. C: Amen. READING: Matthew 18:21-35 Then Peter came and said to him, ‘Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times? ’Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times. ‘For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.” And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow-slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, “Pay what you owe.” Then his fellow-slave fell down and pleaded with him, “Have patience with me, and I will pay you.” But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he should pay the debt. When his fellow-slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.’ HOMILY PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE P: Make your ways known upon earth, O God, C: and your saving power known among all peoples. P: Renew your Church in holiness, C: and help us to serve you with joy. P: Guide the leaders of this and every nation, C: that justice and peace may prevail throughout the world. P: Let not the needy, O God, be forgotten or overlooked, C: nor the hope of the poor be taken away because of human actions. P: Make us instruments of your peace, C and guide us in our daily decisions. EVENING PRAYER P: Gracious God, you have given us much today; grant us also a thankful spirit. Into your hands we commend ourselves and those we love. Be with us still, and when we take our rest renew us for the service of your Son Jesus Christ. Amen. C: In darkness and in light, in trouble and in joy, help us, heavenly Father, to trust your love, to serve your purpose, and to praise your name, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. HYMN “My Song Is Love Unknown” BLESSING P: The grace of our + Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. C: Amen. CHARGE P: Go now to love and serve the Lord. Go in peace. C: We go in the name of Christ. Amen. Liturgy is modified from the “Evening Prayer” liturgy in the New Zealand Prayer Book, used by our brothers and sisters in The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia 1st Sunday of LentCALL TO WORSHIP P: People of the covenant: God does not remember us according to our sins and transgressions. C: God remembers us according to God’s own steadfast love! P: The God of our salvation teaches us right paths and leads us in truth. C: All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness; we put our trust in God. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: God’s bow has been hung in the clouds—a unilateral disarmament in spite of our sin. God remains faithful to the covenant of steadfast love, even when we are unfaithful. Without fear, then, we confess our sins. Silence for Reflection P: God of mercy, C: we begin this Lenten season in confession. We do not live according to your ways, but according to our own. We condone violence, participate in systems of injustice, and use power to our own advantage at the expense of others. Forgive us, we pray, when we are tempted to follow paths other than those you set before us. Teach us your commandments; help us to turn from evil in its many guises, and turn us toward your kingdom drawing near. In your love, remember us, we pray, and be for us, once more and always, an ark of safety and new life. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen. P: As Noah and his family were brought safely through the flood onto dry ground, so in baptismal waters we are brought from death into new life in Christ. Jesus Christ +, who is at the right hand of God, forgives us and reconciles us and all things in heaven and on earth. C: Thanks be to God for this good news! HYMN “Bless Now, O God, the Journey” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Loving God, you have made covenant with us and with every living creature. We give thanks for the sign of the rainbow, for it reminds you and us of your promise: that the flood of destruction will not be the last word. We thank you, too, for the waters of baptism, the sign that we are raised as children of the covenant; through Jesus Christ our Lord. And we thank you for the sign of the dove, the promise of your Holy Spirit. Hovering over the dawn of creation, descending upon your beloved Son, your Spirit also hovers over and descends upon us. With the whole creation, we give you all glory and honor. In your triune name we pray. C: Amen. Hebrew Bible Reading: Genesis 9:8-17 8God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9“As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark. 11I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “Thy Holy Wings” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION Steadfast God, thank you for sheltering us in the storms of life. Thank you for ministering to us through angels seen and unseen in times that test us. Thank you for claiming us as a people beloved forever. Because of your great love and care for us, we trust you in our brightest joys and deepest needs. We rejoice when dark clouds of trouble are overtaken by the light of your presence and new possibilities, when things settle down after a time of tossing about, when the great storm is over, and when the promise of resurrection life takes hold in us with sure and certain hope. Hear our prayers, we ask, for the deep needs of the world. In places of violence and warfare, give us the courage to lay down our weapons of death and promote life and well-being instead. In places of drought and fire, bring rains that make the earth colorful and verdant again. In places where the waters overtake their boundaries, allow the overflowing chaos to recede. Loving God, in life and in death, we belong to you. So in the midst of life, we entrust ourselves to your care. We are bold to ask for help when we are confused, lost, or afraid. We are eager to ask for healing for our bodies and minds, whether wounded, ill, or recovering. And we are unceasing in our prayers for those we love who are far from us physically, emotionally, or spiritually. In the midst of death and grief, even though we are weary, we return again and again, praying for comfort, for an easing of the pain that comes from loss, and for the light of your presence to pierce the present darkness. We pray especially for Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Eileen, and Brian. As the heavens were torn open at Jesus’ baptism, and the curtain in the temple was torn at his crucifixion so now tear open anything that divides us from you or hides your presence in our lives or in the church. We desire to hear your voice of love, to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and to see you clearly. Lead us to serve others faithfully as disciples of Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray. C: Amen. LENT OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts can be sent to the church P: God our provider, you have not fed us with bread alone, but with words of grace and life. Bless us and these your gifts, which we receive from your bounty, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Sung by Paul Zach BENEDICTION P: May the blessing of God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, uphold you on the way. C: Amen. HYMN “O Lord, Throughout These Forty Days” CHARGE P: Go And...Have the Conversation! So that you can better love God and your neighbor. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 February 14, 2024P: Let us prepare our hearts and minds for this penitent worship service. Pause for three breaths P: Blessed be the holy Trinity, + one God, who writes the law on our hearts, who draws all people together through Jesus. C: Amen. PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Gracious God, out of your love and mercy you breathed into dust the breath of life, creating us to serve you and our neighbors. Call forth our prayers and acts of kindness, and strengthen us to face our mortality with confidence in the mercy of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. HYMN “Restore In Us, O God” READING Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-21 [Jesus said to the disciples:] 1“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2“So whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 3But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 5“And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 6But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 16“And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 19“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal; 20but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” SERMON HYMN OF THE DAY “Come Down, O Love Divine” INVITATION TO LENT P: Friends in Christ, today with the whole church we enter the time of remembering Jesus’ passover from death to life, and our life in Christ is renewed. We begin this holy season by acknowledging our need for repentance and for God’s mercy. We are created to experience joy in communion with God, to love one another, and to live in harmony with creation. But our sinful rebellion separates us from God, our neighbors, and creation, so that we do not enjoy the life our creator intended. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to a discipline that contends against evil and resists whatever leads us away from love of God and neighbor. I invite you, therefore, to the discipline of Lent—self-examination and repentance, prayer and fasting, sacrificial giving and works of love—strengthened by the gifts of word and sacrament. Let us continue our journey through these forty days to the great Three Days of Jesus’ death and resurrection. CONFESSION OF SIN P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. Silence is kept for reflection and self-examination. P: Most holy and merciful God, C: we confess to you and to one another, and before the whole company of heaven, that we have sinned by our fault, by our own fault, by our own most grievous fault, in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. P: We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others as we have been forgiven. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: We have shut our ears to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: Our past unfaithfulness, the pride, envy, hypocrisy, and apathy that have infected our lives, we confess to you. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people, we confess to you. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to share the faith that is in us, we confess to you. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: Our neglect of human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty, we confess to you. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: Our false judgments, our uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us, we confess to you. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: Our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us, we confess to you. C: Have mercy on us, O God. P: Restore us, O God, and let your anger depart from us. C: Hear us, O God, for your mercy is great. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: Trusting in God’s promise to reconcile all things, let us pray for the church, the well-being of creation, and a world in need. A brief silence. P: You call us to return to you, steadfast God. Renew a right spirit within the church and cleanse the hearts of your people. Strengthen those who proclaim your gospel in word and deed. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You sustain your creation, generous God. Supply all that is needful for life to flourish. Protect endangered species and fragile habitats. Teach us to live lightly upon the earth and to honor it as our home. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You seek justice and peace, righteous God. Rebuild cities and homelands devastated by war (especially Ukraine & Russia, Gaza & Israel). Provide welcome, help, and safety to refugees. Prosper negotiations that lead to lasting peace among the nations. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You care for all people, loving God. Heal any who are scarred by violence, addiction, or trauma of any kind. Comfort those who grieve and bring relief to any in pain. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You gather this assembly, abiding God. Unite us in serving our neighbors and working for justice. We pray for caregivers and people who are hospitalized, in treatment, or recovering from illness (especially Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Eileen, and Brian). Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: You redeem us from death, faithful God. We give thanks for those who served you in the church and shared their gifts in unique ways. Bring us with all the saints into everlasting joy. Hear us, O God. C: Your mercy is great. P: Accompany us on our journey, God of grace, and receive the prayers of our hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts may be sent to the church P: Jesus, you are the bread of life and the true host of this meal. Bless the gifts that we have gathered today in our offering, that all people may know your goodness. Feed us not only with this holy food but with hunger for justice and peace. We pray this in your name. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Spoken in Old Norse PRAYER P: Let us pray. Merciful God, accompany our journey through these forty days. Renew us in the gift of baptism, that we may provide for those who are poor, pray for those in need, fast from self-indulgence, and above all that we may find our treasure in the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. BLESSING P: Almighty God, Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit, bless you now and forever. C: Amen. HYMN “Just As I Am, Without One Plea” CHARGE P: Go forth into the world to serve God with gladness; be of good courage; hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil; strengthen the fainthearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; honor all people; love and serve God, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. C: Thanks be to God. Sixth Sunday After EpiphanyCALL TO WORSHIP P: Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? C: Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: We fool ourselves if we think that our ways are hidden from God. Therefore let us confess our sin, trusting in the mercy of God our Maker. Silence for Reflection P: God, you are everlasting, C: the creator of all that is. Your understanding is beyond measure. We confess to you that we have sinned against you and our neighbors. In your compassion, forgive us, for we place our hope in your steadfast love. P: Praise the Lord! Our God heals the brokenhearted and binds up our wounds. In Jesus Christ + we are forgiven. C: Amen. HYMN “On Eagle’s Wings” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Everlasting God, you give strength to the weak and power to the faint. Make us agents of your healing and wholeness, that your good news may be made known to the ends of your creation, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen. Gospel: Mark 1:29-39 As soon as [Jesus and the disciples] left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “O Christ, the Healer, We Have Come” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION P: As we celebrate Christ embodied in human form, we pray for God’s blessing on the church, the world, and all of creation. A brief silence. P: Everlasting God, you bring your healing power to the church. Give your church a spirit of unity and prayer, that we discern your way for us in the world. God of grace, C: receive our prayer. P: Creator of the ends of the earth, you make the grass grow and send rain for the soil. Bring your creation into harmony and balance. Give animals their food and provide healthy shelter for your people. Inspire us to honor the miraculous beauty of all you have made. God of grace, C: receive our prayer. P: God without equal, your steadfast love endures forever. Bring the leaders, elected officials, and peacekeepers of our towns and countries into understanding and unity. Guide them to serve with compassion and understanding. God of grace, C: receive our prayer. P: God who strengthens, you lift up with your hand any who are suffering. Heal those who are brokenhearted and strengthen the weak and all in need (especially Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, Eileen, and Brian). God of grace, C: receive our prayer. P: God who gives power to the faint, challenge us to share the faith stories of what God has done in our lives. Open us to receive the unique ways God is at work in your people, especially those whose perspectives challenge our own. God of grace, C: receive our prayer. P: God who calls each star by name, we remember all who have died. Shelter all who mourn with your mercy and care, and give us hope in your promised salvation. God of grace, C: receive our prayer. P: Knowing the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, we offer these prayers and the silent prayers of our hearts in the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts may be sent to the church. We have a special offering for Crossroads Mission in Hastings, NE. We are collecting: Deodorant Cold Medicine Ibuprofen/Tylenol Band-Aids Bath Towels XL Twin Sheets Blankets Pillows P: Loving God, use our gifts to spread your gospel near and far, for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Haitian Creole BENEDICTION P: May the Spirit of Jesus + take your hand and lift you up so that you may be of service to others. C: Amen. HYMN “O Worship the King” CHARGE P: Go And...Have the Conversation! So that you can better love God and your neighbor. C: Thanks be to God. Printed by permission oneliscense.net A-717495 5th Sunday After Epiphany CALL TO WORSHIP P: My soul magnifies the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God my savior. C: For the Mighty One has done great things, and holy is God’s name. CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS P: Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and one another. Silence for Reflection P: Holy and all-powerful God, C: who comforts those in distress and casts out destructive forces, we confess that we are unable to do your will. We protect what is familiar and reject what is unknown. We admire those with courage but excuse ourselves when we falter from the truth. We forget that you are always with us, and that with you all things are possible. Forgive us, lead us, make us new. Remove our desire to heed false prophets, and show us your way; in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, Mother of us all. Amen. P: The God who made you and knows your every thought hears you now and forgives you all your sin. You have been redeemed through + Jesus Christ, God’s Son, our Savior. C: Amen. HYMN “Cast Out, O Christ” PRAYER OF THE DAY P: Compassionate God, you gather the whole universe into your radiant presence and continually reveal your Son as our Savior. Bring wholeness to all that is broken and speak truth to us in our confusion, that all creation will see and know your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C: Amen. Gospel: Mark 1:21-28 21[Jesus and his disciples] went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee. SERMON Rev. Lori E.L. Kitzing HYMN “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION after each petition… P: Let us pray for the needs of the world. P: For the healing of Earth and all its creatures; hear us, O God, C: your mercy is great. P: For church congregations that are in turmoil, for the healing of divisions between the followers of Christ Jesus; hear us, O God, C: your mercy is great. P: For leaders of nations, for those who have abused their power, for those who have destructive weapons, and for those who cannot defend themselves; hear us, O God, C: your mercy is great. P: For children who have no one to listen to their cries for food and shelter, for parents who cannot fulfill the needs of their children, hear us, O God, C: your mercy is great. P: For all who are in pain and in need of care, especially those we name now… Julie, Karla, Stephanie, Cammie, Nancy, Beverly, Micala, Murlene, and Eileen. Hear us, O God, C: your mercy is great. P: We pray for Courtney and Daniel who were married yesterday. Bless their covenant and strengthen their love throughout the coming years. Hear us, O God, C: your mercy is great. P: Into your hands we commend all those for whom we pray. We ask your blessing on all your people, that we may come at last to the truth around your banquet table that has no end; through Christ Jesus, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. C: Amen. OFFERING PRAYER Financial gifts may be sent to the church. We have a special offering for Crossroads Mission in Hastings, NE. We are collecting: Deodorant, Cold Medicine, Ibuprofen/Tylenol, Band-Aids, Bath Towels, XL Twin Sheets, Blankets, Pillows. P: Let the gifts we bring today in offering be used for good wherever there is need, in the name of Christ Jesus, your Son, our Savior. C: Amen. LORD’S PRAYER Spoken in Greek BENEDICTION P: Go in peace with the knowledge that God’s power is given to the church, the body of Christ, + for the sake of the life of the world. C: Amen. HYMN “Faith Begins by Letting Go” CHARGE P: Go And...Have the Conversation! So that you can better love God and your neighbor. C: Thanks be to God. 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April 2024
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