Prelude
Announcements
Confession and Forgiveness
Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who journeys with us these forty days of Lent and sustains us with the gift of grace. People of God: Amen
Let us acknowledge before God and one another our need for repentance and God’s mercy.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Holy God,
People of 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
Hear the good news: God so loved the world that God gave the only Son, so that all may receive life. This promise is for you! God embraces you with divine mercy, ☩ forgives you in Christ’s name, and revives you in the Spirit’s power. People of God: Amen
ELW #138
ELW #139
Prayer of the Day
Assisting Minister: Let us pray. God of celebration, you have invited all people to rejoice in the goodness of your love. Help us to be hospitable to all people at your banquet, so that all might receive your blessing. We pray these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. People of God: Amen
Reading Matthew 22:1-14
Assisting Minister: 1Once more Jesus spoke to [the religious leaders] in parables, saying: 2“The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ 5But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ 10Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests.11“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. 13Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14For many are called, but few are chosen.” The word of the Lord. People of God: Thanks be to God
Sermon Rev. Sarah Wilson
Prayers of the People
Assisting Minister: Beloved friends, in this season of repentance and healing, we accept God’s invitation to be ever-mindful of the needs of others, offering our prayers on behalf of God’s community in the church and the world.
A brief silence.
Assisting Minister: We pray for the church and its leaders; that our focus be always on inviting all into blessed community and communion with you. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: We pray for streams and waterways; that spring flooding be minimal and that we may better care for all waters on the earth. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: We pray for our political leaders; that compassion, empathy, and compromise be at work in order to ensure justice and peace. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: We pray for those without community or hope; that they may find love and support and that we may better minister to those outside our community. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: We pray for the sick and suffering, especially Gus, Faith, Denise, Leslie, Norma, Brian, Scott, Jessica, Alicia, Jeanne, Barb, Cecil (See-sil), Stan, Marlene, Ryleigh, Dylan, Sandy, Hopie (Hope-y), the Bredemus (bread-a-mus) family, Allen, Bunny, the Vogt (vote) family, Patricia, Michael, Nicholas and his family, Beth, Betty, Tom, Kara (car-a) and those we name silently or aloud (<pause>); that all people may know care and comfort in times of trial and adversity. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Assisting Minister: We pray for this assembly; that relationship, reconciliation, and community ever be our focus and priorities. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Please offer your own prayers of joy or concern, ending with “Lord, in your mercy,”
We respond with “hear our prayer.”
Assisting Minister: We pray for the saints who have gone before us; that their example may guide us along the path of faith. Lord, in your mercy, People of God: hear our prayer.
Fill us with your strength to resist the seductions of our foolish desires and the tempter’s vain delights, that we may walk in obedience and righteousness, rejoicing in you with an upright heart. People of God: Amen
Hymn ELW #638 Blessed Assurance Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by
Children’s Sermon Rev. Sarah Wilson
The Peace (Please share peace by waving or showing the peace sign.)
The peace of Christ be with you always. People of God: And also with you.
Offering
Let us pray. 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. People of God: Amen.
Communion
The Lord be with you.
People of God: And also with you
Lift up your hearts.
People of God: We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
People of God: It is right to give our thanks and praise.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus took bread and gave thanks; he 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.
And now let us pray with confidence in the words that Jesus taught us:
People of God: 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
Assisting Minister: Come and receive Jesus, our strength in the wilderness.
For our at-home worshippers, you may take communion using these words:
The body of Christ, given for you.
The blood of Christ, shed for you.
Communion Hymns
ELW #471 Let Us Break Bread Together
ELW #483 Here is Bread
ELW #491 Come Let Us Eat
ELW #614 There is a Balm in Gilead
Table Blessing
And now may the body and blood of our Lord, Jesus Christ, strengthen you and keep you in his grace. People of God: Amen.
Prayer after Communion
Assisting Minister: 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. People of God: Amen.
Blessing of the Charter with Boy Scout Troop 657
Assisting Minister: A reading from Philippians 2:1-4: Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.
Blessing
God, the giver of love, ☩ Christ, the resurrection and the life, and the Holy Spirit of rebirth bless you in this Lenten journey. People of God: Amen
Sending Hymn ELW #856 How Great Thou Are Played by Gloria Peetz Sung by Aaron Brewer
Dismissal
Assisting Minister: Go in peace. Serve in love. People of God: Thanks be to God.
Thank you to those serving us today
Pastor: Rev. Sarah Wilson
Worship Assistant: Lorena Skelley
Acolyte: Daniel Whyte
Music: Gloria Peetz ~ Song Leader: Jordan Devine
Altar Guild: Challyn Hyde
Usher/Greeter: Andy Taylor and Bob Kubas
Sound Board: Nancy Rochford
Producer: Mark Gates ~ Graphics: Dawna Gates
Counters: Marianne Barstow and Denise Ulaszek
Coffee Host: Shirley Simkus
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