St. Matthew s Lutheran

St. Matthew’s Lutheran

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod 766 West Wabasha Street, Winona MN 55987 Church Phone: 507.452.2085 School Phone: 507.454.3083 www.stmatthewswinona.org www.facebook.com/stmatthewswinona

Pastor Matthew Schoell 1.507.615.0012 [email protected] Pastor Winfried Schroeder 1.605.281.0155 [email protected] Scott Schomberg, Principal 1.507.458.0926 [email protected]

First Sunday in Lent

February 20 & 21, 2021

The Call to Struggle Against Sin is Serious

OUR MISSION

The mission of every Christian and this congregation is to serve all people in God’s world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ on the basis of the Holy Scriptures.

OUR FACILITIES

A restroom is located in the Mother’s Room at the back of church and also in the church basement. There is also a handicapped accessible restroom in the back of church. Ask an usher for help and directions.

The members of St. Matthew’s believe that families should be allowed to worship together. If the need arises, we have an audio-equipped children’s room just outside of the church doors to your left.

If you need anything during the service, please feel free to ask an usher.

The word Lent comes from an Old English word for spring (“lengthen,” the time of the year when the days grow longer).

For the last 1700 years the Church has set aside the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter as a time of special prep- aration. It is a time of repentance and renewal.

During Lent, our rejoicing is muted as we remember our Lord’s suffering and death. But it is with a purpose: we know that the Lord who died took up his life again on Easter Sun- day morning. So our 40 days of Lent are ones lived in the cer- tain hope of the resurrection.

The color of the season is purple. Purple is the ancient color of royalty. We have this kind of king: he wore a crown of thorns, and carried a cross for us. Thanks be to God!

T HE C OMMON S ERVICE

O^PENING H^YMN “I Walk in Danger All the Way”

Hymnal #431 stanzas 1-2, 4-5 1 I walk in danger all the way; The thought shall never leave me

That Satan, who has marked his prey, Is plotting to deceive me.

This foe with hidden snares May seize me unawares If e’er I fail to watch and pray; I walk in danger all the way.

2 I pass through trials all the way, With sin and ills contending;

In patience I must bear each day The cross of God’s own sending.

Oft in adversity I know not where to flee

When storms of woe my soul dismay; I pass through trials all the way.

4 I walk with angels all the way; They shield me and befriend me.

All Satan’s pow’r is held at bay When heav’nly hosts attend me.

They are my sure defense; All fear and sorrow, hence!

Unharmed by foes, do what they may, I walk with angels all the way.

5 I walk with Jesus all the way; His guidance never fails me.

He takes my ev’ry fear away When Satan’s pow’r assails me, And, by his footsteps led, My path I safely tread.

In spite of ills that threaten may, I walk with Jesus all the way.

Text: Hans A. Brorson, 1694–1764; tr. Ditlef G. Ristad, 1863–1938, alt.

P: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

C^ONFESSIONOF S^INS

P: Beloved in the Lord: let us draw near with a true heart and confess our sins to God our Father, asking him in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to grant us forgiveness.

C: Holy and merciful Father, I confess that I am by nature sinful and that I have disobeyed you in my thoughts, words, and actions. I have done what is evil and failed to do what is good. For this I deserve your punishment both now and in eternity. But I am truly sorry for my sins, and trusting in my Savior Je- sus Christ, I pray: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.

Kyrie: L^ORD, H^AVE M^ERCY

P: God, our heavenly Father, has been merciful to us and has given his only Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Therefore, as a called servant of Christ and by his authority, I forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the Son  and of the Holy Spirit.

P

P

During the penitential season of Lent, the joyful Gloria in Excelsis is omitted.

PRAYEROFTHE DAY P: The Lord be with you.

P: Let us pray.

Lord our strength, the battle of good and evil rages within and around us, and our ancient foe tempts us with his deceits and empty promises. Keep us steadfast in your Word, and when we fall, raise us up again and restore us through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

T

W

G

FIRST LESSON GENESIS 22:1–18 (NIV2011)

Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”

3 Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about. ⁴ On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. ⁵ He said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you.”

6 Abraham took the wood for the burnt offering and placed it on his son Isaac, and he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them went on together, ⁷ Isaac spoke

up and said to his father Abraham, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“The fire and wood are here,” Isaac said, “but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?”

8 Abraham answered, “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering, my son.”

And the two of them went on together.

9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. ¹⁰ Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. ¹¹ But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.

12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.”

13 Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. ¹⁴ So Abra- ham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the moun- tain of the LORD it will be provided.”

15 The angel of the LORD called to Abraham from heaven a second time ¹⁶ and said, “I swear by myself, declares the LORD, that because you have done this and have not with- held your son, your only son, ¹⁷ I will surely bless you and make your descendants as nu- merous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.”

P^SALMOFTHE D^AY Psalm 6

Organ Side: O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger*

Pulpit Side: or discipline me in your wrath.

Organ Side: Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint;*

Pulpit Side: O LORD, heal me, for my soul is in anguish.

Organ Side: Turn, O LORD, and deliver me;*

Pulpit Side: save me because of your unfailing love.

All: Refrain

Organ Side: I am worn out from groaning.*

Pulpit Side: My eyes grow weak with sorrow.

Organ Side: Away from me, all you who do evil,*

Pulpit Side: for the LORD has heard my weeping.

Organ Side: The LORD has heard my cry for mercy;*

Pulpit Side: the LORD accepts my prayer.

All: Glory be to the Father and to the Son*

and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning,*

is now, and will be forever. Amen.

All: Refrain

Refrain Tune: Richard Proulx. © 1986 GIA Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL, www.giamusic.com. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

SECOND LESSON ROMANS 8:31–39 (NIV2011)

31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who con- demns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;

we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all crea- tion, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

V^ERSEOFTHE D^AY Matthew 4:10b

P: It is written: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”

G^OSPEL M^ARK 1:12–15 (NIV1984)

After the announcement of the Gospel, the congregation sing:

12 At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, ¹³ and he was in the wilderness forty days, being temptedby Satan. He was with the wild animals, and angels attended him.

14 After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God. ¹⁵ “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!”

After the Gospel, the congregation sings:

APOSTLES’ CREED

I believe in God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary,

suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.

He descended into hell.

The third day he rose again from the dead.

He ascended into heaven

and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.

From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,

the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

C^HILDREN’^S M^ESSAGE

H^YMNOFTHE D^AY “The Lamb”

Christian Worship Supplement #714 stanzas 1-2, 4-5 1 The Lamb, the Lamb, O Father, where’s the sacrifice?

Faith sees, believes God will provide the Lamb of price!

Refrain

Worthy is the Lamb whose death makes me his own!

The Lamb is reigning on his throne.

2 The Lamb, the Lamb, One perfect final offering.

The Lamb, the Lamb, Let earth join heav’n his praise to sing.

Refrain

4 He sighs, he dies, He takes my sin and wretchedness.

He lives, forgives, He gives me his own righteousness.

Refrain

5 He rose, he rose, My heart with thanks now overflows.

His song prolong ’Til ev’ry heart to him belong.

Refrain

As the Lord provided for Abraham a sacrifice in place of his son Isaac, so also he lovingly provides for us his own Son, Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God sacrificed for the sins of the world.

Text: Gerald P. Coleman, b. 1953 © 1987 Birnamwood Publications (ASACP), a division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

SERMON Based on Genesis 22:1–18

Victory in Struggle against Sin

Reflection Questions for this week’s sermon:

 What part of God's command to Abraham seemed the most impossible?

 What would Abraham's life look like if he hadn't offered Isaac?

 What is the most impossible thing that God asks of you?

 Why can you do it?

CREATEIN ME

THANK OFFERING

Moved by God’s love in Christ, we offer him our first and best gifts, purely out of thanks to him. If you are visiting with us today, please do not feel obligated to give an offering.

Our offerings will be collected today as you leave. To give by phone send a text message to 844-703-3129 with the amount you would like to contribute and you will be sent further instructions.

OFFERING HYMN “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross”

Hymnal #125 stanza 4 4 Were the whole realm of nature mine, That were a tribute far too small;

Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life, my all.

Text: Isaac Watts, 1674–1748, abr., alt.

PRAYEROFTHE CHURCH

P: Heavenly Father, you loved the world and gave your Son to liberate us from sin and death by his obedient death on the cross.

C: We confess that without your love we are lost.

P: Lord of the Church, we thank you for the treasure of the gospel. By your Spirit, keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

C: Strengthen our determination to do what pleases you, no matter what the dan- ger or the cost.

P: Let us pray for those who carry a cross in the name of Christ and face ridicule and persecution for the sake of the kingdom: missionaries and chaplains, young people who stand up for what is right in the face of pressure to do what is wrong, and all who pay a high price for their faith and their values as Christians.

C: By your Spirit, O Lord, grant them patience and endurance.

P: Let us pray for those who carry heavy burdens in life: the sick and the chronically ill, the depressed and the lonely, those torn by conflict in personal relationships, those victimized by war and injustice, and all who face the terrors of life with a heavy heart.

C: Grant them peace, O Lord, and in your mercy, be their guardian and friend, their comfort and hope.

P: Let us pray for those who care for others: pastors and counselors; physicians and nurses; social workers and caring friends; all who feed the hungry, comfort the hurt- ing, and stand beside the dying.

C: Strengthen them in their work, O Lord, and do not let them become weary in doing good.

Special prayers and intercessions may follow.

P: Hear us, Lord, as we bring you our private petitions.

Silent prayer.

P: Help us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Keep us faithful even to the point of death, that we may receive the crown of life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

C: Amen.

© 1993 Northwestern Publishing House. Reprinted by permission.

The Lord’s Prayer

THE LORD’S PRAYER

C: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

HYMN “I Gave My Life for Thee”

Hymnal #454 stanzas 1, 4-5 1 I gave my life for thee; My precious blood I shed

That thou might’st ransomed be And quickened from the dead.

I gave my life for thee; Come, give thyself to me!

4 I suffered much for thee, More than my tongue may tell, Of bitt’rest agony, To rescue thee from hell.

I suffered much for thee; Come, bear thy cross with me.

5 And I have brought to thee Down from my home above Salvation full and free, My pardon and my love.

Great gifts I brought for thee; Come, bring thy gifts to me.

Text: Frances R. Havergal, 1836–79, alt.

CLOSING PRAYER

P: Blessed Lord, you have given us your Holy Scriptures for our learning. May we so hear them, read, learn, and take them to heart, that being strengthened and com- forted by your holy Word, we may cling to the blessed hope of everlasting life, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

C^LOSING B^LESSING

P: The Lord bless you and keep you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord look on you with favor and  give you peace.

CLOSING HYMN “Rise! To Arms! With Prayer Employ You”

Hymnal # 455 1 Rise! To arms! With prayer employ you,

O Christians, lest the foe destroy you, For Satan has designed your fall.

Wield God’s Word, a weapon glorious;

Against each foe you’ll be victorious;

Our God will set you o’er them all.

Fear not the prince of hell—

Here is Immanuel! Sing hosanna!

The strong ones yield To Christ, our shield, And we as conqu’rors hold the field.

2 Jesus, all your children cherish, And keep them that they never perish Whom you have purchased with your blood.

Let new life to us be given

That we may look to you in heaven Whenever fearful is our mood.

Your Spirit on us pour That we may love you more,

Hearts o’erflowing; And then shall we,

From sin set free, Sing praise through all eternity.

Text: Wilhelm E. Arends, 1677–1721, abr.; tr. John M. Sloan, 1835–after 1890, alt.

We encourage you to take a moment after the service to get to know those seated around you!

Reprinted under OneLicense.net A-71539

Announcements

February 20 & 21, 2021

Preacher

Pastor Matthew Schoell Presiding Minister

Pastor Winfried Schroeder Organist

Carol Schroeder

Councilmen on Duty this Weekend Ushers on Duty this Weekend

Saturday 6PM – Mark Jacobsen Saturday 6PM – Kris & Amanda Wenzel Sunday 8AM – Steve Erickson Sunday 8AM – Steve Erickson

Sunday 10:30AM – Chad Dobberstein Sunday 10:30AM – Chad Dobberstein

Altar Committee

Sue Gannaway & Rose Drazkowski This Week

Sunday 8:00 AM Worship

8:00 AM Worship service streamed on Facebook

9:00 AM Worship Service broadcasted on HBC Channel 20 9:15 AM Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship & Communion

11:00 AM Worship Service Radio KAGE 1380AM or 101.5FM 7:00 PM Worship Service broadcasted on Charter Channel 986 Tuesday 7:00 PM Senior Choir

Finance #3

Wednesday 2:30 PM Lent Worship

4:00PM Public School Catechism 6:00 PM Lent Worship

7:00 PM Worship Service broadcasted on Charter Channel 986 7:00 PM Worship Service broadcasted on HBC Channel 20 Saturday 6:00 PM Worship & Communion

Next Sunday 8:00 AM Worship & Communion

8:00 AM Worship service streamed on Facebook

9:00 AM Worship Service broadcasted on HBC Channel 20 9:15 AM Bible Class

10:30 AM Worship & Communion

11:00 AM Worship Service Radio KAGE 1380AM or 101.5FM 7:00 PM Worship Service broadcasted on Charter Channel 986 Financial News

Weekly Budget for Envelope Offerings: $8,173.08 Envelope offerings received February 14: $6,784

Opportunities to Hear God’s Word

Lent Service Schedule Each Wednesday during Lent we will worship to ob- serve the suffering and death of our Lord as we hear about the prophecies of the Old Testament as they were recorded for us in Isaiah 53. This chapter de- scribes, “The Suffering and Glory of the Servant.” Service will be held each Wednesday in Lent at 2:30pm & 6:00pm.

St. Matthew’s Announcements Council Meeting Highlights

 Save the date of March 20th and/or 21st to attend the Everyone Outreach Pro- gram. Lunch, snacks, and childcare will be provided. You can sign up on the Connection Cards available in the narthex at upcoming church services.

 Council members are in the process of retrieving quotes for a new sound sys- tem for the sanctuary and the potential construction of the choir loft space and repositioning the organ to accommodate a grand piano and optimize the space for our organists and other musicians.

 There is a Budget Committee meeting scheduled for March 9th in Scott’s class- room at 6:00pm.

 The installation of the new doors and windows for the school building are scheduled for June. We have funding to cover the cost of the doors. More de- tails to follow.

Scrip Update! Reminder...we now have scrip available for purchase after services again. Proceeds benefit tuition support and unbudgeted school expenses.

How Does Scrip work? We purchase gift cards from both local and national stores/restaurants at a discounted price (3%-13%) and sell them for face value.

Half of this percentage can be applied to a family’s tuition for their child or grandchild. Any profit that is not designated, helps pay for unbudgeted items throughout the school-year.

Have you ever thought, “I wish our congregation was more outreach-minded”?

If so, you’re not alone.

For this reason, St. Matthew’s participating in an exciting new program called Every- one Outreach. The program will help us build a culture of outreach so that every ministry and every member is encouraged and equipped to reach the lost in our community.

Everyone Outreach kicks off with a 2-day workshop on Saturday, March 20 10:00AM—3:30PM with lunch being served.

Sunday, March 21 12:30PM—3:30PM without lunch.

To sign up, you can go here:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904054daba723a7fd0-everyone

or sign up on the sign up sheet in the back of church or call Amanda in the office.

We have limited spots available so claim yours quickly!