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Fifth Sunday in Lent
Sunday, March 21, 2021
God promises Jeremiah that a “new covenant” will be made in the future: a covenant that will allow all the people to know God by heart. The church sees this promise fulfilled in Christ, who draws all people to himself when he is lifted up on the cross. Our baptismal covenant draws us to God’s heart through Christ and draws God’s love and truth into our hearts. We join together in worship, sharing in word, song, and meal, and leave strengthened to share God’s love with all the world.
WELCOME!
We are glad to have you join us in worship today. Here are a few notes to help you feel more at home participating in our worship.Worshiping. Today’s service is printed in this bulletin. Parts in bold indicate responses
by everyone in which you are invited to participate.
Communion: Lutheran Christians believe that the Lord Jesus Christ feeds us with his
true body and blood “in, with, and under” the bread and wine in the Lord’s Supper. All baptized Christians who receive Communion in their own churches are welcome to receive the sacrament. Communion will be distributed continuously, in procession. Please come forward as directed by the ushers, maintaining a 6’ distance between you and the person in front of you.
Adjustments to our service. In order to comply with safety and social distancing
guidelines, it will be mandatory that everyone have a face covering and everyone must be mindful of keeping their distance from others. Please refrain from mingling in confined spaces before and/or after service.
MASKS must be worn at all times.
The sign of the PEACE will be offered by a wave or bow while staying in place. The OFFERING PLATE will not be passed or brought forward. It will be in the
back of the worship space instead.
At the conclusion of the service, everyone is asked to remain in their seats. Ushers will dismiss people by row to maintain safe spacing.
The Social Hall is the only area open. All other areas of St. Stephen’s are closed.
Prayer Requests. Please call the office if you’d like to place someone on our prayer
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+ GATHERING +
CONFESSION AND FORGIVENESS
P Blessed be the holy Trinity, ☩ one God, who forgives all our sin, whose mercy endures forever. C Amen.
P God of all mercy and consolation, come to the help of your people, turning us from our sin to live for you alone. Give us the power of your Holy Spirit that we may confess our sin, receive your forgiveness, and grow into the fullness of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C Amen.
P Let us confess our sin in the presence of God and of one another. P Most merciful God,
C we confess that we are captive to sin and cannot free ourselves. We have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. For the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ, have mercy on us. Forgive us, renew us, and lead us, so that we may delight in your will and walk in your ways, to the glory of your holy name. Amen.
P In the mercy of almighty God, Jesus Christ was given to die for us, and for his sake God forgives us all our sins. As a called and ordained minister of the church of Christ, and by his authority, I therefore declare to you the entire forgiveness of all your sins, in the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit. C Amen.
GREETING
P The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C And also with you. KYRIE
P In peace, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace from above, and for our salvation, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For the peace of the whole world, for the well-being of the Church of God, and for the unity of all, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P For this holy house, and for all who offer here their worship and praise, let us pray to the Lord.
C Lord, have mercy.
P Help, save, comfort, and defend us, gracious Lord.
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PRAYER OF THE DAY
P Let us pray. O God, with steadfast love you draw us to yourself, and in mercy you receive our prayers. Strengthen us to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit, that through life and death we may live in 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.
+ WORD +
FIRST READING: Jeremiah 31:31-34
A reading from Jeremiah.
31The days are surely coming, says the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the
house of Israel and the house of Judah. 32It will not be like the covenant that I made with
their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, says the LORD. 33But this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will
put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34No longer shall they teach one another, or say to each other, “Know the LORD,” for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,
says the LORD; for I will forgive their iniquity, and remember their sin no more.
…The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
PSALM: Psalm 51:1-12
The psalm is read responsively. The lector will read the plain text and you are invited to read the text in bold.
1Have mercy on me, O God, according to your | steadfast love;
in your great compassion blot out | my offenses.
2Wash me through and through | from my wickedness,
and cleanse me | from my sin.
3For I know | my offenses, and my sin is ev- | er before me.
4Against you only have I sinned and done what is evil | in your sight;
so you are justified when you speak and right | in your judgment.
5Indeed, I was born | steeped in wickedness, a sinner from my | mother’s womb. 6Indeed, you delight in truth | deep within me,
and would have me know wisdom | deep within.
7Remove my sins with hyssop, and I | shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be pur- | er than snow.
8Let me hear | joy and gladness;
that the body you have broken | may rejoice.
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10Create in me a clean | heart, O God,
and renew a right spir- | it within me.
11Cast me not away | from your presence, and take not your Holy Spir- | it from me. 12Restore to me the joy of | your salvation
and sustain me with your boun- | tiful Spirit.
SECOND READING: Hebrews 5:5-10
A reading from Hebrews.
5Christ did not glorify himself in becoming a high priest, but was appointed by the one
who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”; 6as he says also in
another place, “You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.”
7In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and
tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he
suffered; 9and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for
all who obey him, 10having been designated by God a high priest according to the order
of Melchizedek. …The word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL: John 12:20-33
P The holy gospel according to John. C Glory to you, O Lord.
20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They
came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very
truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me
must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor. 27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save
me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father,
glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others
said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your
sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will
be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to
myself.” 33He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
…The gospel of the Lord. C Praise to you, O Christ.
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HYMN OF THE DAY: Down at the Cross
1 Down at the cross where my Savior died, down where for cleansing from sin I cried; there to my heart was the blood applied: glory to his name.
Refrain
Glory to his name, glory to his name!
There to my heart was the blood applied: glory to his name.
2 I am so wondrously saved from sin, Jesus so sweetly abides within; there at the cross where he took me in: glory to his name. Refrain
NICENE CREED
A With the whole Church, we confess our faith.
C We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father;
through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven,
was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary and became truly human. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again in accordance with the scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. PRAYERS OF INTERCESSION
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A You wash us through and through and remember our sin no more. Make your church a community of forgiveness throughout the world. Give your people courage to forgive; through them show the world new possibilities. Bless ministries of repentance and reconciliation. Hear us, O God. C Your mercy is great.
A You fill the earth—from tiny grains of wheat to the mighty thunder—with your presence, and you call us to attend to your will for all creation. Grant weather that prepares the soil for seeds; protect all from violent storms, flooding, and wildfires. Hear us, O God. C Your mercy is great.
A You promise to write your law on our hearts. Guide citizens throughout the world to shape communities that reflect your mercy, justice, and peace, and give them creativity to work for the welfare of all. Hear us, O God. C Your mercy is great.
A You sustain us with your bountiful Spirit. Restore the joy of all who need to know your presence: those who are lonely or feel unforgivable, those who need healing of mind or body, especially Joe Muller, Eugene Ebersberger and all those we now name aloud or in the silence of our hearts…brief silence. We also pray for those who are dying, and all who grieve. Hear us, O God.
C Your mercy is great.
A We entrust ourselves and all our prayers to you, O faithful God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. C Amen.
PEACE
P The peace of Christ be with you always.
C And also with you. ANNOUNCEMENTS BIRTHDAY SONG
He who began a good work in you (2x); Will be faithful to complete it (Clap 3x) Will be faithful to complete it (Clap 3x)
He who started the work will be faithful to complete it in you!
+ MEAL +
OFFERING PRAYER
P Let us pray. 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.
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GREAT THANKSGIVING DIALOGUE
P The Lord be with you. C And also with you. P Lift up your hearts. C We lift them to the Lord. P Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
C It is right to give our thanks and praise. PREFACE
P It is indeed right, our duty and our joy…
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
C Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of pow’r and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
P Holy, mighty, and merciful Lord, heaven and earth are full of your glory. In great love you sent to us Jesus, your Son, who reached out to heal the sick and suffering, who preached good news to the poor, and who, on the cross, opened his arms to all.
In the night in which he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus 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.
Remembering, therefore, his death, resurrection, and ascension, we await his coming in glory. Pour out upon us the Spirit of your love, O Lord, and unite the wills of all who share this heavenly food, the body and blood of Jesus Christ, our Lord; to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and forever. C Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
P Gathered into one by the Holy Spirit, let us pray as Jesus taught us.
C 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.
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INVITATION TO COMMUNION
P Come to the banquet, for all is now ready.
LAMB OF GOD
C Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world; grant us peace. Amen. SONG DURING COMMUNION: The Night You Gave Us, God, Has Ended
1 The night you gave us, God, has ended, the darkness hails the sun's bright rays; as shadows flee and earth awakens, we rise again to sing your praise.
2 We thank you for each glorious sunrise that paints the earth a golden hue; each day your grace grants new beginnings, the chance to start again anew. 3 Bless those who work in hours of darkness, who serve and toil while others sleep;
their lives of caring and protecting reflect your love so strong and deep. 4 We pray for energy and passion to live our lives each day for you;
may all around us sense your presence in all we say and all we do.
5 We praise you, God, for nature's rhythms, for dark and daylight, stars and sun; your whole creation sings your glory, O Trinity, most Holy One.
PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION
P Let us pray. Compassionate God, you have fed us with the bread of heaven. Sustain us in our Lenten pilgrimage: may our fasting be hunger for justice; our alms, a making of peace; and our prayer, the song of grateful hearts, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. C Amen.
+ SENDING +
BLESSING
P The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord’s face shine on you with grace and mercy. The Lord look upon you with favor and ☩ give you peace. C Amen.
SENDING SONG: Through the Night of Doubt and Sorrow
Through the night of doubt and sorrow, onward goes the pilgrim band, singing songs of expectation, marching to the promised land.
Clear before us through the darkness gleams and burns the guiding light; pilgrim clasps the hand of pilgrim stepping fearless through the night.
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One the light of God's own presence on the ransomed people shed, chasing far the gloom and terror, bright'ning all the path we tread. One the object of our journey, one the faith which never tires, one the earnest looking forward, one the hope our God inspires.
DISMISSAL
P Go in peace. Share the good news. C Thanks be to God.
POSTLUDE: I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy
Comments from the Cloud of Witnesses
You must have already heard about God’s marvels manifested in the way silk originates. The silkworms come from seeds about the size of little grains of pepper. When the warm weather comes and the leaves begin to appear on the mulberry tree, the seeds start to live, for they are dead until then. The worms nourish themselves on the mulberry leaves until, having grown to full size, they settle on some twigs. There with their little mouths they go about spinning the silk and making some very thick little cocoons in which they enclose themselves. The silkworm, which is fat and ugly, then dies, and a little white butterfly, which is very pretty, comes forth from the cocoon. Once this silkworm is grown, it begins to spin the silk and build the house wherein it will die. I would like to point out that this house is Christ, since he is our dwelling place and we ourselves can build so as to place ourselves in it. Let’s be quick to weave this little cocoon by taking away our self-love and self-will, our attachment to any earthly thing, and by performing deeds of penance, prayer, mortification, and obedience. Let this silkworm die, as it does in completing what it was created to do. And you will see how we see God, as well as ourselves placed inside God’s grandeur, as is this little silkworm within its cocoon.
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Upcoming Commemorations
Thomas Cranmer, Bishop of Canterbury, martyr, died 1556 Sunday, March 21, 2021
Cranmer's lasting achievement is contributing to and overseeing the creation of the Book of Common Prayer, which remains (in revised form) the worship book of the Anglican Communion. He was burned at the stake under Queen Mary for his support of the Protestant Reformation.
Jonathan Edwards, teacher, missionary to American Indians, died 1758 Monday, March 22, 2021
A Puritan minister in Connecticut, Edwards is remembered as being a great preacher. Though his most famous sermon talks at length about hell, he was more concerned with God's love. He served both as missionary to the Housatonic people in Massachusetts, and as president of the future Princeton University.
Oscar Arnulfo Romero, Bishop of El Salvador, martyr, died 1980 Wednesday, March 24, 2021
Romero was deeply concerned with injustices evident toward the poor and powerless in El Salvador, and worked forthrightly against political repression. He was assassinated while presiding at the eucharist in a chapel near the cathedral in San Salvador.
Annunciation of Our Lord Thursday, March 25, 2021
Nine months before Christmas we celebrate the annunciation, in which the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to the Son of God. The ancient church believed that this was also the date of the world's creation and of Jesus' death on the cross.
