Laetare Sunday
Fourth Sunday in Lent
March 14, 2021
Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church & Preschool
800 N. Franklin St., La Grange, TX 78945 Pastor Jason M. Kaspar
Worship Services: Sundays at 9:00 AM Bible Classes & Sunday School Sundays at 10:15 AM Office: (979) 968-3938 Fax: (979) 968-2918 Email: secretary@mtcalvary-lcms.org
Visit us on the web at www.mtcalvary-lcms.org!
WELCOME to all, in the name of Jesus, our Savior, who came to take away the condemnation
for our sins on His cross. As He came not to be served, but to serve, may we also come not only to be served but also to serve. We extend a special welcome to visiting friends and guests!
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Pre-Service Music: ... “Lenten Prayer”...by Brian Glyncannon Ringing of the Church Bell
Please stand and face the cross as it passes by.
Processional Hymn... “Guide Me, O Thou Great Redeemer” ...LSB 918
Text and tune: Public domain
Welcome
T T T Divine Service, Setting Two T T T
P In the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen. Matthew 28:19b; [18:20]
P If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
C But if we confess our sins, God, who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins
and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
Silence for reflection on God’s Word and for self-examination.
P Let us then confess our sins to God our Father.
C Most merciful God, we confess that we are by nature sinful and unclean. 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. We justly deserve Your present and eternal punishment. 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 Almighty God in His mercy has given His Son to die for you and for His sake forgives you
all your sins. As a called and ordained servant of Christ, and by His authority, I therefore forgive you all your sins in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
[John 20:19-23]
C Amen.
T T T Service of the Word T T T
Introit Psalm 122:1–2, 6, 8; antiphon: Isaiah 66:10a, 11a
P Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her;
C that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast.
P I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
C Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem!
P Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! May they be secure who love you!
C For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, “Peace be within you!”
C [Glory be to the Father and to the T Son and to the Holy Spirit;]
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.
P Rejoice with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all you who love her;
C that you may nurse and be satisfied from her consoling breast.
Sit
Catechetical Recitation The Fourth Chief Part - The Sacrament of Holy Baptism
C Baptism is not just plain water, but it is the water included in God’s command
and combined with God’s word.
P Which is that word of God?
C Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Matthew: “Therefore go and make
disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
(Matthew 28:19)
P What benefits does Baptism give?
C It works forgiveness of sins, rescues from death and the devil, and gives
eternal salvation to all who believe this, as the words and promises of God declare.
P Which are these words and promises of God?
C Christ our Lord says in the last chapter of Mark: “Whoever believes and is
baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
(Mark 16:16)
P How can water do such great things?
C Certainly not just water, but the word of God in and with the water does these
things, along with the faith which trusts this word of God in the water. For without God’s word the water is plain water and no Baptism. But with the word of God it is a Baptism, that is, a life-giving water, rich in grace, and a washing of the new birth in the Holy Spirit, as St. Paul says in Titus, chapter three: “He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This
is a trustworthy saying.” (Titus 3:5–8)
P What does such baptizing with water indicate?
C It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance
be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new man should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever.
P Where is this written?
C St. Paul writes in Romans, chapter six: “We were therefore buried with Him
through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
(Romans 6:4)
P Almighty God, our heavenly Father, Your mercies are new every morning; and though we deserve only punishment, You receive us as Your children and provide for all our needs of body and soul. Grant that we may heartily acknowledge Your merciful goodness, give thanks for all Your benefits, and serve You in willing obedience; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Old Testament Reading Isaiah 49:8–13
8Thus says the LORD: “In a time of favor I have answered you; in a day of salvation I have helped you; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, to establish the land, to apportion the desolate heritages, 9saying to the prisoners, ‘Come out,’ to those who are in darkness, ‘Appear.’ They shall feed along the ways; on all bare heights shall be their pasture; 10they shall not hunger or thirst, neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them, for he who has pity on them will lead them, and by springs of water will guide them. 11And I will make all
my mountains a road, and my highways shall be raised up. 12Behold, these shall come from
afar, and behold, these from the north and from the west, and these from the land of Syene.” 13Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! for the
LORDhas comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.
L This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
Gradual Psalm 122:1, 7
P I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!” Peace be within your walls
and security within your towers!
Epistle Reading Galatians 4:21–31
21Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?22For it is written
that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave woman and one by a free woman. 23But the son of
the slave was born according to the flesh, while the son of the free woman was born through
promise. 24Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is
from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in
Arabia; she corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written,
“Rejoice, O barren one who does not bear; break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband.”
28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But just as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also it
is now.30But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the slave woman and her son, for the son
of the slave woman shall not inherit with the son of the free woman.”31So, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.
L This is the Word of the Lord. C Thanks be to God.
Stand
Alleluia and Verse (Lent) Joel 2:13
Holy Gospel John 6:1-15
P The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the sixth chapter.
1After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of
Tiberias. 2And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing
on the sick. 3Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. 4Now
the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?”10Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number.11Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed
them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted.12And when they had
lost.”13So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!”
15Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king,
Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
P This is the Gospel of the Lord.
Apostles’ Creed
C I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And 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 sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence 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 T life everlasting. Amen.
Sit.
5 Evil world, I leave thee; Thou canst not deceive me,
Thine appeal is vain. Sin that once did blind me, Get thee far behind me,
Come not forth again. Past thy hour, O pride and pow’r; Sinful life, thy bonds I sever, Leave thee now forever.
6 Hence, all fear and sadness! For the Lord of gladness,
Jesus, enters in.
Those who love the Father, Though the storms may gather,
Still have peace within. Yea, whate’er
I here must bear,
Thou art still my purest pleasure, Jesus, priceless treasure!
Text and tune: Public domain
Sermon
Stand
Sit
Offering ... “Aria”...by G. F. Handel
(Members and visitors are invited to record their attendance by completing the attendance form at the back of the bulletin. Please tear it off and drop it in the basket on your way out.) New member, please stand in your pew.
Reception of New Member by Transfer
P Beloved in the Lord, our Lord Jesus Christ said to His apostles: “Whoever confesses Me
before men, I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Lift up your hearts, therefore, to the God of all grace and joyfully give answer to what I now ask you in the name of the Lord.
P Do you this day in the presence of God and of this congregation acknowledge the gifts that
God gave you in your Baptism?
R Yes, I do.
P Do you renounce the devil and all his works and all his ways?
R Yes, I renounce them.
P Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, and in
the Holy Spirit?
R Yes, I believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
P Do you hold all the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God and
the doctrine of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, drawn from them and confessed in the Small Catechism, to be faithful and true?
R I do.
P Do you intend to hear the Word of God and receive the Lord’s Supper faithfully?
R I do, by the grace of God.
P Do you intend to live according to the Word of God, and in faith, word, and deed to remain
true to God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, even to death?
P Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?
R I do, by the grace of God.
P Do you desire to become a member of this congregation?
R I do.
P Will you support the work our gracious Lord has given this congregation with your prayers
and the gifts God has given you?
R I will, with the help of God.
P Upon this your confession of faith, I acknowledge publicly that you are a member of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church and of this congregation. Receive the Lord’s Supper and participate with us in all the blessings of salvation that our Lord has given to His Church, in the name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit.
C Amen.
P Let us pray.
Lord God, heavenly Father, we thank and praise You for Your great goodness in bringing these Your sons and daughters to the knowledge of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and enabling them both with the heart to believe and with the mouth to confess His saving name. Grant that by Your Word and Spirit they may continue steadfast in the one true faith in the fellowship of this congregation as together we await the day when all who have fought the good fight of faith shall receive the crown of righteousness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C Amen.
The rite concludes with the following blessing:
P The grace of our T Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
C Amen.
Stand
Prayer of the Church [1 Timothy 2:1-4]
(When prayed responsively, the congregation responds as follows. P ...Let us pray to the Lord: C Lord, have mercy. - or- P ...Lord, in Your mercy, C hear our prayer.)
In Hospice Care: Rose Marie Kilian; Lloyd Wessels. Hospitalized: Dean Alan Ahlschlager.
Undergoing Cancer Treatment: Lanice Oeltjen Bertsch-Hunger; Jean Davis; Frank Farr;
Kathy Jennings; Werner Koopmann; Lucas Lowe; Janet Leubner; Christine O’Connor; Roy Oden; Jack Parry; Nancy Pietsch; Artie Schultz; Erland Schulze; Patsy Smith; Dee Tegtmeier; Barbara Tieken; Phillip Tucker; Ralph Winkler.
Health and Other Concerns: Gladys Ahlschlager; Rebecca Aleman; Linda Almazan;
Joe Coufal; Bennie Daricek; Edna Ebner; Jennifer Freeman; Mike Hannusch; Frances Hentschel; Peggy Hunger; Carol Jurk; William Jurk; Wayne Koopmann; Junell Ladewig; Gladys Mach; Rick Meinecke; Elsie Michalk; Vastine Michalk; Glenda Midgett; Ruby Mikulin; Vivianna Mullins; Mary Neilsen; Robert Pavlik; Sandy Rials; Jana Rocker; Bill Sagebiel; Jan Schaefer; Joyce Schiwart; Travis Schiwart; Glenn Schneider; Christine Squallachi; William Trlica; Dolores Votaw; Junice Walters; Priscilla Wessels; Mike Wherry; Hannah Wilson (having surgery on 3/17); Laverne Wittmann.
Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9-13
P Lord, remember us in Your kingdom and teach us to pray:
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 T evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Benediction Numbers 6:24-26
Sit, but please stand when the cross passes by.
Announcements
Text and tune: Public domain
Postlude: ... “Postlude in C”...by Tomas de Santa Maria Acknowledgments
Divine Service, Setting Two from Lutheran Service Book
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2020 Concordia Publishing House.
Bulletin cover art © 2008 Ed Riojas
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PASTOR: ...Rev. Jason Kaspar DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: ... Laura Gillette ELDERS: ...Neal Lochte, Lee Teinert ACOLYTE:... Layla Pietsch LECTOR: ...Susie Polasek HEAD USHERS:...Glenn Altwein, Harold Streicher GREETERS:...Charles & Sylvia Hebert SOUND: ... Frank Wolf ALTAR GUILD:... Beverly Albers FINANCE: ...Garland & Stell Midgett
CHANCEL FLOWERS today are given to the glory of God by Linda Poncik in memory of her
late husband Joe’s birthday (3/18) and their wedding anniversary (3/11).
TODAY’S BROADCAST OF THE LUTHERAN HOUR over Radio Station KBUK (FM
104.9 on Sundays at 7:00 a.m.) is sponsored by the Men’s Club.
WELCOME to our new member, Kathy Fischer! OUR WORSHIP LAST WEEK:
Attendances: Weekly Offerings:
Sunday Worship: 84 Home Purposes: $ 9,843.42
Sunday Online: 20 Addtl. Online Giving: $ 1,190.00
Sun. Bible Class: 20 Missions: $ 80.00
No Wed. Bible Class Maint: $ 400.00 Construction: $ 400.00
Wed. Lenten Service: 39 Online: 20 CEF Loan Rebate: $ 719.07
SERVING NEXT SUNDAY:
Acolyte:...Everett Cook Lector: ...Gus Herbrich Elders: ...Neal Lochte, Lee Teinert Head Ushers: ... Ricky Dunk, Dennis Schnell Greeters: ... Jeanette Huelsebusch, Rosalie Moerbe Sound: ...Linda Streicher Altar Guild: ... Lee Herbrich Finance: ... Joan Miertschin, Geraldine Teinert THRIVENT 2020 CHOICE DOLLARS: The Thrivent Choice program encourages benefit
members to recommend where Thrivent Financial distributes an amount of its charitable grant funds. Members make this recommendation by directing Choice Dollars to enrolled nonprofit organizations, including churches and preschools. Choice Dollars can be directed periodically as they are accumulated, although it is important to remember that all your 2020 Choice
Dollars must be directed by March 31, 2021. Remember: Use It or you will Lose It. You can
direct your Choice Dollars online or by calling 1-800-847-4836 and ask for fraternal. For additional information or assistance, you may contact Nancy Lehmann at 968-3353.
DURING THE SEASON OF LENT, we will walk with people around the world afflicted by
war. displacement and poverty by collecting and assembling LWR PERSONAL CARE KITS. Items being collected include: dark colored light weight bath towels (size 20" x 40" or 27" x 52") – bath-size bars of soap in original wrapping -- adult size toothbrushes in original packaging, -- sturdy combs (no picks or fine-toothed combs) -- metal nail clippers. Cash is
also acceptable so items can be bought in bulk. Information and a collection basket
will be set up in the Narthex. For assistance and information, please contact the Lutheran World Relief Committee - Nancy Lehmann, Marilyn Spillane and Jeanette Huelsebusch.
REMINDER: Our narthex is small, so it isn’t possible to maintain social distancing for more
than a handful of people. Please remember to not congregate in the narthex before or after the service!
Join us Wednesday evenings (March 17th and 24th) at 6 PM for our LENTEN WORSHIP
SERVICES.
We are now taking orders for EASTER LILIES! They will be $11 each. Order forms can be found below or on the table in the narthex. The deadline to order is March 22nd.
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
Palm Sunday, Sunday, March 28th at 9:00 AM
Maundy Thursday Service, Thursday, April 1st, 6 PM (Stripping of the altar, Holy
Communion)
Good Friday Service, Friday, April 2, 6 PM (Tenebrae service)
Easter Vigil & Youth Confirmation Service (Holy Communion), Saturday, April 3rd, 6 PM
This Week At Mt. Calvary:
Sunday: Worship Service ... 9:00 a.m. Bible Class (Sanctuary) ...10:15 a.m. LYF Devotion & Meeting (Youth Room) ...10:15 a.m. Monday: Newsletter Deadline ... 10:00 a.m.
Wednesday: At Risk Communion Service (Sanctuary) ...10:00 a.m. Bible Class (Sanctuary) ...10:15 a.m. No Confirmation Class...
Lenten Service (Sanctuary)...6:00 p.m.
Thursday: Bulletin Deadline ... 9:00 a.m. Board of Finance Meeting (Multipurpose Room) ...5:30 p.m. Sunday: Worship Service with Communion... 9:00 a.m. Bible Class (Sanctuary) ...10:15 a.m.
The following people were in attendance at the March 14, 2021 worship service: ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ ______________________________ Check here if you are a visitor. If you would like a call or want more information about Mt. Calvary, please call the church office, or provide a phone number or email here:
