FOLLOWINGTHE LEAD OF JESUS
Lent is, first of all, about God baptizing us into a life of faithful discipleship. Lent attests to the power of the cross through word and water, bread and wine to conform the lives of God’s people to the image of Christ. Lent prepares us and leads us to the life-giving cross which ends not in death but resurrection. The tone of this Lenten order of worship—in the midst of its call to turn, repent, and be cleansed of sin— is one of promise and hope. Sunday after Sunday the Scripture Readings reflect God’s promises. These promises are centered in the fact that God sends Jesus not to condemn the world but to invite, seek, heal, and raise those entombed in tradition, culture, sickness, and death. Over and over we will see, hear, touch, and taste, how the impossible difficulties of sin are met with the promise of God’s saving action.
CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
WE REMEMBER OUR BAPTISMS, CONFESS OUR FAITHLESSNESS,
AND HEAR GOD’S FAITHFUL PROMISE OF FORGIVENESS
Pastor: Let us return to our gracious and merciful God,
remembering God’s life-giving promises declared at our baptisms,
and confessing our need for God’s continual healing.
Ever-loving God,
People: through the gift of baptism
you give new birth to your children
by water and the Spirit.
Yet we seem to remember only that we
come from dust and return to dust.
We forget that we are also born from grace.
We prefer to hide in our darkness,
rather than receive your gracious light and life.
We thirst for all those things and desires that can never satisfy.
We are blind to all the ways you invite us to come and see your goodness.
We wander from your promises and
find ourselves entombed in the ways of death.
We use your gifts to our own ends,
are reluctant to share these gifts with others,
and treat the gifts of your creation with carelessness.
Turn us again, O God.
Renew us.
Forgive us our sin,
and gather us again into your abundant life.
Pastor: A world cut off from God can never hope to be a place of life.
But God is not cut off from us.
God so loved the world that having sent the Son, Jesus,
we are gathered into God’s embrace of forgiveness and abundant
life.
We are reconciled to God.
Once lost, we are now found.
Once dead in sin we are now alive.
For the sake of Jesus Christ,
I declare to you the good news that
grace, mercy, forgiveness, and peace are yours.
People: Amen.
GATHERING
WE RESPOND TO GOD’S CALL WITH PRAISE AND PRAYER,
AND PREPARE TO HEAR GOD’S WORD OF LIFE
GREETING
Pastor: From our God who loves us with an everlasting love
who brings forth a new creation in Christ,
who leads us by the Spirit in the wilderness,
grace, love and abundant peace be with you all.
People: And also with you
KYRIE [click on the link below] https://youtu.be/b8WdyJHLUgg
Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy,
Christe eleison Christ have mercy
Kyrie eleison Lord have mercy
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: The Lord be with you.
People: And also with you.
Pastor: Let us pray:
People: Bend your ear to our prayers, Lord Christ, and come among us. By your gracious life and death for us bring light into the darkness of our hearts, and anoint us with your Spirit, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
WORD
THE CHURCH HEARS THE GOOD NEWS OF GOD ACTING
IN THIS AND EVERY TIME AND PLACE
FIRST READING
1 Samuel 16:1-13
The Lord said to Samuel, ‘How long will you grieve over Saul? I have rejected him from being king over Israel. Fill your horn with oil and set out; I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.’ Samuel said, ‘How can I go? If Saul hears of it, he will kill me.’ And the Lord said, ‘Take a heifer with you, and say, “I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.” Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one whom I name to you.’ Samuel did what the Lord commanded, and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, ‘Do you come peaceably?’ He said, ‘Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord; sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.’ And he sanctified Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.
When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, ‘Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.’ But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.’ Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. He said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, ‘Neither has the Lord chosen this one.’ Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel, and Samuel said to Jesse, ‘The Lord has not chosen any of these.’ Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Are all your sons here?’ And he said, ‘There remains yet the youngest, but he is keeping the sheep.’ And Samuel said to Jesse, ‘Send and bring him; for we will not sit down until he comes here.’ He sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and had beautiful eyes, and was handsome. The Lord said, ‘Rise and anoint him; for this is the one.’ Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the presence of his brothers; and the spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. Samuel then set out and went to Ramah.
SECOND READING
Ephesians 5:8-14
For once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of light— for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true. Try to find out what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what such people do secretly; but everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
‘Sleeper, awake!
Rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.’
THE GOSPEL
Pastor: The Holy Gospel according to St. John, the ninh chapter.
People: Glory to you, O Lord.
John 9:1-41 As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work. As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.’ When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes, saying to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see. The neighbours and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, ‘Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?’ Some were saying, ‘It is he.’ Others were saying, ‘No, but it is someone like him.’ He kept saying, ‘I am the man.’ But they kept asking him, ‘Then how were your eyes opened?’ He answered, ‘The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, “Go to Siloam and wash.” Then I went and washed and received my sight.’ They said to him, ‘Where is he?’ He said, ‘I do not know.’
They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind. Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, ‘He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.’ Some of the Pharisees said, ‘This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.’ But others said, ‘How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?’ And they were divided. So they said again to the blind man, ‘What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.’ He said, ‘He is a prophet.’
The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight and asked them, ‘Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?’ His parents answered, ‘We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.’ His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. Therefore his parents said, ‘He is of age; ask him.’
So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, ‘Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.’ He answered, ‘I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.’ They said to him, ‘What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?’ He answered them, ‘I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?’ Then they reviled him, saying, ‘You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.’ The man answered, ‘Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will. Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind. If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.’ They answered him, ‘You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?’ And they drove him out.
Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, ‘Do you believe in the Son of Man?’ He answered, ‘And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.’ Jesus said to him, ‘You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.’ He said, ‘Lord, I believe.’ And he worshipped him. Jesus said, ‘I came into this world for judgement so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.’ Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, ‘Surely we are not blind, are we?’ Jesus said to them, ‘If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, “We see”, your sin remains.
Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord.
People: Praise to you, O Christ.
SERMON
[click on the link below]
HYMN OF THE DAY
“Lead Me, Guide Me”
[click on the link below]
Verse 1: I AM WEAK AND I NEED THY STRENGTH AND POWER
TO HELP ME O-VER MY WEAKEST HOUR
LEAD ME THROUGH THE DARKNESS THY FACE TO SEE
LEAD ME OH LORD LEAD ME
Chorus
Lead me, guide me along the way,
For if you lead me I cannot stray.
Lord let me walk each day with Thee.
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.
Verse 2: Help me tread in the paths of righteousness.
Be my aid when Satan and sin oppress. I am putting all my trust in Thee:
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.
Chorus
Verse 3.I am lost if you take your hand from me,
I am blind without Thy light to see.
Lord just always to me thy servant be,
Lead me, oh Lord lead me.
Chorus
APOSTLES’ CREED
Pastor: Let us confess our faith in the words of the Apostles’ Creed.
All: I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s 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 to the dead.
On the third day he rose again;
he ascended into heaven,
he is seated at the right hand of the Father,
and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic Church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
TODAY IN OUR PRAYERS
Bill, Carol, Curtis, and Christine Buchkowsky, Teri Peterson, Wayne Turner, Janet Gregory, Marge McMillan, Kyrie Parimi, Doris Turner, Hilda Anderson, Linda Wolfe, Naomi, Bev Gregory, Dale Robinson, Audrey Hedlin, Mona Neher, Oma Ywo, Owen Peterson, Helga Halldorsdottir, Evaline Sanders, Wayne Andre, Pat Sarich, Lauren and Brandon Pelletier and baby Grace, Cari Schappert, the family of Norm Gregory, the family of baby Mavrick Gallant (Bev Gregory’s great-grandson), the family of Katherine Meger (Joshua Bratvold’s great grandmother), the family of Lois Jenkins (Ann Salmon’s mother), the family of John Beaven (Bev Gregory’s brother), and the family of Carl Rausch.
We remember the missing and murdered indigenous women in Canada, the children and people buried in unmarked graves at residential schools and First Nation lands, and all those who have suffered the trauma of residential schools, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the people of Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, South Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Venezuela, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, the Palestinians and Israelis, Ethiopia and Tigray, Myanmar and the Rohingya Muslim refugees, Lebanon, all at the Mexico/United States border seeking refuge, the 100 million refugees and displaced persons, the people of Haiti suffering from political disasters, the victims and communities in Turkey and Syria devastated by earthquake, the people of Malawi and Mozambique recovering from a cyclone and flooding, the victims and families of the train crash in Greece, the victims of the mass shooting in Hamburg, Germany, the victims, families and community of Amqui, Quebec, tragically run down, the police officers killed in Edmonton and their families, those in the United States, Canada, and throughout the world caught up in racism and injustice and the resulting violence, and those throughout the world, in Canada, in our province, and in our community still threatened by the coronavirus and the many omicron variants.
THE PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE OF FAITH
[The congregational response after each petition is: “ GRANT US YOUR PEACE.”]
Pastor: As we journey with Jesus to the cross, the tree of life, witnessing to the transformation of life that comes with faith, repentance and forgiveness, let us pray for the renewal of the Church and the restoration of the whole world to the life of God, saying, “O God, in your compassion” and responding, “Grant us your peace.”
Petitioner: Merciful God, help us to see how we are blind to our own greed, our own self-indulgence, and our own pessimism. Through your Word and Spirit heal us of our blindness, open our eyes to see the truth of who we are: your forgiven daughters and sons. Transform us into people who see that the love of Christ gives life to all. O God, in your compassion …
Petitioner: God of wisdom, our blindness to your grace and love has led to resentment where we have built walls, anger where we have shut down communication, sins are stacked up, we pray for your forgiveness and enlightenment for the families of this congregation and all families, that trusting in your care, they make their homes, workplaces, and communities places of welcome, forgiveness, and nurture. Help us to see a future of hope and start anew. O God, in your compassion …
Petitioner: Righteous God, provide the light of Christ to the leaders and peoples of the world that they may have insight to end the darkness of power plays, destructive values, and injustice until all people live in peace and unity. Turn hostility into hospitality for all peoples, bring aid and care to the hungry, poor, and oppressed, so that mercy, peace, and justice might reach to the ends of the earth. O God, in your compassion …
Pastor: Comforting God, your grace enlightens all whose hearts are steeped in darkness and you supply every human need. Give the insight of your love to all who are blinded by doubt, despair, illness, conflict, loss, and grief. We remember especially before you …. Heal them with your Word of comfort , assurance, and hope. O God, in your compassion…
Petitioner: God of new life, with the lengthening of light in these days help us who are blinded by consumption and the abuse of your creation to see the receding polar caps, the disappearing glaciers, polluted waterways and garbage-filled oceans, the shrinking rain forests and species on the verge of extinction. Let the changing of the seasons bring forth growth and new life. Renew us, that we might renew your creation and bear witness to your love for all that is yours. O God, in your compassion …
Petitioner: Praiseworthy God, through the cross of Christ lift us up so that we might live in joy and peace. Put an end to our childish tantrums of anger and selfishness, give us the courage to show forgiveness to all living under the pressures of judgment and condemnation, and lead us to practice works of love. O God, in your compassion …
Petitioner: Praiseworthy God, renew your people through our baptism when we seem to be drowning in complacency, fear, doubt, and sin. Shower us with your promises, assure us, give us faith, may the decisions and elections made at our Annual Meeting be a calling to us to follow your will. Deepen our care for one another as we reach out to those who are absent or experiencing difficult circumstances. Empower us to be your light, salt, and the body of Christ in this community. O God, in your compassion …
Petitioner: Sustaining God, plant your Word in our hearts, breathe new life into the ministries of this congregation, so that in its power and love, our love may not grow cold in your service, nor that we may be tempted to fail, deny, or leave you, but in faith, cling to the cross and its way to life. O God, in your compassion …
Pastor: Gracious God, hear us as we pray. As you have made us and redeemed us, so now sustain us with your hope, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
People: Amen.
THANKSGIVING
THE COMMUNITY PRAISES GOD FOR THE GRACIOUS GIFTS OF CREATION
AND THE SAVING DEEDS OF JESUS CHRIST
THE GREETING AND SHARING OF PEACE
Pastor: Sisters and brothers, rejoice, encourage one another, live in peace.
God through Christ has given us the gift of reconciliation.
People: Therefore, let us be reconciled to God and to one another.
Pastor: The peace of the Christ be with you always.
People: And also with you.
(If with others greet one another with a gesture of peace, using these or similar words: “Christ’s peace be with you.”)
THE OFFERING
(We worship God with the offering of our selves, our time, our talents, and our possessions.)
OFFERTORY SONG
“Create In Me”
[click on the link below]
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
Let me be like you in all my ways.
Give me your strength,
Teach me your song,
Shelter me in the shadow of your wings.
For we are your righteousness.
If we die to ourselves and live through your death,
We shall be born again to be blessed in your love.
OFFERTORY PRAYER
Pastor: Let us pray.
God our abundant Giver,
People: you provide us with every gift of creation,
and you quench our thirst with living water.
You have not fed us with bread alone,
but with words of grace and life.
Receive these tokens of your goodness to us.
May our lives be bread for the hungry
and streams in the wilderness,
signs of the abundance of your grace
in Jesus Christ. Amen.
THE LORD’S PRAYER
Pastor: Lord, remember us in your kingdom, and teach us to pray:
People: 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.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
SENDING
ALL RECEIVE THE BLESSING OF GOD, LEAVE IN PEACE,
AND ARE SENT OUT TO SERVE
BENEDICTION
Pastor: God give you the strength to raise up the cross of Christ,
wisdom to follow in the cross of Christ,
and the guidance of the Spirit to carry the cross of Christ
into our world.
People: Amen.
CLOSING HYMN
“Be Thou My Vision”
[click on the link below]
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart; Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art. Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word; I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord; Thou my great Father, I Thy true son; Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always: Thou and Thou only, first in my heart, High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won, May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun! Heart of my own heart, whatever befall, Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
DISMISSAL
Pastor: Reconciled to God through the life-giving cross of Christ,
let us go out into the world in peace..
People: Thanks be to God.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
TODAY AT KOG
Annual General Meeting. Potluck at 5:00 p.m. Meeting at 5:30, Worship at 7:00
THIS WEEK AT KOG – Thursday, March 23, Bev Gregory is hosting (154 Arrand Crescent) quilt-making bees every Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. – Thursday, March 23, meeting with St. David’s/Trinity to discuss joint worship services, 7:00 at St. David’s – Saturday, March 25, Men’s Breakfast Out at Mulberry’s Restaurant 2326 B Millar Avenue, 8:30 a.m.
COMING UP AT KOG – Wednesday, March 29, Women’s Breakfast Out, at Mulberry’s Restaurant 2326 B Millar Avenue, 10:00 a.m. – Thursday, March 30, Church Council meeting via Zoom, 7:30 p.m. – Sunday, April 2, Coffee Social after the service. Hosted by Karen Larson. – Thursday, April 6, Bible Study, “A Short History of Grace,” 7:30 p.m. Hosted by Karen Larson. We meet in Pastor Michael’s home, 1010 Duke Street.
February, March, and Year-to-Date Budget and Contribution Report for KOG
2023 Budget: $50,471 Monthly Budget: $4,260 Weekly Budget: $971
2023 income/expenses: $4,479.08
January income/expenses: -4,453.08
Weekly contributions for February: February 5: $13,050 February 12: $250
February 19 and 26: $140
Weekly contributions for March: March 5: $740
“A Short History of Grace”. This Bible and theology study looks at the ways grace is interpreted from the time of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament, through St. Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther and to contemporary theologies of liberation.
Emergency Appeal – Earthquake in Türkiye and Syria: Canadian Lutheran World Relief (CLWR), along with other leading Canadian aid agencies in the Humanitarian Coalition, is appealing for funds to assist those in need in Turkey and Syria affected by the earthquake and to support rescue efforts. Our focus right now is to provide blankets, shelter, life-saving clean water, food and healthcare. Please give what you can by donating at clwr.org/earthquake or by calling 1-800-661-2597 (office hours Mon-Fri, 9 am-4 pm), and pray for all those who are affected.
LENTEN SCHEDULE
Week #4 (March 22) Good Shepherd Zion7:30 PM
Week #5 (March 29) Redeemer Resurrection7:30 PM
Offerings.
(Please no cash for mail security reasons)
Send your contributions to: King of Glory Lutheran Church
3318 Merritt Street
Saskatoon, SK S7M 3P6
Thank you for your generosity.
King of Glory Lutheran Church 