Mar. 23, THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT- OCULI

 

A PRAYER OF PREPARATION:  O Lord, our Creator, Redeemer, and Comforter, as we come together to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth, we humbly pray that you may open our hearts to the preaching of your Word, so that we may repent of our sins, believe in Jesus Christ as our only Savior, and grow in grace and holiness.  Hear us for his sake.  Amen.   VISITORS…we are glad to have you with us.  If you desire a call from Pastor Suehring please contact him at 715-851-1151.    

 

The Gospel is also the basis for the Lord’s Supper, which we celebrate again today.  In this Sacrament, Christ Jesus is truly present with his body and blood for the forgiveness of our sins.  In joyful obedience to the teachings of the Scriptures, St. John, and the congregations of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod practice “closed communion” with those who share our outward confession of the faith.  We ask guests who wish to commune to speak with the pastor before the service.

 

Order of Service – pg. 184 LSB  

       

HYMNS: 758, 663, 624, 644, 819

       

Scripture Lesson:

First Reading: Exodus 8:16-24, “The Third Plague: Gnats”

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 4:32-5:9, “Walk in Love”

Gospel: Luke 11:14-28, “Jesus and Beelzebul”

THIS WEEK AT ST. JOHN

MONDAY:  Choir 5 pm

WEDNESDAY: Bible Study 9:30 am

            Communion Service 5 pm St. John, Tigerton

            Lenten Service 6:30 pm at Immanuel, Caroline

SUNDAY (3/30): Communion Service at St. John, Caroline 7:30 am

             Communion Service at St. John, Tigerton 9:00 am

                          Sunday School 10:00-11:00 pm

Communion Service Immanuel 10:30 am

 

Prayers for strength and healing for Amber Selle, Dale Selle Sr., LeRae Tratz, Cindy Polley, Rita Hohn, Angie Steinbach, Maggie Huss, Carol Fuhrman, Judy Smith, Tom Natzke, Mike Kielblock, Joyce Krolow, Karen Jensen, Sandy Vollmer, Diane Koepke, Daniel Pingel, Marilyn Koepke, Don Wolff, Leah Lehman, Tina Stenson, Keith Alft Sr., Kathy Hintz, Clarence Natzke, Bentley Koepke, Tully Tauferner, Sharon Dedolph, and Judy Schroeder.  Pray for all who are in nursing homes or shut-ins. NOTE: If there are any names you wish to have added or taken off, please let Sarah know.  ALSO: If any of our members are in the hospital, please let Pastor know.  Hospitals no longer notify us.  Thanks.

 

Wanta Floral is offering a special on Easter flowers again this year.  If you would like to purchase some, take a slip from the bulletin board, and fill out the information and return to Jon or Sarah by April 4th. Thank you!

 

We will be having a fish fry on April 11, from 4-7pm in the fellowship hall.  Menu is battered, breaded, poor man lobster, or chicken nuggets with cole slaw, rye bread, dessert, and choice of potato.  For more info check the bulletin board in the Narthex. Sign up sheets are in the Narthex for donations.

 

Easter Cards are available in the Narthex for purchase.
 

Att. Last week: Wed. 82 Comm. 54       Sun. 62 Comm. 49 

 

St. Paul Lutheran Church, Birnamwood will be holding the Zone 12 Spring Rally on Saturday, April 26.  For more info check the bulletin board in the Narthex. 

 

VBS is being planned for July. They are asking the congregation to donate towards making it happen.  The goal is $1500 and that would include buying the program, supplies, and feeding the families dinner four nights.  Donations can be dropped in the offering plate labeled VBS. Any questions contact Amber Selle or Amanda Hunholz.

 

LIFE THOUGHTS FROM LUTHERANS FOR LIFE - The heart of Christianity is proclaiming Gospel promises courageously. Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 26:8) follows the lead of Jesus Himself in speaking of God’s truth and Christ’s love even when unpopular. They believe their lives—and everyone else’s—belong in the Heavenly Father’s hands above all. Gospelmotivated voices For Life, take note: surely the Lord has sent you to speak it (Jeremiah 26:15), without accommodation or compromise!

 

Sign up for soup suppers are in the Narthex!

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Third Sunday in Lent- Oculi

 

Introit: Psalm 25:15-16, 1-2, 17-18, 20- Speak responsively

 

My eyes are ever toward the Lord, for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

O my God, in you I trust, let me not be put to shame; let not my enemies exult over me.

The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses.

Consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins.

Oh, guard my soul and deliver me!

Let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.

 

The Gloria in Excelsis is omitted during the season of Lent

 

Collect of the Day 

 

O God, whose glory it is always to have mercy, be gracious to all who have gone astray from Your ways, and bring them again with penitent hearts and steadfast faith to embrace and hold fast the unchangeable truth of Your Word; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God now and forever. Amen.

 

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 8:16-24

 

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Say to Aaron, ‘Stretch out your staff and strike the dust of the earth, so that it may become gnats in all the land of Egypt.’” 17 And they did so. Aaron stretched out his hand with his staff and struck the dust of the earth, and there were gnats on man and beast. All the dust of the earth became gnats in all the land of Egypt. 18 The magicians tried by their secret arts to produce gnats, but they could not. So there were gnats on man and beast. 19 Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh's heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the Lord had said. 20 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh, as he goes out to the water, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Let my people go, that they may serve me. 21 Or else, if you will not let my people go, behold, I will send swarms of flies on you and your servants and your people, and into your houses. And the houses of the Egyptians shall be filled with swarms of flies, and also the ground on which they stand. 22 But on that day I will set apart the land of Goshen, where my people dwell, so that no swarms of flies shall be there, that you may know that I am the Lord in the midst of the earth.23 Thus I will put a division between my people and your people. Tomorrow this sign shall happen.” 24 And the Lord did so. There came great swarms of flies into the house of Pharaoh and into his servants' houses. Throughout all the land of Egypt the land was ruined by the swarms of flies.

 

Gradual: Psalm 9:19, 3- Speak responsively

 

Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!

When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence.

 

Epistle Reading: Ephesians 4:32–5:9

 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 5:1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true).

 

Tract: Psalm 123:1-3a- Speak responsively

 

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, so our eyes look to the Lord our God until he has mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us.

 

Gospel Reading: Luke 11:14-28

 

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons,” 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. 19 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. 20 But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 21 When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his goods are safe; 22 but when one stronger than he attacks him and overcomes him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his spoil. 23 Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters. 24 “When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and finding none it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ 25 And when it comes, it finds the house swept and put in order. 26 Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there. And the last state of that person is worse than the first.” 27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”