Love Is The Law's Interpreter
Since then all law exists to promote love, law must soon cease where it is in conflict with love.
BY MARTIN LUTHER
““One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things.””
Faith is here set forth in that this man, sick with the dropsy, looks to Christ and firmly believes he will help him. This faith he had as the result of his previous acquaintance with Jesus. He knows him as a kind, friendly and sympathetic man who always helps everyone and lets none go away uncomforted. Had he not heard such reports about the Lord he would not have followed him, even into the house. He must indeed have had some gospel knowledge and believed the wonderful things spoken about him...............
Put Your Money to Work
And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home. (Luk 16:9)
I recall a conversation long ago with a young, up-and-coming entrepreneur. He was a new member of the parish I was serving (Anglican). We had been speaking about stewardship – money. His comment to me was straightforward: “You make it sound like a man can buy his way into the Kingdom of God.” My answer was equally clear: “Yes, you can. But the price might be everything you have.” That was many years ago, but my thoughts have not changed. In fact, time has only confirmed their truth......
Questioning God's Wisdom - With Friends Like These - Book of Job
With Friends like these of Job's, who needs enemies. But who are we, are we the friends or Job?
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SERVICE OF HOLY COMMUNION
Questioning God’s Wisdom: With Friends Like These
March 19, 2017
Grace Lutheran Church
555 SW Cashmere Blvd.
Port St. Lucie, FL 34986-2034
Office: 772-871-6599
Pastor Cris Escher
Email: crisescher@gmail.com
Phone: (770)328-5078
We are so happy that you are here with us today. Our desire is to be like another home for you. We encourage you to register your name on the fellowship pad which you will find at the end of the row where you are sitting. If you are new to Grace or to the area and are looking for a church home, we hope you will consider joining our family here at Grace. A Fellowship Hour is held after the Worship Service, and we invite you to stay for a few minutes so we can get acquainted.
THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY COMMUNION is celebrated in our Worship Service today. This meal is for Christ Followers who recognize their sinfulness and their need for Christ’s forgiveness and strength, and desire to live a new life in Christ. We receive this meal recognizing the presence of Christ in, with, and under the bread and the wine. Children who have not been instructed in the meaning of the Sacrament may come to the Lord’s Table with their parents for a blessing, but are asked to fold their arms across their chests to indicate they are to receive a blessing. All those who commune are asked to indicate their participation by marking the appropriate column in the Red Attendance Books as they are passed at the beginning of the Worship Service.
IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE SACRAMENT, the wine is made available in both the individual glasses and the common cup. Following the distribution of the bread, the individual cups will be offered. Then the common cup will be offered to those who do not have an individual cup in their hand. The acolyte will then gather the individual glasses. For those who have an intolerance to wine, grape juice is lighter colored in the individual communion glasses. Those who find it difficult to walk to the altar can be communed in the pew. Please inform the usher of your need.
ATTENDANCE BOOKS PLEASE BE SURE TO PASS ALONG THE RED ATTENDANCE BOOKS IN YOUR ROW AND ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO SIGN IT. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MINISTRY OF CARE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Questioning God’s Wisdom: The Book of Job
One of the Bible’s greatest wisdom books is the book of Job, but this book can be like trying to pick up sand. We know there is something there, but it just keeps slipping between our fingers. We all suffer—personally and privately. We also suffer in more public ways: a husband loses a job, a child gets divorced, a parent dies. And now, thanks to the media, we can see and experience more and more of the world’s catastrophes and suffering any time of the day. Let’s look and see what Job learns as he Questions God’s Wisdom.
Today: With Friends Like these, who needs enemies? Today we look at Job's friends and see how we might not actually be Job in the story but his terrible friends.
(Asterisks (**) indicate that the People stand)
** THE OPENING HYMN “The Lord is My Salvation”
The grace of God has reached for me, and pulled me from the raging sea.
And I am safe on this solid ground: The Lord is my salvation.
I will not fear when darkness falls, His strength will help me scale these walls.
I’ll see the dawn of the rising sun: The Lord is my salvation.
Refrain
Who is like the Lord our God? Strong to save, faithful in love.
My debt is paid and the victory won, the Lord is my salvation.
My hope is hidden in the Lord, He flow’rs each promise of His Word.
When winter fades, I know spring will come: The Lord is my salvation.
In times of waiting , times of need. When I know loss, when I am week.
I know His grace will renew these days: The Lord is my salvation. (Refrain)
And when I reach the final day, He will not leave me in the grave,
But I will rise Christ will call me home: The Lord is my salvation. (Refrain)
** THE INVOCATION AND CALL TO WORSHIP
Pastor: We believe that Jesus died on the tree of the cross to give us a living hope.
People: We flee to no other refuge,
Pastor: We wash in no other fountain,
People: We build on no other foundation,
Pastor: Nor do we listen to any other voice.
People: Enable us in our pain and disappointment, to find joy in our Savior.
Pastor: Our Lord is too wise to error and too tender to crush us
People: And too merciful to cast us away from His presence.
** THE PASSING OF THE PEACE
Pastor: The peace of the Lord be with you all.
PEOPLE: AND ALSO WITH YOU.
(We greet one another with the handshake of peace and with the words
“The Peace of the Lord be with you.”)
** THE HYMN OF PRAISE “A Simple Word of Grace”
A simple word of grace is all I need,
Flowing from a cross, a cross for me.
A gentle word of love is all I need,
Flowing from a cross, a cross for me. (REFRAIN)
REFRAIN
JESUS, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME
ALL OF YOUR GRACE SO TENDERLY
I LIFT MY HANDS AND PRAISE YOUR NAME
JESUS, YOU HAVE GIVEN ME.
ALL OF YOUR LOVE SO TENDERLY
I LIFT MY HEART INTO YOUR HANDS.
THE CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
During Confession we take time to slow down and realize how we have lost God’s Great Story of goodness. We have served ourselves and our interests above God.
(Take a moment of silent reflection upon our need for God’s forgiveness)
Pastor: O Almighty God,
PEOPLE: WE CONFESS THAT WE HAVE SINNED AGAINST YOU IN OUR THOUGHTS, OUR WORDS, AND OUR ACTIONS. YOU HAVE GIVEN US ALL THE THINGS WE NEED IN THIS LIFE, YET WE DEMAND MORE AND WASTE WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN TO US. WE HAVE TAKEN CREDIT FOR YOUR GIFTS AND BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES. WE ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS. FOR OUR SELF-SERVING ACTIONS AGAINST YOU AND OUR NEIGHBORS. FOR THE SAKE OF JESUS CHRIST HAVE MERCY ON US AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS. AMEN.
Pastor: The Story of Jesus………..As your pastor called to this place, God has indeed heard your prayer and in the name and by the command of Jesus Christ Himself, it is my great privilege to announce to you all, your sins are forgiven, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
PEOPLE: AMEN.
** THE PRAYER OF THE DAY
Pastor: Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we adore You and worship You, for You saw us in our wretched state and sent Christ Jesus to die upon Calvary’s tree so that we might have hope—hope today and hope forever; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
PEOPLE: AMEN.
THE FIRST LESSON Job 19:1-29
Literally, a redeemer “buys back” something that was taken away. In the Old Testament, kinsmen-redeemers are men who buy their relatives out of slavery, buy family property back from creditors, or marry their brothers’ widows to save the women from destitution. |
Then Job answered and said:
“How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?
These ten times you have cast reproach upon me;
are you not ashamed to wrong me?
And even if it be true that I have erred,
my error remains with myself.
If indeed you magnify yourselves against me
and make my disgrace an argument against me,
know then that God has put me in the wrong
and closed his net about me.
Behold, I cry out, ‘Violence!’ but I am not answered;
I call for help, but there is no justice.
He has walled up my way, so that I cannot pass,
and he has set darkness upon my paths.
He has stripped from me my glory
and taken the crown from my head.
He breaks me down on every side, and I am gone,
and my hope has he pulled up like a tree.
He has kindled his wrath against me
and counts me as his adversary.
His troops come on together;
they have cast up their siege ramp[a] against me
and encamp around my tent.
“He has put my brothers far from me,
and those who knew me are wholly estranged from me.
My relatives have failed me,
my close friends have forgotten me.
The guests in my house and my maidservants count me as a stranger;
I have become a foreigner in their eyes.
I call to my servant, but he gives me no answer;
I must plead with him with my mouth for mercy.
My breath is strange to my wife,
and I am a stench to the children of my own mother.
Even young children despise me;
when I rise they talk against me.
All my intimate friends abhor me,
and those whom I loved have turned against me.
My bones stick to my skin and to my flesh,
and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth.
Have mercy on me, have mercy on me, O you my friends,
for the hand of God has touched me!
Why do you, like God, pursue me?
Why are you not satisfied with my flesh?
“Oh that my words were written!
Oh that they were inscribed in a book!
Oh that with an iron pen and lead
they were engraved in the rock forever!
For I know that my Redeemer lives,
and at the last he will stand upon the earth.[b]
And after my skin has been thus destroyed,
yet in[c] my flesh I shall see God,
whom I shall see for myself,
and my eyes shall behold, and not another.
My heart faints within me!
If you say, ‘How we will pursue him!’
and, ‘The root of the matter is found in him,’[d]
be afraid of the sword,
for wrath brings the punishment of the sword,
that you may know there is a judgment.”
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
PEOPLE: THANKS BE TO GOD.
THE SECOND LESSON 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5
Paul brings the situation to life for them: on one side, the rebellious one opposes God by corrupting God’s world, telling lies, and instigating fear; but on the other side, there’s Jesus, who comes from above and rains mercy over the world with His blood |
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.
Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored,[b] as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
Reader: This is the Word of the Lord.
PEOPLE: THANKS BE TO GOD.
“Return to the Lord”
Re-turn to the Lord, your God,
for He is gracious and merci-ful
slow to anger,
and abounding in steadfast love,
and abounding in steadfast love.
** THE HOLY GOSPEL Matthew 25:1-13
Jesus provides a picture of the coming reality of the kingdom of heaven. He gives them another image of the same reality to bring the picture into focus. Once they were bridesmaids waiting for their bridegroom; now they are slaves waiting for their Master. |
“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.
Pastor: The Gospel of the Lord
PEOPLE: PRAISE TO YOU, O CHRIST.
“Holy Lamb of God” Worship Team Only
** THE APOSTLES’ CREED
SERMON HYMN “Oh How He Loves You and Me ” Worship Team Only
THE SERMON Pastor Cris Escher
Questioning God’s Wisdom: With Friends Like These
** THE OFFERTORY
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit with-in me.
Cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your free Spirit.
** THE PRAYERS OF THE CHURCH
(After each petition)
Pastor: . . . Lord, in your mercy,
PEOPLE: HEAR OUR PRAYER.
** THE LORD’S PRAYER
THE ORDER OF HOLY COMMUNION
Pastor: In broken bread and the cup that we share,
PEOPLE: WE REMEMBER YOU, O LORD.
Pastor: In broken bread and the cup that we share,
PEOPLE: WE RECEIVE YOUR FORGIVENESS, O LORD.
Pastor: In broken bread and the cup that we share,
PEOPLE: WE RECEIVE THE TRUE BODY AND BLOOD OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST.
Pastor: Come to us now, O Lord, in this bread and cup, that we may taste once again of Your grace and mercy. Strengthen and renew us for service in Your kingdom, that we may show forth Your glory in all the world.
** THE WORDS OF INSTITUTION
THE DISTRIBUTION HYMNS
“Behold the Lamb”
Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away, slain for us—and we remember
The promise made that all who come in faith find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this bread of life and we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bond of peace around the table of our King.
The body of our Savior Jesus Christ, torn for you, eat and remember;
The wounds that heal the death that brings us life paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this bread of life and we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bond of love around the table of our King.
The blood that cleanses every stain of sin, shed for you- drink and remember
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in to receive the life of God.
So we share in this bread of life and we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bond of grace around the table of our King.
And so with thankfulness and faith we rise to respond- and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ as His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering, we proclaim Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven around the table of our King.
“Blessed Assurance ”
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.
(CHORUS)
THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG,
PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG;
THIS IS MY STORY, THIS IS MY SONG,
PRAISING MY SAVIOR ALL THE DAY LONG.
Perfect submission, perfect delight!
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. (CHORUS)
Perfect submission, all is at rest,
I in my Savior am happy and blest;
Watching and waiting, looking above,
Filled with His goodness, lost in His love. (CHORUS)
“As the Deer”
As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after Thee.
You alone are my heart’s desire, and I long to worship Thee.
REFRAIN
YOU ALONE ARE MY STRENGTH, MY SHIELD;
TO YOU ALONE MAY MY SPIRIT YIELD.
YOU ALONE ARE MY HEART’S DESIRE,
AND I LONG TO WORSHIP THEE.
You’re my friend and You are my brother even though You are a King.
I love You more than any other, so much more than anything. (REFRAIN)
I want You more than gold or silver, only You can satisfy.
You alone are the real joy giver and the apple of my eye. (REFRAIN)
** THE BLESSING
Pastor: May God be with you and bless you, even when the world and all those around you are tearing you down. May you know that the Lord is our Redeemer and that our Redeemer lives. So go into that world bringing hope of the alive Redeemer to everyone you meet.
PEOPLE: AMEN.
** THE CLOSING HYMN “On What Has Now Been Sown”
On what has now been sown Your blessing, Lord, bestow;
The pow’r is Yours alone to make it sprout and grow.
O Lord, in grace the harvest raise, and Yours alone shall be the praise!
To You our wants are known, from You are all our pow’rs;
Accept what is Your own, and pardon what is ours.
Our praises, Lord, and prayers receive, and to Your word a blessing give.
Oh, grant that each of us, now met before you here,
May meet together thus when You and Yours appear,
And follow You to heav’n, our home. E’en so, amen! Lord Jesus, come!
Pastor: Go in peace. Serve the Lord.
PEOPLE: THANKS BE TO GOD.
Today March 19, 2017
Bible Study and Sunday School 8:45 am
Worship 10:00 am
Grace Quarterly Meeting Immediately following worship
Fellowship 11:15 am
Korean Church Worship 1:00 pm
This Week
Via de Cristo @ Bocks home Monday, 6:30 pm
MOPS Tuesday, 9.00 am
Mah-jongg Wednesday, Noon
Midweek Potluck Wednesday, 5:00 pm
Midweek Service Wednesday, 6:00 pm
Bible Study @Perkin’s Restaurant Thursday, 7:30 am
Worship Team Thursday, 10:00 am
Confirmation Class Thursday, 6:00 pm
Korean Church Prayer Meeting Saturday, 6:00 am
SUNDAY SCHOOL AND ADULT BIBLE CLASS will begin at 8:45. Students from grades 4 through 7 will be together in one class taught by Barbara Ruzicka. We will be using the children’s room. Friends are welcome. And of course, all adults are invited to participate in the Sunday Morning Adult Bible Class.
THE FLOWERS adorning the altar this morning are given to the glory of Jesus, our Savior by Kevin Garber in memory of Andrew.
BIRTHDAY GREETINGS Bill Lemke, 3/24.
ANNIVERSARIES Gerald & Debbie Lindstrom, 3/24 (34)
EASTER DECOR Praise the Lord through your gift of a donation to purchase plants to decorate for our Easter services. The cost of each plant is $13.95. As in the past, you may designate your gift as a memorial or in honor of. Forms are included with your bulletins.
FLOWER CHART A new flower chart is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex. If you would like to order flowers to adorn the altar for a specific Sunday, please write your name on the appropriate line. The cost per Sunday is $27.00. We thank you for your help.
PRAYER LIST If you have family and/or friends you would like our members to include in our prayers, please submit their names in writing by completing one of the forms in the narthex or send an email to the church office at Grace LutheranPSL@gmail.com and title it Prayer List. Thank you.
THURSDAYS, AT 6:00 pm, CONFIRMATION CLASSES are offered in the sanctuary. All are invited. If you would like a refresher course, please feel free to join us.
Lenten Midweek Gatherings Join us on Wednesday evenings until Holy Week at 5:00 for potluck dinner followed by 6:00 worship and study.
FAMILY MEALS EASTER FOOD DRIVE Please donate the following requested items: canned vegetables, dessert mixes, reusable grocery bags, egg dyes; also gift cards. Food drive ends March 31. Items will be picked up here at Grace. Phone: 772/210-0900. Find Family meals on Facebook or http://www.familymealsonc.org/. Email-familymealsfl@gmail.com.
Grace Lutheran Church March 26, 2017
CCLI 1276473 Page
Much like Scrooge, the shepherds sat in darkness until the heavenly angels came, bringing the light of a well celebrated Christmas.