Welcome to Worship
Processional Gospel: Mark 11:1-11
Jesus enters Jerusalem
1When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, [Jesus] sent two of his disciples 2and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. 3If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.’ ” 4They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, 5some of the bystanders said to them, “What are you doing, untying the colt?” 6They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. 9Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
10Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.
Opening song
All Glory, Laud, and Honor ELW 344
Refrain
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
1 You are the king of Israel
and David’s royal Son,
now in the Lord’s name coming,
our King and Blessed One.
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
2 The company of angels
are praising you on high;
creation and all mortals
in chorus make reply.
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
3 The multitude of pilgrims
with palms before you went;
our praise and prayer and anthems
before you we present.
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
4 To you, before your passion,
they sang their hymns of praise.
To you, now high exalted,
our melody we raise.
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
5 Their praises you accepted;
accept the prayers we bring,
great author of all goodness,
O good and gracious King.
All glory, laud, and honor
to you, redeemer, king,
to whom the lips of children
made sweet hosannas ring.
Text: Theodulph of Orleans, 760-821; tr. John Mason Neale, 1818-1866, alt.
GREETING
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
And also with you.
KYRIE
Chorus
Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy
Christe eleison Christe eleison
Christ have mercy
Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy
Chorus
Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy
Christe eleison Christe eleison
Christ have mercy
Kyrie eleison Kyrie eleison
Lord have mercy
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Leading God, you rode so bravely into a troubling future, knowing the hard road ahead, yet trusting that there would be grace enough for the journey, hope enough for the moments of trial and life enough to conquer the worst the world could give you. Grant us a measure of your spirit – to step bravely into our futures, whatever they may bring, with enough of your grace, hope and love in us that we simply must live and keep on living. Amen
Word
Philippians 2:5-11
5Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,
6who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
as something to be exploited,
7but emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in human likeness.
And being found in human form,
8he humbled himself
and became obedient to the point of death—
even death on a cross.
9Therefore God also highly exalted him
and gave him the name
that is above every name,
10so that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11and every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
Psalm: Psalm 31:9-16
Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit. (Ps. 31:5)
9Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am in trouble;
my eye is consumed with sorrow, and also my throat and my belly.
10For my life is wasted with grief, and my years with sighing;
my strength fails me because of affliction, and my bones are consumed.
11I am the scorn of all my enemies, a disgrace to my neighbors, a dismay to my acquaintances;
when they see me in the street they avoid me.
12Like the dead I am forgotten, out of mind;
I am as useless as a broken pot.
13For I have heard the whispering of the crowd; fear is all around;
they put their heads together against me; they plot to take my life.
14But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord.
I have said, “You are my God.
15My times are in your hand;
rescue me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me.
16Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.”
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Save us Savior of the world
For by your cross and resurrection
You have set us free.
Save us Savior of the world
For by your cross and resurrection
You have set us free.
GOSPEL: Mark 14:1-25
The holy gospel according to Mark
Glory to you, O Lord.
1It was two days before the Passover and the festival of Unleavened Bread. The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him; 2for they said, “Not during the festival, or there may be a riot among the people.”
3While he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at the table, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very costly ointment of nard, and she broke open the jar and poured the ointment on his head. 4But some were there who said to one another in anger, “Why was the ointment wasted in this way? 5For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii, and the money given to the poor.” And they scolded her. 6But Jesus said, “Let her alone; why do you trouble her? She has performed a good service for me. 7For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. 8She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for its burial. 9Truly I tell you, wherever the good news is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in remembrance of her.”
10Then Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve, went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. 11When they heard it, they were greatly pleased, and promised to give him money. So he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.
12On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, “Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 13So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, 14and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.” 16So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.
17When it was evening, he came with the twelve. 18And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” 19They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, “Surely, not I?” 20He said to them, “It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. 21For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.”
22While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” 23Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. 24He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many. 25Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ.
Sermon — Pastor Erika Nilsen
Song of the day
Beneath the Cross of Jesus ELW 338
1 Beneath the cross of Jesus
I long to take my stand;
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land,
a home within a wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat
and burdens of the day.
2 Upon the cross of Jesus,
my eye at times can see
the very dying form of one
who suffered there for me.
And from my contrite heart, with tears,
two wonders I confess:
the wonder of his glorious love
and my unworthiness.
3 I take, O cross, your shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of his face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all, the cross.
Text: Elizabeth C. Clephane, 1830-1869
First Communion Blessing
We celebrate today with Andrew Dorn, Hakon Haapajoki, Kai Halbersma, Nolan Jendro, Beckett Miller, Taryn Mithun, Raegan Norquist, Rhett Sjostrom, Makayla Stoen, and Rylie Strus. Avery Coonfield, Joseph Jentsch and Landon Loftstrom will receive their first communion at another time.
PRAYER
PEACE
The peace of Christ be with you always.
And also with you.
MEAL
God feeds us with the presence of Jesus Christ.
OFFERING PRAYER
Let us pray.
God of mercy and grace, the eyes of all wait upon you, and you open your hand in blessing. Fill us with good things at your table, that we may come to the help of all in need, through Jesus Christ, our redeemer and Lord.
Amen.
GREAT THANKSGIVING
DIALOGUE
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Lift up your hearts.
We lift them to the Lord.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.
PREFACE
It is indeed right, our duty and our joy,
that we should at all times and in all places
give thanks and praise to you, almighty and merciful God,
through our Savior Jesus Christ;
who on this day overcame death and the grave,
and by his glorious resurrection opened to us the way of everlasting life.
And so, with all the choirs of angels,
with the church on earth and the hosts of heaven,
we praise your name and join their unending hymn:
HOLY, HOLY, HOLY
Holy holy holy Lord God of hosts
Heaven and earth are full of your glory
Hosanna in the highest
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord
Hosanna
Hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
THANKSGIVING AT THE TABLE
Holy God, you alone are holy, you alone are God.
The universe declares your praise:
beyond the stars; beneath the sea;
within each cell; with every breath.
We praise you, O God.
Generations bless your faithfulness:
through the water; by night and day;
across the wilderness; out of exile; into the future.
We bless you, O God.
We give you thanks for your dear Son:
at the heart of human life; near to those who suffer;
beside the sinner; among the poor; with us now.
We thank you, O God.
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 his love for us on the way, at the table, and to the end,
we proclaim the mystery of faith:
Christ has died.
Christ is risen.
Christ will come again.
We pray for the gift of your Spirit:
in our gathering; within this meal;
among your people; throughout the world.
Blessing, praise, and thanks to you, holy God, through Christ Jesus,
by your Spirit, in your church, without end.
Amen.
LORD’S PRAYER
Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.
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.
INVITATION TO COMMUNION
For those who are worshipping here at Lord of Life – you will have the opportunity to receive communion at the end of the service on your way out of the church.
COMMUNION
For those who are worshipping at home hear these words and share them as you receive the sacrament –
This is the body of Christ, given for you.
This is the blood of Christ, shed for you.
COMMUNION SONG
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, grant us peace, Lamb of God.
SENDING
God blesses us and sends us in mission to the world.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- If there are still some Holy Week at Home kits available – please take one home with you. If there are not full kits available – there are devotional packets available on your way out of worship. One is a little more serious and in-depth. One is slightly more geared for families with children. There’s also a daily guided meditation for the labyrinth. So please take one as a gift to yourself throughout this Holy week.
- Worship services – Mandy Thursday and Good Friday – 12:00pm and 7:00pm [live streamed at 12:00] available throughout the day.
- Easter Sunday – 8:30am and 10:30am – live streamed at 8:30!
- A grief support group will be starting Tuesday, March 30 at 5 p.m. here at the Church. Contact Deb Bergstrom or Tyler at the Church Office for more information.
- First communion kids please stay for a picture immediately after worship.
BLESSING
The God of steadfastness and encouragement
grant you to live in harmony with one another,
in accordance with Christ Jesus.
Amen.
The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
The God of all grace ☩ bless you now and forever.
Amen.
SONG
# 543
Go, My Children, with My Blessing
1 “Go, my children, with my blessing, never alone.
Waking, sleeping, I am with you, you are my own.
In my love’s baptismal river
I have made you mine forever.
Go, my children, with my blessing, you are my own.”
2 “Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.
Here you learned how much I love you, what I can cure.
Here you heard my dear Son’s story,
here you touched him, saw his glory.
Go, my children, sins forgiven, at peace and pure.”
3 “Go, my children, fed and nourished, closer to me.
Grow in love and love by serving, joyful and free.
Here my Spirit’s power filled you,
here my tender comfort stilled you.
Go, my children, fed and nourished, joyful and free.”
Text: Jaroslav J. Vajda, b. 1919, alt.
Text © 1983 Concordia Publishing House