March 13, 2022 – Second Sunday in Lent

You can follow the order of the service here.

Feel free to also check out the following:

Gathering and Announcements

Confession & Forgiveness

P: In the name of God, who makes a way in the wilderness, walks with us, and guides us in our pilgrimage.
C: Amen.

Silence is kept for reflection.

P: Holy One,
C: we confess that we have wandered far from you: we have not trusted your promises, we have ignored your prophets in our own day, we have squandered our inheritance of grace, we have failed to recognize you in our midst. Have mercy on us! Forgive us and turn us again to you. Teach us to follow in your ways, assure us again of your love, and help us to love our neighbor. Amen.

P: Beloved in Christ, the Word draws near to you, and all who call out to God shall be saved. In Jesus, God comes to you again and again and gathers you under wings of love. In  Jesus' name, your sins are forgiven. God journeys with you and teaches you how to live in love.
C: Amen.

Entrance Hymn

Eternal Lord of Love, Behold Your Church

ELW #321
1Eternal Lord of love, behold your church
walking once more the pilgrim way of Lent,
led by your cloud by day, by night your fire,
moved by your love and toward your presence bent;
far off yet here—the goal of all desire.
2So daily dying to the way of self,
so daily living in your way of love,
we walk the road, Lord Jesus, that you trod,
knowing ourselves baptized into your death;
so we are dead and live with you in God.
3If dead in you, so in you we arise,
you the first-born of all the faithful dead;
and as through stony ground the green shoots break,
glorious in springtime dress of leaf and flow'r,
so into life and glory shall we wake.

Greeting

P: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
C: And also with you.

Prayer of the Day

P: God of the covenant, in the mystery of the cross you promise everlasting life to the world. Gather all peoples into your arms, and shelter us with your mercy, that we may rejoice in the life we share in your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
C: Amen.

A Reading from the Book of Genesis

Genesis 15:1–12, 17–18

1After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, Do not be afraid, Abram, I am your shield; your reward shall be very great. 2But Abram said, O Lord God, what will you give me, for I continue childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus? 3And Abram said, You have given me no offspring, and so a slave born in my house is to be my heir. 4But the word of the Lord came to him, This man shall not be your heir; no one but your very own issue shall be your heir. 5He brought him outside and said, Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count them. Then he said to him, So shall your descendants be. 6And he believed the Lord; and the Lord reckoned it to him as righteousness.

7Then he said to him, I am the Lord who brought you from Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess. 8But he said, O Lord God, how am I to know that I shall possess it? 9He said to him, Bring me a heifer three years old, a female goat three years old, a ram three years old, a turtledove, and a young pigeon. 10He brought him all these and cut them in two, laying each half over against the other; but he did not cut the birds in two. 11And when birds of prey came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

12As the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a deep and terrifying darkness descended upon him.

17When the sun had gone down and it was dark, a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch passed between these pieces. 18On that day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates.

A Reading from the Psalms

Psalm 27

1The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom then shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
2When evildoers close in against me to devour my flesh,
they, my foes and my enemies, will stumble and fall.
3Though an army encamp against me, my heart will not fear.
Though war rise up against me, my trust will not be shaken.
4One thing I ask of the Lord; one thing I seek;
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek God in the temple.
5For in the day of trouble God will give me shelter,
hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high upon a rock.
6Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies who surround me.
Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music to the Lord.
7Hear my voice, O Lord, when I call;
have mercy on me and answer me.
8My heart speaks your message— Seek my face.
Your face, O Lord, I will seek.
9Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your servant in anger.
Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not, O God of my salvation.
10Though my father and my mother forsake me,
the Lord will take me in.
11Teach me your way, O Lord;
lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.
12Subject me not to the will of my foes,
for they rise up against me, false witnesses breathing violence.
13This I believe—that I will see the goodness of the Lord
in the land of the living!
14Wait for the Lord and be strong.
Take heart and wait for the Lord!

A Reading from St. Paul's Epistle to the Philippians

Philippians 3:17–4:1

17Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. 18For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. 19Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. 4:1Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

A Reading from the Gospel of St. Luke

Christ and the Pharisees, from Das Plenarium MET DP849932

Luke 13:31–35

P: The holy gospel according to St. Luke, the 13th chapter.
C: Glory to you, O Lord.

31At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to [Jesus], Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you. 32He said to them, Go and tell that fox for me, Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. 33Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem. 34Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! 35See, your house is left to you. And I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say, Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. 

P: The Gospel of the Lord.
C: Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

Apostles' Creed

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 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.

Prayers of Intercession

P: Merciful God,
C: receive our prayer.

Lord's Prayer

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.

Blessing

P: You are children of God, anointed with the oil of gladness and strengthened for the journey.

Almighty God, motherly, majestic, and mighty,  bless you this day and always.
C: Amen.

Dismissal

P: Go in peace. Jesus meets you on the way.
C: Thanks be to God.

Sending Hymn

O Christ, Your Heart, Compassionate (v. 1 & 3)

ELW #722
1O Christ, your heart, compassionate, bore ev'ry human pain.
Its beating was the pulse of God; its breadth, God's vast domain.
The heart of God, the heart of Christ combined in perfect rhyme
to write God's love in human deeds, eternity in time.
3O Christ, create new hearts in us that beat in time with yours,
that, joined by faith with your great heart, become love's open doors.
We are your body, risen Christ; our hearts, our hands we yield
that through our life and ministry your love may be revealed.

Weekly Announcements

We remember in our prayers

Altar Flowers Dedication

The flowers on the altar are given by Pam & Roger Schwartzkopf in memory of Roger's mother and by Rob & Shawna Mahnke in memory of Rob's dad.

Lenten Wednesdays

Wednesday Evening Lenten Services began last week, but you can still join in. These services will be led Pastor Christine McNeal and will look at how God is with us in times of change. This week's topic is Change of Habit: Scripture urges us to replace bad habits with the fruits of the Spirit.

Easter Flowers

Would you like to purchase flowers to help decorate the sanctuary for Easter? We hope to celebrate Easter this year with lilies and other bulb flowers. Whether it be for the remembrance of someone or just for the joy of it, please enclose a notation of Easter flowers on your giving envelope and include the extra $14.00 by March 21. You can also use one of the green flower cards in the pews. Your flower can be taken after Easter service or left either to stay in the church an extra week or designated for delivery to a shut-in.

Lutheran World Relief

OSLC will be collecting personal care kits for Lutheran World Relief once again during the Lent season this year. Personal care kits include the following:

Home Sweet Home Ministries

Home Sweet Home Ministries has a need for supplies for bag lunches. OSLC is currently collecting water bottles and single-serve bags of chips. We will also accept monetary donations and do the shopping for you. You can leave donations in the narthex.

Altar Flowers Sign-Up

The Flower Chart is located on the bulletin board in the fellowship hall. Cost is $25 a vase. Keep in mind that there are two vases that can be sponsored each Sunday, and there are several Sundays few months with at least one opening.

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